We Believe.
Article IV: Beliefs of the Church
Section 1: The Bible
We believe the Bible is the inspired Word of God. And it is without error in the original manuscripts and is fully sufficient in all matters of life and godliness and is the final authority and the basis for our belief. (2 Peter 1:20-21; 2 Timothy 3:16-17)
We believe the New Testament teaches and we practice the two ordinances of the Church: water baptism and Holy Communion.
We believe that all born again believers comprise the Church of Jesus Christ
(Yeshua Messiah).
We believe that marriage is ordained of God, is gender specific in accordance with the Word of God and intended to be between a man (born male) and a woman (born female). It is the God given institution for procreation, formation of family, development of community and a healthy society. We reject any form of gender bending or fluidity as ungodly and outside of the Will of God for humanity.
We believe in eternal rewards. Those who have received the gift of salvation through Christ Jesus will enjoy eternal happiness in His presence; those who have rejected the gift of salvation offered by God (YAHWEH) will spend eternity in torment.
This Corporation/Church subscribes to the doctrinal statement set forth by the “Apostolic Faith” as outlined in the Holy Scriptures and taught by the Apostles of Jesus Christ and recorded in the book of Acts. We voluntarily band ourselves together as a body of Holy Ghost filled believers who are baptized in Jesus’ Name and are personally committed to sharing the good news of salvation to lost humanity.
Section 2: One God
There is One God, eternal, omniscient, omnipresent, omnipotent, self-sufficient, and multifaceted Spirit who has made Himself known through a tri-fold revelation of His being (Father, Word made flesh -Son and Holy Spirit). 1 Timothy 3:16: “And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.” Moreover, Ephesians 4:4-6 also declares:
“There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your
calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God, and Father of all, who is
above all, and through all, and in you all.”
A. Jesus
We believe Jesus is the only begotten Son of God. He was conceived of the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, was crucified, died, buried, was resurrected; He ascended into heaven, and is now seated at the right hand of the Father.
We believe that Jesus is the word of God made flesh (St. John 1:1, 1:14), God (YAHWEH) incarnate, and is called the Son of God in human relationship. We believe the mystery of the Godhead.
We believe that Jesus was both human and divine, and further, that the Godhead be understood to mean all the fullness of God (Colossians 1:19 and 2:9).
We believe that Jesus was Mary’s son and Mary’s savior, the creative Word of God and creature. That he is God made known in the flesh (I Timothy 3:16), and, that the flesh of Jesus was like ours, with the exception that it had no sin (2 Corinthians 5:21; I Peter 2:22, 24; I John 3:5).
We believe that Jesus was the Word of the Eternal Father made visible (2 Corinthians 4:4; Colossians 1:15; Hebrews 1:3), and God cannot be separated from His Word. Jesus is truly God and truly man.
We believe in the pre-millennial gathering of the church from wrath (1 Thess. 4: 15-18; 1 Thess. 5:9-10) and His imminent personal return to establish His kingdom on earth (1 Thess. 5:2-5).
We believe that at the final consummation of all things there will be only One God (Revelation 4:2, 5:13, 7:10, 17, 22:3).
B. Man’s Fall and Redemption
Man was created in the image of God, (Genesis 1:27 & Genesis 5:1) but by exercise of his own will he transgressed the Will of God and fell in sin (Genesis 3:6). Man’s only hope of redemption is through Jesus Christ the Son of God Genesis 3:15.
C. Salvation
1. Conditions of Salvation
We believe that salvation is a process and that “We are saved by grace through faith and that not of ourselves it is a gift of God, not of works lest any man should boast” (Eph. 2:8). The conditions of salvation are repentance from sins, faith in the saving grace of Jesus which leads to evidence of this faith, without which evidences the faith is not effectual. The only grounds upon which God will accept a sinner is repentance from the heart for the sins that he/she has committed. “A broken and a contrite heart …Thou wilt not despise.” (Psalm 51:17). Jesus shared with his disciples that repentance and remission of sins, should be preached in his name, beginning at Jerusalem (Luke 24:46-48) and Peter fulfilled this commandment on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2: 38).
We believe that this is a time of great grace and that God’s plan is for His children to escape the wrath to come (1 Thess. 1:25; 5:3) and to have the hope of enjoying the glory of life eternal. This requires that one must be thoroughly saved from their sins by the blood of Jesus, wholly sanctified and filled with the Holy Ghost. The set apart life is ordained of God and is the standard for a true believer’s life (Hebrews 12:14; I Peter 1:15-17).
2. Evidence of Saving Faith
Saving faith is evidenced through water baptism by immersion in The Name of Jesus and by a life lived in harmony with the principles of God’s Word (Matt. 28:19, Acts 2:38, 10:47, Romans 6:4). We earnestly contend for God’s standard of Salvation. In the Word of God, we can find nothing short of a Holy Ghost filled life with signs and fruit (Mark 16:16; Acts 1:8; 10:44-48; 19:1-6; Romans 12:1-2; Hebrews 12:14; Matthew 5:48; I Peter 1:15-16).
3. The Holy Ghost
The baptism of the Holy Ghost is promised by God to all who repent and believe. The abiding presence of the Holy Ghost is evidenced by speech (speaking in an unknown or unlearned tongue), and a Holy Spirit led lifestyle that displays spiritual fruit. (John 14:16; John 14:26; John 15:26; John 16:7)
The Holy Ghost (Spirit) is a gift bestowed upon the believer for empowerment, leading, and making them a more effective witness for service in the church and the world (Acts 1:8). When one receives the baptism of the Holy Ghost, we believe the scriptures teach that they will speak of the marvelous work of God with a tongue unknown to oneself according to the sovereign will of God in Christ. To be filled with the Holy Ghost means to be Spirit led as expressed by Paul in Ephesians 5:18-19. Since the charismatic demonstrations were necessary to help the early church to be successful in implementing the command of Christ, we therefore, believe that a Holy Ghost experience is mandatory for all men and women today (Rom. 8:9, Galatians 5:22-23; Acts 10:46, 19:1-6). He teaches and guides us into all truth (John 16:13; Acts 1:8, 8:39).
We believe in the present-day work of the Holy Ghost in and through born again believers. We believe in the baptism in the Holy Ghost by which we receive the power of God, in speaking in tongues, in the gifts of the Spirit, and in the evidence of the fruit of the Spirit. The Holy Ghost is part of the mystery of Godliness that the Father prophesied through Jesus would come. It is the only way one can be identified with God. For Romans 8:9 declares, “…Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of His.”
We believe in salvation by grace through faith in the shed blood of Jesus Christ and in the forgiveness of sins (Ephesians 2:8).