WHAT WE BELIEVE
We hope and pray that we have the important stuff right
and the unimportant stuff in the right perspective.
For those who just need to understand where we stand in the big picture of the Church world, moving from the general to the specific:
We are Christian
This identifies us as separate from all the other religions of the world.
We are Protestant
This identifies us as separate from the Roman Catholic Church.
We are Evangelical
This identifies us as separate from all Christian denominations, heresies, and cults that have rejected the Bible as the inspired Word of God and the revealed Will of God complete and without error and/or those who have considered any revelation outside of the Bible to be of equal or greater spiritual authority than the Bible.
We are Spirit-filled
This identifies us as different from other Evangelical Christians who reject the baptism in the Holy Spirit with endowment of power and gifts being for the Church after completion of the Biblical canon following the apostolic founding of the Church. Although we do not intend to be divisive about this with the rest of the body of Christ, and we have great respect for and ongoing fellowship with other Evangelicals who believe differently than us, we want to make it clear, right up front, that this is part of our understanding of Scripture.
We are Non-Denominational
This identifies us as different from any organized Christian denomination. However, we are not against denominations. In fact, we have our spiritual roots in and are thankful for The Assemblies of God, and we believe denominations have their place in the body of Christ. Denominations offer many strengths we are thankful for, but they also have a few weaknesses and limitations, including the inevitable bureaucracy and politics that come with large centralized authority structures. Some may flourish in those structures, but that is not who we are.
Our Understanding of the Word Of God
For those who would like a little more detail, the following is a summary of the most important elements of our understanding of the Word of God. The Bible is the inspired Word of God and the revealed Will of God to man, complete and without error (2 Timothy 3:15-17; 1 Thessalonians 2:13; 2 Peter 1:21). There is one God eternally existing as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (Deuteronomy 6:4; Isaiah 43:10-11; Matthew 28:19; Luke 3:22; 2 Corinthians 13:14; John 14:16-17). Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God, the second person of the Trinity, both fully God and fully man, and the Savior of the world (John 4:2,10,14; Revelation 1:13,17; Matthew 1:21-23; 2 John 3:1; John 3:8; Hebrews 1:1-13; 7:3). Mankind was created good but by disobedience to God incurred both physical and spiritual death, which is separation from God (Genesis 1:26, 27; 2:17; 3:6; Romans 5:12-19). Mankind’s only hope of relationship with God is by the grace of God received through faith in the sacrifice of Jesus in our place (Luke 24:47; John 3:3; Romans 10:13-15; Ephesians 2:8; Titus 2:11; 3:5-7). All who believe in Christ as Savior and Lord are to be baptized in water and share in The Lord’s Supper (Matthew 28:19; Mark 16:16; Acts 10:47-48; Romans 6:4; 2 Peter 1:4; 1 Corinthians 11:26). All believers are entitled to and should seek the baptism in the Holy Spirit with endowment of power and gifts for life and ministry (Luke 24:49; Acts 1:4; 8:12-17; 10:44-46; 11:14-16; 15:7-9; 1 Corinthians 12:1-31). The baptism in the Holy Spirit is typically made evident by the initial physical sign of speaking with other tongues in the Spirit (Acts 2:4). Sanctification is an ongoing work of the Spirit separating the believer from that which is evil, and dedicating the believer to God (Romans 12:1-2; 1 Thessalonians 5:23; Hebrews 13:12; Romans 6:1-11,13; 8:1-2,13; Galatians 2:20; Philippians 2:12-13; 1 Peter 1:5). The Church is the body of Christ, the habitation of God through the Spirit, in which each believer is an integral part (Ephesians 1:22-23; 2:22; Hebrews 12:23; Acts 1:8; Matthew 28:19-20; Mark 16:15-16; 1 Corinthians 12:13; Ephesians 4:11-16; I Corinthians 12:28; 14:12). A divinely called ministry has been provided by God to lead the Church in evangelization, worship, and discipleship (Mark 16:15-20; John 4:23-24; Ephesians 4:11,16). Divine healing is an integral part of the Gospel, is provided for in the Atonement, and is the privilege of all believers (Isaiah 53:4-5; Matthew 8:16-17; James 5:14-16). The resurrection of those who have died in Christ along with those who remain to the coming of the Lord is the hope of the Church (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17; Romans 8:23; Titus 2:13; 1 Corinthians 15:51-52). The second coming of Christ includes the rapture of the saints, the return of Christ with His saints, and the thousand year reign (Zechariah 14:5; Matthew 24:27,30; Revelation 1:7; 19:11-14; 20:1-6). There will be a final judgment in which the wicked dead will be raised and judged according to their works (Matthew 25:46; Mark 9:43-48; Revelation 19:20; 20:11-15; 21:8). “We, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwells righteousness” (2 Peter 3:13; Revelation 21:22).
The purpose of a doctrinal statement is to separate us from the error of the world, not to divide us in the body of Christ.
“Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved,
a workman who does not need to be ashamed
and who correctly handles the word of truth.”
(2 Timothy 2:15)
“He must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught,
so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine
and refute those who oppose it.”
(Titus 1:9)
“But avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and arguments and quarrels about the law, because these are unprofitable and useless.”
(Titus 3:9)