core BELIEFS
FOUR ESSENTIAL TRUTHS
1. The Bible is the Word of God.
God’s Word is the only completely reliable and truthful authority, and we accept the Bible as our guide for living. Our first question when faced with a decision is, “What does the Bible say?” We practice daily Bible reading and study. The Bible is the basis for all we believe.
“All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It straightens us out and teaches us to do what is right.” 2 Timothy 3:16 NLT
“We also thank God continually because, when you received the Word of God which you heard from us, you accepted it, not as the word of men, but actually as it is, the Word of God, which is at work in you who believe.” 1 Thessalonians 2:13
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2. Jesus Christ is God manifest in the flesh.
Jesus Christ, God manifested in the flesh, lived a sinless life on earth and voluntarily paid for our sin by dying on the cross as our substitute. He arose from the dead and is the only mediator between God and us. He baptizes believers in the Holy Spirit and will return to Earth one day.
“And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifested in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen by angels, preached among the Gentiles, believed on in the world, Received up in glory.” I Timothy 3:16
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3. You must be born again.
God created humans to have fellowship with Him, but we defied God by sinfully going our own way. As a result, we need God’s saving grace to be reconciled to Him. Salvation comes only through God’s grace, not human effort; it must be received personally through faith, repentance, water baptism, and the infilling of the Holy Spirit. At the end, everyone will experience bodily resurrection and the judgment. Only believers will enjoy eternal fellowship with God.
“Jesus replied, ‘Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.’ ‘How can someone be born when they are old?’ Nicodemus asked. ‘Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!’ Jesus answered, ‘Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and Spirit.’” John 3: 3-5
“Peter replied, ‘Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.’ ” Acts 2:38
“When anyone becomes a Christian, he becomes a new person inside. The old dies, a new life has begun.” 2 Corinthians 5:17
4. Believers must be Spirit Filled and Spirit-led.
We believe the only way possible to live the Christian life is by God’s power within us. Every believer can be filled with the Holy Spirit by simply asking. We seek to practice a daily dependence on God’s Spirit to enable us to do what is right.
OUR BELIEFS
The Gospel and Conversion
The Gospel is the good news that Jesus died for our sins, was buried, and rose again. We express our belief in the gospel through our obedience to the gospel. We obey the gospel and apply it to our lives by repenting of our sins (death to sin), being baptized in water in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of our sins (burial) and receiving the gift of the Holy Spirit (resurrection). This threefold experience is the consistent pattern of conversion in the early church. 1 Corinthians 15.1-4; 2 Thessalonians 1.8; 1 Peter 4.17; Mark 1.15; Acts 15.7; Romans 6.3-4; Acts 2.4, 37-39; 8.9-17; 10.1-48; 19.1-7
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The Bible
The Holy Bible, and only the Bible, is the authoritative Word of God. It alone is the final authority in determining all doctrinal truths. In its original writing, it is inspired, infallible, and inerrant. 2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:20-21; Proverbs 30:5; Romans 16:25-26
God
There is one God. He is the Creator of heaven, earth, and all living beings. He has revealed Himself as the Father in creation, as the Son in redemption, and as the Holy Spirit in regeneration. Genesis 1:1, 1:26, 1:27, 3:22; Psalm 90:2; Matthew 28:19; 1 Peter 1:2; 2 Corinthians 13:14; Deuteronomy 6:4
Jesus Christ
Jesus is the Son of God. On earth, Jesus was 100% God and 100% man. He is the only man ever to have lived a sinless life. He was born of a virgin, performed miracles, died on the cross for mankind, and thus atoned for our sins through the shedding of His blood. He rose from the dead on the third day according to the Scriptures, ascended to Heavens glory, and will return in power and glory. John 1:1,14, 20:28; 1 Timothy 3:16; Isaiah 9:6; Philippians 2:5-6; 1 Timothy 2:5
Redemption
Man was created good and upright but fell by voluntary transgression; his only hope of redemption is in Jesus Christ. Genesis 1:26-31, 3:1-7; Romans 5:12-21
Regeneration
For anyone to know God, regeneration by the Holy Spirit is absolutely essential. John 6:44, 65; Matthew 19:28; Titus 3:5
Salvation
Salvation is God's free gift to us. We can never make up for our sin by self-improvement or good works. Only by trusting in Jesus Christ as God's offer of forgiveness can anyone be saved from sin's penalty. Romans 6:23; Ephesians 2:8-9; John 14:6, 1:12; Titus 3:5
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Repentance
Repentance is the commitment to turn away from sin in every area of our lives and to follow Christ, which allows us to receive His redemption and to be regenerated by the Holy Spirit. Thus, through repentance we receive forgiveness of sins and appropriate salvation. Acts 2:21, 3:19; 1 John 1:9
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Water Baptism
Water baptism by immersion in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins is a salvation experience that fully identifies the believer with Christ in His death, burial, and resurrection. Acts 2:38; Romans 6:4; Colossians 2:12; Galatians 3:27
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Jesus’ Blood
The Blood that Jesus Christ shed on the cross of Calvary was sinless and is 100% sufficient to cleanse mankind of all sin. Jesus allowed Himself to be punished for both our sinfulness and our sins, enabling all those who believe to be free from the penalty of sin, which is death. 1 John 1:7; Revelation 1:5, 5:9; Colossians 1:20; Romans 3:10-12, 23, 5:9; John 1:29
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Human Beings
People are made in the image of God and thus to be like Him in character. People are the supreme object of God's creation. Although every person has tremendous potential for good, all of us have been marred by sin. This sin has separated us from God and causes many problems in our lives. Genesis 1:27; Psalm 8:3-6; Isaiah 53:6; Romans 3:23; Isaiah 59:1-2
The Holy Spirit
The Baptism of the Holy Spirit is a salvation experience that empowers every believer. It provides the Christian with power for living, understanding for spiritual truth, and guidance in doing what is right. As Christians, we seek to live by the guidance of the Holy Spirit. 2 Corinthians 3:17; John 16:7-13, 14:16-17; Acts 1:8; Acts2:38; 1 Corinthians 2:12, 3:16; Ephesians 1:13; Galatians 5:25; Ephesians 5:18
Spiritual Gifts
The Holy Spirit is manifested through a variety of spiritual gifts to build and sanctify the church, demonstrate the validity of the resurrection, and confirm the power of the Gospel. The Bible’s lists of these gifts are not necessarily exhaustive, and the gifts may occur in various combinations. All believers are commanded to earnestly desire the manifestation of the gifts in their lives. These gifts always operate in harmony with the Scriptures and should never be used in violation of Biblical parameters. Hebrews 2:4; Romans 1:11, 12 :4-8; Ephesians 4:16; 1 Timothy 4:14; 2 Timothy 1:6-7;1 Corinthians 12:1-31, 14:1-40; 1 Peter 4:10
The Church
The Church is the Body of Christ, a local community of born again believers, unified through faith in Christ Jesus. It is committed to the teachings of Christ and obeying all of His commands. The church also seeks to bring the Good News to the world. Every person who is born of the water (water baptism) and the Spirit (Spirit baptism) is an integral part of the church as a member of the body of believers. The church works together in love and unity, intent on the ultimate purpose of glorifying Christ. Matthew 16:18-19; 18:15-20; John 3: 1-21; John 17:11, 20-23; Acts 2:41-47; 5:11-14; 13:1-3; 14:23; 16:5; 20:28; 1 Corinthians 7:17; 9:13-14; 12; Ephesians 1:22, 2:19-22; 3:10-12; 5:22-32; Hebrews 12:23
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Biblical Marriage
Biblical Marriage is clearly defined as one man (born a man) united with one woman (born a woman) for life. This covenant is with God and should not be taken lightly or altered to fit personal preferences. Genesis 2:22-24, Ephesians 5:22-33, Matthew 19:4-6, Mark 10:6-9, Galatians 5:24-25
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Sacraments
The Lord’s Supper: A unique time of communion in the presence of God when the elements of bread and grape juice (the Body and Blood of the Lord Jesus Christ) are taken in remembrance of Jesus’ sacrifice on the Cross. Matthew 26:26-29; 1 Corinthians 10:16, 11:23-25
Marriage: We believe marriage is defined in the Bible as a covenant, a sacred bond between one man and one woman, instituted by and publicly entered before God. Matthew 19:4-6
Healing of the Sick
Healing of the sick is illustrated in the life and ministry of Jesus and included in the commission of Jesus to His disciples. It is given as a sign which is to follow believers. It is also a part of Jesus’ work on the cross and one of the gifts of the Spirit. Psalm 103:2-3; Isaiah 53:5; Matthew 8:16-17; Mark 16:17-18; Acts 8:6-7; James 5:14-16; 1 Corinthians 12:9, 28; Romans 11:29
God’s Will for Provision
It is the Father’s will for believers to become whole, healthy, and successful in all areas of life. Because of the fall, many may not receive the full benefits of God’s will while on Earth, but that fact should never prevent all believers from seeking the full benefits of Christ’s provision in order to better serve others.
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Spiritual - John 3:3-11; 2 Corinthians 5:17-21; Romans 10:9-10
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Mental and Emotional - 2 Timothy 1:7, 2:11; Philippians 4:7-8; Romans 12:2; Isaiah 26:3
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Physical - Isaiah 53:4,5; Matthew 8:17; 1 Peter 2:24
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Financial - Joshua 1:8; Malachi 3:10-11; Luke 6:38; 2 Corinthians 9:6-10; Deuteronomy 28:1-14; Psalm 34:10, 84:11; Philippians 4:19
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Resurrection
Jesus Christ was physically resurrected from the dead in a glorified body three days after His death on the cross. In addition, both the saved and the lost will be resurrected, those that are saved to the resurrection of life and those that are lost to the resurrection of eternal damnation. Luke 24:16, 36, 39; John 2:19-21, 20:26-28, 21:4; Acts 24:15; 1 Corinthians 15:42, 44;Philippians 1:21-23, 3:21
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Heaven
Heaven is the eternal dwelling place for all believers in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Matthew 5:3, 12, 20, 6:20, 19:21, 25:34; John 17:24; 2 Corinthians 5:1; Hebrews 11:16; 1 Peter 1:4
Hell
After living one life on earth, the unbelievers will be judged by God and sent to Hell where they will be eternally tormented with the Devil and the Fallen Angels. Matthew 25:41; Mark 9:43-48; Hebrews 9:27; Revelation 14:9-11, 20:12-15, 21:8
Second Coming
Jesus Christ will physically and visibly return to earth for the second time to establish His Kingdom. This will occur at a date undisclosed by the Scriptures. Matthew 24:30, 26:63-64; Acts 1:9-11; 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17; 2 Thessalonians 1:7-8; Revelation 1:7
Sin and Salvation
Everyone has sinned and needs salvation. Salvation comes by grace through faith based on the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Romans 3.23-25; 6.23; Ephesians 2.8-9
