OUR BELIEFS
01. THE BIBLE
We believe the entire Bible. The Bible is the undeniable infallible Word of God, given to us by the inspiration of the Spirit of God. (II Tim. 3:16-17, II Pet. 1:20-12, Heb. 4:12) Although we must rightly divide the Word of Truth, (II Tim. 2:15) we must be careful not to take one verse out of context. For this cause, the Bible has a safeguard, that there should be at least two witnesses to establish doctrine (Matt. 18:16). We believe the Word of God does not contradict itself, for a kingdom divided against itself cannot stand (Matt. 12:25). All scripture agrees with all scripture.
We believe that there is no other book given to man, by God, for man to live and die by. We believe He is a Holy God, and this is His Holy Word and should be respected as such.
02. THE godhead
We believe in the one true God (Deut. 6:4), by whom and for whom all things were made (Gen. 1:1, John 1:1-4, Col. 1:16-17). We believe that this God is: The Father (Spirit) in creation, The Son (Flesh & Spirit) in redemption, The Holy Ghost (Spirit) in regeneration. We understand that Jesus is His name. Jesus is the creator/Father (John 1:3, Col. 1:16-17). Jesus is the redeemer/savior/son (Matt. 1:21, Gal. 3:14, Eph. 1:7, Col. 1:27). The understanding of this revelation of God is of utmost importance, for the plan of salvation rests in His Name (Jesus). Without the understanding and application of His Name there can be no salvation (Acts 4:12). We believe the same God that created man, took upon Himself the form of man (Phil. 2:7-8, I Tim. 3:16) and died on the cross of Calvary. Today this God lives in those who are filled with His Spirit (John 14:17-18, I Cor. 3:16, Rom. 8:9-11, Acts 2:4). The Bible plainly states that there is only one God and Jesus is His Name! (Deut. 6:4, Isa. 9:6, Mark 12:29, John 8:58, John 14:8-9, I Cor. 8:6, II Cor. 5:19, Eph. 4:4-6, Col. 1:14-19, Col. 2:8-10, I Tim. 2:3-5, I Tim. 4:10, Tit. 2:13, I John 5:5-8, Jude 25, Rev. 22:12-16).
03. salvation
We believe in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We believe that all of this gospel must be applied to a life in order for a person to be saved. The Gospel is… Jesus came, Jesus died, Jesus was buried and Jesus arose from the grave. The Gospel is the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ (I Cor. 15:1-4). This gospel was proclaimed the first day of the church by the apostle Peter (Acts 2:38).
Repentance/death (Rom. 6:1-2, I Cor. 15:31) Baptism/burial (Rom. 6:3-4, Col. 2:12)
Holy Ghost/resurrection (Rom. 6:4, Col. 2:12, Col. 3:1, II Cor. 3:1, II Cor. 5:17)
This format for salvation is nothing new. The Bible says that the gospel is a mirror image of the Old Testament plan for the Tabernacle (Heb. 9). The brazen altar/death/repentance (Ex. 27:1-7)
The laver of water/washing/baptism (Ex. 30:18-21) The ark of the covenant/Holy Ghost (Ex. 25:10-22, Heb. 9:8) This gospel applied is what saves a person (I Cor. 15:1-2) Salvation through the gospel plan is for us today (John 3:16, Acts 2:39, Acts 15:7-8, Rom. 1:16-17, I Cor. 4:15, II Cor. 4:1-10)
04. repentance
We believe that repentance is vital to salvation and the keeping of salvation. We believe repentance is not merely saying I’m sorry for my sins, but that repentance is a complete change of lifestyle. Repentance is a lifestyle, a lifestyle of death to sin and worldly lusts. John the Baptist began with repent (Matt. 3:1-3, Mark 1:3-4). Jesus began His ministry with repent for the kingdom is at hand (Matt. 4:17, Mark 1:15). Repentance is the first step toward God (Matt. 9:13, Mark 2:17, Mark 6:12, Luke 5:32, Luke 13:3-5, Luke 24:47, Acts 2:38, Acts 3:19, Acts 5:31, Acts 11:18, Acts 17:30, Acts 26:20, II Cor. 7:9-10, II Pet. 3:9).
05. baptism
We believe that baptism by immersion in water is essential to salvation, and this baptism must be in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 2:38, Acts 4:12, Col. 3:17). There is only on baptism (Eph. 4:5). Understanding that there is only one baptism, we must see how the church baptized from the day of Pentecost forward. Every time anyone was baptized in the early church it was in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ (Rom. 6:3, Acts 2:38, 8:36-38, 9:18, 10:48, 16:15-33, 18:8, 19:2-5, 22:16, Gal. 2:27, I Pet. 3:20-21). This was the method of baptism in the early church, therefore, this is the method that we use in baptism. Jesus’ own words lets us know the necessity of water baptism, and how it is to be done (Matt. 28:19, Mark 16:16, Luke 24:46-47, John 3:5). Understanding the principles of God as said in the Godhead section lets us understand what Jesus was saying in Matt. 28:19, that He is the Father, Son and Holy Ghost.
06. holy ghost
We believe that receiving the Holy Ghost is absolutely necessary for salvation to occur in a life. The initial sign of a person receiving the Holy Ghost is speaking in other tongues as the Spirit gives the utterance (Mark 16:17, Acts 2). The early church received this gift and it is pertinent to the church today. John said “He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and fire” (Matt. 3:11). Jesus told Nichodemas “you must be born of water (baptism) and Spirit (Holy Ghost)” (John 3:5). In Mark 16:17, Jesus prophesied these things would come to pass, in the church, and they did in the book of Acts. In Acts 1:8 Jesus proclaims again that the Holy Ghost would come to them. It came in: (Acts 2:1-4, 5:32, 8:17, 9:17, 10:44-48, 19:2). All through the New Testament, scriptures tell us the importance of the Spirit of God in us (Luke 24:49, John 14:16-18,26, 15:26, Rom. 8:9-11, 14:17, 15:13, I Cor. 12:13, 14:1-2,18, II Cor. 1:22, 3:3-6,17, 5:5, Gal. 3:14, Eph. 1:13-14, 2:6-8, 4:30). It is clear that the Holy Ghost is for the church today (Acts 2:39).