WHAT WE BELIEVE

GOD

We believe God is One and exists in three distinct persons; the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.  He does not show Himself in three different modes, but in three different persons (Deut. 6:4; Zech. 14:9; Mark 12:29; Gal. 3:20b; 1 Cor. 8:6; Ps. 2:7; Is. 7:14; Heb. 1:1-4; Genesis 1:1-2; Zech 4:6; 2 Cor. 3:17).  We believe that the fullness of the God-head dwells in the bodily form of Jesus Christ (John 1:14; Col. 1:15 & 2:9).

The Bible

We believe the Bible is the inherent, infallible Word of God, wherein the Holy Spirit inspired men to pen the words of truth, which endure forever (2 Timothy 4:16; Is. 40:8; 1 Pet. 1:23b-25; 1 John 2:14b).  We believe all of God's power is in His word (Heb. 1:3, 4:12; Jas. 1:21; Rom. 1:16-17; ).  We believe the source of God's power is not in the word itself, but in God Himself.  However, the way in which He released and releases His power was and is through the speaking of His word (Gen. 1:1-31; Ps. 33:6, 107:20, 138:2; Heb. 11:3; Matt. 17:20, 21:21-22).  We believe the word has the power to work in those who believe to completely transform and conform them into the very image Christ Jesus, both in character and in power (1 Thes. 2:13; Heb. 4:2; Rom 8:29; 1 Pet. 1:22-25; Col. 1:4-5; 2 Pet. 1:2-10; Heb. 5;12-13).

Eternity, Heaven and Hell

We believe God is eternal and eternity is the state of existence that is outside of time (Ps. 93:2; Is. 57:15; 1 Tim. 1:17).  We believe God created both heaven and hell, which are two distinct, separate locations, wherein mankind will spend all eternity when their life is complete on earth (Gen. 1:1; Matt. 25:46; John 3:36).  Heaven is the place created by God where His life and glory dwells with all that is pure, holy, righteous and lovely (Matthew 5:16 & 48, 6:9, 23:9; John 3:15).  Hell is the place that God created for the devil and his demons (Matthew 25:41; 2 Pet. 2:4; Jude 6).  We believe all who choose to resist and reject the Holy Spirit’s conviction of sin, righteousness and judgement (God’s truth) and deny Jesus Christ as the Lord and Savior of all, will be completely separated from God with eternal punishment in hell (Matt. 25:46; John 10:25-29; 2 Pet. 2:4; Rev. 20:13-15).  We believe God has placed eternity in the hearts of all and each one’s eternal destination is determined by the free volition of that individual (Eccl. 3:11; Matt. 19:16, 19:29; Rom. 6:23; 1 Tim. 4:10).

Salvation

We believe Salvation is the liberation, redemption & restoration of all things, by God, through the finished work of Jesus Christ (John 3:16-17; Matt. 18:11; Luke 19:10; 1 Tim. 2:4-6; 1 Tim. 4:10b; Rev. 21:5-6).  Man in his unregenerate state, must choose to believe in his heart and confess with his mouth that Jesus Christ is Lord, to obtain the salvation God has provided (Rom. 10:9-10; Acts 8:37; Matt. 10:32-33).  The testimony and assurance of his faith, in Christ, is seen in the good fruit and good works which are produced from his life (Luke 7:18-20; Gal. 5:22-24; Jas. 1:22-25, 2:17 & 26; 2 Peter 1:5-11; Rev 21:7-8).

The Person and Work of Jesus Christ

We believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, being fully God and fully man (Ps. 2:7; John 1:1; Heb 1:1-4; ).  He is uncreated and yet, was made manifest in the flesh, declared to be the Son of God, according to the seed of David, being the promised One, the Redeemer, the Healer, and the Restorer of all things (John 1:14; Matt. 3:17; Rom. 1:3-4; 1 John 1:1-4; Rev. 21:5-6).  He is the visible image of God, whereas the Son came to earth, emptied Himself of His divine privileges, having the Holy Spirit without measure, therefore, doing all things on earth as a man under/in the power of God (John 5:19 & 8:28; Col. 1:15-18; Phil. 2:5-8).  We believe Jesus is the Lamb of God, who was slain before the foundation of the world, who was beaten for all sickness and disease, was crucified on a cross for the punishment of all sin, was buried and was raised up from the grave by the power of God and is now seated at the right hand of God (John 1:29 & 36; Rev. 5:12-14, 13:8b; Is. 53:5; 1 Pet. 2:24; Matt. 27:26; Mark 15:15; Luke 18:33; John 19:1; Rom. 4:25; Gal. 3:10-14; Mark 16:19-20; Acts 2:30 & 33, 7:55-56; Rom. 8:34; Col. 3:1; Heb. 10:12; 1 Pet. 3:21b-22).  All power and authority has been given to Jesus and He is the head over all things to the Church (Matt. 28; Col. 1:15-18; Eph. 1:20-23; Heb 1:8-13).

The Person and Work of the Holy Spirit

We believe the Holy Spirit is the Spirit of God and has always been One with God the Father and God the Son.  He has been at work with the Father and the Son from the beginning of creation (Deut. 6:4; Zech. 14:9; Mark 12:29; Genesis 1:1-2).  He is the Spirit of truth and convicts all of sin, righteousness and judgment and will lead any and all who yield to Him, into all truth (John 16:8-11 & 12-15; 14:26, 15:26; 1 Cor. 2:13).  He is the promised gift to all who believe in Jesus, and the Holy Spirit dwells within the believer at the moment of salvation (Is. 44:3; Joel 2:28; Luke 24:49; Acts 1:4; 1 Cor. 3:16-17, 6:19; Rom 5:5; Eph. 1:13-14; 2 Cor. 5:5).  We believe there is an infilling/baptism of the Holy Spirit that will endow the believer with supernatural power to overcome in all things (Joel 2:28; Acts 2:4; Rom. 8:26-28; 1 Cor. 14:18; Rom. 8:11; Eph 1:19-21).

The Purpose of the Church

We believe the Church is the people of God. We believe the purpose of the church is to establish and expand the kingdom of God by making disciples of Jesus (Matt. 28:18-20; Mark 16:15-18).  Jesus is the head of the Church, who is His body, and when the Church comes into unity, the manifold wisdom of God is made known, because the true image of Christ is made complete (Eph. 1:22-23, Col. 1:18; Eph. 5:23, Eph. 4:1-6; Phil. 2:1-4; Eph. 3:10).  The Church has been commissioned to do the work of the ministry; to proclaim and testify the Gospel of Jesus, to preach and teach the word of truth in love, in order to bring Christ-like maturity and wholeness to all who believe (Eph. 4:11-16; Col. 1:28; 2 Peter 1:5-10).