Our Statement of Faith
1. The Scriptures
We believe the Holy Bible is the Word of God. The sixty-six books of the Old and New Testaments were fully inspired by God and are our final authority for faith and practice. The Bible is completely sufficient for the believer’s direction in Christian living. Therefore, anything not contained in its pages is not to be considered an article of faith.
“And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.” 2 Timothy 3:15-17.
2. The Holy Trinity
We believe in one living and true God, existing as Three Eternal Persons–the Father, the Son (Jesus Christ), and the Holy Spirit. We believe that God the Father created the heavens and the earth and sustains all creation by His Word. He is sovereign, everlasting, all-powerful, wise, and good. We believe that Jesus Christ is eternally one with the Father. He entered this world in a human body. He was born of the virgin Mary, conceived by the Holy Spirit, and was fully human and fully God. He lived a sinless life, died on the cross for our sins, rose from the dead, and ascended into heaven, where he sits at the right hand of the Father, interceding for us. We believe that the Holy Spirit is ever present and effectively active in and with the church of Christ, convicting the world of sin, regenerating those who repent and believe, and sanctifying believers.
“For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.” 1 John 5:7.
3. Original Sin
We believe that humans were created in God’s image but have fallen into a state of sin through Adam and Eve’s original sin. We are corrupt and cannot save ourselves. Jesus Christ is our only salvation. This salvation comes by God’s grace through our faith in the atoning work of Christ as our only sacrifice for sin.
“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:23.
4. Salvation
We believe that salvation has been provided for all mankind through the redemptive work of Jesus Christ and that salvation can be received only through repentance toward God and faith in our Lord. We believe that repentance is a sincere and thorough change of mind in regard to sin, involving a sense of personal guilt and a voluntary turning away from and forsaking sin. We believe that Jesus Christ died for everyone and that each individual chooses to accept or reject the grace of God.
“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.” Ephesians 2:8-9.
5. Entire Sanctification
We believe sanctification begins the moment we accept Christ into our lives. Sanctification is God’s Spirit at work in us to transform our desires, thoughts, interests, attitudes, and behavior into Christ-likeness. Sanctification enables us to love God with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength and to love our neighbor as ourselves. As we grow in grace, we are led to the time when we totally commit our lives to God in a moment of entire consecration.
“And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” 1 Thessalonians 5:23.
6. Free Will
We believe that we were created by God with the ability to choose between right and wrong. God’s grace, which is available to everyone, enables a willing person to turn from sin and believe in Jesus Christ for pardon and cleansing from sin. We also believe the Christian retains his freedom of choice. Therefore, it is possible for him to willfully turn away from God and be finally lost.
“Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.” James 4:17.
7. Gifts of the Spirit
We believe the gifts of the Spirit are qualities and abilities given to believers by the Holy Spirit. These gifts are intended for the teaching and growing of Christ’s Church. The possession of a particular gift is not necessarily evidence of the presence of the Holy Spirit. The true evidence of the Holy Spirit in one’s life is divine love and holy living.
“And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all workers of miracles? Have all the gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way.” 1 Corinthians 12:28-31.
8. Sacraments
We believe that Christian baptism is a public act signifying acceptance of Jesus Christ as Savior and commitment to a life of obedience and holiness. We believe that the Lord’s Supper, or Holy Communion, as instituted by Jesus Christ, offers the believer an opportunity to reflect upon His death and atonement for sin. It is also a moment of anticipating His coming again.
“Then Peter said unto them, ‘Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.'” Acts 2:38.
“For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till he come.” 1 Corinthians 11:26.
9. Divine Healing.
We believe in divine healing and endeavor to offer the prayer of faith for the healing of the sick. We also believe that, in many cases, God chooses to exercise His healing grace through modern medicine. When we pass into heaven, we will experience perfect health.
“Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.” James 5:14-15.
10. The Church
We believe that at the new birth, all believers are adopted into the family of God, which is the body of Christ or the church. The church is not a particular denomination but the entire body of believers in Jesus Christ.
“For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.” 1 Corinthians 12:13
11. Christian Duties
We believe the two greatest commandments are to love the Lord our God with all our hearts and our neighbors as ourselves. These commandments are the perfect rule of human duty and are for the ordering and directing of families and nations, and all other social bodies. We believe that Christians should live faithfully, pray diligently, witness earnestly, and by example, show loving kindness, give as God prospers, and conduct themselves in a way that brings glory to God.
“Jesus said unto him, ‘Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.'” Matthew 22:37-40.
12. End Times
We believe in the personal return of Christ to the earth to receive His children unto Himself and that He will cause the fulfillment of all Biblical prophecies made concerning His final and complete triumph over evil. We believe in the resurrection of the dead and that the bodies of both the righteous and the unrighteous shall be raised to life and united with their spirits. We believe God will judge all mankind by Jesus Christ, that He will reward the righteous with eternal life in Heaven, and He will banish the unrighteous to everlasting punishment in Hell.
“Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.” John 14:1-3.
“When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, ‘Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world…’ Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, ‘Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels…’ And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.” Matthew 25:31-34, 41, 46.