What we Believe
- The Bible is Inspired - The
scriptures of the entire Bible are God’s inspired word. It is not just
the ideas that were inspired; even the choice of words were inspired.
Scriptures are God’s revelation of Himself to man, they are never wrong,
and they are a divinely authoritative faith, belief, and manner of living.
(2 Timothy 3:15-17; 1 Thessalonians 2:13; 2 Peter 1:21)
- There is One True God - There
is one true God. He has revealed Himself to us, having always existed.
He is the creator of heaven and earth. God has revealed himself as a single
being consisting of three interrelated persons; the Father, Son and Holy
Spirit. This concept of one God or Being of three persons is called the
Trinity. (Genesis 1:1; Isaiah 43:10; Matthew 28:19; Luke 3:22)
- The Lord Jesus Christ is Fully God
- The Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, has always existed. He too is
without beginning or end. He became human by being born of a virgin, who
was conceived through the Holy Spirit. He lived a perfect life, committing
no sin. While on earth He worked many miracles through the power of the
Holy Spirit. In order to restore mankind, He surrendered himself to death
on a cross as a substitution for every man’s sin. He was raised from the
dead on the third day and after showing Himself to many, ascended into
heaven where He is seated at the right hand of the Father.(Matthew 1:23;
Matthew 28:6; Acts 2:22, 10:38; 1 Corinthians 15:3; Hebrews 1:3; Revelation
1:18)
- The Fall of Mankind - Mankind
was created good in the image of God. However, mankind by willful choice,
ignored God’s instruction and chose to engage in evil. As a result, mankind
fell from innocence and goodness. This sin caused physical and spiritual
death as well as a separation from God. (Genesis 1:26-27, 2:17, 3:6; Romans
5:12-19)
- The Salvation of Mankind - Salvation
is deliverance from spiritual death and enslavement from sin. God provides
salvation for all who believe and accept His free offer of forgiveness.
The only hope of redemption is through the blood of Jesus Christ. Salvation
is received when a person repents before God for his sins, and believes
in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ that makes this possible.
At this time the Holy Spirit inhabits the renewed man and they have become
a new creation, having the promise of eternal life with God. As a result
of ones inner salvation there will now be a growing change in the outer
man. (Matthew 27; Mark 15; Luke 23; Luke 24:47; John 3:3; John 19; Ephesians
2:8; 4:24)
- Baptism in Water - Baptism in
water is commanded in the Scriptures. All who repent and believe in Jesus
Christ should be baptized as a symbol and witness of the death and resurrection
of Jesus Christ. (Mark 16:16)
- Communion - Also known as the
Lord’s Supper consists of bread and the fruit of the vine (grape juice).
It is a memorial of Christ’s suffering and death. ( 1 Corinthians 11:26)
- The Baptism of the Holy Spirit
- All believers are entitled to the baptism of the Holy Spirit and should
be encouraged to seek this promise. The initial evidence of the baptism
is the speaking in of other tongues. The purpose of the baptism is to
provide supernatural power for Christian living and power for furthering
His kingdom. It also provides believers with specific spiritual gifts
for more effective ministry.(1 Corinthians 12:1-31)
- Sanctification - Sanctification
is an act of separating ourselves from evil and identifying with things
that are good, upright, and morally pure. It is a process that takes place
as Christians devote themselves to God. Living in holiness is only possible
by the power of the Holy Spirit working in our lives. (Romans 12:1-2; Hebrews 13:12)
- The Church and its Mission
- The church consist of those who have put their faith in Jesus Christ.
It is the body of Christ and has no boundaries as to age, race, gender
or denomination. Christ is the head of the church. The role of the church
is to worship God in spirit and truth. In addition, the church has been
called to be a vessel of the Great Commission. In other words one of the
churches greatest responsibilities is to take the salvation message out
into all the world and to all mankind. (Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:15-18)
- The Ministry - All believers
are called to be involved in ministry. The Lord had called us to ministry
for three reasons: to evangelize the world, to worship God , and to build
a body of believers who are conforming to the image of Christ.(Mark 16:15-2;
John 4:23-24; Romans 12:12)
- 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 53:3,4;
Matthew 8:16,17; James 5:14-16)
- The Blessed Hope - All believers
who have died will one day rise from their graves and meet the Lord in
the air. Christians who are alive at the time of His return will be caught
up to meet the Lord in the air. All Christians from all ages will be with
Him forever. (Romans 8:23; 1 Corinthians 15:51-52; 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17)
- The Millennial Reign - The
Second Coming of the Lord Jesus Christ includes the rapture, which is
our blessed hope followed by the saints ruling and reigning for 1000 years
on earth. (Matthew 24:27,30) This millennial reign will bring the salvation
of Israel and the establishment of universal peace. (Zephaniah 3:19-20;
Isaiah 11:6-9)
- The Final Judgment - There
will be a final judgment where those who have not put their trust in the
Lord Jesus Christ, will be thrown into Hell for all eternity. Together
with the devil and his demons they will experience everlasting punishment.
(Matthew 25:46; Revelation 19:20, 20:11-15, 21:8)
- The New Heavens and New Earth
- God will destroy this present earth and create a new one where those
that have put their faith in Him will live and reign for all of eternity.
(2 Peter 3:13; Revelation 21, 22)
