Statement of Faith

GOD

We believe there is one God, who is infinite, sovereign, eternal, and the creator of everything. He is holy in His attributes and His nature. He is triune in His essential being and is biblically revealed as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. (Ps. 90:2; Matt. 3:16, 17)

JESUS CHRIST

We believe Jesus Christ is very God and very man. He was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He died upon the cross, the Just for the unjust as a substitutionary sacrifice, and all who believe in Him are justified on the ground of His shed blood. (John 1:1, 14, 18; Phil. 2:5-8)

HOLY SPIRIT

We believe the Holy Spirit is a divine person sent to indwell, guide, teach, and empower the believer, and to convince the world of sin, of righteousness, and judgment. (John 16:7-15; Acts 1:8)

THE BIBLE

We believe the Old and New Testaments are the inerrant, infallible, inspired Word of God as originally given. They were written by men who were guided by the Spirit, and as such they stand as the only authority on God’s plan for the salvation of mankind. The Bible is the only rule of faith and practice for Christians. (2 Tim. 3:16-17)

MAN

People were originally created in the image and likeness of God, but fell through disobedience, thereby incurring both physical and spiritual death. All people are born with a sinful nature, are separated from God, and can be saved only through the atoning work of the Lord Jesus Christ. The portion of the impenitent and unbelieving is existence forever in conscious torment; that of the believer is everlasting joy and bliss. (Gen. 1:26-27; Rom. 3:10-18, 23; Rom 6:23 Ps. 53:1; Rom. 8:7)

SALVATION

Salvation has been provided through Jesus Christ for all people. Those who repent and believe in Him are born again of the Holy Spirit, receive the gift of eternal life, and become the children of God. (Eph. 2:8-9; Rom. 5:1)

ENTIRE SANCTIFICATION

We believe it is the will of God that each believer should be entirely sanctified whereby at a time subsequent to their new birth in Jesus Christ they are cleansed of the nature of sin and filled with the Holy Spirit. By this experience of God’s grace they are then empowered for continued growth, holy living, fruitful witness and effective service in their relationship with Christ. This is both a crisis and a progressive experience. (1 Thess. 5:23-24; Rom. 6:6; Rom. 12:1, 2)

DIVINE HEALING

We believe in divine healing. Prayer for the sick and anointing with oil are taught in the Scriptures, and are privileges for the Church in this present age. (James 5:14,15)

THE CHURCH

We believe the Church consists of all those who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. Through the merits of His blood, they are born into the family of God and remain in it so long as they are walking in the light. The Lord Jesus Christ is the Head of the Church, which is His body. Our chief purpose is to worship and serve Him. Christ has commissioned the Church to proclaim the Gospel to all the world. In addition, the local church is a body of believers who join together for edification through the inspired Word, for prayer and fellowship, and the observance of the ordinances of baptism and the Lord’s Supper. (Eph. 1:22-23; 5:23-30)

RESURRECTION

We believe that those who die in Christ are immediately present with Him, while those who die in sin suffer the torments of hell awaiting the final judgment. We believe there shall be a bodily resurrection of the just and of the unjust: for the former a resurrection unto life and for the latter a resurrection unto final judgment. (Luke 16:19-26; 1 Thess. 4:15-17; Rev 20:12-15)

ESCHATOLOGY

We believe the second coming of the Lord Jesus Christ is a vital doctrine of the Bible and is the vibrant hope of the church. This coming will be a visible, personal return for the Church. Since there is no method of predicting when He will return, the incentive for active holy living is magnified. (Acts 1:11; 1 Thess. 4:15- 17)