Christianity is not behavior modification; it is heart transformation. You can never be good enough for God or obtain salvation through goodness alone. Salvation can not be achieved aside from Christ. He is THE way, THE Truth and THE Life and NO MAN comes to the Father except through Him. (John 14:6)
There is one TRUE God
I believe that God is three persons, Father, Son and Holy Spirit (Mathew 28:19). God Himself is uncreated yet He is the Creator of all life, the Sustainer of all things. He is transcendent above all things. I believe that there are no other Gods by which we can be saved. He is totally holy, perfectly righteous, all-powerful, all-knowing, all present, and eternally unchanging.
He alone is the one True eternal God. I do not acknowledge ANY other gods. (Deuteronomy 4:35, Isaiah 45:5-6, Matthew 4:10)
The DEITY of CHRIST
I believe that Jesus is THE Messiah. His birth, life, death, and resurrection fulfilled over 300 Messianic prophesies in the Old Testament. (John 4:25-26, John 10:25-30)
I believe Jesus is the only Son of God, was born of a virgin and lived a perfect, sinless life. He was sent to die as the sacrifice for the sins of man in order that we would not have to suffer spiritual death and eternal separation from God.
I believe Jesus was crucified, buried, and rose from the dead on the third day. Forty days later he ascended to heaven and is now seated on the right hand of the Father.
He will PHYSICALLY return to earth to set up His millennial Kingdom.
(Matthew 1:18-21; Matthew 27-28; Matthew 26:64; Mark 14:62; Mark 16:19; Luke 1:30-35; Luke 22:69; John 1:1-5; John 3:16; Acts 1:3, 11; I Corinthians 15:3-4; Ephesians 1:20; Hebrews 1:1-3; Revelation 20:4)
INERRANCY of SCRIPTURE
I believe the Bible is the infallible, inerrant Word of God. I believe that it is God-breathed and divinely inspired by the Holy Spirit. I also believe the Bible is THE authoritative standard for all generations (2 Timothy 3:16-17, 2 Peter 1:20-21).
I believe that, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” (John 1:1). I also believe that Jesus is the Word made flesh (John 1:14).
I believe that as the ultimate authority, whatever the Bible says is to be obeyed. I also believe the principle of interpreting scripture it is thus found within itself.
The SALVATION of Man
I believe that salvation is by grace through faith in Jesus. I believe the gift of eternal life is available only through Christ Jesus and that there is no other name by which we can be saved. (John 10:27-29; John 14:6; Romans 3:23; Romans 6:23; Romans 8:38-39; Ephesians 2:5-9)
I believe that all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23; Romans 5:12). There is NONE righteous, NO, NOT ONE: There is NONE that understands, there is NONE that seeks after God. They are ALL gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is NONE that does good, NO, NOT ONE”! (Rom. 3:9-12).
I believe salvation cannot be attained through good works (Isaiah 64:6, Ephesians 2:8-9). You cannot be saved by simply keeping the Ten Commandments because in and of yourself, you CAN NOT keep them!
“Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his own sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.” (Romans 3:20)
“But that no man is justified by the law (commandments) in the sight of God, it is evident: for, the just shall live by faith.” Galatians 3:11
I likewise believe that salvation is through atonement; through the shedding of blood. Someone undeserving of death had to be willing to die in our place; someone who possessed sinless spotless perfection. Jesus was our sacrifice.
I believe that every sacrifice offered on the altar in the Old Testament was an illustration of Christ’s coming sacrifice.
“Without Shedding of Blood Is No Remission” Hebrews 9:22
“For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.” Rom. 5:6
“All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.” Isa. 53:
“For the wages (payment) of sin is death; but the GIFT of God is eternal life THROUGH Jesus Christ our Lord.” Rom. 6:23
I believe that there is no one aside from Christ, that can save us. Our own good works can not save us nor can our church membership or religious affiliations. For it is “not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us” (Titus 3:5).
I believe that TO BE SAVED WE MUST REPENT and believe.
“Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish” (Luke 13:3, 5).
To repent literally means to have a change of mind or spirit toward God and toward sin. It means to turn from your sins, earnestly, with all your heart, and trust in Jesus Christ to save you.
“But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that BELIEVE on his name.” John 1:12.
I believe that the outward evidence to all men is a life of RIGHTEOUSNESS and true HOLINESS.
“And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.” (Ephesians 4:24)
“Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;” (Titus 2:12)
“Whosoever abides in him sins not: whosoever sins has not seen him, neither known him.” (1 John 3:6)
SANCTIFICATION
I believe that sanctification is an act of separation from that which is evil and a dedication to God. The scriptures teach a life of “holiness”, without which no man shall see the Lord.
“Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:” (Hebrews 12:14).
BAPTISM in WATER
I believe that baptism is merely the outward sign of an inward transformation, regeneration and conversion. I likewise believe that while every believer should be baptized, it can not and will not save anyone. You can be saved and not baptized and you can be baptized and not saved.
BAPTISM in the HOLY SPIRIT
I believe that the baptism in the Holy Spirit was the normal experience in all of the early Christian church. I believe that with the Baptism of the Holy Spirit comes the endowment of power for life and service, the bestowment of the gifts and their use in the work of the ministry.
GIFTS of the SPIRIT
I believe that there are nine gifts of the Spirit as mentioned by Paul in I Corinthians Chapter 12.
- Word of Wisdom
- Word of Knowledge
- Faith
- Gifts of Healing
- Working of Miracles
- Prophecy
- Discerning of Spirits
- Divers (different) kinds of Tongues
- Interpretation of (different) Tongues
I believe that these gifts of the Spirit are given not for the believer but for the Body of Christ. They are intended for the church to build, edify, strengthen, feed, exhort, and encourage. They are to empower the Body of believers to do the work of Christ.
I believe these gifts are not necessary for salvation or sanctification and that when used properly they will always exalt Christ.
“And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance” (Acts 2:4).
I also believe that this experience is distinct from the experience of the new birth.
CREATION
I believe God that God created and sustains everything that exists, and that life did not simply evolve. (Genesis 1; John 1:3, Acts 17:24)
HEAVEN and HELL
I believe heaven and hell are REAL places, and eternal punishment awaits those who finally reject Christ as their Lord and Savior.
(Matthew 25:46; Luke 16:19-31; John 14:2, Revelation 21 & 22)