We believe that this universe, including man, was created by an all-powerful uncreated Being revealed in the scripture as God. His abilities and knowledge are beyond the ability of man to fully comprehend. He is revealed as both perfect love, which finds its ultimate expression in the cross, and perfect justice, which find its ultimate expression in the final judgment.

Furthermore, this God is manifested in three persons – the Father, The Son, and the Holy Spirit, which, although equal, manifest His nature and mission in distinctive ways (Phil. 2:5-6). God the Father is the creator and the One Who sent His Son and authored the plan of salvation (Genesis 1:1; John 1:3; John 3:16). The Son is the Word made flesh, carried out the plan of redemption through His death and resurrection, and serves as our High Priest and Mediator (John 1:1, John 1:18, John 1:14; Heb. 4:14-16; 1 Tim. 2:5). The Holy Spirit proceeds forth from both the Father and the Son, is eternal, and is literally “God on the earth”, revealing Himself to both unbelievers and believers (John 15:26; 16:7-9; Acts 1:8; Rom. 5:5; 8:4).

We believe the Bible is the inspired Word of God, God’s recorded Will, through holy men of old who spoke and wrote as they were moved by the Holy Spirit. The New Covenant, as recorded in the New Testament, we accept as our infallible guide in matters pertaining to belief and conduct. (2 Tim. 3:16, 1 Thess. 2:13, 2 Peter 1:21).

Man is a created being, made in the likeness and image of God. Through man’s transgression and fall, sin came into the world, and human nature has been universally corrupted. This corruption is what the Bible calls “sin”. Sin is whatever is contrary to God’s will, as revealed in scripture. It is God, our ultimate Authority, and not man, Who defines good and evil. In fact, it is this desire on the part of man to define good and evil on his terms instead of God’s, that is part of our sinful behavior (Gen. 2:17). This corrupted state of human nature and the sinful acts that have followed has resulted in a necessary separation from God, Who is holy. Man, because he is created in God’s image, is a spiritual being, and is thus incomplete outside of ongoing communion with God. Jesus Christ, the Son of God gave His life and shed His blood to redeem and restore man back to God. Salvation is the gift of God to man, separate from works and the law, and is made available by grace through faith in Jesus Christ, producing works acceptable to God. Because of the corruption of human nature, the new birth is necessary for man’s salvation (Rom. 5:14, Rom. 3:10-19; Rom. 3:23; Eph. 2:8-10; John 3:3,5; 2 Cor. 5:17).

The primary message of the Church is to teach and proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ. This ‘good news’ (the literal meaning of the word ‘gospel’) includes the forgiveness of sins and the free gift of right standing with God, but is not limited to this, contrary to popular teaching and understanding. The gospel includes human transformation and the reign of God over the human condition in every significant area of individual life, both now and forever. This ‘reign’ over human affairs is what the Bible calls the Kingdom of God, and is fundamental to our understanding of the gospel. Jesus said it is this “gospel of the Kingdom” that would be preached in the last days (Matt. 24:14). Matt. 28:18-20; Mark 1:15 ; Mark 16:15-16; Luke 24:46-48; John 3:3,5; 2 Cor. 5:17, 21.

Because of the universal corruption of human nature, and the resulting corruption of a fallen world system, man’s first step toward salvation is repentance from sins and faith toward God. Our faith in Jesus’ death and resurrection, as full payment for our sins results in our beginning to know God in a personal way. This ‘personal relationship’ (as opposed to just conformity to a religious system) is the essence of eternal life (Mark 1:15; Luke 13:3; John 3:16; John 17:3; 1 Jn. 5:12).

Baptism in water is by immersion and is a direct commandment of our Lord for believers only. The ordinance identifies the believer with Christ in His death, burial and resurrection, and, in this ‘union,’ accomplishes it’s own ‘burial’ of our old sinful nature. Thus, water baptism is more than just symbolic, we believe that a spiritual transaction takes place in the “burying“ of the old nature that has been crucified with Christ. (Matt 28:19; Rom. 6:4; Col 2:12; Acts 8:36-39).

The infilling of the Holy Spirit is a gift from God as promised by the Lord Jesus Christ to all believers in this dispensation. It is given to empower believers in their walk with God and in their witness. It is given to believers who ask, and yield themselves to this infilling. It is many times accompanied with the laying on of hands. This ‘baptism of the Spirit’ also results in the ability to pray in the spirit as well as in your own understanding (I Cor. 14:15) for prayer and worship. (Matt. 3:11; Luke 11:13; John 14:16-17; Acts 1:8; Acts 2:4; Acts 2:38-39; Acts 8:14-17; Acts 19:1-7; I Cor. 14:2,4,14,15).