Statement of Doctrine and Beliefs
1. The Bible (which is the Scripture in both the Old and New Testaments) is the inspired Word of God and without error in the original manuscripts. It is God’s revelation to man of His perfect will for our lives and the final authority for all Christians. (1 Thes. 2:13; 2 Tim. 3:16-17; 2 Pet. 1:19-21)
2. God is one God, infinitely perfect and eternally represented in three distinct persons consisting of the Trinity of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (Deut. 6:4; Matt. 3:16-17; 28:19; 1 Cor. 8:6)
3. In Jesus Christ, fully God and fully man, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He is the Messiah and the revelation of God’s love for the World. Jesus died on the cross and suffered the wrath of God in our stead, to atone for the sins of the world. He was resurrected from the dead and ascended into Heaven where He sits at the right hand of the Father as our High Priest, interceding for the saints. (Matt. 1:18-25; Lu. 1:35; Jn. 1:1,14; 3:16; Lu. 24:51; Ro. 5:9; 8:34; Heb. 4:14,15)
4. In the person of the Holy Spirit, whose ministry is to glorify the Lord Jesus Christ. He convicts men, regenerates believers, indwells, guides, instructs, and empowers the believers for godly living and service, producing fruit in the lives of believers and giving spiritual gifts as He determines. (Jn. 7:38-39; 14:16-17, 26; 16:7-11; Ro. 8:11, 1 Cor. 2:12; 12:4-11; Gal. 5:22-25)
5. Man was originally created sinless in the image of God. When our first father and mother Adam and Eve sinned, it opened the human race up to sin and death, so that each person is now born with a sinful nature. Only through regeneration by the Holy Spirit (through Jesus’ finished work at Calvary) can eternal life and salvation from sin be obtained. (Gen. 1:26-27; 3:1-24; Ro. 5:12-21)
6. We are saved from perishing in our sin by faith in Jesus Christ and His complete work accomplished on the cross (his shed blood) and through His resurrection. We receive salvation by grace through faith and are born of the Spirit (born again), becoming children of God who will have eternal life in the presence of God. (Is. 53; Jn. 1:12-13; 5:24; Ro. 5:8-9; 1 Cor. 3-4; Heb. 9:22)
7. Believers in Jesus are righteous and have direct relationship with God the Father because of our faith in Christ. (Jn. 10:30; 14:6; Ro. 8:10; 2 Cor. 5:21; Philip. 5:7-9; Heb. 4:16)
8. We are baptized in the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking in other tongues when we prayerfully ask and are willing to receive the baptism. (Acts 1:5,8; 2:4; 10:45,46; 19:6)
9. The Church is made up of all those people who, through saving faith in Jesus Christ, by grace, have been born again (regenerated by the Holy Spirit) and are united together as the Body of Christ-- regardless of sect, denomination, or organization. Christ is the head of the Church. (Matt. 16:16-18; 1 Cor. 12:12-14; Col 1:18,24; Ro. 12:4,5)
10. We have been given a Great Commission by the Lord Jesus to bring the Gospel to all people by our testimony, lifestyle, and ministry. (Matt. 5:16; Mk 16:15-18; Lk 24:47)
11. Both men and women are called into leadership in the Church and ministry. (Ex. 15:20,21; Judg. 4:4; Is. 8:3; Joel 2:28; Acts 8:24-26; Col. 4:15; Phil. 4:2,3)
12. That the return of the Lord Jesus is imminent and that this has a vital bearing on how we live our lives. (Jn. 14:3; Acts 1:11; 1 Thes. 4:16-18; Tit. 2:11-14)
13. Believers in Jesus have victory over Satan and demonic forces in their lives by appropriating the victory of the cross and resurrection. We win by defensive and offensive battle over evil forces that desire to bring deception, destruction, and chaos into our lives. The final defeat of Satanic forces does not occur until the events of Rev. 20. (Eph. 6:10-18; 2 Cor. 2:14; 2 Tim. 2:3, 4; 1 Cor. 15:56, 57; 2 Cor. 10:3-5; Eph. 3:10, 11)
