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The Scriptures
/ The Godhead / Man,His Fall
& Redemption / Eternal Life & New Birth
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The ScripturesThe Bible is the inspired Word of God, the product of holy men of old
who spoke and wrote as they were moved by the Holy Spirit. The New Covenent,
as recorded in the New Testament, we accept as our infallible guide in
matters pertaining to conduct and doctrine. The GodheadOur God is one, but manifested in three persons - The Father, the Son,
and the Holy Spirit, being co-equal. God the Father is greater than all;
the sender of the Word (Logos) and the Begetter. The Son is the Word flesh-covered, the One Begotten, and has existed
with the Father from the beginning. The Holy Spirit proceeds forth from
both the Father and the Son and is eternal. Man, His Fall, and RedemptionMan is a created being, made in the likeness and image of God, but through
Adam's trangression and fall, sin came into the world, The Bible says,
"...all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God."
and "...There is none righteous, no, not one".
Jesus Christ, the Son of God, was manifested to undo the works of the
devil and gave His life and shed His blood to redeem and restore man back
to God. Salvation is the gift of God to man, separate from works and the
Law, and is made operative by grace through faith in Jesus Christ, producing
works acceptable to God. Back to the TopEternal Life and the New BirthMan's first attempt toward salvation is godly sorrow that worketh repentance.
The new birth is necessary to all men, and when experienced produces eternal
life. Water BaptismBaptism in water is by immersion, is a direct commandment of our Lord,
and is for believers only. The ordinance is a symbol of the Christian
identification with Christ in His death, burial, and resurrection. The
following recommendation regarding the water baptismal formula is adopted;
to wit: "On the confession of your faith in the Lord Jesus Christ,
the Son of God, and by His authority, I baptize you in the name of the
Father, and the Son, and the Holy Ghost. Amen." Back to the TopBaptism in the Holy GhostThe Baptism in the Holy Ghost and fire is a gift from God as promised
by the Lord Jesus Christ to all believers in the dispensation and is received
subsequent to the new birth. This experience is accompanied by the initial
evidence of speaking in other tongues as the Holy Spirit Himself gives
utterance. SanctificationThe Bible teaches that without holiness no man can see the Lord. We believe
in the Doctrine of Sanctification as a definate, yet progressive work
of grace, commencing at the time of regeneration and continuing until
the consummation of salvation at Christ's return. Divine HealingHealing is for the physical ills of the human body and is wrought by
the power of God through the prayer of faith, and by the laying on of
hands. It is provided for in the Atonement of Christ, and is the privalege
of every member of the Church today. Back to the TopResurrection of the Just and the Return of Our LordThe angels said to Jesus disciples, "...this same Jesus, which
is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have
seen him go into heaven." His coming is imminent. When He comes,
"...the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive
and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet
the Lord in the air...". Following the Tribulation, He shall
return to earth as King of kings, and Lord of lords, and together with
His saints, who shall be kings and priests, He shall reign a thousand
years. Hell and Eternal RetributionThe one who physically dies in his sins without accepting
Christ is hopelessly and eternally lost in the lake of fire, and, therefore,
has no further opportunity of hearing the Gospel or repenting. The lake of fire is literal.
The terms
"eternal" and "everlasting," used in describing the
duration of the punishment of the damned in the lake of fire, carry the
same thought and meaning of endless existence as used in denoting the
duration os joy and ectasy of saints in the Presence of God. Back to the Top
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