OUR 17 STATEMENTS Of FUNDAMENTAL TRUTH

The Bible is our all-sufficient rule for faith and practice. This Statement of Fundamental Truths is intended simply as a basis of fellowship among us (i.e., that we all speak the same things, (1Corinthians 1:10, Acts 2:42) The phraseology employed in this Statement is not inspired or contended for, but the truth set forth is held to be essential to a full Gospel Ministry. No claim is made that it contains all Biblical truth, only that it covers our need as to these fundamental doctrines.

1. THE BIBLE:The Scriptures, both the Old and New Testaments, are inspired of God and are the revelation of God to man. It is the infallible, authoritative rule of faith and conduct. (2 Timothy 3:15-17, 1 Thessalonians 2:13, 2 Peter 1:21)


2. THE ONE TRUE GOD: The one true God has revealed Himself as the eternally self-existent “I AM," the creator of heaven and earth and the Redeemer of mankind. He has further revealed Himself as embodying the principles of relationship and association as Father, Son and Holy Spirit. (Deuteronomy 6:4, Isaiah 43:10-11; Matthew 28:19; Luke 3:22). The Father is invisible at all times. (2 Corinthians 4:18; John 1:18; John 6:46; 1 John 4:12; 1 Timothy 6:16; Colossians 1:15; 1 Timothy 1:17; Matthew 6:18; Deuteronomy 4:15; Matthew 10:19-20).


3. THE DEITY OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST: The Lord Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God. We believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. He is the only begotten Son. He is 100% God, and He also is 100% man. He was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born from the virgin Mary. He died on the cross for the sin of humanity and he has raised and came out of the tomb after the third day. He ascended to heaven and sits at the right hand of the Father, making intercession for us. As he promised, he asked the Father and Holy Spirit came to be with us, in us and help us as believers. The Son was visible in the New Testament. Matthew 1:21; Philippians 2:5-11; John 3;16-18; 1 John 5:11-13; 1 John 5:20; Romans 8:9; Matthew 3:16-17.


4. THE HOLY SPIRIT: The Holy Spirit is God, and He has power to convict humans of their sins. He makes us to be born again, lives in believers, leads them in all truth and guides them to live in the truth according to the Word of God. He is the one at whose inspiration all parts of Scripture were written. He also gives believers different kinds of spiritual gifts so that they can do the work that Jesus has commanded. The Holy Spirit is visible to some in the Old and New Testaments. Exodus 13:21-22; Numbers 11:25; Daniel 7:9-10, 13; Ezekiel 8:1-2; Acts 2:2-3; Romans 8:9; Matthew 3:16-17; 2 Timothy 3:16


5. THE BAPTISM IN THE HOLY SPIRIT: All believers are entitled to and should ardently expect and earnestly seek the promise of the Father, the baptism in the Holy Spirit and fire, according to the command of our Lord Jesus Christ. This was the normal experience of all in the early Christian Church. With it comes the endowment of power for life and service, the bestowment of the gifts and their uses in the work of the ministry (Luke 24: 49, Acts 1:4-8, 1 Corinthians 12: 1-31), This experience is distinct from and subsequent to the experience of the new birth (Act 8:12-17, 10:44-46, 11:14-16, 15:7-9), With the baptism in the Holy Spirit comes such experiences as an overflowing fullness of the Spirit (John 7:37-39, Acts 4:8), a reverence of God (Acts 2:43, Hebrews 12:28), an intensified consecration to God and dedication to His work (Acts 2:42), and a more active love for Christ, for His word and for the lost (Mark 16:20).


6. THE EVIDENCE OF THE BAPTISM IN THE HOLY SPIRIT: is seen in a changed life (2 Corinthians 5:17), the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:16-18), and Holy Spirit given boldness. (Acts 4:31)


7. THE CHURCH: The church is the Body of Christ, where God lives through his Spirit. The church has been charged with the task of fulfilling the great commission. Each believer is an integral part of the church. Each local church is part of the universal church, and cares for its members through the leadership provided by the minister of the Word, the elders and deacons. (Ephesians 1:22-23, 2:22, Hebrews 12: 23, Philippians 1:2)


8. THE SACRAMENTS OF THE CHURCH: 

(a) Baptism. The ordinance of baptism is commanded in the Scriptures. Baptism is a symbol of the washing away of sin through the blood of Christ. Baptism must be accompanied by faith and obedience. (Matthew 28:19, Mark 16:16, Acts 10:47-48, Romans 6:4), Both baptism by immersion and sprinkling are acceptable rituals depending on the circumstance and need.

(b) Holy Communion. The Lord's Supper, consisting of the elements -bread and the fruit of the vine is a symbol expressing our participation in the body and blood of Jesus Christ. It is meant to strengthen the hearts of  believers by the promise that the suffering and death of Jesus Christ are really for them.  It is a proclamation of His death, and is commanded to all believers "until he comes." (1 Corinthians 11:26)


9. THE FALL OF MAN: Was created good and upright; for God said, "Let us make man in our image after our likeness." However, man by voluntary transgression fell and thereby incurred not only physical death but also spiritual death, which is separation from God (Genesis 1:26-27, 2:17, 3:6, Romans 5:12-19), which leads to misery. 


10. THE SALVATION OF MAN: Man's only hope of redemption is through the shed blood of Jesus Christ the Son of God. Salvation is received through repentance toward God and faith toward the Lord Jesus Christ. By the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, being justified by grace through faith, man becomes an heir of God according to the hope of eternal life. (Luke 24:47, John 3:3, Romans 10:13-15, Ephesians 2:8, Titus 2:11, 3:5-7) 


11. SANCTIFICATION: Sanctification is an act of separation from that which is evil and of dedication unto God (Romans 12:1-2, 1 Thessalonians 5:23, Hebrews 13:12), The Scriptures teach a life of "holiness without which no man shall see the Lord." (Hebrews 12:14), By the power of the Holy Spirit we can obey the command: "Be holy, because I am holy." (1 Peter 1:15-16), Sanctification is realized in the believer by recognizing his identification with Christ in His death and resurrection, and by faith reckoning daily upon the fact of that union, and by offering every faculty continually to the dominion of the Holy Spirit. (Romans 6: 1-11, 13, 8: 1-2, 13, Galatians 2:20, Philippians 2:12-13, 1 Peter 1:5)


12. THE MINISTRY: A divinely called, and scriptural ordained ministry has been provided by our Lord for a twofold purpose: (1) The evangelize of the world, and (2) The edifying of the Body of Christ, (Mark 16:15-20, Ephesians 4:11-13)


13. DIVINE HEALING: Divine healing was central in the life of Jesus and is too anticipated in the life and ministry of His church. (James 5:14-16)


14. THE BLESSED HOPE: The resurrection of those who have died in Christ and the change of who are alive in the twinkling of an eye at the coming of the Lord is the imminent and blessed hope of the Church (1 Thessalonians 4: 16. 17, Romans 8:23, Titus 2:13, 1 Corinthians 15:51-52)


15. THE MILLENNIAL REIGN OF CHRIST: The second coming of Christ includes the rapture of the saints, which is our blessed hope, followed by the visible return of Christ with His saints to reign on earth for one thousand years (Zephaniah 14:5, Matthew 24:27-30, Revelation 1:7, 19:11-14, 20:1-6), This millennial reign will bring the salvation of national Israel (Ezekiel 37:21-22, Zephaniah 3:19-20, Romans 11:26-27) and the establishment of universal peace (Isaiah 11:6-9, Psalm 72:3-8, Micah 4:3- 4)


16. THE FINAL JUDGMENT: There will be a final judgment in which the wicked dead will be raised and judged according to their works. Whosoever is not found written in the Book of Life (The recorded list of people who received Christ's forgiveness), together with the devil and his angels, will be consigned to everlasting punishment, which is the second death (Matthew 25:46, Mark 9:43-48, Revelation 19:20, 20:11-15, 21:8)


17. THE NEW HEAVENS AND THE NEW EARTH: "But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a New Heaven and a New Earth, the home of righteousness." (2 Peter 3:13, Revelation 21:22)


Prayer to Follow Jesus, the Good Shepherd

Gentle Jesus, compassionate and caring Good Shepherd,
help me to follow You faithfully.

Strengthen me daily with Your love,
and guide me along life’s paths.

Keep me free from every evil,
protect me from sickness and danger,
and lead me to serve You with all my mind and heart and soul.
Hear my needs and grant me petitions,
especially these intentions important to me at this time:

Bless me each day with peace of mind and heart.
May I experience Your saving power in my daily life,
as I await the fullness of life and joy with You forever. Amen