We Believe

One God

We believe in the One ever-living, eternal God; infinite in power, holy in nature, attributes and purpose, and possessing absolute, indivisible Deity. This one true God has revealed Himself as Father in creation, through the Son in redemption, and as the Holy Ghost by emanation (I Corinthians 8:6; Ephesians 4:6; II Corinthians 5:19; Joel 2:28).

The Scripture does more than attempt to prove the existence of God; it asserts, assumes and declares that the knowledge of God is universal (Romans 1:19, 21, 28, 32; 2:15). God is invisible, incorporeal, without parts, without body and therefore free from all limitations. He is Spirit (John 4:24), and “a spirit hath not flesh and bones…” (Luke 24:39). The first of all commandments is, “Hear, O Israel: the LORD our God is one LORD:” (Mark 12:29; Deuteronomy 6:4). “One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all:” (Ephesians 4:6).

This one True God manifested Himself in the Old Testament in divers ways, in the Son while He walked among men; as the Holy Ghost after the ascension.

The Grace of God

“For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world.” (Titus 2:11,12) “For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.” (John 1:17). A Christian, to keep saved, must walk with God and keep himself in the love of God (Jude 21), and in the grace of God. The word “grace” means “favor.” When a person transgresses and sins against God, he loses favor. If he continues to sin and does not repent, he will eventually be lost and cast into the lake of fire. (John 15:1,6; II Peter 2:20-22) Jude speaks of the backsliders of his day and their reward. (Read Hebrews 6:4-6) “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:” (Ephesians 2:8).

Repentance

The only grounds upon which God will accept a sinner is repentance from the heart for his sins that he has committed. A broken and contrite heart He will not despise (Psalm 51:17). John preached repentance, Jesus proclaimed it, and before His ascension commanded that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name, beginning at Jerusalem (Luke 24:47). Peter fulfilled this command on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:38).

Water Baptism

The scriptural mode of baptism is immersion, and is only for those who have fully repented, having turned from their sins and a love of the world. It should be administered by a duly authorized minister of the Gospel in obedience to the Word of God and in the name of Jesus Christ, according to the Acts of the Apostles; 2:38; 8:16; 10:48; 19:5, thus obeying and fulfilling Matthew 28:19.

The Holy Ghost

John the Baptist, in Matthew 3:11, said “… He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost.”Jesus, in Acts 1:5, said, “… ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.” Luke tells us in Acts 2:4, “… and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost and began to speak with other tongues, (languages) as the Spirit gave them utterance.” The terms “baptized with the Holy Ghost,” “filled with the Holy Ghost,” and the “gift of the Holy Ghost,” are synonymous terms which are interchangeable in the Bible.

Communion

Melchizedek, the priest of the Most High God, gave the first communion, consisting of bread and wine (Genesis 14:18), to our father Abraham. Christ, being “made a high priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek.” Evidently administered the same (Hebrews 7:21; Matthew 26:26-29; I Corinthians 11:23-32).

On the night of our Lord’s betrayal, He ate the Passover supper with His apostles, after which He instituted the Communion service. “And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me. Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the New Testament in my blood, which is shed for you” (Luke 22:19, 20). Paul instructed the Church how to observe it (I Corinthians 11:23, 24,25).

Foot Washing

This ordinance is as much a divine command as any other New Testament ordinance. Jesus gave us an example that we do even as He had done. He said that we ought to wash one another’s feet. And again, “If ye know these things, happy are ye if you do them” (John 13:4-17). There is scriptural evidence that this was practiced by the church in the days of the apostle Paul (I Timothy 5:10).

Holiness

We believe that godly living should characterize the life and walk of all saints according to the sign and example found in I Peter 2:21; Titus 2:11; Galatians 2:20; Hebrews 12:14; I Peter 1:15-17.

We believe we are to cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God (II Corinthians 7:1), to abstain from all appearance of evil (I Thessalonians 5:22), and to turn away from those who have a form of godliness but deny the power thereof (II Timothy 3:5; I Corinthians 11:6; I Timothy 2:9,10; I Peter 2:3,4). The Apostle Peter gives instruction to wives about their behavior and their appearance, “Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives; while they be-hold your chaste conversation coupled with fear. Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; but let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price” (I Peter 3:1-4). The Word of God teaches a distinction between the dress of a woman and a man: “The woman shall not wear that which pertaineth unto a man, neither shall a man put on a woman’s garments: for all that do so are abomination unto the LORD thy God.” (Deuteronomy 22:5) The word “abomination” used by God in this verse indicates that this rule will not change through all generations. Christian men are not to wear women’s clothing, and Christian women are not to wear men’s clothing. Modesty is not confined to dress alone but also includes conversation and manners. Philippians 4:5 teaches us, “Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.” Holiness is not only an inward presence of God but it is also reflected in the outward life of the Christian in his conduct in this world.

Tithing

We believe tithing is God’s financial plan to provide for His work, and has been since the days of Abraham. Tithing came with faith under Abraham, Moses’ law enjoined it, Israel practiced it when she was right with God, Jesus endorsed it (Matthew 23:23), and Paul said to lay by in store as God has prospered you. Do not rob God of His portion, that is tithes and offerings (Malachi 3; I Cor 9:7).

The Return of the Lord Jesus Christ

That the Lord Jesus Christ is to come to earth in person is a doctrine clearly set forth in Apostolic times. James taught it; the Apostles preached it; the saints expect it; (Matthew 24:1, Acts 1:11; 3:19-21; I Corinthians 1:7,8; 11:26; Philippians 3:20,21; Titus 2:13). We believe the catching away of the church draweth nigh, and at that time all the dead in Christ shall rise from their graves, and we that are alive and remain shall be translated or “caught up” to meet the Lord in the air (Matthew 24:36-42; Luke 17:20-37; I Corinthians 15:51; Philippians 3:20,21; I Thessalonians 4:13-17). Whereas, the Word of God teaches the imminent second coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and that there will be first an appearing or catching away of the Church (I Thessalonians 4:13) preceding His second coming back to earth; and said first appearance we believe to be at hand and likely to occur at any moment.