THE
SCRIPTURES – The Bible is the inspired Word of God,
the product of holy men of old who spoke and wrote as
they were moved by the Holy Spirit. The New Covenant, as
recorded in the New Testament, we accept as our
infallible guide in matters pertaining to conduct and
doctrine (2 Tim. 3:16, 1 Thess. 2:13; 2 Peter 1:21).
THE
GODHEAD – Our God is one, but manifested in three
Persons – the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,
being coequal (Deut. 6:4; Phil. 2:6). God the Father is
the Sender of the Word (Logos) and the Begetter (John
14:28; John 16:28; John 1:14). The Son is the Word
flesh-covered, the One Begotten, and has existed with
the Father from the beginning (John 1:1; John 1:18; John
1:14). The Holy Spirit proceeds forth from both the
Father and the Son and is eternal (John 14:16; John
15:26).
MAN,
HIS FALL AND REDEMPTION – Man is a created being,
made in the likeness and image of God, but through
Adam’s transgression and fall, sin came into the world.
The Bible says, "…all have sinned, and come short of the
glory of God," and "…There is none righteous, no, not
one." (Romans 3:10; 3:23) Jesus Christ, the Son of God,
was manifested to undo the works of the devil and gave
His life and shed His blood to redeem and restore man
back to God (Romans 5:14; 1 John 3:8).
ETERNAL LIFE AND THE NEW BIRTH – Man’s first step
toward salvation is godly sorrow that worketh
repentance. The new birth is necessary to all men, and
when experienced, produces eternal life (2 Corinthians
7:10; John 3:3-5; John 5:12).
WATER
BAPTISM – Baptism in water by immersion is a direct
commandment of our Lord, and is for believers only. The
ordinance is a symbol of the Christian’s identification
with Christ in His death, burial, and resurrection
(Matthew 28:19; Romans 6:4; Col. 2:12, Acts 8:36-39).
The following recommendation regarding the water baptism
formula is adopted, to wit: "On the confession of your
faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, and by
His authority, I baptize you in the Name of the Father,
and the Son, and the Holy Ghost. Amen."
BAPTISM IN THE HOLY GHOST – The Baptism of the Holy
Ghost and fire is a gift from God as promised by the
Lord Jesus Christ to all believers in this dispensation
and is received subsequent to the new birth. This
experience is accompanied by the initial evidence of
speaking in other tongues as the Holy Spirit Himself
gives utterance (Matthew 3:11; John 14:16,17; Acts 1:8;
Acts 2:38,39; Acts 19:1-7; Acts 2:1-4).
SANCTIFICATION – The Bible teaches that without
holiness, no man can see the Lord. 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 (Hebrews 12:14; 1 Thess.
5:23; 2 Peter 3:18; 2 Corinthians 3:18, Phil. 3:12-14; 1
Corinthians 1:30).
DIVINE HEALING – Healing is for the physical ills of
the human body and is wrought by the power of God
through the prayer of faith, and by the laying on of
hands. It is provided for in the atonement of Christ,
and is the privilege of every member of the church today
(James 5:14; Mark 16:18; Isaiah 53:4,5; Matthew 8:17; 1
Peter 2:24).
RESURRECTION OF THE JUST AND THE RETURN OF OUR LORD
– The angels said to Jesus’ disciples, "…this same
Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so
come in the manner as ye have seen Him go into heaven."
His coming is imminent. When He comes, "…the dead in
Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and
remain shall be caught up together with them in the
clouds to meet the Lord in the air…" (Acts 1:11; 1 Thess.
4:16,17). Following the Tribulation, He shall return to
earth as King of kings, and Lord of lords, and together
with His saints, who shall be kings and priests, He
shall reign a thousand years (Rev. 5:10; 20:6).
HELL
AND ETERNAL RETRIBUTION – The one who physically
dies in his sins without accepting Christ is hopelessly
and eternally lost in the lake of fire and, therefore,
has no further opportunity of hearing the gospel or
repenting. The lake of fire is literal. The terms
"eternal" and "everlasting," used in describing the
duration of the punishment of the damned in the lake of
fire, carry the same thought and meaning of endless
existence as used in denoting the duration of joy and
ecstasy of the saints in the Presence of God (Hebrews
9:27; Rev. 19:20).