We believe that the Bible is the inspired Word of God comprising of the Old Testament and New Testament. It is God-breathed and as such it is the revelation of God (2 Timothy 3:16-17). Men, chosen by God, were moved by the Spirit to write the word as the revealed Word of God (2 Peter 1:3-4). It is perfect in its original autographs and is more sure than the actual eyewitness accounts (2 Peter 1:17-19). As the Word of God, it is precious, binding and authoritative for the faith and practice of every believer (Psalm 19:7-14; Hebrews 4:12-13). It is sufficient to address all that is necessary for life and godliness (Matt. 4:4; 2 Peter 1:2-3).
The Godhead
We believe that God is eternal, self-existent, spirit, unchanging in His nature, holy, love, good, truth, omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent, creator and is sovereign over all creation (Genesis 1:1; Exodus 3:14; John 4:24; 1 John 1:5; 1 John 4:8). We believe in the Trinity meaning that God exists as three unique yet inseparable persons (the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) but share in only one essence, nature, and attributes (John 1:1; John 10:30; Hebrews 1:8-10; 1 Corinthians 2:10-12). The one true God manifested in three persons is worthy of all our praise and worship (John 4:24).
The Person and Work of Jesus Christ
We believe that Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God. He is one with the Father and on His own accord submits willingly to the Father. We believe that Jesus Christ came into the world as a human through virgin birth. He took on flesh and fully retained His deity but was also fully man (Luke 1:35; Philippians 2:5-7). He lived a perfect life, died on the cross to be a perfect sacrifice for the forgiveness of sins, was buried, rose from the dead, and is now seated at the right hand of the Father (John 10:15; Romans 8:34; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Philippians 2:8-11; Hebrews 7:25; 1 Peter 2:24). His death is efficacious to the elect, but it demonstrates love for the whole world (Matthew 1:21; 1 Timothy 4:10; Revelation 5:9).
The Creation, Fall and Depravity of Man
We believe that God created the world in 6 literal days and it was good (Genesis 2:2). He created man on the sixth day in His own image and placed him in the Garden of Eden to care for it (Genesis 1:26; 2:8). God gave man freedom to eat from the fruit of any tree in the garden except from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil (Genesis 2:16-17). Adam, as the head of the race, disobeyed God (Genesis 3:1-6). Through Adam’s rebellion, every person born into this world inherits a sin nature so that every part of his/her being is at enmity towards God (Romans 5:12-13). Therefore man is by nature, by choice, and by practice sinner’s before God worthy of God’s just wrath (Ephesians 2:1-3; Romans 3:9-23). Although man is a free agent, he will never choose God because he loves darkness and is in bondage to sin (Romans 8:7-8; John 3:19-20).
Salvation
We believe that God in His rich mercy has chosen some to be His to enjoy salvation by His grace (Romans 3:24-28). Salvation is accomplished through Christ death on the cross for the forgiveness of sins to anyone who believes (Ephesians 2:8-10). Man is justified simply by faith only in Christ and not by any works accomplished by him or anyone else (Galatians 2:16). Justification is a onetime act in the past that places him in right standing before God solely based on the righteousness of Christ imputed to him through faith in Christ (Romans 5:1; Philippians 3:9; 2 Corinthians 5:21; ).
Sanctification
We believe that when a person is saved, the power of sin is gone but the remnants of sin still remain (Ezekiel 36:26-28; 1 John 1:8-9). The power of sin is gone and righteousness becomes the dominant tendency of the Christian because they are made new in Christ (Romans 12:1; 1 Corinthians 6:9-11; Ephesians 4:24; 1 John 2:3-4). The remnants of sin still remain so that the Christian has an ongoing battle with sin (Romans 6:12-14; Romans 7:15-25; Ephesians 5:5-10). Sanctification is a process that believers go through that makes them more like Christ. We believe that the Spirit through the Word will lead the Christian to become more like Christ as they grow and put to death the deeds of the flesh (John 17:17; Romans 8:13; Ephesians 3:16-19).
The Baptism of the Spirit and Spiritual Gifts
We believe that when a person places faith in Christ he/she is baptized by the Spirit into the family of God as members of the Universal Church of God (Acts 2:33; 1 Corinthians 12:13; Ephesians 1:13). They are saved for good works and are given a spiritual gift at salvation to employ in an assigned ministry by Christ which bears fruit through the Father as the believer fulfills his/her ministry (1 Corinthians 12:4-6; 11). We believe that there are gifts active during the inception and early stages of the church and completion of the New Testament that are no longer in use (2 Corinthians 12:12; Ephesians 2:20; 3:4, 5; Hebrews 2:3-4). These gifts include the gifts of prophecy, working of miracles, healing, distinguishing of spirits, speaking tongues, and interpreting tongues (1 Corinthians 12:8-10). All other gifts should be functional in the local church today.
The Church
We believe that the Church began at Pentecost and is the body of Christ in the world (1 Corinthians 12:12, 13; Ephesians 1:20-23; Colossians 1:18). It comprise of all true believers in this world who have been baptized by the Spirit (Acts 1:5). We believe the local church is made up of confessing believers committed to the Word of God for its own growth and maturity who are lead and governed by elders (Acts 20:17-28; Ephesians 4:11-13; 1 Timothy 5:17; 1 Thessalonians 1:5). The Word of God is the binding rule of faith and practice in the Church (2 Timothy 4:2; 1 Thessalonians 2:13). It is responsible for exalting Christ through worship, evangelism to the world, edifying the body, and preaching the Word (Matthew 28:19-20; John 4:24). We believe the local church must be committed to observing the ordinances; immersion by baptism and the Lord’s supper (1 Corinthians 11:23-26). Christ is the head of the Church and will successfully build His church in the world.
Satan and the Domain of Darkness
We believe that before the world was, God created spirit beings and that Lucifer (Satan) fell by sinning against God and took with him a large number of angels (Ezekiel 28:11-18). Satan is the author of sin and successfully tempted Adam and Eve to sin which lead to the Fall of Man (Genesis 3:1-6). He is the enemy of God, the accuser of God’s people, and in constant lookout for someone to devour (Ephesians 6:10-19; 1 Peter 5:6-10; 1 John 4:4). He is the prince of the domain of darkness but when a person is saved they are removed from his rule and dominion (John 12:31; 2 Corinthians 10:3-6; Colossians 1:13; 2:15). We believe that demons cannot dwell in the body of believers (Matthew 12:25-30). Satan and demon’s final destination is the Lake of Fire (Matthew 25:41).
The Final State
We believe that the hope of salvation is eternal life for everyone who believes in Jesus Christ only to deliver them from the guilt and consequences of their sin (Romans 11:12-26). When a believer dies, they are taken instantly to the presence of God in temporary bodies (1 Corinthians 5:3; 2 Corinthians 5:6-8). When Christ returns to gather His people, the dead in Christ and the alive in Christ will rise to meet the Lord in the air (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18). Then there will be a 7 year period of tribulation unlike anything seen in the history of the world (Daniel 12:1-9). Immediately following will be the Return of Christ to the Earth to rule for 1,000 years (Zechariah 14:1-16; Revelation 19:11-21). Then the Great White Throne Judgment will take place where all the wicked will be judged and cast into the Lake of Fire (Revelation 20:1-6; 11-14; ). After that the New Heaven and the New Earth will come along with the final state (Ezekiel 34:22-31; Revelation 21:1-27).