OUR BELIEFS
Statement of Faith
THE GODHEAD
There is one God, creator of all things. He is perfect, infinite, and eternal in all His ways. He exists in three separate, but equal, Persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
(Deut. 6:4; Gen. 1:1; John 6:27; Heb. 1:8; Acts 5:3,4; 2 Cor. 13:14)
JESUS CHRIST
Jesus Christ is true God and true Man. He was conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He lived a sinless life, died on the cross, was buried, and arose on the third day. He later ascended into Heaven where He is presently seated at the right hand of God the Father as our High Priest and Advocate.
(John 1:1; Phil. 2:5-8; Luke 1:30-35; 2 Cor. 5:21; 1 Cor. 15:3,4; Heb. 7:25; 1 John 2:1)
THE HOLY SPIRIT
The Holy Spirit is the third Person of the Trinity whose ministry is to glorify the Lord Jesus Christ. He accomplishes this ministry by convicting individuals of their sin, by regenerating, sealing, baptizing and indwelling the believing sinner permanently at the moment of conversion, and by empowering the Christian for godly living and service without the manifestation of supernatural sign gifts.
(John 16:7-15; Tit. 3:5; 1 Cor. 6:19; Eph. 1:13; Rom. 8:2,4,12,13, 1 Cor. 12:13)
INSPIRATION AND AUTHORITY OF THE SCRIPTURES
The Scriptures, both the Old and New Testaments, are the verbally inspired and inerrant Word of God. Divine inspiration extends equally and fully to all parts and words of the Bible, so that the whole Bible, in the original manuscripts, is without error. The Bible is God’s revelation to man and is therefore the final authority for all Christian faith and practice.
(2 Tim. 3:16,17)
MANKIND
God created man in His image for His glory. However, Adam disobeyed God and as a consequence died spiritually. This spiritual death, or total depravity, has been transmitted to the entire human race. Thus, every person comes into this world with a nature which has neither the desire nor the ability to please God, and is therefore in need of divine grace.
(Genesis 1:26; 2:17; 3:1-7; Romans 3:10-18; 5:12; Ephesians 2:1-7)
SALVATION
God has provided the remedy for our disobedience by sending His Son, Jesus Christ, to be the sacrifice for our sins. God has determined that we do not receive forgiveness as a result of our religious deeds or other good works, no matter how well intended, but only by personal faith in Jesus Christ. Those who receive Jesus Christ as their Savior are at that point born of the Spirit and are assured of an eternity in Heaven.
(Romans 5:6-9; Romans 4:5; Ephesians 2:8,9; John 3:5-18)
THE PRE-TRIBULATIONAL RAPTURE & SECOND COMING
Believers live with the constant hope and expectation of the imminent return of Jesus Christ. He will come first for His Saints and then return with His Saints.
(John 14:1-3; Tit. 2:11-14; 1 Thess. 4:13-18)
THE CHURCH
The “true Church”, which began at Pentecost, is composed of all individuals who through faith in Jesus Christ have been united together in one body, of which Jesus Christ is the head.
(Matt. 16:18; Acts 1:5; 2:41, 42; 1 Cor. 12:13; Eph. 4:15)
Each “local church”, is a physical body of believers by which the “true Church” of Christ is shown to the world. God stresses the importance of the local church by giving it officers and ordinances. We believe that each local church is autonomous, having the right and responsibility to decide and govern its own affairs under the authority of Jesus Christ, through the guidance of Scripture.
(1 Corinthians 1:2; Acts 14:23; 20:28; Heb. 13:7,17)
ISRAEL
Israel is made up of the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and God has made unconditional covenants with this elect nation that have yet to be fulfilled. While the nation of Israel has a remnant of believers in Yeshua, most of Israel is in unbelief during the current dispensation. Nonetheless, we believe that there will be a future national regeneration which will culminate in the fulfillment of all unconditional covenants. We do not believe that the Church in any way, shape, or form has replaced Israel.
(Gen. 12:1-3; Rom. 11)
WORSHIP
Worship is a presentation of oneself as a living sacrifice. Worship in the form of praise to God through music should be rooted with this in our hearts and minds. Worship, in its essence, is rooted in thankfulness and reverence to the Almighty God.
(Eph. 18-21, Rom. 12:1-2)