1. The Scriptures
The Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments are the
inspired Word of God (2 Timothy 3:16) presenting to us the complete revelation
of His will for the salvation of men, and constituting the Divine and only rule
of Christian faith and practice (2 Peter 1:21).
2. The Godhead
We believe there is but one true and living God, who is
everlasting, infinite in power, wisdom and goodness; that He is the Creator of
all things, visible and invisible, and Preserver of all things (Romans 1:20;
Colossians 1:16). In the unity of this Godhead, there are three persons of one
individual essence, who are co-equal, co-existent and co-eternal; namely, the
Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost (Matthew 3:16, 17; 28:18, 19; 2 Corinthians
13:14; John 1:1,2, 18; 10:33; 14:26; 15:26; Philippians 2:6; Hebrews 9:14). The
Son is the eternally begotten of the Father, and accepted earthly limitations
for the purpose of incarnation, being true God and true man; conceived by the
Holy Ghost and born of the Virgin Mary. He died upon the cross, the just for
the unjust as a substitutionary sacrifice, and all who believe in Him are
justified on the grounds of His shed blood. He arose from the dead according to
the Scriptures. He is now at the right hand of the Majesty on High as our great
High Priest, and He will return again to establish His Kingdom of righteousness
and justice. The Holy Spirit is a Divine Person, Executive of the Godhead on
earth, the Comforter sent by the Lord Jesus Christ to indwell, to guide and to teach
the believer, and to convince the world of sin, of righteousness and of
judgment (John 16:8).
3. Man, His Fall and Redemption
Man is a created being, made in the likeness and the image
of God, but through Adam’s transgression and fall, sin came into the world
(Romans 5:12). "All have sinned and come short of the glory of God"
(Romans 3:23). "As it is written, there is none righteous, no, not
one" (Romans 3:10). Jesus Christ, the Son of God, was manifested to undo
the work of the devil, and gave His life and shed His blood to redeem and
restore man to God (1 John 3:8).
4. Salvation
Salvation is made possible through the meritorious work of
Jesus Christ on the cross and through Holy Spirit conviction. Godly sorrow
works repentance and makes possible the experience of the new birth, and Christ
formed within us is the gift of eternal life (2 Corinthians 7:10; Titus 2:11;
Romans 10:13-15; Luke 24:47; Titus 3:5-7). Salvation is the gift of God to man,
separate from works and the Law, and is made operative by grace through faith
in Jesus Christ, producing works acceptable to God (Ephesians 2:8, 9). Man is a
free moral agent and can at any time after the new birth experience turn away
from God and die in a state of sin, with the consequences of hell to look
forward to.
5. The Church
The true Church, built upon the Foundation of Jesus Christ
(1 Corinthians 3:11; Ephesians 2:20), is the Body of our Lord (Romans 12:5; 1
Corinthians 12:27); Christ being the Head (Ephesians 1:22, 23; Colossians
1:18). Its earthly constituents are all true believers, born again of the
Spirit (John 3:6) and of the Word (1 Peter 1:23), who are living an overcoming
Christian life (Ephesians 5:27; Revelation 21:27). To the Church, through its
members, are delegated the various gifts and offices of the Holy Ghost (1
Corinthians 12:7-11, 27, 28) which are necessary for the successful
evangelization of the world and the perfecting of the Body of Christ (1
Corinthians 12:7; Ephesians 4:11, 12). This universal, invisible, sanctified
Church is the chaste virgin Bride of Christ (1 Corinthians 1:1, 2; Ephesians
5:25-27; Revelation 21:9b, 27). It is this Bride for whom Jesus Christ will
return, just prior to the Great Tribulation, to catch her away and take her to
heaven (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18).
6. The Ministry
God, through the Holy Spirit, definitely calls such as He
desires to serve as apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers, and
specifically endues the one called with the talents and gifts peculiar to that
office or offices (Ephesians 4:11, 12). Under no circumstances should anyone be
ordained or set apart to any such office unless the calling is distinct and
evident.
7. Water Baptism
Baptism in water is by immersion, a direct commandment of
our Lord (Matthew 28:19), and is for believers only. The ordinance is a symbol
of the Christian’s identification with Christ in His death, burial and
resurrection (Romans 6:4; Colossians 2:12; Acts 8:36-39). The following
recommendation regarding the water baptism formula is adopted: "On the confession
of your faith in the Lord Jesus Christ the Son of God, and by His authority, I
baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.
Amen."
8. The Baptism of the Holy Ghost
The Baptism of the Holy Ghost and fire (Matthew 3:11), is
a gift from God, as promised by the Lord Jesus Christ to all believers in this
dispensation of time, and is received subsequent to the new birth (John 14:16,
17; Acts 1:8; 2:38, 39; 10:44-48). The Baptism of the Holy Ghost is accompanied
by speaking in other tongues as the Holy Spirit Himself gives utterance as the
initial physical sign and evidence (Acts 2:4).
9. Sanctification
The Bible teaches that without holiness no man can see the
Lord (Hebrews 12:14). We believe in the doctrine of sanctification as a
definite, yet progressive, work of grace, commencing at the time of
regeneration and continuing until the consummation of salvation (Hebrews 13:12;
2 Thessalonians 2:13; 1 Peter 1:2; Ephesians 5:26; 1 Corinthians 6:11; John
17:17; 1 Thessalonians 5:23).
10. The Lord’s Supper
The ordinance of the Lord’s Supper is a commandment of our
Savior; and being a memorial to His death and resurrection, is strictly limited
to Christian believers (1 Corinthians 11:27). The time and frequency of its
observance is left to the discretion of each congregation (1 Corinthians
11:26). Only unfermented grape juice, the fruit of the vine, as recommended by
our Lord (Matthew 26:29; Mark 14:25; Luke 22:18) shall be used in connection
therewith.
11. Foot Washing
Foot washing is recognized among many believers as a
Christian practice, and the time, manner and frequency of its observance is
left to the discretion of each local congregation (John 13).
12. Divine Healing
Healing is for the physical ills of the human body and is
wrought by the power of God, through the prayer of faith, and by the laying on
of hands (Mark 16:18; James 5:14, 15). It is provided for in the atonement of
Christ and is available to all who truly believe.
13. The Resurrection of the Just
The Bible promises, "This same Jesus...shall so come
in like manner" (Acts 1:11). His coming is imminent; when He comes,
"The dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain
shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the
air" (1 Thessalonians 4:16, 17). Following the tribulation, He shall
return to earth as King of kings and Lord of lords, and together with His
saints, who shall be kings and priests, He shall reign a thousand years
(Revelation 20:6).
14. Setting a Time for the Lord’s Return
It is unwise to teach that the Lord will come at some
specified time, thereby setting a date for His appearing. It is also unwise to
teach, preach or publish visions of numbers and dates which would tend to fix the
time of the second coming of the Lord (Mark 13:32, 33).
15. The Coming of the Lord
We believe the Bible presents the coming of Christ as
personal, imminent, pre-tribulational and pre-millennial. We further contend
that this position alone admonishes watchfulness, incites holy living, prevents
spiritual declension, and provides maximum incentive and motive for urgency and
zeal in evangelizing the unsaved. As demonic deception and satanic darkness
deepens, we urge our ministers to maintain and proclaim this doctrinal
viewpoint as the "blessed hope" of the Church. Furthermore, we
recommend that should any of our preachers hold to the mid or post-tribulation
doctrine, they refrain from preaching and teaching it. Should they persist in
emphasizing this doctrine to the point of making it an issue, their standing in
the fellowship will be seriously affected.
16. Hell and Eternal Retribution
The one who physically dies in his sins without Christ is
hopelessly and eternally lost in the Lake of Fire, and therefore has no further
opportunity of hearing the gospel or for repentance (Hebrews 9:27). The Lake of
Fire is literal (Revelation 19:20). The terms "eternal" and
"everlasting" used in describing the duration of the punishment of
the damned (Matthew 25:41-46) in the lake of fire, carry the same thought and
meaning of endless existence, as used in denoting the duration of joy and
ecstasy of saints in the presence of God.
17. Tithes
We recognize the scriptural duty of all our people, as
well as ministers, to pay tithes as unto the Lord (Hebrews 7:8). Tithes should
be used for the support of the active ministry and for the propagation of the
gospel and work of the Lord in general and not given to charity or used for
other purposes (Malachi 3:7-11; Hebrews 7:2; 1 Corinthians 9:7-11; 16:2).
