What We Believe

"What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us." - A.W. Tozer

Beliefs

THE GODHEAD

WE BELIEVE God is one, but manifested in three persons – the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, being co-equal.  God the father is greater than all, the sender of the Word, and the Begetter.  The Son is the Word, flesh-covered, the One Begotten, and has existed with the Father from the beginning.  
The Holy Spirit proceeds forth from both the Father and the Son and is eternal.
(Philippians 2:6, John 14:28, John 16:28, John 1:14, John 1:1, John 1:18, John 15:26)

THE SCRIPTURES

WE BELIEVE the Bible is the inspired Word of God, the product of holy men of old who spoke and wrote as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.  
The New Covenant, as recorded in the New Testament, we accept as our infallible guide in matters pertaining to conduct doctrines.
(2 Timothy 3:16, 1 Thessalonians 2:13, 2 Peter 1:21)

MAN, HIS FALL AND HIS REDEMPTION

WE BELIEVE man is a created being, made in the likeness and image of God, but through Adam's transgression and fall, sin came into the world. Jesus Christ, the Son of God was manifested to undo the work of the devil and gave His life and shed His blood to redeem and restore man back to God.
Salvation is the gift of God to man, separate from works and the law, and is made operative by grace through faith in Jesus Christ, producing works acceptable to God.  
(Romans 5:14, Romans 3:10, Romans 3:23, 1 John 3:8, Ephesians 2:8)

ETERNAL LIFE & THE NEW BIRTH

WE BELIEVE man’s first step toward salvation is godly sorrow that worketh repentance.  
The New Birth is necessary to all men, and when experienced produces eternal life. (2 Corinthians 7:10, 1 John 5:12, John 3:3-5)

WATER BAPTISM

WE BELIEVE baptism in water is by immersion, is a direct commandment of our Lord, and is for believers only.  The ordinance is a symbol of the Christian’s identification with Christ in His death, burial and resurrection. (Matthew 28:19, Romans 6:4, Colossians 2:12, Acts 8:36-39)

BAPTISM WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT

WE BELIEVE the Baptism in the Holy Spirit is an experience from God as promised by the Lord Jesus Christ to all believers in this dispensation and is received by faith subsequent to the New Birth.  This experience is received by faith, evidenced by speaking with other tongues and then the believer is commanded to continually “be filled” with the Spirit. (Matthew 3:11, John 14:16-17, Acts 1:8, Acts 2:4,38, 19:1-7, Ephesians 5:18)

SANCTIFICATION

WE BELEIVE the Bible teaches that without holiness no man can see the Lord.  We believe in the Doctrine of Sanctification as a definite, yet progressive work of grace, commencing at the time of regeneration and continuing until the consummation of salvation and Christ’s return.
(Hebrews 12:14, 1 Thessalonians 5:23, 2 Peter 3:18, 2 Corinthians 3:18, Philippians 3:12-14, 1 Corinthians 1:30)

DIVINE HEALING

WE BELIEVE healing is for the physical ills of the human body and is wrought by the power of God through the prayer of faith, and/or by the laying on of hands and/or by the supernatural gifts of the Spirit.  It is provided for in the atonement of Christ, and is the privilege of every partner of the Church today.
(Mark 16:18, James 5:14-25, 1 Peter 2:24, Matthew 8:17, Isaiah 53:4-5)

RESURRECTION OF THE JUST AND THE RETURN OF OUR LORD 

WE BELIEVE in the physical, bodily return of the Lord Jesus Christ.  We believe His coming is imminent.  When he comes, the dead in Christ will rise first, then we who are alive will be caught up together with them in the clouds (what we refer to as the Rapture), to meet the Lord in the air.  Following the tribulation, He shall return to the Earth as King of kings, the Lord of lords, and together with His saints, who shall be kings and priests, He shall reign a thousand years.
(Acts 1:11, 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17, Revelation 20:6)

HELL AND ETERNAL RETRIBUTION 

WE BELIEVE anyone one who physically dies without accepting and confessing Jesus Christ as Lord is hopelessly and eternally lost in the Lake of Fire and therefore has no further opportunity of hearing the Gospel and repenting.  The Lake of Fire is literal.  The terms “eternal” and “everlasting” used describing the duration of punishment in the Lake of Fire, carry the same thought and meaning of endless existence as used in denoting the duration of joy and pleasure of saints in the presence of God. (Hebrews 9:27, Revelation 19:20)
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