Our Doctrine

Doctrine and Scriptural References

The Bible

We believe that the Bible is the Word of God, written by men of God under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.  We believe that the word of God is the foundation on which every believer’s life must be built.  The Word of God provides guidelines and directions for daily living, and no system of belief can be accepted as accurate if it is not in agreement with the scriptures.


The Trinity

We believe in the Trinity.  Although the term “trinity” is not actually referenced in the Bible, it refers to the way in which we perceive and understand that God exists in three persons: God the Father, God the Son (our savior, Jesus Christ), and God the Holy Spirit.  These three persons are distinct, though mutually existent in the “three persons in one God”.  The trinity is the union of three in one, a term generally applied to the ineffable mystery of the three in one God; Father, Son and Holy Ghost.  See the three persons specified in the following passages of scripture, i.e. Genesis 1:1-4, 1:26, 3:22, and Isaiah 6:8.  We believe that through his conscience, man may have some perception of God apart from revelation, but he can only know facts about God as they are presented in scripture.  A true revelation of God only comes through developing a personal relationship with Him.


Salvation

We believe that salvation is complete deliverance from the sinful nature of man, which is readily available as a gift from God through accepting Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.  To receive salvation, one must first believe that Jesus is the Son of God who was born of a virgin, and dwelled on earth among men without sin, was crucified, becoming the perfect sinless sacrifice required for atonement from sin, was buried, and resurrected by God to provide salvation for mankind.  We believe that salvation comes through repentance (St. Mark 1:15), provides justification from sin (Romans 5:1-9), and causes regeneration (St. Matthew 19:28 and Titus 3:5). 


Sanctification

We believe that sanctification is being set apart for use by God (2 Thessalonians 2:13-14).  Sanctification occurs as the believer exercises obedience to the word of God by removing sinful practices from his or her daily living (1 Thessalonians 4:3-7).  We believe that sanctification means being set apart from the world, meaning—the believer chooses to turn away from sin and embraces Christ at the moment of salvation.  We also believe that sanctification is a continual process as we are constantly growing in grace and in the likeness of Christ.  Finally, we believe that we shall be perfectly sanctified—perfectly holy when we “shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is” (1 John 3:2-10).

The Ordinances of the Church

 A.  Water Baptism

We believe in water baptism as a symbol of the new life of the believer (St. Matthew 28:19).  Baptism is a religious ordinance administered by John the Baptist, and approved by Christ’s submission to it, thus making it an established rite of the Christian Church, being administered in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost.  It is symbolic of regeneration; it is a public profession of faith; it is an announcement of discipleship; it signifies the forgiveness of sin; and it expresses a determination to lead a life of righteousness.  The command to baptize was given with the command to preach the gospel to all nations in St. Matthew 28:19—“Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.

B.  The Lord’s Supper

We believe in practicing the Lord’s Supper, which Christ instituted at the very close of His ministry, on the night of His betrayal, in a small gathering of His closest friends (St. Luke 22:17-20).  When facing his impending death, burial, and resurrection, Christ left in this institution, a pledge, which seals the believer to all that had been previously announced in the offer of salvation.  As the Baptism is the sacrament of initiation into discipleship, so the Lord’s Supper is the sacrament of mature Christian faith, to be administered only to those qualified through self-examination according to the scriptures (I Corinthians 11:27-28).

C.  The Washing of Saint’s Feet

We believe in the practice of washing of saint’s feet.  This practice of sacrament was instituted by our Lord, on the night of His betrayal as well.  The act symbolizes the humility Christians are to display and is therefore a necessary practice for Christian believers today.  Saint John 13:14 says, “If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also out to wash one another’s feet”.  Jesus showed us in this act that to be a Christian means to embark upon a life of self-sacrifice and loving servitude.

Baptism in the Holy Spirit

We believe in baptism in the Holy Spirit, which is the power necessary for service according to Acts 1:8.  The Holy Spirit enables the believer to continue the work of Jesus Christ in the earth.  It also acts as a comforter and keeper, by directing and assisting the believer to live in righteousness.  We believe in speaking in tongues as the evidence of baptism of the Holy Ghost according to St. John 15:26, Acts 2:4, 10:44-46, and 19:9.   We believe that we are able to speak in tongues as the Holy Spirit allows the believer to speak heavenly language.

Spiritual Gifts

We believe in the full restoration of spiritual gifts to the church according to 1Corinthians 12:1, 7-10, 14:1.  Like the early church, the modern church is equipped with spiritual gifts for the work of the ministry to continue and expand the miraculous works of Christ.  We believe that signs and miracles follow believers according to St. Mark 16:17-20, Romans 15:18-19, and Hebrews 2:4.  Examples of spiritual gifts include, but are not limited to: speaking in tongues, interpretation of tongues, discernment of spirits, prophecy, gifts of healing, faith, word of knowledge, word of faith, and many other spiritual gifts designed to strengthen the local church.