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).
