The Articles of Faith

 

 

1. The Bible

The Bible is the inspired Word of God, a revelation from God to mankind, the infallible rule of faith and conduct, and is superior to conscience and reason, though not contrary to reason (2 Timothy 3:16-17).

 

2. The Holy Trinity

The one true God has revealed Himself as the eternally self-existent “I AM,” the Creator of heaven and earth. He has further revealed Himself as embodying the principles of relationship and association as Father, Son and Holy Spirit (Deuteronomy 6:4, Isaiah 43:10-11, Matthew 28:19, Luke 3:22).

 

3. God The Father

The Father loved the world so much that He sent His Son Jesus Christ to die for the sins of the world. His love is lavished upon all mankind for He is good and He does not change. Adoption into God’s family and a personal relationship with Him were made possible by the atonement that Jesus Christ provided for on the cross (John 3:16, 1 John 3:1, James 1:17, John 1:12).

 

4. God The Son, Jesus Christ

The Lord Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God. He was born of the Virgin Mary, lived a sinless life, worked miracles, died on the cross for the sins of mankind, is resurrected from the dead, and sits at the right hand of God (Matthew 1:23, Hebrews 7:26, Acts 2:22, 1 Corinthians 15:3, 2 Corinthians 5:21, Matthew 28:6, Hebrews 1:3).

Man was created good and upright, for God said “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness.” But man, by voluntary transgression, fell, and his only hope of redemption is in Jesus Christ the Son of God (Genesis 1:26-31, Genesis 3:1-7, Romans 5:12-21).

Redemption is only through the shed blood of Jesus Christ the Son of God. Salvation is received through repentance toward God and faith toward the Lord Jesus Christ. By the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, being justified by grace through faith, man becomes an heir of God, according to the hope of eternal life (Luke 24:47, John 3:3, Romans 10:9, Ephesians 2:8, Titus 3:5-7). 

The evidence of salvation is both inward and outward. Inward evidence of salvation is the direct witness of the Spirit. Outward evidence of salvation is a life of righteousness and true holiness (Romans 8:16, Ephesians 4:24, Titus 2:12).

 

5. God The Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit is the third person of the Godhead. He is co-equal, co-eternal and co-existent with the Father and with the Son. His ministry upon the earth is to convict and convert man as well as be the great comforter, counselor, helper, intercessor, advocate, and strengthener to the Church. The baptism of the Holy Spirit and Fire is a gift from God as promised by the Lord Jesus to all believers and is received subsequent to and is distinct from the experience of New Birth. With it comes the endowment of power for life and service as well as the bestowment of the gifts and their uses in the work of the ministry. The Baptism of the Holy Spirit is meant to empower the believer to be a witness of Jesus Christ by the preaching and demonstration of the Gospel. (Acts 1:4-5, Acts 1:8, 1 Corinthians 12:1-11, Matthew 3:11, John 14:16-17, Acts 2).

 

6. Baptism

The ordinance of baptism, by identifying with the burial of Christ in water, should be observed as commanded in the Scriptures by all who have repented and in their hearts have believed in Christ as Savior and Lord.

This holy sacrament identifies the believer with Jesus in His death, burial, and resurrection (Matthew 28:19; Acts 10:47-48; Romans 6:4).

 

7. Communion

The ordinance of Communion is also a commandment of the Lord Jesus that is done in remembrance of Him. Only believers may partake in Communion which consists of the bread and the cup. The bread is His body, which was broken for us and the cup is His blood that was shed for us. Both elements are witnesses of the New Covenant believers now enjoy while prophetically declaring His return (Luke 22:19, 1 Corinthians 11:26).

 

8. Sanctification

The Scripture teaches that without holiness no man can see the Lord. We believe in the Doctrine of Sanctification as a definite, yet progressive work of grace, commencing at the time of regeneration and continuing until the consummation of salvation at Christ’s return (Hebrews 12:14, 1 Corinthians 1:30, I Thessalonians 5:23, 2 Corinthians 3:18, Philippians 3:12-14).

 

9. The Church

The church is the Body, Temple, and Bride of Christ. The Church is the habitation of God through the Spirit with divine appointments for the fulfillment of the great commission. Each believer, born of the Spirit, is an integral part of the church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven (Ephesians 1:22-23, Ephesians 2:19-22, Ephesians 5:23, Hebrews 12:23, Revelation 21:9-10).

 

10. The Commission 

A divinely called and scripturally ordained ministry has been provided by our Lord for the threefold purpose of leading the Church in: evangelization of the world, worship of God, discipleship and edification of the Body of Christ (Mark 16:15-20, John 4:23-24, Matthew 28:18-20, Ephesians 4:11-16).

 

11. Healing 

Deliverance from sickness is provided for in the atonement and is the privilege of all believers (Isaiah 53:4, Matthew 8:16-17).

 

12. Resurrection of the Saints and Second Coming of Christ

The resurrection of those who have fallen asleep in Christ and their translation together with those who are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord is the blessed hope of the church (1 Thessalonians 4:16-18, Romans 8:23, Titus 2:13, 1 Corinthians 15:51-55, Revelation 11:15).

 

13. Promises

The revelation of the Lord Jesus Christ from heaven, the salvation of Israel, and the Millennial Reign of Christ on earth is the Scriptural promise and the world’s hope (2 Thessalonians 1:7, Revelation 19:11-16, Romans 11:26-27, Revelation 20:1-7).

 

14. Judgment

There will be a final judgment in which the dead will be raised and judged. Whoever is not found written in the Book of Life, together with the devil and his angels, the beast and the false prophet, will be consigned to everlasting punishment in the lake of fire, which is the second death. Those who are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life will receive the new Heavens and new earth. (Revelation 19:20, Revelation 20:10-15, 2 Peter 3:13, Revelation 21 and 22).

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