The Tenets of Faith
The 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, in its entirety, is the infallible, inerrant, and inspired Word of God; it is divine revelation that carries the full weight of God’s authority. It is a revelation from God to man, the infallible rule of faith and conduct, and is superior to conscience and reason, but not contrary to reason (II Tim. 3:15-17, I Peter 1:23-25, Heb. 4:12).
Section 2. The One True Godhead. The triune Godhead is comprised of 3 separate and distinct Persons, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. These three are one, in substance they are the same and equal in glory and power. God is eternally self-existent, self-revealed and function as one entity. Jesus Christ, who 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. (Matthew 28:19, John 10:30, 2 Corinthians 13:14, Genesis 1:26)
Section 3. Man. Mankind was created good and upright, for God said, "Let Us make man in Our image, after Our likeness". Male and Female, God created human beings. By voluntary transgression, however, Adam sinned and therefore entered into death, both spiritual and physical. Adam’s sin was passed down to all of mankind, therefore all of mankind has entered into corruption; all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23, Romans 6:23). Mankind stands in need of a Savior. Our 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) Jesus Christ made a complete, substitutionary atonement so that man may be reconciled to God. On the cross, Jesus Christ became sin for us that we might be cleansed of our sins and become the righteousness of God (2nd Corinthians 5:21), being justified freely by His Grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. Only those who repent of their sin and put their faith in Jesus Christ will experience salvation, it is the available gift of God. For by grace we are saved through faith (Ephesians 2:8-9, Romans 3:24, Romans 10:8-10)
(b) The evidences 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 love, righteousness, and true holiness. (1 John 3:23)
(c) Faith and Works. Salvation is by faith in Jesus Christ alone and not by human efforts; however, our works will determine the rewards in eternity (Ephesians 2:8-9, Romans 10:9-10, and II Cor. 5:10)
Section 5. Baptism in Water. The ordinance of water baptism should be observed as commanded in the Scriptures by all who have repented and 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. (Matt. 28:19; Acts 10:47, 48; Romans 6:4)
Section 6. The Lord's Supper. Communion is to be observed as outlined within Scripture and practiced throughout the history of the Church. (Matthew 26:26-28, 1 Cor. 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 in the Holy Spirit, according to the command of our Lord Jesus Christ. This was the normal experience of all in the early Christian church. With it comes the endowment of power for life and service, the bestowment of the gifts and their uses in the work of the ministry. (Luke 24:49; Acts 1:4-8; I Cor. 12:1-31). 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 Evidence of the Baptism in the Holy Spirit. The full consummation of the Baptism of believers in the Holy Spirit is evidenced by the initial physical sign of speaking with other tongues as the Spirit gives utterance, and by the subsequent manifestation of spiritual power in public testimony and service (Acts 2:4; 10:44-46; 19:2,6; 1:8).
Section 9. Human Sexuality.
1. According to Scripture, God has commanded that no intimate sexual activity be engaged in outside of heterosexual marriage. Sexual activity outside of heterosexual marriage is sinful. We believe that any form of homosexuality, bisexuality, incest, fornication, adultery, and pornography are sinful perversions of God’s gift of sex. We believe that God disapproves of and forbids transgenderism and any attempt to alter one’s gender by surgery or appearance.
(Gen. 2:24; Gen. 19:5, 13; Gen. 26:8-9; Lev. 18:1-30; Rom. 1:26-29; 1 Cor. 5:1; 6:9; 1 Thess. 4:1-8; Heb. 13:4)
2. Marriage is defined as being between a man and a woman (Genesis 1:27, Matthew 19:4-5). We believe that the only legitimate marriage is the joining of one man and one woman. (Gen. 2:24; Rom. 7:2; 1 Cor 7:10; Eph. 5:22-23)
Section 10. 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 first born, which are written in Heaven. (1 Corinthians 12:1-31, Ephesians 1:22; 2:19-22, Hebrews 10:25; 12:23)
Section 11. Total Prosperity. We believe that salvation applies to every area of the Believer’s life. (Psalms 103)
(a) Spiritual. John 3:3,11; II Cor. 5:17-21; Romans 10:9-10.
(b) Mental. II Tim. 1:7; Romans 12:2; Isaiah 26:3.
(c) Physical. Isaiah 53:4,5; Matt. 8:17; I Peter 2:24.
(d) Financial. 3 John 1:2; Malachi 3:10-11; Luke 6:38; I Cor. 9:6-19; Deut. 28:1-14.
(e) Social. Proverbs 3:4.
Section 12. The Return of Christ. This is our blessed hope. Jesus is coming again to gather all His saints to ever be with Him (1 Cor. 15:51-52, 1 Thes. 4:16-17, and 2 Thes. 2:1).
Section 13. The Lake of Fire. Those who have not accepted the redemptive work of Jesus Christ will suffer eternal separation from God. 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. (Rev. 19:20; 20:10-15).
Section 14. 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. (2 Thes. 1:7, Rev. 19:11-16; 20:1-7) After this, there shall be a new heaven and a new earth. (Rev. 21).