Doctrinal Statement
Section 1. Of the Scriptures
We believe that "all Scripture is given by inspiration of God," by which we mean that God superintended human authors so that using their individual human personalities they composed and recorded without error His message to man in the words of the original autographs. (II Timothy 3:16; II Peter 1:21)
Section 2. Of God
We believe that the Godhead eternally exists in three persons, are one God having precisely the same nature and perfections and worthy of precisely the same homage, confidence and obedience. (Gen. 1:1; Deut. 6:4; Matt. 28:19; John 4:24; 10:30; II Cor. 13:14)
Section 3. Of Man
We believe that man was created in the image and likeness of God, but in Adam all mankind fell into sin with the result that all men are sinners, hopelessly sinful in themselves, apart from the grace of God. (Gen. 1:27; 9:6; Rom. 3:23; 5:12; Eph. 2:1)
Section 4. Of Christ
We believe that the eternal Son of God, the second person of the Godhead, became man, without ceasing to be God, having been conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary, thus to continue as both undiminished deity and perfect humanity united in one person forever. (John 1:1,14,18; 5:18; Heb. 1:1-9; 5:8; I John 5:20; I Tim. 2:5)
Section 5. Of Salvation
We believe that salvation is the gift of God brought to men by His grace and received by faith alone in Christ, who died for our sins and rose again, apart from any sacraments, good works or human merit. (John 3:16; Acts 4:12; 13:38-39; 16:31; I Cor. 15:1-4; Rom. 4:4-5; 5:1; Eph. 2:8-9)
Section 6. Of Sanctification
We believe that every believer is promised positional, progressive, and ultimate sanctification. (John 17:15-17; I Cor. 6:11; Eph. 5:26-27; I Thess. 4:3-4; Heb. 10:10, 14; I John 3:2)
Section 7. Of Assurance
We believe that all who are born of the Holy Spirit through faith in Christ can have assurance of salvation and are eternally secure in Christ. (John 6:37; 10:27-29; 17:12; Rom. 5:1; Eph. 4:30; II Timothy 1:12; I John 5:13)
Section 8. Of the Holy Spirit
We believe the Holy Spirit is a divine, eternal Person, and that He is not just an influence, having intellect, emotions, and will of His own. (Acts 5:3-4; Matt. 28:19; I Cor. 13:14; Heb. 1:14; John 15:26; 16:13-14; I Cor. 12:11; Eph. 4:30; I Cor. 2:11) We believe the present ministry of the Holy Spirit is restraining sin in the world, convicting the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment. He also, in the present age, regenerates believers in Christ, baptizes them into the church, the Body of Christ, indwells them permanently, seals them unto the day of redemption, bestows spiritual gifts upon each one, and fills those yielded to Him. (John 15:26-27; 16:7-15; John 3:8; I Cor. 12:13; John 14:16; Eph. 4:30; I Cor. 12:4-11; Eph. 5:18; Rom. 8:9; I Cor. 6:19)
We believe that speaking in tongues is not a sign of either regeneration or sanctification, nor a necessary sign of the filling or baptism of the Holy Spirit. We further believe that speaking in tongues and the other authenticating signs of working miracles, such as divine healing, gradually faded as the New Testament Scriptures were completed and their authority became established. (I Cor. 12:4-11,30; II Cor. 12:12; Eph. 4:7-12; I Cor. 13:10; I Cor. 14:21-22; Mark 16:18-20; Heb. 2:4)
NOTE: We are not saying by this that God does not now do miracles or heal people--quite the contrary. What we are saying is that the spiritual gifts whereby men have the ability to do these are no longer operative in the church. We believe that God does respond to the prayers of His Saints to accomplish His will in this age.
Section 9. Of the Church
We believe that the church is composed of all believers of all races, colors and nations, is the body and bride of Christ, is formed by the baptism of the Holy Spirit and exists in two aspects, universal and local. The universal church is an elect company of believers, baptized by the Holy Spirit into one body; its mission is to witness to its Head, Jesus Christ, preaching the gospel among all nations; it will be caught up to meet the Lord, after which He will return to set up His Kingdom. The local church is a group of believers voluntarily joined together to worship God with praise and thanksgiving, and to glorify Jesus Christ through an aggressive effort to disciple others by the preaching of the gospel, and the exercise of spiritual gifts. (Eph. 1:22-23; Eph. 5:24-30; Acts 13:1; I Cor. 12:4-13,27)
Section 10. Of the Christian Life
We believe that Christians are called to a holy life of service and testimony in the power of the Holy Spirit, which service includes the propagation of the gospel message to the whole world. There is promised reward in heaven for faithfulness in such service. (I Peter 1:15-16; Acts 1:8; I Cor. 3:12-17; John 14:1-3)
Section 11. Of the Ordinances
We believe that scriptural ordinances of baptism and the Lord's supper are for all believers in Christ. (Matt. 28:19-20; Mark 16:15-16; Acts 8:12, 36-38; 9:18; 10:47; I Cor. 11:23-26)
Section 11. Of the Ordinances
We believe that scriptural ordinances of baptism and the Lord's supper are for all believers in Christ. (Matt. 28:19-20); Mark 16:15-16; Acts 8:12, 36-38; 9:18; 10:47; 1 Cor. 11:23-26).
Section 12. Of the Angels
We believe that angels were originally created holy, but now exist as unfallen and fallen, including Satan. (Col. 1:16; Job 38:6-7; Ps. 148:2-5; Jude 6; Matt. 25:41; Rev. 12:9; Eph. 6:11-12; I Tim. 5:21)
Section 13. Of the Dispensations
We believe that God has revealed different dispensations or stewardships with corresponding rules of life, of which the present dispensation is the age of grace. (Eph. 3:2-6; 9-11; Col. 1:25-27; Rom. 6:14; Heb. 7:18-19)
Section 14. Of the Second Coming
We believe that the blessed hope of the imminent return of the Lord for His church is to be followed in order by: the tribulation; the second coming of Christ to the earth after the tribulation; the establishment of the reign of Christ on earth for one thousand years; the eternal state of punishment for the unsaved and the eternal state of blessing for the saved. (Titus 2:13; I Thess.1:10;4:13-18; 5:4-10; John 14:1-3; Rev. 3:10; Matt. 24:21; 29-30; 25:31-46; Rev. 20:1-6; 20:11-15; Matt. 25:46)