We Believe
1. We believe the Holy Bible as the inspired Word of God. Without any error, the all—sufficient authority in matters of faith, doctrine, and Christian living.
2. We believe in one God, eternally existing in three Persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
3. We believe in the Virgin Birth of Jesus Christ, and that He is true God and man. He died on the cross for our sins. He rose bodily from the dead, ascended into heaven where He sits at the right hand of the Father and is now our High Priest and Advocate.
4. We believe that man was created in the image of God but fell into sin and was therefore lost. Only through regeneration by the work of the Holy Spirit can man's salvation be obtained.
5. We believe that salvation is the free gift of God, entirely apart from man’s works, and is possessed by any and all who have faith in and receive Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior.
6. We believe in the Baptism in the Holy Ghost and fire according to the words of our Lord Jesus Christ. We believe in the associated Gifts and Fruit of the Spirit. This is not to be regarded as means or necessity for man’s salvation.
7. We believe in and pray for miracles from God including but not limited to, healings both physical and spiritual, dreams, visions and prophesy. These all must be by the direction and inspiration of the Holy Ghost and will therefore be in perfect harmony with the scripture.
8. We believe in a regenerated church membership: that is, persons old enough to understand their need for Jesus Christ and, of their own free will, accepted Him as their personal Lord and Savior.
9. We believe that baptism is by immersion and the Lord's Supper is a memorial to His suffering and death on the cross. We believe in Foot Washing as an expression of humility and mutual servitude among believers. These are ordinances to be observed by the church in its present age. They are, however, not to be regarded as means or necessity for man's salvation.
10. We believe in the personal, bodily, imminent, glorious and pre-tribulation return of the Lord Jesus Christ for the catching away of the saints, often referred to as “The Rapture”, and in His Second Coming to earth for the completion of His eternal Kingdom. This blessed hope inspires believers for dynamic and zealous life and service for Him while awaiting His return.
11. We believe in the bodily resurrection of the dead, the everlasting blessedness of the saved in heaven, and the everlasting punishment and separation from God of the unsaved in hell.
12. We believe in autonomy of the local church. The church shall manage its own affairs and shall not be subject to any other religious body or organization.
13. We believe in paying tithes and giving freewill offerings to support the local church.
We Believe
1. The Scriptures Inspired
The Scriptures both the Old and New Testaments, are verbally inspired of God and are the
revelation of God to man, the infallible, authoritative rule of faith and conduct.
(2 Timothy 3:15-17, 1 Thessalonians 2:13, 2 Peter 1:21)
2. The One True God
The one true God has revealed Himself as the eternally self-existent "I AM" the Creator of
heaven and earth and the Redeemer of mankind. He has further revealed Himself as embodying
the principles of relationship and association as Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
(Deuteronomy 6:4, Isaiah 43:10-11, Matthew 28:19, Luke 3:22)
3. The Deity of the Lord Jesus Christ
The Lord Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God. The Scriptures declare:
His Virgin birth (Matthew 1:23, Luke 1:31,35)
His sinless life (Hebrews 7:26, 1 Peter 2:22)
His miracles (Acts 2:22, 10:38)
His substitutionary work on the cross,(1 Corinthians 15:3, 2 Corinthians 5:21)
His bodily resurrection from the dead (Matthew 28:6, Luke 24:39, 1 Corinthians 15:4)
His exaltation to the right hand of God (Acts 1:9, 11, Acts 2:33, Philippians 2:9-11, Hebrews 1:3)
4. The Fall of Man
Man was created good and upright; for God said, "Let us make man in our own image, after our likeness." However, man by voluntary transgression fell and thereby incurred not only physical death but also spiritual death, which is separation from God.
(Genesis 12:26,27, Genesis 2:17, Genesis 3:6, Romans 5:12)
5. The Salvation of Man
Man's only hope of redemption is through the shed blood of Jesus Christ the Son of God.
Salvation is received through repentance toward God and faith toward the Lord Jesus Christ. By the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, being justified by grace through faith, man becomes an heir of God, according to the hope of eternal life.
(Luke 24:47, John 3:3, 14:6, Romans 10:1-15, Ephesians 2:8, Titus 2:11, 3:5-7, Acts 4:10-12, Cor 15:1-4)
The inward evidence of salvation is the direct witness of the Spirit.
(Romans 8:16)
The outward evidence to all men is a life of righteousness and true holiness.
(Ephesians 4:24, Titus 2:12)
6. The Ordinances of the Church
Baptism in Water
The ordinance of baptism by immersion is commanded by the Scriptures. All who repent and believe on Christ as Savior and Lord are to be baptized. Thus they declare to the world that they have died with Christ and that they also have been raised with Him to walk in newness of life.
(Matthew 28:19, Mark 16:16, Acts 10:47-48, Romans 6:4)
Holy Communion
The Lord's Supper, consisting of the elements--bread and the fruit of the vine-- is the symbol expressing our sharing the divine nature of our Lord Jesus Christ (2 Peter 1:4), a memorial of His suffering and death (1 Corinthians 11:26), and a prophecy of His second coming (1 Corinthians 11:26), and is enjoyed by all believers "till He come!"
Foot Washing
The practice of foot washing among believers. The ceremony exhibits the proper spirit of a servant who humbles himself and follows the example given by his Lord and Master.
(John 13:3-17)
7. The Baptism in the Holy Spirit
All believers are entitled to and should ardently expect and earnestly seek the promise of the Father, the baptism in the Holy Spirit and fire, 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
enduement 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, 1 Corinthians 12:1-31)
This experience is distinct from and subsequent to the experience of the new birth.
(Acts 8:12-17, Acts 10:44-46, Acts 11:14—16, Acts 15:7-9)
When believers are baptized in the Holy Spirit, this experience:
a) Enables them to evangelize in the power of the Spirit with accompanying supernatural signs. (Mark 16:15-20, Acts 4:29-31, Hebrews 2:3-4)
b) Adds a dimension to a worshipful relationship with God. (1 Corinthians 2:10-16, 1 Corinthians 12, 13, 14)
c) Enables them to respond to the full working of the Holy Spirit in the expression of fruit and gifts and ministries as in New Testament times for the edifying of the body of Christ and care for the poor and needy of the world.
(Galatians 5:22-26; 6:10, Matthew 25:37-40, 1 Corinthians 12:28; 14:12, Ephesians 4:11-12, Colossians 1:29)
With the baptism in the Holy Spirit come such experiences as:
an overflowing fullness of the Spirit
(John 7:37-39, Acts 4:8)
a deepened reverence for God
(Acts 2:43, Hebrews 12:28)
an intensified consecration to God and dedication to His work
(Acts 2:42)
and a more active love for Christ, for His Word and for the lost
(Mark 16:20)
8. Physical Evidence of the Baptism in the Holy Spirit
The baptism in the Holy Spirit is witnessed by the physical sign of speaking with other tongues
as the Spirit of God gives them utterance and the Fruit and Gifts of the Spirit being brought forth
in the life of the believer.
(Acts 2:4, Galations 5, 1 Corinthians 12)
The Speaking in tongues in this instance is the same in essence as the gift of tongues, but is different in purpose and use.
(1 Corinthians 12:4-10, 28)
9. Sanctification
Sanctification is an act of separation from that which is evil, and of dedication unto God.
(Romans 12:1,2, 1 Thessalonians 5:23, Hebrews 13:12)
The Scriptures teach a life of "holiness without which no man shall see the Lord."
(Hebrews 12:14)
By the power of the Holy Spirit we are able to obey the command: "Be ye holy, for I am holy."
(1 Peter 1:15,16)
Sanctification is realized in the believer by recognizing his identification with Christ in His death
and resurrection, and by continually offering one’s every member and faculty to the dominion of the Holy Spirit.
(Romans 6:1-11,13; 8:1,2,13, Galatians 2:20, Philippians 2: 12,13, 1 Peter 1:5)
10. The Church and its Mission
The Church is the Body of Christ, the habitation of God through the Spirit, with divine appointments for the fulfillment of His great commission. Each believer, born of the Spirit, is an
integral part of the General Assembly and Church of the Firstbom which are written in heaven,
the Bride of Christ, the Lamb’s wife.
(Ephesians 1:22,23; 2:22, Hebrews 12:23, Rev 21:9; 22:1)