MAN, HIS FALL AND REDEMPTION -- We
believe 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. "All have
sinned, and come short of the glory of God." "As it is written,
There is none righteous, no, not one." Jesus Christ, the Son of God, was
manifested to undo the work of the devil and gave His life and shed his blood
to redeem and restore man back to God. Rom. 5:14, Rom. 3:10; Rom. 3:23, 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.
ETERNAL LIFE AND THE NEW BIRTH -- We
believe man's first step toward salvation is godly sorrow that works repentance. The New Birth is necessary to all men, and when fulfilled produces
eternal life. 2 Cor. 7:10; 1 John 5:12; John 3:3-5.
WATER BAPTISM -- We
believe 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.
BAPTISM IN THE HOLY GHOST -- We
believe 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 and is received
subsequent to the New Birth. This experience is evidenced by the initial
physical sign of speaking with other tongues as the Spirit gives utterance,
and by the subsequent manifestation of spiritual power in public testimony and
service. Acts 2:4; Acts 19:2; Acts 1:8; Matt. 3:11; John 14:16,17; Acts
2:38-39, 42-43; Acts 10:44-46.
THE SCRIPTURES -- We
believe the Bible to be the inspired and only infallible authoritative Word of
God, which we accept as our guide in matters pertaining to conduct and
doctrine. 2 Tim. 3:16; 1 Thess. 2:13.
THE GODHEAD -- We
believe that there is one God, eternally existent in three persons: Father,
Son, and Holy Spirit. 1 John 5:6-8.
JESUS CHRIST -- We
believe in the deity of our Lord Jesus Christ, in His virgin birth, in His
sinless life, in His miracles, in His vicarious and atoning death through His
shed blood, in His bodily resurrection, in His ascension to the right hand of
the Father, and in His personal return in power and glory. 1 Cor. 15:3-4; 1
Pet. 2:18-24; John 3:16.
DIVINE HEALING -- We
believe healing is for the physical 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. Mark 16:18; Jas. 5:14-25; 1 Pet. 2:24; Matt. 8:17;
Is. 53:4,5.
RESURRECTION OF THE JUST AND THE
RETURN OF OUR LORD -- We believe the angels said,
"This same Jesus shall so come in like manner." 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.
HELL AND ETERNAL RETRIBUTION -- The
one who physically dies in his sins without 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.
GIFTS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT -- We
believe that the gifts of the Holy Spirit are given to the church for its
edification and to enhance its ability to minister in power and demonstration
of the Holy Ghost. 1 Cor. 12:1-11; 1 Cor. 14. |
