What We Believe
THE SCRIPTURES
The Holy Bible is the inspired Word of God, the product of holy men of old who spoke and wrote as they were moved by the Holy Spirit. As recorded in the Old and New Testaments, we accept the Holy Bible preserved through the ages by God, as our infallible guide in matters pertaining to salvation, daily conduct and doctrine. (Jeremiah 31:33; Ezekiel 36:26-27; 2 Tim.3:16; 1 Thess. 2:13; Hebrews 10:15-17; 2 Peter 1:21). We believe in the use of various study aids, however, we utilize the King James Version of the Holy Bible as our main and final authoritative teaching text.
THE GODHEAD
We believe in one God, the Father Almighty the Creator and Maker of all things visible and invisible. (John 14:28; John 16:28; John 1:14;1 John 5:7). The Lord Jesus Christ is the Son of God, begotten of the Father [the Only-Begotten; that is, of the same essence of the Father, God of God,] Light of Light, very God of very God, begotten, not made, consubstantial with the Father. The Son is the Word flesh-covered, the Only-Begotten, and has existed with the Father from the beginning. (John 1:14; John 1:18; John 1:1; Colossians 2: 8-10; 1 John 5:7). Concerning the person of Jesus Christ, we affirm the hypostatic union of Jesus’ divine and human nature. The divine Son took on flesh and at no time did He lay aside His divinity as demonstrated on the Mount of Transfiguration. (Matthew 17:1-9; Mark 9:2-9; John 8:58; 1 John 5:7). The Holy Spirit, the Lord and Giver of life, proceeds forth from the Father and is sent by the Son and is eternal, having the same essence of deity as the Father and the Son. (Genesis 1:2; Genesis 6:3; John 15:26; Acts 1:4-5; Acts 2:1-4; Acts 10:38; 1 John 5:7).
MAN, HIS FALL AND REDEMPTION
Man is a created being, made in the image of God, but through Adam’s transgression and fall, sin came into the world. “…all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God…” “As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one.” Jesus Christ, the Son of God, was manifested to destroy the works of the devil and gave His life and shed His blood for man’s sin. (Rom. 5:12; Rom. 3:23; Rom. 3:10; 1 John 3:8). Jesus Christ did not die spiritually or suffer torment in the burning side of hell, but completely redeemed man by his death on the cross. (John 19:30; Luke 23:43; 1 Corin. 15:1-4; Galatians 6:14; Ephesians 1:7; 2:16; Colossians 1:14-20; 2:14; Hebrews 9:12). Jesus was delivered for our offences, and was raised for our justification. (Romans 4:25; Romans 5:10). Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ…. (Romans 5:1).
Salvation is the gift of God to man, separate from works and the law, and is made operative by grace through the faith of Jesus Christ, producing works ordained by God. (Eph. 2:8-10)
ETERNAL LIFE AND THE NEW BIRTH
Man’s first step toward salvation is godly sorrow that worketh repentance. (Mark 6:12; John 16:7-11; Acts 3:19; Acts 17:30). The New Birth is required of any man to be saved, and when experienced produces eternal life. (John 3:3-5; 2 Corin. 7:10; 1 John 5:12).
WATER BAPTISM
Baptism in water is by immersion, is a direct commandment of our Lord, and is for believers only. The ordinance is the outward sign of the Christian’s identification with Christ in His death, burial, and resurrection. (Matt. 28:19; Rom. 6:4; Col. 2:12; Acts 8:36-39)
The following recommendation regarding the water baptismal formula is adopted; to wit: “On the confession of your faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, and by His authority, I baptize you in the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Ghost. Amen.”
PHYSICAL HEALING
We do not teach that believers should abstain from the use of medication or seeking medical treatment. However, we affirm that God is the same yesterday, today and forever. (Numbers 23:19; Isaiah 40:8; Psalms 102:24-28; Malachi 3:6; Hebrews 13:8-9). If He was ever willing to heal sickness, we believe He is always willing. (Exodus 15:26; 23:25; Psalm 103:1-5; Matthew 8:1-3; 8:16-17; 12:15; 14:14; 14:35-36; 15:30; 21:13-14; Acts 3: 1-16; 10:38; 14:7-18; James 5:14-18). We affirm that God is sovereign, but in His sovereignty, He has always declared and demonstrated Himself to be the Healer and that He is not a respecter of persons. (Exodus 15:26; Deuteronomy 10:16-18; 2 Kings 5:1-14; 2 Kings 20:1-11; Matthew 13:53-57; Mark 6:4-6; Mark 9:17-29; Luke 4:23-30; Acts 10:34-38; Galatians 2:6; 1 Peter 1:17).
HELL AND ETERNAL JUDGMENT
The one who physically dies without Jesus Christ is hopelessly and eternally lost. They have no further opportunity of hearing the Gospel or repenting of their sins and these individuals will account for their own sins before the judgment seat of Jesus Christ. The wages of sin is death by being cast into the Lake of Fire. The Lake of Fire is literal. The terms “eternal” and “everlasting,” used in describing the duration of the punishment of the damned in the Lake of Fire, carry the same thought and meaning of endless existence as used in denoting the duration of joy and peace of the saints in the presence of God. (Matthew 25:46; Heb. 9:27; Rev. 19:20; Rev. 20:11-15).
RESURRECTION OF THE JUST AND THE RETURN OF OUR LORD
The angels said to Jesus’ disciples, “…this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.” When He comes, “…the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air…” (Acts 1:11; 1 Corin. 15:51-58; 1 Thess. 4:16-17; 2 Thess. 2:1-12). He shall return to earth as King of kings, and Lord of lords, together with His saints, who shall be kings and priests. He shall reign a thousand years. (Rev. 20:6)