Paragraph 2  The Triune God

We believe that there is only one God and that He eternally exists in three persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.  Each person of the Godhead has the same nature, attributes, and perfection, while having a distinct personality and function.

Paragraph 3  The Deity & Virgin Birth and Place of Christ in the Scriptures

We believe that Christ is fully God as the second member of the Trinity.  He was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary.  The basic thread of the entire Bible is the person and work of Christ.

Paragraph 4  The Deity, Personality and Present Work of the Holy Spirit

We believe that the Holy Spirit, as the third person of the trinity, has been present from all eternity.  He possesses a distinct personality and purpose which is different from that of the other members of the Godhead.  In the Old Testament, the Holy Spirit came upon believers to help them.  The indwelling ministry of the Holy Spirit began on the Day of Pentecost.  Each believer receives the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit at the moment of salvation.  All believers are baptized into the body of Christ  at the moment of salvation by the Holy Spirit.  The Holy Spirit will continue to indwell believers until the rapture of the church (see Paragraph 18).

We believe that certain ministries are committed to the Holy Spirit:  the convicting of sin, righteousness, and judgment; the regenerating of all believers; the anointing and sealing of believers; and His continuous filling of believers for power, teaching, and service as they are yielded to Him.

We believe that there are many spiritual gifts which may be given to believers by the Holy Spirit.  However, certain gifts such as prophecy, speaking in tongues and miraculous healings by individuals were foundational and temporary in nature.

Paragraph 5  The Personality and Destiny of Satan

We believe that Satan is the father of lies, a murderer from the beginning, and the great deceiver of all nations. He can transform himself into an angel of light, but his power is limited.  His doom was sealed at the cross and he will be cast into the bottomless pit for 1000 years.  Ultimately, he will be cast into the lake of fire to be tormented forever.

Paragraph 6  The Fall of Man

We believe that Man was originally created by God in His image and after His likeness.  He fell from his innocence by eating the forbidden fruit.  The result of this sin was that he immediately became dead in trespasses and sins and subject to the power of Satan.

Paragraph 7  The Total Depravity of Man

We believe that spiritual death (the total corruption of human nature) has been transmitted to the entire human race, except the man Christ Jesus.  Every child of Adam is born into the world with a nature which not only possesses no spark of divine life, but is essentially sinful, causing enmity against God, and is incapable by any human means to become obedient to His law.

Paragraph 8  Salvation by Grace Through Faith

We believe that our salvation in Christ is received by faith alone.  The moment we trust in Him as our Savior, we pass out of death into everlasting life, being justified from all our sin, accepted by the Father, loved as Christ is loved, and are one with Him forever.

Paragraph 9  Regeneration of Fallen Man

We believe that as a result of universal death and depravity in sin, no person can enter the Kingdom of God unless born again.  Regeneration of fallen man is only possible through the ministry of the Holy Spirit.  The believer becomes a new creation in Christ at the moment of salvation.

Paragraph 10  Redemption by the Blood of Chris‡

We believe that our redemption has been accomplished solely by the blood of our Lord Jesus Christ.  He was made to be sin and a curse for us.  No human effort can add to the finished work of Christ who is both fully God and fully man.

Paragraph 11  Eternal Security

 We believe that once a person has accepted Jesus Christ as his personal Savior, he cannot for any reason lose his salvation.  Once a person is saved, he is kept saved by the power of God.  The meaning of the words "everlasting and eternal" is unending, never stopping. 

We believe that although we can never lose our salvation, God is a holy and righteous Father and cannot overlook sin.  When God's children persistently sin, He will chasten and correct them in infinite love.

Paragraph 12  Unity of the True Church in the Body of Christ

We believe that the Church is composed of all who are united in Christ by the Holy Spirit.  We are all baptized by the same Spirit  into one body.  We are responsible to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.  We must rise above all sectarian prejudices and denominational bigotry and love one another fervently with a pure heart.

Paragraph 13  The Local Church

We define a local church as a specific body of believers in any particular area which meets together on a regular basis for worship, teaching, preaching and ministry. 

We believe that each local body is a part of the true church, which is Christ's body.  Only those persons who are truly born again can consider themselves to be part of the actual body of Christ.

Paragraph 14  Sanctification

We believe that the sanctification (a setting apart unto God) of every saved person is already complete, because his position toward God is the same as Christ's.  Since the believer is in Christ, he is set apart unto God in the measure in which Christ is set apart unto God.  However, he still retains his sin nature, which cannot be eradicated in this life.  Therefore, although the standing of the believer in Christ is perfect, his present state is no more perfect than his experience in daily life.  There is also a progressive sanctification wherein the believer is to "grow in grace" and to "be changed" by the unhindered power of the Spirit.

Paragraph 15  The Great Commission

We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ clearly commands that those whom He has saved are to be sent forth by Him into the world even as He was sent forth of His Father into the world.  After we are saved, we are divinely reckoned to be related to this world as sojourners and pilgrims, ambassadors and witnesses.  We are to share Christ in the continuing effort to fulfill the command to make disciples of all nations.

Paragraph 16  The Eternal Blessedness of the Saved and the Eternal Punishment of the Lost

We believe that the souls of those who have trusted in Christ for salvation, do at death immediately pass into His presence.  They remain in conscious bliss until the resurrection of the body at His coming, when soul and body are reunited with Him forever in glory. 

We believe that the souls of unbelievers immediately pass into Hell after death and remain in conscious misery until the final judgment of the Great White Throne at the close of the Millennium.  At that time, soul and body will be reunited and cast into the Lake of Fire, not to be annihilated, but to receive the judgment of everlasting torment.  This judgment includes separation from the presence of the Lord.

Paragraph 17  Dispensations

We believe dispensations to be periods of time during which man is tested in respect to his obedience to some specific revelation of the will of God.  These dispensations always end in the failure of man and show his need of salvation.   It should be made clear that salvation has always been by grace through faith.

We reject "Hyperdispensationalism".

Paragraph 18 - Rapture, Tribulation, and Second Coming of Christ

We believe that the next event on the prophetic calendar is the imminent return of the Lord Jesus Christ for His church at the Rapture.  At that time, He will call all members of His true church out of this present world to be united with Him forever.

We believe that after the removal of the true church from the world at the Rapture, there will be a seven year period of tribulation.  This will be the fulfillment of Israel's seventieth week as described in Daniel 9:27 and Rev. 6:119,21.  This will be a time of unparalleled judgment for the whole world and will bring to completion the "times of the Gentiles."

We believe that the last three and one half (3 ½) years of this tribulation period is referred to as "The Great Tribulation," during which time God will pour out His wrath on mankind and the world.  This period will culminate with the battle of Armageddon when the Lord Jesus Christ will physically return to the earth with His saints to usher in His Millennial kingdom.