Our Faith

• Scriptural Authority: That the Scriptures, both the Old and New Testaments, are verbally inspired by God and are the only written revelation of God to man, the infallible, authoritative rule of faith and conduct. References include 2 Timothy 3:15-17, 1 Thessalonians 2:13, and 2 Peter 1:21 [KJV].

• Nature of God: That the one true God has revealed Himself as the eternally self-existent "I AM," the Creator of heaven and earth and the Redeemer of mankind. He has further revealed Himself as embodying the principles of relationship and association as Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Referenced scriptures include Deuteronomy 6:4, Isaiah 43:10-11, Matthew 28:19, and Luke 3:22 [KJV].

• Lord Jesus Christ: In the Lord Jesus Christ as the eternal Son of God, emphasizing His virgin birth (Matthew 1:23, Luke 1:31, Luke 1:35 [KJV]), His sinless life (Hebrews 7:26, 1 Peter 2:22 [KJV]), His miracles (Acts 2:22, Acts 10:38 [KJV]), His substitutionary work on the cross (1 Corinthians 15:3, 2 Corinthians 5:21 [KJV]), His bodily resurrection from the dead (Matthew 28:6, Luke 24:39, 1 Corinthians 15:4 [KJV]), and His exaltation to the right hand of God (Acts 1:9, Acts 1:11, Acts 2:33, Philippians 2:9-11, Hebrews 1:3 [KJV]).

• Human Condition: *That man was created good, perfect, and upright; for God said, "Let us make man in our image, after our likeness." However, man by voluntary transgression fell and thereby incurred not only physical death but also spiritual death, which is separation from God. Genesis 1:26-27, Genesis 2:17, Genesis 3:6, Romans 5:12-19 [KJV].

• Redemption through Christ: That man's only hope of redemption is through the shed blood of Jesus Christ the Son of God. Conditions to Salvation include salvation being received through repentance toward God and faith toward the Lord Jesus Christ. By the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost, being justified by grace through faith, man becomes an heir of God, according to the hope of eternal life. References include Luke 24:47, John 3:3, Romans 10:13-15, Ephesians 2:8, Titus 2:11, Titus 3:5-7 [KJV].

• Evidence of Salvation: The inward evidence of salvation is the direct witness of the Spirit (Romans 8:16 [KJV]). The outward evidence to all men is a life of righteousness and true holiness (Ephesians 4:24, Titus 2:12 [KJV]).

• Baptism and Lord's Supper: That the ordinance of baptism by immersion is commanded by the Scriptures. All who repent and believe on Christ as Saviour and Lord are to be baptized, thus declaring to the world that they have died with Christ and that they also have been raised with Him to walk in newness of life. References include Matthew 28:19, Mark 16:16, Acts 10:47-48, Romans 6:4 [KJV]. That the Lord's Supper, consisting of the elements—bread and the fruit of the vine—is the symbol expressing our sharing the divine nature of our Lord Jesus Christ (2 Peter 1:4 [KJV]), a memorial of his suffering and death (1 Corinthians 11:26 [KJV]), and a prophecy of His second coming, enjoined on all believers "till He come!"

• Promise of the Father: That all believers are entitled to and should ardently expect and earnestly seek the promise of the Father, the baptism in the Holy Ghost and fire, according to the command of our Lord Jesus Christ. This was the normal experience of all in the early Christian Church, bringing the enduement of power for life and service, the bestowment of the gifts and their uses in the work of the ministry. Relevant passages include Luke 24:49, Acts 1:4, Acts 1:8, 1 Corinthians 12:1-31 [KJV], with the experience being distinct from and subsequent to the experience of the new birth (Acts 8:12-17, Acts 10:44-46, Acts 11:14-16, Acts 15:7-9 [KJV]).

• Sanctification: That sanctification is an act of separation from that which is evil, and of dedication unto God. The Scriptures teach a life of "holiness without which no man shall see the Lord" (Hebrews 12:14 [KJV]). By the power of the Holy Ghost, we are able to obey the command: "Be ye holy, for I am holy" (1 Peter 1:15,16 [KJV]). Sanctification is realized in the believer by recognizing his identification with Christ in His death and resurrection, and by faith reckoning daily upon the fact of that union, and by offering every faculty continually to the dominion of the Holy Spirit. Key references include Romans 6:1-11, Romans 6:13, Romans 8:1,2, Romans 8:13, Galatians 2:20, Philippians 2:12,13, 1 Peter 1:5 [KJV].

• The Church's Mission: That the Church is the Body of Christ, the habitation of God through the Spirit, with divine appointments for the fulfillment of her great commission. Each believer, born of the Spirit, is an integral part of the general assembly and Church of the Firstborn, which are written in heaven (Ephesians 1:22,23, Ephesians 2:22, Hebrews 12:23 [KJV]). God's purpose concerning man is to seek and to save that which is lost, to be worshipped by man, and to build a body of believers in the image of His Son, to be an agency of God for evangelizing the world (Acts 1:8, Matthew 28:19,20, Mark 16:15,16 [KJV]), to be a corporate body in which man may worship God (1 Corinthians 12:13 [KJV]), to be a channel of God's purpose to build a body of saints being perfected in the image of His Son (Ephesians 4:11-16, 1 Corinthians 12:28, 1 Corinthians 14:12 [KJV]), that the Church exists expressly to give continuing emphasis to this reason for being in the New Testament apostolic pattern by teaching and encouraging believers to be baptized in the Holy Spirit. This experience enables them to evangelize in the power of the Spirit with accompanying supernatural signs (Mark 16:15-20, Acts 4:29-31, Hebrews 2:3,4 [KJV]), adds a necessary dimension to worshipful relationship with God (1 Corinthians 2:10-16, 1 Corinthians 12, 1 Corinthians 13, 1 Corinthians 14 [KJV]), enables them to respond to the full working of the Holy Spirit in expression of fruit and gifts and ministries as in New Testament times for the edifying of the body of Christ (Galatians 5:22-26, 1 Corinthians 14:12, Ephesians 4:11,12, 1 Corinthians 12:28, Colossians 1:29 [KJV]).

• Divine Healing and Final Events: That divine healing is an integral part of the gospel. Deliverance from sickness is provided for in the atonement, and is the privilege of all believers (Isaiah 53:4,5, Matthew 8:16,17, James 5:14-16 [KJV]). That the resurrection of those who have fallen asleep in Christ and their translation together with those who are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord is the imminent and blessed hope of the church (1 Thessalonians 4:16,17, Romans 8:23, Titus 2:13, 1 Corinthians 15:51,52 [KJV]). *That the second coming of Christ includes the rapture of the saints, which is our blessed hope, followed by the visible return of Christ with His saints to reign on earth for one thousand years (Zechariah 14:5, Matthew 24:27, Matthew 24:30, Revelation 1:7, Revelation 19:11-14, Revelation 20:1-6 [KJV]). This millennial reign will bring the salvation of national Israel (Ezekiel 37:21,22, Zephaniah 3:19,20, Romans 11:26,27 [KJV]) and the establishment of universal peace (Isaiah 11:6-9, Psalms 72:3-8, Micah 4:3,4 [KJV]).

• Final Judgment: That there will be a final judgment in which the wicked dead will be raised and judged according to their works. Whosoever is not found written in the Book of Life, together with the devil and his angels, the beast and the false prophet, will be consigned to the everlasting punishment in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone, which is the second death (Matthew 25:46, Mark 9:43-48, Revelation 19:20, Revelation 20:11-15, Revelation 21:8 [KJV]).

• New Creation: *That "We, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth wherein dwelleth righteousness." (2 Peter 3:13, Revelation 21, Revelation 22 [KJV]).

Original And Current Statement Of Faith