FAITH STATEMENT
GOD
There is one God who is infinitely perfect and eternally existent in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. These three are co-equal and co-eternal (Deuteronomy 6:4; I John 5:7; Genesis 1:26; Matthew 3:16-17, 28:19; Matthew 5:48; Matthew 28:19; Luke 1:35; Isaiah 9:6; Hebrews 3:7-11).
JESUS CHRIST
Jesus Christ is fully God and fully 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. He arose from the dead according to the Scriptures. He is now at the right hand of Majesty on high as our great High Priest. He will come again to establish His kingdom and peace. (Philippians 2:6–11, Luke 1:34–38, 1 Peter 3:18, Hebrews 2:9, Romans 5:9, Acts 2:23–24, Hebrews 8:1, Matthew 26:64)
THE HOLY SPIRIT
The Holy Spirit is a divine person, sent to indwell, guide, teach, empower the believer, and convince the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment. (John 14:15–18, John 16:13; Acts 1:8, John 16:7–11)
THE BIBLE
The Old and New Testaments, inerrant as originally given, were verbally inspired by God and are a complete revelation of His will for the salvation of men. They constitute the divine and only rule of Christian faith and practice. (2 Peter 1:20–21)
MAN
Man was originally created in the image and likeness of God: he fell through disobedience, incurring thereby both physical and spiritual death. All men are born with a sinful nature, are separated from the life of God, and can be saved only through the atoning work of the Lord Jesus Christ. The portion of the unrepentant and unbelieving is existence forever in conscious torment; and that of the believer, in everlasting joy and bliss. (Genesis 1:27, Romans 3:23, 1 Corinthians15:20–23, Revelation 21:8, Revelation 21:1–4)
MARRIAGE
God created marriage. It is a covenant between a man and a woman that makes them one (Gen. 2:22,24; Matt. 19:5-6)
SALVATION
Salvation has been provided through Jesus Christ for all men; 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. (Titus 3:4–7, Eph. 2:6-9)
SANCTIFICATION
It is the will of God that each believer should be filled with the Holy Spirit and be sanctified wholly, being separated from sin and the world and fully dedicated to the will of God, thereby receiving power for holy living and effective service. Sanctification is both a crisis and a progressive experience wrought in the life of the believer after conversion. (1 Thessalonians 5:23, Acts 1:8, Romans 6:1–14)
THE CHURCH
The Church consists of all those who believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, are redeemed through His blood, and are born again of the Holy Spirit. Christ is the Head of the Body, the Church, which has been commissioned by Him to go into all the world as a witness, preaching the gospel to all nations.
The local church is a body of believers in Christ who are joined together for the worship of God, for edification through the Word of God, for prayer, fellowship, the proclamation of the gospel, and observance of the ordinances of Baptism and the Lord’s Supper. (Ephesians 1:22–23, Matthew 28:19–20, Acts 2:41–47)
THE GIFTS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
The gifts of the Holy Spirit (such as leadership, encouragement, healing, prophecy, speaking in tongues, interpretation of tongues, miracles, faith, generosity, etc.) have been given by the Holy Spirit to believers to build up the church toward maturity and become like Christ. All the gifts are needed within the church, and they complement one another to help the church be balanced and healthy in its growth. (Eph. 4:11-13).
The church is to empower the believers to serve in the ministries of the church according to their spiritual gifts (Romans 12:6-8). However, spiritual gifts must be exercised in love (1 Cor. 13) and in an orderly way so as not to cause confusion and chaos in the church (1 Cor. 14).
THE ANOINTING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
The anointing of the Holy Spirit is the source of Christ’s power while ministering here on earth (Luke 4:14, 18; Acts 10:38). It is paramount that believers be anointed by the Holy Spirit for effective ministry and service. Christ made it a requirement for the disciples before he went back to the Father (Luke 24:28-29; Acts 1:8). No effective ministry can exist apart from the anointing of the Holy Spirit.
MIRACLES, SIGNS AND WONDERS
Miracles, signs, and wonders are part of the Great Commission of Jesus Christ (Mark 16:16-18). When he ministered, he performed healings, deliverances, and other signs and wonders (Matt. 4:23-25). Provision is made in the redemptive work of the Lord Jesus Christ for the healing of the mortal body and deliverance for those who have been bound by evil spirits (Isaiah 53:4-5; Isaiah 61:1; Luke 4:18-19). Jesus commanded that his twelve disciples and seventy-two disciples preach the good news, heal the sick, and deliver those who are possessed by evil spirits (Matt. 10:1; 7-8; Luke 10:1, 8-11, 17-20). Prayer for the sick and anointing with oil along with deliverance for those who have been bound by evil spirits are taught in the Scriptures and are privileges for the Church in this present age. (Matthew 8:16–17, James 5:13–16)
THE SECOND COMING OF JESUS
The second coming of the Lord Jesus Christ is imminent and will be personal, visible, and premillennial. This is the believer’s blessed hope and is a vital truth which is an incentive to holy living and faithful service. (Hebrews 10:37, Luke 21:27, Titus 2:11–14)
RESURRECTION
There shall be a bodily resurrection of the just and of the unjust; for the former, a resurrection unto life; for the latter, a resurrection unto judgment. (1 Corinthians 15:20–23, John 5:28–29)
HEAVEN AND HELL
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; 2 Corinthians 5:1; Hebrews 11:16; 1 Peter 1:4).
After living one life on earth, the unbelievers will be judged by God and sent to Hell where they will be eternally tormented with the Devil and the Fallen Angels (Matthew 25:41; Mark 9:43-48; Hebrews 9:27; Revelation 14:9-11, 20:12-15, 21:8).