1.Holy Bible
We believe that the Holy Bible, and only the Bible, is the authoritative Word of God. It alone is the final authority in any subjects to which it speaks and in determining all doctrinal truths. The Bible, in its original writing, is both inspired and inerrant.
(2 Tim. 3:16; 2 Peter 1:20-21; Prov. 30:5; Rom. 16:25-26)
2.Trinity
We believe that the Godhead eternally exists in three persons: The Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. These three are one God, having precisely the same nature, attributes and perfections, and are worthy of precisely the same worship, confidence and obedience.
(Mk. 12:29; John 1:1-4; Mt. 28:19-20)
3.Jesus Christ
We believe that Jesus Christ is God the Son, the Second Person of the Trinity. The Scriptures declare His virgin birth, sinless life, miracles, death and resurrection, and ascension to the right hand of God. He is 100% man and 100% God and the only man ever to have lived a sinless life. We believe that Jesus Christ was physically resurrected from the dead in a glorified body three days after His death on the cross. One day all believers in Christ will also be physically resurrected in glorified bodies to their reward in heaven with God.
(Luke 24:16, 36, 39; Philippians 1:21-23, 3:21; I Cor. 15:42, 44; John 2:19-21, 20:26-28, 21:4; Acts 24:15; John 1:1 & 14, 20:28; I Tim. 3:16; Is. 9:6; Phil. 2:5-6; I Tim. 2:5)
4.The Salvation of Man
Man was created good and upright, but by voluntary transgression he fell; his only hope of redemption is in Jesus Christ, the Son of God. We believe that man’s only hope for salvation is through the shed blood of Jesus Christ. Salvation is by grace (which is undeserved and unearned) through faith in Jesus Christ—His death, burial and resurrection. Salvation is a gift from God, not a result of our good works or of any human efforts.
(Eph. 2:8-9; Gal. 2:16, 3:8; Titus 3:5; Rom. 10:9-10; Acts 16:31; Heb. 9:22; Gen. 1:26-31, 3:1-7; Rom. 5:12-21)
5.Redemption
Man was created good and upright, but by voluntary transgression he fell; his only hope of redemption is in Jesus Christ, the Son of God. (Genesis 1:26-31, 3:1-7; Romans 5:12-21)
6.Regeneration
For anyone to know God, regeneration by the Holy Spirit is absolutely essential.
(John 6:44, 65; Matthew 19:28; Titus 3:5)
7.Repentance
Repentance is the commitment to turn away from sin in every area of our lives and to follow Christ, which allows us to receive His redemption and to be regenerated by the Holy Spirit. Thus, through repentance we receive forgiveness of sins and appropriate salvation.
(Acts 2:21, 3:19; 1 John 1:9)
8.Sanctification
Sanctification is the ongoing process of yielding to God’s Word and His Spirit in order to complete the development of Christ’s character in us. It is through the present ministry of the Holy Spirit and the Word of God that the Christian is enabled to live a Godly life.
(1 Thessalonians 4:3, 5:23; 2 Corinthians 3:18, 6:14-18, 2 Thessalonians 2:1-3, Romans 8:29, 12:1-2, Hebrews 2:11)
9.Ordinances of the Church
(a)Water Baptism: After receiving the Lord Jesus Christ, the new convert is commanded by the Word of God to be baptized in water in the name of the Lord.
(Matt. 28:19; Acts 2:38)
(b)Holy Communion: The Lord's Supper is a unique time of communion in the presence of God when the elements of bread and wine (or grape juice), expressing in some spiritual way the body and blood of the Lord Jesus Christ, are taken by believers in remembrance of Christ's sacrifice on the cross.
(I Cor. 10:16, 11:23-25; Mark 16:16; Acts 8:12, 8:36-38, 10:47-48; Matt. 26:26-28)
(c)Marriage: We believe there is only one definition for marriage. It is defined in the Bible as a covenant, a sacred bond between one man and one woman, instituted by and publicly entered into before God. Explained further in 13.
(Matthew 19:4-6)
10.The Baptism and the Gifts of the Spirit
Initiated at Pentecost, this ongoing baptism (or infilling) is the promise of the Father, given by Jesus after His ascension, to empower the Church to supernaturally communicate the gospel throughout the whole earth
(Acts 1:8; 8:15-16; 19:2; Mk.16:20).
With this regular infilling, the believer has the potential of experiencing various manifestations such as scripturally based prophetic experiences, unknown tongues, and other visible outward signs.
(Acts 10:46; 19:6; 8:18; 2:4-6; 7-18)
11.The Church and its Mission
The Church is the representative of Jesus on earth. The Church is the Body of Christ, the habitation of God through the Spirit, with divine appointments for the fulfillment of Christ's great commission. Every person who is born of the spirit is an integral part of the Church as a member of the body of believers. The Church is the Body of Christ, the habitation of God through the Spirit, with divine appointments for the fulfillment of Jesus’ Great Commission. Every person who is born of the Spirit is an integral part of the Church as a member of the body of believers. There is a spiritual unity of all believers in our Lord Jesus Christ.
(Ephesians 1:22, 2:19-22; Hebrews 12:23; John 17:11, 20-23)
12. Divine Healing
Healing of the sick is illustrated in the life and ministry of Jesus and is included in the commission of Jesus to His disciples. Healing is a provision of Christ's atonement on the cross and is given as a sign which is to follow believers.
(Matt. 8:16-17; Acts 8:6-7; James 5:14-16; III John 2; Psalm 103:2-3; Is. 53:5; Mark 16:17-18)
(Note: This does not imply the false concept that immediate healing always accompanies true faith. There are many righteous people in scripture who didn't immediately receive healing in this life. Rather, healing can also be a process which is finalized by entrance into heaven.)
13.Statement of Marriage
(a)We believe that the term “marriage†has only one legitimate meaning, and that is marriage sanctioned by God, which joins one man and one woman as their gender was determined at birth in a single, covenantal union, as delineated by Scripture. Marriage ceremonies performed in any facility owned, leased or rented by this Church will be only those ceremonies sanctioned by God, joining one man with one woman as their respective genders were determined at birth. Whenever there is a conflict between the Church’s position and any new legal standard for marriage, the Church’s Statement of Faith, doctrines and biblical positions will govern.
(Gen. 2:24; Eph. 5:22-23; Mark 10:6-9; I Cor. 7:1-9)
(b)We believe that God has commanded that no intimate sexual activity be engaged in outside of marriage as it is defined in (a) above. We believe that any other type of sexual activity, identity or expression that lies outside of this definition of marriage, including those that are becoming more accepted in the culture and the courts, are contradictory to God’s natural design and purpose for sexual activity.
(Gen. 2:24; Gen. 19:5; Lev. 18:1-30; Rom. 1: 26-29; 1 Cor. 5:1; 6:9-10; 1 Thess. 4:1-8; Heb. 13:4)
(c)We believe that God wonderfully and immutably creates each person as male or female. These two distinct, complementary genders together reflect the image and nature of God and the rejection of one's biological gender is a rejection of the image of God within that person. (Gen. 1:26-27)
14.Love
We believe that we should demonstrate love for others, not only toward fellow believers, but also toward those who are not believers, those who oppose us, and those who engage in sinful actions. We are to deal with those who oppose us graciously, gently, patiently, and humbly. God forbids the stirring up of strife, the taking of revenge, or the threat or use of violence as a means of resolving personal conflict or obtaining personal justice. Although God commands us to abhor sinful actions, we are to love and pray for any person who engages in such actions.
(Lev. 19:18; Matt. 5:44-48; Luke 6:31; John 13:34-35; Rom. 12:9-10; 17-21; 13:8-10; Phil. 2:2-4; 2 Tim. 2:24-26; Titus 3:2; I Peter 3:8-9; 1 John 3:17-18)
15.Lawsuits within the Church
We believe that Christians are prohibited from bringing civil lawsuits within the Church. We do believe, however, that a Christian may seek compensation for injuries from another Christian’s insurance company as long as the claim is pursued without malice or slander.
(1 Cor. 6:1-8; Eph. 4:31-32)
16.Protection of Children
We believe that children are a heritage from the Lord and must be absolutely protected within the Church from any form of abuse or molestation. The Church has zero tolerance for any person, whether paid staff, volunteer, member, or visitor, who abuses or molests a child. (Ps. 127:3-5; Matt. 18:6; Matt. 19:14; Mark 10:14)
17. Resurrection
Jesus Christ was physically resurrected from the dead in a glorified body three days after His death on the cross. In addition, both the saved and the lost will be resurrected; those that are saved to the resurrection of life and those that are lost to the resurrection of eternal damnation. (Luke 24:16, 36, 39; John 2:19-21, 20:26-28, 21:4; Acts 24:15; 1 Corinthians 15:42, 44; Philippians 1:21-23, 3:21)
18. Heaven
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)
19. Hell
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)
20. Second Coming
Jesus Christ will physically and visibly return to earth for the second time to establish His Kingdom. This will occur at a date undisclosed by the Scriptures.
(Matthew 24:30, 26:63-64; Acts 1:9-11; 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17; 2 Thessalonians 1:7-8; Revelation 1:7)
