What we believe...

1. The Scriptures

The Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments are the inspired Word of God (2 Timothy 3:16) presenting to us the complete revelation of His will for the salvation of men, and constituting the Divine and only rule of Christian faith and practice (2 Peter 1:21).

2. The Godhead

We believe there is but one true and living God, who is everlasting, infinite in power, wisdom and goodness; that He is the Creator of all things, visible and invisible, and preserver of all things (Romans 1:20; Colossians 1:16). In the unit of this Godhead, there are three Persons of one individual essence, who are co-equal, co-existent and co-eternal; namely, the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost (Matthew 3:16,17; Matthew 28:18,19; 2 Corinthians 13:14; John 1:1,2,18; Philippians 2:6; Hebrews 9:14; John 14:26; 15:26; John 10:33) . The Son is the eternally begotten of the Father, and accepted earthly limitations for the purpose of incarnation, being true God and true man; conceived by the Holy Ghost and born of the Virgin Mary. He died upon the cross, the just for the unjust as a substitutionary sacrifice, and all who believe in Him are justified on the grounds of His shed blood. He arose from the dead according to the Scriptures. He is now at the right hand of the Majesty on High as our great High Priest, and He will return again to establish His kingdom of righteousness and justice. The Holy Spirit is a Divine Person, Executive of the Godhead on earth, the Comforter sent by the Lord Jesus Christ to indwell, to guide and to teach the believer, and to convince the world of sin, of righteousness and of judgment.

3. Man, His Fall and Redemption

Man is a created being, made in the likeness and the image of God, but through Adam's transgression and fall, sin came into the world (Romans 5:12). "All have sinned and come short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23). "As it is written, there is none righteous, no not one" (Romans 3:10). 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 (1 John 3:8).

4. Salvation

Salvation is made possible through the meritorious work of Jesus Christ on the cross and through Holy Spirit conviction. Godly sorrow works repentance and makes possible the experience of the new birth, and Christ formed within us is the gift of eternal life (Titus 2:11; Romans 10:13-15; Luke 24:47; Titus 3:5-7). 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 (Ephesians 2:8). Man is a free moral agent and can at any time after the new birth experience turn away from God and die in a state of sin; with the consequences of hell to look forward to.

5. The Church

The true Church, built upon the Foundation of Jesus Christ (I Cor. 3:11; Ephesians 2:20), is the Body of our Lord (Romans 12:5; I Cor. 12:27); Christ being the Head (Ephesians 1:22; Colossians 1:18). Its earthly constituents are all true believers, born again of the Spirit (John 3:6) and of the Word (I Peter 1:23), who are living an overcoming Christian life (Ephesians 5:27; Revelation 21:27). To the Church, through its members, is delegated the various gifts and offices of the Holy Ghost (I Corinthians 12:7-11,27,28) which are necessary for the successful evangelization of the world and the perfecting of the Body of Christ (I Cor. 12:7; Ephesians 4:11,12). This universal, invisible sanctified Church is the chaste virgin Bride of Christ (2 Cor. 11:2); Ephesians 5:26,27; Revelation 21:9,27) and it is for this Bride for whom Jesus Christ returns, just prior to the Great Tribulation, to catch her away and take her to heaven (John 14:23; I Thess. 4:13-18).

6. Ministry

God, through the Holy Spirit, definitely calls such as He desires to serve as evangelists, pastors, and teachers, and specifically endues the one called with the talents and gifts peculiar to that office or offices (Eph. 4:11-13). Under no circumstances should anyone be ordained or set apart to any such office unless the calling is distinct and evident.

7. Water Baptism

Baptism in water is by immersion, and is a direct commandment of our Lord (Matthew 28:19), and is for believers only. The ordinance is a symbol of the Christian's identification with Christ in His death, burial and resurrection (Romans 6:4; Colossians 2:12; Acts 8:36-39), The following recommendation regarding water baptism formula is adopted, to wit: "On the confession of your faith in the Lord Jesus Christ the Son of God, and by His authority, I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen."

8. Baptism in the Holy Ghost

 The Baptism of the Holy Ghost and fire (Matthew 3:11), 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 (John 14:16,17; Acts 1:8; 2:4,38-39; 10:44-48). The Baptism of the Holy Ghost is accompanied by the speaking in other tongues as the Holy Spirit Himself gives utterance as the initial physical sign and evidence (Acts 2:4).

9. Sanctification

The Bible teaches that without holiness no man can see the Lord (Hebrews 12:14). We believe in the doctrine of sanctification as a definite, yet progressive work of grace, commencing at the time of regeneration and continuing until the consummation of salvation (Hebrews 13:12; 2 Thessalonians 2:13; I Peter 1:2; Ephesians 5:26; I Corinthians 6:11; John 17:17; I Thessalonians 5:23).

10. Lord's Supper

The ordinance of the Lord's Supper is a commandment of our Savior; and being a memorial to His death and resurrection, is strictly limited to Christian believers (I Corinthians 11:27). The time and frequency of its observance is left to the discretion of each congregation (I Corinthians 11:26). Only unfermented grape juice, the fruit of the vine, as recommended by our Lord (Matthew 26:29; Mark 14:25; Luke 22:18) shall be used in connection therewith.

 11. Foot Washing

Foot washing is recognized among many believers as a Christian practice, and the time, manner and frequency of its observance is left to the discretion of each local congregation (John 13).

12. Divine Healing

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 (Mark 16:18; James 5:14,15); it is provided for in the atonement of Christ, and is available to all who truly believe.

13. The Resurrection of the Just

The Bible promises, " This same Jesus shall so come in like manner" (Acts 1:11). His coming is imminent; when He comes, "The dead in Christ shall rise first: then we which are alive and remain shall be caught together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air" (I Thessalonians 4:16,17). Following the tribulation, He shall return to earth, as King of kings, and Lord of lords, and together with His saints, who shall be kings and priests He shall reign a thousand years (Revelation 20:6).

14. Setting a Time for the Lord's Return

 It is unwise to teach that the Lord will come at some specified time, thereby setting a date for His appearing, and it is also unwise to teach, preach, or publish visions of numbers and dates which would tend to fix the time of the second coming of the Lord (Mark 13:32,33). 

15. The Coming of the Lord

We believe the Bible presents the coming of Christ as personal imminent, pre-tribulational and pre-millennial. We further contend that this position alone admonishes watchfulness, incites holy living, prevents spiritual declension and provides maximum incentive and motive for urgency and zeal in evangelizing the unsaved. As demonic deception and Satanic darkness deepens, we urge our ministers to maintain and proclaim this doctrinal viewpoint as the "blessed hope" of the Church.       Furthermore, we recommend that should any of our preachers hold to the mid- or post-tribulation doctrine they refrain from preaching and teaching it. Should they persist in emphasizing this doctrine to the point of making it an issue, their standing in the fellowship will be seriously affected.

16. 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 for repentance (Hebrews 9:27). The lake of fire is literal (Revelation 19:20). The terms "eternal" and "everlasting" punishment of the damned (Matthew 25:41-46) 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. 

17. Relation to War

Whereas, We believe that government is ordained of God; and Whereas, we are thankful to the government of the United States of America for freedom to worship God according to the dictates of our conscience; and Whereas, there are those within our church organization who conscientiously object to bearing of arms in the time of war; be it Resolved, That we as a church organization affirm their respective right to this conviction as they offer their respective services to our government in any way consistent with non-combative service.

18. Tithes

We recognize the Scriptural duty of all our people, as well as ministers, to pay tithe as unto the Lord (Hebrews 7:8). Tithe should be used for the support of the active ministry and for the propagation of the gospel and work of the Lord in general and not given to charity or used for other purposes (Malachi 3:7-11; Hebrews 7:2; I Corinthians 9:7-11; 16:2). 

 

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