| Inspiration
of Scriptures
We believe in the verbal inspiration
of the Bible, both the Old and New Testaments, by the Holy Spirit
as originally given; they are the final authority for our faith
and life (II Timothy 3:16; Hebrews 4:12).
God
We believe in one God revealed
in three coequal, distinct persons: the Father, the Son, and the
Holy Spirit (Matthew 3:16-17, 28:19-20; Ephesians 2:18).
Man
We believe that man in his natural
state is a sinner, lost, undone, without hope, and without God (Ephesians
2:1-2; Romans 3:23).
Divinity
and Humanity of Christ
We believe that Jesus Christ is the
eternal Son of God who by His incarnation and virgin birth took
upon Himself the form of man and became the God-Man. In the one
person of Christ, there are two natures, human and divine, each
in its completeness and integrity. They are distinguishable but
indivisible, so that He is fully man and fully God. He lived a sinless
life and became the only sacrifice for the sins of the world (Ephesians
1:3-5; Romans 5:1-11; Acts 12:4; Peter 1:18-19).
Bodily
Resurrection
We believe in the bodily resurrection
of Jesus Christ (Luke 24:38-43; John 20:24-29).
Salvation
We believe that the terms of salvation
are repentance towards God for sin and a personal heart-felt faith
in the Lord Jesus Christ, as the one and only way to salvation and
eternal life, which results in regeneration. This salvation is entirely
by grace and not by works (Ephesians 2:6-10; Romans 5:1; Acts 3:19-20).
Second
Coming
We believe in the visible, bodily
return of Christ to this earth to judge the world and to claim His
Bride (I Thessalonians 4:13-18; Revelations 1:7).
Church
We believe that the church is Christ's
spiritual body on earth today. It consists of born-again believers
and has both universal and local expressions (Matthew 16:18; Acts
20:28).
Heaven
and Hell
We believe in the doctrines of eternal
punishment for the lost and eternal bliss and service for the saved;
hell for the unsaved and heaven for the saved (John 14:1-3; Revelation
20:11-15).
Satan
We believe that Satan is a fallen,
created being who is the "god of this world". He and his well-organized
company of demons are opposed to the Kingdom of God and work to
defeat and destroy the believer. While his activity is real, Satan
and his demon spirits were defeated and overthrown by Christ's victory
at the cross (Luke 10:17-20; Colossians 2:13-15; Ephesians 6:10-18).
Holy
Spirit
We believe the Holy Spirit to be
the third person of the Godhead who is active in the world today
just as He was throughout the accountings of the Holy Scriptures.
The Spirit indwells and seals the believer at new birth. We believe
the Baptism in the Holy Spirit is a subsequent experience and is
available to all Christians to empower us to be witnesses of the
Gospel with signs and wonders following. We believe in, encourage,
and embrace the active use of all the gifts of the Holy Spirit in
every area of life (John 14:16-17; Acts 1:8, 2:1-4; I Corinthians
12:1-11).
Ordinances
We believe that believer's Water
Baptism and the Lord's Supper are ordinances of the church and should
be practiced regularly (Acts 2:38; Romans 6:3-10; I Corinthians
10:16-21).
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