Tenets Of Faith

STATEMENT OF FAITH

Our Church accepts the Scriptures as the revealed Will of God, the all sufficient rule of faith and practice, and for the purpose of maintaining general unity, adopts these Statements of Fundamental Truths and Doctrine.

Section 1. The Scriptures Inspired. The Bible is the inspired Word of God, a revelation from God to man, the inerrant, infallible rule of faith and conduct, and is superior to conscience and reason, but not contrary to reason. (2 Timothy 3:15 17; 1 Peter 1:23 25; Hebrews 4:12)

Section 2. The One True Godhead. The triune Godhead is comprised of three (3) separate and distinct personalities, The Father, The Son, and The Holy Spirit, who are eternally self existent, self revealed and are one entity. Jesus Christ, the virgin born Son of God, is God manifested in the flesh, is the second member of the Godhead, co equal and co eternal with The Father and The Holy Spirit.

Section 3. Man, His Fall and Redemption. Man was created good and righteous, for God said, "Let us make man in Our image, after Our likeness". But, man, by voluntary transgression, fell and his only hope of redemption is in Jesus Christ the Son of God (Genesis 1:26 31, 3:1 7; Romans 5:12 21).

Section 4. The Salvation of Man.

(a) Man's only hope of redemption is through the shed blood of Jesus Christ. On the cross Jesus Christ became sin and sickness providing both salvation and divine healing for all mankind (Psalm 103:3), being justified freely by His Grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. "For by grace we are saved through faith." "The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart that is, the word of faith which we are preaching, that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved; for with the heart man believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation" (Romans 3:24; Ephesians 2:8; Romans 10:8 10).

(b) The evidence of Salvation. The inward evidence to the believer of his salvation, is the direct witness of the Spirit (Romans 8:16). The outward evidence to all men is a life of righteousness and true holiness. "And this is His commandment, that we believe in the name of His Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as He commanded us" (1 John 3:23).

(c) Faith and Works. Salvation is by faith in Jesus Christ and not by human works; however, we are created in Christ Jesus unto good works. Our works will determine our rewards in eternity. (II Corinthians 5:10 and Ephesians 2:8-10)

Section 5. Baptism in Water. The ordinance of baptism should be observed as commanded in the Scriptures by all who have really repented and in their hearts have truly believed on Christ as Savior and Lord. In so doing, they declare to the world that they have died with Jesus and that they have also been raised with Him to walk in newness of life. (Matthew 28:19; Acts 10:47, 48; Acts 2:38)

Section 6. The Lord's Supper. "And when He had given thanks, He broke it, and said, 'This is my body which is broken for you. Do this in remembrance of me.' In the same way also the cup, after supper, saying, 'This cup is the new covenant in my blood, Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.' Let a man examine himself, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup". The sacrament of Holy Communion shall be observed. (1 Corinthians 11:24; 25, 28)

Section 7. The Promise of the Father. All believers are entitled to, and should ardently expect and earnestly seek, the promise of the Father, the Baptism with the Holy Spirit, according to the command of our Lord Jesus Christ. This was the normal experience of the early Christian church. With it comes the enduement of power for life and service. (Luke 24:49; Acts 1:4 8) This wonderful experience is distinct from and subsequent to the experience of the new birth (Acts 2:38; 10:44 46; 11:14 16; 15:7 9).

Section 8. The Church. The church is the body of Christ, the habitation of God through the Spirit, with divine appointments for the fulfillment of her great commission. Each believer, born of the Spirit, is an integral part of the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in Heaven (Ephesians 1:22; 2:19 22; Hebrews 12:23; I Corinthians 12:27).

Section 9. Prosperity. We believe in a Holistic Gospel; God wants to prosper his people.

(a) Spiritual. John 3:3, 11; II Corinthians. 5:17 21; Romans 10:9 10.
(b) Mental. II Timothy 1:7; Romans 12:2; Isaiah 26:3.
(c) Physical. Isaiah 53:4, 5; Matthew 8:17; I Peter 2:24.
(d) Financial. III John 1:2; Malachi 3:10 11; Luke 6:38; II Corinthians 9:6 10; Deuteronomy 28:1 14.
(e) Social. Proverbs 3:4.

Section 10. Blessed Hope. Jesus is coming again to gather all His Saints to Heaven (I Corinthians 15:51 52; I Thessalonians 4:16 17; and II Thessalonians 2:1).

Section 11. The Lake of Fire. Those who have not accepted the redemptive work of Jesus Christ will suffer eternal separation from the Godhead. The devil and his angels, the beast and the false prophet, and anyone whose name was not found written in the Book of Life, shall be consigned to everlasting punishment in the lake of fire which burns with brimstone. This is the second death, the lake of fire (Revelation 19:20; 20:10 15).

Section 12. The Millennial Reign of Jesus. The return of our Lord Jesus Christ with His Saints from Heaven to rule and reign for one thousand years on earth as the Scriptures promised (Romans 11:25, 27; 2 Thessalonians 1:7; Revelation 19:11 16; 20:1 7). After this, there shall be a new heaven and a new earth (Revelation 21).