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Tenants
of Faith and Doctrine
The Church accepts the Scriptures as
the revealed Will of God, the all-sufficient rule of
faith and practice, and for the purpose of maintaining
general unity, adopts these statements of fundamental
truths and doctrine.
1.
THE SCRIPTURE INSPIRED.
We believe that 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. 3:15-17; I
Peter 1:23-25; Heb.
4:12)
2.
THE ONE TRUE GODHEAD.
We believe that the Triune Godhead is comprised of three
(3) separate and distinct personalities, The Father,
The Son, and the Holy Spirit, Who are eternally self-existent,
self-revealed and function as one entity. Jesus Christ,
Who was born of a virgin, Who is God manifested in the
flesh, is the second member of the Godhead, co-equal
and co-eternal with The Father and The Holy Spirit.
3.
MAN, HIS FALL AND REDEMPTION.
We believe that man was created good and upright, for
God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, after
Our likeness.” But, man fell by voluntary transgression,
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.
A. THE HOPE OF SALVATION.
We believe that man’s only hope of redemption
is through the shed blood of Jesus Christ. On the
cross Jesus Christ took our sin and sickness providing
both salvation and divine healing for all mankind
(Ps.
103:3), being justified freely by His grace through
the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. For by grace
we are saved through faith. “The work is near
you, in your mouth and in your heart - that is, the
word of faith which we are preaching, that if you
confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe
in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you
shall be saved; for with the heart man believes, resulting
in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses,
resulting in salvation.” (Romans
3:24; Eph.
2:8, Rom.
10:8-10)
B.
REPENTANCE.
Repentance is that sense of guilt and/or emotional
pain that God grants to the individual seeking restoration
to the presence of God. We believe that salvation
involves hearing the Word of God and responding by
repentance. Repentance not only involves a turning
away from sin but a turning to God. It is an affliction
of the soul (mind) that often results in uncomfortable
feelings of guilt, conviction, sorrow, and shame.
It is the realization that one is a sinner and that
sin separates one from God and that, as part of the
solution to the sin problem, one must repent - turning
from sin to God.
C. THE EVIDENCES OF SALVATION.
We believe 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
of righteousness and true holiness. “And this
is his command: to believe in the name of his Son,
Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded
us.” (I
John 3:23)
D. FAITH AND WORKS.
We believe salvation is by faith alone in Jesus Christ
and not by human works. “For we are God’s
workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works,
which God prepared in advance for us to do.” (Eph.
2:10) Our works also will determine our rewards
in eternity (Rom
10:9-10 and 2
Cor. 5:10). We believe faith without works is dead.
We do not believe, as a matter of fundamental beliefs
and doctrines of this Church, that any matter can be
believed without there being a corresponding action.
Our faith is an active faith that requires the doing
of acts in the world. Our faith is not passive or complacent
system of intellectual belief or assent to doctrine
but is an active force in our lives that requires and
results in actions being taken. A living, active faith
will be manifested not only in belief and mental assent
but in actions expressing and based upon that belief.
If a belief is truly held it will be acted upon. The
act is as much a fundamental aspect of our faith as
the belief upon which the act is based. (James
2:14-26; Eph.
2:8-10; Matt.
7:21; Matt.
7:24-27; Matt.
5:16; 2
Cor. 5:10; Matt.
16:27; Rev.
2:23; Rev.
22:12.)
5. EVANGELISM.
We believe that evangelism is an essential and necessary
part of the commission, function, and purpose of every
New Testament Church. While some Churches may have as
central to their vision an evangelism center, all Churches
should be active in training the saints to share their
faith with others. This is a command and not an option.
Evangelism in its simplest terms is telling others about
the power of God through Jesus Christ to save them from
their sins and from the consequence of sins. Evangelism
is a function of the saints as they go about their daily
lives. Evangelism is a function of the marketplace,
“as you go make disciples of all nations”
(Matt.
28:18-20).
6. BAPTISM IN WATER.
We believe the ordinance of baptism by a burial (immersion
in water) with Christ should be observed as commanded
in the Scriptures by all who have repented of their
sin and have believed in their heart on Jesus Christ
as Savior and Lord. In doing so, they declare to the
world that they have died with Jesus and that they have
also been raised with Him to walk in newness of life.
This is a covenant act of New Testament circumcision.
(Matt.
28:19; Acts
10:47-48; Rom.
6:4).
7. COMMUNION.
We believe that communion is the other ordinance of
the Church. An ordinance is simply that which has been
commanded. Scripture tells us that as often as we eat
the bread (which represents His body) and drink the
cup (which represents His blood) we do show forth the
Lord’s death till he comes. We believe this ordinance
to be largely symbolic in nature. “And when He
had given thanks, He broke it, and said, ‘This
is my body which is for you. Do this in remembrance
of me.’ In the same way also the cup, after supper,
saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant in my blood,
Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of
me.’ Let a man examine himself, and so eat of
the bread and drink of the cup” (1
Cor. 11:24, 25, 28).
8. THE PROMISE OF THE FATHER.
We believe all believers are entitle to, and should
ardently expect and earnestly seek, the promise of the
Father, the Baptism of the Holy Spirit, according to
the command of our Lord Jesus Christ. This was the normal
experience of all believers in the early Christian Church.
With it occurs the endowment of power for life and service,
the impartation of the gifts and their uses in the work
of the ministry. (Luke
24:49; Acts
1:4-8; 1
Cor. 12:1-31). This wonderful experience is distinct
from and subsequent to the experience of the new birth
(Acts
1:8; 2:38;
8:14-17;
10:44-46;
19:1-7).
Scriptures regarding the Baptism of the Holy Spirit (Acts
2:4; 8:17-18; 10:45-46; 19:6).
9. THE CHURCH.
We believe the Church is the body of Christ, the habitation
of God through the Spirit, with divine appointments
for the fulfillment of the great commission. Each believer,
born of the Spirit, is an integral part of the General
Assembly and Church of the first born, which are written
in Heaven. (Eph.
1:22; 2:19-22;
Heb.
12:23)
A. LIVING ORGANISM.
We believe that the Church is the Body of Christ expressed
as the Church individual (a specific Church), the Church
local, and the Church universal and invisible (all saints
of all places and all times united together under one
Lord). As such, we believe the Church to be more than
just a building or a gathering of people. It is a body
living in relationship and harmony under the direction
of the Head, Jesus Christ. (1
Cor. 6:15; 2
Cor. 1:1; 1
Peter 2:4-5; Eph.
2:19-22; 1
Cor. 12:12-31; Rom.
12:4-5; Eph.
4:11-16)
B. CHURCH GOVERNMENT
We believe that God’s form of government for His
church is theocratic in character. We believe that Jesus
Christ is the head of the government of the Church,
both the church universal and invisible and the local
church. We believe that Jesus Christ governs the local
church through local ministries, i.e., God chooses,
calls and equips certain people to be leaders over His
people, investing them with, and delegating to them,
degrees of authority according to His will. We believe
that church leadership and government, with the exception
of very young churches, is plural in that more than
one person will be involved in and have responsibility
for leadership and government. These persons are called
elders. Some elders will have an ascension gift calling
upon their lives and some will not. They are raised
up by God for the purposes of hearing His voice for
that particular congregation, communicating to the membership
what God has spoken, leading the membership by example
exercising oversight not under compulsion, equipping
the saints for the work of service to the building up
of the Body by teaching, correction and discipline,
knowing caring and guarding the flock and making provision
for the daily life and business of the congregation.
Within the group of elders that God raises up in any
local body, the Lord, according to scripture and observed
practice, also places a mantle of leadership upon one
elder, which mantle often manifests itself in the area
of authority and vision in the church. We believe that
the office Head Elder, or Bishop, or Pastor, or Apostle,
is biblical and applicable in the church today. The
one who occupies that office is a first among equals
and is by no means a dictator or absolute authority
in the church to the exclusion of all other leadership.
He is rather the visionary and leader in the group of
eldership. The eldership is submitted to him just as
he is submitted to the eldership in principles of service,
cooperation and the advancement of the kingdom of God.
In God’s order one man cannot meet all the needs
of the people, therefore, there is plurality of leadership.
However, in God’s order, there must be one man
who bears the responsibility before God and who has
the vision that unites and directs the local body, therefore,
there is a set man in each congregation with the anointing
of God to lead in agreement with and submission to the
eldership that God has raised up in the church. We believe
that man will have an ascension gift calling upon his
life. (Eph.
4:8-13; Acts
20:28-31; Mat.
18:15-20; Rev.
1:10-20; Phil.
1:1; Acts
15:22; Acts
14:12; Luke
9:22; Dan.
10:13; Acts
18:8, 17;
2
Cor. 11:5; 2
Cor. 12:11)
We believe that the leader will be an ascension gift
although not necessarily a Pastor although that is the
title given to the leader in this Church. He will be
the one with the final responsibility and decision-making
authority in all matters concerning the Church. He will
be recognized by the grace, anointing, ability and vision
given to him by God. (Num.
27:15-22; 1
Cor. 12:18; Eph.
4:11; Acts
13:1)
C. CHURCH DISCIPLINE.
We believe in Church discipline administered within
the Church 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: private
confrontation, private confrontation with witnesses,
and finally, exposure to the Church or the Board of
Directors for judgment leading to restoration or separation.
(Matt.
18:15-20; Gal.
6:1; Rom.
16:17; 2
John 9-11; 1
Cor. 5; 2
Cor. 2:6-8; 1
Tim. 5:20)
D. AUTONOMY AND RELATIONSHIP.
We believe that the local Church, although autonomous,
will be related to other local Churches and ministries
through fellowship and formed relationships. In particular
we believe that there are foundational ministries of
apostles and prophets that transcend the local Church
and that the local Church should be in a relationship
with such a ministry or ministries for the purpose of
advice, counsel, oversight, encouragement, and help.
Such ministries are designed by God to provide connection
and relationship in the universal Body of Christ between
and among local fellowships and to provide spiritual
covering, protection, accountability, and identify for
local leadership.
10. (3 John 1:2) Beloved, in regard to all things I pray that you prosper and be in health, even as your soul prospers.
We believe that it is God’s will to bless His
people. Prosperity is that condition of being prosperous
and having good success. Prosperity involves the following
areas:
A.
SPIRITUAL.
Spiritual prosperity is that blessing of eternal and
abundant life. (John
3:3,11; 2
Cor. 5:17-21; Rom.
10:9-10)
B.
MENTAL.
Mental prosperity is that condition of having peace
and soundness of mind (2
Tim. 1:7; Rom.
12:2; Isa.
26:3)
C.
PHYSICAL.
We believe the blessing of God extends to the physical
body. This includes the promise of divine healing.
We believe God may use any method He chooses to heal
His people, including medical service. (Isa.
53:4-5; Matt.
8:17; I
Peter 2:24)
D.
FINANCIAL.
It is God’s desire to bless His
people. The Scriptures teach that God
delights in the prosperity of His servants and that
He wants them to have sufficiency in all things, finances
for every good work, and seed for sowing. (3
John 1:2; Mal.
3:10-11; Luke
6:38; 2
Cor. 9:6-10; Deut.
28:1-1)
E.
SOCIAL.
Social prosperity speaks to the fact that God wants
His servants to have peace even with their enemies.
(Prov.
3:4)
11.
BLESSED HOPE.
We believe Jesus is coming again to gather His Saints
to Heaven. (1
Cor. 15:51-52; 1
Thes. 4:16-17; 2
Thes. 2:1)
12. THE LAKE OF FIRE.
We believe those who have not accepted the redemptive
work of Jesus Christ will suffer eternal separation
from the Godhead. The devil and his angels, the beast
and the false prophet, and anyone whose name is not
found written in the book of life, shall be consigned
to everlasting punishment in the lake of fire which
burns with brimstone. This is the second death, the
lake of fire. (Rev.
19:20; 20:11-15)
13.
THE MILLENNIAL REIGN OF JESUS.
We believe the return of our Lord Jesus Christ with
His Saints from Heaven to rule and reign for one thousand
years on earth as the Scriptures promised. (Rom.
11:25,27; 2
Thes. 1:7; Rev.
19:11-16; 20:1-7).
After this, there shall be a new heaven and new earth
(Rev.
21).
14.
MEDIATION OF DISPUTES.
We believe that as members of the same body of Christ,
baptized by one Spirit into one body 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
or the world’s system for judgment. (1
Cor. 6:1-8; Eph
4:3-6)
15. FINANCIAL SUPPORT.
We believe that scripture requires all members of the
congregation to support the programs and needs of the
Church through their tithes and offering in proportion
as the Lord shall prosper them. We believe that the
members of the congregation should accept their responsibility
in maintaining the work of the local Church. (Mal.
3:10; 1
Cor. 16:1-2; 2
Cor. 9:6-9; Heb.
7:1-8)
16. PASTORAL COUNSELING.
We believe that Pastoral counseling is that biblical
responsibility of the shepherd to confront the lives
of the sheep so as to affect change that brings conformity
to the image of the life of the Lord Jesus Christ. (1
Thes. 5:12-14)
17. DIVINE GUIDANCE.
We believe that in all matters concerning the Body of
Christ, including its direction, discipline, ministry
and functioning that specific guidance, instruction,
revelation, and discernment of Truth is available by
the leading of the Holy Spirit who enables us to know
spiritual things by the Spirit. We are confident in
basing decisions and actions upon such faith and direction.
(Acts
13:1-3; 1
Tim. 1:18; Rom.
8:14; 1
Tim. 5:22; John
16:13-15; 1
Cor. 5:3).
18. PROPHETIC MINISTRY IN THE CHURCH.
We believe that God speaks today. There are at least
five channels of prophecy by which God speaks to His
people today. They are the office of the prophet, prophetic
preaching, prophetic presbytery, the gift of prophecy,
and the spirit of prophecy. All five channels are received
and encouraged in this Church. We believe that hearing
from God, both individually as members and corporately
as a Church, through prophecy or any other biblical
means chosen by God to communicate, is essential to
our faith and walk with God. Prophecy and prophetic
utterance is only one method of discerning God’s
will and direction. It is further recognized that none
of the methods or channels or prophecy will always be
completely accurate due to the human vessels God uses
to deliver His communication to us. Action should not
be taken on the basis of a prophetic word without other
confirmation. We believe the prophetic presbytery serves
the purpose in the body of Christ in activating, establishing,
releasing, commissioning, and ordaining individuals
to their office, function, and place of relationship
and / or leadership. (Acts
13:1-3; Rom.
12:6; 1
Thes. 5:19-21; 1
Tim. 4:14, 5:22;
2
Tim. 1:6; Titus
1:5; 1
Peter 4:10).
19. DEDICATIONS.
We do not believe in water baptism of infants as we
cannot find any instance of it in the scriptures. We
do believe, however, in the dedication of infants and
other children to the Lord as found and practiced in
the scripture.
20. WORSHIP.
God has created man to worship Him in Spirit and truth.
Such worship includes singing in the Spirit but has
many other forms. This includes Davidic prophetic worship
forms like lifting hands, clapping, shouting, dancing
and spiritual songs.
21.
LAYING ON OF HANDS.
Laying on of hands is one of the foundational doctrines
of Christ (Heb.
6). Jesus practiced it in Mark
10:13-16 as a blessing. We believe in the laying
on of hands for healing (Mark
5:22-23 and 41;
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
Tim. 4:14); laying on of hands for ordination to
consecrate and receive the necessary ministry tools
(1
Tim. 4:14).
22. SANCTIFICATION.
The Bible teaches that without Holiness no man can see
the Lord. We believe in the doctrine of sanctification
as a definite commencing at the time of regeneration
and continuing until the consummation of salvation (Hebrews
12:14; 1
Thes. 5:23; 2
Peter 3:18; 2
Cor. 3:18; Phil.
3:12-14; 1
Cor. 1:30). The Spirit-filled life is a life of
separation from the world and perfecting of holiness
in the fear of God as an expression of Christian faith
(Eph.
5:18; 2
Cor. 6:14, 7:1).
23. DISCIPLESHIP.
We believe in and practice discipleship in obedience
to our Lord’s command to go and make disciples.
We believe that discipleship is a commitment to a process
of development, growth and discovery. It will involve
a relationship within the Church between those at different
levels of spiritual maturity resulting in the mutual
benefit and growth of all involved. Participation in
discipleship may be in groups or as individuals.
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