We Believe…

The One True God

We believe that the one true God has revealed Himself as the eternally self-existent I AM, the Creator of heaven and earth and the Redeemer of mankind. He has further revealed Himself as embodying the principles of relationship and association as Father, Son and Holy Spirit or the tri-unity of the Godhead (Deut 6:4, Isa 43:10-11, Matthew 28:19, Luke 3:22, Phil 2:6 ).

The Bible Inspired

We believe that the Bible, the accepted Canon of the Sacred Scriptures, is a supreme revelation verbally inspired by God to man, superior to conscience and reason, though not contrary to reason, and is therefore our infallible, authoritative rule of faith and practice (John 17:17, Rom 12:1-2; 1 Thessalonians 2:13; 2 Tim 3:15-17; 2 Pet 1:19-21).

The Deity of the Lord Jesus Christ

We therefore believe that Jesus Christ came into the world to reveal the Father and was the brightness of His Glory and the express image of His Person, that Jesus Christ was the Creator of all things, for by Him the worlds were made. The Lord Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God. The Scriptures declare: His virgin birth (Isaiah 9:6-7, Matthew 1:23, Luke 1:30-35), His sinless life (Hebrews 7:26; 1 Peter 2:22), His miracles (Acts 2:22, Acts 10:38), His substitutionary work on the cross (1 Corinthians 15:3; 2 Corinthians 5:21), His bodily resurrection from the dead (Matthew 28:6, Luke 24:39; 1 Corinthians 15:4), and His exaltation to the right hand of God (Acts 1:9, Acts 1:11, Acts 2:33, Philippians 2:9-11, Hebrews 1:3).

The Lordship of Christ

Wherefore, we acknowledge the Lordship of Jesus Christ over all things in heaven, and in the earth and under the earth (Matthew 28:18, Acts 2:36, Romans 10:1-13; 1 Cor 12:3, Phil 2:9-10).

The Fall of Man

We believe that “…as by one man sin entered into the world and death by sin….”  Man, by their voluntary transgression, fell from a state of righteousness and holiness in which he was first created, into a state of death in trespasses and sin nature, and thereby incurred not only spiritual death (which the Bible defines as separation from God) and depravity and but also physical death. In this state of separation from God, he is held as a slave of sin nature (Eph 1:1-3) until he is delivered by the power of the Gospel of the Kingdom of God (Genesis 1:26-27, Genesis 2:17, Genesis 3:6, Ps 51:5, John 8:32-36, Rom 5:8-21, Rom 6:23).

The New Birth

The New Birth is God’s remedy for the issue of corrupted nature. We believe the words of Jesus that “Ye must be born again”, that being born again signifies the partaking in the death, burial, quickening and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ ( Eph 2:4-10, John 3:3-7; 1 Peter 1:23; 1 Corinthians 15:1-4; Titus 3:4-7). We assert on the infallibility of Scripture that the New Birth is unconditionally and absolutely necessary for all men and, when experienced, produces eternal life and union once again with God (2 Cor 7:10; 1 John 5:12; 1 Cor 6:17). We further believe that the emphasis for a continual walk in grace should be of heart righteousness and purity. We hold that all believers must live a pure life, being an example to both the believing and the unbelieving (Rom 4:1-5; 2 Cor 7:1; Col 4:5; 1 Thessalonians 4:12).

A Real Hell and Eternal Separation from God

The one who physically dies in sin nature apart from having received the salvation made available in Christ Jesus, sadly, is hopelessly and eternally lost. There is, therefore, 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 endlessness as those used in denoting the duration of joy and ecstasy of saints in the Presence of God (Heb 9:27, Revelations 19:20).

The Church of the Lord Jesus Christ

We believe that all who put their faith in Jesus Christ immediately become members of the Church corporate, the body of Christ, of which He is the Head. We believe that we are one with Him, joined inseparably and eternally through the completed work of redemption.  As such, we are members one of another, divinely conjoined in the power of the Spirit.  By definition, then, the Church is not a specific organization nor a physical structure but rather the corporate expression (Greek: eikon) of the Risen, Glorified Christ in the earth and the habitation of the God through the Holy Spirit. (Eph 1:22-23; 1 Cor 6:17; 1 Cor 12:12-27; Eph 2:5-6, Eph 2:15-16; 1 John 4:17, et al).

The Local Expression of the Church

We believe in the autonomy of the local expression of the Church--regardless of how small or large the locality may be--and in adherence to the Scriptural revelation of its life, ministry, and worship (Mt 18:20, Eph 4:6, Eph 5:18-20, Phil 3:3, Col 3:16; 1 Tim 3, Titus 1:5-9, Heb 10:25, Heb 13:15-17). Among other things, we believe it is an agency for evangelizing the world (Matthew 28:19-20, Mark 16:15-16, Acts 1:8), a place of gathering in which men may worship God (1 Cor 12:13), and a channel of God’s purpose to build a body of saints being perfected in the image of His Son (1 Cor 12:28; 1 Cor 14:12, Eph 4:11-16).

The Person and Ministry of the Holy Spirit

We believe in the present supernatural ministry of the Third Person of the Godhead, the Holy Spirit Who, among other things, bestows spiritual endowments (1 Cor 12:1-10); Who speaks on behalf of the Father and shows us things to come (John 16:13); Who takes hold together with us against our infirmities (Rom 8:26-27); Who builds us up in our most holy faith as we pray in our Heavenly language (Jude 20); Who quickens our mortal bodies (Rom 8:11); Who has been sent as a Comforter, Teacher and Guide (John 14:16, John 14:26); Who testifies regarding Jesus (John 17:26, Rev 19:10); Who, by indwelling the believer, is the earnest deposit and guarantee evidencing the Father’s unchanging love and eternal promise given us in Christ Jesus (1 John 4:13; 2 Cor 1:22; 2 Cor 5:5).

The Baptism of the Holy Spirit

The Baptism in the Holy Ghost and fire is a gift from God as promised by the Lord Jesus to all believers in this dispensation and is received subsequent to the New Birth (Matthew 3:11, John 14:16-17, Acts 1:8, Acts 19:1-7). We believe that the Baptism of the Holy Spirit is an important and necessary experience in the life of every believer, which is not dependent upon a believer’s worthiness, but is a free gift of God. (John 3:3-7, Acts 2:38, Eph 1:13). We therefore believe that all believers are entitled to, and should ardently expect to receive the promise of the Father, the Baptism in the Holy Spirit, according to the command of our Lord Jesus Christ. This was the normal experience of all believers in the early Christian Church (Luke 24:29, Acts 1:4-8, Acts 2:1-4, Acts 11:14-16). The initial physical sign of the believer’s baptism in the Holy Spirit is the speaking with other tongues (languages) as the Holy Spirit gives utterance (Mark 16:17). The utterance given by the Holy Spirit is always something to which the believer must yield and, as such, freely choose by an act of their will to speak forth (Isa 28:11-12, Ezekiel 36:26, Romans 8:26-27, Acts 2:4, Acts 10:44-48, Acts 19:6, 1 Cor 1:4-7; 1 Cor 14).

The Sacraments of Holy Communion and Water Baptism

The Lord’s Supper, consisting of bread and the fruit of the vine, is an expression of faith in our sharing the divine nature of our Lord Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 10:16-17), and is enjoined on all believers until He comes (1 Corinthians 11:16). 

Baptism, by immersion in water, is man's declaration to the world that he has died with Christ and has been raised up together with Him to walk in the newness of life (Matthew 28:19; Romans 6:4; Colossians 2:12). It is an outward sign ordained by God to illustrate visually the inward work effected by the New Birth (see above). Therefore, water baptism, of itself, is not the agent of regeneration but rather a divine illustration of the supernatural work the Spirit of God has done in the heart of the individual believer. 

Divine Healing Of the Body

Healing is for the physical ills of the human body and the emotional ills of the soul and is wrought by and through the power of God.  We proclaim healing to be an inseparable and indistinguishable part of the completed work of redemption; therefore, it always has been and always will be the loving provision of God to all mankind.  No aspect of the completed work of redemption—especially healing—has been removed or allowed to expire from the New Covenant which has been sealed and ratified eternally in the shed blood of Jesus Christ (Isaiah 53:1-10, Matthew 8:16-17, Acts 4:30, Mark 16:18; 1 Peter 2:24; James 5:14-16, et al).

The Tithe, Tithing and Offerings

Simply stated the tithe is Holy and, regardless of covenant or dispensation, has always belonged to the Lord! PERIOD! On this basis alone, we strive to honor Him as the Creator of Heaven and Earth by communing with Him in the biblical principle of tithing. We believe that the tithe and tithing predate the Mosaic Law, as any casual reading of Scripture will confirm. The hermeneutical rule of First Mention unequivocally establishes it as a biblical principle of covenant relationship, uniquely and intimately pictured by the divine exchange that defines it. Our heart attitude of love and reverential awe joyfully and expectantly motivates us to honor the King of Glory and His High Priest in this manner.

Additionally, the giving of freewill offerings is to be practiced continually by all believers and is an outward expression of our faith and confidence in the Lordship of Jesus and in the sovereignty of the laws of seedtime and harvest that define the operation of the kingdom of God. (Genesis 14:18-20, Genesis 28:20-22, Lev 27:30-32, Prov 3:9-10, Prov 10:22, Matthew 23:23; 1 Cor 16:1-2; 2 Cor 8:9; 2 Cor 9:6-15; Phil 4:14-19, Heb 6:20, Heb 7:1-10).

The Blessed Hope

We believe in the resurrection of those who are dead in Christ and their translation together with those who are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord is the imminent and blessed hope of the church (John 5:28-29, Romans 8:23; 1 Cor 15:51-52; 1 Cor 16:22; 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17; Titus 2:13).

The Personal Return of Our Lord

We believe in the personal return of our Lord and the restitution of all things spoken by the mouth of all the prophets since the world began (Matthew 23:39, Matthew 25:31, Matthew 24:42-44, Mark 14:62, Acts 1:11, Acts 3:19-21; 1 Thessalonians 4:14-18).

The Final Judgment

We believe that the fearful, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, fornicators, sorcerers, idolaters, and liars shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone, which is the second death (Matthew 24:36-51, Matthew 25:46, Rom 6:23; 2 Thessalonians 1:5-9; Revelations 20:11-15, Revelations 21:8).

The New Heaven and New Earth

We believe that there shall be a new heaven and a new earth wherein dwelleth righteousness (Isa 65:17, Isa 66:22; 2 Pet 3:13; Revelations 21:1).