OUR BELIEFS

THE BIBLE

The Holy Bible, and only the Bible, is the authoritative Word of God. It alone is the final

authority for determining all doctrinal truths. The Bible is inspired, infallible and inerrant. (see

Prov. 30:5; Rom. 16:25,26; 2 Tim. 3:16; 2 Pet. 1:20,21)

 

THE TRINITY

There is one God, eternally existent in three persons: Father, Son (Jesus) and Holy Spirit. These

three are co-equal and co-eternal. (see Gen. 1:26; Isa. 9:6; Matt. 3:16,17; 28:19; Luke 1:35;

Heb. 3:7-11; 1 John 5:7)

 

JESUS CHRIST

Jesus Christ is God the Son, the second person of the Trinity. On earth, Jesus was 100-percent

God and 100-percent man. He is the only man ever to have lived a sinless life. He died on the

cross for humankind and, thus, atoned for our sins through the shedding of His blood. He rose

from the dead on the third day according to the Scriptures, ascended to the right hand of the

Father, and will return again in power and glory. (see Isa. 9:6; John 1:1,14; 20:28; Phil. 2:5,6; 1

Tim. 2:5; 3:16)

 

RESURRECTION

Jesus Christ was physically resurrected from the dead in a glorified body three days after His

death on the cross. As a result, both the saved and the lost will be resurrected—they that are

saved to the resurrection of life, and they that are lost to the resurrection of eternal damnation

(see Luke 24:16,36,39; John 2:19-21; 20:26-28; 21:4; Acts 24:15; 1 Cor. 15:42,44)

 

REDEMPTION

Humanity was created good and upright, but through voluntary sin, mankind fell. Humanity’s

only hope for redemption is in Jesus Christ, the Son of God. (see Gen. 1:26-31; 3:1-7; Rom.

5:12-21)

 

SALVATION

We are saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ, His death, burial and resurrection. Salvation

is a gift from God, not a result of our good works or of any human effort. (see Rom. 10:9,10;

Acts 16:31; Gal. 2:16; 3:8; Eph. 2:8,9; Titus 3:5; Heb. 9:22)

 

REPENTANCE

Repentance is a change of thinking, recognizing that a former way of living is inconsistent with

God’s will. Therefore it involves a turning away from sin. (see Rom. 10:9,10; Acts 16:31; Gal.

2:16; 3:8; Eph. 2:8,9; Titus 3:5; Heb. 9:22)

 

BAPTISM IN THE HOLY SPIRIT

Given at Pentecost, the baptism with the Holy Spirit is the promise of the Father. The Holy Spirit

was sent by Jesus after His ascension to empower the Church to preach the gospel throughout the

whole earth. The initial evidence of being filled with the Holy Spirit is the believer speaking in

other tongues, as the Spirit gives him or her utterance. (see Joel 2:28,29; Matt. 3:11; Mark

16:17; Acts 1:5; 2:1-4,17,38,39; 8:14-17; 10:38,44-47; 11:15-17; 19:1-6)

 

SANCTIFICATION

Sanctification is the ongoing process of yielding to God’s Word and His Spirit in order to

complete the development of Christ’s character in us. It is through the present ministry of the

Holy Spirit and the Word of God that the Christian is enabled to live a godly life. see Rom. 8:29;

12:1,2; 2 Cor. 3:18; 6:14-18; 1 Thess. 4:3; 5:23; 2 Thess. 2:1-3; Heb. 2:11)

 

THE CHURCH

The Church is the Body of Christ, the habitation of God through the Spirit, with divine

appointments for the fulfillment of Jesus’ Great Commission. Every person born of the Spirit is

an integral part of the Church as a member of the body of believers. There is a spiritual unity of

all believers in our Lord Jesus Christ. (see John 17:11,20-23; Eph. 1:22; 2:19-22; Heb. 12:23)

 

SACRAMENTS

Water Baptism: Following faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, the new believer is commanded by the

Word of God to be baptized in water in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy

Spirit. see Matt. 28:19; Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; 8:12, 36-38; 10:47-48 The Lord’s Supper: A

unique time of communion in the presence of God when the elements of bread and grape juice

(representing the body and blood of the Lord Jesus Christ) are taken in remembrance of Jesus’

sacrifice on the cross. (see Matt. 26:26-29; 1 Cor. 10:16; 11:23-26)

 

REGENERATION

For anyone to know God, regeneration by the Holy Spirit is absolutely essential. (see Ezek.

36:25-27, John 3:5-8, Titus 3:5)

 

GIFTS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

The Holy Spirit is manifested through a variety of spiritual gifts to build and sanctify the Church,

demonstrate the validity of the resurrection and confirm the power of the gospel. The lists of

these gifts in the Bible are not necessarily exhaustive, and the gifts may occur in various

combinations. All believers are commanded to earnestly desire the manifestation of the gifts in

their lives. These gifts always operate in harmony with the Scriptures and should never be used

in violation of Biblical parameters. (see Rom. 1:11; 12:4-8; 1 Cor. 12:1-31; 14:1-40; Eph. 4:16;

1 Tim. 4:14; 2 Tim. 1:5-16; Heb. 2:4; 1 Pet. 4:10)

 

HEAVEN

Heaven is the eternal dwelling place for all believers in the gospel of Jesus Christ. (see Matt.

5:3,12,20; 6:20; 19:21; 25:34; John 17:24; 2 Cor. 5:1; Heb. 11:16; 1 Pet. 1:4)

 

HELL

After living one’s life on earth, unbelievers will be judged by God and sent to hell where they

will be eternally tormented. (see Matt. 25:41; Mark 9:43-48; Heb. 9:27; Rev. 14:9-11; 20:12-15;

21:8)

 

SECOND COMING OF JESUS

Jesus Christ will physically and visibly return to earth for the second time to establish His

kingdom. This will occur at a date undisclosed by the Scriptures. (see Matt. 24:30; 26:63,64;

Acts 1:9-11; 1 Thess. 4:15-17; 2 Thess. 1:7,8; Rev. 1:7)