OUR STATEMENT OF FAITH
OUR STATEMENT OF FAITH
"In essentials, UNITY. In non-essentials, LIBERTY. In all things, CHARITY."
There are certain doctrines that form the core of Christian faith. They are called "Cardinal Doctinres." They are what we might call the sine qua non - the "without which, not" - of the Christian faith. In other words, there are certain doctrines that when denied, by definition, are evidence a person does not have the basic core beliefs that must be present to some degree to be born again.
Included in this credo is the belief that there are certain doctrines that are "non-essential" or "non-cardinal". These are those that, while important to varying degrees, are not damnable in the proper sense. About these doctrines there can be legitimate disagreement within Christianity. We are to have liberty with regard to such doctrines. This means that we are not to properly or formally divide over them. We are to have GRACE.
The human phraseology employed in this statement is not inspired nor contended for, but the truth set forth is held to be essential to a full-Gospel ministry. No claim is made that it contains all the truth in the Bible, only that it covers orthodox fundamental matters.
The Bible
The Bible is the inspired Word of God, and is totally inerrant in the original manuscripts. We further believe it is the supreme revelation from God and of God, superior to conscience and reason, though not contrary to them; and it is therefore our infallible rule in all matters. We believe that all the Scriptures center about the Lord Jesus Christ and therefore no portion is properly read nor understood until it leads to Him. (John 5:39; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; 1 Peter 1:23-25; Heb. 4:12)
God
We believe that there is one God, eternally existent in three persons - the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. These three are one God, having the same nature, attributes, and perfections, and are worthy of the same honor and obedience (Matthew 28:18,19; Mark 12:29; John 1:14; 2 Corinthians 13:14; Hebrews 1:1-3; Revelation 1:4-6)
Jesus Christ
We believe in the pre-existence, incarnation and the virgin birth of the Lord Jesus Christ who came into the world to reveal the Father, was the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person; that the Lord Jesus Christ was the creator of all things, for by Him the worlds were made. We believe in Christ dwells all the fullness of the godhead bodily, and that He was very God and very man, the I AM, the Jehovah of the Old Testament. We further believe in the sinless life of our Lord Jesus Christ, His miracles, His vicarious and atoning death, His bodily resurrection, His bodily ascension into heaven, and His imminent return. We further believe that He is presently seated at the right hand of God the Father, interceding for His redeemed. We also acknowledge Jesus Christ as Lord over all things in heaven, and in earth, and under the earth. (John 1:1-2, 14; 1 Timothy 3:16; Acts 7:37-38; Philippians 2:9-10; Hebrews 7:25)
The Holy Spirit
We believe that the Holy Spirit, though omnipresent from all eternity, after the glorification of Jesus Christ was sent on the day of Pentecost, dwells in every believer, unites all to Christ in one body, and is the source of all power and all acceptable service. We believe the ministry of the Holy Spirit includes the restraining of evil in the world; the convicting of the world respecting sin, righteousness and judgment; the regenerating of all believers; the sealing of all believers unto the day of redemption; and the continued filling for power and service of those among the saved who are yielded to Him and to His will.
We believe that the fruit of the Spirit is the manifestation of the character of Christ in the believer’s life. We further believe that all of the gifts of the Holy Spirit are available to Christians today and should be operative in the church for the church to manifest her full glory under the Lordship of Jesus Christ. (John 3:6; 14:16-17; Romans 8:9; 12:1-11; 1 Corinthians 6:19; 12:8-11; Galatians 5:22-23; Ephesians 2:22; 4:11-13)
The Creation of the World and of Man
We believe that God sovereignly created the world out of nothing. We further believe that man was created in the image and likeness of God and by a direct and immediate act of God to exercise dominion over the earth. (Genesis 1:1, 26-27, 2:4)
Man’s Fallen Condition
We believe that man by willful transgression fell from a state of righteousness and holiness in which he was first created into total spiritual depravity; a state of death in trespasses and sins in which he is held as a slave of sin and an enemy of God, being unable to attain divine righteousness by his own efforts, but must be redeemed and delivered by the power of the Gospel. (Romans 3:23-25; 5:12-21; 1 Corinthians 15:1-4; 2 Corinthians 4:3-4)
Salvation Only Through Christ
We believe that salvation is by grace, through faith in Christ alone. It is not by works but a gift of God. Further, we believe that because of universal spiritual death through sin, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless born of the Spirit. We also believe that our redemption has been accomplished solely by the shed blood of Jesus Christ, who died as our substitute. (Romans 5:1; Ephesians 2:8-9)
The Church
We believe that all who are united by the new birth to Jesus Christ are members of the universal church, the body of Christ. We also believe that the local congregation of Christian believers is divinely instituted and is the chosen instrument of God for the furtherance of God’s work upon the earth. While appreciating the work of Para church groups, we believe that the local church is God’s primary vehicle for world evangelism and the nurture of Christians. We further believe in the spiritual unity of all believers and in working together with others who believe in salvation through the shed blood of Jesus Christ for the cause of evangelism , missions, and benevolences. (Matthew 16:16-18; John 17:21; Romans 12:5; Ephesians 1:20-23, 4:3-10; Colossians 3:14-15)
Evangelism and Missions
The church has four pulpits; Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and the uttermost parts of the earth. We believe that it is the explicit message of our Lord Jesus Christ to those whom he redeemed, that they are sent by Him into all the world to be witnesses of His saving grace and to preach the gospel to every creature. (Matthew 28:18-19; Mark 16:15; John 17:18; Acts 1:8; 2 Corinthians 5:18-20)
The Ordinances
We believe that water baptism is for believers only and should be administered by the model of immersion and in the authority of the Lord Jesus Christ to the Glory of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. We also believe that we are identified with Jesus Christ and participate symbolically in His death, burial and resurrection through water baptism (Matthew 28:18-20; Romans 6:4; Colossians 2:11-12). We believe that through the Lord’s Supper the believer renews and affirms the reality of the New Covenant. It is a memorial commemorating the death of Jesus Christ for us and a reaffirmation of His imminent return. We also believe that this ordinance is open to all Christian believers and is to be received with joy and gratitude upon confession and repentance from sin. (Matthew 26:26-29; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26)
