Statement of Faith

What We Believe (Complete list found in Discipline)

About God

God is the Creator and Ruler of the universe.  He exists in three personalities: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.  These three are co-equal and are one God.

Genesis 1:1 (KJV) ¹In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. 

Genesis 1:26 - 27 (KJV) ²⁶And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.  ²⁷So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. 

 Genesis 3:22 (KJV) ²²And the LORD God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever: 

 Psalms 90:2 (KJV) ²    Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God.

Matthew 28:19 (KJV) ¹⁹Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 

1 Peter 1:2 (KJV) ²Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.

2 Corinthians 13:14 (KJV) ¹⁴The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen.

 About Jesus Christ

Jesus Christ is the Son of God.  He is co-equal with the Father.  Jesus lived a sinless human life and offered Himself as the perfect sacrifice for the sins of all people by dying on a cross.  He arose from the dead after three days to demonstrate His power over sin and death.  He ascended to Heaven’s glory and will return again someday to earth to reign as King of Kings, and Lord of Lords.

 

Matthew 1:22 - 23 (KJV) ²²Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying,  ²³Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us. 

Isaiah 9:6 (KJV) ⁶For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. 

John 1:1 - 5 (KJV) ¹In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  ²The same was in the beginning with God.  ³All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.  ⁴In him was life; and the life was the light of men. ⁵And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not. 

John 14:10 - 30 (KJV) ¹⁰Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.  ¹¹Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works’ sake. ¹²Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.  ¹³And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.  ¹⁴If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it. ¹⁵If ye love me, keep my commandments.  ¹⁶And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;  ¹⁷Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. ¹⁸I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.  ¹⁹Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also.  ²⁰At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you.  ²¹He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.  ²²Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world?  ²³Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.  ²⁴He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father’s which sent me. ²⁵These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you.  ²⁶But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.  ²⁷Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. ²⁸Ye have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come again unto you. If ye loved me, ye would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the Father: for my Father is greater than I.  ²⁹And now I have told you before it come to pass, that, when it is come to pass, ye might believe.  ³⁰Hereafter I will not talk much with you: for the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me. 

Hebrews 4:14 - 15 (KJV) ¹⁴Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.  ¹⁵For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. 

1 Corinthians 15:3 - 4 (KJV) ³For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;  ⁴And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: 

Romans 1:3 - 4 (KJV) ³Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh;  ⁴And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead: 

Acts 1:9 - 11 (KJV) ⁹And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.  ¹⁰And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel;  ¹¹Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.

1 Timothy 6:14 - 15 (KJV) ¹⁴That thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukeable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ:  ¹⁵Which in his times he shall show, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords; 

Titus 2:13 (KJV) ¹³Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; 

About the Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit is co-equal with the Father and the Son of God.  He is present in the world to make men aware of their need for Jesus Christ.  He also lives in every Christian from the moment of salvation.  He provides the Christian with power for living, understanding of spiritual truth, and guidance in doing what is right.  He gives every believer at least one spiritual gift when they are saved.  As Christians, we seek to live under His control daily.

2 Corinthians 3:17 (KJV) ¹⁷Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. 

John 16:7 - 13 (KJV) ⁷Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.  ⁸And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:  ⁹Of sin, because they believe not on me;  ¹⁰Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more;  ¹¹Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.  ¹²I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now.  ¹³Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will show you things to come. 

John 14:16 - 17 (KJV) ¹⁶And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;  ¹⁷Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.

Acts 1:8 (KJV) ⁸But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. 

1 Corinthians 2:12 (KJV) ¹²Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. 

1 Corinthians 3:16 (KJV) ¹⁶Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? 

Ephesians 1:13 (KJV) ¹³In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, 

Galatians 5:25 (KJV) ²⁵If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. 

Ephesians 5:18 (KJV) ¹⁸And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; 

About the Bible

The Bible is God’s Word to us.  It was written by human authors, under the supernatural direction of the Holy Spirit.  It is the supreme source of truth for Christian beliefs and living.  Because it is inspired by God, it is the truth without any mixture of truth or error.  We believe in the original manuscripts of the Bible as the inerrant Word of God, verbally inspired.

2 Timothy 3:16 (KJV) ¹⁶All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 

2 Peter 1:20 - 21 (KJV) ²⁰Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.  ²¹For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

2 Timothy 1:13 (KJV) ¹³Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. 

Psalms 119:105 (KJV) ¹⁰⁵    Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.

Psalms 119:160 (KJV) ¹⁶⁰    Thy word is true from the beginning: and every one of thy righteous judgments endureth for ever.

Proverbs 30:5 (KJV) ⁵Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him. 

 About People

People are made in the spiritual image of God.  People are the supreme object of God’s creation.  Although every person has tremendous potential for good, all of us are marred by sin.  People were born with a sin nature and by their thoughts, words, and deeds have committed sins contrary to God.  Their sin has separated them from the God who created them.  This sin problem must be address to restore the fellowship with God.  Jesus Christ is the only way for man to be restored in fellowship with God.

Genesis 1:27 (KJV) ²⁷So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. 

Psalms 8:3 - 6 (KJV) ³    When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained; ⁴    What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him? ⁵    For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour. ⁶    Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet:

Isaiah 53:6 (KJV) ⁶All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. 

Romans 3:23 (KJV) ²³For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; 

Isaiah 59:1 - 2 (KJV) ¹Behold, the LORD’S hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear:  ²But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear. 

 About Salvation

Salvation is God’s free gift to us but we must accept it.  We can never make up for our sin by self-improvement or good works.  Only by continuing to trust in Jesus Christ as God’s offer of forgiveness can anyone be saved from sin’s penalty.  When we turn from our self-ruled life and turn to Jesus in faith we are saved.  Eternal life begins the moment one receives Jesus Christ into his life by faith.

Romans 6:23 (KJV) ²³For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Ephesians 2:8 - 9 (KJV) ⁸For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:  ⁹Not of works, lest any man should boast. 

John 14:6 (KJV) ⁶Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. 

John 1:12 (KJV) ¹²But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: 

Titus 3:5 (KJV) ⁵Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; 

Galatians 3:26 (KJV) ²⁶For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. 

Romans 5:1 (KJV) ¹Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: 

About Repentance

We believe that salvation comes to the person as the free, undeserved gift of God through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.   We believe that man’s part in salvation is repentance of sins.  There must be a changing of mind, will, and emotions concerning sin and this result in a godly sorrow for sin in the heart of the person.  Without repentance, there is no salvation.

Acts 17:30 (KJV) ³⁰And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent: 

Romans 3:20 (KJV) ²⁰Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin. 

Psalms 51:3 (KJV) ³    For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.

2 Peter 3:9 (KJV) ⁹The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. 

Acts 2:38 (KJV) ³⁸Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. 

Matthew 11:20 (KJV) ²⁰Then began he to upbraid the cities wherein most of his mighty works were done, because they repented not: 

About Faith

We believe that salvation comes to the person as the free, undeserved gift of God. 

 

About Eternity

People were created to exist forever.  We will either exist eternally separated from God because of our sin, or eternally with God through forgiveness and salvation.  To be eternally separated from God is Hell.  To be eternally in union with Him is eternal life.  Heaven and Hell are real places of eternal existence.

John 3:16 (KJV) ¹⁶For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 

John 14:17 (KJV) ¹⁷Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.

Romans 6:23 (KJV) ²³For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Romans 8:17 - 18 (KJV) ¹⁷And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.  ¹⁸For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. 

Revelation 20:15 (KJV) ¹⁵And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

1 Corinthians 2:7 - 9 (KJV) ⁷But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:  ⁸Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.  ⁹But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.