TENETS OF FAITH
There is but one living and true God, the Father of all, who is Spirit (Deut. 6:4; John 4:24); Eternal (Deut. 33:27); Omnipresent (Ps. 139:7-11; Provo 15:3); Omniscient (Ps. 139:1-4); Love (1 John 4); Omnipotent (Ps. 62:11; Job 26:7-14); Goodness (Ps. 145:7-9); Truth (John 17:3); Justice (Deut. 33:4); Mercy (Ps. 103:8-17).
We acknowledge Him as Creator and Ruler of all things, visible and invisible. In Him we live and move and have our being (John 1:1; Acts 17:24-28).
We believe in the deity of our Lord Jesus Christ -
1. His virgin birth (Matt. 1:23; Luke 1:31, 35).
2. His sinless life (Heb. 7:26; 1 Peter 2:22).
3. His miracles (Acts 1:22; 10:38).
4. His vicarious and atoning death (1 Cor. 15:3; 2 Cor 5:21).
5. His bodily resurrection from the dead (Matt. 28:6; Luke 24:39; I Cor. 15:4).
6. His ascension to the right hand of God (Acts 1:9; Heb. 1:3).
7. His personal and future return to the Earth (Acts 1: 11; 1 Thess. 4: 16-18).
The Holy Spirit is a Divine Person sent to the world by the other, through the mediation of the Son (John 14:16). He is the inspirer of truth (2 Peter 1:21; 2 Tim. 3:16-17). He is the reprover of sin, the awakener of conscience (John 16:18). He is the comforter of the penitent and obedient believer (Acts 5:32). He is the witness of adoption (Rom.:15). He is the seal and the earnest of the saints' inheritance (Eph. 1:13-14). He dwells in each child of God (1 Cor. 3:16-17). At the glorious appearing of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, He wi11 quicken the mortal bodies of the saints into immortality (Rom. 8: 15). The sin of blasphemy against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven (Matt. 12:31; Mark 3:28-30.
We believe man's only hope of redemption is through the shed blood of Jesus, the Son of God. Salvation is received through repentance toward God and faith OJ 'lard the Lord Jesus Christ. Being justified by grace through faith, man becomes an heir of God according to the hope of eternal life (Luke 24:27; John 3:3; Rom. 10:13-15; Eph. 2:8
We believe that the ordinance of baptism should be administered by immersion in water, as commanded in the Scriptures. All who repent and believe on Christ as Savior and Lord are to be baptized accordingly. Thus, they declare to the world that they have died with Christ, and that they also have been raised with Him to walk in newness of life.
The Lord's Supper - consisting of the elements bread and fruit of the vine - is the symbol expressing our sharing of the divine nature of the Lord Jesus Christ (2 Pet. 1:4); a memorial of His suffering and death (1 Cor. 11:26); and a prophecy of His second coming (1 Cor. 11:26). The ordinance is enjoined on all believers until He comes.
We believe sanctification is an act of separation from that which is evil and dedication unto God (Rom. 12: 1-2; 1 Thess. 5:23; Heb. 13: 12).
Sanctification is realized in the believer by recognizing his identification with Christ in His death and resurrection and by offering his faculties continually to the domination of the Holy Spirit (Rom. 6: 1; Gal. 2:20).
We believe 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. With it comes the endowment of power for life and service, the bestowment of the gifts and their use in the work of the ministry (Luke 24:49; Acts 1:4-8; 1 Cor. 1:31). The baptism of believers in the Holy Ghost is witnessed by the initial physical sign of speaking with other tongues as the Spirit of God gives them utterance (Acts 2:4).
The Scriptures teach a life of holiness without which no man shall see the Lord (Heb. 12:14). By the power of the Holy Ghost we are to obey the command, "Be ye holy, for I am Holy" (1 Pet. 1: 15-16).
We believe that divine healing is an integral part of the Gospel. Deliverance from sickness is provided for in Christ's atonement and is the privilege of all believers (Isa. 53:4-5; Matt. 8:16-17; James 5:14-16).
We, according to His Promise, look for a new earth wherein dwells righteousness (2 Pet. 3:13; Rev. 21:22).
The Church is the Body of Christ, the habitation of God through the Spirit, with divine appointments for fulfillment of the 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 (Eph. 1:22; 2:22; Heb. 12:23).
Justification is a judicial act of God whereby He justly declares righteous the individual who believes in Jesus Christ as his personal Savior.
We believe in 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 - an event known as The Rapture. This is the imminent and blessed hope of the Church (1 Thess. 4:16, 17; Rom. 8:23; 1 Cor. 15:51, 52).
