Statement of Faith

John 3: 16 is the message of the scriptures in a nutshell. This is the Good News, the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the message of the cross and the resurrection of Jesus from the dead for the forgiveness of the sins of the world. We believe that Jesus’ death and resurrection opened the heavens for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit for all who would believe in Him, “He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, ‘From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.” John 7: 38.

1. We believe in one God manifested in three persons, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. We believe that the three are one in essence and unity. John 14: 26; 15:26; 1 Corinthians 1: 3; 8: 6; Ephesians 4: 4-6; 1 Peter 1: 2.

2. We believe in Jesus Christ, God’s Son, who was born of the virgin Mary and was conceived by the Holy Spirit. We believe that Jesus is God in the flesh who has come to dwell among us and to show us the truth about who God is. We believe that Jesus died for the sins of the whole world and resurrected on the third day according to the scriptures. John 1: 1; John 1: 14; 1 Corinthians 15: 1-8;2 Corinthians 5: 21; Philippians 2: 11; Hebrews 1: 1-4; 2 Peter 1: 1; 1 John 5: 20.

3. We believe in the Holy Spirit who was sent by the Father and the Son to dwell in those who have believed in Jesus. We believe that the Holy Spirit as Jesus said leads us into all the truth and reminds us of all that Jesus said and did, the Holy Spirit empowers the church to be effectual witnesses of Jesus to the world. The Holy Spirit convicts the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment. The Holy Spirit helps us to live the Christian life in purity and holiness as well as empowering us, the church, with accompanying signs and wonders through His gifts. Luke 24: 49, Acts 1: 8; John14: 26, 15: 26, 16: 8-14.

4. We believe in the revelation of God through the pages of scripture, the Bible. We believe that God has made Himself known by speaking through human authors but inspired by the Holy Spirit to reveal to us His mind and heart, the condition of people in the world, and the way of salvation for all creation. Hebrews 1: 1; 1 Peter 1: 10-11; 2 Peter 1: 21. We believe that Jesus is whom the Law, the Prophets and the Psalms point to as the Messiah who fulfills the grand scheme of God’s will and promises by His death and resurrection. Luke 24: 25-27; John 5: 39. We believe that the writers of
the scriptures were moved and inspired to write by the Holy Spirit. 2 Peter 1: 20. We believe that the words of scripture were written for our instruction and hope and were written to correct us, to reprove us when wrong and to train us in the way of righteousness. 2 Timothy 3: 16. It is the Lord Jesus who said that He is like the sower who sows His word into our lives and that if we build our lives on His word we would be building upon a solid rock. Matthew 7: 24-27. Jesus said, “Heaven and earth will pass away but my words will not pass away. Matthew 24: 35. We believe that what was written in Scripture was written for us to give us encouragement and hope. Romans 15: 4.

5. We believe in the death of Jesus Christ, His cross, His blood, and His resurrection as the only means of salvation for all humanity. Romans 5: 8;
1 Corinthians 2: 2; Ephesians 1: 7; 1 Corinthians 15: 16-17. Salvation is not a formula to be repeated or a destination to reach but it is coming to Jesus by faith recognizing that “(God) made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” 2 Corinthians 5: 21. The scripture says, “If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” Romans 10: 9. Jesus said, “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on him.” John 3: 36. And, “For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in Him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.” John 6: 40. In the gospels, the blind, the lame, the leper are all representations of those whom Jesus came to heal and restore. Jesus said that He didn’t come to call those who are healthy but those who are sick, He did not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance. Mark 2: 17; Matthew 9: 12. Jesus said that the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost. Luke 19: 10. Therefore, salvation is offered by Jesus to those who recognize their spiritual blindness and desperate need of a savior. Paul said, “For by grace you have been
saved through faith and this is the gift of God, not by works so that no one can boast.” Ephesians 2: 8-9. We can never make up for our sins and attain salvation by our performance or our own good doing, but only by putting our faith in Jesus as the One whom God gave to be the savior of the world. However, salvation is a relationship with Jesus, it means, “Continuing in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you have heard...” Colossians 1: 23. Jesus said, “Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me.” John 15: 4.

6. We believe in the ministry of the Holy Spirit for empowerment and transformation of our lives. Luke 24: 49; John 20: 22. It is Jesus who baptizes those who believe in Him with the Holy Spirit and fire as John the Baptist said. Matthew 3: 11; Mark 1: 8; Luke 3: 16; John 1: 33. We believe that the Holy Spirit is our comforter and helper, guiding us into all the truth and reminding us of all that Jesus said and did for us. John 14: 26, 15: 26, 16: 13. We believe that Jesus sent the Holy Spirit so we could continue His work on earth by doing “even greater things” and Him going away was going to be “to our advantage” because the same Holy Spirit who was in Jesus, He has sent to be in us. John 14: 12, 16: 7. In the book of Acts, we find the fulfillment of God’s promise as the disciples were baptized by the Holy Spirit on the feast of Pentecost, confirming the words of Joel the prophet that in the last days God would pour His Spirit upon all flesh and His sons and daughters would prophecy. Acts 2: 1- 4, 14-21. We believe that believers need to be instructed in what the baptism of the Holy Spirit is, like Peter and John when they were sent by the church in Jerusalem to pray for those who had received the word of God in Samaria. Acts 8: 14-17. Same as Paul, when he asked the new disciples in Ephesus, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” Acts 19: 1-7. Paul instructs the Roman church that the “Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus has set us free from the law of sin and death”, Romans 8: 2, 4. Paul says that through the Spirit we are now sons of God by which we can say “Abba Father.” Romans 8: 15. Paul teaches the Corinthian church that his message, the gospel, was not in eloquent words but rather in the demonstration of the Spirit and of power. 1 Corinthians 2: 4. We believe that God the Holy Spirit has given spiritual gifts to build up and edify the Body of Jesus Christ, the church, in the world. 1 Corinthians 12: 4-8, 14: 1; Ephesians 4: 9-13. Paul says, “You are a letter of Christ...written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.” 2 Corinthians 3: 3. Paul teaches the Galatian Christians that the Holy Spirit comes to us by the “Hearing of faith.” Galatians 3: 2.

7. We believe in the church of Jesus Christ as His visible body in this world, Ephesians 1: 3, made up of people of every tongue, tribe and nation, Rev. 5: 9, 7: 9. We believe that Jesus purchased the church with His own blood. Acts 20: 28. We believe that the church is God’s household, the pillar and support of the truth, 1 Timothy 3: 15. We believe in the Church as Jesus described it to Peter, “You are Peter and upon this rock will build my church and the gates of Hell shall not overpower it.” Matthew 16: 18. We believe in the church as God’s spiritual building where Jesus Himself is the Cornerstone, and we, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual House to offer up spiritual sacrifices to God. I Peter 2: 4-5. We believe that the Church is God’s household, God’s building, “Built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the Cornerstone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord.” Ephesians 2: 20-21. Through the church, God’s plans and unsearchable riches of Christ are being made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places, Ephesians 3: 10. We believe that the church, is an heir of God and fellow heir with Christ, Romans 8: 17, and that the church is seated at the right hand of God, where Christ is. Colossians 3: 1. We believe that the church is the bride of Christ and that the church is loved, cleansed, and made beautiful without spot or wrinkle, that He might present the church to Himself holy and without blemish in all her splendor. Ephesians 5: 22-33. Peter says, “But you [The Church] are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.” 1 Peter 2: 9.

8. We believe in the Great Commission of the Lord Jesus Christ to go and make disciples of all the nations, Matthew 28: 18-20, to preach the gospel to all creation, Mark 16: 15; to proclaim repentance in Jesus’ name to all the nations, Luke 24: 44- 49; to know that it is Jesus who sends us to proclaim forgiveness of sins, freedom from the domain of Satan to God, and release from darkness to light. John 20: 21-23;Acts 26: 16-19.

9. We believe in celebrating the Lord’s Supper as the Lord Jesus instructed us and it is to be shared in remembrance of His broken Body and spilled blood of the new covenant on behalf of His church. Luke 22: 14-19. We believe in water baptism by immersion signifying our oneness with Jesus in His death and oneness in His resurrection. Romans 6: 4.

10. We believe in the visible return of Jesus to this world, “Behold He is coming in the clouds and every eye will see Him...” Revelation 1: 7. We believe that Jesus will make all things wrong right and will wipe away every tear and there will be no longer any death, mourning nor crying or pain. Revelation 21: 4. We believe that the Day of Lord will come as a thief in the night while people are saying, “Peace and safety,” then destruction will come upon them suddenly like labor pains upon a woman with child.” 1 Thessalonians 5: 3-4. We believe that the trumpet will sound and the dead in
Christ will be raised imperishable and we shall be changed, death will be swallowed up in victory. 1 Corinthians 15: 50-54. We believe that Jesus will establish His Kingdom on earth, in Jerusalem, and we will reign with Him for a thousand years. We believe that Satan and all his angels will be bound during this time. Revelation 20: 4- 6. We believe that we are to stay sober having put on the breastplate of faith and love and the helmet of salvation because God has not destined us for wrath but forsalvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Thess. 5:9.