THE WORD OF GOD, THE HOLY SCRIPTURES
The Bible is the one, and only, inspired (literally meaning, “spoken out of God’s own mouth”) Word of God and revelation of His Word comes by the Holy Spirit, the teacher of the Church. It is the revealed Will of God (2 Timothy 3:16; 1 Corinthians 2:13; John 14:26; 2 Peter 1:21).
THE GODHEAD, THE TRINITY
Our God is one, but is manifested in three unique persons – the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. All are equal and eternal (1 John 5:7; Philippians 2:5-6). Jesus Christ is the Son of God, the Word made flesh (Mark 1:1, John 1:1 &14) and He is the express image of God (Hebrews 1:2-3). The Holy Spirit proceeded forth from both the Father and the Son and is eternal. (John 14:26; 15:26).
MAN, THE FALL, AND REDEMPTION
Man was created in the image of God: spirit, soul, and body. (1 Thessalonians 5:23; Genesis 1:26) Through Adam’s transgression, sin entered the world and separated man from God (Genesis 1:26; Romans 5:12-17). Adam and Eve died immediately, spiritually, and later, physically. Spiritual death was passed down by Adam unto all his descendants. Jesus Christ, the Son of God, was manifested to destroy the works of the devil, to redeem man, and restore man’s relationship to God. Man’s only hope of redemption is through Jesus Christ (1 John 3:8; John 14:6). There is no other Name under heaven by which anyone may be saved. (Acts 14:12) Jesus took our sin, and gave us His Righteousness! We have been MADE the righteousness of God in Christ; we were once sinners, but we have been saved by Grace, and are therefore no longer sinners, but we are now the Righteousness of God in Christ Jesus. 2 Corinthians 5:21, “For He (God, the Father) hath made Him (Jesus) to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we (believers) might be made the Righteousness of God in Him.”
THE FIRST PRINCIPLES
The first principles, or basic teachings, of the doctrine of Christ are: repentance from dead works (for we are saved by faith not by works lest any man should boast;) faith toward God, which includes consistency in confession of God’s Word; the doctrine of Baptisms, plural, which include: Baptism into the Body of Christ, Water Baptism, and the Baptism in the Holy Spirit; the doctrine of the laying on of hands (as instruments containing power;) the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. We must clearly understand all these first principles before God will allow us to proceed to advanced teaching from His Word. (Hebrews 5:12-14; Hebrews 6:1-6; Ephesians 2:8,9)
THE NEW BIRTH AND ETERNAL LIFE
Man’s initial step toward salvation is recognizing his fallen, sinful state (Romans 3:23) and his complete inability to restore himself to right standing with God (Ephesians 2:5-9). One can not be saved by their own works. The New Birth is the re-creation of man’s sinful spirit into a new creature in Christ Jesus (2 Corinthians 5:17) and is necessary for every person (John 3:3-5; 2 Corinthians 7:10; 1 John 5:12). Salvation is by faith alone in Jesus’ completed work of redemption, which we simply receive by faith. (Ephesians 2:9, 10) We are baptized into the Body of Jesus Christ, and are in Him! (Romans 6:3) In Him we live and move, and have our being! (Acts 17:28)
WATER BAPTISM
Baptism, by immersion in water, is man’s declaration to the world that he has died with Christ, and has been raised up with Him to walk in newness of life (Matthew 28:19; Romans 6:4; Colossians 2:12). It is an outward sign, in obedience, to illustrate an inward work.
THE BAPTISM IN THE HOLY SPIRIT
The Baptism in the Holy Spirit is a free gift from God, promised by the Lord Jesus Christ to all believers, and received subsequent to the New Birth. (Acts 1:5; Matthew 3:11) This experience is accompanied by the initial evidence of speaking in other tongues as the Holy Spirit gives utterance (John 14:16-17; Acts 1:8, 2:4, 19:1-7).
SANCTIFICATION AND LIVING A SEPARATED LIFE
The Bible teaches that without holiness no man can see the Lord. (Hebrews 12:14) The Doctrine of Sanctification is a definite, yet progressive work of grace (1 Thessalonians 5:23; 2 Peter 3:18; 1 Corinthians 1:30; 2 Corinthians 3:18; Philippians 3:12-14). We are to live our lives as a holy sacrifice, in obedience to God, and renew our mind to God’s Word. (Romans 12:1-3)
MARRIAGE AND SEXUAL RELATIONS
The Church shall not sanction or conduct any marriage between persons of the same gender. God instituted monogamous marriage between male and female as the foundation of the family, the basic structure of human society. (Genesis 2:24) For this reason, homosexuality, and all other “sexual preferences” or “orientations” are unnatural, sinful and unacceptable to God. (1 Corinthians 6:9-11, 1 Timothy 1:9-11). God has commanded that no intimate sexual activity be engaged in other than in the context of marriage between a man and a woman. (Genesis 19:5, Genesis 26:8-11, Leviticus 18:1-30, Romans 1:26-29, 1 Corinthians 5:1, 6:9, 1 Thessalonians 4:1-8, Hebrews 13:4)
WORLDLY PRACTICES
We believe that homosexuality, lesbianism, child molestation, same sex marriage, adultery, fornication, worldly, or lewd dancing, astrology, horoscope use, psychics, ouija boards, hypnotism, cursing, alcohol or wine usage, tobacco, or illegal drug consumption, in any form, are unscriptural and are not accepted practices for any Christian, or minister. We do not believe the church has to have mood-setting equipment, like a rock concert, nightclub or show club, to reach people. In fact, we believe that this grieves the Spirit of God from manifesting Himself in the church. We should never dress to be sexually attractive to the opposite sex or act like the world in anyway. We should always live a holy, consecrated life unto the Lord. (Romans 1:22-32, Deut. 4:19, Deut. 18:11-13, Isaiah 47:11-14, Galatians 5: 13-26, Romans 13:9, 1 John 2:15-17 Romans 14:21, Ephesians 5:8)
ABORTION
We believe that abortion of babies is legalized murder that is designed by satan to destroy human life. In one sense, it is human sacrifice to satan, even though the person practicing abortion may not understand that is what they are doing. Furthermore, the Bible says in Exodus 20:13, “Thou shalt not kill.” This is more specifically translated, “You shall not take an innocent life.” Unborn babies are the most innocent form of human life, and are the very definition of this commandment. (Matthew 5:21, Mark 10:19, James 2:10-11, Jeremiah 32:35)
WORDS ARE CARRIERS OF POWER
Death and Life are in the Power of the Tongue. (Prov. 18:21) The cycle of natural events in our life is set in motion by our words. (James 3:3-6) By our words we will be justified and by our words we will be condemned. (Matt. 12:37) Out of the abundance of what we have deposited in our heart, or spirit, we will speak. (Matt. 12:34) We have been given authority to speak the Word of God, and since the Word does not return void of power to cause what it says to come to pass, it will effect the cycle of nature in our lives in a powerful way! (Luke 1:37 – Greek, Isaiah 55:11) “And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God. For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith. Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.” (Mark 11:22-24) Once you believe, you have to speak! 2 Corinthians 4:13 makes this clear as well, “We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak.” We believe, therefore we speak! Joshua 1:8, “This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.”
DIVINE HEALING
Healing for the physical, human body is an integral part of the redemptive work of Jesus Christ, secured and made irrevocable by His blood, and is a benefit available to every member of the Body of Christ; and, by His Body of believers, to the world as well. Healing is appropriated by faith in the Word of God, through the prayer of faith, and by the laying on of hands (James 5:14-15; Mark 16:18; Isaiah 53:4-5; Matthew 8:17; 1 Peter 2:24). The Gifts of Healings, as special operations of the Ministry of the Holy Spirit, may also operate in ministry, as the Spirit of God wills. (1 Corinthians 12:4-11) However, individual healing may always be appropriated by faith! (Psalms 103:1-3)
DIVINE PROSPERITY
Throughout the Bible, God promises and makes provision for prosperity to those who hearken unto Him and who walk in obedience to His Word. Prosperity is a covenant right and is available to everyone who has been born-again and therefore entered into that covenant in the Blood of Jesus Christ (Deuteronomy 8:18; 28:11-13; Malachi 3:10-12; Joshua 1:7-8; Proverbs 3:9-10; 2 Corinthians 8:9; Philippians 4:19). Prosperity is part of the Redemption, as Jesus was made poor, so that we would made rich, just as He was made to be sin, that we would be made the righteousness of God in Him. (2 Corinthians 5:21; 2 Corinthians 8:9)
THE RETURN OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST AND THE RESURRECTION OF THE JUST
Jesus shall return to earth as promised in the Bible (Acts 1:11), and that Second Coming is imminent (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17). We are living in the last of the last days. The next great event in Bible prophecy is the “Rapture” of the Church, in which believers will be removed from the earth before the Great Tribulation begins, just as Noah was “lifted out,” or removed, before the judgment that came upon the earth in his day. (2 Thessalonians 2:1-7; Matthew 24:37-41) Following the Great Tribulation, Jesus shall take His place on earth as King of kings and Lord of lords, and together with His saints, who shall be kings and priests, shall reign a thousand years (1 Timothy 6:14-15; Revelation 17:14, 19:11-16, 20:6).
HELL AND ETERNAL RETRIBUTION
The one who physically dies in his sin without accepting Jesus Christ is hopelessly and eternally lost and will be cast into the Lake of Fire, which was prepared for satan and his angels, not specifically for man. (Revelation 20:15; Matthew 25:41) However, people who are not individually born again by faith in our Lord Jesus, are spiritually connected to their father, the devil, and will share his ultimate fate, if they do not receive Jesus as their Lord. (John 8:44; Ephesians 2:12; Romans 10:8-11) Therefore, if they die without accepting Jesus as Lord, they will have no further opportunity of hearing the Gospel or repenting. (Luke 16:23-31; Hebrews 9:27) The Lake of Fire is literal (Hebrews 10:29; Revelation 19:20; Luke 16:24, 25).