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What We Believe
I. The Bible
A.We believe the Bible to be the inspired Word of God, and accept the same as the only infallible guide and rule of our faith and practice.
1. Scripture References - Matthew 24:35, Psalm 119:89, II Timothy 3:16-17, II Timothy 2:15, II Peter 1:19-21.
II. God
A.We believe in the eternal, omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent, and immutable triune God; maker of heaven and earth, and all that is in them; and in the unity of the Godhead there are three persons, equal in every divine perfection and attribute, executing distinct, but harmonious offices, in the great work of redemption.
1. Scripture References - I John 5:7, II Corinthians 13:14, Genesis 1:26, I Timothy 1:17.
III. God the Father
A. Scripture References - Isaiah 43:10, Isaiah 44:8, John 3:16.
IV. God the Son
A.Coexistent and coeternal with the Father, who, conceived by the Holy Spirit, and born of the Virgin Mary took upon Himself the form of man; and by his becoming obedient unto death, bearing the curse of sin, sickness, and sorrow, redeemed us back to God. He arose the third day and ascended unto heaven, where He sits at the right hand of God, the Father, where He lives to make intercession for us.
1.Scripture References - John 1:1-3, Matthew 1:23, I Timothy 2:5, Ephesians 2:18, Philippians 2:6-11.
V. God the Holy Spirit
A.The third person of the Godhead, coexistent and equal with the Father. Sent by the Father, through the Son, to reprove the world of sin and prepare the bride of Christ.
1. Scripture References - John 14:26, John 15:26, John 16:7-8.
VI. The Fall of Man
A. Scripture References - Romans 5:12, Romans 5:19, Isaiah 53:6, Romans 3:10, Romans 3:23.
VII. The Plan of Redemption
A.We believe that Christ was the Lamb of God, preordained from the foundation of the world, and by the shedding of His blood on the cross, made provision for salvation for all men.
1. Scripture References - I Peter 1:19-20, Isaiah 53:5, Titus 2:14, Hebrews 7:25.
VIII. The New Birth
A.We believe that because of man’s total inability to save himself, salvation is by God’s grace alone; received through sincere godly repentance, and a whole-hearted acceptance of Jesus Christ as his personal Savior; through being born again, he becomes a new creature in Christ Jesus. Old things have passed away, behold all things become new.
1. Scripture references - John 3:3, II Corinthians 5:17, Galatians 2:20, I Peter 2:24.
IX. Daily Christian Life
A.We believe that having been cleansed by the blood, and quickened by the Spirit, it is God’s will that we should be sanctified daily, and be made partakers of His holiness; walking not after the flesh but after the Spirit; forsaking the very appearance of evil; such as, worldly dress, worldly amusements, worldly conversation, worldly habits, etc..
1.Scripture references - Romans 8:1, Romans 8:5, Romans 12:1-2, II Corinthians 7:1, I Peter 1:15, I Thessalonians 5:22.
X. Marriage
A. Knowing that marriage was instituted by God; sanctioned by the Lord Jesus Christ, and was commended by Paul to be honorable among all men, we believe marriage is a covenant between one man and one woman.
1. Scripture references - II Corinthians 6:14-15, Matthew 19:5-6, Hebrews 13:4.
XI. Water Baptism
A.We believe that water baptism by immersion, in the name of the Father, Son and the Holy Ghost, is commanded by God; that it is subsequent to conversion, that it is not a saving ordinance, but an outward sign of an inward work.
1.Scripture References - Matthew 28:19, Romans 6:4, Acts 2:38.
XII. Lord’s Supper
A.We believe in the commemoration of the Lord’s Supper as a type of the broken body and shed blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, and as an ordinance showing forth the death, burial and resurrection of our Lord, and a looking forward to the marriage supper of the Lamb. We believe that all Christian believers, regardless of church affiliation, may partake of the Lord’s Supper.
1.Scripture References - I Corinthians 11:23-28, Luke 22:7-22.
XIII. Baptism of the Holy Spirit
A.We believe the baptism of the Holy Spirit is a definite experience, not identical with conversion. The initial evidence of this experience is the speaking in other tongues as the Spirit gives utterance. The baptism of the Holy Spirit is given to endue the believer with power from on high; to give inspired utterance in witnessing for Christ; to lead the believer into holiness and sobriety; to equip him for a practical, efficient, Spirit-filled soul winning ministry and service; that inasmuch as this is the dispensation of the Holy Spirit, every believer has a right to expect His incoming to be after the same manner as recorded by the Word of God in Bible days.
1.Scripture References - John 14:16, Acts 1:8, 2:4, 2:38-39, 19:6, I Corinthians 3:16.
XIV. Spirit-Filled Life
A.We believe that having received the initial filling or the baptism of the Holy Spirit, the believer should experience a continual renewing of the power from on high. It is the will of God that we walk and abide in the Spirit.
1.Scripture References - Ephesians 5:18, Ephesians 4:30-32, Acts 4:31, I Corinthians 3:17, Galatians 5:16-25, I John 2:6.
XV. Gifts and Fruits of the Spirit
A.We believe that for the edification of the saints and the building up of the church of Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit has the following gifts to bestow upon the individual believer: the word of wisdom, the word of knowledge, faith, gifts of healing, working of miracles, prophecy, discerning of spirits, and divers kinds of tongues, and the interpretation of tongues, dividing to every man severally as He will; that they should be coveted earnestly by all spiritual believers and exercised in the spirit of love. We believe that the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness goodness, faith, meekness, temperance; against such there is no law. These should be cultivated in the life of every believer.
1.Scripture References - I Corinthians 12:7-11, I Corinthians 12:31, Galatians 5:22-23, John 15:4, John 15:8.
XVI. Moderation
A.We believe that our moderation should be known to all men. The Christian should be sober, well-balanced, and seasoned with love. His zeal should be governed by godly wisdom.
1.Scripture Reference - Philippians 4:5.
XVII. Prayer
A.We believe that prayer is not an option. We are commanded to pray without ceasing and we believe that men everywhere are to pray. The Lord Jesus provides us the greatest example of a man of prayer. We believe that prayer is a discipline. It is a bending of the will of man before God to admit his need. Prayer is rendering homage to an all-wise and benevolent Father. We should pray in faith and without wavering. We should pray according to God’s will and pray to the Father, through Jesus Christ, our intercessor.
1.Scripture References - Isaiah 56:7, I Timothy 2:8, Luke 3:21, 5:15-16, Mark 1:35, Matthew 6:6-10, I John 5:14-16, Hebrews 7:25.
XVIII. Divine Healing
A.We believe that divine healing is the power of God to heal the sick and afflicted in answer to prayer, and is provided for in the atonement. We believe that God is willing to, and does, heal the sick today.
1.Scripture References - Isaiah 53:4-5, Matthew 8:16-17, James 5:14-16, Acts 3:16.
XIX. Resurrection
A.We believe in the literal physical resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. In His resurrection He became the first fruits of the resurrection of the righteous.
1.Scripture References - Matthew 28:1-7, I Corinthians 15:1-20.
XX. Second Coming of Christ
A.Rapture
1. We believe that the second coming of Christ is personal, imminent and pre-millennial; that the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, with the trump of God, and the dead in Christ shall rise first. Then, the redeemed which are alive and remain, shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so shall they ever be with the Lord; that we should, therefore, be ready, for in such an hour as we think not, the Son of Man will come.
a.Scripture References - I Thessalonians 4:16-17, Titus 2:12-13, Matthew 24:36, Matthew 24:44, Acts 1:11.
B. Revelation
1.We believe that the coming of Jesus Christ with His saints will end the great tribulation and establish the millennial kingdom on earth, when Christ shall rule and reign as King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
a.Scripture References - Revelation 1:7, Zechariah 14:4, II Thessalonians 1:6-10, II Thessalonians 2:8.
XXI. Church Relationship
A.We believe that every born-again child of God should identify himself with the visible church of Jesus Christ, and should labor diligently, and contribute his temporal means toward the spreading of the gospel here on earth. We believe that all the tithes should be given into the storehouse of the Lord, which is the local church.
1.Scripture References - Hebrews 10:24-25, Psalms 111:1, Acts 2:47, Acts 16:5, Romans 12:5, Malachi 3:8-10, II Corinthians 9:6-7.
XXII. Civil Government
A.We believe that government is ordained by God, and all Christians should be subject to the laws of the land, except those contrary to the revealed will of God. We pledge allegiance and moral and spiritual support to the United States of America. In times of war the individual’s participation in actual combat and taking of life shall be governed by his own conscience.
1.Scripture References - Romans 13:1-7, Acts 5:28-29, Hebrews 12:14.
XXIII. Final Judgment
A. We believe in the final judgment of the wicked at the great white throne, when the dead, both small and great, shall be resurrected to stand before God to receive the reward of their deeds done in the flesh.
1.Scripture References - Matthew 13:41-43, Revelation 20:11-15.
XXIV. Hell
A.We believe hell is a literal place of outer darkness, bitter sorrow, remorse, and woe, prepared by God for the devil and his angels and that there, into a lake that burns with fire and brimstone, shall be cast the unbelieving, the abominable, the murderers, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, and those who have rejected the love of Jesus Christ, whose names are not written in the Lamb’s book of life.
1.Scripture References - Revelation 20:10, 14-15, Revelation 21:7-8, Revelation 14:10-11, Matthew 25:41, Mark 9:43-44.
XXV. Heaven
A.We believe that heaven is the habitation of the living God, where Christ has gone to prepare a place for all His children, where they shall dwell eternally in happiness and security with Him.
1.Scripture References - I Corinthians 2:9, John 14:2, Revelation 21:4, Revelation 22:5, Revelation 7:15-17.
XXVI. Evangelism
A.We believe that as long as conditions indicate that the coming of Jesus Christ draws near, we, His redeemed children, should put forth our utmost efforts to the promulgation of the gospel to every kindred, tribe, and tongue; that soul winning is the chief mission of the church upon the earth, and that therefore every hindrance and hairsplitting doctrine, which would tend to quench or dampen the flame of worldwide evangelism, should be cut off and cast away as falling short of the church’s great commission.
1.Scripture References - Ezekiel 3:17-18, John 4:35-37.
XXVII. Missions
A.We believe that the great commission of our Lord Jesus Christ to carry the gospel message to the entire world is literal, imperative, and binding today; and that it is the supreme privilege and duty of the church of Jesus Christ to stress the cause of worldwide missions. Furthermore, we believe that the very life and strength of the home church depends on its wholehearted sacrifice for, and support of, the world missions program.
1.Scripture References - Matthew 9:38, Mark 16:15, Revelation 5:9, Romans 10:13-15, James 5:20, Psalms 2:8.
Why Do We Stand to Sing?
“And the Levites, of the Children of the Kohathites, and of the children of the Korhites, stood up to praise the Lord God of Israel with a loud voice on High” II Chronicles 20:19.
“After this I beheld, and lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands; and cried with a loud voice, saying Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb” Revelation 7:9-10.
Why Do We Clap Our Hands?
“O clap your hands all ye people; shout unto God with the voice of triumph” Psalm 47:1.
Why Are Musical Instruments a Part of the Worship Service?
“Praise Him with the sound of the trumpet: Praise Him with the psaltery and harp. Praise Him with the timbrel and dance: praise Him with the stringed instruments and organs. Praise Him upon the loud cymbals: praise Him upon the high sounding cymbals” Psalm 150: 3-5.
“And I heard a voice from Heaven, as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder: and I heard the voice of harpers harping with their harps” Revelation 14:2.
Why Do We Lift Our Hands?
“Thus I will bless Thee while I live: I will lift up my hands in Thy name” Psalm 63:4.
“Lift up your hands in the sanctuary, and bless the Lord” Psalm 134:2.
“I will therefore that men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting” I Timothy 2:8.
Why Do We Sing Choruses as Well as Hymns?
“And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the spirit; speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns, and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord” Ephesians 5:18-19.
“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns, and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord” Colossians 3:16.
Why Do We Dance?
“Let them praise his name in the dance: let them sing praises unto Him with the timbrel and the harp” Psalm 149:3.
“Praise Him with the timbrel and dance: praise Him with stringed instruments and organs” Psalm 150:4.
Why Does the Whole Church Pray as One for Specific Needs?
“And when they heard that, they lifted up their voice to God with one accord, and said, Lord, Thou art God, which has made heaven and earth..." Acts 4:24.
Why Do We Pray and Sing in the Spirit?
“What is it then? I will pray with the Spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the Spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also” I Corinthians 14:15.
“Praise ye the Lord, sing unto the Lord a new song, and His praise in the congregation of the Saints” Psalm 149:1.
Why Are People Slain in the Spirit?
“So that the priest could not stand to minister by the reason of the cloud: for the Glory of the Lord had filled the house of God”
II Chronicles 5:14.
“And He fell to the earth, and heard a voice say unto him; Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?” Acts 9:4.
Why is There Prophecy?
“But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort” I Corinthians 14:3.
“But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal . . . to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy...”
I Corinthians 12:7,10.
Why Do We Have Speaking With Tongues and Interpretations of Those Tongues In the Church?
“Wherefore, brethren, covet to prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues” I Corinthians 14:39.
“I would that ye all spake with tongues but rather that ye prophesied: for greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying” I Corinthians 14:5.
“If any man speak in an unknown tongue, let it be by two, or at the most by three, and that by course; and let one interpret”
I Corinthians 14:27.
Why is There Laying On of Hands?
“And Jesus put forth his hand, and touched him...and immediately his leprosy was cleansed” Matthew 8:3.
“And Annanias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the holy ghost”
Acts 9:17.
“Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands”
II Timothy 1:6.