One True God
The One True God has revealed Himself as the eternally self-existent I Am, the Creator of the universe, and the Redeemer of mankind (Deuteronomy 6: 4; Exodus 3: 14; Isaiah 43:10-l1). God has further revealed Himself as a triune being: God the Father, God the Son (Jesus Christ), and God the Holy Spirit, being perfectly unified, identical in essence, equal in divinity, each executing distinct, but harmonious offices (Isaiah 48:16; Matthew 28:19; Luke 3: 22; Ephesians 2:18; John 1:1-3).
The Scriptures Inspired
All scripture, both Old and New Testaments, are verbally inspired of God and are an inerrant revelation of God to man. They are the infallible, authoritative rule of faith and conduct (2 Timothy 3:15-17; 1 Thessalonians 2:13; 1 Peter 1:21).
The Deity of the Lord Jesus Christ
The Lord Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God and, as such, shares in the divinity and deity of God (Matthew 1:23, John 5:22; 2 John 3; Hebrews 1: 1-3).
Original Sin and the Fall of Man
Man was created good and upright for God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, after Our likeness…” (Genesis 1:26-27). The first man, Adam, fell from the grace of God through disobedience and rebellion. Thus, sin entered into the world and death by sin. Adam’s transgression incurred not only physical death for man, but also spiritual death which is eternal separation from God (Genesis 2:1-18, 3:4-6). Man’s propensity to sin, because of his sinful nature, necessitates salvation from the power of sin and a Savior to provide that salvation (Romans 7:13-25).
The Salvation of Man
Man’s only hope of redemption and salvation from the power of sin is through the shed blood of the Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 4:12; Romans 5:8-13, 10:9; James 1: 21; Ephesians 2:8).
The New Birth
God is pure, righteous and holy, and the Law of God demands the punishment and death of the sinner. Christ bore our sins in his own body on the cross, shedding his life-blood on our behalf. On the basis of that blood, God can faithfully and righteously forgive the repentant and believing sinner, and impart the very righteousness and Life of Christ into his human spirit (Romans 3:21-26). This is the new birth, where man is given a new nature and becomes alive to God (John 3:5-7; 1 Peter 1:3; 2 Corinthians 5:17; Romans 6:11).
Christ the Good Shepherd
Jesus Christ is the Good Shepherd (John 10:11) and the Great Shepherd (Hebrews 13:20). The Lord Jesus is the living Head of the New Testament Church, which is His Body (Ephesians 1:22). All other ministers serve as under-shepherds.
The Church and Its Mission
The Church is the Body of Christ, the habitation of God through the Holy Spirit, with divine appointments for the fulfillment of His great commission. Each believer, born of the Spirit, is an integral part of the general assembly and the church of the firstborn, which was written in heaven (Ephesians 1:22-33, 2:22; Hebrews 12:23).
Since God’s purpose concerning man is to seek and to save all who are lost, to be worshiped by man, and to build a body of believers in the image of His Son, it is the responsibility of the Church:
Baptism in Water
Baptism by immersion in water is commanded in the scriptures by Jesus Himself. All who repent of their sins and believe in Christ as Savior and Lord are to be baptized. This is in obedience to Christ, that they identify with Him in the power of His death and resurrection unto newness of life (Matthew 28:19; Mark 16:16; Acts 10:47 & 48; Romans 6:4).
The Lord's Supper (Communion)
The Lord’s Supper, consisting of bread and the cup of the fruit of the vine, expresses the suffering and death of our Lord Jesus. Through faith in His broken body and poured out blood, we are forgiven and justified before God, healed, and feed on Christ Himself as our Life and strength. All believers are to proclaim the power of his death through the Lord's Supper until he comes in power as King and Lord (1 Corinthians 11: 26).
The Indwelling and Baptism of the Holy Spirit
At the moment of salvation the Holy Spirit places a believer into permanent union with Christ and with other believers in the Body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:13). Every believer has, as part of his salvation, the indwelling Holy Spirit, taking up permanent residence in his life (John 14:17; Romans 8:9-11; 1 Corinthians 3:16, 6:19; 1 John 4:4). Through the Holy Spirit God marks and seals the believer for Himself as His permanent possession (Ephesians 1:13-14).
After His resurrection, Jesus appeared to His disciples who were hiding in an upper room of a house in Jerusalem. He breathed on them and said, "Receive the Holy Spirit". At that time their minds were opened to understand the Old Testament prophecies of the sufferings and resurrection of the Christ. (John 20:19-22; Luke 24:44-47).
But there is an experience, generally subsequent to the new birth, where Jesus Himself immerses and baptizes the believer in the Spirit, resulting in an outflow of spiritual gifts and power (Matthew 4:11; Mark 1:7,8; Luke 3:16; John 1:33; Acts 1:4,5). Right before Jesus ascended back to heaven, he told His disciples that he would send forth the promise of the Father upon them, and that they were to stay in the city and wait until they were clothed with power from on high (Luke 24:48). On the day Pentecost, ten days after Jesus ascended to heaven, the disciples were baptized and filled with the Holy Spirit, and received power to be witnesses of the living Christ. This experience is for every believer (Acts 2:37-39).
Ever-Increasing Faith
Faith of the heart (Romans 10:9-10) is based on hearing (spiritual understanding) God’s Word (Romans 10:17). Without faith it is impossible to please God (Hebrews 11:6). Christians are saved by grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8), justified by faith (Romans 3:28, 5:1; Galatians 2:16, 3:11), shall live by faith (Romans 1:16-17; Hebrews 10:38), and overcome the world by faith (1 John 5: 4).
Divine Healing
Divine healing was provided for in the Old Testament (Exodus 15:23-26; Psalms 103:1-3, Isaiah 53:4-5) and was completed and solidified in the broken body of Jesus Christ on the Cross. It is an integral part of the Gospel (Matthew 8:16-17; Acts 5:16; James 5:14-16). Every believer is reminded of the provision of healing when he/she observes the ordinance of communion.
Worship
We believe that the whole purpose of man is to glorify God and to enjoy Him forever. Therefore, we believe in the act of worshiping God with one’s total being as set forth in the Scriptures (Psalm 150; Mark 12:29-31; Ephesians 5:18-21).
Ministers to the Church
We believe in the divinely called, commissioned, and equipped five-fold ministry of apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers as given to the Church by the Lord Jesus Christ after His ascension. We further believe that all Christians are called to be ambassadors for Christ and that all believers have been given the ministry of reconciliation (Ephesians 4:11-13; 2 Corinthians 5:20).
The King, the Second Coming of Christ and Eternity
We believethat God’s kingdom has come in the ministry of our Lord Jesus Christ, that it continues to come in the ministry of the Holy Spirit through the Church, and that it will be consummated in the glorious, visible, and triumphant appearing of Christ: His return to the earth as King. After Christ returns to reign, He will bring about the final defeat of Satan and all of his minions and works, the resurrection of the dead, and final judgment and the eternal punishment of the wicked in the lake of fire which is the second death, and the eternal blessing of the righteous.
We believe the words of Jesus in John 3:16. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” Finally, God will be all in all in His new heavens and new earth, recreated by His mighty power, in which righteousness dwells and in which He will forever be worshiped.
The One True God has revealed Himself as the eternally self-existent I Am, the Creator of the universe, and the Redeemer of mankind (Deuteronomy 6: 4; Exodus 3: 14; Isaiah 43:10-l1). God has further revealed Himself as a triune being: God the Father, God the Son (Jesus Christ), and God the Holy Spirit, being perfectly unified, identical in essence, equal in divinity, each executing distinct, but harmonious offices (Isaiah 48:16; Matthew 28:19; Luke 3: 22; Ephesians 2:18; John 1:1-3).
The Scriptures Inspired
All scripture, both Old and New Testaments, are verbally inspired of God and are an inerrant revelation of God to man. They are the infallible, authoritative rule of faith and conduct (2 Timothy 3:15-17; 1 Thessalonians 2:13; 1 Peter 1:21).
The Deity of the Lord Jesus Christ
The Lord Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God and, as such, shares in the divinity and deity of God (Matthew 1:23, John 5:22; 2 John 3; Hebrews 1: 1-3).
Original Sin and the Fall of Man
Man was created good and upright for God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, after Our likeness…” (Genesis 1:26-27). The first man, Adam, fell from the grace of God through disobedience and rebellion. Thus, sin entered into the world and death by sin. Adam’s transgression incurred not only physical death for man, but also spiritual death which is eternal separation from God (Genesis 2:1-18, 3:4-6). Man’s propensity to sin, because of his sinful nature, necessitates salvation from the power of sin and a Savior to provide that salvation (Romans 7:13-25).
The Salvation of Man
Man’s only hope of redemption and salvation from the power of sin is through the shed blood of the Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 4:12; Romans 5:8-13, 10:9; James 1: 21; Ephesians 2:8).
The New Birth
God is pure, righteous and holy, and the Law of God demands the punishment and death of the sinner. Christ bore our sins in his own body on the cross, shedding his life-blood on our behalf. On the basis of that blood, God can faithfully and righteously forgive the repentant and believing sinner, and impart the very righteousness and Life of Christ into his human spirit (Romans 3:21-26). This is the new birth, where man is given a new nature and becomes alive to God (John 3:5-7; 1 Peter 1:3; 2 Corinthians 5:17; Romans 6:11).
Christ the Good Shepherd
Jesus Christ is the Good Shepherd (John 10:11) and the Great Shepherd (Hebrews 13:20). The Lord Jesus is the living Head of the New Testament Church, which is His Body (Ephesians 1:22). All other ministers serve as under-shepherds.
The Church and Its Mission
The Church is the Body of Christ, the habitation of God through the Holy Spirit, with divine appointments for the fulfillment of His great commission. Each believer, born of the Spirit, is an integral part of the general assembly and the church of the firstborn, which was written in heaven (Ephesians 1:22-33, 2:22; Hebrews 12:23).
Since God’s purpose concerning man is to seek and to save all who are lost, to be worshiped by man, and to build a body of believers in the image of His Son, it is the responsibility of the Church:
- To be an agency of God for evangelizing the world, locally, regionally, and beyond. (Acts 1:8; Matthew 28:19-29; Mark 16:15-16).
- To be a corporate body in which man may worship God (1 Corinthians 12:28, 14:12).
Baptism in Water
Baptism by immersion in water is commanded in the scriptures by Jesus Himself. All who repent of their sins and believe in Christ as Savior and Lord are to be baptized. This is in obedience to Christ, that they identify with Him in the power of His death and resurrection unto newness of life (Matthew 28:19; Mark 16:16; Acts 10:47 & 48; Romans 6:4).
The Lord's Supper (Communion)
The Lord’s Supper, consisting of bread and the cup of the fruit of the vine, expresses the suffering and death of our Lord Jesus. Through faith in His broken body and poured out blood, we are forgiven and justified before God, healed, and feed on Christ Himself as our Life and strength. All believers are to proclaim the power of his death through the Lord's Supper until he comes in power as King and Lord (1 Corinthians 11: 26).
The Indwelling and Baptism of the Holy Spirit
At the moment of salvation the Holy Spirit places a believer into permanent union with Christ and with other believers in the Body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:13). Every believer has, as part of his salvation, the indwelling Holy Spirit, taking up permanent residence in his life (John 14:17; Romans 8:9-11; 1 Corinthians 3:16, 6:19; 1 John 4:4). Through the Holy Spirit God marks and seals the believer for Himself as His permanent possession (Ephesians 1:13-14).
After His resurrection, Jesus appeared to His disciples who were hiding in an upper room of a house in Jerusalem. He breathed on them and said, "Receive the Holy Spirit". At that time their minds were opened to understand the Old Testament prophecies of the sufferings and resurrection of the Christ. (John 20:19-22; Luke 24:44-47).
But there is an experience, generally subsequent to the new birth, where Jesus Himself immerses and baptizes the believer in the Spirit, resulting in an outflow of spiritual gifts and power (Matthew 4:11; Mark 1:7,8; Luke 3:16; John 1:33; Acts 1:4,5). Right before Jesus ascended back to heaven, he told His disciples that he would send forth the promise of the Father upon them, and that they were to stay in the city and wait until they were clothed with power from on high (Luke 24:48). On the day Pentecost, ten days after Jesus ascended to heaven, the disciples were baptized and filled with the Holy Spirit, and received power to be witnesses of the living Christ. This experience is for every believer (Acts 2:37-39).
Ever-Increasing Faith
Faith of the heart (Romans 10:9-10) is based on hearing (spiritual understanding) God’s Word (Romans 10:17). Without faith it is impossible to please God (Hebrews 11:6). Christians are saved by grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8), justified by faith (Romans 3:28, 5:1; Galatians 2:16, 3:11), shall live by faith (Romans 1:16-17; Hebrews 10:38), and overcome the world by faith (1 John 5: 4).
Divine Healing
Divine healing was provided for in the Old Testament (Exodus 15:23-26; Psalms 103:1-3, Isaiah 53:4-5) and was completed and solidified in the broken body of Jesus Christ on the Cross. It is an integral part of the Gospel (Matthew 8:16-17; Acts 5:16; James 5:14-16). Every believer is reminded of the provision of healing when he/she observes the ordinance of communion.
Worship
We believe that the whole purpose of man is to glorify God and to enjoy Him forever. Therefore, we believe in the act of worshiping God with one’s total being as set forth in the Scriptures (Psalm 150; Mark 12:29-31; Ephesians 5:18-21).
Ministers to the Church
We believe in the divinely called, commissioned, and equipped five-fold ministry of apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers as given to the Church by the Lord Jesus Christ after His ascension. We further believe that all Christians are called to be ambassadors for Christ and that all believers have been given the ministry of reconciliation (Ephesians 4:11-13; 2 Corinthians 5:20).
The King, the Second Coming of Christ and Eternity
We believethat God’s kingdom has come in the ministry of our Lord Jesus Christ, that it continues to come in the ministry of the Holy Spirit through the Church, and that it will be consummated in the glorious, visible, and triumphant appearing of Christ: His return to the earth as King. After Christ returns to reign, He will bring about the final defeat of Satan and all of his minions and works, the resurrection of the dead, and final judgment and the eternal punishment of the wicked in the lake of fire which is the second death, and the eternal blessing of the righteous.
We believe the words of Jesus in John 3:16. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” Finally, God will be all in all in His new heavens and new earth, recreated by His mighty power, in which righteousness dwells and in which He will forever be worshiped.