Doctrine

What We Believe

• We believe that the Bible is the inspired Word of God and the final authority in all matters of Christian faith and practice. Timothy 3:16, Revelation 22:15-19) • We believe that God is a Triune God; i.e., one God revealed in three persons - as the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. (Genesis 1:26, Matthew 28:19) • We believe that Jesus Christ is God, manifested in the flesh as the Son (incarnation) through the miracle of the virgin birth. (Matthew 1:23, John 1:1, 14, Acts 20:28, Hebrews 1:6-8) • We believe all humanity is born in a sinful and fallen state, and is therefore in need of redemption through repentance, faith and the 'New Birth' (Romans 3:23, Psalm 51:5, Luke 13:3, John 3:3) • We believe that salvation has been provided by God for all mankind through the vicarious sacrifice of Christ at Calvary (Romans 10:9-11, John 14:6, 1Timothy 2:5, Revelation 5:9, Acts 4:12) • We believe in the baptism of/in the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking in tongues as an experience subsequent to the new birth and essential for empowerment for Christian service or ministry (Acts 1:4-8; Acts 2:1-4, Acts 8:14-17; 10:44-46, 19:2,6; Luke 4:18). • We believe that healing, both physical and emotional is provided in the redemptive work of Christ and is available to every believer to appropriate by faith (Luke 4:18, Isaiah 53:4-5, Exodus 15:26, 23:25, 1Peter 2:24, Hebrews 11:6) • We believe in the second imminent and visible return of Jesus Christ to the earth (Acts 1:10-11, Matthew 25:31-33, John 14:1-3) • We believe in the reality of heaven and earth, the resurrection of the just and unjust, and the judgment of all humanity with eternal consequences (John 5:26- 29, Revelation 20:4-6; 20:11-15, Psalm 9:17). • We believe the Church consists of all those who have received Jesus Christ as Lord and personal Savior, that it (the church) has both a universal and local expression, the universal being governed by the Chief Shepherd, Jesus Christ and the local by local pastors or under-shepherds (1 Corinthians 12:12-13, 1Peter 5:1-4, Jeremiah 3:15). • We believe and practice the ordinance of water baptism as a public demonstration of one's identification with the death, burial and resurrection of our Lord Jesus, and one's readiness to live for Him (Matthew 3:11-16, Matthew 28:19, Acts 8:12-13, 36-37, Romans 6:3-4, Colossians 2:11-12). • We believe in the observance of the Lord's Supper in accordance with the scriptures (Matthew 26:26-28, 1 Corinthians 11:23-24)