Articles of Faith
What We Believe
We believe that all the Scriptures center around the Lord Jesus Christ in His person and work, in His First and second coming, and hence that no portion, even of the Old Testament, is properly read, or understood, until it leads to Him II Timothy 3:15-17; I Peter 1:23-25; II Peter 1:20-21; Proverbs 30:5; Romans 16:25-26; Romans 10:4; Hebrews 4:12
We believe there is only one true God, eternally self-existent, self- revealed "I AM," and has further revealed Himself as embodying the principles of relationship and association, by simultaneously existing as Father, Son and Holy Spirit; possessing equal power and authority. Deut. 6:4; I John 5:6-12; Genesis 1:26; Matthew 3:16-17, 28:19; Isaiah 9:6; Hebrews 3:7-11; Matthew 28:19
We Believe God, as Father, reigns over His entire universe with providential care. He is all-powerful, all loving, all knowing and all wise. He is fatherly in attitude toward all men but is Father, indeed, to those who have become children of God through Jesus Christ, Who will deliver them into the Father's hands. Gen. 1:1; 1 Chron. 29:10-11; Jer. 10:10, Matt. 6:9; Acts 1:7; Rom. 8:14-15; 1 Cor. 8:6; 1 Cor. 15:24; Eph.4:6
We believe Jesus Christ is God the Son, the second person of the Trinity. On earth, Jesus was 100% God and 100% man. He is the only man ever to have lived a sinless life. He was born of a virgin, lived a sinless life, performed miracles, died on the cross for mankind 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. Luke 1:35 John 1:1, 14, 20:28, 18:37; Col 1:16-17; I Timothy 3:16; Isaiah 9:6; Philippians 2:5-8; I Timothy 2:5
We believe that the Holy Spirit is the Divine Person who convicts each person of sin (righteousness and judgment), that He alone brings new life to those who are spiritually dead; that He baptizes (or places) all believers into the one true church, which is the Body of Christ; that He indwells them permanently, seals them unto the day of final redemption, bestows spiritual gifts upon them, fills (controls) those who are yielding to Him. Every believer is called to live by the power of the indwelling Spirit that he will not fulfill the lust of the flesh but will bear fruit to the glory of God. John 3:3-8, 14:16, 17, 16:7-11; 1Cor. 12:7-13; Eph. 4:30, 5:18; Galatians 5:13-26
We Believe Jesus Christ was conceived by God the Father, through the Holy Spirit (the third person of the Trinity) in the Virgin Mary's womb; therefore, He is the Son of God. Matthew 1:18, 25; Luke 1:35; Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:18, 23-25; Luke 1:27-35.
We believe man was created good and upright, but by voluntary, willful disobedience of God’s law, man fell. Mankind’s only hope of redemption is in Jesus Christ, the Son of God and except a man be born again by the Holy Spirit, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Gen. 1:26-31, 3:1-7; Romans 5:12-21; John 3:3
We believe for anyone to know God, regeneration by the Holy Spirit is absolutely essential. Regeneration is the renewal of the mind, which transforms the whole man. The Grace of God, which brings salvation, has appeared to all men, through the preaching of repentance toward God and through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ; man is saved by the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, and being justified by grace, has become heir of God according to the hope of eternal life. John 6:44, 65, Romans 12:2; Titus 2:11; 35-7; Romans 10:13-15; Luke 24:47
We believe that salvation is the free gift of God's grace given to man. The blood of Jesus Christ, shed on the cross, provides the only way of salvation through the forgiveness of sin. It cannot be gained or made more secure by merit based works, but is freely given to all who put their faith in the finished work of Jesus Christ at Calvary Salvation occurs the moment someone receives Jesus Christ into their life by confession of faith in His life, death, and resurrection. Ephesians 2:8-9; Galatians 2:16, 3:8; Romans 5:8; Titus 3:5; Romans 10:9-10; Acts 16:31; Hebrews 9:22.
We believe repentance is the commitment to renounce and turn away from sin in every area of our lives. When we repent we dedicated our full focus to following Christ, which allows us to receive His redemption and to be regenerated by the Holy Spirit. Thus, through repentance we receive forgiveness of sins and appropriate salvation. We believe that we are called with a holy calling, to walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit, to live in the power of the Spirit so that we will not fulfill the lust of the flesh. But the flesh is never fully eradicated in this life and so the individual chooses to keep the flesh in subjection to Jesus Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit. Failure to subject one’s life to the Spirit of Christ ensures that our flesh will surely manifest its presence in our lives to the dishonor of our Lord. Acts 2:21, 3:19; I John 1:9; Rom. 6:11-13; 8:2, 4, 12, 13; Gal. 5:16-23; Eph. 4:22-24; Col. 2:1-10; 1 Pet. 1:14-16; 1 John 1:4-7: 3:5-9
We believe 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. Sanctification means that we are set apart from the world and its lusts for God’s purposes. It is through the ever-present ministry of the Holy Spirit and the Word of God that the Christian is enabled to live a godly life. I Thessalonians 4:3, 5:23; II Corinthians 3:18, 6:14-18, II Thessalonians 2:1-3, Romans 8:29, 12:1-2, Hebrews 2:11
We believe that praise and worship are outward expressions of a believer’s acknowledgement of the goodness of God and that every believer is called and created to thankfully, gratefully, cheerfully and intentionally glorify God through expressions of praise and worship as prescribed by the Holy Scriptures. Psalm 149:3; Psalm 150; Isaiah 43:21; Ephesians 5:19; John 4:23-24
We believe the Blood that Jesus Christ shed on the Cross of Calvary was sinless and is 100% sufficient to cleanse mankind of all sin. Jesus allowed Himself to be punished for both our sinfulness and our sins, enabling all those who believe to be free from the penalty of sin, which is death. I John 1:7; Revelation 1:5, 5:9; Colossians 1:20; Romans 3:10-12, 23, 5:9; John 1:29
We Believe Christians are people who have invited the Lord Jesus Christ to come and live inside them by His Holy Spirit. They intentionally choose to relinquish the authority of their lives over to him thus making Jesus the Lord of their life as well as Savior. They put their trust in what Jesus accomplished for them when He died, was buried, and rose again from the dead. John 1:12; John 14:17, 23; John 15:4; Romans 8:11; Revelation 3:20
We believe this was given at Pentecost, it is the promise of the Father, sent by Jesus after His Ascension, to empower the Church to preach the Gospel throughout the whole earth, empowering them to live a sanctified life. Joel 2:28-29; Matthew 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
We believe The Holy Spirit is manifested through a variety of spiritual gifts to build, edify and sanctify the church, demonstrate the validity of the resurrection, and confirm the power of the Gospel. We believe that where the Bible lists these gifts, is not necessarily an exhaustive list, 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. Hebrews 2:4; Romans 1:11,12 :4-8; Ephesians 4:16; II Timothy 1:5-16, 4:14; I Corinthians 12:1-31, 14:1-40; I Peter 4:10
We believe 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 who is 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. We believe that each member of this body is also an individual temple where the spirit of the Lord resides. Ephesians 1:22, 2:19-22; Hebrews 12:23; John 17:11, 20-23; 1 Corinthians 6:19
Divinely called and Scripturally ordained ministry has been provided by our Lord for a two-fold purpose:
(1) The evangelization of the world, and
(2) The edification of the Body of Christ
Mark 16:15, 20; Eph. 4:11-13.
We believe, God created marriage. In accordance with the scriptures, it is a covenant that can only be made between a man (biological male) and a woman (biological female), making them one. Gen 2: 22, 24; Matt 19: 5-6.
WATER BAPTISM: Following faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, the new convert 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. Matthew 28:19; Acts 2:38; Mark 16:16; Acts 8:12, 36-38; 10:47-48
THE LORD’S SUPPER/HOLY COMMUNION: A unique time of communion in the presence of God when the elements of bread and fruit of the vine (the Body and Blood of the Lord Jesus Christ) are taken in remembrance of Jesus' sacrifice on the Cross. Matthew 26:26-29; I Corinthians 10:16, 11:23-25
FOOT WASHING: Foot washing shall be observed as seen fit by all established places of worship, as enjoined in the Scriptures as an act of worship and of service. John 13:1-17; Luke 7:36-50
We believe healing of the sick is illustrated in the life and ministry of Jesus, and included in the commission of Jesus to His disciples. It is given as a sign, which is to follow believers. It is also a part of Jesus' work on the Cross and one of the gifts of the Spirit. Psalm 103:2-3; Isaiah 53:5; Matthew 8:16-17; Mark 16:17-18; Acts 8:6-7; James 5:14-16; I Corinthians 12:9, 28; Romans 11:29
We Believe It is the Father's will for believers to become whole, healthy and successful in all areas of life. But because of the fall, many may not receive the full benefits of God’s will while on Earth. That fact, though, should never prevent all believers from seeking the full benefits of Christ’s provision in order to better serve others Spiritual: John 3:3-11; II Corinthians 5:17-21; Romans 10:9-10 Mental and Emotional: II Timothy 1:7, 2:11; Philippians 4:7-8; Romans 12:2; Isaiah 26:3 Physical: Isaiah 53:4-5; Matthew 8:17; I Peter 2:24 Financial: Joshua 1:8; Malachi 3:10-11; Luke 6:38; II Corinthians 9:6-10; Deuteronomy 28:1-14; Psalm 34:10, 84:11; Philippians 4:19
We believe Jesus Christ was physically resurrected from the dead in a glorified body three days after His death on the cross. In addition, 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. Luke 24:16, 36, 39; John 2:19-21, 20:26-28, 21:4; Acts 24:15; I Corinthians 15:42, 44; Philippians 1:21-23, 3:21.
We believe Heaven is the eternal dwelling place for all believers in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Matthew 5:3, 12, 20, 6:20, 19:21, 25:34; John 17:24; II Corinthians 5:1; Hebrews 11:16; I Peter 1:4.
We believe after living one life on earth, the unbelievers will be judged by God and those who have not accepted the Son will spend eternity separated from God, which is the worst eternal condition beyond any human imagining. Matthew 25:41; Mark 9:43-48; Hebrews 9:27; Revelation 14:9-11, 20:12-15, 21:8
The devil and his angels, the beast and the false prophet, and whosoever is not found written in the Lamb's Book of Life shall be consigned to everlasting separation from God, symbolically described as the lake which burns fire and brimstone, which is the second death Rev. 19:20; 20:10-15
We believe 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. Matthew 24:30, 26:63-64; Acts 1:9-11; I Thessalonians 4:15-17; II Thessalonians 1:7-8; Revelation 1:7
The resurrection of those who have fallen asleep in Christ and their translation, together with those who are alive and remain unto the Lord, is imminent and is the blessed hope of the church 1 Thessalonians 4:16; Romans 6:23; Titus 2:13; 1 Corinthians 15:51,52
The revelation of the Lord Jesus Christ from heaven, the salvation of national Israel, and the millennial reign of Christ on the earth are Scriptural promises and our hope 2 Thessalonians 1:7; Revelation 19:1-16; Romans 11:25; Revelation 20:1-7