Our Doctrinal Statement of
Faith
This We Believe And Hold To Be
True
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THE HOLY SCRIPTURES
We believe the Bible to be the inspired word of God, and is infallible.
(2 Timothy 3:16,17)
All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking,
correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be
thoroughly equipped for every good work.
THE ETERNAL GODHEAD
We believe that God is Triune . The Trinity. The Father, The Son Jesus, and The
Holy Spirit. (1 John 5:7; 2 Corinthians 13:14; 1 Peter 1:2)
For there are three that testify.
May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship
of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
Who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through
the sanctifying work of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and sprinkling
by his blood.
THE FALL OF MAN
We believe that man was created in the image of God, but that by voluntary
disobedience he fell from perfection. (Romans 5:12)
"Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and
death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all
sinned."
THE PLAN OF SALVATION
We believe that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us, signing the pardon
of all who believe on Him. (John 3:16; Romans 5:8)
"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son,
that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."
But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners,
Christ died for us.
SALVATION THROUGH GRACE
We believe that we have no righteousness and must come to God pleading the
righteousness of Christ. (Ephesians 2:8)
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not
from yourselves, it is the gift of God.
PREVENIENT GRACE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
I believe that in conviction for sin, the Holy Spirit
moves upon the heart of the sinner encouraging him to repent and believe the
Gospel prior to saving faith.
(John 16:8, Ephesians 2:8a)
When he comes, he will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and
righteousness and judgment.
For it is by Grace you have been saved, through faith.
Prevenient grace is seen in a number of places in the book of Acts. We
find that on the day of Pentecost devout Jews from every nation under Heaven
(2:5) were awakened by the Spirit and they said, "What shall we do?"
(2:37). These devout men were under Prevenient grace before the day of
Pentecost.
In Acts 13:48 we see many "ordained" Gentiles glorifying God. They
were under the mercy of God's Prevenient Grace waiting for the Word of Truth.
BELIEVER'S SECURITY IS CONDITIONAL
We believe that we have come to share in Christ if we hold firmly till the end
the confidence we had at first (Heb. 3:14)..
(Rom. 2:7; 1 Cor. 6:9,10; 15:2; Gal. 6:8,9; Rev. 2:10,11)
To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and
immortality, he will give eternal life.
Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be
deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male
prostitutes nor homosexual offenders nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards
nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.
By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you.
Otherwise, you have believed in vain.
The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap
destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap
eternal life. Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we
will reap a harvest if we do not give up.
Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put
some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days.
Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life.
He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who
overcomes will not be hurt at all by the second death.
We have eternal life only if we have Jesus Christ (1 Jn. 5:12). If we
disown Jesus, He will likewise disown us before the Father (Matt. 10:33) and the
angels (Lk. 12:9). See also 2 Tim. 2:12. We can become an enemy of God again
after initial salvation (Jam. 4:4b) and raging fire will consume the enemies of
God (Heb. 10:27). We are to keep ourselves pure (1 Tim. 5:22), from the
spiritual pollutants of this world (James 1:27) and from idols (1 Jn. 5:21).
There is a counterfeit grace message (or "another gospel") which must
be exposed and refuted with Scripture like any other similar teaching (Eph. 5:11
cf. Titus 1:9; Jude 3,4).
REPENTANCE AND ACCEPTANCE
We believe that upon sincere repentance, and a whole-hearted acceptance of
Christ, we are justified before God. (1 John 1:9)
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our
sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
THE NEW BIRTH
We believe that the change which takes place in the heart and life at conversion
is a very real one. (2 Corinthians 5:17; Galatians 2:20)
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has
gone, the new has come!
I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.
The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and
gave himself for me.
DAILY CHRISTIAN LIVING
We believe that it is the will of God that we be sanctified daily, growing
constantly in the faith. (Hebrews 6:1)
Therefore let us leave the elementary teachings about Christ and go on
to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead
to death, and of faith in God.
BAPTISM AND THE LORD'S SUPPER
We believe that baptism by immersion is an outward sign of an inward work (Matt.
28:19). We believe in the commemoration of the Lord's Supper by the symbolic use
of the bread and juice of the vine. (1 Corinthians 11:24, 25)
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the
name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, "This is my body, which
is for you; do this in remembrance of me."
In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, "This cup is the new
covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of
me."
BAPTISM WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT
We believe that the Baptism with the Holy Spirit is to endue the believer with
power; and that His incoming is after the same manner as in Bible days. (Acts
2:4)
All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in
other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.
THE SPIRIT-FILLED LIFE
We believe that it is the will of God that we walk in the Spirit daily.
(Ephesians 4:30-32)
And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for
the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and
slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one
another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
THE GIFTS AND FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT
We believe that the Holy Spirit has gifts to bestow upon the Christian; and that
we should show spiritual fruit as evidence of a Spirit-filled life.
(1 Corinthians 12:1-11; Galatians 5:22)
Now about spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be ignorant.
You know that when you were pagans, somehow or other you were influenced and led
astray to mute idols. Therefore I tell you that no one who is speaking by the
Spirit of God says, "Jesus be cursed," and no one can say, "Jesus
is Lord," except by the Holy Spirit. There are different kinds of gifts,
but the same Spirit. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord.
There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all
men. Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common
good. To one there is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom, to another
the message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, to another faith by the
same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, to another
miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between
spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another
the interpretation of tongues. All these are the work of one and the same
Spirit, and he gives them to each one, just as he determines.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness,
faithfulness,
MODERATION
We believe that the experience and daily walk of the believer should never lead
him into extremes of fanaticism. (Philippians 4:5) Let your gentleness be
evident to all. The Lord is near.
DIVINE HEALING
We believe that divine healing is the power of Christ to heal the physically
sick in answer to the prayer of faith. (James 5:14-16)
Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray
over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered
in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. If he has
sinned, he will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray
for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is
powerful and effective.
THE COMING BLESSED HOPE
We believe that the rapture of the church is personal and imminent.
(1 Thessalonians 4:16, 17)
For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command,
with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead
in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will
be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And
so we will be with the Lord forever.
CHURCH RELATIONSHIP
We believe it is our sacred duty to identify ourselves with the visible Body of
Christ. (Acts 16:5; Hebrews 10:25)
So the churches were strengthened in the faith and grew daily in
numbers.
Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let
us encourage one another--and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
CIVIL GOVERNMENT
We believe that rulers should be upheld at all times except in things opposed to
the will of God. (Romans 13:1-5)
Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is
no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist
have been established by God. Consequently, he who rebels against the authority
is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring
judgment on themselves. For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but
for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in
authority? Then do what is right and he will commend you. For he is God's
servant to do you good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the
sword for nothing. He is God's servant, an agent of wrath to bring punishment on
the wrongdoer. Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only
because of possible punishment but also because of conscience.
THE FINAL JUDGMENT
We believe that all shall stand some day before the judgment seat of God, and
there receive eternal life or damnation. (2 Corinthians 5:10)
For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each
one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether
good or bad.
HEAVEN, OUR ETERNAL HOME
We believe that Heaven is the glorious eternal home of all true born-again
believers. (John 14:1-3; Revelation 7:15-17)
"Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God ; trust also in
me. In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told
you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a
place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be
where I am.
Therefore, "they are before the throne of God and serve him day and night
in his temple; and he who sits on the throne will spread his tent over them.
Never again will they hunger; never again will they thirst. The sun will not
beat upon them, nor any scorching heat. For the Lamb at the center of the throne
will be their shepherd; he will lead them to springs of living water. And God
will wipe away every tear from their eyes."
HELL, ETERNAL SEPARATION
We believe that hell is the literal place of eternal torment for all who reject
Christ as their Savior and Lord. (Revelation 20:10,15)
And the devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning
sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown. They will be
tormented day and night for ever and ever. If anyone's name was not found
written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.
EVANGELISM, OUR COMMISSION
We believe that soul winning is the most important responsibility of the Church.
(James 5:20)
remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will
save him from death and cover over a multitude of sins.
TITHES AND OFFERINGS
We believe that the method ordained of God for the support and spread of His
cause is by giving of tithes and free-will offerings. (Malachi 3:10; 2
Corinthians9:7)
Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my
house. Test me in this," says the LORD Almighty, "and see if I will
not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you
will not have room enough for it.
Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly
or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
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