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THE
BIBLE
We believe the Bible, both the Old and New Testaments, to be the
plenary, verbally inspired word of God as stated in 2 Peter 1:20-21 and
2 Timothy 3:16-17. They were God breathed to Holy men of old. Further,
we believe, based upon Matt 24:5 and other passages, that God has
preserved His word for English speaking people in the King James Bible.
GOD
We believe in the Triune God, (Gen. 1:26, 3:22; Isa. 6:8; l Jn 5:7).
God the Father is the Creator of all things (Gen 1:1); is all-powerful,
(Nahum 1:2-5); all present, (Ps. 139:7-12); and all knowing, (Ps.
141:4-5). He is without beginning or end, (Rev 1:8); is perfectly Holy,
(1 Pet. 1:16), is great in grace and mercy, (Tit. 2:11); loves man
supremely, (Rom. 5:8); and securely keeps all who come to Him in faith,
(Jn. 10:29).
God the Son, Jesus Christ, was with the Father from the beginning, (Jn.
1:1-2); and is equal with God, (Phil. 2:6). He willingly humbled
Himself, (Phil 2:7-8), to be born of a virgin (Luke 1:21), conceived of
the Holy Spirit, (Luke 1:35). He was totally sinless in His life, (2
Cor. 5:21), and ever obedient to the Father, (Jn. 8:29). He made a
vicarious atonement for our sins, (Isa. 53:5), and rose again bodily the
third day, (Matt. 28:6), and ascended into Heaven on the fortieth day,
(Acts 1:3). He serves as our High Priest making intercession for the
saints, (Heb 4:14-16, 1:25). His promised return to earth for His saints
shall be glorious, premillenial, pretribulational and is imminent, (1
Thes. 4:13-17).
God the Holy Spirit is co-equal with both the Father and Son. He was
sent by Jesus Christ from God, (Jn. 15:26, 16:7). His ministry is to
reprove the world of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment, (Jn.
16:7-11), and He regenerates all who put their faith In Christ, (Tit.
3:5). He indwells believers, (1 Cor. 3:16), guides and teaches them in
the truth of God, (Jn. 16:13), empowers them to be victorious over sin,
self, and Satan, (Rom. 8:13), and intercedes on behalf of the saints,
(Rom. 8:26-27).
MAN
We believe man did not evolve but was created by God, in the image of
God, (Gen. 1:26). By an act of willful disobedience he plunged himself
and the whole human race into sin, (Rom. 5:12). Man is dead in
trespasses and sin, (Eph 2:1). All men are sinners, both by nature and
by choice before a Holy God, (Rom. 3:10, 23). If one dies in this
condition, he is eternally separated from God and punished forever in
the lake of fire, (Rom. 6:23, Rev. 20:14-15).
THE DEVIL
We believe in a personal devil who was created perfect by an act of God
and remained so until iniquity was found in him, (Ezek. 28:18). He was
willfully rebellious because of pride, (Isa. 14:12-14), and thus was
cast out of heaven, (Rev 12: 7-8). He now rules as prince of the power
of the air and over the world system, (Eph. 2:2). He caused the fall of
mankind, (Gen. 3:1-5), and today appears as an angel of light, (2 Cor.
11:14), and looks for those he may devour, (I Pet. 5:8). He hates Christ
and opposes the work of God but is limited in power by God, (Job 1:12).
He is already judged and shall be confined to hell for eternity, (Rev.
20:10).
SALVATION
We believe that salvation is in Jesus Christ alone, (Acts 4:12). It is
offered freely to all, (Rom. 10:13), and is obtained by repenting of
one's sin, (Luke 13:3-5); and receiving Christ as Saviour by faith, (Rom
10:10). Salvation is solely by God's grace and is not merited by works,
(Eph. 2:8-9), and results in God's forgiveness of all our sins, (Ps.
103:12). It is made possible by Christ's blood willingly shed on the
cross for us, (Rom 3:25). Salvation imparts eternal life and one can
never be lost again, (Jn. 10:28). The instrument of salvation is the
word of God, (I Pet. 1:23), and the agent is the Holy Spirit, (Tit.
3:5).
HEAVEN AND
HELL
We believe heaven and hell are literal places prepared by God. All men
will reside in one of the two for all eternity. Heaven is the abode
created by Christ for His bride, (Jn. 14: 1-23), where all the saved
will abide with God, (Rev 22:1-5). Those that have rejected Jesus Christ
will spend eternity in the lake of fire with the devil, anti-christ, and
false prophet eternally separated from God, (Rev. 20:14-15).
THE CHURCH
The church is made up of born-again, baptized believers, (Acts
2:41), who are organized to carry out the work of God. The church is the
pillar and ground of truth, (I Tim. 3:15). The great commission and the
ordinances, (discussed below), are given to the church. It's officers
are two: pastors (bishops, elders), who are shepherds, and deacons, (I
Tim 3:1-13), who are servants of the church, (Acts 6: 1-7). The church
is to be self-governing with Christ as its head, (Eph. 5:23). The church
is to handle its own discipline in accordance with God's direction,
(Matt. 18:15-17), and is financed through the tithes and offerings of
that local assembly, (1Cor. 16:1-2, Mal 3:10).
ORDINANCES
We believe there are two ordinances committed to the local church:
Baptism is for believers only and consists of immersion in water,
(Acts 8:36-39), In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,
(Matt. 28:19). It is not a sacrament of salvation but symbolizes the
death, burial and resurrection of our Saviour and our death to our old
self and willingness to now live for Him, (Rom. 6:4).
The Lord's Supper consists of unleavened bread and the fruit of
the vine, (non-alcoholic grape juice), (Matt 26:26-28). The elements are
symbolic only of Christ's body and blood which were broken and shed on
the cross for us. It serves as a memorial of Christ's sacrifice for us,
(I Cor 11:24), and a declaration of faith in His promised return, (I
Cor. 11:26). It is to be observed by the saved, baptized members of the
church.
SEPARATION
We believe in Bible separation from the world, sin, self, and Satan, as
well as being separated unto the glory of Christ. We believe one should
be born of the Spirit, (l Pet.3:18), walk in the Spirit, (Gal. 5:16); be
filled with the Spirit, (Gal 5:18) ; that by His power and grace we may
show forth the fruit of the Spirit, (Gal. 5:22-23); we believe in living
so as not to grieve the Holy Spirit of God by being separated from
bitterness, wrath, anger, clamour, evil-speaking, malice, covetousness,
and any other sin of the flesh or spirit, (Eph. 4:30-32). We believe In
being separated from the world and the world's philosophy; therefore not
practicing or partaking of alcoholic beverages, drugs, (except for
medicinal purposes), tobacco, immodesty, the dance, mixed swimming, the
lodge, worldly movies, gambling, or anything else that would bring shame
to or dishonor our Lord, (l Jn. 2:15-17); and that the male and female
roles ought to be distinct and clearly defined by ones daily living,
(Deut 22:5, Eph. 5:22-23).
WITNESSING
We believe that all believers are to witness to the lost for Christ,
(Matt. 5:18); that each believer has a God given gift or gifts, (Rom.
12:6, I Cor 12:4), and are to be good stewards before God, (I Pet.
4:10). Those who have rejected the gospel or never heard the gospel are
eternally lost, (Rom. 2:11-12); and every believer is responsible to
help get the Gospel to everyone, (Matt. 28:18-20, Rom 10:14-17).
MISSIONS
We believe that the command to give the Gospel to the world is clear and
unmistakable and that this commission was given to the church, (Matt
28:18-20, Mk. 16:15, Lk. 24:44-49, Jn. 21:21, Acts 1:8, 13:1-4). We
believe that missionaries are to be called by God, commissioned by the
local church as led by the Holy Spirit, sent into the regions beyond to
preach the gospel, and are to be supported financially by local Bible
believing churches, (Acts 13:1-5, 2Cor 10:15-16).
GIVING
We believe that scriptural giving is one of the fundamentals of the
faith. We are commanded to bring our gifts into the storehouse, (common
treasury of the church) on the first day of the week, (I Cor. 16:1-2,
Mal. 3:10). Under grace we give the tithe, and we give it cheerfully in
a manner that pleases God, (2 Cor 9:6-7).
THE
CHARISMATIC/PENTECOSTAL MOVEMENT
We reject the teaching of the charismatic/Pentecostal movement. We deny
that all spirit filled believers will speak in tongues as evidence of
spirit fullness, (I Cor. 12:11), and that the gift of tongues is for
today, (1 Cor 13:8). Spirit fullness is evidenced by witnessing, (Acts
1:8), and living a joyful Christ centered life according to the dictates
of the Holy Scriptures, (Col. 3:16 Eph 5:18-19). The Bible very plainly
teaches that tongues will cease, when that which is perfect, (the
complete Bible), is come (I Cor 13:10).
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