Tenants of Faith & Doctrine
The Ministry accepts the Scriptures as the revealed Will of God, the all sufficient rule of faith and truth and practice, and for the purpose of maintaining general unity, adopts these Statements of Fundamental Truths and Doctrine.
The Scriptures Inspired
The Bible is the inspired Word of God, a revelation from God to man, the infallible rule of faith and conduct, and is superior to conscience and reason, but not contrary to reason (2 Timothy 3:15-17; 1Peter 1:23-25; Hebrews 4:12).
The One True God
The one true God has revealed Himself as the uncreated, self-existent, eternal, self-revealed "I AM", and has further revealed Himself as a Holy Trinity--The Father, The Son and The Holy Spirit, three divine Persons, each distinct in office from the others and yet so perfectly of one character and harmony that they constitute one Godhead, not three Gods.
Jesus Christ, who is God manifested in the flesh, the second member of the Godhead, is co-equal and co-eternal with The Father and The Holy Spirit (Deuteronomy 6:4; Mark 12:29; Isaiah 43:10, 11; Isaiah 48: 16-17; 1 Corinthians 12:5-7; Jude 20-21; Matthew 28:19).
Man, His Fall and Redemption
Man was created good and upright, for God said, "Let Us make man in Our image, after Our likeness." But, man, by voluntary transgression, fell and his only hope of redemption is in Jesus Christ the Son of God (Genesis 1:26-32, 3:1-7; Romans 5:12-21).
The Salvation of Man
Conditions to Salvation
"All have sinned and come short of the Glory of God" (Romans 3:23).
Man's only hope of redemption is through the shed blood of Jesus Christ. On the cross Jesus Christ became sin and sickness providing both salvation and divine healing for all mankind (Isaiah 53:4, 5; Psalm 103:3), being justified freely by His Grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. For by grace we are saved through faith. "The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart -- that is, the word of faith which we are preaching, that if you confess with your mouth Jesus is Lord, and believe in your hear that God raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved; for with the heart man believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation" (Romans 3:24; Ephesians 2:8, Romans 10:8-10).
The Evidences of Salvation:
The inward evidence to the believer of his salvation is the direct witness of the Spirit (Romans 8:16). The outward evidence to all men is a life of righteousness and true holiness (Luke 1:73, 75; Titus 2:12, 14); the existence of the fruit of the Spirit (Galations 5:22, 23); and believing in the name of His Son, Jesus Christ and loving one another (John 13:15; Hebrews 13:1; 1 John 3:14, 23).
Faith and Works:
Salvation is by faith in Jesus Christ and not by human works; however, our works will determine the rewards in eternity (Romans 10:9-10; Ephesians 2:8-9; Titus 3:5-7; Romans 14:20-21; 2 Corinthians 5:10).
Baptism in Water
The ordinance of water baptism by a burial with Christ should be observed as commanded in the Scriptures by all who have truly repented and in their hearts have believed on Christ as Savior and Lord.
In so doing they are totally immersed in water, as being buried with Him in baptism unto death, then coming up out of the water as being resurrected with Christ. Thus, they declare to the world that they have died with Jesus and that they have also been raised with Him to walk in newness of life (Matthew 28:19; Acts 10:47, 48; Romans 6:4).
The Lord's Supper
This holy ordinance symbolizes the broken body and the shed blood of the Lord Jesus Christ -- that all who partake will participate in the benefits of His atoning death and the covenant which He sealed with His own blood.
Thus, the Lord's Supper, consisting of the elements, bread and the fruit of the vine, is the symbol expressing our sharing the divine nature of our Lord Jesus Christ (2 Peter 1:14), a memorial of His suffering and death (1 Corinthians 11;26) and a prophecy of His Second Coming(1 Corinthians 11:26) and His command to all believers until He comes again.
"And when He had given thanks, He broke it, and said, 'This is my bodywhich is broken for you; do this in remembrance of me.' In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, 'This cup is the new covenant in My blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.'" Let a man examine himself, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup (1 Corinthians 11:24, 25, 28).
The Promise of the Father
All believers are entitled to, and should ardently expect and earnestly seek, the promise of the Father, the Baptism in the Holy Ghost and Fire, according to the command of our Lord Jesus Christ. This was the normal experience of all in the early Christian church.
With it comes the enduement of power for life and service, the bestowment of the gifts and their uses in the work of the ministry (Luke 24:29; Acts 1:4,5,8; 1 Corinthians 12:1-31). This wonderful experience is distinct from and subsequent to the experience of the new birth (Acts 2:38; 10:44-46; 11:14-16; 15:7-9).
The Evidence of the Baptism in the Holy Spirit
The full consummation of the Baptism of believers in the Holy spirit is evidenced by the initial physical sign of speaking with other tongues as the Spirit gives utterance, and by the subsequent manifestation of spiritual power in public testimony and service (Acts 2:4; 10:44-46; 19:2,6; 1:8).
The speaking in tongues in this instance is the same in essence as the gift of tongues (1 Corinthians 12:4,10,28) but different in purpose and use as is indicated by Scripture.
Sanctification and a Life of Holiness is the Goal of All Believers
Life of Holiness -- The Scriptures teach a life of holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord. By the power of the Holy Spirit we are able to obey the command "...Be holy, for I am holy" (1 Peter 1:16).
Sanctification is the will of God for all believers, and should be earnestly pursued by walking in obedience to God's Word (Hebrews 12:14; 1 Peter 1:15,16; 1 Thessalonians 5:23, 24; 1 John 2:6).
Sanctification
Sanctification can be divided in three different phases according to Scripture:
- Instantaneously - Instantly at the time of conversion the believer is set apart for God by the blood. "Christ's work for me" (Hebrews 10:10; Ephesians 4:24).
- Progressively - Progressively in the daily walk. The believer is set apart for God by theWord and by the Spirit and by chastening. "Christ's work in me" (John 17:17; Ephesians 5:25; 2 Corinthians 3:18; 2 Corinthians 7:1).
- Completely - Completely when the believer is in the likeness of Christ, set apart by his appearing in glory, "Christ's work upon me" (1 John 3:23; Philippians 1:6).
The Church a Living Organism
The Church is a living organism, a living body, it is the body of Christ, the habitation of God through the Spirit with divine appointments for the fulfillment of her Great Commission.
Each believer born of the Spirit and every local assembly are integral parts of the General Assembly and the Church of the first Born written in Heaven (Ephesians 1:22, 23; 2:19-22; Hebrews 12:23).
The Ministry and Evangelism
A divinely called and spiritually ordained ministry has been provided by our Lord for a twofold purpose:
- The evangelism of the world, and
- The edifying of the body of Christ (Mark 16:15, 20; Ephesians 4:11-13; John 5:14).
Divine Healing
Deliverance from sickness and disease is provided for in the atonement and is the privilege of all believers (Isaiah 53:4, 5; Matthew 8:16, 17; Mark 16:18; John 5:14; James 5:14, 15).
The Blessed Hope
The resurrection of those who have fallen asleep in Christ and the rapture of believers who are alive and remain until the coming again of the Lord -- this is the blessed hope set before all believers (1 Thessalonians 4:16, 17; Romans 8:23; Titus 2:13; 1 Corinthians 15:51, 52).
The Millennial Reign of Jesus
The revelation of the Lord Jesus Christ from heaven, the salvation of national Israel and the millennial rule and reign of Christ on earth as the Scriptures promise (1 Thessalonians 1:7; Revelation 9:11-16; Romans 11:25-27; Revelation 20:1-7).
The Lake of Fire
Those who have not accepted the redemptive work of Jesus Christ will suffer eternal separation from the Godhead.
The devil and his angels, the beast and the false prophet, and anyone whose name is not found written in the Book of Life, shall be consigned to everlasting punishment in the lake of fire which burns with fire and brimstone. This is the second death (Revelation 19:20; 20:10-15).
The New Heavens and the New Earth
We "according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells" (2 Peter 3:13; Revelation 21, 22).
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