WHAT WE BELIEVE

The Bible: The Bible is God’s Word to all people. The Bible is 66 books in one. These books were written by more than 40 human authors under the supernatural inspiration of God. But in spite of all the different authors and the incredible span of time it was written, there is so much unity. They all carry the same message, and they do not contradict each other. Deuteronomy 4:1-2; Psalms 119:11, 89, 105; Isaiah 40:8; Matthew 22:29; John 5:39; 16:13-15; 17:17; Romans 15:4; 2 Timothy 3:15-17; Hebrews 1:1-2; 4:12; 1 Peter 1:25; 2 Peter 3:16

The Trinity: There is one God. This one God exists forever in three distinct Persons or Personalities. They all fully possess the characters of the One God. Although each member of the Trinity serves different functions, they each possess equal power and authority. Deuteronomy 6:4; Isaiah 61:1; Matthew 28:19; Mark 1:9-11; Luke 1:35; John 5:21-23; 14:10, 16; Romans 8:9-11; 1 Corinthians 8:6; 2 Corinthians 13:14; Hebrews 1:8-10; James 2:19

The Father: God is good. He is our Father. He is loving, compassionate, and faithful to His people and His promises. Exodus 3:14; Numbers 23:19; Leviticus 11:44-45; 19:2; Psalm 11:4-6; Malachi 3:6; John 3:16; 4:24; 5:26; 14:1; Acts 17:28; Romans 3:3-4

The Son: Jesus Christ is completely human but, at the same time, completely God. Jesus Christ is the only begotten Son of the Father, conceived of the Holy Ghost, and born of the Virgin Mary. He lived a perfect life, so that He could be a substitution for us in satisfying God’s demands for perfection. He defeated death in His resurrection so that we can have life. Mathew 28:1-10; Mark 15:15; Luke 1:34, 35; Luke 24:51; Ephesians 1:20; Hebrews 2:17; 1 Corinthians 8:6; 2 Corinthians 5:19-21; Gal 4:4-5; Philippians 2:5-11; Colossians 1:15; 2:9; 1 Timothy 2:6

The Holy Spirit:  The Holy Spirit is the executive of the Godhead-working in every sphere, both physical and moral. The Holy Spirit’s presence assures us of our relationship with Christ. He guides believers into all truth and exalts Christ. He convicts people of their sin, God’s righteousness, and the coming judgment. He comforts us, gives us spiritual gifts, and makes us more like Christ. Genesis 1:2; Psalm 51:11; 139:7 ff.; Isaiah 61:1-3; Joel 2:28-32; Mark 1:10; Luke 1:35; 4:1; 11:13; 12:12; John 15:26; 16:7-14; Acts 1:8; 2:1-4; 13:2; Romans 8:9-11, 14-16, 26-27

Sin: Sin is a violation of God’s law or character. We all have sinned and come short of the glory of God and that repentance is commanded of God for all and necessary for forgiveness of sins. Sin   + unforgiveness = eternal death and punishment. Sin + repentance=eternal life. Psalms 51:7; Romans 3:23; Romans 6:23; 2nd Peter 3:11; 1st John 3:4; 1st John5:17; 1st John 1:8-10

Justification & Regeneration: Big words, simple definitions: Justification: Just as if I never did and Regeneration: Spiritual renewal. Justification, regeneration and the new birth are wrought by faith in the blood of Jesus Christ. When we are born into sin, our lives are dirty and unusable to the kingdom of God, but the blood, when applied to our lives; we are renewed spiritually as if we had never sinned. 1st Corinthians 1:30, Ephesians 1:7, Ephesians 2:8-10, Romans 3:27-28, Romans 4:24-25, 1st Peter 1:23-25, Titus 3:5,

Sanctification: Sanctification means to be set apart and to be purified. After the new birth and decision to become a Christian, then the process begins. The process of getting rid of the old self takes time and work. It is like our consciences are awakened to a higher standard of living which starts to separate us from our old way of living. Exodus 13:2; 1st Corinthians 6:11; Ephesians 1:13; Galatians 2:20; 2nd Timothy 2:21; Hebrews 2:11; Hebrews 9:14; Hebrews 10:1-14, Hebrews 13:12; Colossians 3:5; 2nd Thessalonians 2: 13

Holiness: Holiness is to be God’s standard of living for His people. God is Holy and God calls us to strive to live holy lives. When we call God perfect, we mean that He is completely separate from sin. He has never sinned, never will sin, and is completely free of sin, which is why God is a Holy God. God call us to be holy as well. Deuteronomy 6:4; Leviticus 19:2; 1st Samuel 2:2; Isaiah 6: 1-13; Psalms 11:4; Psalms 47:8; Psalms 48:1; Psalms 97:14; Hebrews 12:14; 1st Peter 1:15-16; Revelation 4:8

Baptism With The Holy Ghost: When we are saved and the processes of justification, sanctification, and regeneration all take place, it is the Holy Spirit moving into us and working within us to clean us.  The baptism of the Holy Spirit is when we submit to God and say we would like the Holy Spirit to begin working through us and begin to pour out of us. Mathew 3:11’ Luke 3:16; Acts 1:8; Acts 2:1-47; Acts 2:28; acts 8:14-17; 1st Corinthians 12:13; Galatians 3:27

Speaking In Other Tongues: Speaking in tongues gives us power and builds us up. Tongues is also a divine-human communication in which the Holy Spirit who lives in us goes to the Father on our behalf. Acts 2:4, Act 19:6, 1st Corinthians 6:19; 1st Corinthians 14:2; 1st Corinthians 14: 27-28, Mark 16:17

In Water Baptism By Immersion: All who repent should be baptized in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost. Water Baptism is a sacrament which was ordained by Jesus Christ while He lived on earth. Because Christ was buried, we demonstrate His death by total submersion in water. To baptize means ‘to submerge”.  Our coming out of the water represents the new birth or new beginning. Matthew 3:11; Matthew 3:13-17; Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; Romans 6; 3-5, Galatians 3:27

Divine Healing: Divine healing is provided for all in the atonement. Divine healing is an integral part of the gospel. Deliverance from sickness is provided for in the atonement and is the privilege of all believers Psalms 103:1-22, Isaiah 53:4-5; Matthew 8:16-17; 1st Peter 2:24, James 5:14-16; 3rd John 1:2

In The Lord’s Supper (Holy Communion): We believe the Lord’s Supper symbolizes the Lord’s death and suffering for the benefit and in the place of His people. It also symbolizes the believer’s participation in the crucified Christ. It represents not only the death of Christ as the object of faith which unites the believers to Christ, but also the effect of this act as the giving of life, strength, and joy to the soul.

Feet Washing: Feet Washing is practiced and recognized as an ordinance in our Church because Christ, by His example, showed that humility characterized greatness in the Kingdom of God, and that service, rendered to others gave evidence that humility, motivated by love, exists. These services are held subsequent to the Lord’s Supper; however, its regularity is left to the discretion of the minister in charge. Mathew 26: 14-39, Mark 14:12-25, John 13: 4-17, Luke 22:13

In The Second Coming of Jesus Christ: We believe in the personal, bodily and pre-millennial return of our Lord Jesus Christ. The coming of Christ, at a time known only to God, demands constant expectancy and, as our blessed hope, motivates the believer to godly living, sacrificial service and energetic mission. Daniel 12:2; Acts 1:9-11; 1st Corinthians 15:52; Revelation 22:1-7

In The Bodily Resurrection and Eternal Life for the Righteous, and eternal punishment for the wicked We believe that God will raise the dead bodily and judge the world, assigning the unbeliever to condemnation and eternal conscious punishment and the believer to eternal blessedness and joy with the Lord in the new heaven and the new earth, to the praise of His glorious grace. Daniel 12:2, Mathew 25: 41-46; Acts 24:25; Philippians 3:20