THE SCRIPTURES - The Bible is the inspired Word of God, the product of holy men of old who spoke and wrote as the Holy Spirit moved them. We accept The New Covenant, recorded in the New Testament, as our infallible guide in matters pertaining to conduct and doctrine (2 Tim. 3:16; 2 Peter 1:21; 1 Thess. 2:13). ONE TRUE GOD”YAHWEH”- There is one true God, eternally existing in three persons – Father
, Son, and Holy Spirit – each of whom possesses equally all the attributes of Deity and the characteristics of personality. God the Father is greater than all; the Sender of the Word (John 14:28; John 16:28; John 1:14). MAN, HIS FALL, AND REDEMPTION - Man is a created being, made in the likeness and image of God, but through Adam's transgression and fall, sin came into the world. The Bible Says, " all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God," and"...There is none righteous, no, not one" (Rom 3:23; 3:10), Jesus Christ, the Son of God, was manifested to destroy the works of the devil and gave His life and shed His blood to redeem and restore man back to God. Salvation is the gift of God to man, separate from works and the Law, and is made operative by grace through faith in Jesus Christ, producing works acceptable to God. ETERNAL LIFE AND THE NEW BIRTH - Man's first step toward salvation is Godly sorrow that works repentance. The new birth is necessary to all men, and when experienced produces eternal life (2 Cor. 7:10; 1 John 5:12; John 3:3-5). SANCTIFICATION - The Bible teaches that without holiness no man can see the Lord. We believe in the Doctrine of Sanctification as a definite, yet progressive work of grace, commencing at the time of regeneration and continuing until the consummation of salvation at Christ's return. (Heb. 12:14; 1 Thess. 5:23; 2 Peter 3:18; 2 Cor. 3:18; Phil. 3:12-14; 1 Cor. 1:30). RESURRECTION OF THE JUST AND THE RETURN OF OUR LORD - The angels said to Jesus' disciples"... this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven." His coming is imminent. When He comes,"...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..." (Acts 1:11; 1 Thess. 4:16,17)
Following the Tribulation, He shall return to earth as King of kings, and Lord of lords, and together with His saints, who shall be kings and priests. He shall reign a thousand years (Rev. 5:10; 20:6). HELL AND ETERNAL RETRIBUTION - The one who physically dies in his sins without accepting Christ is hopelessly and eternally lost in the lake of fire, and, therefore, has no further opportunity of hearing the gospel or repenting. The lake of fire is literal. The terms "eternal" and "everlasting," used in describing the duration of the punishment of the damned in the lake of fire, carry the same thought and meaning of endless existence as used in denoting the duration of joy and ecstasy of saints in the Presence of God (Heb. 9:27; Rev. 19:20).
