AFFIRMATION OF FAITH
"We Believe"
THE SCRIPTURES: The Bible is the inspired Word of God. It is the product of holy men of old who spoke and wrote as they were moved upon by the Holy Spirit and we accept it as the infallible guide in matters pertaining to conduct and doctrine (2 Timothy 3:16; 1 Thessalonians 2:13, 2 Peter 1:21).
THE GODHEAD: Our God is one, but manifested in three—God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit, being co-equal (2 Corinthians 13:14; 1 John 5:7). In His infinite wisdom, God has chosen to reveal Himself in three separate Persons, as Father, Son and Spirit to accomplish His divine will, with each Person of the Godhead having a separate purpose in man’s creation and redemption.
MAN, HIS FALL AND REDEMPTION: Man is a created being, made in the likeness of God, but through Adam’s transgression and fall, sin came into the world. “All have sinned, and 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 and gave His life and shed His blood to redeem and restore man back to God (Romans 5:14; Romans 3:10, Romans 3:23; 1 John 3:8).
ETERNAL LIFE AND NEW BIRTH: Man’s first step toward salvation is godly sorrow that works repentance. The New Birth is necessary to all men, and when fulfilled produces eternal life (2 Corinthians 7:10; 1 John 5:12; John 3:3-5).
WATER BAPTISM: Baptism in water is by immersion, is a direct commandment of our Lord, and is for believers only. The ordinance is the Christian’s identification with Christ in His death, burial and resurrection (Matthew 28:19; Romans 6:4; Colossians 2:12).
GIFTS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT: We believe in the operation of the gifts of the Spirit in the Body of Christ as enumerated in 1 Corinthians 12-14 as manifested in the early church.
DIVINE HEALING: Healing is for the physical ills of the human body and is wrought by the power of God through the prayer of faith, and by the laying on of hands (Mark 16:18; 1 Peter 2:24; Matthew 8:17; Isaiah 53:4-5).
THE BLESSED HOPE: The resurrection of those who have fallen asleep in Christ and their translation together with those who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord is the imminent and blessed hop[e of the Church (Romans 8:23; 1 Corinthians 15:51-52; 1 Thessalonians 4:16; Titus 2:14).
CHURCH DICIPLINE: We believe in church discipline administered within the relational group in a spirit of meekness and confidentiality. The purpose of such discipline is the restoration of the one subject to the discipline and/or the purification of the church. The steps of discipline are one on one confrontation, private confrontation with witnesses, and, finally, exposure to the church for judgment leading to restoration or separation (Matthew 18:15-20; Galatians 6:1; Romans 16:17; 2 John 9-11; 1 Corinthians 5; 2 Corinthians 2:6-8; 1 Timothy 5:20).
LEADERSHIP OF THE HOLY SPIRIT: We believe that in all matters concerning the Body of Christ, in its direction, discipline, ministry and functioning that specific guidance and instruction, revelation and discernment of truth from falsehood, is available by the leading of the Holy Spirit who enables us to know spiritual things by the Spirit (Acts 13:1-3; 1 Timothy 1:18; Romans 8:14; 1 Timothy 5:22; John 16:13-15; 1 Corinthians 5:3).
LAYING ON OF HANDS: Laying on of hands is a biblical practice. Jesus practiced it in Mark 10:13-16 as a blessing. We believe in the Laying on of Hands for healing (Mark 5:22-24; 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, and to cultivate the anointing (1 Timothy 4:14); Laying on of Hands for appointment to Eldership and Ordination (Timothy 4:14).
MEDIATION: We believe as members of the same Body of Christ, baptized by one Spirit into one Body that we must endeavor to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace and as such that we are precluded from bringing a lawsuit in a civil court against another person who professes to be a Christian or against a Christian ministry. We believe that all such disputes must be resolved within the Body of Christ without taking them before unbelievers for judgment (1 Corinthians 6:1-8; Ephesians 4:3-6).
FINANCIAL SUPPORT: We believe that scripture requires all members of the congregation to support the programs and needs of the church in proportion, as the Lord shall prosper them, through tithes and offerings, thereby acknowledging that any institution can stand or be of full service only in proportion as all of the members of the congregation accept their responsibility of maintaining it (Malachi 3:10; 1 Corinthians 16:12; 2 Corinthians 9:6-9; Hebrews 7:1-8).
