PREAMBLE
We believe the Bible to be inspired of God, the infallible Word of God. “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness” (II Timothy 3:16). The Bible is the only God-given authority which man possesses therefore, all doctrine, faith, hope, and all instruction for the church must be based upon, and harmonize with, the Bible. It is to be read and studied by all men everywhere, and can only be clearly understood by those anointed by the Holy Ghost (I John 2:27). “…No prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man, but Holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.” (II Peter 1:20-21)
SECTION 1. THE ONE TRUE GOD
We believe in the one ever-living, eternal God: infinite in power, Holy in nature, attributes and purpose, and possessing absolute, indivisible deity. This one true God has revealed Himself as Father in creation, Son in redemption; and as the Holy Ghost by emanation. (I Corinthians 8:6; Ephesians 4:6; II Corinthians 5:19; Joel 2:28) We believe that the one true God is the creator of all things and we are, as His creation, responsible to Him (Gen. 1:1; Isa. 44:24; Jn. 1:3). God is invisible, incorporeal, without parts, without body and therefore free from all limitations. He is Spirit (John 4:24), and “…a spirit hath not flesh and bones…” (Luke 24:39). “…the first of all commandments is hear O Israel, the Lord our God is one Lord” (Mark 12:29; Deuteronomy 6:4). “One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.” (Ephesians 4:6) This one true God manifested Himself in the Old Testament in divers ways; in the New Testament God was manifested in the flesh as the Son during the time He walked among men and as the Holy Ghost after the Ascension.
SECTION 2. THE SON OF GOD
The one true God, Jehovah of the Old Testament, took upon Himself the form of man, and was born of a virgin called Mary. As Paul says “and without controversy great is the mystery of Godliness; God was manifested in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.” (I Timothy 3:16) We believe that the one true God manifested Himself in humanity in order to redeem sinful man by offering that humanity on the cross as a propitiation for man’s sin.(Is. 7:14; Luke 1:35; Jn. 8:24; 2 Cor. 5:19-21; Gal. 4:4-5; Phil. 2:5-8). “… God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto Himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them.” (II Corinthians 5:19) We believe that, “…in Him (Jesus) dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily.” (Colossians 2:9) “For it pleased the Father that in Him should all the fullness dwell.” (Colossians 1:19) Therefore, Jesus in His humanity was man; in His deity was and is God. His flesh was the Lamb, or the sacrifice of God. He is the only mediator between God and man. “For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.” (I Timothy 2:5)
SECTION 3. THE NAME
In the Old Testament God used different titles, such as “God Elohim”, “God Almighty”, “El Shaddai”, “Jehovah”, and especially “Jehovah Lord.” “…unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given……… and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace.” (Isaiah 9:6) This prophecy of Isaiah was fulfilled when the Son of God was named, “And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call His name Jesus, for He shall save His people from their sins.” (Matthew 1:21) Neither is there salvation in any other; for there is no other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12) The name of Jesus, and none other, must be called upon for salvation for it is the only saving name.
SECTION 4. SALVATION & REPENTANCE
We believe that salvation is the gift of God brought to man by grace and received by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, Whose precious blood was shed on Calvary for the forgiveness of our sins (John 1:12; Eph. 1:7; 2:8-10; 1 Pet. 1:18-19). We believe that believing in Jesus Christ must be as the scripture hath said and salvation is brought about by the New Birth which consists of three steps:
- Repentance
- Water Baptism administered by immersion in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ
- The infilling of the Holy Ghost with the initial evidence of speaking in other tongues as the Spirit gives the utterance (Jn 7: 37-38; Jn 3:3-5; Acts 2:38)
We believe that this salvation is complete and intact only as we remain obedient to God and His word and keep His Spirit renewed in our lives (1 Cor. 5:2; Heb 6:1-6; Titus 2:5). The word “repentance” comes from several Greek words, which mean change of views and purpose, change of heart, change of mind, change of life, to transform, etc. Jesus said, “…except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.” (Luke 13:3) Luke 24:47 says, “And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.”
SECTION 5. WATER BAPTISM
The scriptural mode of baptism is immersion, and is only for those who have fully repented, having turned from their sins and a love for the world. It should be administered by a duly authorized minister of the Gospel, in obedience to the Word of God, and in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, according to the Acts of the Apostles 2:38, 8:16, 10:48, 19:5, thus obeying and fulfilling Matthew 28:19.
SECTION 6. THE BAPTISM OF THE HOLY GHOST
John the Baptist, in Matthew 3:11, said, “…He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire.” Jesus, in Acts 1:5, said “…ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.” Luke tells us in Acts 2:4, “…they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues (languages), as the Spirit gave them utterance. The terms “baptize with the Holy Ghost and fire”, and “filled with the Holy Spirit”, and the “gift of the Holy Ghost” are synonymous terms used interchangeably in the Bible. It is scriptural to expect all that receive the gift filling, or baptism of the Holy Ghost to receive the same physical, sign of speaking with other tongues. The speaking with other tongues, as recorded in Acts 2:4, 10:46, and 19:6, and the gift of tongues, as explained in I Corinthians, chapters 12 and 14, are the same in essence, but different in use and purpose. The Lord through the Prophet Joel, said, “I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh.” (Joel 2:28) Peter, in explaining this phenomenal experience, said, “…having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, He (Jesus) hath shed forth this which ye now see and hear.” (Acts 2:33) Further, “…the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.” (Acts 2:39)
SECTION 7. HOLINESS
Godly living should characterize the life of every child of the Lord, and we should live according to the pattern and example given in the Word of God. “For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and Godly, in this present world.” (Titus 2:11,12) “For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow His steps, who did no sin, neither was guile found in His mouth; when He suffered, He threatened not, but committed himself to Him that judgeth righteously.” (I Peter 2:21-23) “Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord.” (Hebrews 12:14) “But as He which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; because it is written, be ye holy, for I am holy. And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man’s work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; but with precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.” (I Peter 1: 15-19)
SECTION 8. TITHING AND OFFERINGS
We believe that tithing is God’s financial plan to provide for His work and ministry, and has been since the days of Abraham. Tithing came with faith under Abraham; Moses’ law enjoined it, and Israel practiced it when they were right with and obedient to God. Jesus endorsed it (Matthew 23:23), and Paul said to lay by in store as God has prospered you. To not give tithe and offering is considered robbing God Himself. (Malachi 3) We believe that every Christian, as a steward of that portion of God’s wealth entrusted to him is obligated to support his local church financially. We believe that God has established the tithe and offering as a basis for giving cheerfully to the support of the ministry, the support of the Church, the relief of those in need, and the spread of the Gospel. We believe that a Christian relinquishes all rights to direct the use of the tithe or offering once the gift has been made (Gen. 14:20; Prov. 3:9-10; Acts 4:34-37; 1 Cor. 16:2; 2 Cor. 9:6-7; Gal. 6:6; Eph. 4:28; 1 Tim. 5:17-18; 1 John 3:17). A charitable contribution does not create an ownership interest in the church.
SECTION 9. THE SECOND COMING OF JESUS AND RESSURECTION OF THE DEAD
We believe in the “blessed hope,” the literal return of Christ for the church at the end of the age and after the tribulation period. That Jesus is coming again the second time in person, just as He went away, is clearly set forth by the Lord Jesus Himself, and was preached and taught in the early Christian church by the Apostles, hence, the children of God today are earnestly, hopefully, looking forward to the glorious event. (Matthew 24; Acts 1:11, 3:19-21; I Corinthians 11:26; Philippians3: 20-21; 1 Thessalonians. 4:13-18; Titus 2:13-14; Rev. 3:10; 19:11-16; 20:1-6) We believe in the bodily resurrection of all men, the saved to eternal life, and the unsaved to judgment and everlasting punishment (Matt. 25:46; John 5:28, 29; 11:25-26; Rev. 20:5-6, 12-13). We believe that the souls of the redeemed are, at death, absent from the body and present with the Lord, where in conscious bliss they await the first resurrection, when spirit, soul, and body are reunited to be glorified forever with the Lord (Luke 23:43; 2 Cor. 5:8; Phil. 1:23; 3:21; 1 Thess. 4:16-17; Rev. 20:4-6).
SECTION 10. THE CHURCH
We believe that the local church, which is the body and the espoused bride of Christ, is solely made up of born-again persons (1 Cor. 12:12-14; 2 Cor. 11:2; Eph. 1:22-23; 5:25-27). We believe that the establishment and continuance of local churches is clearly taught and defined in the New Testament Scriptures (Acts 14:27; 20:17, 28-32; 1 Tim. 3:1-13; Titus 1:5-11). We believe that it is imperative that the members of the church are faithful in all functions of the regular church services, prayer meetings, revival services, etc. (Heb. 10:25)