Statement of Faith
1. The Scriptures Inspired
The Scriptures, both Old and New Testaments, are inspired by God, are the revelation of God to man, and are our infallible, authoritative rule of faith and conduct. (2 Timothy 3:15-17, 1 Thessalonians 2:13, 2 Peter 1:21).
2. The One True God
The one true God is the eternally self-existent “I Am,” creator of heaven and earth, redeemer of mankind, holy and just, righteous in all His ways. He has further revealed Himself as embodying the principles of relationship and association as Father, Son and Holy Spirit. (Deuteronomy 6:4, Isaiah 43:10,11, Matthew 28:19, Luke 3:22, Galatians 5:22, 1 John 4:16).
3. The Deity of the Lord Jesus Christ
The Lord Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God. The Scriptures declare His…
- virgin birth (Matthew 1:23, Luke 1:31, Luke 1:35),
- sinless life (Hebrews 7:26, 1 Peter 2:22, 1 John 3:5),
- miracles (Acts 2:22, Acts 10:38),
- substitutionary work on the cross(1 Corinthians 15:3, 2 Corinthians 5:21),
- bodily resurrection from the dead (Matthew 28:6, Luke 24:39, 1 Corinthians 15:4),
- exaltation to the right hand of God (Acts 1:9, Acts 1:11, Acts 2:33, Philippians 2:9-11, Hebrews 1:3).
4. The Fall of Man
Man was created good and upright for “God is light and in Him there is no darkness at all” and God said “Let us make man in our own image, after our likeness”. However, man by voluntary transgression fell and thereby incurred not only physical death but also spiritual death, which is separation from God(Genesis 1:26, 27, Genesis 2:17, Genesis 3:6, Romans 5:12-19, 1 John 1:5).
5. The Salvation of Man
After this “separation from God” man’s only hope of redemption is through the shed blood of Jesus Christ the Son of God alone.
- Conditions to Salvation: Salvation is received through repentance toward God and faith toward the Lord Jesus Christ. By the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost, being justified by grace through faith, man becomes an heir of God, according to the hope of eternal life (Luke 24:47, John 3:3, Romans 10:13-15, Ephesians 2:8, Titus 2:11, Titus 3:5-7).
- The Evidence of Salvation: The inward evidence of salvation is the direct witness of the Spirit (Romans 8:16). The outward evidence to all men is a life of righteousness and true holiness (Ephesians 4:24, Titus 2:12), leading to the development of the fruits of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22).
6. Ordinances of the Church
- Baptism in Water: The ordinance of baptism by immersion is commanded by the Scriptures. All who repent and believe on Christ as Savior and Lord are to be baptized. Water baptism is a prophetic act declaring to the world that they have died with Christ and that they also have been raised with Him to walk in newness of life. (Matthew 28:19, Mark 16:16, Acts 10:47, 48, Romans 6:4).
-Holy Communion: The Lord’s Supper, commanded by the Scriptures, is observed when the believer consumes two elements – the bread and the fruit of the vine – in remembrance of Jesus Christ’s suffering and death for our sake (1 Corinthians 11:26), is a symbol of our sharing the divine nature of our Lord Jesus Christ (2 Peter 1:4), a memorial of and a prophecy of His second coming (1 Corinthians 11:26), and should be regularly partaken of by all believers “until He comes!”
7. God’s Government
The New Testament delineates the form of government of the church, led and administrated by the ministry of apostles, prophets, evangelist, pastors and teachers (Ephesians 4:7-16; 1 Corinthians 12:28) as the Spirit leads. We believe in joining with other like minded individuals and organizations to further the kingdom of God, therefore, apostolic and prophetic relationships and networks are critical for the purpose of expanding God’s kingdom (Acts 20:1-5). The apostle Paul is the model for the new age apostles since he was appointed by the Lord after His resurrection.
8. Commissioning the Priesthood of Believers
We believe that all believers, as members of the Body of Christ, share in the work of the ministry according to their talents, anointing and gifts (Ephesians 4:11-16, 1 Peter 2:9). Therefore, we believe in commissioning believers who have proven themselves in character, wisdom, heart, authority and anointing (1 Timothy 3:10-2 Timothy 2:15). Examples of this commissioning are Moses and Joshua (Numbers 28:15-23), Jesus and his disciples (Luke 9 & 10) and the church of Antioch with Barnabas and Saul (Acts 13:1-4).
9. The Baptism in the Holy Spirit
All believers are entitled to receive and should seek the baptism in the Holy Spirit according to the command of our Lord Jesus Christ (John 20:22). This was the normal experience of all in the early Christian church, enduing them with power for life and supernatural gifts for service in the work of the ministry (Luke 24:49, Acts 1:4, Acts 1:8, 1 Corinthians 12:1-31). This experience is distinct from and subsequent to the experience of the new birth (Acts 8:12-17, Acts 10:44-46, Acts 11:14-16, Acts 15:7-9).
Evidences of the Baptism in the Holy Spirit
The baptism of believers in the Holy Spirit is witnessed by more than speaking with other tongues as the Spirit of God gives them utterance (Acts 2:4). Speaking in tongues in this instance is the same in essence as the gift of tongues but is different in purpose and use (1 Corinthians 12:4-10, 1 Corinthians 12:28). Further evidence of the Baptism in the Holy Spirit are:
- an overflowing fullness of the Spirit (John 7:37-39, Acts 4:8).
- a deepened reverence for God (Acts 2:43, Hebrews 12:28).
- an intensified consecration to God and dedication to His work (Acts 2:42).
- a more active love for Christ, for His Word and for the lost (Mark 16:20).
- boldness to preach and reach out in evangelism (Acts 4:33, 6:8-10, 8:5-8, 13:5).
- signs, miracles and wonders will follow those who believe (Mark 16:15-20).
10. Sanctification
Sanctification is an act of separation from that which is evil, and of dedication unto God (Romans 12:1-2, 1 Thessalonians 5:23, Hebrews 13:12). The Scriptures teach a life of “holiness without which no man shall see the Lord” (Hebrews 12:14). By the power of the Holy Ghost we are able to obey the command: “Be ye holy, for I am holy” (1 Peter 1:15-16). Sanctification is realized in the believer by recognizing his identification with Christ in His death and resurrection, and by the faith reckoning daily upon the fact of that union, and by offering every faculty continually to the dominion of the Holy Spirit (Romans 6:1-11, Romans 6:13, Romans 8:1,2, Romans 8:13, Galatians 2:20, Philippians 2:12,13, 1 Peter 1:5).
11. The Church and Its Mission
The Church is the Body of Christ, the habitation of God through the Holy Spirit, with divine appointments for the fulfillment of her great commission. Each believer, born of the Spirit, is an integral part of this Body (Ephesians 1:22,23, Ephesians 2:22, Hebrews 12:23). Since God’s purpose concerning man is to seek and to save the lost, to be worshipped by man, and to build a body of believers in the image of His Son, the priorities of the Church therefore are:
- To be an agency of God for evangelizing the world (Acts 1:8, Matthew 28:19,20, Mark 16:15,16).
- To be a corporate body in which men may worship God (1 Corinthians 12:13).
- To be a channel of God’s purpose to build a body of saints being perfected in the image of His Son (Ephesians 4:11-16, 1 Corinthians 12:28, 1 Corinthians 14:12).
- To encourage all believers to be baptized in the Holy Spirit, enabling them to evangelize in the power of the Spirit with accompanying supernatural signs (Mark 16:15-20, Acts 4:29-31, Hebrews 2:3-4), adding a deeper dimension to personal and corporate relationship with God (1 Corinthians 2:10-16, 1 Corinthians 12, 1 Corinthians 13, 1 Corinthians 14), enabling them to respond to the full working of the Holy Spirit in them via the supernatural expression of fruit and gifts and ministries (as in New Testament times) for the edifying of the body of Christ (Galatians 5:22-26, 1 Corinthians 14:12, Ephesians 4:11,12, 1 Corinthians 12:28, Colossians 1:29).
12. The Ministry
A divinely called and scripturally ordained ministry has been provided by our Lord for the threefold purpose of leading the Church in:
- Evangelization of the world - Mark 16:15-20.
- Worship of God - John 4:23,24.
- Equipping a body of saints being perfected in the image of His Son - Ephesians 4:11-16.
13. Divine Healing
Divine healing is an integral part of the ministry of Jesus Christ’s on the earth. Deliverance from physical pain and sickness was provided for in the redemption work of Jesus Christ on the cross, and is the privilege of all believers (Isaiah 53:4-5, Matthew 8:16,17, Galatians 3;13, James 5:14-16, 1 Peter 2:24)
14. The Blessed Hope
The resurrection of those who have fallen asleep in Christ and their translation together with those who are alive when the Lord returns (the Second Coming) is the imminent and blessed hope of the church (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17, Romans 8:23, Titus 2:13, 1 Corinthians 15:51,52).
15. The Millennial Reign of Christ
The second coming of Christ includes the rapture of the saints, which is our blessed hope, followed by the visible return of Christ with His saints to reign on earth for one thousand years (Zechariah 14:5, Matthew 24:27, Matthew 24:30, Revelation 1:7, Revelation 19:11-14, Revelation 20:1-6). This millennial reign will bring the salvation of national Israel (Ezekiel 37:21,22, Zephaniah 3:19,20, Romans 11:26,27) and the establishment of universal peace, (Isaiah 11:6-9, Psalms 72:3-8, Micah 4:3,4).
16. The Final Judgment
There will be a final judgment in which the wicked dead will be raised and judged according to their works. Whosoever is not found written in the Book of Life, together with the devil and his angels, the beast and the false prophet, will be consigned to the everlasting punishment in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone, which is the second death (Matthew 25:46, Mark 9:43-48, Revelation 19:20, 20:11-15, 21:8).
17. The New Heavens and the New Earth
“We, according to His promise, look forward to a new heaven and a new earth where righteousness dwells.” (2 Peter 3:13, Revelation 21, Revelation 22).