What do we believe?

The Scripture Inspired

The scriptures, both the Old and New Testaments, are verbally inspired by God and are the revelation of God to man, the rule of faith and conduct. (2 Tim. 3:15-17, 1 Thess. 2:13, 2 Peter 1:21).

The One True God

The one true God has revealed himself as the eternally self-existent "I AM," the Creator of heaven and earth, the Redeemer of mankind. He has further revealed himself as embodying the principles of relationship and association as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (Deut. 6:4, Isaiah 43:10-11, Matt. 28:19, Luke 3:22).

The Fall of Man

Man was created good and upright; for God said, "Let us make man in our image, after our likeness." However, man by voluntary transgression fell and thereby incurred not only physical death but also spiritual death, which is separation from God (Gen. 1:26-27, 2:17, 3:6, Romans 5:12-19).

The Salvation of Man

Man's only hope of redemption is through the shed blood of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

 

• Conditions of Salvation:

     Salvation is received through repentance toward God and faith toward the Lord Jesus Christ (Luke 24:47, John 3:3, Romans 10:13-15, Eph. 2:8, Titus 2:11, 3:5-7).      • Evidences of Salvation:

     The inward evidence of salvation is the direct witness of the Spirit (Romans 8:16). The outward evidence to all men is a life of righteousness and true holiness (Eph. 4:24, Titus 2:12).

Water Baptism

The ordinance of baptism by immersion is commanded in the Scriptures. We believe that both baptizing in "The Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit" and baptizing in "The Name of our Lord Jesus Christ" is acceptable to God. We also believe that the person should be of the age of understanding. All who repent and believe on Christ as Savior and Lord are to be baptized. Thus, they declare to the world that they have died with Christ and that they have also been raised with him to walk in the newness of life (Matt. 28:19, Mark 16:16, Acts 10:47-48, Romans 6:4).

The Lord's Supper (Communion)

The Lord's Supper, consisting of the elements—bread and fruit of the vine—is the symbol expressing our sharing in the divine nature of our Lord Jesus Christ (2 Peter 1:4); a memorial of His suffering and death (1 Cor. 11:26); and a prophecy of His second coming (1 Cor. 11:26); and is enjoined on all believers "till He comes!"

The Baptism of the Holy Spirit

All believers are entitled to and should ardently expect and earnestly seek the promise of the Father, the baptism of the Holy Spirit, according to the command of our Lord Jesus Christ. This was the normal experience of all in the early Christian Church. With it comes the endowment of power for life and service, the bestowment of the gifts and their uses in the work of the ministry (Luke 24:49, Acts 1:4-8, 1 Cor. 12:1-31). This experience is distinct from and subsequent to the experience of the new birth (Acts 8:12-17, 10:44-46; 11:14-16, 15:7-9). With the baptism of the Holy Spirit come such experiences as an overflowing fullness of the Spirit (John 7:37-39, Acts 4:8), a deepend reverence for God (Acts 2:43, Heb. 12:28), an intensified consecration to God and dedication to His work (Acts 2:42), and more active love for Christ, for His Word, and for the lost (Mark 16:20).

Sanctification

Sanctification is an act of separation from that which is evil and of dedication unto God (Romans 12:1-2, 1 Thess. 5:23, Heb. 13:12). The Scriptures teach a life of "holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord" (Heb. 12:14). By the power of the Holy Spirit, we are able to obey the command: "Be ye holy, for I am holy." We believe the doctrine of sanctification (the call to be perfected) as a definite yet progressive work of grace

The Ministry

We believe in the ministry as recorded in Ephesians 4, as a divine calling or gift as an apostle, prophet, evangelist, pastor, or teacher; these being for the perfecting of the saints and the edifying of the Body of Christ. A divinely-called and scripturally-ordained ministry has been provided by our Lord for a threefold purpose of leading the church in:      • Evangelizing the world (Mark 16:15-20)

• Worshiping God (John 4:23-24)

• Building a body of saints being perfected in the image of His Son (Eph. 4:11-16)

Praise & Worship

We believe in congregational praise and worship as revealed in the Old & New Testaments. God's Word clearly commands us to praise and worship our God. We believe that praise includes the expresssions of lifting hands, shouting to the Lord, dancing, clapping hands, singing, playing all types of instruments, bowing, crying, etc. All of these expressions are found in the Word.

Tithing

We believe that tithing is God's plan and that it is in the best interest of every believer (Malachi 3:8-12, Matt 23:23).