Core Beliefs

THE SCRIPTURES INSPIRED

    The Scriptures, both the Old and New Testaments, are verbally inspired of God and are the revelation of God to man, the infallible, authoritative rule of faith and conduct (11 Timothy 3:15-17; 1 Thess. 2:13; 2 Peter 1:21).

THE ONE TRUE GOD

   The one true God has revealed Himself as the eternally self-existent “I AM,” the Creator of heaven and earth and the Redeemer of mankind. He has further revealed Himself as embodying the principles of relationship and association as Father, Son and Holy Spirit (Deut. 6:4, Isaiah 43:10, 11; Matthew 28:19; Luke 3:22).

 

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 1:31,35)
  • His sinless life (Hebrews 7:26;1 Peter 2:22)
  • His miracles (Acts 2:22; 10:38)
  • His substitutionary work on the cross (1 Cor. 15:3, 2 Cor. 15:4)
  • His bodily resurrection from the dead (Matthew 28:6; Luke 24:39; 1 Cor. 15:4)
  • His exaltation to the right hand of God (Acts 1:9,11; 2:33; Phil. 2:9-11; Hebrews 1:3).

THE FALL OF MAN

   Man was created good and upright; for God said, “Let us make man in our 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;3;6; Romans 5;12-19)

THE SALVATION OF MAN

   Man’s only hope of redemption is through the shed blood of Jesus Christ the Son of God.
(a) 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 Spirit, 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; 3:5-7).
(b) 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).


THE BAPTISM IN THE HOLY SPIRIT

   All believers are entitled to and should ardently expect and earnestly seek the promise of the Father, the baptism in the Holy Spirit and fire, according to the command of our Lord Jesus Christ. This was the normal experience of all in the early Christian Church. With it comes the enduement of power for life and service, the bestowment of the gifts and their uses in the work so the ministry (Luke 24:49; Acts 1:4,8; 1Cor. 12:1-31). This experience is distinct from and subsequent to the experience of the new birth (Acts 8:12-17; 10:44-46; 11:14-16; 15:7-9). With  the baptism in the Holy Spirit comes such experiences as an  overflowing fullness of the Spirit ( John 7:37-39; Acts 1:8), a deepened reverence of God (Acts 2:43; Heb 12:28), an intensified consecration of God and dedication to His work (Acts 2:42), and more active love for Christ and His Word and for the lost (Mark 16:20)


THE INITIAL PHYSICAL EVIDENCE OF
THE BAPTISM IN THE HOLY SPIRIT

   The baptism of believers in the Holy Spirit is witnessed by the initial physical sign of speaking with other tongues as the Spirit of God gives them utterance (Acts 2:4). The speaking in tongues in this instance is the same is essence as the gift of tongues (1Cor. 12:4-10,28), but different in purpose and use.

SANCTIFICATION

  Sanctification is an act of separation from that which is evil, and of dedication unto God (Rom. 12:1,2; 1Thess. 5:23; Heb. 13:12). The Scriptures teach a life of “holiness without which no man shall see the Lord: (Heb. 12:14). By the power of the Holy Spirit we can obey the command: “Be ye holy, for I am holy.” (1Peter 1:15,16).
Sanctification is realized in the believer by recognizing his identification with Christ in His death and resurrection, and by faith reckoning daily upon the fact of that union, and by offering every faculty continually to the dominion of the Holy Spirit. (Rom. 6:1-11,13; 8:1,2,13; Gal. 2:20; Phil. 2:12,13; 1Peter 1:5).

DIVINE HEALING

   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 (Isaiah 53:4,5; Matt. 8:16,17; James 5:14-16).

THE BLESSED HOPE

   The resurrection of those who have fallen asleep in Christ and their translation, together with those who are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord, is the imminent and blessed hope of the Church (1 Thess. 4:16,17; Romans 8:23, Titus 2:13, 1Cor. 15:51,52).

THE MILLENNIAL REIGN OF CHRIST

   The second coming of Christ included 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 (Zech. 14:5, Matt. 24:27,30; Rev. 1:7; 19:11-14; 20:1-6). The 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).

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 will the devil and his angels, the beast and the false prophet, will be consigned to everlasting punishment in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death ( Matt. 25:46; Mark 9:43-48; Rev. 19:20; 20:11-15;21:8).

THE NEW HEAVENS AND THE NEW EARTH

   “We, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness” (2Peter 3:13; Rev. 21,22).


FIVE-FOLD MINISTRY

   We believe in the fivefold ministry: Apostle, Prophet, Evangelist, Pastor and Teacher. We believe that all five of these gifts are active in the church today and are necessary for the maturing of the saints. (Eph. 4:11-16). We believe that biblical revelation is both progressive and ongoing. We strive to walk in present-day truth. (2Peter 1:12)