What we believe
These are the convictions this church is built on. They are stated plainly, with the Scripture each one rests on, so that anyone can weigh them for themselves.
The Word of God
The Bible is the inspired Word of God, a revelation of God to humanity, the infallible rule of faith and conduct, superior to conscience and reason though never contrary to reason.
(2 Timothy 3:15-16; 1 Peter 2:2)
God has revealed Himself
The one true God has revealed Himself as the eternally self-existent "I AM," further revealed as embodying the principles of relationship and association, namely Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
(Deuteronomy 6:4; Mark 12:29; Isaiah 43:10-11; Matthew 28:19)
God created humanity
Man was created good and upright, for God said, "Let Us make man in Our image, after Our likeness." Man, by voluntary transgression, fell, and his only hope of redemption is in Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
(Genesis 1:26-31, 3:1-7; Romans 5:12-21)
The grace of God
The grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all people, through the preaching of repentance toward God and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Man is saved by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, and being justified by grace through faith, becomes an heir of God according to the hope of eternal life (Titus 2:11; Romans 10:13-15; Luke 23:47; Titus 3:5-7). The believer's inward evidence of salvation is the direct witness of the Spirit (Romans 8:16); the outward evidence to all is a life of righteousness and true holiness.
Salvation
The ordinance of baptism by a burial with Christ is to be observed, as commanded in Scripture, by all who have truly repented and believed in Christ as Saviour and Lord, an outward symbol of inward cleansing, declaring to the world that they have died with Jesus and are also raised with Him to walk in newness of life.
(Matthew 28:19; Acts 10:47-48; Romans 6:4; Acts 20:21; Hebrews 10:22)
The Lord's Supper
The Lord's Supper, consisting of bread and the fruit of the vine, is a symbol expressing our communion with the divine nature of our Lord Jesus Christ (2 Peter 1:4), a memorial of His suffering and death (1 Corinthians 11:26), enjoined on all believers "till He comes."
All believers are entitled to baptism in the Spirit
All believers are entitled to the promise of the Father, the baptism in the Holy Spirit and fire, according to the command of our Lord Jesus Christ, and should earnestly seek it. With it comes the endowment of power for life and service, and the gifts and their uses in the work of ministry (Luke 24:49; Acts 1:4, 1:8; 1 Corinthians 12:1-31). This experience is distinct from and subsequent to the experience of the new birth.
(Acts 10:44-46; 11:14-16; 15:7-9)
The baptism of believers
In the baptism of believers as a distinct work of the Holy Spirit, evidenced by speaking in other tongues as the Spirit gives utterance (Acts 2:4), the same in essence as the gift of tongues but distinct in purpose and use (1 Corinthians 12:4-10, 28).
A life of holiness
Scripture teaches a life of holiness, without which no one will see the Lord. Through the power of the Holy Spirit we are able to obey the command, "Be holy, for I am holy." Entire sanctification is God's will for every believer, to be pursued earnestly 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)
The Church
The Church is the body of Christ, the habitation of God through the Spirit, with divine appointments for the fulfillment of the Great Commission. Every believer, born of the Spirit, is part of the Church of the firstborn, written in heaven
(Ephesians 1:22-23, 2:22; Hebrews 12:23)
Scriptural ordination
A divinely called and Scripturally ordained ministry has been provided by our Lord for a twofold purpose: the evangelization of the world, and the edification of the Body of Christ.
(Mark 16:15-20; Ephesians 4:11-13)
Deliverance
Deliverance from sickness is provided for in the atonement and is the privilege of every believer.
(Isaiah 53:4-5; Matthew 8:16-17)
The resurrection
The resurrection of those who have fallen asleep in Christ, their translation, and that of those who are alive and remain until the Lord's coming, is the imminent and blessed hope of the Church.
(1 Thessalonians 4:16-17; Titus 2:12; 1 Corinthians 15:51-52; Romans 8:23)
The revelation
The revelation of the Lord Jesus Christ from heaven, the salvation of the nation of Israel, and the millennial reign of Christ on earth, are the scriptural promise and hope of the world.
(2 Thessalonians 1:7; Revelation 19:11-14; Romans 11:26-27; Revelation 20:1-7)
The book of life
The devil and his angels, the beast and the false prophet, and whoever is not found written in the book of life, will be condemned to everlasting punishment in the lake of fire and brimstone, the second death.
(Revelation 19:20; Revelation 20:10-15)
Dwelling in righteousness
"According to His promise, we look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells".
(2 Peter 3:13; Revelation 21:1)