We believe that through the aid of the Holy Spirit, the Church is to provide and promote the worship of the Triune God and the preaching of the Word of God, to seek the spiritual growth of Christians, to provoke one another to love and good works, to minister spiritual gifts for the edification of the Body of Christ, to administer the New Testament ordinances, to endeavor to guard the unity that comes from the Spirit, and to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ in order to bring lost people to personal saving faith in the finished work of Christ for their salvation. 

The Scriptures

We believe that the Holy Scriptures, consisting of the sixty-six books of the Old and New Testament, are the verbal, plenary, and inspired Word of God. Being such, the Scriptures are the final authority for our faith, life, and practice, being wholly without error in the original writings, infallible and God-breathed. (Matthew 5:18; John 16:12-13; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:20-21)

The Godhead

We believe that there are three Persons who share equally the attributes, essence and nature of God (Matt. 28:19; 2 Co. 13:14).

The Father

We believe that Scriptures teach that the Father is the ultimate source of all things (1 Co. 8:6). The Son during His earthly ministry, ministered according to the desirous will of the Father (John 3:17; 5:36; 8:42; 11:42). Grace believers are saved according to the Father’s desirous will (Gal. 1:4). The Father is seen in Scripture as being equal to other Members of the Godhead and greater than the Son in their Economical relationship (John 14:28). The Economical relationship is seen in that the Father sends the Son and the Holy Spirit but He is not sent (John 15:26). The Father answers communication (John 16:23). The Father forgives the sins of believers (1 John 1:9).

The Son

We believe that the Son of God, the Second Person of the Godhead, existed eternally as the Son before His incarnation (Ps. 2:7).  He became man without any change in His Person through a supernatural conception by the Holy Spirit and the joining of His divine Person to that of a virgin (Matt. 1:20; Lk. 1:35). He is one divine Person possessing two natures, one human and the other divine (Mk. 4:38-39; 5:30-32).

The Son died physically as a substitute for the sins of men by dismissing His own human soul and spirit from His body (Matt. 27:50). He was resurrected on the third day (Matt. 28:1-6; Acts 2:24).  He then ascended into Heaven where He is now seated at the right hand of the Father waiting for His enemies to be made His footstool (Acts 1:9-11; 7:55-56; Heb. 10:12-13).

The Son will return to rapture His church before the Tribulation Period (1 Thess. 4:16-17). He will then return after the Tribulation Period to put into effect the promised Millennial Kingdom (Matt.24:29-31; 25:31-34). It is the Son who will judge the unbelieving world of mankind following the Millennial Kingdom (John 5:22; 2 Tim. 4:1; Rev. 19:11-16; 20:4, 11-15). After the Kingdom, the Son will then hand the Kingdom over to the Father and the Godhead will return to their pre-creation relationship (1 Co.15:24-28).

The Son intercedes on behalf of Grace Believers today to keep the believer saved (Rom. 8:34; Heb.7:25).

The Holy Spirit

We believe the Holy Spirit is the third Person of the Trinity, who eternally exists. He separates, arranges, and applies what the Father plans and the Son coordinates. (Eph. 4:30; Rom. 8:26; Gen. 1:2)

There is specific New Testament Scripture authenticating the deity of the Holy Spirit (Acts 5:3-4). From the Day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit began a baptizing ministry that immerses Grace Believers into the body of Christ (1 Co. 12:13; Acts 1:4; 11:15-17). As a result of this baptism, the Grace Believer has positions and possessions (Eph. 1:6; 2:10, 13; Rom. 6:1-5, 8:1; Gal. 6:1-5). These include the Grace Believer, in Christ, being redeemed and sanctified. (1 Co. 1:30; Eph. 1:7), part of the New Creation (2 Co. 5:17; Eph. 2:15), given a spiritual gift (1 Co. 12:4-8), placed as a priest (1 Pet. 2:5), placed as Sons (Eph. 1:5), forgiven by God (Eph 1:7), accepted in the beloved (Eph. 1:6), made near to God (Eph. 2:13), seated in the heavenlies (Eph. 2:6), counted to have died with Christ in His death, buried with Him and resurrected with Him as a substitute (Rom. 6:1-8) and seen as having no condemnation (Rom. 8:1).

Because of His regenerating ministry, Grace Believers are indwelt by the Holy Spirit (1 Col. 6:19-20), the Father (Eph. 4:6), and the Son (Col. 1:27). Other ministries of the Holy Spirit include: His teaching ministry in which He teaches the believer (1 John 2:27); His sealing ministry in which He seals the believer in Christ until the day of complete redemption (Eph. 4:30; 1:13); His filling ministry in which He fills the believer (Eph. 5:18); His intercession ministry in which He intercedes for the believer in the believer’s communication with the Father (Rom. 8:26-27); His indwelling ministry in which He joins Himself to the believer as an indwelling Person (John 14:17) and His restraining ministry in which He is currently restraining the Man of Lawlessness until God’s appointed time (2 Thess. 2:6-8).

The Holy Spirit removes the blindness from the eyes of unbelievers so that they can believe the gospel for initial salvation (2 Co.4:4). No one is saved apart from the Holy Spirit’s removal of the satanic bind. (Tit. 3:5; John 16:7-10)

Salvation

We believe the Scriptures teach that salvation in all three tenses is by the grace of God through His free gift which is neither merited nor secured in part or in whole by any virtue or work of man (Eph. 2:8, 9). The gospel, which the Holy Spirit uses as a basis for His conviction of a sinner to bring him to faith in Christ, is a specific limited area of truth (Rom. 1:16). The facts that Christ died for our sins, was buried, and rose again physically after three days are the essential parts of the gospel (1 Cor. 15:1-4; 2 Tim. 2:8- 10).

The basis of salvation is the death of our Lord Jesus Christ in His human nature on the cross. He became personally separated in His human nature from the Father when the Father made the Son’s Person (Human body and sinless human nature) an offering for sin. Thereby, the Father’s outraged holiness against man’s sin nature was propitiated (Isa. 53:10; Matt 27:46, Rom. 3:25; 1 Jn. 2:2, 4:10). Because of His infinite character, the Son’s blood was a sufficient redemption for all mankind (Rom. 3:24; 2 Pet. 2:1). Since the death of Christ was sufficient for all the world, the world is now positionally reconciled to God (2 Cor. 5:18, 19, Rom. 5:10). God, therefore, encourages all men to be reconciled unto Him (2 Cor. 5:20).

The single condition whereby the value of these propitiatory, redemptive, and reconciliatory works of the cross may be applied by the Holy Spirit to the individual is by a personal faith in the crucified and risen Son of God (Acts 16:31; Eph. 2:8, 9). At salvation, the believer is called, regenerated, forgiven all sin, justified, sanctified, made eternally secure, and endowed with every spiritual blessing (Rom. 3:24; 5:1; Eph. 1:3, 13, 14; 4:32, Tit. 3:5; 1 Cor. 1:30). Positionally, the believer is glorified and seated in the heavenlies in Christ (Rom. 8:29, 30; Eph. 2:6, 7).

The Church

We believe that the Scriptures teaches that a local church is a group of regenerated, baptized believers, organized and meeting together for the equipping of the saints for their ministry (Eph. 4:11-12); for provoking one another to love, good works and for exhortation (Heb. 10:24-25); for the exercising of spiritual gifts (1 Pet. 4:10) and for the observance of two ordinances: the Lord’s Supper (1 Co.10:15-22; 11:23-29) and Baptism by Immersion (Acts 10:46-48).

Baptism is by immersion in water in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, as a sign of union with Christ in His death, burial and resurrection (Matt. 28:19; Acts 8:35-39). The Lord’s Supper is a commemoration of the Person of Christ, His Body which is the Church, and the new covenant by His blood (1 Cor. 10:15-22; 11:23-29).

We believe that the Scriptures teach that there are two offices for the church, bishop, commonly referred to as pastor, and deacon (Phil.1:1). The bishop’s or pastors as they are commonly referred to today qualifications are enumerated in Scripture (1 Tim. 3:1-7). The term bishop literally means the overseer, and refers to the one who takes oversight of the flock (1 Pet. 5:1-5; Heb. 13:7, 17). In particular, he is to be concerned with the oversight of the doctrine taught in the church and all other activities to the glory of God (Titus 1:9-11; 2 Tim. 4:2). The term pastor literally means shepherd and is used to highlight the activity of feeding, leading and protecting the flock by his teaching and example (Acts 20:17, 28). It also is indicative of the spiritual gift of pastor teacher (Eph. 4:11). A bishop should have the gift of pastor teacher as indicated in the qualification “apt to teach” and must be a man (1 Tim. 3:2). He is sometimes referred to as an elder (Acts 20:17, 28; Titus 1:5), which highlights his maturity (1 Pet. 5:5). However, others who are not bishops are likewise referred to as elders (1 Pet. 5:1-5; 2 John 1:1; 3 John 1:1). Deacons are chosen to serve the physical aspects, but always with a spiritual purpose, for the needs of the church (Acts 6:1-3). Their qualifications are delineated in Scripture (1 Tim. 3:8-13). The office of deacon is not limited to someone with a specific spiritual gift (Acts 6:5; 21:8). Deacons must be men (1 Tim. 3:12).

The Christian Life

We believe that at the time of past tense, or initial, salvation the believer is given all things that pertain to spiritual life and godliness (2 Pet. 1:3). By regeneration he shares in a quality of the Divine nature and eternal life (Jn. 3:6, 15; 1 Jn. 3:9-10; 2 Pet. 1:4; 1 Jn. 5:11-12). Because of this quality of the Divine nature, he has new desires and abilities. These new desires and abilities constitute the believer’s new nature (Rom. 7:19- 23).

Since the believer still possesses the old fallen Adamic sin nature as one of his enemies, he needs the filling of the indwelling Holy Spirit to manifest the new nature (Rom. 7:23 – 8:4; Eph. 5:16-25; Gal. 5:16-25; 2 Cor. 3:18). The Spirit-filled believer, or spiritual believer, can manifest the fruit of the Spirit and thus Christlikeness. The requirements to be Spirit filled, and thus spiritual, are that the believer must reckon himself to be dead to the sin nature and alive unto God in the sphere of his position in Christ (Rom. 6:10, 11; Col. 3:1-5) and yield his members as instruments of righteousness to God (Rom 6:13).

Besides the flesh or sin nature the believer has two other spiritual enemies: The World and Satan. The spiritual saint is able to discern the difference between the lusts from the flesh, the world and Satan (Rom. 6:12; Eph. 2:3; Gal. 5:24; 1 Jn. 2:15-17; Jn. 8:44). He that is spiritual can say no to these lusts before they become a temptation (Tit. 2:12-13). When a lust is allowed to become a temptation, the believer must bear it while taking the way of escape (1 Cor. 10:13; Jas. 1:13-15). If the mentally considered temptation is acted upon by an action, it will result in an act of sin against God (Jas. 1:13-15; 4:11; 1 Cor. 6:18; 1 Jn. 3:4; Matt. 15:17-20; Psa. 41:4; 51:4).

The spiritual saint overcomes the world by using it as a means to the end without loving or befriending it (1 Jn. 2:15-17; Jas. 4:4; 1 Cor. 7:29-31). The spiritual Christian has an armor which he is to put on mentally each time he discerns an attack by Satan or his demons (1 Pet. 5:8-9; Jas. 4:7-8; Eph. 6:12-18).

The spiritual believer who is overcoming the three enemies grows to maturity by grace and is more and more conformed to the image of Christ (2 Pet. 3:18; 2 Cor. 3:18; 4:6-7; 2 Tim. 2:1).

Man and Sin

We believe that Adam was created in the image and likeness of God. But, because he chose to disobey a direct command from God, he trespassed, sinned and transgressed (Gen. 1:26-27; Rom.5:12-15). No man is created today. Adam and Eve were the only humans created (Gen. 1:27; 2:7). Men are born today as a result of procreation (Gen. 5:3). Today mankind reflects the fallen image of Adam (1 Co.15:49). Mankind today, though perverted, still possesses the likeness of God. (James 3:9)

Scripture teaches that man is a trichotomous being. That is, he is composed of body, soul and spirit (1 Thess. 5:23; Heb. 4:12; 1 Co. 15:44; 2:11; Matt. 16: 25; Rev. 18:14; Rom.7:14). The sin nature is a perversion of the will that affects man’s body, soul and spirit. Consequently, man’s nature became depraved, which is called total depravity. This depravity is passed on throughout the human race by procreation (Rom. 5:12-15; 1:24-31).

Men sin because of this depravity (Rom. 7:18-24). Sin is lawlessness; that is, acting as if God has no rules for your life (1 John 3:4). In this state, it is impossible for fallen man to please God (Rom. 3:11-18). God counted all men to have sinned in Adam in order that He might save some (Rom. 5:12; 3:23). As a result, all unsaved men are under the penalty of death (Rom. 6:23). Because of this condition, all men not believing the gospel for salvation are condemned to eternal punishment (Rev. 20:11-15).

Last Things

The Dispensation of Grace, according to Scripture, will end in failure (2 Tim. 3:1-3), culminating in the Rapture of all who are in Christ before the seventieth week of Daniel or the tribulation period (1 Thess. 4:13-18). The tribulation period is a judgment on the Nation of Israel (Dan. 9:24-27). The Church will not go through the tribulation period (1 Thess. 1:10; 5:9; Rom. 5:9).

Those gentiles, alive at the rapture, will enter the tribulation period where they will suffer the wrath of God along with Israel (2 Thess. 2:9-12). At the end of the tribulation period will be a separation of the sheep and the goats (unsaved Gentiles). The sheep alive at the completion of the tribulation period will enter into the Millennial Kingdom while those unsaved gentiles, alive at the completion of the tribulation period, will be cast into Gehenna, the Lake of Fire (Matt. 25:40-41, 44). Because of the ministry of the 144,000 Jews during the tribulation period, there will be some gentiles who will enter the Millennial Kingdom (Rev. 12:17).

The Nation of Israel, according to Scripture, will also go through the tribulation period, where God will separate the elect of Israel from the non-elect (Rom. 11:21-27). At the end of the tribulation period, those elect from Israel will enter into the Millennial Kingdom where they will reign over the nations of the earth along with the resurrected Jews from the Old Testament (Is. 11:10-16; Zec. 8:18-23; Rom. 11:26-27).

At the beginning of the Millennial Kingdom Satan will be bound, and the curse will be lifted from the physical creation. He will be released for a short time at the end of the millennium and lead a final rebellion against God (Rom. 8:19-23; Rev. 20:2, 3,7,8). Following the millennium, Satan will be cast into the Lake of Fire; the Great White Throne Judgment will occur (Rev. 20:11-15, 20).