Statement of Beliefs

The Bible

I believe that the Holy Bible is the inspired, infallible, and inerrant Word of God. It is the supreme and final authority in faith and practice.  (2 Peter 1:20,21 / 2 Timothy 3:16-17)

2 Peter 1:20,21
Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For 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 3:16-17
All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.

I believe the Word of God is to be studied with diligence to acquire precise knowledge of the Father’s intent. I believe that the Word has been best preserved for the English speaking language in the King James Version and Young’s Literal Translation, with Strong’s Concordance referenced for context, accuracy and clarity, and deeper revelation being gained by the Holy Spirit. That said, I believe that the Word of God is alive and ultimately incorruptible against the mighty power the Living God. (Hebrews 4:12, John 6:63)

John 6:63
It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.

The Triune God

I believe in one true and living God revealed in the Scriptures as eternally existent in one triune, one God as Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

Matthew 28:19,20 / Mark 12:29 / John 14:26 / II Corinthians 13:14/I John 5:7

The Father

I believe there is One God and Father of all who is perfect, who is above all and through all and in all who walk in His ways (Ephesians 4:6, Mt 23:9, Malachi 2:10, Matthew 5:48). I believe the Father is God, that Jesus Christ is in the Father, and by Jesus Christ believers are in the Father of whom are all things (1 Corinthians 8:6, John 14:10). The Father is not of the world (1 John 2:16, 1 John 3:1). He is unchanging and unvarying, He is our potter and redeemer, the Father of mercies and comfort, the Father of lights from whom every good gift originates. I believe the Father is everlasting and has blessed his adopted sons and daughters with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ (Isaiah 64:8, 2 Corinthians 1:3-4, James 1:17). The Father honors those who serve His Son Jesus Christ and we glorify Him when we bear much fruit (John 12:26, John 15:8).

1 John 3:1
1 Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.

Jesus Christ of Nazareth, Son of God

I believe that Jesus Christ is God and the Son of God, the Word made flesh, by whom are all things (1 Cor 8:6, John 14:9-11, John 1:14). I believe that Jesus Christ was begotten by the Holy Spirit and was born of the virgin Mary; that He came on earth to walk as true God and true man and demonstrated the glory of the Father, and the Father dwells in Him (John 1:14, John 14:10). I believe that He lived a sinless life upon this earth; that He died on the cross as a substitutionary and final sacrifice for the sins of all mankind; that He rose bodily from the grave on the third day; that He ascended bodily into Heaven where He continues His ministry at the right hand of God as our Advocate and High Priest; and that He is personally, visibly and imminently returning to this earth to set up His 1000 years Kingdom (Millennial Reign). All who believe in Him can take hold of His righteousness on the grounds of His shed blood. The blood of Jesus Christ is the only sacrifice available, and confessing Jesus Christ as our risen Savior is the only way available, to wash away our sins. Since the death of the Lord Jesus Christ on the cross, all forms of sacrificial killing are abhorrent to God (Isaiah 53: Matthew 20:28; John 3:16; Romans 3:24; 5:1; I Corinthians 15:3; II Corinthians 5:21; Ephesians 1:20-23; I John 2:2).

Matthew 1:18-25 / John 1:1,14 / I John 5:20 / Hebrews 4:15 / I Corinthians 15:3,4 / II Corinthians 5:21 / I Peter 2:24 / Luke 24:36-48 / Acts 1:9-11 / I John 2:1,2 / Ephesians 1:20 / Hebrews 4:14-16 / Matthew 25:31,32 / Revelation 20:6/ Titus 2:13-14

Titus 2:13-14
Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ; Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.

The Holy Spirit

I believe that the Scriptures assign to the Holy Spirit (Who is a person) all the attributes of God; that this present era of the church is the dispensation of the Holy Spirit; and that His ministry in the world includes reproving, regeneration, indwelling, guiding and empowering men. I believe that the Holy Spirit indwelling is serving in a teaching, sanctifying, and empowering role as well as interceding for the Christ follower and imparting spiritual gifts. The fruit of the Spirit follows all who truly walk in the Holy Spirit.

Acts 5:3,4 / John 16:7-11 / John 3:3-5 / I Corinthians 6:19, 12:4 / Romans 8:14 / Acts 1:8 / Galatians 5:22-23 / John 14:26; 16:13-14 / 1 Corinthians 6:11; / 1 Peter 1:2 / Ephesians 3:16 / Romans 8:26-27 / 1 Corinthians 12:4, 7-11 / Hebrews 2:4).

Acts 5:3-4: But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Spirit, and to keep back part of the price of the land? Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God.

Man & Woman

I believe that man was created by the direct act of the One True Living Creator of Heaven and Earth and Most High God; the God of the Bible, that in man’s original state he was innocent and directed to serve as a steward of the abundant earth, which God created. I believe that Eve was tempted and ate of the forbidden fruit and then Adam also ate and so sinned, causing God to cast them both out of Eden. Here women were cursed with longing and pain in childbearing. The curses on males were working the ground, and sorrow under the condemnation of God. Once outside the garden, man was spiritually dead, and thus all their descendants are also born spiritually dead, separated from God, where the spirit of the prince of the power of the air was allowed to work in all people, including the unsaved of today. However, when Jesus Christ came to suffer, die and rise from the dead, the whole penalty of sin had been abrogated (Galatians 3:28) for all those who believe on Him. The Christian man and woman can take hold of their freedom from bondage to the curse of sin. 

Genesis 1:26-30 / Genesis 2:16,17 / Genesis 3:1-24 / I John 1:8 / Romans 5:12-19 / Ephesians 2:1-3 / John 3:3 / Romans 3:23-25 / Romans 8:29,30

Salvation

I believe that all men and women, having inherited the fallen, sinful nature from original sin, are in need of a new birth. I believe that Salvation is the gracious gift of God offered for ALL of mankind; that it is received by faith, plus vocal confession of Jesus Christ as the risen Lord and Savior, trusting in His atoning sacrifice at the cross; believing that there is no other means of being saved from death and hell. I believe that once a person is saved, the believer now has God as their Father, and can ask the Father for the Holy Spirit to indwell within them. The indwelling Holy Spirit takes the believer through a process of understanding the New Covenant, learning to be a child of God, renouncing and forsaking one’s sins, exercising kingdom authority, casting out demons, claiming God’s biblical promises, and ever maturing as a believer in growing intimate relationship with the Living God. I believe that in Christ’s work on the cross, God allowed us once again to be conformed to the image of His Son. 

I Timothy 2:3, 4 /  Revelation 22:17 / Titus 2:11 / 2 Peter 3:9 /Luke 13:3 / Isaiah 55:7 / Ephesians 2:8-9 / John 3:16 / John 14:6 / John 1:12-13 / Acts 4:12 / John 5:46-47 / Luke 11:13 / Matthew 7:11 / Mark 16:17

Discipleship in Christ

I believe that the true Christ disciple wants to live a righteous, pure and holy life; that he is a witness for Christ, that he seeks to flee from sin and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance, and gentleness.

1 Timothy 6:11

Impartial Election

I believe that God desires to let all people everywhere be saved; and being impartial, also has foreknowledge of who will be obedient and He is aware of their eyes to see, giving conditioning through suffering and grace from charges made by the adversary by inherited iniquities.

I Peter 1:2 / Romans 8:33 / Romans 9:11 / Romans 11:5 / Romans 11:28

Sanctification

I believe that every believer is sanctified in Christ at conversion; that this sanctification continues during the Christian life as the believer grows in the grace and knowledge of Jesus; and that it is completed when the believer stands in the presence of Christ, either at death or at being caught up to meet the Lord in the air.

I Corinthians 1:30 / Hebrews 10:10 / II Peter 3:18 / Philippians 3:12-15 / I Corinthians 13:10 / Hebrews 12:23 / I John 3:2

Adoption

I believe that all who come by grace through faith to the Lord Jesus Christ are born of the Holy Spirit, made alive spiritually, and thereby become adopted children of God. It is God’s intention that all who are so born from above are to yield themselves to complete obedience to His Lordship.

John 1:12-14; 3:3,5 / James 1:18 / I Peter 1:23 / Ephesians 2:8,9 / Colossians 2:12-15 / 1 Thessalonians 5:23

Priesthood & Ministering to the World

I believe in the priesthood of each believer. God has given spiritual gifts to all who receive Him by faith. Spiritual gifts play an essential role in the personal ministry of each believer. Each of us is being sanctified as we yield more of ourselves to Christ. God desires to use every believer to minister His love and truth to the world.

Hebrews 8, I / Corinthians 12, 14 / Romans 12 / Ephesians 4

Heaven or the Lake of Fire

I believe all souls are ultimately delivered to one of two eternal destinations, eternal life with Jesus Christ or eternal punishment in the lake of fire.

Matthew 25:46 And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.

False Brethren in the Church