OUR BELIEFS

 

 

Since the Word of God is foundational and absolutely essential to true spirituality, fellowship, spiritual sustenance, effectiveness in service and ministry, faith and doctrinal accuracy, we believe that the the most important function of this local church, and its central thrust, is consistent teaching and study of the Word of God (1 Tim. 4:6-7).

 

The study of the Word of God is not an end in itself, but it is a high priority and a necessary channel for fellowship with God and thereby also fo effective ministry to one another and to the world.  It will not therefore, be bypassed or made secondary in the interest of social concerns, actions, or activities, but must be so promoted that the Word, and the teaching of the Word, become the pulse and heartbeat behind all church and non-church related activities or concerns (Psa. 119:1ff; 138:2; Isa. 77:2b; Rom. 15:4; 16:25-26; 1 Thess. 2:13; 1 Tim 1:5; 4:1-16; 2 Tim. 3:15-17; 4:1-3).

 

We believe that "all Scripture is given by inspiration of God," by which we understand the whole Bible is inspired in the sense that holy men of God "were moved by the Holy Spirit" to write the very words of Scripture.  We believe that this infallible word is profitable for doctrine, for reproff, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.  We believethat while there was progress in revelation from God, this divine inspiration extends equally  and fully to all parts of the writings--historical, poetical, doctrinal, prophetical and to the smallest word and inflection of a word as appeared in the orignal manuscripts.  We believe the Bible is the only God-given authority which man possesses' therefore, all doctrine, faith, hope, and all instruction for the church must be based upon, andharmonize with, the Bible.  We believe it is to be read and studied by all men everywhere, and can only be clearly understood by those who are anointed by the Holy Spirit (1 John 2:27).  We believe that the whole Bible in the originals is therefore without error.  We believe that no prophesy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.  For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man:  but Holy menof God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.  We believe that all Scriptures center about the Lord Jesus Christ in His person and work in His first and second coming, and hence that no portion, even of the Old Testament, is properly read or understood until it leads to Him.  We also believe that all the Scriptures were designed for our practical instruction (Matt. 5:18; Mark 12:26, 36; 13:11; Luke 24:27, 44; John 5:39; Acts 1:16; 17:2-3; 18:28; 26:22-23; 28:23; Rom. 15:4; 1 Cor 2:13; 10; 11; 2 Tim. 3:16;2 Pet. 1:20-21).  The Bible gives a true history of the creation of heaven, earth, and humanity and containing a correct prophesy of ages to come regarding heaven, earth, and the destiny of humanity.  Moreover, there is no salvation outside of what is taught in its pages.

 

ONE TRUE GOD

We believe there is only one true God (Deut. 6:4). He is the creator of heaven and earth, and of all living things.  He has revealed Himself to humanity as the Father (Creator, in the Son (Savior), and as the Holy Ghost (indwelling Spirit).  We believe God is a Spirit. He is the First and the Last, and beside Him there is no God (Isaiah 44:6).  There is no God formed before Him; neither shall there be after Him (Isaiah 43:10).

 

THE SON OF GOD

We believe Jesus is the Son of God according to the flesh (Rom. 1:3) and the very God Himself according to the Spirit (Matt. 1:23).  Jesus is the Christ (Matt:16:16); the Creator of all things (Colo. 1:16-17);  God with us (Matt. 1:23);  God made flesh (John 1:1-14);  God manifested in the flesh (1 Tim. 3:16);  He which was, which is, and which isto come, the Almighty (Rev. 1:8); the mighty God, everlasting Father, and Prince of peace (Isa. 9:6).

 

HOLY GHOST

 

We believe the Holy Ghost is not a third person in the Godhead, but rather the Spirit of God (the Creator), the Spirit of the resurrected Christ.  The Holy Ghost comes to dwell in the hearts and lives of everyone who believes and obeys the gospel, as the Comforter, Sustainer, and Keeper (John 14:16-26; Rom. 8:9-11).

 

SIN

We believe sin is the transgression of the law, or commandments of God (1John 3:4).  The guilt of sin has fallen upon all humanity from Adam until now (Rom. 3:23).  The wages of sin is eternal death (Rom. 6:23; Rev. 20:14) to all those who refuse to accept salvation as set forth int he Word of God.

 

SALVATION

We believe salvation consists of deliverance from all sin and unrighteousness through the blood of Jesus Christ.  The New Testament experience of salvation consists of repentance from sin, water baptism in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and the baptism of the Holy Ghost, after which the Christian is to live a godly life (Acts 2:36-41).

 

We believe that, owing to universal death through sin, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless born again;and that no degree of reformation, however great, no attainments in morality, however high, no culture, however attractive, no baptism or other ordinance, however administered, can help the sinner to take even one step toward heaven; but a new nature imparted from above, a new life implanted by the Holy Spirit through the Word, is absolutely essential to salvationa nd only those thus saved are sons of God.  We believe also that our redemption has beenaccomplished solely by the blood of our Lord Jesus Christ,who was made to be sin and was made a curse for us, dying in our stead; and that no repentance, no feeling, no faith, no good resolutions,no sincere efforts, no submission to the rules andregulations of any church, nor all the churches that have existed since the day of the apostles, can add in the very least degree to the finished work wrought for us by Him who united in His person true and proper deity and perfect and sinless humanity (Lev. 17:11;  Isa. 64:6;  Matt. 26:28;  John 2:7-18; Rom. 5:6-9; 2 Cor. 5:21; Gal. 3:13; 6:15; Eph. 1:7;  Phil. 3:4-9;  Titus 3:5; James 1:18;  1 Pet. 1:18-19, 23).

 

 

We believe that the new birth of the believer comes only through faith in Christ and that repentance is a vital part of believing, and is in no way in itself a separate and independent condition of salvation; nor are any other acts, such as confession, baptism, prayer, or faithful service to be added to believing as a condition of salvation (John 1:12; 3:16, 18, 36; 5:24; 6:29; Acts 13:39; 16:31; Rom 1:16-17; 3:22, 26; 4:5; 10:4; Gal. 3:22).

 

CREATION OF MAN AND HIS FALL

We believe that in the beginning God created man innocent, pure and holy; but through the sin of disobedience, Adam and Eve fell from their holy state, and God expelled them out of Eden.  Hence by one man's disobedience, sin entered into the world (Gen. 1:27; Rom. 3:23, 5:12).  We believe that manwas created by God as a human being, and did not evolve from a lower order of life.  We believe that man was originally created in the image and after the likeness of God, and that he fell through sinand, as a consequence of his sin, lost his spiritual life becoming dead in trespasses and sins, and that he became subject to the power of the devil.  We also believe that his spiritual death, or totally depraved human nature, has been transmitted to the entire human race of man, the Man Christ Jesus alone being excepted; and hence that every child of Adam is born into the world with a nature which not only possesses no spark of divine life, but is essentially and unchangeable bad apart from divine grace (Gen. 1:26; 2:17; 6:5; Psalm 14:1-3; 51:5; Jer. 17:9; John 3:6; 5:40; 6:53; Rom. 3:10-19; 8:6-7; Eph. 2:1-3; 1 Tim 5:6; 1John 3:8).

 

SECOND COMING OF JESUS

We believe that Jesus is coming again the second time in person, just as he went away.  It is clearly set forth by the Lord Jesus Himself, and was preached and taught in the early Christian church by the apostles; hence, the children of God today are earnestly, hopefully, looking forward to the glorious even (Matt. 24:  Acts 1:11, 3:19-21; 1 Cor 11:26; Phil. 3:20-21; 1 Thess. 4:14-17: Titus 2:13,14).

 

We believe that the period of the great tribulation in the earth will be climaxed by the return of the Lord Jesus Christ to the earth as He went, inperson on the clouds of heaven, and with power and great glory to introduce the millennial age, to bind Satan and place him in the abyss, to lift the curse which now rests upon the whole creation, to restore Israel to her own land and to give her the realization of God's covenant promises, and to bring the whole world to the knowledge of God (Deut. 30:1-10;  Isa. 11:9;  Ezek. 37:21-28;  Matt. 24:15-25, 46;  Acts 15:16-17;  Rom. 8:19-23; 11:25-27; Rev. 20:1-3)

 

SANCTIFICATION

We believe that sanctification, which is a setting apart unto God, is three-fold:  It is already complete for every persn because his position toward God is the same as Christ's position.  Since the believer is in Christ, he is set apart unto God in the measure in which Christ is set apart unto God.  We believe, however, that he retains his sin nature, which cannot be eradicated in this life.  Therefore, while the standing of the Christian in Christ is perfect, his present state is no more perfect than his experience in daily life.  There is therefore a progressive sanctification wherein the Christian is to "grow in grace" and to "be changed" by the unhindered power of the Spirit.  We believe also that the child of God will yet be fully sanctified in his state as he is now sanctified in his standing in Christ when he shall see his Lord and shall be like Him (John 17:17;  2 Cor. 3:18;  7:1;  Eph. 4:24; 5:25-27;  1 Thess. 5:23;  Heb. 10:10, 14: 12:10)

 

BAPTISM OF THE HOLY GHOST

We believe the baptism of the Holy Ghost is the birth of the Spirit (John 3:5).  This spiritual baptism is necessary to put someone into the kingdom of God (God's church, the bride of Christ) and is evidenced by speaking in other tongues (other languages) as the Spirit of God give utterance.

 

WATER BAPTISM

We believe water baptism is an essential part of the New Testament salvation and not merely a symbolic ritual.  It is part of entering into the kingdom of God (God's church, the bride of Christ), and therefore, it is not merely a part of local church membership. (John 3:5;  Gal. 3:27)

 

THE MILLENNIUM

We believe that the distress upon the earth is the "beginning of sorrows" and will become more intense until there "shall be a time of trouble such as there never was since there was a nation even to that time" (Matt. 24:3-8;  Dan 12:1), and taht period of "tribulation" will be followed by the dawn of a better day on earth and that for a thousand years there shall be "peace on earth and good will toward men." (Rev. 20:1-5; Isa. 65:17-25;  Matt. 5:5;  Mic. 4:12;  Heb. 2:14:  Rom. 11:25-27).