A STATEMENT OF DOCTRINE

1. GOD - The Bible teaches there is ONE GOD, OMNIPOTENT, OMNIPRESENT, IMMUTABLE and infinitely HOLY He exists in THREE PERSONS; GOD THE FATHER; GOD THE SON and GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT. The three are totally EQUAL in substance, power, glory, holiness, purpose and will. He is the GIVER and SUSTAINER of life, the INITIATOR and MATURER of faith.

References: Deuteronomy 4:35; 6:4-5; Isaiah 44:6-8; Genesis 17:1; Psalm 139:1, 7; Genesis 1:1, 2, 26; Colossians 1:16-17; 2:9.

2. JESUS CHRIST - The SECOND PERSON of the GODHEAD; the ONLY BEGOTTEN SON OF GOD, the SAVIOR from sin for all who believe through His name. He ETERNALLY EXISTED with the Father and the Holy Spirit; GOD OF VERY GOD and MAN OF VERY MAN.

Jesus Christ was BORN OF THE VIRGIN, BEGOTTEN OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, becoming God’s truest SERVANT before God and man. In His death He was the SUBSTITUTION for sinful man providing the way to God through Himself. He AROSE FROM THE DEAD, ASCENDED to the Father and will RETURN BODILY to judge the living and the dead. In His present position He is at the right hand of God interceding for believers. He is the ONLY MEDIATOR between God and man, the ONLY SAVIOR, the HEAD of the church and the ONLY LORD of the household of God.

References: 1 Timothy 3:16; 20:28; Colossians 1:19; 2:9; 1 John 5:7; Philippians 2:7-8; John 1:14; Isaiah 7:14 with Matthew 1:23; (see 18-23); Acts 1:11; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; Matthew 27:33-35; Romans 3:24-25; Hebrews 9:28; 1 Corinthians 15:3-8; Romans 4:25; Luke 24:6-7; Colossians 3:1; Acts 1:9; 1 Timothy 2:5; 1 John 2:1; Heberws 7:25; 4:14-16; Ephesians 2;8-9; Hebrews 9:22; John 1:12.

3. SALVATION - ALL are ETERNALLY LOST by relationship to mankind’s original parents, Adam adn Eve. This relation can only be remedied through a personal relationship to God THROUGH JESUS CHRIST. This change of relationship is received as a FREE GIFT upon the sinner’s RECOGNITION of his sinful state, his FORSAKING of his sin, a change of heart. This results in his CONFESSION of his sin and receiving Jesus Christ as Savior, a purposed, conscious effort. This is through faith in Christ in His sacrifice upon the cross for him by the ignominios spectacle and the shedding of His blood for the atonement of all believers.

References: Romans 3:23; 6:23; 5:12-17;; Ephesians 2:8-9; Titus 3:5; Hebrews 9:22; John 1:10-14, 16-17; 5:24-25.

4. THE CHURCH - The elect of the church age. This is made up so ALL who are truly BORN AGAIN after the Spirit of God. These submit to the authority of the church issued by the Lord Himself, the fellowship and the ORDINANCES; WATER BAPTISM and the LORD’S SUPPER, demonstrating further obedience to the Lord. One day He will convene in heaven ALL BELIEVERS throughout the age, from PENTECOST (@33 AD) to the RAPTURE, whether living or dead. This gathering of the believers in heaven and earth is the BODY OF CHRIST, and His BRIDE. He is the HEAD of the BODY and the CHIEF CORNERSTONE.

References: 1 Corinthians 12:12-14; Ephesians 1:22; 5:23; Luke 20:17; Ephesians2:20-22.

5. THE BIBLE - Is the eternal WORD OF GOD, breathed by God and reduced to writing by HOLY MEN OF GOD acting under the DIVINE INSPIRATION of the Holy Spirit. In their ORIGINAL AUTOGRAPHS they are both FULLY INSPIRED, FREE FROM ERROR and perfectly PRESERVED by the power of the Holy Spirit. Therefore, they are FULLY ADEQUATE to govern the believer’s life and practice.

References: 2 Peter 1:20-21; John 12:17; 2 Timothy 3:16-17.

6. THE ORDINANCES - Are two for the church; WATER BAPTISM, a symbol of OBEDIENCE and IDENTIFICATION with Christ in His death, burial and resurrection. THE LORD’S SUPPER or COMMUNION (the eucharist) commemorates His VICARIOUS, SUBSTITUTIONARY SACRIFICE of His FLESH and BLOOD on the cross as the PAYMENT FOR OUR SIN. This also foreshadows His future coming for the saints in the clouds (rapture) and to the earth as the final KING and LORD of His kingdom.

References: 1 Corinthians 11:23-30; Matthew 28:19.

7. THE DEVIL - Is a REAL PERSONAL BEING, referred to in the Scriptures as the DEVIL, the DRAGON, the SERPANT (SNAKE), who fell from his original state in heaven, before God, because of his PRIDE and ARROGANCE. He is the ENEMY OF GOD and the BELIEVER, in particular and all of mankind, in general.
His purpose is to rule over creation AS GOD, in the THRONE OF GOD and seeks to PRESERVE MANKIND in its LOST, UNREDEEMED state, forever DAMNED and SEPARATED FROM GOD (His will for your life). Satan has already been condemned to ETERNAL DEATH in HELL, the place of his punishment. HELL IS SATAN’S PRISON NOT HIS PLAYGROUND! Jesus called him “a LIAR and the FATHER OF LIES”.
Paul referred to him as “the PRINCE OF THE POWERS OF THE AIR”, also, “THE GOD OF THIS AGE”. He is the ACCUSER of the brethren and the DECEIVER of all who “travels throughout the whole earth, SEEKING WHOM HE MAY TO DEVOUR”, according to Peter. He is the DESTROYER with no legitimate claim or hold on the believer, because his DOOM was and is SEALED in Christ at the cross. He has been overruled and overpowered BY THE BLOOD OF THE LAMB.

References: John 8:40-44; 2 Corinthians 4:4; Job 6:1-11; Ezekiel 28:12-17; Revelation 20:10 with Genesis 3:15.

8. HEAVEN AND HELL - ARE LITERAL PLACES not just states of mind or emotion. HEAVEN is where THE THRONE OF GOD is found, the place from which Jesus came in His incarnation. The place to which He returned and from which He will come again. HEAVEN is the PROMISED POSSESION of every believer IN CHRIST.
HELL is the place of DIVINE PUNISHMENT created for the devil and his angels or demons. It is likened to UNQUENCHABLE FIRE in its intensity, a place of EXCRUCIATING PAIN and TORMENT, a place described as OUTER DARKNESS and of WAILING and GNASHING OF TEETH for eternity.

References: HELL - Luke 16:23-24; Revelation 21:8; Matthew 23:33; Hebrews 10:26-29. HEAVEN - Isaiah 66:1; Revelation 21:2; JOHN 14:3.

9. THE NEW CREATION - When one enters a RELATIONSHIP with Jesus Christ, through confessing and forsaking his sin, he becomes a NEW CREATION, an ADOPTEE into the family of God. A progressive CHANGE begins to take shape in his life, from that point on. A NEW MAN is under construction.
References: Ephesians 1:6; 2 Corinthians 5:17.

10. THE HOLY SPIRIT - THE THIRD PERSON OF THE GODHEAD (the Trinity or Tri-unity), CO-EQUAL with God the Father and God the Son.

HE is a PERSON not a force or an influence, a fluid substance, nor a measurable quantity of some sort. He was an active PARTICIPANT in the creation and maintains an interest in it. He is involved in the redemptive plan, CONVICTING of sin, REGENERATING and SEALING the believer “unto the day of redemption”.

He BRINGS INTO REMEMBRANCE all that pertains to Jesus Christ, His Word and ministry. He PROVOKES us unto a godly life by His INDWELLING presence and seeks to PRESENT the believer untarnished to the Lord Jesus Christ. He ENCOURAGES the believer to worship, praise, serve and glorify Jesus Christ with joy and is GRIEVED at the presence of sin. He SEEKS to direct our lives, that in all things Jesus Christ may have the pre-eminence.
References: Matthew 28:19; John 16:8; Ephesians 1:13; 4:30.