WHAT WE BELIEVE
God – Eternal, Creator, Redeemer
Father Almighty,
Creator of heaven and earth,
and of all things visible and invisible.
One God, revealed in 3 persons
God is one, eternal, and self-existent.
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 (Deuteronomy 6:4; Isaiah 43:10, 11; Matthew 28:19; Luke 3:22; Matthew 28:19; John 1:1-2,14; John 4:24; Acts 5:3-4; Ephesians 4:5-6; 2 Corinthians 13:17).
The Bible
We Believe the Bible from Genesis to Revelation...
The Bible is the inspired Word of God.
It is a revelation from God to mankind, the infallible rule of faith and conduct, and is superior to conscience and reason, but not contrary to reason (2 Timothy 3:15-16; 1 Peter 2:2).
Jesus – Son of God, Savior, Resurrected
We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,
the only Son of God,
eternally begotten of the Father,
God from God, Light from Light,
true God from true God,
begotten, not made,
of one being with the Father.
The Lord Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God, fully human and fully God..
He is the Messiah prophesied, the one and only God, in the exact representation of God. The Scriptures declare His virgin birth (Matthew 1:23; Luke 1:31; Luke 1:35), His sinless life (Hebrews 7:26; 1 Peter 2:22), His miracles (Acts 2:22; Acts 10:38), His substitutionary work on the cross (1 Corinthians 15:3; 2 Corinthians 5:21), His bodily resurrection from the dead (Matthew 28:6; Luke 24:39; 1 Corinthians 15:4), His exaltation to the right hand of God (Acts 1:9; Acts 1:11; Acts 2:33; Philippians 2:9-11; Hebrews 1:3). He died and rose again to reconcile all people to God and to free them from the power of sin and the devil. He will return again to reign over His Kingdom. (Matthew 1:18-25; Luke 1:26-38; Romans 9:5; Titus 2:13).
Holy Spirit – Co-equal, Co-eternal and Co-existent
We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,
who proceeds from the Father.
With the Father and the Son
He is worshiped and glorified.
The Holy Spirit is co-equal, co-eternal and co-existent with the Father and with the Son. His ministry upon the earth is to convict and convert man as well as be the great paraclete (comforter, counselor, helper, intercessor, advocate, strengthener and standby) to the Church. The baptism of the Holy Spirit and Fire is a gift from God as promised by the Lord Jesus to all believers and is received subsequent to and is distinct from the experience of New Birth. With it comes the enduement of power for life and service, the bestowment of the gifts and their uses in the work of the ministry (Luke 24:29; Acts 1:4; 1:8; 1 Corinthians 12:1-31). The Baptism of the Holy Spirit is meant to empower the believer to be a witness of Jesus Christ by the preaching and demonstration of the Gospel. The gifts of the Holy Spirit are also evidence of this experience. Whereas there is one initial baptism, there are many subsequent infillings of the Spirit. The ultimate purpose of the Baptism of the Holy Spirit is so that we, the believers, may have power to be witnesses (Matthew 3:11; John 14:16-17; Acts 1:8; Acts 2).
Baptism
We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. Galatians 3:27
Baptism in water, by full immersion, is a direct commandment of our Lord.
It is for all believers. This holy sacrament identifies the believer with Jesus in His death, burial and resurrection (Matthew 28:19; Acts 10:47-48; Romans 6:4; Acts 20:21; Hebrews 10:22). It serves as a symbol, a physical sign of a spiritual reality, (1 Peter 3:21). Clearly Peter is connecting the physical act of baptism unbreakably to a person’s initial cry of repentance and faith (Ephesians 2:8-9). The "one baptism" is into Christ's death, burial and resurrection (Galatians 3:27). Through baptism, we believe for spiritual cleansing, and any residual from our old way of life to be broken off in the waters.
Sanctification
The work of the spirit to make us more like Jesus. Revelation 19:7
The Marriage of the Lamb has come; his Wife has made herself ready.
The Scripture teaches that without holiness no man can see the Lord (Hebrews 12:14). We believe in the Doctrine of Sanctification as a definite, yet progressive work of grace, commencing at the time of regeneration and continuing until the consummation of salvation at Christ’s return. (I Thessalonians 5:23; 1 Corinthians 1:30; 2 Corinthians 3:18; Philippians 3:12-14) Sanctification is a Holy Spirit process that we must participate in, as we ready ourselves for Christ's return. (Revelation 19:7; Ephesians 5:27; 2 Corinthians 11:2,)
The Church
We believe in one holy apostolic Church. The Bride of Christ, not a building, but the collection of the believers who have become the dwelling place of the Lord.
The church is the body of Christ, the habitation of God through the Spirit with divine appointments for the fulfillment of the great commission. Each believer, born of the Spirit, is an integral part of the church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven (Ephesians 1:22-23; 2:22; Hebrews 12:33).
A divinely called and scripturally ordained ministry has been provided by our Lord for the threefold purpose of leading the Church in: Evangelization of the world (Mark 16:15-20); worship of God (John 4:23,24); edification of the body of Christ (Ephesians 4:11-16).
Resurrection, Christ Return and Judgment
We look for the resurrection of the dead,
and the life of the world to come.
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The resurrection of the dead: 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 Thessalonians 4:16-17; Titus 2:12; 1 Corinthians 15:51-52; Romans 8:23).
Promises: The revelation of the Lord Jesus Christ from heaven, the salvation of national Israel, and the Millennial reign of Christ on earth is the Scriptural promise and the world’s hope (2 Thessalonians 1:17; Revelation 19:11-14; Romans 11:26-27; Revelation 20:1-7).
Judgement:
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 with 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 (Revelation 19:20; Revelation 20:10-15).
“We, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth wherein dwelleth righteousness.” (2 Peter 3:13; Revelation 21, 22).
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The Nicene Creed
We believe in one God,
Father Almighty,
Creator of heaven and earth,
and of all things visible and invisible.
We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,
the only Son of God,
eternally begotten of the Father,
God from God, Light from Light,
true God from true God,
begotten, not made,
of one being with the Father.
Through Him all things were made.
For us and for our salvation
He came down from heaven: By the power of the Holy Spirit
He became incarnate from the Virgin Mary,
and was made man.
For our sake He was crucified under Pontius Pilate;
He suffered death and was buried.
On the third day He rose again
in accordance with the Scriptures;
He ascended into heaven
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again in glory
to judge the living and the dead,
and His kingdom will have no end.
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We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,
who proceeds from the Father.
With the Father and the Son
He is worshiped and glorified.
He has spoken through the Prophets.
We believe in one holy apostolic Church.
We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.
We look for the resurrection of the dead,
and the life of the world to come.
Amen.