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Statement of Faith
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We
believe
that the Lord Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God, was conceived of
the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, was crucified, died, was buried,
was resurrected, ascended into heaven, and is now seated at the right hand
of God the Father and is true God and true man.
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We
believe
the Bible in its entirety to be the inspired Word of God and the infallible
rule of faith and conduct. The scriptures are the product of holy men of old
who spoke and wrote as they were moved by the Holy Spirit. The New Covenant,
as recorded in the New Testament, we accept as our infallible guide in
matters pertaining to conduct and doctrine (2 Tim. 3:16; 1 Thess. 2:13; 2
Peter 1:21).
- We
believe
in one God-Father, Son and Holy Spirit, Creator of all things. THE GODHEAD -
Our God is one, but manifested in three Persons - the Father, the Son, and
the Holy Spirit, being coequal (Deut. 6:4;Phil. 2:6).
God the Father is greater than all; the Sender of the Word (Logos) and the
Begetter (John 14:28; John 16:28; John 1:14).
The Son is the Word flesh-covered, the One Begotten, and has existed with
the Father from the beginning (John 1:1; John 1:18; John 1:14).
The Holy Spirit proceeds forth from both the Father and the Son and is
eternal (John 14:16;John 15:26).
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We
believe
in personal salvation of believers through the shed blood of Jesus Christ.
Man is a created being, made in the likeness and image of God, but through
Adam's transgression and fall, sin came into the world. The Bible says
"...all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God," and
"...There is none righteous, no, not one." (Rom. 3:10; 3:23).
Jesus Christ, the Son of God, was manifested to undo the works of the devil
and gave His life and shed His blood to redeem and restore man back to God
(Rom. 5:14; 1 John 3:8). Salvation is the gift of God to man, separate from
works and the Law, and is made operative by grace through faith in Jesus
Christ, producing works acceptable to God (Eph. 2:8-10). Man's first step
toward salvation is godly sorrow that works repentance. The new birth is
necessary to all men, and when experienced, produces eternal life (2 Cor.
7:10; John 3:3-5; 1 John 5:12).
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We
believe
in water baptism. Baptism in water is by immersion, is a direct commandment
of our Lord, and is for believers only. The ordinance is a symbol of the
Christian's identification with Christ in His death, burial, and
resurrection (Matt. 28:19; Rom. 6:4; Col. 2:12; Acts 8:36-39). The following
recommendation regarding the water baptismal formula is adopted; to wit:
"On the confession of your faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of
God, and by His authority, I baptize you in the Name of the Father, and the
Son, and the Holy Ghost. Amen."
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We
believe
in
the Baptism in the Holy Spirit as distinct from the New Birth, in the gifts
of the Spirit, and the evidence of the fruit of the Spirit. We believe that
all of these are available to believers. The Baptism in the Holy Ghost and
fire is a gift from God as promised by the Lord Jesus Christ to all
believers in this dispensation. This experience is accompanied by the
initial evidence of speaking in other tongues as the Holy Spirit Himself
gives utterance (Matt. 3:11; John 14:16,17; Acts 1:8; Acts 2:38,39; Acts
19:1-7; Acts 2:1-4).
- We
believe
in sanctification through the Word of God and by the Holy Spirit, and we
believe in personal holiness, purity of heart and life. The Bible teaches
that without holiness no man can see the Lord. We believe in the Doctrine of
Sanctification as a definite, yet progressive work of grace, commencing at
the time of regeneration and continuing until the consummation of salvation
at Christ's return (Heb. 12:14; 1 Thess. 5:23; 2 Peter 3:18; 2 Cor. 3:18;
Phil. 3:12-14; 1 Cor. 1:30).
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We
believe
in divine healing, through faith in the Name of Jesus Christ, and that
healing is included in the Redemption. Healing is for the physical and metal
ills of the human body and is wrought by the power of God through the prayer
of faith, and by the laying on of hands. It is provided for in the atonement
of Christ, and is the privilege of every member of the Church today (James
5:14,15; Mark 16:18; Isa. 53:4,5; Matt. 8:17; 1 Peter 2:24).
- We
believe in the Christian’s hope-the soon coming, personal return of
the Lord Jesus Christ. We believe in the resurrection of the dead, the
eternal happiness of the saved, and the eternal punishment of the lost. The
angels said to Jesus' disciples, "...this same Jesus, which is taken up
from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go
into heaven." His coming is imminent. When He comes, "...the dead
in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be
caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the
air..." (Acts 1:11; 1 Thess. 4:16,17).
Following the Tribulation, He shall return to earth as King of kings, and
Lord of lords, and together with His saints, who shall be kings and priests,
He shall reign a thousand years (Rev. 5:10;20:6).The one who physically dies
in his sins without accepting Christ is hopelessly and eternally lost in the
lake of fire and, therefore, has no further opportunity of hearing the
Gospel or repenting. The lake of fire is literal. The terms
"eternal" and "everlasting," used in describing the
duration of the punishment of the damned in the lake of fire, carry the same
thought and meaning of endless existence as used in denoting the duration of
joy and ecstasy of saints in the Presence of God (Heb. 9:27; Rev. 19:20).
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