visions and values
HOLY BIBLE
The Bible is the authoritative Word of God. It alone is the final authority in determining all doctrinal truths. Originally written in the languages of Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek, it is divinely inspired by the Holy Spirit. It is the inerrant and infallible revelation of God to man for faith and conduct. (Proverbs 30:5, Romans 15:4, Romans 16:25-26, 1 Thessalonians 2:13, II Timothy 3:16-17; II Peter 1:20-21)
TRINITY
It is the testimony of both the Old and New Testaments and of the Christian Church that God is One and Triune. The biblical revelation testifies that there is only one God, eternal existent in three persons: God the Father, The Son and The Holy Spirit. These three are coequal and co-eternal (Genesis 1:1,26; Deuteronomy 6:4; Isaiah 9:6, 43:10-11; Matthew 3:16-17, 28:19; Luke 1:35, 3:22; Hebrews 3:7-11)
JESUS CHRIST
Jesus Christ is God manifested in human flesh. He was born of a virgin, lived a sinless life, and atoned for our sins through the shedding of His blood on the cross. He rose from the dead on the third day according to the Scriptures, ascended to the right hand of the Father, and will return again in power and glory. (John 1:1,14, 20:28; I Timothy 3:16; Isaiah 9:6; Philippians 2:5-6; Hebrews 1:3; I Timothy 2:5).
SALVATION
All of humanity is born as sinners and in need of salvation, and the only hope of redemption available is through the blood of Jesus Christ to all who believe and receive Him as Savior. Salvation is by grace through faith in Jesus Christ: His death, burial and resurrection. Salvation is a gift of God, not a result of our good works or any human efforts. For those abiding in Christ until their deaths or His return, the promises of eternal blessing in the presence of God are assured. To remain faithful through all circumstances of life requires dependence upon the Holy Spirit and a willingness to die to personal desires and passions.(Genesis 1:26-31, 3:1-24; Matthew 24:13; Acts 16:31; Rom.3:23, 5:12-21; 6:23, 10:9-10,13; 1 Corinthians 10:12; Galatians 2:16, 3:8, 5:4; Ephesians 2:8-9, Titus 3:4-7; Hebrews 9:22; James 5:19-20; Revelation 2:10)
SANCTIFICATION
Sanctification is being separated from sin and dedicated to God by yielding to God’s Word and the Holy Spirit by whose indwelling the believer is enabled to live a holy life. It is an ongoing process of developing Christ’s character which begins at salvation and continues throughout the lifetime of the believer. (Romans 8:29, 12:1-2; 2 Corinthians 3:18, 6:14-18; Galatians 5:22-23; 1 Thessalonians 4:3-5, 5:23; 2 Thessalonians 2:1-3; Hebrews 2:11; 2 Peter 3:18)
BAPTISM IN THE HOLY SPIRIT
The baptism of the Holy Spirit is the promise of the Father to all believers, sent by Jesus after His Ascension, to empower the Church to preach the Gospel throughout the whole earth. This baptism is subsequent to conversion, releases the fullness of the Spirit and is evidenced by the fruits and gifts of the Holy Spirit. (Joel 2:28-29; Matthew 3:11; Mark 16:17; Acts 1:8, 2:1-4, 38-39, 8:14-17, 10:38,44-47, 11:15-17, 19:1-6)
THE GIFTS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
The Holy Spirit is manifested through a variety of spiritual gifts to build and sanctify the church, demonstrate the validity of the resurrection, and confirm the power of the Gospel. The Bible lists these gifts. All believers are commanded to earnestly desire the manifestation of the gifts in their lives. These gifts always operate in harmony with the Scriptures and should never be used in violation of Biblical parameters. (Hebrews 2:4; Romans 1:11, 12 :4-8; Ephesians 4:16; I Timothy 4:14; II Timothy 1:6-7; I Corinthians 12:1-31, 14:1-40; I Peter 4:10).
DIVINE HEALING
Healing of the sick is illustrated in the life and ministry of Jesus, and included in the commission of Jesus to His disciples. It is given as a sign, which is to follow believers. It is also a part of Jesus' work on the Cross and one of the gifts of the Spirit. (Psalm 103:2-3; Isaiah 53:5; Matthew 8:16-17; Mark 16:17-18; Acts 8:6-7; James 5:14-16; I Corinthians 12:9, 28; Romans 11:29).
SECOND COMING
We affirm the bodily, personal, second coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. This will occur at a date undisclosed by the Scriptures. At Christ’s coming the scripture emphatically speaks of the resurrection of the saints and rapture of those believers who are alive at His coming. His coming will initiate the millennial reign of Christ, and the final judgement(, followed by a new heavens and a new earth. Matthew 24:30, 26:63-64; Acts 1:9-11; I Thessalonians 4:15-17; II Thessalonians 1:7-8; Revelation 1:7)
ETERNAL LIFE & ETERNAL PUNISHMENT
Eternal life is the reality for all believers in Jesus Christ. The Scriptures teach that the believer upon death is immediately in the presence of the Lord. At the Second Coming believers bodies will be resurrected to immortality and incorruption. Unbelievers will be judged by God and sent to Hell where they will be eternally tormented with the Devil and the Fallen Angels (Matthew 5:3, 12, 20, 6:20, 19:21, 25:34,41; Mark 9:43-48; John 17:24; 1 Corinthians 15:51-57; II Corinthians 5:1, 8; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; Hebrews 9:27, 11:16; I Peter 1:4; Revelation 14:9-11, 20:12-15, 21:8).
WATER BAPTISM & THE LORD’S SUPPER
The Word of God enjoins on the Church two perpetual ordinances of the Lord Jesus Christ. The first, water baptism, is the outward sign of what God has already done in the individual’s life and is a testimony to all that the person now belongs to Jesus. Following faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, the new convert is commanded by the Word of God to be baptized in water in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. It is identification with Jesus and is effected in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. The Lord’s Supper is a commemoration of the death of the Lord and is done in remembrance of Him until He comes again; it is a sign of our participation in Him. Often referred to as communion in the presence of God, the elements of bread and grape juice (the Body and Blood of the Lord Jesus Christ) are taken in remembrance of Jesus' sacrifice on the Cross (Matthew 26:26-29; 28:19; Acts 2:38, 8:12 36-38, 10:47-48; Mark 16:16; I Corinthians 10:16, 11:23-25). Both institutions are restricted to those who are believers.
MARRIAGE
We believe marriage is defined in the Bible as a covenant, a sacred bond between one man and one woman, instituted by and publicly entered into before God (Genesis 2:24; Leviticus 18:22; Matthew 19:4-6; Ephesians 5:31-33; Hebrews 13:4).