Our Statement of Beliefs
The Godhead
We believe that the Godhead eternally exists in three persons - The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit; These three are one God, having exactly the same nature, attributes and perfections, and worthy of the same worship and obedience.
(Matthew 28:18-19; Mark 12:29; John 1:14; Acts 5:3-4; 2 Corinthians 13:14; Hebrews 1:1-3; Revelations 1:4-6)
The Scriptures
We believe that all "Scripture is inspired by God" as holy men of God "were moved by the Holy Spirit" to write the very words of Scripture. Therefore, we believe that the whole Bible in the originals is without error or contradiction.
(Mark 12:26,36; 13:11; Luke 24:27,44; John 5:39; Acts 1:16; 17:2-3; 18:28; 26:22-23; 28:23; Romans 15:4; 1 Corinthians 2:13; 10:11; 2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:21)
Human Depravity
We believe that man was originally created in the image of God, and that he fell through sin. As a consequence of his sin, he lost his spiritual life becoming spiritually dead and became subject to condemnation. We also believe that this spiritual death or total depravity has been transmitted to the entire human race, except for the Man Jesus Christ, since He was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. Man is essentially evil apart from Divine Grace. (Genesis 1:26; 2:17; 6:5; Psalms 14:1-3; 51:5; Jeremiah 17:9; John 3:6; 5:40; 6:35; Romans 3:10-19; 8:6-7; Ephesians 2:1-3; 1 Timothy 5:6; 1 John 3:8).
Salvation only through Christ
We believe that our redemption has been accomplished solely by the blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, which He shed on the Cross. He became sin and died in our place on the Cross so that we would not have to work our way to heaven through a religion. We believe that no repentance, no feeling, no faith, no good efforts, no submission to a set of rules of any church can add to the finished work that Christ performed on the Cross and that the resurrection not only proves that He conquered death, but it is the very life that He gives to us at salvation.
(Leviticus 17:11; Isaiah 64:6; Matthew 26:28; John 3:7-18; Romans 5:6-9; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Galatians 3:13; 6:15; Ephesians 1:7; Philippians 3:4-9; Titus 3:5; James 1:18; 1 Peter 1:18-19,23)
The Extent of Salvation
We believe that as soon as an unregenerate person exercises faith that the New Testament illustrates he is in possession of every spiritual blessing and absolutely complete in Christ. Therefore, there is no way required by God to receive a so-called "second blessing."
(John 5:24; 17:23; Acts 13:39; Romans 5:1; 1 Corinthians 3:21-23; Ephesians 1:3; Colossians 2:10; 1 John 4:17; 5:11-12)
Sanctification
We believe that every believer is positionally set apart unto God at salvation the same that Christ is set apart unto God. However, he retains his sin nature, which cannot be erradicated in this life. Therefore, while the standing of the believer in Christ is perfect, his present state is no more perfect than his daily walk with God. There is then a progressive sanctification where the believer in Christ is to "grow in grace," and to be transformed by the renewing of his mind by the power of the Holy Spirit and God's word. We also believe that the believer in Christ will be fully sanctified in his state as he is now sanctified in his standing in Christ when he shall see his Savior face to face and be "like Him."
(John 17:17; 2 Corinthians 3:18; 7:1; Ephesians 4:24; 5:25-27; 1 Thessalonians 5:23; Hebrews 10:10,14; 12:10)
Eternal Security and Assurance
We believe that because of the grace of God in salvation to us who are without merit or ability to know the love of God until He had mercy on us, we and all true believers are as secure in Him as is His love for us at the moment He spoke truth into our heart until we meet Him in the air or go home to meet Him and live eternally with Him. We also believe that it is the privilege of every believer to be assured of their salvation from the very day they take Christ and only Christ to be their Savior.
(John 5:24; 10:28; 13:1; 14:16-17; 17:11; Romans 8:29; 1 Corinthians 6:19; Hebrews 7:25; 1 John 2:1-2; 5:13; Jude 24)
The Holy Spirit
We believe that the Holy Spirit, the Third Person of the Trinity, though omnipresent from all eternity, took up His abode in the world on the day of Pentecost, as Christ had promised His followers, dwells in every believer, and by His baptism unites all to Christ in one body, and that He as the Indwelling One, is the source of all power and all acceptable worship and service. We believe that He is ever present in the Church and every believer to testify of Christ; seeking to occupy believers with Himself and not themselves nor with their experiences. We believe that His abode on earth will cease when Christ comes to receive His own at the completion of the church.
(John 14:16-17; 16:7-15; 1 Corinthians 6:19; Ephesians 2:22; 2 Thessalonians 2:7)
The Church
We believe that all who are born again believers in Jesus Christ constitute the make up of the church, which is the body and bride of Christ, since the day of Pentecost until the end of the Age of Grace. We believe that by the same Spirit all believers in this age are baptized into and have become one body that is Christ's. As such, there should be unity in the body based on the Truth of Scripture, seeking to show grace for all differences and loving one another with a pure heart.
(Matthew 16:16-18; Acts 2:42-47; Romans 12:5; 1 Corinthians 12:12-27; Ephesians 1:20-23; 4:3-10; Colossians 3:14-15)
The Great Commission
We believe the purpose of the church is to make disciples, not just converts, as such the church should be seeking to be conformed to Christ to become glorious without spot or wrinkle, but holy and blameless. Furthermore, the gospel of transformation should be preached to the whole world in each generation until God has ordained that the end has come.
(Matthew 28:18-19; Mark 16:15; John 17:18; Acts 1:8; 2 Corinthians 5:18-20; 1 Pet. 1:17; 2:11)
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