THE BIBLE

2 Timothy 3:16

All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

 

2 Peter 1:21

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." We believe the Bible to be God's means of doctrine, instruction, and comfort to the Church today, infallible in its authority, singular in interpretation, and man's only avenue of access to God. 

 

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 in creation, through the Son in redemption, and as the Holy Ghost by emanation. 

      (I Corinthians 8:6; Ephesians 4:6; II Corinthians 5:19; Joel 2:28).

2.    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).

3.    The first of all commandments is, "Hear, O Israel: the LORD our God is one LORD:" (Mark 12:29; Deuteronomy 6:4). "One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all:" (Ephesians 4:6).

4.    This one True God manifested Himself in the Old Testament in diverse ways, in the Son while He walked among men; as the Holy Ghost after the ascension.

 

THE SON OF GOD

1.    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" (I Timothy 3:16;John 1:10).

2.    "He came unto his own, and his own received him not." (John 1:11). This one true God was manifested in the flesh, that is, in His Son Jesus Christ.

3.    "… God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them;…" (II Corinthians 5:19).

4.    We believe that, "… in Him (Jesus) dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily."  (Colossians 2:9).

 

THE NAME

1.    "… unto us a child is born, unto us a son in 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" (Matthew 1:21).

2.    "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).

 

 MAN AND HIS FALL

      God created man in His own image (Genesis 1:26, 27), innocent, pure and holy (Romans 5:11, Ephesians 2:3). Man needed a redeemer which has been supplied in the seed of the woman, which seed bruised the serpent's head (Genesis 3:15; Luke 2:10,11); that is, Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ in whom we have redemption through His blood, even the forgiveness of sins (Ephesians 1:7; Revelation 1:5).

 

 THE GRACE OF GOD

1.    "For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world." (Titus 2:11,12)

2.    "For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ." (John 1:17)

3.    A Christian, to keep saved, must walk with God and keep himself in the love of God (Jude 21), and in the grace of God. The word "grace" means "favor." When a person transgresses and sins against God, he loses favor. If he continues to sin and does not repent, he will eventually be lost and cast into the lake of fire. (Read John 15:1,6; II Peter 2:20-22) Jude speaks of the backsliders of his day and their reward. (Read Hebrews 6:4-6)

4.    "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:" (Ephesians 2:8). 

 

Believing, REPENTANCE AND REMISSION OF SIN

1.      Jesus responds to a persons “belief” because it is connected to faith in him:

a.    Matt 8:13 And Jesus said unto the centurion, Go thy way; and as thou hast believed, so be it done unto thee. And his servant was healed in the selfsame hour.

b.   Matt 9:28 And when he was come into the house, the blind men came to him: and Jesus saith unto them, Believe ye that I am able to do this? They said unto him, Yea, Lord.

c.   Mk 16:16-17 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.  And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;

d.   John 3:15-16 &18 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.  For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.   He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

e.   John 7:38-39 He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.  But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)

f.      Jesus expected people would come to know him through the words and deeds of the “apostles” or the “apostolic message”. John 17:20 Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word;

2.     God will accept a sinner when they have true belief (faith) that brings repentance from the heart for his sins that he has committed. A broken and contrite heart He will not despise (Psalm 51:17).

3.     John preached repentance, Jesus proclaimed it (Luke 13:3), and before His ascension commanded that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name, beginning at Jerusalem (Luke 24:47). Peter fulfilled this command on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2).

 

 WATER BAPTISM

1.      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 and turned their lives towards Jesus.

2.      It should be administered by a duly authorized minister of the Gospel in obedience to the Word of God and in the name of Jesus Christ, according to the Acts of the Apostles; 2:38; 8:16; 10:48; 19:5, thus obeying and fulfilling Matthew 28:19.

 

 HOLY SPIRIT BAPTISM

1.     John the Baptist, in Matthew 3:11, said "… He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost."

2.     Jesus, in Acts 1:5, said, "… ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence."

3.     Luke tells us in Acts 2:4, "… and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost and began to speak with other tongues, (languages) as the Spirit gave them utterance."

4.     The terms "baptized with the Holy Ghost," "filled with the Holy Ghost," and the "gift of the Holy Ghost," are synonymous terms which are interchangeable in the Bible.  Holy Ghost and Holy Spirit are also interchangeable in the Bible.

 

APOSTOLIC DOCTRINE OF NEW BIRTH

1.    The basic and fundamental doctrine of this church is the Bible standard of full salvation, which is repentance, baptism in water by immersion in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and the baptism of the Holy Ghost with the evidence of speaking with other tongues as the Spirit gives the utterance (Acts 2:4,38; John 3:5).

 

 

THE NEW LIFE THAT FOLLOWS THE NEW BIRTH

1.     According to II Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold are things are become new.”  The word “creature” means “creation” or saying we are a new creation.

2.    The affect of the “spirit filled” experience touches every area of our life.  It touches our character (what we are), our personality (who we are) and our development (who and what we become).  We will strive to be Christians which means to be like Jesus Christ. 

3.    Being that we are “spirit filled” each child of God should show “the fruit of the spirit”, Gal.5:22-24.

4.    We will allow the Lord through his spirit and word to influence: our thinking, Philippians 2:5; our conversation, Philippians 3:20 & Proverbs 25:11 and our relationships with those in the kingdom of God and not in the kingdom of God, Hebrew 12:14.