What We Believe
Bible
We Believe the Bible is the infallible word of God. It reveals the Mind of God, the State of man, the Way of Salvation, the Doom of the ungodly and sinners, and the Joy of Believers. Its histories are true and its decisions are immutable.
One True God
We Believe that there is One true God (Deuteronomy 6:4) who is the Creator of all things in Heaven and Earth. He has Revealed Himself to humanity as the Father (Creator) in the Son (Savior), and as the Holy Ghost (indwelling Spirit). He is the First and the Last, and beside Him there is no God (Isaiah 44:6). There was no God formed before Him, neither shall there be after Him (Isaiah 43:10).
Jesus
Jesus is the Son of God according to the flesh (Romans 1:3) and the very God Himself according to the spirit (Matthew 1:23). Jesus is the Christ (Matthew 16:16); the Creator of all things (Colossians 1:16-17); God with us (Matthew 1:23); God made flesh (John 1:1-14); God manifested in the flesh (I Timothy 3:16); He which was, which is, and which is to come, the Almighty (Revelation 1:8); the mighty God, everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6). Jesus acknowledged Himself as God when he said, "He that hath seen me hath seen the Father." (John 13:7-11) and "I and my Father are one." (John 10:30). It took shedding of blood for the remission of the sins of the world (Hebrews 9:22), but God the Father was a spirit (John 4:24) and had no blood to shed. Thus, He prepared a body of flesh and blood (Hebrews 10:5) and came to earth as a man in order to save us; for in Isaiah 43:11 He said, "Beside me there is no Savior. " When he came in flesh the angels sang, "For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord (Luke 2:11).
Holy Ghost
The Holy Ghost is not the third person in the Godhead, but rather the Spirit of God (the Creator), which he said he would pour out upon all flesh (Acts 2:17). The Holy Ghost comes to dwell in the hearts and lives of everyone who believes and obeys the gospel, as the comforter, Sustainer, and Keeper (John 14:16-26; Romans 8:9-11). We believe in baptism of the Holy Ghost just like on the day of Pentecost. Speaking in other tongues as the initial evidence of the baptism of the Holy Ghost, as the Spirit gives utterance is the manifestation God has given as the witness or sign of the baptism of the Holy Ghost.
Sin
Sin is the transgression of the law, or commandments of God (I John 3:4), the guilt of sin has fallen upon all humanity from Adam until now (Romans 3:23). The wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23; Revelation 20:14) to all those who refuse to accept salvation as set forth in the Word of God.
Salvation
Salvation consists of deliverance from all sin and unrighteousness through the blood of Jesus Christ. The New Testament experience of salvation consist of repentance from sin, water baptism in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and the baptism of the Holy Ghost, after which the Christian is to live a godly life (Acts 2:36-41).
Water Baptism
Water baptism is an essential part of New Testament salvation and not merely a symbolic ritual. It is part of entering into the Kingdom of God (God's church, the bride of Christ), and therefore, it is not merely part of the local church membership. (See John 3:5; Galatians 3:27). Water baptism is to be administered only by immersion. Paul said, "We are buried with him {Jesus Christ} by baptism (Romans 6:4); see Colossians 2:12).
Jesus came up "out of the water" (Mark 1:10), and Philip a eunuch went down "into the water" and came up "out of the water" (Acts 8:38-39). Jesus' death, burial and resurrection are applied to our lives when we experience New Testament salvation: "Repent, {death to sin} and be baptized {burial} every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost {resurrection}. (See Acts 2:38; Romans 6:1-7; 8:2).
The name in which baptism is administered is vitally important, and this name is Jesus Christ. Jesus commissioned and gave the authority to His disciples; "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost' (Matthew 28:19). We should notice that He said name (singular) not names (plural). As previously explained, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost are not names of separate persons, but titles of positions held by God. An angelic announcement revealed God's saving name in the New Testament: "She shall bring forth a son, and thou shall call his name Jesus: for He shall save His people from their sins" (Matthew 1:21). The apostles understood that Jesus was the name to use at baptism, and from that day the church of God was established (the Day of Pentecost) until the end of their ministry, they baptized all nations (Jews-Acts 2:38-41; Samaritans-Acts 8:16; Gentiles-Acts 19:5) in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. In fact, Jesus is the only name given for our salvation. "Neither is there salvation in any other name under Heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." (Acts 4:12).
Baptism of the Holy Ghost
The Baptism of the Holy Ghost is the birth of the Spirit (John 3:5). The spiritual baptism is necessary to put someone into the kingdom of God (God's church, the bride of Christ) and is evidenced by speaking in other tongues (other languages) as the spirit of God gives utterance. It was prophesied by Joel (Joel 2:28-29) and Isaiah (Isaiah 28:11), foretold by John the Baptist (Matthew 3:11), purchased by the blood of Jesus, and promised by Him to His disciples (John 14:26; 15:26). The Holy Ghost was first poured out on the Day of Pentecost upon the Jews (Acts 2:1-4), then upon the Samaritans (Acts 8:17), and later upon the Gentiles (Acts 10:44-46; 19:6). "The promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call." (Acts 2:39). The gift of "divers kinds of tongues," mentioned by Paul in I Corinthians 12:1-1 and concerning which He gave regulations in I Corinthians 14:1-40, is given both for self-edification (I Corinthians 14:4) and for the edification of the church (I Corinthians 14:27-28). In church meetings the gift of tongues is used to give a public message, and it is to be interpreted. Since this gift can be misused in public, it needs proper regulation (I Corinthians 14:23-28). Not all believers exercise the gift of tongues, which is different in function from tongues given by God as the initial witness of the baptism of the Holy Ghost. (I Corinthians 14:18;39)
Second Coming of Christ
We believe Jesus Christ is coming back He will catch away a holy people (His bride, His church) who have accepted redemption through His blood, by birth of water and of the Spirit, and who are found faithful when He comes. "For the Lord Himself shall descend from Heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and 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; and so shall we ever be with the Lord." (I Thessalonians 4:13-18). Matt. 26:36-42; Luke 17:20-37; 1 Cor. 15:51-58; Phil. 3:20-21
We Believe the Bible is the infallible word of God. It reveals the Mind of God, the State of man, the Way of Salvation, the Doom of the ungodly and sinners, and the Joy of Believers. Its histories are true and its decisions are immutable.
One True God
We Believe that there is One true God (Deuteronomy 6:4) who is the Creator of all things in Heaven and Earth. He has Revealed Himself to humanity as the Father (Creator) in the Son (Savior), and as the Holy Ghost (indwelling Spirit). He is the First and the Last, and beside Him there is no God (Isaiah 44:6). There was no God formed before Him, neither shall there be after Him (Isaiah 43:10).
Jesus
Jesus is the Son of God according to the flesh (Romans 1:3) and the very God Himself according to the spirit (Matthew 1:23). Jesus is the Christ (Matthew 16:16); the Creator of all things (Colossians 1:16-17); God with us (Matthew 1:23); God made flesh (John 1:1-14); God manifested in the flesh (I Timothy 3:16); He which was, which is, and which is to come, the Almighty (Revelation 1:8); the mighty God, everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6). Jesus acknowledged Himself as God when he said, "He that hath seen me hath seen the Father." (John 13:7-11) and "I and my Father are one." (John 10:30). It took shedding of blood for the remission of the sins of the world (Hebrews 9:22), but God the Father was a spirit (John 4:24) and had no blood to shed. Thus, He prepared a body of flesh and blood (Hebrews 10:5) and came to earth as a man in order to save us; for in Isaiah 43:11 He said, "Beside me there is no Savior. " When he came in flesh the angels sang, "For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord (Luke 2:11).
Holy Ghost
The Holy Ghost is not the third person in the Godhead, but rather the Spirit of God (the Creator), which he said he would pour out upon all flesh (Acts 2:17). The Holy Ghost comes to dwell in the hearts and lives of everyone who believes and obeys the gospel, as the comforter, Sustainer, and Keeper (John 14:16-26; Romans 8:9-11). We believe in baptism of the Holy Ghost just like on the day of Pentecost. Speaking in other tongues as the initial evidence of the baptism of the Holy Ghost, as the Spirit gives utterance is the manifestation God has given as the witness or sign of the baptism of the Holy Ghost.
Sin
Sin is the transgression of the law, or commandments of God (I John 3:4), the guilt of sin has fallen upon all humanity from Adam until now (Romans 3:23). The wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23; Revelation 20:14) to all those who refuse to accept salvation as set forth in the Word of God.
Salvation
Salvation consists of deliverance from all sin and unrighteousness through the blood of Jesus Christ. The New Testament experience of salvation consist of repentance from sin, water baptism in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and the baptism of the Holy Ghost, after which the Christian is to live a godly life (Acts 2:36-41).
Water Baptism
Water baptism is an essential part of New Testament salvation and not merely a symbolic ritual. It is part of entering into the Kingdom of God (God's church, the bride of Christ), and therefore, it is not merely part of the local church membership. (See John 3:5; Galatians 3:27). Water baptism is to be administered only by immersion. Paul said, "We are buried with him {Jesus Christ} by baptism (Romans 6:4); see Colossians 2:12).
Jesus came up "out of the water" (Mark 1:10), and Philip a eunuch went down "into the water" and came up "out of the water" (Acts 8:38-39). Jesus' death, burial and resurrection are applied to our lives when we experience New Testament salvation: "Repent, {death to sin} and be baptized {burial} every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost {resurrection}. (See Acts 2:38; Romans 6:1-7; 8:2).
The name in which baptism is administered is vitally important, and this name is Jesus Christ. Jesus commissioned and gave the authority to His disciples; "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost' (Matthew 28:19). We should notice that He said name (singular) not names (plural). As previously explained, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost are not names of separate persons, but titles of positions held by God. An angelic announcement revealed God's saving name in the New Testament: "She shall bring forth a son, and thou shall call his name Jesus: for He shall save His people from their sins" (Matthew 1:21). The apostles understood that Jesus was the name to use at baptism, and from that day the church of God was established (the Day of Pentecost) until the end of their ministry, they baptized all nations (Jews-Acts 2:38-41; Samaritans-Acts 8:16; Gentiles-Acts 19:5) in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. In fact, Jesus is the only name given for our salvation. "Neither is there salvation in any other name under Heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." (Acts 4:12).
Baptism of the Holy Ghost
The Baptism of the Holy Ghost is the birth of the Spirit (John 3:5). The spiritual baptism is necessary to put someone into the kingdom of God (God's church, the bride of Christ) and is evidenced by speaking in other tongues (other languages) as the spirit of God gives utterance. It was prophesied by Joel (Joel 2:28-29) and Isaiah (Isaiah 28:11), foretold by John the Baptist (Matthew 3:11), purchased by the blood of Jesus, and promised by Him to His disciples (John 14:26; 15:26). The Holy Ghost was first poured out on the Day of Pentecost upon the Jews (Acts 2:1-4), then upon the Samaritans (Acts 8:17), and later upon the Gentiles (Acts 10:44-46; 19:6). "The promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call." (Acts 2:39). The gift of "divers kinds of tongues," mentioned by Paul in I Corinthians 12:1-1 and concerning which He gave regulations in I Corinthians 14:1-40, is given both for self-edification (I Corinthians 14:4) and for the edification of the church (I Corinthians 14:27-28). In church meetings the gift of tongues is used to give a public message, and it is to be interpreted. Since this gift can be misused in public, it needs proper regulation (I Corinthians 14:23-28). Not all believers exercise the gift of tongues, which is different in function from tongues given by God as the initial witness of the baptism of the Holy Ghost. (I Corinthians 14:18;39)
Second Coming of Christ
We believe Jesus Christ is coming back He will catch away a holy people (His bride, His church) who have accepted redemption through His blood, by birth of water and of the Spirit, and who are found faithful when He comes. "For the Lord Himself shall descend from Heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and 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; and so shall we ever be with the Lord." (I Thessalonians 4:13-18). Matt. 26:36-42; Luke 17:20-37; 1 Cor. 15:51-58; Phil. 3:20-21