- THE SCRIPTURES: The Bible, both Old and New Testament, is the inspired Word of God, the product of human writers who wrote by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. The scriptures are inerrant in their original writing, and are our infallible guide in matters pertaining to faith and practice.
- GOD: God is One, manifested in three persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
- The Father is the eternal Creator and Sustainer of all things.
- Jesus is the only begotten Son of God, born of a virgin by the power of God, sinless, and the willing substitutionary sacrifice for the sins of the world. He defeated death, hell, and the grave and, resurrected sits at the right hand of the Father. He will return to rule and reign at the end of the age.
- The Holy Spirit is the life and power of God, God’s presence within the believer for power, comfort, wisdom, and strength.
- MAN: Man is a created being, made in the likeness and image of God. Through Adam’s transgression and fall, sin came in to the world and fellowship with God was broken. Man inherited Adam’s fallen sin nature, requiring the work of Christ to restore fellowship with God.
- SALVATION: Salvation is the gift of God to man, separate from works and the law, and is made operative by grace through faith in Jesus Christ, which in turn produces a life acceptable to God.
- NEW BIRTH AND ETERNAL LIFE: Fallen man is drawn toward God by the Holy Spirit, which produces a Godly sorrow leading to repentance. The new birth is of the Spirit and is necessary for all persons, and, when fulfilled produces eternal life.
- WATER BAPTISM: Water baptism is a sacrament by commandment of Jesus Christ, and is only for believers who have experienced the new birth. Baptism by immersion is preferred, but baptism by effusion or aspersion may be substituted if necessary. Baptism is a public profession of faith, an act of obedience to Christ, and is symbolic our death, burial, and resurrection as new creatures in Christ.
- The following baptismal formula shall be adopted: “Upon your profession of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, and by His authority, I baptize you in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, Amen.”
- Infants are dedicated, rather than baptized, since a profession of faith in Jesus Christ is a prerequisite for baptism.
- BAPTISM IN THE HOLY SPIRIT: Baptism in the Holy Spirit is a gift from God promised by Jesus Christ to those who are believers, and is received subsequent to the new birth. The Holy Spirit indwells the believer and provides the presence of God within, bringing access to both the gifts and fruit of the Spirit.
- SANCTIFICATION: Believers are positionally sanctified at the time of the new birth. Believers are experientially sanctified as a result of the definite, progressive work of the Holy Spirit, beginning at the new birth and continuing throughout life. It is the believer’s responsibility to cooperate with the work of the Holy Spirit in this process.
- HOLY COMMUNION, THE LORD’S SUPPER: Holy Communion is a sacrament by commandment of Jesus Christ. We are commanded to celebrate communion in order to remember the broken body and shed blood of Christ, and to thus identify with Him and with all who are redeemed by His work. Communion is only for believers, and both elements (the bread and the cup) are shared by clergy and laity alike. We believe in open communion; that is all believers in Christ are invited to partake. It is the believer’s individual responsibility to judge himself and repent of any known sin prior to partaking of communion.
- LAYING ON OF HANDS: Laying on of hands is a Biblical process for transference of power, anointing, or any other necessary quality. In particular, laying on of hands is used for Healing, to confer office, to receive the Holy Spirit, to receive and cultivate anointing, and for ordination.
- DIVINE HEALING: Healing for body, soul, and spirit is accomplished by the power of God, accessed by the prayer of faith and by laying on of hands. Healing is provided for in the atoning work of Christ and is available to believers today.
- CHURCH MEMBERSHIP: There is one Church comprised of all born again believers in Jesus Christ. Each believer should also be a member of a local fellowship of believers for the mutual benefit of all and to accomplish the work of the Church. A member of a local fellowship is charged to support the fellowship and the work of the Church with their prayers, presence, gifts, and service.
- RETURN OF OUR LORD: Scriptures promise the return, or second coming of Jesus Christ. At the sound of the trumpet, “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.” Following the Tribulation, Christ shall return to the earth as King of Kings and Lord of Lords together with His saints.
- HELL: A person who physically dies in his sins without the new birth in Christ is hopelessly and eternally lost, destined for eternal punishment in the literal lake of fire.
Scripture references to support the above statement are available upon request