Our Tenets of Faith
The Bible is our all-sufficient rule for faith and practice. This Statement of Fundamental Truths is intended simply as a basis of fellowship among us so that we all speak the same thing (1 Cor 1:10; Acts 2:42). The truth set forth is held to be essential to a full-gospel ministry. No claim is made that it contains all biblical truth, only that it covers our need as to these fundamental doctrines.
1. The One True God. We believe there is one God who has revealed himself as the eternal Creator of all things. He has further revealed himself as embodying three persons: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit (Deut 6:4; Mt 28:19; Luke 3:22).
2. The Scriptures Inspired. We believe the Bible, both Old and New Testaments, are the divine, authoritative, infallible, express Word of God and the sole rule of faith and conduct (2 Tim 3:15-17; 1 Thes 2:13; 2 Pet 1:21).
3. The Deity of the Lord Jesus Christ. We believe Jesus of Nazareth is the only begotten Son of God, and became incarnate when He was conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. He is the Christ, the Messiah, true God and true man. He always existed, lived a sinless life on the earth, died physically on the cross, was laid in a grave, and rose again on the third day. He is presently seated at the right hand of the Father as our intercessor, mediator, Savior, and Lord (Lk 1:31.35; Heb 7:26; 1 Pet 2:22; Mt 28:6; Lk 24:39; 1 Cor 15:4).
4. The Fall of Man. We believe man was created good and upright. However, man by voluntary transgression fell and thereby incurred not only physical death, but also spiritual death, which is separation from God. Therefore, all have sinned and come short of the glory of God and repentance is commanded of God for all and necessary for forgiveness of sins (Gen 1:26, 27; 2:17; 3:6; Rom 5: 12-19; 3:23).
5. The Salvation of Man. We believe man’s only hope of redemption is through the shed blood of Jesus Christ the Son of God. Jesus shed his blood on the cross as a propitiation for our sins according to the plan and will of God, in fulfillment of prophecy. Those who trust in Him for salvation and the forgiveness of sins are cleansed by that blood, forgiven, wholly justified, and born again of the Spirit of God. (2 Cor 5:21; Rom 10: 13-15; Eph 2:8; Tit 3: 5-7).
6. The Doctrine of Baptisms. We believe in the doctrine of baptisms, including: the baptism into the body of Christ at salvation; water baptism by immersion in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit in obedience to the Word of God; and the baptism of the Holy Spirit with the initial evidence of speaking in tongues according to the Book of Acts subsequent to a clean heart, empowering the church to take the gospel to all nations (Mt 28:19; Jn 7:37-39; Acts 2:4; 10:47-48).
7. Sanctification. We believe sanctification is an act of separation from that which is evil, and of dedication unto God. Sanctification is realized in the believer by recognizing his identification with Christ in His death and resurrection, and by faith offering his body and mind continually to the dominion of the Holy Spirit (Rom 12:1-2; 1 Thess 5:23; Heb 13:12; 12:14; 1 Pet 1:15-16).
8. Divine Healing. We believe that divine healing is an integral part of the gospel. Healing was provided for in the atonement and physical healing and complete deliverance is the privilege of all believers (Is 53: 4-5; Mt 8:16-17; James 5:14-16).
9. The Work of the Holy Spirit. We believe in the present day work of God the Holy Spirit in our church as in the first century church, to include the orderly operation of spiritual gifts, miracles, signs, and wonders (1 Cor 12:4-10,28; Acts 4:29-31; James 5: 14-16).
10. The Blessed Hope. We believe in the bodily resurrection of those who have fallen asleep in Christ and their translation together with those who are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord is the imminent and blessed hope of the Church (1 Thess 4:16-17; Rom 8:23; Titus 2:13; 1 Cor 15:51-52).
11. The Millennial Reign of Christ. We believe the second coming of Christ includes the rapture of the saints, which is our blessed hope, followed by the visible return of Christ with His saints to reign on the earth for one thousand years. This millennial reign will bring the salvation of national Israel and the establishment of universal peace (Zech 14:5; Mat 24:27,30; Rev 1:7; 19:11-14; Rom 11:26-27; Is 11:6-9).
12. The Final Judgment. We believe there will be a final judgment in which the wicked dead will be raised and judged according to their works. Whoever is not found written in the Book of Life, together with the devil and his angels, the beast and the false prophet, will be consigned to everlasting punishment in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone (Mat 25:46; Mark 9:43-48; Rev 19:20; 20:11-15; 21:8).
1. The One True God. We believe there is one God who has revealed himself as the eternal Creator of all things. He has further revealed himself as embodying three persons: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit (Deut 6:4; Mt 28:19; Luke 3:22).
2. The Scriptures Inspired. We believe the Bible, both Old and New Testaments, are the divine, authoritative, infallible, express Word of God and the sole rule of faith and conduct (2 Tim 3:15-17; 1 Thes 2:13; 2 Pet 1:21).
3. The Deity of the Lord Jesus Christ. We believe Jesus of Nazareth is the only begotten Son of God, and became incarnate when He was conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. He is the Christ, the Messiah, true God and true man. He always existed, lived a sinless life on the earth, died physically on the cross, was laid in a grave, and rose again on the third day. He is presently seated at the right hand of the Father as our intercessor, mediator, Savior, and Lord (Lk 1:31.35; Heb 7:26; 1 Pet 2:22; Mt 28:6; Lk 24:39; 1 Cor 15:4).
4. The Fall of Man. We believe man was created good and upright. However, man by voluntary transgression fell and thereby incurred not only physical death, but also spiritual death, which is separation from God. Therefore, all have sinned and come short of the glory of God and repentance is commanded of God for all and necessary for forgiveness of sins (Gen 1:26, 27; 2:17; 3:6; Rom 5: 12-19; 3:23).
5. The Salvation of Man. We believe man’s only hope of redemption is through the shed blood of Jesus Christ the Son of God. Jesus shed his blood on the cross as a propitiation for our sins according to the plan and will of God, in fulfillment of prophecy. Those who trust in Him for salvation and the forgiveness of sins are cleansed by that blood, forgiven, wholly justified, and born again of the Spirit of God. (2 Cor 5:21; Rom 10: 13-15; Eph 2:8; Tit 3: 5-7).
6. The Doctrine of Baptisms. We believe in the doctrine of baptisms, including: the baptism into the body of Christ at salvation; water baptism by immersion in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit in obedience to the Word of God; and the baptism of the Holy Spirit with the initial evidence of speaking in tongues according to the Book of Acts subsequent to a clean heart, empowering the church to take the gospel to all nations (Mt 28:19; Jn 7:37-39; Acts 2:4; 10:47-48).
7. Sanctification. We believe sanctification is an act of separation from that which is evil, and of dedication unto God. Sanctification is realized in the believer by recognizing his identification with Christ in His death and resurrection, and by faith offering his body and mind continually to the dominion of the Holy Spirit (Rom 12:1-2; 1 Thess 5:23; Heb 13:12; 12:14; 1 Pet 1:15-16).
8. Divine Healing. We believe that divine healing is an integral part of the gospel. Healing was provided for in the atonement and physical healing and complete deliverance is the privilege of all believers (Is 53: 4-5; Mt 8:16-17; James 5:14-16).
9. The Work of the Holy Spirit. We believe in the present day work of God the Holy Spirit in our church as in the first century church, to include the orderly operation of spiritual gifts, miracles, signs, and wonders (1 Cor 12:4-10,28; Acts 4:29-31; James 5: 14-16).
10. The Blessed Hope. We believe in the bodily resurrection of those who have fallen asleep in Christ and their translation together with those who are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord is the imminent and blessed hope of the Church (1 Thess 4:16-17; Rom 8:23; Titus 2:13; 1 Cor 15:51-52).
11. The Millennial Reign of Christ. We believe the second coming of Christ includes the rapture of the saints, which is our blessed hope, followed by the visible return of Christ with His saints to reign on the earth for one thousand years. This millennial reign will bring the salvation of national Israel and the establishment of universal peace (Zech 14:5; Mat 24:27,30; Rev 1:7; 19:11-14; Rom 11:26-27; Is 11:6-9).
12. The Final Judgment. We believe there will be a final judgment in which the wicked dead will be raised and judged according to their works. Whoever is not found written in the Book of Life, together with the devil and his angels, the beast and the false prophet, will be consigned to everlasting punishment in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone (Mat 25:46; Mark 9:43-48; Rev 19:20; 20:11-15; 21:8).
