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STATEMENT OF FAITHJesus answered them, and said, My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me. If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself. John 7:16,17 Inspiration of Scriptures: We believe that the Holy Bible is the written Word of the Living God. We believe it was inspired by the Holy Spirit and recorded by holy men of old. We believe that in its original languages, it is infallible in content and a perfect treasure of heavenly instruction that is truth without any mixture of error. The Bible reveals the principles by which God will judge us and reveals His great plan of salvation. It will remain eternally. We believe the Bible is the true center of Christian union and the supreme standard by which all human conduct, creeds, and opinions should be tried. Therefore, we believe this Word should go into all the world and should be given first place in every believer's life. We believe that many of the English language translations of the Bible are suitable for private devotion and public worship; however, we reject translations that compromise the nature or character of God in an effort to become relevant to the culture. (2 Timothy 3:16; Hebrews 4:12; 1 Peter 1:23-25; and 2 Peter 1:19-21). God: We believe in one God revealed in three persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit...making up the blessed Trinity (Matthew 3:16,17; 1 John 5:6,7). God the Father: We believe that God the Father is the holy, eternal, compassionate, trustworthy, good, gracious, impartial, just, loving, merciful, omnipotent, omnipresent, omniscient, patient, longsuffering, self-existent, truthful, personal, transcendent, unchangeable and sovereign creator of all things. God the Son whose name is Jesus: We believe that Jesus Christ is fully God and fully human. We believe that He was born of a virgin, lived a sinless life, provided for the atonement of our sins by His vicarious death on the Cross, was bodily resurrected by the power of the Holy Spirit, ascended back to the right hand of God the Father, and ever lives to make intercession for us. After He ascended to Heaven, Jesus sent the Holy Spirit enabling believers to fulfill His command to preach the Gospel to the entire world. God the Holy Spirit: We believe the Holy Spirit is the third person of the Trinity who, in the plan of the redemption of man is to convict of sin, regenerate the repentant believer, guide the believer into all truth, indwell all believers, and give gifts to those He wills that they may minister as Christ would to men. We believe that the manifestations of the Holy Spirit recorded in 1 Corinthians 12:1-11 will operate through present-day Christians who yield to Jesus and are intended for all believers. Furthermore, we believe that the gifts of the Spirit are to be exercised within Scriptural guidelines. We as believers are to covet the best gifts, seeking to exercise them in love that the whole Body of Christ might be edified. We believe that love is more important than the most spectacular gifts, and without this love all exercise of spiritual gifts is worthless. (Luke 11:13; John 7:37-39, 14:16,17, 16:7-14; Acts 2:1-18). We believe the evidence of the baptism in the Holy Spirit is fruit in the life of the believer, not a particular manifestation. When the Apostles were filled in Acts 2 they spoke with tongues, when they were filled in Acts 5 they prophesied (spoke the word of God with boldness). Man: We believe that man, in his natural state, is a sinner lost, undone, without hope, and without God. Furthermore, we believe that all people are by nature separated from God and responsible for their own sin, but that salvation, redemption, and forgiveness of sin are freely offered to all by the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. When a person repents of sin and accepts Jesus Christ as personal Savior and Lord, trusting Him to save, that person is immediately born again and sealed by the Holy Spirit. All his/her sins are forgiven, and that person becomes a child of God, destined to spend eternity with the Lord. (Romans 3:19-23; Galatians 3:22; Ephesians 2:1,2,12). Salvation: We believe the terms of salvation are repentance toward God for sin and a personal, heartfelt faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. This is how the new birth occurs, which we call being "born again." Salvation is possible only through God's grace, not by our works. Works are simply the fruit of salvation (Acts 3:19,20; Romans 4:1-5, 5:1; Ephesians 2:8-10). Water Baptism should follow the experience of the new birth as a public witness to one's faith in obedience to the commandment of Jesus. (Mark 16:16, Acts 2:38). Body of Christ: We believe the Body of Christ is made up of all who have been "born again" regardless of denominational differences. We believe in the spirit of unity, while allowing for variety in individual ministries as to their work, calling, and location as directed by the Holy Spirit (Acts 10:34,35; 1 Corinthians 12:12-31). Blood Atonement: We believe in the saving power of the blood of Jesus and His imputed righteousness (Acts 4:12; Romans 4:1-9, 5:1-11; Ephesians 1:3-14). Bodily Resurrection: We believe in the bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ (Luke 24:39-43; John 20:24-29). Ascension: We believe that Christ Jesus ascended to the Father and is presently engaged in building a place for us in His Kingdom and interceding for the saints (John 14:2,3; Romans 8:34). Second Coming: We believe in the visible, bodily return of Christ Jesus to this earth, to meet His Church (Bride) and to judge the world. (Acts 1:10,11; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; 2 Thessalonians 1:7-10; James 5:8; Revelation 1:7). Ordinances: We believe that the two ordinances of the Body of Christ are water baptism and the Lord's Supper (Matthew 28:19; 1 Corinthians 11:24-26). Heaven and Hell: We believe Scripture clearly sets forth the doctrines of eternal punishment for the lost and eternal bliss and service for the saved -- a literal hell for the unsaved and Heaven for the saved (Matthew 25:34,41,46; Luke 16:19-31; John 14:1-3; Revelation 20:11-15). Divine Healing: We believe God has used doctors, medicines, and other natural means as channels of healing; however, we believe divine healing is provided for believers in the atonement made by Jesus' blood shed on the cross (Isaiah 53:5; 1 Peter 2:24). We believe divine healing may be received by the laying on of hands by the elders (James 5:14-16), by the prayer of an anointed person gifted by the Holy Spirit for healing the sick (1 Corinthians 12:9), or by a direct act of receiving this provision by faith (Mark 11:23,24).
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This page was last updated 11/25/07