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Our Mandate is
to preach the gospel of Christ's Kingdom to all nations, using every
medium possible.
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Our Beliefs:
We believe the Bible is the inspired Word of God, a revelation from
God to mankind, the infallible rule of faith and conduct, and is
superior to conscience and reason, but not contrary to reason (2
Timothy 3:15-16; 1 Peter 2:2).
We believe the one true God has revealed Himself as the eternally
self-existent, self-revealed "I AM" and has further revealed Himself
as embodying the principles of relationship and association, i.e.,
Father, Son, and Holy Ghost (Deuteronomy 6:4; Mark 12:29; Isaiah
43:10, 11; Matthew 28:19).
We believe that man was created good and upright, for God said "Let
us make man in our image, after our likeness." But man, by voluntary
transgression, fell, and his only hope of redemption is in Jesus
Christ the Son of God (Genesis 1:26-31: 3:1-7; Romans 5:12-21).
We believe the grace of God, which brings salvation, has appeared to
all men, through the preaching of repentance toward God and faith
toward the Lord Jesus Christ; man is saved by the washing of
regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost, and, being justified by
grace through faith, he becomes an heir of God according to the hope
of eternal life (Titus 2:11; Romans 10:13-15; Luke 23:47; Titus
3:5-7). The "inward" evidence to the believer of his salvation is
the direct witness of the Spirit (Romans 8:16). The "outward"
evidence of his salvation to all men is a life of righteousness and
true holiness.
We believe the ordinance of baptism by a burial with Christ should
be observed as commanded in the Scriptures, by all who have repented
and in their hearts have truly believed in Christ as Savior and
Lord. In so doing, they have the body washed in pure water as an
outward symbol of cleansing, while their heart has already been
sprinkled with the blood of Christ as an inner cleansing. Thus, 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 (Matthew
28:19; Acts 10:47-48; Romans 6:4; Acts 20:21; Hebrews 10:22).
We believe the Lord's Supper, consisting of the elements, bread and
the fruit of the vine, is the symbol expressing our sharing the
divine nature of our Lord Jesus Christ (2 Peter 1:4), a memorial of
His suffering and death (1 Corinthians 11:26). It is enjoined on all
believers "until He comes."
We believe that all believers are entitled to, and should ardently
expect, and earnestly seek, the promise of the Father, the baptism
in the Holy Ghost and fire, according to the command of our Lord
Jesus Christ. This was the normal experience of all in the early
Christian church. With it comes the enduement of power for life and
service, the bestowment of the gifts and their uses in the work of
the ministry (Luke 24:29; Acts 1:4; 1:8; 1 Corinthians 12:1-31).
This wonderful experience is distinct from and subsequent to the
experience of the new birth (Acts 10:44-46; 11:14-16; 15:7-9).
We believe in the baptism of believers as a unique work of the Holy
Ghost—an evidence of which is the speaking with other tongues as the
Spirit of God gives them utterance (Acts 2:4). The manifestation of
speaking in other tongues, in this instance, is the same in essence
as the gift of tongues (1 Corinthians 12:4-10, 28) but different in
purpose and use.
We believe the Scriptures teach a life of holiness without which no
man shall see the Lord. By the power of the Holy Ghost we are able
to obey the command, "Be ye holy, for I am holy." Entire
sanctification is the will of God for all believers, and should be
earnestly pursued by walking in obedience to God's Word (Hebrews
12:14; 1 Peter 1:15-16; 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24; 1 John 2:6).
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 church of the firstborn, which are written in
heaven (Ephesians 1:22-23; 2:22; Hebrews 12:33).
We believe a divinely called and scripturally ordained ministry has
been provided by our Lord for a twofold purpose: The evangelization
of the world, and the edifying of the Body of Christ (Mark 16:15-20;
Ephesians 4:11-13).
We believe deliverance from sickness and demonic affliction is
provided for in the atonement and is the privilege of all believers
(Isaiah 53:4-5; Matthew 8:16-17).
We believe the resurrection of those who have fallen asleep in
Christ and their translation, together with those who are alive and
remain unto the coming of the Lord, is the imminent and blessed hope
of the church (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17; Titus 2:12; 1 Corinthians
15:51-52; Romans 8:23).
We believe the revelation of the Lord Jesus Christ from heaven, the
salvation of national Israel, and the millennial reign of Christ on
earth is the Scriptural promise and the world's hope (2
Thessalonians 1:17; Revelation 19:11-14; Romans 11:26-27; Revelation
20:1-7).
We believe the devil and his angels, the beast and the false
prophet, and whosoever is not found written in the Book of Life,
shall be consigned to everlasting punishment in the lake which burns
with fire and brimstone, which is the second death (Revelation
19:20; Revelation 20:10-15).
We believe "according to His promise, look for new heavens, and a
new earth wherein dwelleth righteousness" (2 Peter 3:13; Revelation
21:21). |