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We believe the Bible to be inspired
of God; the infallible Word of God. "All scripture
is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable
for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for
instruction in righteousness" (2 Timothy 3:16).
The Bible is the only God-given authority which
man possesses; therefore, all doctrine, faith, hope,
and all instruction for the church must be based
upon, and harmonize with, the Bible. It is to be
read and studied by all men everywhere, and can only
be clearly understood by those who are anointed by
the Holy Spirit (1 John 2:27)."... no prophecy of
the scripture is of any private interpretation. For
the prophecy came not in old time by the will of
man: but Holy men of God spake as they were moved by
the Holy Ghost" (2 Peter 1:20, 21).
THE ONE TRUE GOD
We believe in the one ever-living, eternal God:
infinite in power, Holy in nature, attributes and
purpose; and possessing absolute, indivisible deity.
This one true God has revealed Himself as Father,
through His Son, in redemption; and as the Holy
Spirit, by emanation. (1 Cor. 8:6; Eph. 4:6; 2 Cor.
5:19; Joel 2:28).
The Scripture does more than attempt to prove the
existence of God; it asserts, assumes and declares
that the knowledge of God is universal. (Romans
1:19, 21, 28, 32; 2:15). God is invisible,
incorporeal, without parts, without body, and
therefore free from all limitations. He is Spirit
(John 4:24), and a spirit hath not flesh and bones.
(Luke 24:39).
The first of all the commandments is, hear, 0
Israel; the Lord our God is one Lord" (Mark 12:29;
Deut. 6:4). "One God and Father of all, who is above
all, and through all, and in you all" (Eph. 4:6).
This one true God manifested Himself in the Old
Testament in divers ways; in the Son while He walked
among men; as the Holy Spirit after the ascension.
THE SON OF GOD
The one true God, the Jehovah of the Old
Testament, took upon Himself the form of man, and as
the Son of man, was born of the virgin Mary. As Paul
says "and without controversy great is the mystery
of Godliness: God was manifest in the flesh,
justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached
unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world,
received up into glory" (1 Timothy 3:16).
"He came unto His own, and His own received Him
not" (John 1:11). This one true God was manifest in
the flesh, that is, in His Son Jesus Christ. ". .
God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto
Himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them. .
." (2 Cor. 5:19).
We believe that, ". . in Him (Jesus) dwelleth all
the fulness of the Godhead bodily" (Col. 2:9). "For
it pleased the Father that in Him should all fulness
dwell" (Col. 1:19). Therefore, Jesus in His humanity
was man; in His deity was and is God. His flesh was
the lamb, or the sacrifice of God. He is the only
mediator between God and man. "For there is one God,
and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ
Jesus" (1 Timothy 2:5).
Jesus on His Father's side was divine, on His
mother's side, human; Thus, He was known as the Son
of God and also the son of man, or the God-man.
"For He hath put all things under His feet. But
when He saith all things are put under Him, it is
manifest that He is excepted, which did put all
things under Him" (1 Cor. 15:27). "And when all
things shall be subdued unto Him, then shall the Son
also Himself be subject unto Him that put all things
under Him, that God may be all in all" (1 Cor.
15:28).
"I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the
ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and
which is to come, the Almighty" (Rev. 1:8).
THE NAME
God used different titles, such as "God Elohim,"
"El Shaddai," "Jehovah," and especially "Jehovah
Lord," the redemptive name in the Old Testament.
unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given:
... and His name shall be called Wonderful,
Counselor, the Mighty God, The Everlasting Father,
The Prince of Peace" (Isaiah 9:6). This prophecy of
Isaiah was fulfilled when the Son of God was named,
"And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt
call His name Jesus: for He shall save His People
from their sins" (Matt. 1:21).
"Neither is there salvation in any other: for
there is none other name under heaven given among
men, whereby we must be saved" (Acts 4:12).
REPENTANCE AND CONVERSION
Pardon and forgiveness of sins is obtained by
genuine repentance, a confessing and forsaking of
sins. We are justified by faith in the Lord Jesus
Christ (Romans 5:1). John the Baptist preached
repentance, Jesus proclaimed it, and the Apostles
emphasized it to both Jews and Gentiles. (Acts 2:38,
11:18, 17:30).
The word "repentance" comes from several Greek
words which mean, change of views and purpose,
change of heart, change of mind, change of life, to
transform, etc.
Jesus said, -except ye repent, ye shall all
likewise perish" (Luke 13:3).
Luke 24:47 says, "And that repentance and
remission of sins should be preached in His name
among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem."
WATER BAPTISM
The scriptural mode of baptism is immersion, and
is only for those who have fully repented, having
turned from their sins and a love of the world. It
should be administered by a duly authorized minister
of the Gospel, in obedience to the Word of God, and
in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, according to
the Acts of the Apostles 2:38, 8:16, 10:48, 19:5;
thus obeying and fulfilling Matthew 28:19.
THE BAPTISM OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
John the Baptist, in Matthew 3:11, said, "...He
shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with
fire."
Jesus, in Acts 1:5, said, "...ye shall be
baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence."
Luke tells us in Acts 2:4, they were all filled
with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other
tongues (languages), as the Spirit gave them
utterance."
The terms "baptize with the Holy Ghost and fire,"
"filled with the Holy Spirit," and the "gift of the
Holy Ghost" are synonymous terms used
interchangeably in the Bible.
It is scriptural to expect all who receive the
gift, filling, or baptism of the Holy Spirit to
receive the same physical, initial sign of speaking
with other tongues.
The speaking with other tongues, as recorded in
Acts 2:4, 10:46, and 19:6, and the gift of tongues,
as explained in 1 Corinthians, chapters 12 and 14,
are the same in essence, but different in use and
purpose.
The Lord, through the Prophet Joel, said, I will
pour out my Spirit upon all flesh; ..." (Joel 2:28).
Peter, in explaining this phenomenal experience,
said, having received of the Father the promise of
the Holy Ghost, He (Jesus) hath shed forth this
which ye now see and hear." (Acts 2:33). Further,
"...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).
FUNDAMENTAL DOCTRINE
Our basic and fundamental doctrine shall be the
Bible standard of full salvation, which is
repentance, baptism in water by immersion in the
name of the Lord Jesus Christ for the remission of
sins, and the baptism of the Holy Ghost with the
initial sign of speaking with other tongues as the
Spirit gives utterance.
We shall endeavor to keep the unity of the Spirit
until we all come into the unity of the faith, at
the same time admonishing all brethren that they
shall not contend for their different views to the
disunity of the body.
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