Tenets of Faith

A.                 GOD THE FATHER

I believe in the doctrine and unity of the Holy Trinity—God the Father, God the Son (Jesus Christ), and God The Holy Spirit.  I believe that God is One God in Three Persons, the dynamics of which is a mystery to man (Matthew 28:19; 1 John 5:7-8);

I believe that God Almighty spoke into existence and The Holy Spirit created, the heavens, the Earth, mankind and all living things (Genesis Chapter 1);

I believe that God is a God of Perfect Design and Order and that Satan is the author of confusion (Genesis Chapter 1; 1 Corinthians 14:33; 1 Corinthians 14:40);

B.                  JESUS CHRIST, THE SON

I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, conceived by The Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary (Luke 1:26-35);

I believe that Jesus Christ is the Bread of God and the Word of God (John 1:1; John 6:33);

I believe that Jesus Christ is the sacrificial Lamb of God and Savior of the world (John 1:29);

I believe that Jesus Christ was crucified, buried, resurrected from the dead, and ascended into Heaven, where He sits at the right hand of God the Father (Hebrews 10:12; Hebrews 12:2);

C.                  THE HOLY SPIRIT

I believe that The Holy Spirit reproves (convicts) the world of sin, of righteousness and of judgment (John 16:8);

I believe that The Holy Spirit washes and regenerates the human spirit when a sinner surrenders his heart and life to Jesus Christ (Titus 3:5).

D.                 THE HOLY BIBLE

I believe that The Holy Bible is God-inspired, inerrant, and profitable for doctrine, reproof, correction and instruction in righteousness (2 Timothy 3:16);

I believe that The Holy Spirit, not man, interprets Scripture (2 Peter 1:20);

I believe that the King James Version of The Holy Bible is the world’s most trusted translation for more than 400 years;

I believe that God does not lie and that The Holy Bible is man’s only Source of Absolute Truth (Numbers 23:19; John 8:32; John 14:6);

I believe that The Holy Bible is Living, Perfect and Powerful, produces faith, and converts souls (Psalm 19:7; Romans 10:17; Hebrews 4:12);

I believe that when read, meditated on, and memorized, the Word of God nourishes the human spirit and soul and renews and transforms the human mind into the Mind of Christ (Romans 12:2; 1 Corinthians 2:16; Hebrews 5:12-13).

E.                  ETERNAL SALVATION

I believe that Jesus Christ is the Only Way to Heaven.  I believe that He is the Door, the Way, the Truth and the Life.  I believe that He is the Resurrection and the Life.  I believe that His Blood was shed for the remission of sins (Matthew 26:28; John 10:9; John 11:25; John 14:6);

I believe that when Jesus Christ died on the Cross, He triumphed over Satan and his minions, as well as every known and unknown sin, sickness and disease, death, hell and the grave (1 Corinthians 15:55; Colossians 2:15);

I believe that a sinner is reconciled to God through faith in Jesus Christ (Romans 5:10);

I believe that a sinner must be “born again” spiritually to be saved and to inherit eternal life (John 3:3);

I believe that a sinner must believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, confess his sins, repent (turn from his sins), and invite Jesus Christ into his heart, to be saved (Romans 10:10);

I believe that when a person experiences the spiritual rebirth, he becomes a new creature in Christ, old things pass away and all things become new (2 Corinthians 5:17).

F.                   THE SANCTITY & VALUE OF HUMAN LIFE

 
I believe that life begins at conception, not at birth.  I believe that every human life is sacred and valuable and that only God, the Creator, has the right to decide who lives and dies.  I believe that children are a heritage of the Lord and the fruit of the womb is His reward (Psalm 139; Psalm 127:3);

I oppose direct, man-induced abortion because the deliberate killing of an unborn baby at any stage of development is the ultimate form of child abuse and because God hates hands that shed innocent blood.  I oppose all views and arguments that justify and support direct and deliberate abortion (e.g. pro-Choice, poverty, rape, disability, use of the 'morning after pill,' etc.)  (Proverbs 6:17);

Regarding the argument that a baby should be aborted in order to protect the life of the mother, I believe that the only exception is in the case of an ectopic pregnancy where the baby begins to develop in the mother's fallopian tube, which is not normal and is certain to kill both mother and child.

I believe that ALL men are created equal and endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights because God is no respecter of persons, nor should we be.  Therefore, I oppose all forms and expressions of bias, hatred and prejudice (Acts 10:34; James 2:1-9).

G.                   LIFE AFTER DEATH—HEAVEN AND HELL

I believe in life after death and that the human soul leaves the body at death and either rises to Heaven or descends to Hell (Matthew 10:28; Luke 16:19-31; John 3:16);

I believe in the existence of Hell, a place of eternal punishment and torment, and that the soul of an unrepentant sinner goes there when he dies.  I believe that anyone who does not believe in Hell is deceived because over 162 Scripture references, as well as well-documented “near death” experiences, prove that Hell is real.  I believe that Hell was originally prepared for the devil and his angels.  I believe that God does not send people to Hell.  I believe that sinners who, by their own free will, reject Jesus Christ and choose not to repent of their sins, send themselves to Hell (Matthew 10:28; Matthew 25:41; Luke 16:19-31);

I believe in the existence of Heaven, a paradise of unspeakable beauty, peace and joy beyond the imagination and description of man.  I believe that all believers who abide in Christ and obey God’s Word will spend eternity there and enjoy God’s Fellowship and Presence (Luke 23:43; John 14:1-3).

H.                 MAN’S INABILITY TO SAVE HIMSELF

I believe that man is a triune being made up of spirit, soul and body because Adam, the progenitor of the human race, was created in the image of the Triune God (Genesis 1:26; 1 Thessalonians 5:23);

I believe that God created man a free moral agent, capable of exercising his will to make decisions and choices; therefore, it is the responsibility of every man, woman and child to make a decision for Christ when God draws him (John 6:44);

I believe that man should not delay or procrastinate making a decision for Christ because tomorrow is not promised to anyone.  I believe that if a man dies in sin without knowing Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord, his soul will go to hell.  Although God is long-suffering and not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance, The Holy Spirit will not always strive with a man (Genesis 6:3; Matthew 4:17; Hebrews 3:15; 2 Peter 3:9);

I believe that man cannot save himself, neither is there salvation in or by any other person or false god, and that there is no other name but Jesus Christ whereby men must be saved (Acts 4:12);

 

I.                 SATAN

I believe that Satan, once an Archangel of God, was originally named Lucifer because of his beauty and that he was created to lead worship in Heaven.  I believe that iniquity was found in him and that pride and self-love drove him to aspire to be God.  I believe that he led one-third of the heavenly angelic host in rebellion against God.  I believe that in the ensuing war between good and evil, God’s Warrior-Archangel Michael and his angelic host defeated Lucifer and his angels.  I believe that God cast Lucifer and his followers out of Heaven and Jesus saw it happen (Isaiah 14:12; Ezekiel 28:12-19; Luke 10:18; Revelation 12:7);

I believe that Satan, the Evil One and prince of this world, is the Father of Lies and the Father of every child of disobedience.  I believe that he is a murderer and a thief.  I believe that he is the progenitor of chaos, confusion, contention/strife, death, disease, disobedience, disorder, division, hatred, rebellion, sickness, sin, terrorism, violence, and every wicked work.  I believe that Satan is the enemy of God because he hates God for casting him out of Heaven.  I believe that Satan attacks and seeks to destroy all of God’s Creation and God’s Children (Christians).  I believe that Satan’s greatest weapons against humanity are control, deception, dominance, fear, intimidation, lust, manipulation, pride, temptation and terrorism.  Transforming himself into an angel of light, Satan is a master of disguise and deception (Matthew 4:1-11; John 8:44; 2 Corinthians 11:14; 1 John 2:16);

I believe that an unseen spiritual war is constantly being waged in the spirit realm between God’s holy angels and Satan’s fallen angels.  I believe that Satan has a well-organized, well-trained and obedient army that is comprised of demons of differing ranks and hierarchy: “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.”  I believe that the objective and mission of Satan and his minions is to kill, steal and destroy (John 10:10; Ephesians 6:12). 

 

J.                    CHRISTIAN DISCIPLINES

I believe that a Christian should faithfully attend church to worship the Lord in spirit and in truth, to receive instruction in righteousness, and to fellowship with other believers (John 4:24; Hebrews 10:25);

I believe that a Christian should faithfully tithe 10% of his gross income to his local church so that God can rebuke the devourer (Satan) and pour out a blessing (Leviticus 27:30-32; Malachi 3:8-11);

I believe in the sacrament of Holy Communion and in the doctrine of Water Baptism by total immersion (John 3:23; Acts 8:38; 1 Corinthians 11:17-34);

I believe that an empowered Christian life is dependent upon abiding in Christ, staying filled with The Holy Spirit, crucifying the flesh, dying to self, living a consecrated and obedient life, and being faithful to practice and live the daily disciplines and virtues of personal Bible study, praise and worship, prayer, fasting and holy living.

K.                    DELIVERANCE AND HEALING

I believe that Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever and, therefore, still casts out devils, heals, and confirms His Word with signs and miracles, as recorded in the Gospels, and as I have personally witnessed (Mark 16:20; Hebrews 13:8);

I believe that Jesus Christ has given believers authority and power over all the power of Satan and his minions.  I believe that every Christian should know, be confident of, and exercise his authority and power over the devil.  I believe that if a Christian submits himself to God and resists the devil, Satan will flee from him (Luke 10:19; James 4:7);

I believe in the power of Spirit-Led, Spirit-Empowered prayer and fasting (Isaiah 58:6; Romans 8:26);

I believe in the power of Spirit-Led Praise and Worship (John 4:24);

I believe in the doctrine of laying on of hands, but that it is to be done with caution and as directed by the Holy Spirit (Hebrews 6:2; 1 Timothy 5:22);

I believe in casting out devils (Matthew 10:8).

L.                  DENOMINATIONALISM

I believe that denominationalism grieves the heart of God because doctrines and traditions of men:  1) make the Word of God of none effect, and 2) erect walls that encourage contention and strife among the brethren that serves to divide and weaken the Body of Christ.  God is a God of Unity and I do not believe that He meant for the Body of Christ to be divided.  Division is a strategy and weapon used by Satan to weaken the Church.  Jesus warned that a house divided against itself cannot stand (Psalm 133:1; Mark 3:25; Mark 7:13; 1 Corinthians 12:25);

M.                   ETERNAL JUDGMENT

I believe that it is appointed unto men once to die but after this the judgment (Hebrews 9:27);

I believe that at the Judgment Seat of Christ, every Christian will be judged for their deeds and works, whether good or bad (2 Corinthians 5:10);

I believe that every dead sinner will be judged at The Great White Throne Judgment of God.  I believe that whoever’s name is not written in the Lamb’s Book of Life will be cast into the Lake of Fire for eternity (Revelation 20:11-15).

N.               MARRIAGE

I believe that, from the very beginning of creation, God ordained and blessed the institution of marriage between a man and a woman (Genesis 2:22; Leviticus 20:13; Matthew 19:4-6; Romans 1:25-27);

O.                 SIN, SICKNESS & DEATH

I believe that the unregenerate human heart is desperately wicked.  I believe that, apart from abiding in Christ, there is not one righteous person.  I believe that every person is conceived in sin as a result of the Fall of Man in the Garden of Eden.  I believe that Adam and Eve, progenitors of the human race, broke covenant with God by disobeying His Word.  I believe that as a consequence of their sin, the curse of spiritual and physical death and every known and unknown sickness and disease, was passed down to us, their descendants, through Adam’s bloodline (Genesis Chapter 3; Psalm 51:5; Jeremiah 17:9; Romans 6:23).

P.                 THE BAPTISM IN THE HOLY SPIRIT

I believe that Jesus Baptizes with the Holy Spirit (John 1:33);

I believe that the Baptism in the Holy Spirit, or infilling of The Holy Spirit, is with the evidence of speaking in tongues.  I believe that every believer should keep their lamps full of oil and their lamps trimmed and burning at all times (Matthew 25:1-13; Acts 2:4);

I believe that the Holy Spirit Baptism is for ALL believers, not just a chosen few and that some believers do not seek or receive the Baptism due to doubt, unbelief and fear (Acts 2:38-39);

I believe that the Holy Spirit Baptism is God’s secret weapon against Satan.  I believe that the Baptism is the open door for the nine supernatural gifts of The Holy Spirit to operate in a believer’s life.  I believe that Satan hates the Holy Spirit Baptism because it empowers the Church and individual believers and this is why he attacks and seeks to discredit Christians that operate in the nine supernatural gifts of The Holy Spirit.  I believe that the Church is blind and weak without the Holy Spirit Baptism and the supernatural gifts.  I believe that the Holy Spirit Baptism equips and empowers a Christian to live a victorious life in Christ and to be a bold witness for Christ (1 Corinthians 12:4-11).

Q.                  THE SECOND COMING OF JESUS CHRIST

I believe in the Rapture of The Church, the “catching away” of saints that will occur at the Second Coming of Jesus Christ (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17);

I believe that Jesus Christ will be returning for His Church (aka “The Bride of Christ” and “The Body of Christ”) and that He will be looking for a Church that is without spot, blemish or wrinkle.  I believe that every Christian is to live a consecrated and obedient life before the Lord.  I believe that every believer comprises the Body of Christ and, therefore, should be ready at all times for the Lord’s return and glorious appearing.  I believe each believer should be found without spot, blemish or wrinkle when Jesus returns, or be left behind when the Rapture of the Church occurs (Ephesians 5:27; Titus 2:13).