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THE SCRIPTURES - 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, as recorded
in the New Testament, we accept as our infallible guide
in matters pertaining to conduct and doctrine (2 Tim. 3:16;
1 Thess. 2:13; 2 Peter 1:21). |
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THE GODHEAD - Our God is one, but manifested in three
Persons - the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, being
coequal (Deut. 6:4;Phil. 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).
The Holy Spirit proceeds forth from both the Father and the
Son and is eternal (John 14:16;John 15:26). |
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MAN, HIS FALL AND REDEMPTION - Man is a created being,
made in the likeness and image of God, but through Adam's
transgression and fall, sin came into the world. The Bible
says "...all have sinned, and come short of the glory
of God," and "...There is none righteous, no,
not one." (Rom. 3:10; 3:23). Jesus Christ, the Son
of God, was manifested to undo the works of the devil and
gave His life and shed His blood to redeem and restore
man back to God (Rom. 5:14; 1 John 3:8).
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 (Eph.
2:8-10). |
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ETERNAL LIFE AND THE NEW BIRTH - Man's first step toward
salvation is godly sorrow that worketh repentance. The New
Birth is necessary to all men, and when experienced, produces
eternal life (2 Cor. 7:10; John 3:3-5; 1 John 5:12). |
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WATER BAPTISM - Baptism in water is by immersion, is
a direct commandment of our Lord, and is for believers
only. The ordinance is a symbol of the Christian's identification
with Christ in His death, burial, and resurrection (Matt.
28:19; Rom. 6:4; Col. 2:12; Acts 8:36-39).
The following recommendation regarding the water baptismal
formula is adopted; to wit: "On the confession of your
faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, and by His
authority, I baptize you in the Name of the Father, and the
Son, and the Holy Ghost. Amen." |
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BAPTISM IN THE HOLY GHOST - The Baptism in the Holy
Ghost 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 (Matt.
3:11; John 14:16,17; Acts 1:8; Acts 2:38,39; Acts 19:1-7;
Acts 2:1-4). |
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SANCTIFICATION - 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 (Heb.
12:14; 1 Thess. 5:23; 2 Peter 3:18; 2 Cor. 3:18; Phil.
3:12-14; 1 Cor. 1:30). |
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DIVINE HEALING - 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 (James 5:14,15; Mark 16:18; Isa.
53:4,5; Matt. 8:17; 1 Peter 2:24). |
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RESURRECTION OF THE JUST AND THE
RETURN OF OUR LORD - The angels said to Jesus' disciples, "...This same
Jesus, which 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 Thess.
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 (Rev. 5:10;20:6). |
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HELL AND ETERNAL RETRIBUTION - 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 the 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 (Heb. 9:27;
Rev. 19:20). |
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