1. About the BIBLE
We believe in the plenary-verbal inspiration of the accepted canon of Scriptures as originally given. The 66 books of the Old and New Testaments are the complete and divine revelation of God to man and contain all things necessary for salvation. It is the supreme and final authority for all Christian faith and living, and is infallible and inerrant. The exegesis of the Holy Scriptures should be according to their context and purpose, in reverent obedience to the Lord, who speaks to us through them.
(Proverbs 30:5; John 10:35; Romans 16:25-26; 1 Corinthians 2:13; 2 Timothy. 3:16; 2 Peter 1:20-21)
2. About GOD
We believe in one God—omnipotent, omniscient and omnipresent—perfect in love and righteousness, who is the Creator, Sustainer and Sovereign Ruler of all things visible and invisible. The Godhead eternally exists in three Persons, distinguishable yet inseparable—the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. The Trinity, who are coequal, coeternal and one God, having precisely the same nature, attributes, and perfections; being worthy of all worship and obedience.
(Genesis 1:26; Psalm 19:7-9; Isaiah 9:6; Matthew 3:16,17; 28:18–19; Luke 1:35; 1 Corinthians 8:4; 2 Corinthians. 13:14; Colossians. 1:16-17; Hebrews 3:7-11; 1 John 4:16; 5:7)
3. About JESUS CHRIST
We believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world, truly God and truly man, in whom the divine and human natures are perfectly and inseparably united. He is the eternal Word made flesh, the only begotten Son of the Father, born of the virgin Mary by the power of the Holy Spirit, and led a sinless life. As a ministering Servant He lived, suffered and died on the cross. On the cross, He took the punishment for our sin. With His own blood, He purchased salvation and redemption for all who believe in Him. The blood that Jesus Christ shed on the cross of Calvary was sinless and is 100 percent sufficient to cleanse humankind from all sin. Jesus allowed Himself to be punished for both our sinfulness and our sins, enabling all those who believe to be free from the penalty of sin, which is death. He was buried and rose again on the third day, being victorious over sin and death. His resurrection was followed by His bodily ascension to heaven and His exaltation on high. He is now our Great High Priest, Advocate and Mediator, who intercedes for us. He will return one day in power and glory for His Bride—the Church of the living God, and by Him all men will be judged.
(Isaiah. 7:14; 9:6; Luke 1:26-35; John 1:14-18,29; 14:2-3; 20:28 Romans. 3:10-12, 23; 4:25; 5:9; 1 Corinthians. 15:1-4; 1 Thessalonians. 4:13-18; Colossians 1:20; Phillipians. 2:5,6; 1 Timothy. 2:5; 3:16; 1 John 1:7; Revelation 1:5; 5:9)
4. About the HOLY SPIRIT
We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord and Giver of life, the Spirit of truth and of grace; who proceeds from and is one in being with the Father and the Son. He convicts the world of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment. He regenerates and indwells those who trust in Christ, to baptize them into the body of Christ and seal them for the final day of redemption. He provides the believer with the understanding of spiritual truths, guidance for righteousness and godliness, power for victorious living and supernatural working of the ministry; thus glorifying the Son. For anyone to know God, regeneration by the Holy Spirit is absolutely essential.
(Joel 2:28,29; Matthew 3:11; Mark 16:17; John 14:16-17; 16:7-13; Acts 1:5, 8; 2:1-4,17, 38, 39; 8:14-17; 10:38,44-47; 11:15-17; 19:1-6; Ephesians 1:13-14; 1 Corinthians 2:9-12; 2 Corinthians 3:17-18, Hebrews 10:29)
5. About HUMAN BEINGS
We believe the whole of humanity—both male and female—is created in the image of God, as a free-will being. However through the fall of Adam, mankind inherited sin’s nature and consequences. Though we are the prized creation of God and have tremendous potential for good, all of us are marred by an attitude of disobedience toward God, called sin, which separates us from Him and causes all problems in life. By nature and by choice, we have become sinners in thought, word and deed. We have all fallen short of His glory. Nonetheless, we are still the supreme objects of God’s creation and matter deeply to Him. The sacredness of human personality is evident in that God created man in His own image, and in that Christ died for man; therefore, every person of every race possesses full dignity and is worthy of respect and Christian love.
(Genesis 1:27; Psalm 8:3-6; Isaiah 53:6, 59:1-2; Romans 3:23, 5:12)
6. About REPENTANCE
Repentance is the commitment to turn away from sin in every area of our lives and to follow Christ, which allows us to receive His redemption and to be regenerated by the Holy Spirit. Thus, only through repentance we receive forgiveness of sins and appropriate salvation.
(Acts 2:21; 3:19; 1 John 1:9)
7. About SALVATION
We believe that eternal salvation is the free gift of God we receive by grace through faith in Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. A Believer relinquishes the authority of their lives over to Him, thus making Jesus the Lord of their lives as well as Savior. They put their trust in what Jesus accomplished for them when He died, was buried and rose again from the dead. Salvation is not self-improvement and can never be achieved by our own good works or human effort. Total salvation involves regeneration, justification, sanctification and glorification of the believer. Regeneration occurs when we repent from our sins and trust in Christ’s redemptive work; which the Holy Spirit bears witness that we are children of God. We are then justified by the precious blood of Christ, which cleanses us from all our sins and guilt and brings us into a relationship of peace and favor with God. Sanctification is the on-going process and experience, beginning in regeneration, by which the believer is set apart to God’s purposes, progressing toward moral and spiritual maturity. It is the continuing work of grace, through the presence and power of the Holy Spirit dwelling in a believer—to make us holy and perfect, just as God is holy and perfect. Glorification is the culmination of salvation and is the final blessed and abiding state of the redeemed.
(Romans 6:23; Ephesians 2:8-9; John 14:6; Galatians 3:26; Romans. 10:9-10; 1 John 1:9-10; Acts 16:31; Galatians 2:16; 3:8; Ephesians 2:8,9; Titus 3:5; Hebrews 9:22)
8. About WATER BAPTISM
We believe in the necessity of water baptism by immersion in the name of God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit in order to fulfill the command of the Lord Jesus Christ. Through the sacrament of baptism, there is an impartation of God’s grace to help us to live an overcoming, crucified life. The rebellious nature of the fallen flesh will start losing its power in us, and we will start walking in the newness of life. Water baptism also signifies entrance into the household of faith, and is a symbol of repentance and inner cleansing from sin, a representation of the new birth in Christ Jesus and a mark of Christian discipleship.
(Matthew 28:19-20; Mark 16:16; Acts 2:34-36; 19:1-6. Romans 6:1-6)
9. About the BAPTISM in the HOLY SPIRIT
We believe that the baptism in the Holy Spirit is a real and distinct experience at, or subsequent, to salvation, with the Bible evidence of speaking in other tongues as the Holy Spirit gives utterance. It is the “promise of the Father” fulfilled on the Day of Pentecost, which empowers believers to become effective witnesses for the risen Christ. This Spirit baptism opens the door for us to enter into God’s supernatural realm of signs, wonders and mighty miracles.
(Mark 16:16-18; Luke 24:29; Acts 1:4, 8; 2:1-4; 8:14-17; 10:44-45; Acts 19:6; Jude 20)
10. About HOLY COMMUNION
We believe in the Eucharist, commonly called “communion” or “the Lord’s Supper,” for believers. The Eucharist is a both a sacrament which imparts grace for Christian living and an ordinance that proclaims our redemption. It is also a memorial of the sufferings and death of Christ, and a token of love and union which Christians have with Christ and with one another. Those who rightly, worthily and in faith eat the broken bread and drink the blessed cup partake of the body and blood of Christ in a spiritual manner until He comes.
(1 Corinthians 11:28-32; Matt. 26:26-28, 2 Pet. 1:4; Mark 16:16; Acts 8:12,36-38; 10:47, 48; 1 Corinthians 10:16; 11:23-26)
11. About the GIFTS of the HOLY SPIRIT
We believe that the nine supernatural gifts of the Holy Spirit, as listed in 1 Corinthians 12-14, and the five leadership ministries, as given in Ephesians 4:11-13, are still operational in the Church today. The Holy Spirit is manifested through a variety of spiritual gifts to build and sanctify the Church, demonstrate the validity of the resurrection and confirm the power of the gospel. These gifts are necessary to equip God’s people for the work of the ministry, so that the body of Christ can be edified and grow into spiritual maturity. The lists of these gifts in the Bible are not necessarily exhaustive, and the gifts may occur in various combinations. All believers are commanded to earnestly desire the manifestation of the gifts in their lives. These gifts always operate in harmony with the Scriptures and should never be used in violation of biblical parameters.
(Romans 1:11; 12:4-8; 1 Corithians 12:1-31; 14:1-40; Ephesians 4:16; 1 Timothy 4:14; 2 Timothy 1:5-16; Hebrews 2:4; 1 Peter 4:10, 1 Pet. 4:10-11
12. About the SANCTIFIED LIFE
We believe that the true Christian faith is expressed through a sanctified life, which is the life of separation, in this present world, from sinful habits and perfecting of holiness in the fear of God. The agent to bring about sanctification is the Word of God and the Holy Spirit. Every Christian should be filled with the sanctifying presence and power of the Spirit, and pursue holiness, without which no one will see the Lord. Sanctification is the ongoing process of yielding to God’s Word and His Spirit in order to complete the development of Christ’s character in us. It is through the present ministry of the Holy Spirit and the Word of God that the Christian is enabled to live a godly life.
(Romans 8:29; 12:1,2; Ephesians 5:18; 2 Corinthians 3:18; 6:14-18; 7:1; John 17:17; 1 Thessalonians 4:3; 5:23; 2 Thessalonians 2:1-3; 2:13, Hebrews 2:11; 12:14, 1 John 3:6-10
13. God’s Will for PROVISION
It is the Father’s will for believers to become whole, healthy and successful in all areas of life. But because of the fall, many may not receive the full benefits of God’s will while on earth. That fact, though, should never prevent all believers from seeking the full benefits of Christ’s provision in order to serve others.
Spiritual (John 3:3-11; Romans 10:9,10; 2 Corinthians 5:17-21)
Mental and emotional (Isaiah 26:3; Romans 12:2; Philippians 4:7,8; 2 Timothy 1:7; 2:11)
Physical (Isaiah 53:4,5; Matthew 8:17; 1 Peter 2:24)
Financial (Deuteronomy 28:1-14; Joshua 1:8; Psalm 34:10; 84:11; Malachi 3:10,11; Luke 6:38; 2 Corinthians 9:6-10; Philippians 4:19)
14. About DIVINE HEALING
We believe that when Jesus died on the cross, He also bore our sicknesses and diseases. Divine healing is an integral part of the gospel. Deliverance from sickness is provided for in the atonement, and is the privilege of all believers. As such, in answer to believing prayer, the healing of the physical body and deliverance from demonic oppression by God’s power in Jesus’ name is as valid today as it was in the Early Church.
(Isaiah 53:4-5, Matthew 8:16-17; Mark 16:17; Acts 4:30; Acts 10:38; Romans 8:11; 1 Corinthians 12:9; James 5:14; Psalm 103:2,3; Isaiah 53:5; Matthew 8:16,17; Mark 16:17,18; Acts 8:6,7; Romans 11:29; 1 Corinthians 12:9,28; James. 5:14-16)
15. About the SECOND COMING
We believe in “the Blessed Hope,” which is the rapture of the Church, at Christ’s second coming. In that visible return He will raise the dead, judge the world, separate the righteous from the wicked, bring peace to the nations, and establish His millennial reign on earth and eventually His eternal kingdom.
(Titus 2:13; 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17, 1 Corinthians 15:51-52, Revelations 20:1-6; Matthew 24:30; 26:63,64; Acts 1:9-11; 2 Thessalonians 1:7,8; Revelation 1:7)
16. About SATAN
We believe in the reality and depraved personality of Satan, also known as the devil who is the great enemy of God and man. He, along with the company of demonic beings serving him, works out his evil plans through the ungodly world system to oppose the will of God, though he is limited by the sovereign rule of God. He was judged by Christ at the cross and will ultimately face everlasting judgment in the lake of fire, with his demons, where he will remain eternally.
(John 8:44; Revelations 12:9-10; 2 Corinthians 4:4; 1 John 5:19; 1 John 3:8; Matthew 25:41; Revelations 20:10, 14-15)
17. About ETERNAL LIFE
We believe in the everlasting life for believers and everlasting punishment for sinners. God gives eternal life through Jesus Christ. When we are genuinely saved, we can have the security of knowing that God will keep us by His grace and power and present us faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy.
(John 5:24; 3:16; Revelations 20:15; John 10:29; 2 Timothy 1:12, Jude 1:24; Luke 24:16,36,39; John 2:19-21; 20:26-28; 21:4; Acts 24:15; 1 Corinthians 15:42,44; Philippians 1:21-23; 3:21)
18. About the CHURCH
We believe that there is one true holy, apostolic and catholic Church, that is made up of genuine believers, but comprising many churches in various localities. These local churches are under the sovereign headship of the Lord Jesus Christ, exercising autonomous government under Him, administering all its local affairs and ministries. The Church is called to serve Christ by preaching the gospel and making disciples of all nations, administering the sacraments, striving for social justice, and by relieving human distresses and needs.
(Matt. 16:18; 18:15-20, 1 Peter 2:9-10; Ephesians 1:22,23 2:19-22; Acts 2:42; Eph. 4:11-13; Hebrews 10:25; Matthew 28:18-20; John 17:11,20-23; Ephesians 1:22; 2:19-22; Hebrews 12:23)
19. About MARRIAGE
Marriage is the uniting of one man and one woman in covenant commitment for a lifetime. It is God’s unique gift to reveal the union between Christ and His Church and to provide for the man and the woman in marriage the framework for intimate companionship, the channel of sexual expression according to biblical standards, and the means for procreation of the human race. Christians are instructed by Scriptures not to be unequally yoked with unbelievers in marriage and not to engage in sex before marriage. However if one received salvation after marrying an unbeliever, the person should remain committed to the marriage and trust in God’s wisdom to sanctify the whole family.
(Genesis1:26-28; 2:15-25; Matt.19:3-9; Mark 10:6-12; 1 Corinthians 7:1-16; Ephesians 5:21-33; Hebrews 13:4; 2 Corinthians 6:14; 1 Corinthians 7:2-5,10-16)