Statement of Faith

The Scriptures…

The Bible is the inspired Word of God – the product of men who spoke and wrote as they were moved by the Holy Spirit. His holy Word is what we accept as our infallible guide in all matters of life and doctrine. (2 Timothy 3:16; 1 Thessalonians 2:13; 2 Peter 1:21)

The Trinity

There is one God, eternally existent in three persons – the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit being coequal. (1 John 5:6-8; Philippians 2:6) God the Father is the sender of the Word. (John 16:28; John 1:14) The Son is the Word made flesh, and has existed with the Father from the beginning. (John 1:1; John 1:18; John 1:14) The Holy Spirit proceeds forth from both the Father and the Son, and is eternal. (John 15:26)

Man, his Fall and Redemption

Man is a created being, made in the likeness and image of God, but through Adam’s fall, sin came into the world. “All have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” Jesus Christ came in the form of man and gave His life to restore us back to God, undoing the work of the devil. (Romans 5:14; Romans 3:10 & 23; 1 John 3:8). Salvation is the gift of God to man, which we receive by faith in Jesus Christ. (Ephesians 2:8)

Eternal Life & New Birth

Man’s first step toward salvation is godly sorrow through repentance. The New Birth is necessary for all men, and when experienced, produces eternal life. (2 Corinthians 7:10, 1 John 5:12; John 3:3-5; Romans 10:9-10)

Hell & Eternal Retribution

The one who dies in his sins without accepting Christ is hopelessly and eternally lost in the Lake of Fire and, therefore, has no further opportunity to hear the Gospel or repent. The terms “eternal” and “everlasting” which are used in describing the duration of the punishment of the damned in the Lake of Fire, carry the same meaning of endless existence as used in denoting the duration of joy and ecstasy of the saints in the presence of God. (Hebrews 9:27; Revelation 20:15)

Water Baptism

Baptism in water 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, His death, burial, and resurrection. (Matthew 28:19; Romans 6:4, Colossians 2:12; Acts 8:36-39)

Baptism in the Holy Spirit

The promise of the baptism in the Holy Spirit as a commensurate experience is available to all believers with the evidence of speaking in other tongues, as well as the demonstration of spiritual power in daily life. (Acts 2:4; Acts 10:44-46; Acts 19:6; Acts 1:8; Mathew 3:11)

Sanctification

The Bible teaches that, without holiness, no man can see the Lord. We believe in the Doctrine of Sanctification as a definite, yet progressive work of grace, beginning at the time of salvation, and continuing until the return of Christ. (Hebrews 12:14; 1 Thessalonians 5:23; 2 Peter 3:18; 1 Corinthians 3:18; Philippians 3:12-14; 1 Corinthians 1:30)

Sexuality

God’s plan is for us to walk in holiness in all areas, especially in what we do with our bodies. God’s Word affirms heterosexual union for married persons and committed celibate behavior for unmarried persons as the only Biblical options for human sexual conduct. All alternative sexual activity outside of heterosexual marriage, such as homosexuality/bisexual practices, adultery, fornication, bestiality, incest, polygamy, pedophilia, and pornography are sin. (Genesis 1:27; 2:24, 1 Thessalonians 4:3-8; Hebrews 13:4; Romans 1:18-32; 1 Corinthians 6:9-11)

Divine Healing

Healing is for the physical ills of the human body, and is available to us by the power of God through the prayer of faith and the laying on of hands. Jesus Christ made this available to all believers at Calvary. (Mark 16:18; James 5:14-15; 1 Peter 2:24; Matthew 8:17; Isaiah 53:4-5)

The Resurrection

Jesus will return to the earth as King of kings and Lord of lords. Those who have died in Christ will rise first and those of us who live will rise to meet Him also. Then God will make all things new – a new heaven and a new earth. His coming is imminent and we must live as such! (Acts 1:11; 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17; Revelation 21:1-8)