
- THE HOLY SCRIPTURE
- We believe the Holy Scriptures (composed of all 66 books in the Old and New Testaments) are God’s written, objective, propositional revelation to man. Thus, these books given to us by the Holy Spirit constitute the Word of God. (1 Corinthians 2:7-14; 2 Peter 1:20,21)
- We believe in the verbal inspiration of Scriptures, i.e., that inspiration is not limited only to the thoughts of Scripture but extends to the very words of Scripture (Matthew 22:32,41-45; John 10:34-35; Galatians 3:16). Since the words are inspired, we also believe that the entire Scriptures are inspired and not just some of its books or some parts of it (2 Timothy 3:16)
- We believe the Scriptures to be the supreme and sole authority and the only infallible rule in all matters of faith and conduct (Isaiah 8:20; Jeremiah 23:28,29) and that they contain the will of God completely and that everything one must believe to be saved is sufficiently taught in them (2 Timothy 3:14-17). We thus distinguish between the 66 canonical books and the apocrypha (called Deuterocanonicals by the Roman Catholics). The Church may certainly read these books and learn from them as far as they agree with the canonical books, however, they do not have such power and virtue that one could confirm from their testimony any point of faith or practice of the Christian religion (Revelation 22:18,19). Similarly, we do not consider human writings—no matter how holy their authors may have been—equal to the divine writings; nor do we put custom, nor the majority, nor the passage of time, nor persons, nor councils, decrees or official decisions above the Scriptures, for the Scriptures are above everything else (Psalm 119:97-104; Isaiah 8:20).
- We believe that the Scriptures are without error or fault in all the teaching whether that has to do with doctrine, history, future events, science, geology, geography or other disciplines of knowledge (Psalm 19:7-11).
- We believe that the Scriptures were produced by a process of dual authorship. The Holy Spirit so superintended the human authors that, through their individual and different styles of writing, they composed and recorded God’s Word to man (2 Peter 1:20,21).
- We believe that, whereas there may be several applications of any given passage of Scripture, there is but one true interpretation. The meaning of Scripture is to be found as one diligently applies the literal, grammatical-historical method of interpretation under the enlightenment of the Holy Spirit (John 7:17; 16:12-15; 1 Corinthians 2:7-15; 1 John 2:20).
- We believe that all essential matters pertaining to faith and practice are so clearly propounded and explained in one place or another, that men, educated or uneducated, may attain to a sufficient understanding of them, without the interposition of an institutional or ecclesiastical authority to interpret the Scripture for them, if they but use the ordinary means.
Allied to this, we also believe that the individual is responsible directly to God for his beliefs, and that God will hold him responsible only to believe what is taught in Scripture, apart from the teaching of humanly devised creeds and institutions; or unwritten traditions however ancient; or subjective impressions, visions, dreams and prophecies.
- THE TRIUNE GOD
- God Is One (adapted from The Genevan Confession [1536]). We believe that there is only one God, Whom we are both to worship and serve, and in Whom we are to put all our confidence and hope: having this assurance that in Him alone is contained all wisdom, power, justice, goodness and mercy. And since He is invisible, incorporeal, immense, eternal and Creator of all things both visible and invisible, He is to be served in spirit and in truth. Therefore we think it an abomination to put our confidence and hope in any created thing to worship anything else than Him, whether angels or any other creatures, and to recognize any other Savior of our souls than Him alone, whether saints or men living upon earth. Likewise, we think it an abomination to offer the service, which ought to be rendered to Him, in mere external ceremonies or empty religious observance, as if He took pleasure in such things (Hebrews 11:6); or to make an image to represent His divinity or any other image for adoration (Exodus 20:1-6; Isaiah 43:11; 44:6-8; 45:5, 18,21; 46:9; Zechariah 14:9; Malachi 2: 10; Matthew 23:9; Mark 12:32; John 4:24; Romans 1:18-23;
- 1 Corinthians 8:4-6; Ephesians 4:5-6; 1 Timothy 2:5; James 2:19; Revelation 22:8,9). God Is Three. Notwithstanding, we believe that in this one and indivisible God are three persons, (not three titles or offices or relationships to humanity, nor three successive roles played by one person, nor three gods in a cluster) inseparably and without confusion distinguished as Father, Son and Holy Spirit so, as the Father has begotten the Son from eternity, the Son is begotten by an inexplicable mysterious way; and the Holy Spirit truly proceeds from Them both, and the same is from eternity--each is to be worshipped with both.
- Thus there are not three Gods but three Persons, consubstantial, coeternal and coequal. These three Persons are distinct from one another; and with respect to order, the one preceding the other yet without any inequality. For according to the nature or essence they are so joined together that They are one God, and the divine nature is common to the Father, Son and Holy Spirit (Matthew 3:16,17; 28:19,20; John 5:31,36,37; 8:13-18; 10:30; 15:26; 2 Corinthians 13:14; Hebrews 1:1-3).
- In short, we receive the Apostles' Creed, the Nicene and the Athanasian Creeds because they deliver to us the true faith. Therefore we reject the teaching of the Jews and Moslems that there is only one person in one God. We also reject the Oneness teaching that "Father," "Son" and "Spirit" refer only to three offices, roles, or relationships to humanity played by one person and thus blaspheme the other persons in the Trinity. We also reject all heresies that teach that there is something/someone created and subservient, or subordinate to another in the Trinity, and that there is something/someone unequal in it, a greater or a lesser, as the Jehovah's Witnesses, the lglesia ni Kristos, the Mormons, Scientologists, New Age proponents and such like, have taught.
- THE LORD JESUS CHRIST
- We believe that the eternal Son of God became man without ceasing to be God, having been conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary, in order that He, the Lord Jesus Christ, might reveal God and redeem sinful men (Matthew 1:23; 28:19; Luke 1:35; 5:20,21; John 1:1,3,10,14,18; 5:18; Romans 9:5; 2 Corinthians 13:14; Philippians 2:6-11; Colossians 1:15-20; 2:9; Titus 2:13; Hebrews 1:3,8; 2 Peter 1:1; Revelation 1:13-18; 22:13).
- We believe that He accomplished our redemption through His death on the cross as a representative, vicarious, substitutionary sacrifice; and that our justification is made sure by His literal physical resurrection from the dead (Romans 3:24,25; Ephesians 1:7; 1 Peter 1:3-5, 2:24).
- We believe that He ascended to heaven, and is now exalted at the right hand of God as King and High Priest - as King to reign until He has put all His enemies under His feet (1 Corinthians 15:24-28), and as High Priest fulfilling the ministry of Representative, Intercessor, and Advocate for the believers (Acts 1:9-11; 2:33; Hebrews 1:3; 7:25; 9:24; Romans 8:34; 1 John 2:1,2).
- We believe in His literal, physical and personal return to establish the Messianic Kingdom on earth for one thousand years in fulfilment of the promises to Israel; and that before this He will come for His bride, the Church, the dead in Christ to be resurrected and those alive to be translated into the glorified state (Isaiah 11: 1-6; 32:1-20; 65:17-25; Psalm 2:6-9,72; 2 Samuel 7:12-16; Jeremiah 31:38-40, 33:15; Daniel 7:13,14; Micah 4:1-8; Zechariah 9:10, 14:9-11; Luke 1:31-33; Matthew 19:28; Acts 15:15-17. Church - John 14:1-3; 1 Thessalonians 1: 10; 4:13-17; 5:9-10; Revelation 3: 10).
- THE HOLY SPIRIT
- We believe that the eternal Son of God became man without ceasing to be God, having been conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary, in order that He, the Lord Jesus Christ, might reveal God and redeem sinful men (Matthew 1:23; 28:19; Luke 1:35; 5:20,21; John 1:1,3,10,14,18; 5:18; Romans 9:5; 2 Corinthians 13:14; Philippians 2:6-11; Colossians 1:15-20; 2:9; Titus 2:13; Hebrews 1:3,8; 2 Peter 1:1; Revelation 1:13-18; 22:13).
- We believe that the Holy Spirit empowers believers for service with the usual, though not necessary, evidence of speaking in tongues as the Spirit gives utterance and that this is a beneficial, distinct and renewable experience. This second work of the Holy Spirit is distinct from His indwelling at the time of regeneration although both works or manifestations may occur at the same time (Matthew 3:11; Acts 1:8; 2:4; 4:31; 8:15-17; 19:1-7; Luke 11:13; Galatians 3:5; 1 Thessalonians 4:8).
- We believe that the Holy Spirit continually infills every believer for victorious living and the diverse challenges of his walk to perfect conformity with the Lord Jesus Christ, but contingent upon his continual yielding to the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 5:18; 2 Corinthians 3:18; Romans 8:13,14, 26-30).
- THE MIRACULOUS & THE SUPERNATURAL
- We believe in the literal truth and historicity of miracles and the extraordinary manifestations of the supernatural in the Old and New Testaments (e.g. the creation, the fall of man, the flood, the dispersion of nations, the miracles wrought by the prophets, by Jesus and the apostles, the existence of the Devil, demons, and angels, the spiritual conflict in the supernatural realm, the gifts and wonderful works of the Holy Spirit).
- We also believe in the operation of the gifts of the Holy Spirit among believers throughout the Church age. (1 Corinthians 12:4-11)
- MAN
- We believe that man was created in the image and likeness of God, but that in Adam's sin the race fell, inherited a sinful nature and became alienated from God; and that man is totally depraved and thus of himself utterly unable to remedy his lost condition; and that he is spiritually dead and thus totally incapable of any spiritual good (Genesis 1:26,27; Ephesians 2:1-3; Romans 3:22,23; 5:12; 1 Corinthians 2:11-14).
- SALVATION
- We believe that salvation is by grace, a free gift of God apart from works (Ephesians 2:8,9; Titus 3:5-7; Romans 10:1-10).
- We believe that it is absolutely necessary for man to come first to a knowledge of the essentials of the gospel before he can be saved (Romans 1:16; 10:14,17; 1 Corinthians 15:1,2; Colossians 1: 5-7; 1 Timothy 2:3-7; Acts 20:21; 26:20; Hebrews 6:1; 1 Thessalonians 1: 9b).
- We believe that it is absolutely essential for the Holy Spirit to bring a man to conviction of sin, to repentance, to faith and to rebirth in order to be saved. Being thus born again, he becomes a child of God and manifests a radically changed life that is no longer conformed to the world system but redirected to the things of the Spirit (John 16:8-11; Acts 11:18; 13:48; 18:27; John 3:3-5; Ezekiel 36:26,27; 2 Corinthians 5:17; 1 Peter 1: 23).
- We believe that the truly saved person can rejoice in the assurance and eternal security of his salvation through the testimony of God's Word, the witness of the Holy Spirit, and the exhibition of a Christlike character, such as righteousness, holiness, and love. (1 John 5:11,12; Romans 8:16; 2 Peter 1:5-11).
- We believe that a truly saved man - with God working in him to will and to act according to His good purpose will exert all effort to be holy and continue to persevere in doing so till death or until the Lord's return; for without holiness no one will see the Lord (Hebrews 12:14; Philippians 2:12,13; 2 Peter 1: 5-11).
- THE CHURCH
- We believe that the Church of Christ, distinct from Israel, consists of those who in all ages have been or are, in vital relationship with our Lord Jesus Christ as a result of the 'new birth' (Matthew 16:18; Ephesians 1:22,23; 5:25-27.7 1 Corinthians 12:12-14; 2 Corinthians 11:2).
- We believe that the establishment and continuance of local churches is clearly taught and defined in the New Testament (Acts 14:27; 20:17; 20:28-32; 1 Corinthians 1:10-12; 3:16,17; 11:22; Matthew 16:18; 1 Timothy 3:1-15; Titus 1: 5-11).
- We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ has left two ordinances to be observed by the Church in commemoration of His person and work. The one is baptism by immersion in the Name of the Father , Son and Holy Spirit; the other is the partaking of the Lord's Supper (Matthew 28:19-20; Acts 2:41, 46; 16:33; 1 Corinthians 11:23 -32).
- We believe in God-sent revivals where the Holy Spirit miraculously and sovereignly kindles the interest, quickens the conscience or generates intense spiritual hunger and fervor of His people (2 Chronicles 7:14).
- We reject counterfeit revivals emphasizing emotionalism and revivalism such as the 'Toronto' Phenomena (a.k.a. laughing revival ) and the like.
- THE FUTURE EVENTS
- We believe in the pre-tribulation rapture of the Church of Jesus Christ and His Second Coming to establish His millennial Kingdom after which He ushers all believers into eternity (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, 1 Corinthians 15: 51-57; John 14:1-3; 1 Thessalonians 5:9; Titus 2:13-14; Revelation 20:1-22:6).
- THE RESURRECTION
- We believe in the bodily resurrection of all men - the saved to eternal abode in the glory of God's presence, and the unsaved to judgment and everlasting punishment in the lake of fire (Matthew 25:46; John 5:28-29; 11:25-26; Revelation 20:6,13).
- THE GREAT COMMISSION
- We believe that it is the urgent obligation of the saved to witness by life and by word to the truths of the Holy Scripture and to proclaim the Gospel to all mankind, opposing all its substitutionary and veiled forms such as hyperfaith/prosperity gospel, pragmatism, user-friendly concepts and liberal theological views (Mark 16:16; Acts 1:8; 2 Corinthians 5:18-20; 1 Peter 2:9,10; Matthew 28:18-20).