THE
SCRIPTURES – The Bible is the inspired Word of
God, the product of holy men of old who spoke and wrote as they
were moved by the Holy Spirit. The New Covenant, as recorded in
the New Testament, we accept as our infallible guide in matters
pertaining to conduct and doctrine (2 Timothy 3:16,17; 1 Thessalonians
2:13; 2 Peter 1:21).
THE GODHEAD – Our God is one, but manifested
in three persons – the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,
being co-equal (Philippians 2:6). God the Father is greater than
all; the sender of the Word (Logos) and the Begetter (John 14:28,
John 16:28; John 1:14). The Son is the Word flesh-covered; the
One Begotten, and has existed with the Father from the beginning
(John 1:14, John 1:18; John 1:1). The Holy Spirit proceeds forth
from both the Father and the Son and is eternal (John 15:26).
MAN, HIS FALL, AND REDEMPTION – Man is
a created being, made in the likeness and image of God, but through
Adam’s transgression and fall, sin came into the world.
“…all have sinned, and come short of the glory of
God…”. As it is written, “There is none righteous,
no, not one”. Jesus Christ, the Son of God, was manifested
to undo the work of the devil and gave His life and shed His blood
to redeem and restore man back to God (Romans 5:12, Romans 3:23,
Romans 3:10, 1 John 3:8).
Salvation is the gift of God to man, separate from works and
the law, and is made operative by grace through faith in Jesus
Christ, producing works acceptable to God (Ephesians 2:8).
ETERNAL LIFE AND THE NEW BIRTH – Man’s
first step toward salvation is godly sorrow that worketh repentance.
The New Birth is necessary to all men, and when experienced produces
eternal life (2 Corinthians 7:10, John 3:3-5; 1 John 5:12).
WATER BAPTISM – Baptism in water by immersion
is a direct commandment of our Lord, and is for believers only.
The ordinance is a symbol of the Christians’ identification
with Christ in His death, burial, and resurrection. (Matthew 28:19;
Romans 6:4, Colossians 2:12, Acts 8:36-39).
The following recommendation regarding the water baptismal formula
is adopted; to wit: “On the confession of your faith in
the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, and by His authority, I
baptize you in the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy
Ghost. Amen.”
BAPTISM IN THE HOLY GHOST – The Baptism
in the Holy Ghost and fire is a gift from God as promised by the
Lord Jesus Christ to all believers in this dispensation and is
received subsequent to the New Birth. This experience is accompanied
by the initial evidence of speaking in other tongues as the Holy
Spirit Himself gives utterance (Matthew 3:11; John 14:16,17; Acts
1:8, Acts 2:38,39; Acts 19:1-7, Acts 2:4).
SANCTIFICATION – The Bible teaches that
without holiness no man can see the Lord. We believe in the doctrine
of sanctification as a definite, yet progressive work of grace,
commencing at the time of regeneration and continuing until the
consummation of salvation at Christ’s return (Hebrews 12:14,
1 Thessalonians 5:23, 2 Peter 3:18, 2 Corinthians 3:18, Philippians
3:12-14, 1 Corinthians 1:30).
DIVINE HEALING – Healing is for the physical
ills of the human body and is wrought by the power of God through
the prayer of faith, and by the laying on of hands. It is provided
for in the atonement of Christ, and is the privilege of every
member of the Church today (James 5:14, 15; Mark 16:18, Isaiah
53:4, 5; Matthew 8:17, 1 Peter 2:24).
RESURRECTION OF THE JUST AND THE RETURN OF OUR LORD
– The angels said to Jesus’ disciples, “…this
same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come
in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.” His
coming is imminent. When He comes, “…the dead in Christ
shall rise first; Then we which are alive and remain shall be
caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in
the air …” (Acts 1:11, 1 Thessalonians 4:16, 17).
HELL AND ETERNAL RETRIBUTION - The one who
physically dies in his sins without accepting Christ is hopelessly
and eternally lost in the Lake of Fire and, therefore, has no
further opportunity of hearing the Gospel or repenting. The Lake
of Fire is literal. The terms “eternal” and “everlasting”
used in describing the duration of the punishment of the damned
in the Lake of Fire, carry this same thought and meaning of endless
existence as used in describing the duration of joy and ecstasy
of saints in the Presence of God (Hebrews 9:27, Revelation 19:20).