Statement of Faith
The following Statement of Faith is set forth to establish a general consistency of Biblical truths and principles. No claim is made that this Statement of Faith contains all truth in the Bible; only that it covers the fundamental Biblical precepts necessary for Scriptural unity.
WE BELIEVE
That the Holy Bible is the inspired, infallible Word of God and the source of Christian doctrine and absolute truth (II Timothy 3:15-17; I Thessalonians 2:13; II Peter 1:21). We do not believe in emphasizing one portion of Biblical truth above another or one less than the other
In one God eternally existing in three persons, namely: the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. 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 Spirit.
(Deuteronomy 6:4; Isaiah 43:10-11; Matthew 28:19; Luke 3:22).
3. That Jesus Christ is the only begotten Son of the Father, conceived of the Holy Spirit, and born of the Virgin Mary. That Jesus was crucified and raised from the dead. That He ascended to heaven and is today at the right hand of the Father as the intercessor and soon coming King.
The Scripture declares:
(a) His virgin birth (Matthew 1:23; Luke 1:31, 35)
(b) His sinless life (Hebrews 7:24-26; I Peter 2:21-22)
(c) His miracles (Acts 2:22; 10:38)
(d) His substitutionary work on the cross (I Corinthians 15:3; II Corinthians 5::21)
(e) His bodily resurrection from the dead (Matthew 28:5-7; I Corinthians 15:4).
(f) His exaltation to the right hand of God (Acts 1:11; 2:33; Philippians 2:9-11)
(g) His second coming (Matthew 24:15-30; Revelation 1:7; Revelation 19:11-16).
4. In the Salvation of man
That man was created in the image of God, but as a result of sin, man is lost and powerless to save himself. (Romans 6:23)
That the only hope for man is to believe on Jesus Christ, the virgin-born Son of God, who died to take upon Himself the punishment for the sin of mankind and who rose from the dead so that by receiving Him as Lord, man is redeemed by His blood.
a. Conditions of Salvation
The grace of God, which brings salvation, has appeared to all men through the preaching of repentance toward God and faith toward the Lord Jesus Christ; man is saved by the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit; and being justified by grace through faith, he becomes an heir of God according to the hope of eternal life (Titus 2:11, 3:5-7; Romans 10:13-15; Luke 24:47).
b. Evidence of Salvation & Sanctification
By having faith in God’s Word, the inward evidence to the believer of his salvation is the direct witness of the Spirit (Romans 8:16). The outward evidence to others is a life of righteousness and true holiness lived with increasing spiritual maturity (Fruit of the Spirit) and producing Kingdom fruit. (Galatians 5:22-23, John 15).
c. This is the action or process of being freed from sin or purified (Romans 12:1-2, 1 Thessalonians 5:23, Hebrews 4:12, Hebrews 13:12)).
5. In Water Baptism (Immersion)
b. Baptism is an outward, public testimony of repentance from sin and dedication to God. All who repent believe in Christ as Savior and Lord are to be baptized in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit according to the command of the Lord Jesus Christ (Matthew 28:19).
c. Baptism by immersion in water is an act of obedience to God and declaration to the world that they have died with Christ and been raised with Him to walk in newness of life. (Matthew 28:19; Acts 10:47-48; Romans 6:4).
d. Baptism is not a guarantee nor a confirmation of membership in the greater body of Christ or this local fellowship.
6. In Baptism of the Holy Spirit
The baptism of the Holy Spirit comes at the time of conversion. The filling of the Holy Spirit is witnessed by the gifts and fruits of the Holy Spirit. We give more of ourselves to the Holy Spirit, He reveals Himself more fully. We believe this is available to all believers and are to function in harmony with the New Testament guidelines (Luke 24:49; Acts 1:4, 8; Acts 2:4; I Corinthians 12; I Corinthians 13; I Corinthians 14, Romans 12). Some say that the Baptism of the Holy Spirit is the same as the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, while others say this is something separate and can happen many times in a Christian’s life. We believe it is possible that the differing views concerning the “baptism of the Holy Spirit” come from differing terminology, rather than disagreeing on what the Spirit is actually doing in a Believer.
7. In Divine Healing
Divine Healing is provided for all who believe in the Atonement (sacrifice of Jesus). Divine healing is exampled and demonstrated in the Gospels. Deliverance from sickness is the privilege of all believers subject to the solemn will of God. To the believer complete healing comes through death and eternity with Christ. Upon the request of someone who is sick they will be ministered to and prayed for with the anointing on oil and laying on of hands. (Matthew 8:16-17; James 5:14-16, Ephesians 1:11, James 4:15, Isaiah 46:10, I Chronicles 29:11).
8. Communion
Communion is a remembrance of the Passover and Last Supper. Jesus demonstrated His sacrifice and our salvation through the bread and wine. The bread symbolizing His body broken for us and the wine symbolizing His blood poured out for us. Communion is a powerful reminder of the sacrifice of Christ but also the marriage proposal between Christ (the Groom) and His bride (the Church). Communion is offered corporately and individually at times during events. (II Peter 1:4, I Corinthians 11:23-26)
9. In the Rapture of the Body of Christ
The dead in Christ will be resurrected and those who are in Christ that are still alive will be caught up in the air to meet the Lord in the air (I Thessalonians 4:15-17; Titus 2:13, I Corinthians 15:51-52)
10. In the Second Coming of Jesus Christ-- the visible return of Christ with His Saints (Matthew 24:26-30, Rev 1:7, Rev 19:11:16, Zechariah 15:3-4)
11. In a Millennial Kingdom and establishment of universal peace (Revelation 20:1-6, Isaiah 11:6-9, Micah 4:3-4)
12. In Eternal Life
John 10:27-28— My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.
John 11:25-26— Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life.[d] Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, 26 and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die
1 John 5:11—And the testimony is this, that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son.".
13. In Eternal Punishment
Matthew 25:31-46
II Thessalonians 1:7b-10—when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels 8 ibn flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. 9 They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from[b] the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might,
14. In Peaceful Co-existence
While it is the responsibility of the Church to seek and save the lost, love and respect for others should dominate all relationships so that we live in peace with everyone so far as we are able. (Romans 12:18-19)
15. In Establishing Justice for the Disenfranchised.
We believe we are responsible for those who cannot fend for or defend themselves. It is our duty as Believers to feed the hungry, care for the sick, visit those in prison, house the homeless. (Luke 4:18-19, John 14:12-14, Matthew 25:31-45).
16. We believe that marriage was ordained by God at creation as the lifelong and exclusive sacred union of one man and one woman (Genesis 1:26-28, 2:24, Matthew 19:1-10). All intimate sexual activity must therefore be reserved for the union of marriage between a man and a woman. (Exodus 20:14, Romans 13:9, I Corinthians 6:15-18, I Corinthians 5:1-2) Christian marriage is a representation of Christ’s relationship to His church and thus we hold this union in honor. (Ephesians 5:22-23, Hebrews 13:4, I Corinthians 6:15-20) We believe that any form of intimate sexual activity such as adultery, fornication, homosexuality, bisexual conduct, bestiality, incest, pornography, or any attempt to change one's sex, or disagreement with one's biological sex is sinful and offensive to God. (Leviticus 18:23, Romans 1:18-31, I Corinthians 6:9, Jude 7)
17. In Child Dedication
We believe that children are a blessing from the Lord. Thus all human life is sacred and worthy of protection from the moment of conception. Psalm 127 & 128; 139:13-16.
Infants and small children may be dedicated to the Lord in the Church upon request. Parents will receive instructions as to the significance and responsibility required in dedicating their children to the Lord (Mark 10:13-16, Luke 18:15-16).
18. Women in Ministry
* Women in the New Testament church were leaders serving as prophets (Acts 21:9), teachers (Acts 18:26), ministers (Romans 16:1-3) and co-workers with the Apostle Paul (Philippians 4:2-3); to lead and grow the Church.
Men and women are equal recipients of God’s gifts (Galatians 3:28)
In Christ all people, male and female, are to be submissive to one another and to serve one another in reciprocal love and obedience to Jesus (Ephesians 5:21; Philippians 2:3-8, Galatians 5:13)
In the Old Testament a woman was appointed by God to be the principal leader of the nation of Israel (Judges 4-5).
Upon Creation and without distinction, God created both man and woman in His image and gave them equal responsibility in the dominion and population of the Earth without gender-based hierarchy (Genesis 1:26-28).
We respect those who disagree with our position and we seek to be sensitive. Our goal is to be responsive to God’s call for our church and to be the body He has called us to be. Our commitment to Christ, to His supremacy and sufficiency for salvation, to the reliability and divine inspiration of the scriptures, and the ongoing work of the Holy Spirit in our lives, will now and forever remain our foundation for life and community. Love and respect for others should dominate all relationships (Romans 12:16-21).
***We encourage every member to be familiar with this Statement of Faith and to strive to Biblically understand the same and to actively demonstrate these truths in their daily lives.***