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| Statement of Faith and Purposes The programs & activities governing the form of worship shall be based upon & at all times shall be consistent with the following creed & beliefs: A. THE SCRIPTURES: The Bible is the inspired Word of God, the product of Holy Men of old who spoke & 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 conduct & doctrine. (2 Timothy 3:16, 1 Thess. 2:13, 2 Peter 1:21.) B. THE GODHEAD: Our God is one, but manifested in three persons; The Father, The Son & The Holy Spirit (Philippians 2:6, Matthew 3:16-17.) God the Father is greater than all: the Source of the Word (Logos) & the Begetter (John 14:28, John 16:28, John1:14.) Jesus is the Son of God. One with the Father, the Word Flesh-covered, the One Begotten & has existed with the Father from the beginning (John1:1, John 1:18, John 1:14,John 10:30.) The Holy Spirit proceeds forth from both the Father & The Son & is eternal (John 15:26.) C. MAN- HIS FALL & REDEMPTION: Man is a created being, made in the likeness & image of God, but through Adam's transgression & fall, sin came into the world. "All have sinned & come short of the Glory of God. As it is written, there is none righteous, no not one." Jesus Christ, the Son of God was manifested to undo the work of the devil & gave His life & shed His blood to redeem & restore man back to God. (Rom. 5:12, Rom. 3:23, Rom. 3:9-10, 1 John 3:8, Gal. 3:13-14.) Salvation is the gift of God to man. Separate from works & the law & is made operative by grace through faith in Jesus Christ, producing works acceptable to God (Ephesians 2:8.) D. ETERNAL LIFE & NEW BIRTH: Man's first step toward salvation is Godly sorrow that worketh repentance. The new birth is necessary to all men & when fulfilled, produces eternal life. (2 Cor. 7:10, 1 John 5:12, John 3:3-5.) E. WATER BAPTISM: Baptism in water is by immersion & is a direct commandment of our Lord & is for believers only. The ordinance is a symbol of the Christian's identification with Christ in His death, burial & resurrection (Matt. 28:19, Romans 6:4, Col. 2:12, Acts 8:36-39.) The following recommendation regarding the Water Baptismal formula is adopted to-wit: "On the confession of your faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God & by His authority, I baptize you in the name of the Father, Son & of the Holy Ghost, Amen." F. BAPTISM IN THE HOLY GHOST: The Baptism in the Holy Ghost & Fire is a gift from God as promised by the Lord Jesus Christ to those who are believers in this dispensation & is received subsequent to the new birth. This experience is accompanied by the initial evidence of the speaking in other tongues as the Holy Spirit Himself gives utterance (Matt. 3:11, John 14:16-17, Acts 1:8, Acts 2:38-39, Acts 19:1-7, Acts 2:4.) G. SANCTIFICATION: The Bible 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 & continuing until the consummation of salvation (Heb. 12:14, 1 Thess. 5:23, 2 Peter 3:18, 2 Cor. 3:18, Phil. 3:12-14, 1 Cor. 1:30.) H. DIVINE HEALING: Healing is for the physical ills of the human body & is wrought by the power of God through the prayer of faith & by the laying on of hands. It is provided for in the atonement of Christ & it is the privilege of every member of the church today (Mark 16:18, James 5:14-20, 1 Peter 2:24, Matt. 8:17, Isaiah 53:4-5.) I. RESURRECTION OF THE JUST & THE RETURN OF OUR LORD: The angels said, "This same Jesus shall so come in like manner." His coming is imminent. When He comes, "The dead in Christ shall rise first; then we which are alive & remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air." (Acts 1:11, 1 Thess. 4:16-17.) Following the tribulation, He shall return to earth as King of Kings & the Lord of Lords & together with His Saints, who shall be Kings & Priests, He shall reign a thousand years (Rev. 20:6.) J. HELL & ETERNAL RETRIBUTION: The one who physically Dies in his sins without Christ is hopelessly & eternally Lost in the lake of fire & therefore has no further opportunity of hearing the Gospel or for repentance. The lake of fire is literal. The terms "eternal" & "everlasting" used in describing the duration of the punishment of the damned in the lake of fire, carry the same thought & meaning of endless existence as used in noting the duration of joy & ecstasy of the saints in the presence of God (Hebrews 9:27, Rev. 19:20, Hebrews 6:12.) K. COMMUNION- THE LORD'S SUPPER: We partake of the Lord's Supper to show the Lord's death till He comes (1 Cor.11:23-31.) The bread symbolizes the Lord's broken body (Is. 53:5, 1 Cor. 11:24.) The cup represents the new covenant in His blood which provides us forgiveness & a relationship with God (Heb. 9:1, 1 Cor. 11:25.) We judge ourselves & realize that this is our salvation & receive it (1 Cor. 11:28-30) unworthily-without giving it honor as our salvation-we are guilty of the body & blood of the Lord (1 Cor. 11:27.) L. LAYING ON OF HANDS: A simple belief that power of anointing or any other necessary quality can be transmitted from one person touching another. Laying on of hands was practiced by the Levitical Priesthood. Jesus practiced it in Mark 10:13-16 as a blessing, and is our grounds for baby dedication instead of baptism. Laying on of Hands for Healing (Mark 5:22-23 & 41, Mark 5:28-31, Acts 28:8, Acts 19:11-12.) Laying on of Hands to confer office (Acts 6:2-6.) Laying on of Hands to receive the Holy Spirit (Acts 8:16-18.) Laying on of Hands to believe words spoken, to receive anointing & to cultivate the anointing (1 Tim. 4:14.) Laying on of Hands for Ordination to consecrate & receive the necessary ministry tools (1 Tim. 4:14.) |