Statement of Faith
1. The Scriptures
We believe the sixty-six books of the Bible to be the infallible, preserved, written Word of God; verbally inspired by the Holy Ghost, and inerrant in the original manuscripts. We believe that the Old and New Testaments are the only true revelations of God, and the final authority in all matters of faith and conduct. Jeremiah 36:2; Matthew 5:18; Acts 1:16; I Corinthians 2:13; II Timothy 3:16,17; II Peter 1:19-21
2. The Trinity
We believe that the Godhead eternally exists in three distinct persons: The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and that these three are one God, having precisely the same nature, attributes, and perfections, and are worthy of precisely the same homage, confidence and obedience. Genesis 1:26; Genesis 3:22; Genesis 11:7; Psalm 90:2; Isaiah 57:15; Matthew 28:19,20; Matthew 3:16,17; Luke 1:37; II Corinthians 13:14; Philippians 2:5,6; Hebrews 9:14; I Peter 1:2
3. God the Father
We believe in God, the Father, an infinite, eternal, personal spirit, perfect in holiness, wisdom, power, and love. We believe that He concerns Himself mercifully in the affairs of men, that He hears and answers prayers, and that He saves from sin and spiritual death all who come to Him through Jesus Christ. Isaiah 44:6; John 4:24
4. The Lord Jesus Christ
We believe in essential Deity and Virgin Birth of our Lord Jesus Christ. That He, the eternal Son of God, was conceived of the Holy Spirit, and born of the virgin Mary, that He received a human body, and a sinless human nature, and lived a perfect Holy life apart from any defilement of sin. Thus, being completely God, yet completely man. Isaiah 7:14; Isaiah 9:6; Matthew 1:23; Luke 1:34,35; John 1:1; II Corinthians 5:21; Colossians 1:15-19; I Timothy 3:16; Hebrews 4:15; I Peter 2:22
5. The Holy Spirit
We believe that the Holy Spirit is a Divine personality, and the Third Person of the Trinity. That He is co-eternal, co-equal, and co-identical in nature with the Father and the Son. Having come into the world to abide on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2) He now indwells every born-again believer and seeks to glorify Jesus Christ in them. He carries on a convicting ministry among the unregenerate of the world. John 14:16; John 16:7-11; Acts 5:3,4; I Corinthians 2:10,11; I Corinthians 6:19; II Corinthians 3:17; Romans 8:9; Galatians 4:6; Ephesians 3:16; II Timothy 1:14;
6. Man
We believe that man, originally created in the image, and after the likeness of God, fell from his high and holy estate through disobedience to God. As a result, the threatened penalty of death was then and there inflicted, so that he totally lost all spiritual life and began to lose his physical life. This Spiritual Death, or total corruption of human nature, has been transmitted to the entire race of mankind. Hence every person is born with a sinful nature, and is dead in trespasses and sins. Genesis 1:26; Genesis 2:17; Genesis 6:5; Psalm 51:5; Isaiah 64:6; Jeremiah 17:9; Romans 3:10-12,23; Romans 5:12-19; Ephesians 2:1-3
7. Salvation
We believe that salvation is wholly a work of God's grace, and that upon the sinner's repentance and personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ that his sins are forgiven and Divine righteousness is imputed to him. This salvation is available for all humanity. Acts 15:11; Acts 13:39; Romans 3:22-24; Romans 5:1; Romans 6:23; Romans 10:9-13; Galatians 2:16; Ephesians 2:8,9; I Timothy 2:4-6; Titus 2:11; Titus 3:4-7; I John 2:2;
8. The Blood of Christ
We believe that our redemption has been accomplished solely by the blood of our Lord Jesus Christ. Without the shedding of blood there is no remission for sins. His blood provides for our atonement and is the propitiation for our sins. Leviticus 17:11; Matthew 26:28; Romans 5:8,9; Ephesians 1:7; Hebrews 9:12-14,9:22; I Peter 1:18,19; I John 2:2; Revelation 1:5
9. Regeneration
We believe that the Holy Spirit is the Supernatural agent in regeneration. No man can see the Kingdom of God unless he is born of the Spirit of God, and of the Word of God. Hence he becomes a new creature in Jesus Christ. John 3:5-8; II Corinthians 5:17; Galatians 6:15; Titus 3:5; I Peter 2:23; I John 5:1
10. Eternal Security
We believe in the eternal security of all who are actually born-again by the Spirit of God and that it is the privilege of all such to be assured of their present salvation and eternal safety. John 5:24; John 10:28,29; Romans 8:33-39; Philippians 1:6; II Timothy 1:12; Hebrews 7:25
11. Sanctification
We believe that the members of the Body of Christ are sanctified ones; are perfected as to their standing forever by the one suffering of the blood of Christ, and are one with Christ in sanctification. As to their state, they may be sanctified with the constant washing of water by the Word, by the blood of Christ, and by the in-working presence and power of the Holy Spirit. John 17:17-19; Romans 15:16; I Corinthians 1:30; I Corinthians 6:11; Ephesians 5:25-27; Hebrews 2:11; Hebrews 10:10; Hebrews 13:12; Jude 1
12. Baptism with the Holy Spirit
We believe this is a ministry of the Holy Spirit, that takes place at the moment of salvation, whereby the believing person is taken out of his old position in Adam and placed into a new position in Christ. He is hence placed into the body of Christ, and becomes part of the family of God. I Corinthians 12:13; Galatians 3:27
13. The Church
We believe that the Scripture teaches that all born-again believers belong to the Church of Jesus Christ, which is His body. The Church is seen in the Scripture in a two-fold manner; the Universal Church; and the Local Church.
The Universal Church is the overall group of believers from the start of the Church, on the Day of Pentecost until now, who are both in Heaven and on Earth. This is the invisible concept of the Church.
The Local Church refers to those numerous assemblies of believers scattered throughout the world, in any given locality. This is the visible aspect of the Church.
Acts 14:23; Acts 20:28; Romans 12:5; I Corinthians 12:12-27; Ephesians 1:22,23; Ephesians 4:11,12; Colossians 1:18-24; Revelation 1:20
14. The Second Coming of the Lord Jesus Christ
We hold to the pre-millennial view of the coming of Jesus Christ. We believe that the Lord will first descend from Heaven, and that all Christians will be changed and caught up in the Rapture. At this time the dead in Christ will also be raised incorruptible, and be caught up to be with Him. Later, after the seven years Great Tribulation, the Lord Jesus will descend from Heaven and set up His righteous kingdom upon the Earth. This kingdom will be known as the thousand year millennial reign. II Samuel 7:16; Psalm 72:7,8; Isaiah 9:6,7; Micah 5:2; John 14:1-3; I Corinthians 15:51-53; I Thessalonians 2:1; I Thessalonians 4:13-18; Titus 2:13; Hebrews 9:28; Revelation 19:11-21
15. The Resurrection of the Body
We believe that Jesus Christ rose from the dead, according to the Scriptures, in bodily form, and thus became the first-fruits of them that are dead; that upon His return in the air He will raise out from among the dead, those that have died in Christ, this being the first resurrection. After the thousand year millennium, He will raise them that died in unbelief from their graves to receive their sentence. Those that sleep in the graves, refer to the bodies of human beings. At death their soul and spirit depart either to Heaven or Hell, while their body returns to dust, to await the resurrection day. Psalm 90:3,4; Isaiah 26:19; Daniel 12:2; John 5:28,29; Romans 1:4; Romans 8:23; I Corinthians 15; II Corinthians 5:1-6,8; Revelation 20:5-6; Revelation 11-15
16. Heaven, Hell and the Lake of Fire
We believe that at death, only two places await the human being. Heaven is God's place of eternal blessedness for all those who have repented and received the Lord Jesus Christ, and Hell is God's place of punishment for all those who reject the Lord Jesus Christ. Eternal life in Heaven will never cease, and eternal punishment in hellfire will never be over. After the last judgment, Hell and those imprisoned there will be cast into the Lake of Fire to remain forever, in varying degrees of torment according to their works. Daniel 12:3; Daniel 7:22-27; Matthew 6:20; Matthew 25:46; Luke 16:19-31; John 14:2; Romans 8:17; I Thessalonians 4:17; II Thessalonians 1:7-9; Revelation 20:11-15; Revelation 21:8
17. Satan
We believe that Satan is a person, the father of lies, a murderer from the beginning, and the great deceiver of all nations. He was once an angel in Heaven, but was cast out by God when he sought to take over God's throne. He now roams to and fro upon his Earth seeking to blind the unsaved to the Gospel and seeking to defeat God's children. He was defeated by the Lord Jesus Christ on Calvary, and will someday be cast into the Lake of Fire along with those evil angels that follow him. Genesis 3:15; Job 1:6-12; Isaiah 14:12-15; John 8:44; II Corinthians 4:4; II Corinthians 11:13-15; Ephesians 6:12-16; I Peter 5:8; Revelation 20:7-10
18. Gifts of the Holy Spirit
We believe that the Holy Spirit gives gifts to men; special abilities by which believers can faithfully serve the Lord Jesus Christ. These gifts are given at the moment of salvation, and are to be exercised and developed by continual use. Some of these gifts such as that of the Apostles: miracles, healing, tongues, interpretation of tongues, and prophecy have passed away. They played a key role in the beginning of the early church, and gradually became unnecessary as the New Testament Scriptures came into being. Romans 12:5-8; I Corinthians 12:12; I Corinthians 13:8-12; II Corinthians 12:12; Ephesians 4:8-12; Hebrews 2:3,4
19. Divine Healing
We believe that Divine Healing of the body is not in the atonement, in the sense that salvation and forgiveness of sins are in the atonement. The gift of being able to heal people is not God-given today. Healing today takes place by faithful prayers of individuals, and by calling the leaders of the Church to pray over the sick person. Matthew 7:7; James 5:13-16
20. Baptism
We believe that our Lord and Savior clearly prescribed for His believing disciples the simple rite of Baptism by immersion, as a symbol and proclamation of the sinner's death to sin, and his resurrection in newness of life in Christ Jesus. Matthew 28:19,20; Acts 2:38; Acts 6:36-39; Acts 8:12; Romans 6:4,5
21. The Lord's Supper
We believe that our Lord and Savior clearly prescribed for His believing disciples the solemn rite of the Lord's Supper as a memorial of the death to be kept by His disciples until He comes again, according to His promise and the Father's revealed plan. Luke 22:19,20; I Corinthians 11:23-27
22. Separation
We believe that the Scripture teaches that the individual Christian, and the local church, is to maintain a stand of separation from worldly and sinful practices of this age; while also standing against apostasy, modernism and false doctrine, even when this is found among other believing Christians. Isaiah 52:11; Romans 16:17; II Corinthians 6:14-18; Ephesians 5:11; II Thessalonians 3:6; I Timothy 6:5; I Timothy 3:5; Titus 2:12; II John 10; James 4:4
We believe the sixty-six books of the Bible to be the infallible, preserved, written Word of God; verbally inspired by the Holy Ghost, and inerrant in the original manuscripts. We believe that the Old and New Testaments are the only true revelations of God, and the final authority in all matters of faith and conduct. Jeremiah 36:2; Matthew 5:18; Acts 1:16; I Corinthians 2:13; II Timothy 3:16,17; II Peter 1:19-21
2. The Trinity
We believe that the Godhead eternally exists in three distinct persons: The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and that these three are one God, having precisely the same nature, attributes, and perfections, and are worthy of precisely the same homage, confidence and obedience. Genesis 1:26; Genesis 3:22; Genesis 11:7; Psalm 90:2; Isaiah 57:15; Matthew 28:19,20; Matthew 3:16,17; Luke 1:37; II Corinthians 13:14; Philippians 2:5,6; Hebrews 9:14; I Peter 1:2
3. God the Father
We believe in God, the Father, an infinite, eternal, personal spirit, perfect in holiness, wisdom, power, and love. We believe that He concerns Himself mercifully in the affairs of men, that He hears and answers prayers, and that He saves from sin and spiritual death all who come to Him through Jesus Christ. Isaiah 44:6; John 4:24
4. The Lord Jesus Christ
We believe in essential Deity and Virgin Birth of our Lord Jesus Christ. That He, the eternal Son of God, was conceived of the Holy Spirit, and born of the virgin Mary, that He received a human body, and a sinless human nature, and lived a perfect Holy life apart from any defilement of sin. Thus, being completely God, yet completely man. Isaiah 7:14; Isaiah 9:6; Matthew 1:23; Luke 1:34,35; John 1:1; II Corinthians 5:21; Colossians 1:15-19; I Timothy 3:16; Hebrews 4:15; I Peter 2:22
5. The Holy Spirit
We believe that the Holy Spirit is a Divine personality, and the Third Person of the Trinity. That He is co-eternal, co-equal, and co-identical in nature with the Father and the Son. Having come into the world to abide on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2) He now indwells every born-again believer and seeks to glorify Jesus Christ in them. He carries on a convicting ministry among the unregenerate of the world. John 14:16; John 16:7-11; Acts 5:3,4; I Corinthians 2:10,11; I Corinthians 6:19; II Corinthians 3:17; Romans 8:9; Galatians 4:6; Ephesians 3:16; II Timothy 1:14;
6. Man
We believe that man, originally created in the image, and after the likeness of God, fell from his high and holy estate through disobedience to God. As a result, the threatened penalty of death was then and there inflicted, so that he totally lost all spiritual life and began to lose his physical life. This Spiritual Death, or total corruption of human nature, has been transmitted to the entire race of mankind. Hence every person is born with a sinful nature, and is dead in trespasses and sins. Genesis 1:26; Genesis 2:17; Genesis 6:5; Psalm 51:5; Isaiah 64:6; Jeremiah 17:9; Romans 3:10-12,23; Romans 5:12-19; Ephesians 2:1-3
7. Salvation
We believe that salvation is wholly a work of God's grace, and that upon the sinner's repentance and personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ that his sins are forgiven and Divine righteousness is imputed to him. This salvation is available for all humanity. Acts 15:11; Acts 13:39; Romans 3:22-24; Romans 5:1; Romans 6:23; Romans 10:9-13; Galatians 2:16; Ephesians 2:8,9; I Timothy 2:4-6; Titus 2:11; Titus 3:4-7; I John 2:2;
8. The Blood of Christ
We believe that our redemption has been accomplished solely by the blood of our Lord Jesus Christ. Without the shedding of blood there is no remission for sins. His blood provides for our atonement and is the propitiation for our sins. Leviticus 17:11; Matthew 26:28; Romans 5:8,9; Ephesians 1:7; Hebrews 9:12-14,9:22; I Peter 1:18,19; I John 2:2; Revelation 1:5
9. Regeneration
We believe that the Holy Spirit is the Supernatural agent in regeneration. No man can see the Kingdom of God unless he is born of the Spirit of God, and of the Word of God. Hence he becomes a new creature in Jesus Christ. John 3:5-8; II Corinthians 5:17; Galatians 6:15; Titus 3:5; I Peter 2:23; I John 5:1
10. Eternal Security
We believe in the eternal security of all who are actually born-again by the Spirit of God and that it is the privilege of all such to be assured of their present salvation and eternal safety. John 5:24; John 10:28,29; Romans 8:33-39; Philippians 1:6; II Timothy 1:12; Hebrews 7:25
11. Sanctification
We believe that the members of the Body of Christ are sanctified ones; are perfected as to their standing forever by the one suffering of the blood of Christ, and are one with Christ in sanctification. As to their state, they may be sanctified with the constant washing of water by the Word, by the blood of Christ, and by the in-working presence and power of the Holy Spirit. John 17:17-19; Romans 15:16; I Corinthians 1:30; I Corinthians 6:11; Ephesians 5:25-27; Hebrews 2:11; Hebrews 10:10; Hebrews 13:12; Jude 1
12. Baptism with the Holy Spirit
We believe this is a ministry of the Holy Spirit, that takes place at the moment of salvation, whereby the believing person is taken out of his old position in Adam and placed into a new position in Christ. He is hence placed into the body of Christ, and becomes part of the family of God. I Corinthians 12:13; Galatians 3:27
13. The Church
We believe that the Scripture teaches that all born-again believers belong to the Church of Jesus Christ, which is His body. The Church is seen in the Scripture in a two-fold manner; the Universal Church; and the Local Church.
The Universal Church is the overall group of believers from the start of the Church, on the Day of Pentecost until now, who are both in Heaven and on Earth. This is the invisible concept of the Church.
The Local Church refers to those numerous assemblies of believers scattered throughout the world, in any given locality. This is the visible aspect of the Church.
Acts 14:23; Acts 20:28; Romans 12:5; I Corinthians 12:12-27; Ephesians 1:22,23; Ephesians 4:11,12; Colossians 1:18-24; Revelation 1:20
14. The Second Coming of the Lord Jesus Christ
We hold to the pre-millennial view of the coming of Jesus Christ. We believe that the Lord will first descend from Heaven, and that all Christians will be changed and caught up in the Rapture. At this time the dead in Christ will also be raised incorruptible, and be caught up to be with Him. Later, after the seven years Great Tribulation, the Lord Jesus will descend from Heaven and set up His righteous kingdom upon the Earth. This kingdom will be known as the thousand year millennial reign. II Samuel 7:16; Psalm 72:7,8; Isaiah 9:6,7; Micah 5:2; John 14:1-3; I Corinthians 15:51-53; I Thessalonians 2:1; I Thessalonians 4:13-18; Titus 2:13; Hebrews 9:28; Revelation 19:11-21
15. The Resurrection of the Body
We believe that Jesus Christ rose from the dead, according to the Scriptures, in bodily form, and thus became the first-fruits of them that are dead; that upon His return in the air He will raise out from among the dead, those that have died in Christ, this being the first resurrection. After the thousand year millennium, He will raise them that died in unbelief from their graves to receive their sentence. Those that sleep in the graves, refer to the bodies of human beings. At death their soul and spirit depart either to Heaven or Hell, while their body returns to dust, to await the resurrection day. Psalm 90:3,4; Isaiah 26:19; Daniel 12:2; John 5:28,29; Romans 1:4; Romans 8:23; I Corinthians 15; II Corinthians 5:1-6,8; Revelation 20:5-6; Revelation 11-15
16. Heaven, Hell and the Lake of Fire
We believe that at death, only two places await the human being. Heaven is God's place of eternal blessedness for all those who have repented and received the Lord Jesus Christ, and Hell is God's place of punishment for all those who reject the Lord Jesus Christ. Eternal life in Heaven will never cease, and eternal punishment in hellfire will never be over. After the last judgment, Hell and those imprisoned there will be cast into the Lake of Fire to remain forever, in varying degrees of torment according to their works. Daniel 12:3; Daniel 7:22-27; Matthew 6:20; Matthew 25:46; Luke 16:19-31; John 14:2; Romans 8:17; I Thessalonians 4:17; II Thessalonians 1:7-9; Revelation 20:11-15; Revelation 21:8
17. Satan
We believe that Satan is a person, the father of lies, a murderer from the beginning, and the great deceiver of all nations. He was once an angel in Heaven, but was cast out by God when he sought to take over God's throne. He now roams to and fro upon his Earth seeking to blind the unsaved to the Gospel and seeking to defeat God's children. He was defeated by the Lord Jesus Christ on Calvary, and will someday be cast into the Lake of Fire along with those evil angels that follow him. Genesis 3:15; Job 1:6-12; Isaiah 14:12-15; John 8:44; II Corinthians 4:4; II Corinthians 11:13-15; Ephesians 6:12-16; I Peter 5:8; Revelation 20:7-10
18. Gifts of the Holy Spirit
We believe that the Holy Spirit gives gifts to men; special abilities by which believers can faithfully serve the Lord Jesus Christ. These gifts are given at the moment of salvation, and are to be exercised and developed by continual use. Some of these gifts such as that of the Apostles: miracles, healing, tongues, interpretation of tongues, and prophecy have passed away. They played a key role in the beginning of the early church, and gradually became unnecessary as the New Testament Scriptures came into being. Romans 12:5-8; I Corinthians 12:12; I Corinthians 13:8-12; II Corinthians 12:12; Ephesians 4:8-12; Hebrews 2:3,4
19. Divine Healing
We believe that Divine Healing of the body is not in the atonement, in the sense that salvation and forgiveness of sins are in the atonement. The gift of being able to heal people is not God-given today. Healing today takes place by faithful prayers of individuals, and by calling the leaders of the Church to pray over the sick person. Matthew 7:7; James 5:13-16
20. Baptism
We believe that our Lord and Savior clearly prescribed for His believing disciples the simple rite of Baptism by immersion, as a symbol and proclamation of the sinner's death to sin, and his resurrection in newness of life in Christ Jesus. Matthew 28:19,20; Acts 2:38; Acts 6:36-39; Acts 8:12; Romans 6:4,5
21. The Lord's Supper
We believe that our Lord and Savior clearly prescribed for His believing disciples the solemn rite of the Lord's Supper as a memorial of the death to be kept by His disciples until He comes again, according to His promise and the Father's revealed plan. Luke 22:19,20; I Corinthians 11:23-27
22. Separation
We believe that the Scripture teaches that the individual Christian, and the local church, is to maintain a stand of separation from worldly and sinful practices of this age; while also standing against apostasy, modernism and false doctrine, even when this is found among other believing Christians. Isaiah 52:11; Romans 16:17; II Corinthians 6:14-18; Ephesians 5:11; II Thessalonians 3:6; I Timothy 6:5; I Timothy 3:5; Titus 2:12; II John 10; James 4:4
