OUR DOCTRINE-Articles of Faith

1.  THE SCRIPTURES INSPIRED

The Bible is the inspired Word of God, a revelation from God to man: the infallible rule of faith and conduct and is superior to conscience and reason, but not contrary to reason (2 Tim. 3:15-16; 1 Pet. 2:2).

2.  THE ONE TRUE GOD

The one true God has revealed Himself as the eternally self-existent, self-revealed “I AM”; and has further revealed Himself as embodying the principles of relationship and association, i.e., as Father, Son, and Holy Ghost (Deut. 6:4; Mark 12:29; Isa. 43:10-11: Matt. 28:19).

3.  MAN, HIS FALL AND REDEMPTION

Man was created good and upright – for God said, “Let us make man in Our image, after Our likeness”. But man, by voluntary transgression, fell and his only hope of redemption is in Jesus Christ, the Son of God (Gen. 1:26-31; 3:1-7; Rom. 5:12-21).

4.  THE SALVATION OF MAN

Conditions to salvation: The grace of God, which bringeth salvation, hath appeared to all men, through the preaching of repentance toward God and faith toward the Lord Jesus Christ; Man is saved by the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost, and being justified by grace through faith, he becomes an heir of God according to the hope of eternal life (Titus 2:11; Rom. 10:13-15; Luke 24:47; Titus 3:5-7). The evidences of salvation: the inward evidence, to the believer of his salvation, is the direct witness of the Spirit (Rom. 8:16); the outward evidence to all men is a life in righteousness and true holiness. While we are not legalistic in spirit we stand for Biblical righteousness in living and personal conduct, in accordance with the Scriptures. “Follow peace with all men and holiness, without which, no man shall see the Lord” (Heb. 12:14).

5.  THE PROMISE OF THE FATHER

All believers are entitled to, and should ardently expect and earnestly seek, the promise of the Father, the Baptism in the Holy Ghost and fire, according to the command of the Lord Jesus Christ. This was the normal experience of all in the early Christian Church. With it comes the enduement of power for life and service, the bestowment of the Gifts and their uses in the work of the ministry (Luke 24:49; Acts 1:4; 1 Cor. 12:1-31). This wonderful experience is distinct from and subsequent to the experience of the new birth (Acts 10:44-46; ll:14-16; 15:7-9).

6.  THE EVIDENCE OF THE BAPTISM IN THE HOLY GHOST

The Baptism of the believer in the Holy Ghost is witnessed by the physical sign of speaking with other tongues as the Spirit of God gives them utterance (Acts 2:4). The speaking in tongues in this instance is the same, in essence, as the gift of tongues (1 Cor. 12:4-10, 28), but different in purpose and use. This ministry in recognizing the unity of the Body of Christ and the ministry gifts God has set in the Church (as described in 1 Cor. 12) declares itself strongly for the supernatural ministry and the operation of the ministry gifts in the assembly in accordance with the divine order of their manifestation, as set forth by the Apostle Paul in 1 Cor. 14.

7.  ENTIRE SANCTIFICATION

The Scriptures teach a life of Holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord. By the power of the Holy Ghost, we are able to obey the command,”Be ye Holy, for I am Holy” (1 Peter 1:16). Entire Sanctification is the will of God for all believers, and should be earnestly pursued by walking in obedience to God’s Word (Heb. 12:14; 1 Peter 1:15-16; 2 Thess.5:23-24; 1 John 2:6).

8.  THE CHURCH

The Church is the body of Christ, the habitation of God through the Spirit, with divine appointments for the fulfillment of her great commission. Each believer, born of the Spirit, is an integral part of the General Assembly and Church of the Firstborn, which are written in Heaven (Eph. 1:22-23; 2:22; Heb. 12:23).

9.  THE MINISTRY AND EVANGELISM

A divinely called and scripturally ordained ministry has been provided by our Lord for a two-fold purpose: (1) the evangelism of the world and (2) the edifying of the body of Christ (Mark 16:15-20; Eph. 4:11-13).

10.  DIVINE HEALING

Deliverance from sickness is provided for in the atonement, and is the privilege of all believers (Isa. 53:4; Matt. 8:16-17).

11.  THE SECOND COMING OR BLESSED HOPE

The resurrection of those who have fallen asleep in Christ and their translation together with those who are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord is the blessed hope of the church  (1 Thess. 4:16-18; Rom. 8:23; Titus 2:13; l Cor. 15:52-53; Rev. 11:15).

12.  THE MILLENNIAL REIGN OF JESUS

The revelation of the Lord Jesus Christ from heaven, the salvation of national Israel, and the Millennial reign of Christ on the earth is the scriptural promise and the world’s hope (2 Thess. 1:7; Rev. 19:11-14; Rom. 11:26-27; Rev. 20:1-7).

13.  WE BELIEVE IN A LITERAL HEAVEN AND HELL, ETERNAL REWARD AND JUDGMENT (Rev. 19:20; Rev. 20: 10-15; 2 Pet. 3:13; Rev. 21:22).

14. SANCTITY OF HUMAN LIFE

We believe that human life begins at conception and that the unborn child is a living human being. Abortion constitutes the unjustified, unexcused taking of unborn human life.  We seek to uphold and preserve the sanctity of all human life (Job 3:16; Ps. 51:5; 139:14-16; Isa. 44:24; 49:1, 5; Jer. 1:5; 20:15-18; Luke 1:44).

The Tenants of Faith does not exhaust the extent of our faith. The Bible is the sole and final source of all that we believe. We do believe, however, that the foregoing Tenants of Faith accurately represents the teaching of the Bible.