Beliefs

Articles of Faith and Doctrinal Statement

1) The Holy Scriptures

We believe the Holy Scripture of the Old and New Testament is the Word of God and was verbally inspired. Therefore, it is the final authority in all matters of doctrine, faith, and life. We believe the King James Version is the best translation of the original transcripts for English-speaking people.
We also believe the Word of God to be God’s revelation to man, inerrant in the original writings, infallible, and God-breathed. (II Timothy 3:16,17); (II Peter 1:20,21)

2) The True God

A. We believe in one Triune God, eternally existing in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. We believe them to be co-eternal in being, co-identical in nature, co-equal in power and glory, and having the same attributes and perfections. (Deut. 6:4; II Cor 13:14; Matt 28:19; John 4:24)

B. Attributes of God:

Omniscient – All-knowing (Ps 139:1-6)
Omnipresent – Present everywhere (Ps 139: 6-12)
Omnipotent – All-powerful (Gen 1:1; Isa 40:12-18; Job 42:1-3)
Holy – Isaiah 6:3; Rev 4:8
Eternal – John 1:1
Love – I John 4:8,16
Light – I John 1:5,6,7
Infinite – Isaiah 55:8,9
Spirit – John 4:24
Truth – Titus 1:2; John 17:17
Immortal – Psalm 90:2; Isaiah 9:6

3) The Person and Work of Jesus Christ

A. We believe the Lord Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God, became man, without ceasing to be God, having been conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary, in order that He might reveal God to man and become the only possible means of redemption for sinful man. (John 1:2,14,18; Matt. 1:20; Luke 1:35; Isaiah 7:14; I Tim 3:16)

B. We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ was true God and true man, that Christ knew no sin, and that it was impossible for our Lord to have sinned. We believe that Lord Jesus Christ accomplished our redemption through His death on the cross for our sins according to the scriptures as a representative and substitutionary sacrifice, and that all who receive Him as Saviour are justified on the grounds of His shed blood and that our justification is made sure by His literal, bodily resurrection from the dead. (Rom. 3:24, 25; I Pet. 2:24; Eph. 1:7; I Pet 1:3-5)

C. We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ ascended to heaven and is now exalted at the right hand of the Father where He fulfills the ministry of High Priest, Intercessor, and Advocate for each and every believer. (Acts 1:9; Heb. 9:24; Heb. 7:25; Rom. 8:34; I John 2:1,2; I Tim. 2:5)

D. We believe in that “blessed hope,” the personal, imminent, pre-tribulational coming of our Lord Jesus Christ in the air for all the redeemed ones in Christ both those that are alive and remain, and those that are asleep in Him. (I Thes. 4:13-18; I Cor. 15:51-57; Titus 2:13)

E. The second advent of Christ: We believe in the pre-millenial, personal coming of the Lord Jesus Christ with all His saints to earth in order to conquer His enemies and to establish His kingdom on earth: to rule and to reign in righteousness and peace for one thousand years as King of Kings and Lord of Lords. (Zach. 14: 1-5; Rev. 19:11-16; I Thess. 3:13; Psalms 2:4-10)

4) The Person and Work of the Holy Spirit

A. We believe that the Holy Spirit is a person who convicts the world of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment; that He is the supernatural agent in regenerating the sinner by the Word of God; that He baptizes all believers into the body of Christ permanently indwelling and sealing them unto the day of redemption.

B. We believe that He is the divine teacher who enlightens and guides every born again person into all truth and that He is the efficient power for Godly living, Christian service, and spiritual worship. (John 16:7-15; John 3:5-7; Eph. 1:13-14; Eph. 4:30; II Cor 3:6; Rom. 8:9; I John 2:20-27; Eph 5:18; Titus 3:5,6; John 15:26-27; John 14:16; I John 3:24)

5) The Personality and Reality of Satan

We believe that Satan is a personal being, a fallen angel, the author of sin, and the cause of the fall of man. We believe him to be the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience, the god of this age, the accuser of the brethren, the adversary of Christ and His Church, and that he transforms himself as an angel of light to entice and deceive. We believe that he counterfeits the works of God by fostering religious movements and systems of doctrine, which systems in every case are characterized be denial of the efficacy of the blood of Christ and of salvation by grace alone and is destined by God’s judgment to be cast into the lake of fire and brimstone with the beast of the false prophet, and shall be tormented day and night forever and ever. (Rev 12:7,9,10; Isa 14:12-15; Ezek. 28:15; Gen. 3:1-6; Eph. 2:2; II Cor. 4:4; Rev. 12:10; I Peter 5:8; II Cor. 11:14,15; Rev 20:10)

6) Man, His Fall, and His Redemption

We believe that man was created in the image and likeness of God, but by willful transgression became sinful and is justly under the condemnation and wrath of God. We believe that all human beings are born sinners and, therefore, are alienated from God and totally depraved. Man is, of himself, utterly unable to remedy his lost condition. Salvation is wholly and solely of grace through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ by virtue of His redemptive work on the cross. Neither, baptism, the Lord’s supper, nor any other rite, ceremony or work can help one obtain salvation. Jesus Christ saves, and all who believe on Him are justified and declared righteous on the grounds of His shed blood. (Gen. 1:26; Ps. 51:5; Rom. 3:10-23; Rom. 5:12; Eph. 2:8,9; Titus 3:5; Rom. 4:4,5; I Peter 1:18,19; Rev. 1:5; Gal. 3:13; Acts 4:12)

7) The Eternal Salvation and Assurance of Believers

A. We believe that all the redeemed, once saved, are kept by God’s power and are thus secure in Christ forever. (John 10:27-30; John 5:24; John 6:37-40; Rom. 8:38,39; I Pet 1:5; I John 5:10-13)

B. We believe that it is the privilege of believers to rejoice in the assurance of their salvation through the testimony of God’s Word; which, however, clearly forbids the use of Christian liberty as an occasion to the flesh. Since God cannot overlook the sin of His children, He will, when they persistently sin, chasten them and correct them in infinite love. (Heb. 12:5-11; I Cor. 11:30-32; Titus 2:11-15; I Cor. 8:9; I Cor. 10:23; Gal. 5:13)

8) Separation and Sanctification

We believe that the Scriptures clearly teach non-conformity to the world for every believer; that born-again people should be separated from the world unto Christ. It is clearly commanded of God to all believers to live lives of separation from all worldly and sinful practices and to be holy and He is holy. We believe that positional sanctification occurs at the moment of regeneration and that practical sanctification is to be progressive throughout the entire life-span of a believer here on earth.

God’s provision for holy living is in the believer’s identification with Christ in His death, resurrection and ascension; the indwelling person and power of the Holy Spirit and the believer’s yieldedness to Him; and by the powerful Word of God. We believe also that separation includes departing from all apostasy. (Col. 3:1-4; II Cor. 6:14-17; Titus 2:14,15; I Peter 1:14-16; Rom. 12:1,2; I John 2:15-17; James 4:4)