ARTICLES OF OUR FAITH 

I: GOD, FIRST IN THE GOD-HEAD

We believe in one eternally existent, infinite God, Sovereign of the universe that He only is God, creative and administrative, Holy in nature, attributes and purpose. That He, as God, is first in the God Head, an essential being, revealed as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

II: JESUS CHRIST

We believe in Jesus Christ, the Second Person of the God-Head; that He was eternally one with the Father; that He became incarnate by the Holy Spirit and was born of the Virgin Mary, so that two whole and perfect natures, that is to say the God Head and manhood are thus united in one person very God and very man, the God-Man.

We believe that Jesus Christ died for our sins and that He truly arose from the dead and took again His body, together with all things appertaining to the perfection of man’s nature, wherewith He ascended into Heaven and is there engaged in intercession for us.

III: THE HOLY SPIRIT

We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Third Person of the God-Head, that He is ever present and efficiently active in and with the Church of Christ, convincing the world of sin, regenerating those who repent and believe, sanctifying believers, and guiding into all truth as it is in Jesus.

IV: HOLY SCRIPTURES

We believe in the plenary inspiration of the Holy Scriptures, by that which we understand the sixty-six books of the Old and New Testaments given by divine inspiration, in-errantly revealing the Will of God concerning us in all things necessary to our salvation, so that whatever is not contained therein is not to be enjoined as an article of faith.

 

V:  ORIGINAL SIN OF DEPRAVITY

We believe that original sin or depravity is that corruption of the nature of all the off-springs of Adam by reason of which everyone is very far gone from original righteousness or the pure state of our first parents at the time of their creation, is averse to God, is without spiritual life, and is inclined to evil, and that it continues to exist with the new life of the regenerate until eradicated by the Baptism of the Holy Ghost.

VI: ATONEMENT

We believe that Jesus Christ, by His suffering, the shedding of His own blood, His meritorious death on the cross, made a full atonement for all human sin. This atonement is the only ground for salvation and that it is sufficient for every individual of Adam’s race.

VII-FREE AGENCY

We believe that man’s creation in God’s likeness included the ability to choose between right and wrong. Thus, man was made morally responsible and through the fall of Adam he became depraved. So, he cannot now turn and prepare himself by his own natural strength and works of faith and calling upon God. But by the grace of God, through Jesus Christ, which is freely bestowed upon all men, enabling all who will to turn from sin to righteousness. We believe on Jesus Christ for pardon and cleansing from sin and follow good words pleasing and acceptable in His sight.

We believe that man, though in possession of the experience of regeneration and entire sanctification, may fall from grace and apostatize, and unless he repents of his sin, he will be hopelessly and eternally lost.

VII: REPENTANCE

We believe that repentance, which is a sincere and thorough change of mind in regard to sin, involving a sense of personal guilt and voluntary turning away from sin, is demanded of all who have by act or purpose become sinners against God. The Spirit of God gives to all who will repent the gracious help of penitence of heart and hope of mercy that they- may believe unto pardon and spiritual life.

IX: JUSTIFICATION AND ADOPTION

We believe that justification is that gracious and judicial act of God by which He grants full pardon of all guilt and complete release from the penalty of sins committed and acceptance as righteous to all who believingly receive Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.

We believe that regeneration or the new birth is that gracious work of God whereby the moral nature of the repentant believers is spiritually quickened and given a distinctively spiritual life, capable of faith, love and obedience.

We believe that adoption is that gracious act of God by which the justified and regenerated believer is constituted a “Son of God”.

Justification, regeneration, and adoption are simultaneous in the experience of seekers after God and are obtained upon the condition of faith, preceded by repentance; and to this work and state of grace the Holy Spirit bears witness.

X: ENTIRE SANCTIFICATION

We believe that entire sanctification is the act of God, subsequent to regeneration, by which believers are made free from original sin or depravity, and brought into a state of entire devotement to God, and the Holy obedience of love made perfect. It is wrought by the baptism of the Holy Spirit and comprehends in one experience the cleansing of the heart from sin and the abiding indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit, empowering the believer for life and service. Entire sanctification is provided by the blood of Jesus is wrought instantaneously by faith preceded by entire consecration. To this work and the state of grace, the Holy Spirit bears witness.

This experience is also known by various terms, representing its different phases such as, “Christian Perfection”, “Heart Purity”, “The Baptism of the Holy Ghost”, and “Christian Holiness”.

XI: SECOND COMING OF CHRIST

We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ will come again, that we who are alive at His coming shall not precede them that are asleep in Christ Jesus; but that, if we are abiding in Him, we shall be caught up with the risen saints to meet the Lord in the air so that we shall ever be with the Lord.

XII: RESURRECTION, JUDGMENT, AND DESTINY

We believe in the resurrection of the dead, that the bodies of both the just and of the unjust shall be raised to life and united with their spirits – “they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation”.

We believe in future judgment in which every man shall appear before God to be judged according to his deeds in this life.

We believe that glorious and everlasting life is assured to all who savingly believe in and obediently follow Jesus Christ our Lord, and that the final impenitent shall suffer eternally in hell.

XIII: DIVINE HEALING

We believe in the Bible doctrine of divine healing and urge our people to seek the prayer of faith for the healing of the sick. Medical consultants and agencies, when deemed necessary, are not condemned.