STATEMENT OF FAITH
I. The Scriptures --We believe the Holy Bible is the complete and only inspired Word of the Living God. The entire Bible has been preserved by God to teach His absolute truth through all ages of mankind (II Timothy 3:15-17; II Peter 1:19-21; I Peter 1:24,25; Matthew 24:35).
II. One True God; The Holy Trinity --We believe that the LORD God (Jehovah/Yahweh of the Bible) is the one and only true and living God from eternity past to eternity future (Isaiah 43:10; Isaiah 44:6,8; Isaiah 45:5,6). The LORD God is Triune in nature. All three persons (personalities) contained within this glorious Being are co-equal and co-eternal. The Triune God of the Bible consists of:
a. The Father (whose name is Jehovah/Yahweh God); This member of the Triune Godhead is glorious, omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent, and holy. He dwells in unapproachable light and no man can see His glory and live (I Timothy 6:14-16; Exodus 33:20). Because of His great love for His creation, He desires to reconcile all mankind to himself through His Son, Jesus Christ (John 3:16; Ephesians 1:19-21).
b. The Son; Jesus Christ (who is also Jehovah/Yahweh God) (Matthew 1:23; I Timothy 3:16; John 8:24,58); This member of the Triune Godhead humbled himself and came to earth in human flesh to be the perfect sacrifice. Through His death on the cross He provides the only means of reconciliation between sinful man and a holy God (I Peter 1:18,19: I John 2:1,2).
c. The Holy Spirit/Ghost (who is the Spirit of Jehovah/Yahweh God); This member of the Triune Godhead is God's abiding presence throughout the world and universe. God's Holy Spirit indwells all believers and convicts all men of sin and judgment (I Corinthians 6:19,20; John 16:7,8).
III. The Virgin Birth -- As foretold in Isaiah 7:14, The Messiah would be born of a virgin. This child, conceived by the Holy Spirit/Ghost, is called Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God (Psalm 2:7, Matthew 1:18-20; Luke 1:26-35).
IV. The Devil (Satan, Lucifer) -- Satan, presently the god of this world or age (Ephesians 2:2; 2 Corinthians 4:4; John 8:44), was created by God and fell from His presence because in pride he desired to be like and/or become a God (Isaiah 14:12-15; Ezekiel 28:11-19). He is the ruler of the powers of darkness and will suffer the judgment of eternal punishment in the Lake of Fire (Revelation 20:10).
V. Creation -- God created the heavens and the earth from nothing (no preexistent matter) in the seven days of creation as outlined in Genesis Chapters 1 and 2. By the breath of His mouth he spoke or breathed everything in the universe into existence (Psalm 33:6).
VI. Man -- Man was created (body, soul and spirit) on the 6th day of creation. God formed man's body from the dust of this earth (Genesis 1:27; Genesis 2:7) and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life and man became a living soul (Zechariah 12:1). All of mankind is descended from Adam and Eve and did not originate from any previously existing forms of life (Genesis 3:20, Acts 17:26).
VII. The Fall of Man -- Adam and Eve willfully rebelled against God's law in the Garden of Eden through the deceitful influence of Satan. Because of their disobedience, God placed a curse upon this world. Adam and Eve's sin plunged the entire human race into sin (Romans 5:12) thus, each member of the human race, except for Jesus, was/is born with a sinful nature (Psalms 51:5; Romans 3:23), separated from God and under condemnation of physical and spiritual death.
VIII. Salvation -- Salvation is a free gift offered to all who will receive Jesus Christ as Savior (Romans 5:8; Romans 6:23, Romans 10:9-10,13). His death on the cross provided the only means of reconciliation to God
(I Corinthians 1:18; Ephesians 2:13-16) which reconciliation cannot be earned by good works, water baptism, tithing, church membership or any human merit (Romans 3:10,23; Ephesians 2:8,9; Galatians 2:16). Every person must be "born-again" by the Spirit of God through repentance (a change of mind and heart) and faith in Jesus Christ alone or he/she will never see the Kingdom of Heaven (John 3:1-7).
IX. Second coming of Jesus Christ -- At some point in future history, prior to His millennial reign, Jesus Christ is coming back to rapture (catch away) all believers who make up His body, the Universal Church. This will happen at God's appointed time, the exact time known only to the Father (Matthew 24:36; Acts 1:7). At His return the dead in Christ will rise first, then all living believers will be caught up to meet Him in the air (I Thessalonians 4:13-18).
X. The True Church (Universal Church) -- This is not a human organization, denomination or a building but rather is composed of all born-again believers in Jesus Christ and will be complete at the end of this age (Ephesians 1:9-13; I Corinthians 12:4-27).
XI. The Local Church -- Local churches consist of groups of believers who have joined together throughout the world with the express purpose of fulfilling the Lord's commands to share the good news of the gospel with the world around them, to worship God and do good works which glorify His name (Acts 2:41-47).
XII. Two Biblical Ordinances
a. Water Baptism - In obedience to the Lord's command and as a
public testimony of salvation, those professing personal faith in Jesus as Savior and Lord shall be immersed in water by a pastor or someone else approved by a local church body (Matthew 28:19,20). Water baptism, though an important step of obedience in the life of every saved individual is not a requirement for salvation but is rather an act of obedience following personal salvation through faith in Christ alone (Acts 8:29-38).
b. Communion - The Lord's Supper is to be observed in obedience to the Lord's command at regular intervals as established by each local church body. The grape juice is a symbol of Jesus Christ's blood which was shed on the cross to propitiate the sins of the world. The unleavened bread symbolizes the sinless broken body of Jesus Christ. Communion will be served to believers by a pastor or other persons authorized by a local church body. Persons participating in communion should solemnly examined themselves for known sin and confess with an intent to forsake any known sin before partaking (I Corinthians 11:23-32; 1 John 1:9).
XIII. Heaven -- One literal heaven, the dwelling place of the LORD God (Acts 7:49; Deuteronomy 10:14; Nehemiah 9:6) will be the final resting place for all who have received the gift of eternal life in Jesus Christ, those whose names are written in the Book of Life (Revelation 21:2-5).
XIV. Hades (Hell) and the Lake of Fire -- Hades is a temporary holding place for all who die (Luke 16:19-31) and are not "born-again" into God's family (John 1:12-13). At God's appointed time, Hades will be emptied and all unregenerate mankind will stand before God at The Great White Throne Judgment. This will be the final judgment and those who had been confined in Hades will be cast into the Lake of Fire along with the Devil and his angels where they will suffer for all eternity. This is a permanent judgment, there will be no opportunity to repent and be reconciled to God (Revelation 20:11-14).
XV. Separation from Sin -- Each believer is responsible to live a life that is pleasing to God and to confess and turn away from every known sin (I John 1:9). The Holy Bible is our standard in regard to true doctrine, reproof, correction and instruction in righteousness – if heeded, God's Word will bring us to complete maturity in our Christian walk (2 Timothy 3:16-17).