1. We are saved by the shed
blood of Jesus, and there is no other way. (2 Corinthians 7:10).
We believe salvation is given to those who confess Jesus Christ
as Lord and believe that God raised Him from the dead (Romans
10:9). Immediately at this confession, man is then “saved”,
“born-again”, “sealed”, “anointed”, “clothed with power from on
high”, and “baptized with holy spirit” (2 Corinthians 1:21-22,
Ephesians 1:13-14). This baptism in holy spirit is the “one
baptism” referred to in (Ephesians 4:5). This “new birth”
through faith in Jesus Christ insures eternal life for the
believer (John 3:16, 1 John 5:11-12).
2. The in-filling of the Holy
Spirit is a complete work of salvation. We believe the Holy
Spirit is a gift from God as promised by the Lord Jesus Christ
to all believers and is received at the new birth (Matthew 3:11,
John 14:16-17, Acts 1:8; 2:4; 2:38-39; 19:1-7). “The Holy
Spirit” is another name for God, while “holy spirit” is God’s
gift of His divine nature that a person receives when he is born
again, the “spirit of truth” as Jesus promised. Jesus
differentiated between these two when He said, “That which is
born of the Spirit is spirit.” (John 3:6). That is when we start
to spiritually mature in the Lord. (Acts 19:2 KJV) Throughout
the book of Acts the word filled in the Greek meant complete or
completely furnished. It is the baptism of the Holy Spirit with
one of the immediate evidence, speaking in tongues, but it is
not the only evidence.
3. Sanctification: The Bible
teaches that without holiness no man can see the Lord. We
believe in the doctrine of sanctification (to make holy; being
free from sin) as a definite yet progressive work of grace,
starting at the time of salvation and continuing until the
return of our Lord Jesus (Hebrews 12:14, I Thessalonians 5:23,
II Peter 3:18, I Corinthians 1:30, II Corinthians 3:18,
Philippians 3:12-14).
4. The common ground of all
believers is Jesus and his shed blood for us. If any one refuses
this we have no grounds for fellowship. I Cor.2:2
5. The full use of the gifts in
I Cor. 12 and the five-fold ministry is for today and is for the
church to use. All nine “manifestations” of the gift of God
(“holy spirit”) are available, desirable, and profitable to
every believer to operate by faith in conjunction with God’s
energizing. They are wisdom, knowledge, faith, healing,
miracles, prophecy, discernment, speaking in tongues, and
interpretation of tongues (1 Corinthians 12:7-11). We believe
that God has given every believer a measure of “spiritual gifts”
differing from each other to do the “work of the ministry”. When
used cooperatively with other believers, these gifts will “build
up” the Body of Christ (Romans 12:3-8, Ephesians 4:8, 11-12)
6. We believe in full
expression of praise, in many forms. Singing, clapping, joyful
noise, dancing, instruments, shouts, raising of hands. Ps.30:4,
47:1, 95:2, 134:4, 150
7. The work of faith is for us
to have in our lives, and there is no other way to please God.
Heb. 11:6. But without faith it is impossible to please him: for
he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a
rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.
8. Our lives must reflect the
fruit of the Spirit. Gal.5: 22&23.
9. God: We believe that God,
the Creator, the Father of Jesus Christ, is “the only true God”
(John 17:3), holy and separate from all His creation. God the
Father is greater and the Source of the Word. (John 14:28). He
is a personal God who has also revealed Himself through His Son
Jesus Christ, and the gift of Holy Spirit (His divine nature).
10. Jesus Christ: We believe
that Jesus Christ, the “last Adam” (1 Corinthians 15:45), is the
only-begotten Son of God. He was born of the Virgin Mary, was
filled with Holy Spirit, lived a sinless life, and suffered and
died as a payment for the sins of mankind. He was raised from
the dead, and exalted to the position of “Lord” by God Himself.
Jesus is the Head over all matters to the Church, His Body.
11. The Bible: We believe the
Scriptures (the Bible) are the inspired Word of God
(“God-breathed”), the product of holy men of old who spoke and
wrote as they were moved by the Holy Spirit. They are perfect in
their original writing, without flaw or contradiction, and
provide the only sure basis for faith. Understanding the
Scriptures is attainable by applying logic and sound principles
of biblical interpretation, in conjunction with the spirit of
God in the believer (I Thessalonians 2:13, II Timothy 3:16). The
Word of God is the guide by which we live. Its’ revelations are
only revealed by the Holy Spirit. The Bible is God’s word given
to us for examples, teaching, doctrines, and correction. It is
the standard by which we live. It is to confirm what He is
saying and doing today, but is not to replace His spoken word to
us. We need them both, the Spirit speaking and the written word
of what was spoken. II Tim. 3: 16
12. Man kind- His fall and
redemption: We believe MAN is a created being (not evolved from
something), made in the likeness and image of God, but through
the fall of Adam (first man), sin entered the world. “For 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 sent by God the Father
to undo the work of the devil and to give His life to redeem and
restore mankind back to God (I John 3:8). Salvation is the gift
of God’s grace to man, not achieved through good works, but only
through faith in Jesus Christ (Ephesians 2:8).
13. The Church: We believe that
there is a scriptural distinction between the Church of the Body
of Christ and Israel. The Church, to which all believers (Jews &
Gentiles) belong today, began on the day of Pentecost (Acts
chapter 2) and will end with the Rapture of all Christians. The
“Mystery” (secret) revealed in Ephesians is that those from both
Jew and Gentile would be “joint heirs”, and members of a “joint
body”. This mystery (secret) is not revealed in the Old
Testament, the Four Gospels, or the book of Revelation, and was
first made known to the Apostle Paul. The Church Epistles
(Romans through Thessalonians) form the nucleus of Scripture
written to the Church and is what we accept as our infallible
guide concerning our conduct and doctrine.
14. We believe the Lord Jesus
Christ will one day remove the Church from the earth. At that
time, every Christian who has ever died will rise up (“awaken”)
out of their grave, and then with them, we (Christians) who are
living, will be caught up (rapture) together in the clouds to
meet the Lord Jesus in the air! (I Thessalonians 4:16-17).
Following a seven year tribulation for Israel known as “the time
of Jacob’s trouble” (Jeremiah 30:7), Jesus shall return to the
earth again (the Second Coming) as the King of Kings and Lord of
Lords. Then, all of the believers who died before the
establishment of the Church and during the tribulation of
Israel, will be resurrected (“awakened”) and shall be kings and
priests in the Kingdom where Jesus Christ shall reign for a
thousand years (Revelation 20:4-6). Jesus is coming back for a
victorious church that is watching and waiting. II Tim. 4: 8, I
Pet. 1: 7, Eph.5: 27
15. Heaven and hell are real
places and who goes where is strictly God’s judgment. We believe
that God is not judging anyone now, but they will be judged
after they are resurrected (“awakened”) from the dead by the
Lord Jesus and given everlasting life or everlasting death.
Anyone who physically dies in sin without ever accepting Christ
is hopelessly and eternally cast into the Lake of Fire, and
therefore has no further opportunity of repenting for sin
(Hebrews 9:27, Revelation 19:20). The Lake of Fire (hell) is a
literal place which will destroy the Devil (Satan), his
followers, and put an end to evil forever.
16. Baptism in water is a
symbol of the Christian’s identification with Christ; His death,
burial, and resurrection (Matthew 28:19, Acts 8:36-39, Romans
6:4, Colossians 2:12). We practice this demonstration and
encourage all new believers to make “a public confession of
their faith in Jesus Christ” by being water baptized by
immersion. However, we believe it is only an outward symbol of
an inward baptism and that the baptism spoken to Christians in
Scripture is that of Holy Spirit (Ephesians 4:4-6). The
receiving of Communion is also adopted at various times to
remind the believers of the sacrificial death of Christ for the
wages of our sin. It also reminds us of the connection we have
with one another in the Body of Christ (1 Corinthians 11:24-29).
This is a “feast of remembrance” which is both corporate and
personal.
17. Until Jesus returns we are
to fulfill the great commission.
Mark 16:15 And He said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and
preach the gospel to every creature.
16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that
believeth not shall be damned.
17 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name
shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;
18 They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly
thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick,
and they shall recover.
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