What We Believe

We believe in one God manifested in three persons – the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. God the Father is greater than all, the source of the Word (Logos) and the Begetter. Jesus is the Son of God, One with the Father, The Word made flesh, the One begotten, and has existed with the Father from the beginning. The Holy Spirit proceeds forth from both the Father and the Son and is eternal. We believe that the Holy Spirit indwells all believers, conforming them to the image of Christ Jesus. It is the Spirit that reveals truth, comforts and teaches. (John 14:28, John 1:1; Matthew 28:19, 2Cor. 13:14, John 15:26)

We believe in the absolute inspiration of the Scriptures, the Word of God, the product of Holy men of old who spoke and wrote as they were moved by the Holy Spirit. The Church has no authority to establish doctrine or practice contrary to these same Scriptures, which were subsequently accepted as canon by the early Christian Church. (II Timothy 3:16, 1 Thess. 2:13, 2 Pet 1:21)

Our Lord Jesus Christ was begotten, not created. He is truly God, and truly Man. He was born of the virgin Mary, lived a sinless life, died a vicarious and atoning death for the sins of the world, resurrected bodily for our justification, and now reigns in glory until all things be put under His feet. (1 John 5:5; Matthew 1:23; John 16:28; John 1:14; John 1:18; John 1:14; John 10:30)

We believe that man was made in the image of God and is the crown of creation. However, through Adam’s transgression and fall, sin came into the world. He is now by reason of the fall spiritually depraved and alienated from his Creator. “All have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” “As it is written, there is none righteous, no not one”. Apart from God’s grace, he has no ability to attain to his high calling. 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. Salvation is the gift of God to man, separate from works and the law. Salvation is made operative by grace through faith in Jesus Christ and his sacrifice, producing works acceptable to God. (Gen. 1:26-27, 2:16-17; Rom. 5:12; Rom. 3:23; Rom. 3:9-10; 1 Jn. 3:8; Gal. 3:13-14; Eph. 2:8)

Man’s first step toward salvation is repentance and faith in Jesus Christ (his sacrifice and resurrection). The new birth is necessary to all men, and when fulfilled produces eternal life. ( II Cor. 7:10; I John 5:12; John 3:3-5; Rom. 10:9-10)

We believe that those who are called by the name of Jesus Christ should depart from iniquity. We believe in the doctrine of sanctification as a definite, yet progressive work of grace, which begins at the new birth and continues until salvation, is made complete. We acknowledge that sanctification is a work of the Holy Spirit to create in each yielded believer the character of Christ.(Heb. 12:14; 1 Thess. 5:23; 2 Pet. 3:18; 2 Cor. 3:18; Phil. 3:12-14; 1 Cor. 1:30)

We believe that the Baptism in the Holy Spirit is a gift from God as promised by the Lord Jesus Christ to those who are believers and is received subsequent to conversion. The Baptism is an endowment of power, given by God to anoint the believer for sanctification and evangelism. The supernatural gifts of the Holy Spirit are active within the body of Christ until the coming of the Lord. (Mat. 3:11; Jn. 14:16-17; Acts 1:8; Acts 2:38-39; Acts 19: 1-7; Acts 2:4)

We believe in divine physical healing for physical ills of the human body that 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 it is the privilege of every member of the church today. Although God heals through the prayer of faith and by the laying on of hands we recognize that God is not limited to healing solely by these means. (Mark 16:18, James 5:14-20, I Peter 2:24, Matt. 8:17, Isa. 53:4-5)

We believe that the act of laying on of hands is scriptural and may be used by God to transmit or transfer a spiritual quality or gift or to confer an office. Laying on of hands was practiced by the Levitical priesthood. Jesus layed his hands on children in conferring a blessing, and is our grounds for baby dedication instead of baptism. We believe in laying on of hands for healing, to confer office, to receive the Holy Spirit, to receive and cultivate the anointing, and for ordination with impartation of the necessary ministry tools. (Mark 10:13-16; Mark 5:22-23,41; Acts 28:8; Acts 19: 11-12; Acts 6:2-6; Acts 8:16-18; 1 Tim. 4:14)

We believe in the priesthood of the believer. That is, all people born of God, although they may have different callings or gifts, have equal status before, and direct access to their Lord. As priests, we not only offer spiritual worship to God, but we are also obligated to minister to fellow believers as well as unbelievers. (1 Pet. 2:9, Rev. 1:6, Jas. 5:16; Gal. 6:1-2; Rom. 12:1-2)

We believe that the calling of Apostle, Prophet, Evangelist, Pastor, and Teacher are functional within the Body of Christ until the Lord’s return. Furthermore, these ministries are gifts to the church for the purpose of equipping the saints for the work of ministry, that the Body of Christ may be edified. (Eph. 4:11-13)

We believe that all of God’s people are to be buried with our Lord Jesus Christ through baptism in water subsequent to conversion. Baptism in water is by immersion and is a direct commandment of our Lord for those who have been justified by Him. 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). We believe in partaking of the Lord’s Supper to declare the Lord’s death until he comes. The bread symbolizes the Lord’s broken body. The cup represents the new covenant in His blood that provides for us forgiveness, redemption and relationship with God. We are to partake of communion in remembrance of Him. We are to examine ourselves and recognize the significance of the Supper, thus making the Supper, under God, a spiritual means of grace. If we receive of communion unworthily (not giving it proper honor as our salvation), we are guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. (I Cor. 11:23-31; Heb. 9; Is. 53:5)

We believe in a literal resurrection, judgment, heaven, and hell. The bible plainly teaches that there will be a second return of Christ to the Earth and that we can discern the season of His coming, which is right at hand. (1 Thess. 4:16,17; Rev. 20:6; Heb. 9:27; Rev. 19:20; Heb. 6:1-2)