What We Believe

WHAT WE BELIEVE ABOUT THE BIBLE

We believe the Old and New Testaments, in their original languages, are the divinely inspired revelation of God and His purpose to all mankind. In the words of the Bible itself, “…men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God” (2 Peter 1:21, NASB). We accept the Bible as our all-sufficient rule for faith and conduct (2 Timothy 3:15-17).

WHAT WE BELIEVE ABOUT GOD

We believe in the God revealed in the Bible and in Creation. He has always existed and He always will. He is the Creator and Ruler of the universe. Of course, we can’t explain the mystery of God, but we accept as fact the revelation of His existence (Deuteronomy 6:4; Isaiah 43:10-11; Matthew 28:19; Mark 12:29).

WHAT WE BELIEVE ABOUT THE HOLY SPIRIT

Christ taught a distinction of Persons in the Godhead which He expressed in specific terms as Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

We believe the Holy Spirit touches the lives of individuals in many ways, comforting the Christian and bearing witness to God’s work in the world. It is the Spirit working within that brings salvation to the person who comes to God in faith.

In addition, all Christians may also be filled with the Spirit in an experience different from and following salvation. Called the “baptism in the Holy Spirit”, it is a special infusion of God’s power to better enable the believer to spread the gospel and to live the full, faithful life God has promised and expects. The Scriptures reveal this is the normal experience for Christians and teach that every believer should earnestly seek and expect this baptism. The first physical evidence is speaking in an unknown language (Acts 1:5; 2:4, 39; 5:32; 19:1-7).

Of course, the final evidence of the baptism in the Holy Spirit is in the life of the Christian. It leads to a deeper reverence for God, a growing sensitivity in worship, and an intensified dedication to Christ’s work. It also opens the door for special ministering gifts of the Spirit (Acts 4:31-33; 1 Corinthians 12, 13 & 14).

WHAT WE BELIEVE ABOUT MAN AND HIS NEEDS

We believe man was created good and upright, in fact, in the image of God. But by choosing to disregard and disobey God’s command, man cut off his close relationship with the Creator and introduced suffering and death into humanity (Genesis 1:26-27; 2:17; 3:16; Romans 5:12-19).

Man’s only hope for fulfillment, satisfaction, and restoration to God is the forgiveness God has provided through the death of Jesus Christ. Every individual can be restored to fellowship with God by asking forgiveness for sin, repenting and believing in God’s Son (John 3:3, 16-17; Acts 20:21; Romans 10:8-13).

WHAT ORDINANCE WE PRACTICE

We observe Holy Communion or the Lord’s Supper. This is an open communion in which all believers are invited to take part (I Corinthians 11:23-33).

We also practice water baptism by immersion as a believer’s public declaration of his identification with Jesus Christ and his new relationship with God through faith (Matthew 28:19; Romans 6:4).

We do not baptize infants, but we encourage parents to dedicate their children to the Lord in a public worship service.

WHAT WE BELIEVE ABOUT HEALING

We believe healing is an integral part of the good news God has for the world and that God heals sickness today, as in Bible times, on the basis of the suffering and death of His Son (Isaiah 53:4-5; Matthew 8:16-17).

We do not pretend to understand everything about healing, but the Scriptures are clear. When one is sick, he may pray in expectation of healing (James 5:13-16).

The Biblical doctrine of healing does not oppose the practice of modern medicine, neither does it preclude the proper use of medication. Healing should be confirmed by proper authorities.

WHAT WE BELIEVE ABOUT THE FUTURE

We believe in the literal physical second coming of Jesus Christ (Acts 1:11; Hebrews 9:28). He will come to reward (Matthew 16:27; 1 Peter 5:4), judge (Matthew 25:32; 1 Corinthians 4:5; 2 Timothy 4:1; Jude 14-15) and to rule eternally (Revelation 21-22).

The church is God’s instrument for establishing the kingdom of God on earth (Matthew 16:19-19). Through the church, God is in the process of bringing the earth under the dominion of Christ. When the time of restoration and dominion occurs, Christ will physically return (Acts 3:19-21).