14 core beliefs that shape everything we teach and do, with the Scriptures they rest on. Read them one at a time.
The Bible is the inspired Word of God, the product of holy men of old who spoke and wrote as they were moved by the Holy Spirit. The New Covenant, established through the death, burial, resurrection and ascension of the Lord Jesus Christ as recorded in the New Testament, we accept as our infallible guide in matters pertaining to conduct and doctrine. (2 Timothy 3:16; 1 Thessalonians 2:13; 2 Peter 1:21)
Our God is one, but manifested in three persons: the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, being co-equal. (Philippians 2:6)
God the Father is greater than all: the sender of the Word (Logos) and the Begetter. (John 14:28; John 16:28; John 1:14)
The Son is the Word flesh-covered, the One Begotten and has existed with the Father from the beginning. (John 1:1; John 1:18; John 1:14)
We believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, the Saviour of all men, conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary. He is totally God and yet, totally Man. (Luke 1:26; John 1:14-18; Isaiah 7:14, 9:6)
We believe Christ died for our sins, was buried and rose again on the third day. (1 Corinthians 15:1-4; Romans 4:25)
We believe in the bodily ascension of Jesus to heaven.
The Holy Spirit proceeds forth from both the Father and the Son and is eternal. (John 15:26)
We believe that the operation of the gifts and ministries of the Spirit that are listed in 1 Corinthians 12 and 14 and Ephesians 4 are still relevant for us today.
We believe all people were created equal. (Genesis 1:27; Genesis 5:1-2; James 2:1-9)
We believe our bodies are not to be abused. (1 Corinthians 6:9-20; Ephesians 5:18; Proverbs 23:20-21; Proverbs 31:4-5)
We believe life starts at conception in the womb. Life is therefore sacred and deserving of protection beginning at conception. (Jeremiah 1:4-5; Psalm 139:13-16; Romans 8:28-31; Ephesians 1:4-6, 10-12)
All people were created in the image and likeness of God. Through Adam's transgression and fall (voluntary disobedience) sin came into the world. "All have sinned and come short of the glory of God," and "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 5:12-15; Romans 3:10; Romans 3:23; 1 John 3:8)
We believe that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us, offering forgiveness to all who believe in Him. (John 3:16; Romans 5:8)
Salvation is the gift of God to man, separate from works and the Law, and is made operative by grace through faith in Jesus Christ, producing works acceptable to God. (Ephesians 2:8-10)
Man's first step toward salvation is godly sorrow that worketh repentance. We believe that upon sincere repentance and wholehearted acceptance of Christ, we are forgiven and made perfect before God. We believe that salvation is a spiritual new birth that offers new life in Christ. The New Birth is necessary to all men, and when experienced produces eternal life. (1 John 1:1; 2 Corinthians 5:17; John 3:5-7; 2 Corinthians 7:10; 1 John 5:12; John 3:3-5)
These are ordinances to be observed by the Church during the present day. We believe in the commemoration of the Lord's Supper by the use of the bread and the juice of the vine. (1 Corinthians 11:24-25)
Baptism in water is by immersion, a direct commandment of our Lord, an outward sign of an inward work, and is for believers only. The ordinance is a symbol of the Christian's identification with Christ in His death, burial, and resurrection. (Matthew 28:19; Romans 6:4; Colossians 2:12; Acts 8:36-39)
The present day ministry of the Holy Spirit is to comfort and guide the believer, with the final purpose of glorifying the Lord Jesus Christ in the earth. During this age, He indwells, guides, instructs and empowers the believer for godly living and service. The Baptism in the Holy Spirit and fire is a gift from God as promised by the Lord Jesus Christ to all believers in this dispensation and is received subsequent to the New Birth. This experience is accompanied by the initial evidence of speaking in other tongues as the Holy Spirit Himself gives utterance. (Matthew 3:11; John 14:16-17; Acts 1:8; Acts 2:38-39; Acts 19:1-7; Acts 2:4)
The Bible teaches that without holiness no man can see the Lord. We believe in the Doctrine of Sanctification as a definite, yet progressive work of grace, commencing at the time of regeneration and continuing until the consummation of salvation at Christ's return. (Hebrews 12:14; 1 Thessalonians 5:23; 2 Peter 3:18; 2 Corinthians 3:18; Philippians 3:12-14; 1 Corinthians 1:30)
We believe marriage is a covenant union between God, one naturally born man and one naturally born woman. This covenant is a spiritual and legal contract performed by a minister of the Gospel in the presence of witnesses. (Matthew 19:4-6; Mark 10:6-9)
Sex was designed by God and is only acceptable when occurring between one naturally born man and one naturally born woman within the confines of a covenant marriage. (Genesis 2:23-25; Acts 15:28-30; 1 Corinthians 6:17-19; 1 Corinthians 7:1-3; Galatians 5:19-21; 1 Thessalonians 4:2-4; Leviticus 18:22; 1 Corinthians 6:9 (Amplified); Leviticus 20:13; Romans 1:21-32)
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. It is provided for in the atonement of Christ and is the privilege of every member of the Church today. (Mark 16:18; James 5:14-15; 1 Peter 2:24; Matthew 8:17; Isaiah 53:4-5)
We believe that there is one true universal Church that is made up of genuine believers. However, this one universal Church is composed of many local churches in different localities. (Acts 15:22; Matthew 16:18, 18:15-20)
The Universal Church of the Lord Jesus Christ is composed of all those who are born again. Through the new birth we are united together in the Body of Christ. Jesus Christ is the Lord and Head of the Church and has provided leadership for the local church through the ministry gifts, which only He can give. It is the Christian's responsibility to identify with a local church and to support it with their time, gifts and finances. (Colossians 2:19; Ephesians 4:12; Colossians 1:18; Colossians 3:15; Acts 16:5; Hebrews 10:25)
Believers should give tithes and offerings to their church to support and spread the cause of Christ. (Malachi 3:10; 2 Corinthians 9:7)
The pre-millennial second coming of Jesus Christ is two-part in nature; He will come in the air to resurrect the righteous dead and catch away the living saints. (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17) He will then before the millennium come to the earth to establish His physical Kingdom and begin His thousand-year reign. (Revelation 20:6)
The angels said to Jesus' disciples, "this same Jesus, who is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen Him go into heaven." His coming is imminent. When He comes, "the dead in Christ shall rise first; then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air." (Acts 1:11; 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17)
Following the tribulation, He shall return to earth as King of kings, and Lord of lords, and together with His saints who shall be kings and priests, He shall reign a thousand years. (Revelation 20:6)
We believe that Heaven is the glorious eternal home of believers, the place that the Lord Jesus said He was going to prepare. (John 14:1-3; Revelation 7:15-17)
The one who physically dies in his sins without accepting Christ is hopelessly and eternally lost in the lake of fire and, therefore, has no further opportunity of hearing the gospel or repenting. The lake of fire is literal. The terms "eternal" and "everlasting", used in describing the duration of punishment of the damned in the lake of fire, carry the same thought and meaning of endless existence as used in denoting the duration of joy and ecstasy of saints in the Presence of God. (Hebrews 9:27; Revelation 19:20)
We believe that the devil is a real spiritual person who will eventually be judged with his angels in the lake of fire. (Matthew 25:41; Revelation 20:10-15)
