The Holy Scriptures
We believe the Holy Scriptures, 66 books of the Old and New Testaments, to be the verbally and plenary inspired Word of God, written by men under the superintendence of the Holy Spirit , inerrant and infallible in the original manuscripts, preserved for all generations, and the final authority in faith. We accept the grammatical-historical system of interpretation of the Scriptures, and accept the historical record of the Bible as accurate and adequate (2 Tim. 3:15-17; 2 Pet 1:20,21; Ps. 19:7-9).
The Trinity
We believe in One God, the eternal, infinite and all-knowing Spirit in Whom all things have their source, support, and end (Deuteronomy 6:4; John 4:24; Genesis 1:1). Within this One God three distinct persons exist--Father, Son and Holy Spirit-united, equal and perfect in all attributes (Matthew 28:19; Acts 7:55; Acts 10:38; 2 Corinthians 13:14). The Godhead is One in essence, but within this perfect unity and equality exists order in function--first the Father, then the Son, and then the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 11:3; John 17:3-4; John 15:26; John 16:7).
The Person and Work of Messiah
We believe that the Messiah, the Lord Jesus of Nazareth, the eternal Son of God, became man without ceasing to be God; that He was conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of a virgin, in order that He might redeem sinful man. He accomplished this redemption by voluntarily giving Himself as a sinless substitutionary sacrifice on the cross, thereby satisfying God's righteous judgment against sin. He gave proof that He accomplished that redemption by His bodily resurrection from the grave. He then ascended to the right hand of His Father where He intercedes on behalf of those who trust Him (John 1:1, 2,14,18; Luke 1:34,35; Rom. 3:24-26; 8:34).
The Person and Work of the Holy Spirit
We believe that the Holy Spirit is the Divine Person who convicts the world of sin; that He alone brings new life to those who are spiritually dead; that He baptizes (or places) all believers into the Body of Messiah; that He indwells them permanently, seals them unto the day of redemption, bestows spiritual gifts upon them, fills (controls) those who are yielding to Him (John 3:3-8; 16:7-11; 1 Cor. 12:13; John 14:16,17; Eph. 4:30; 1 Cor. 12:7-11; Eph. 5:18).
Spiritual Gifts
We believe that God has given spiritual gifts to all Christians according to His divine will. Concerning the particular gift of tongues, we believe that without exception the New Testament teaches that these were known foreign languages (glossa). Tongues were a sign gift given at the beginning of the church age as a sign to the unbelieving Jew (1Cor.14:21-22; Isa.28:11-12; 2Kin 18:26; 1Cor.1:22). We believe that all sign gifts have ceased including, prophesy, healing, tongues,… 1Cor.13:8- “prophesies shall be rendered inoperative, whether tongues they shall cease of themselves, whether knowledge it will be rendered inoperative”- literal Greek rendering. Present gifts entail speaking/teaching/preaching and serving oriented gifts (Rom.12:3-8; 1Cor.12-14; 1Pet.4:10-11).
The Fall of Man
We believe that man was created in the image and likeness of God, in innocence and without sin. But in Adam's sin the race fell, inherited a sinful nature, became spiritually dead and alienated from God so that man is a sinner by both nature, imputation, and choice. Man, of himself, is incapable of remedying his lost and depraved condition (Gen. 1:26; 3:1-24; Rom. 3:10-18; 5:12; Eph. 2:1-3).
According to Gen 1:26-28 God created male and female in His image for the purpose of marriage and to reproduce. Therefore, marriage is only one woman and one man, legally bound together by vows before a Holy God. No other arrangement of people being brought together is a valid marriage in God’s eyes. Any form of child molestation, fornication, adultery, homosexuality, lesbianism, bestiality, bisexuality, incest, pedophilia, polygamy, or pornography is a sinful perversion of God’s gift of sex. We believe God disapproves of and forbids any attempt to alter one’s gender by surgery or appearance. (Genesis 2:22-24; 19:5,13; Leviticus 18:1-30; Matthew 19:4-6; Romans 1:26-29; 7:2; First Corinthians 5:1; 6:9; Gal. 3:28; Ephesians 5:22-23; First Thessalonians 4:1-8; Hebrews 13:4).
Human life begins at conception, although not fully developed, it is nonetheless a human created in the image of God (Ps.139). Abortion is murder of the unborn and clearly condemned in the Word of God (Ex.20:13; Deut.30:19).
Salvation
We believe that salvation is by grace through faith alone in the person and work of Messiah. It is a free gift apart from any works. It is accomplished by the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus the Messiah, as men place their faith and trust in Him. (Acts 16:31; Eph.2:8-10).
Security, Assurance, and Responsibility
We believe that all the saved--those in whom God has accomplished His transforming work of grace--are kept by His power and thus, are secure in Messiah forever. This assurance, however, is not the occasion for sin, for God in holiness cannot tolerate persistent sin in His children, and in infinite love He corrects them. True faith in Messiah is expressed by a fruitful, God-pleasing life of obedience (John 10:27-29; Rom. 8:29-39; 1 John 5:13; Heb. 12:6; Matt. 7:20; James 2:20).
The Church
We believe that the local church is an independent, autonomous , baptized (by immersion) body of born again believers united together by faith in Messiah, preaching the Word, practicing His teaching, obeying His command to go into all the world with the gospel. Messiah Jesus is the head of the church. Others serve under His headship, namely, pastors and deacons and the entire body of believers. The Church practices two ordinances, believer’s Baptism by immersion and the Lord’s Table as a memorial (Mt.28:19-20; Acts 20:28; 1Cor. 11:23-32; Eph.1:22-23; 4:11-16).
Sanctification
We believe that God, in the Scriptures, has given us everything pertaining to life and godliness. This includes the salvation from the penalty of sin and just as surely the provision of sanctification (separation) from sin. Sanctification from sin includes both the positional and practical aspects. Positional sanctification as a work of the Holy Spirit is complete and is without further growth; however, practical (progressive) sanctification, a result of the work of the Spirit in regeneration using the Word of God, provides the nourishment for growth in maturity in the Messiah. While practical sanctification is assured by the Word and the Spirit, it is yet imperfect in this life. There is some element of corruption in every part of the fallen nature which is the source for the war between the flesh and the Spirit. The maturing to obedience is possible for believers as they feed on the Word, submit to the Spirit of God and are in fellowship with other believers for service and accountability (John 17:17; I Cor. 1:30; Rom. 6:19,22; Heb. 10:25; I Pet. 2:2; II Pet. 1:3).
Eternality
We believe in the eternal blessedness of the saved in a literal heaven and the eternal punishment of the lost in a literal hell. Unsaved mankind will go to hell because they are lost sinners and are guilty of unbelief. There is a resurrection of the saved and of the unsaved. (Mk. 9:43-48; Lk.16:19-31; Jn.14:1-3; Jn. 5:25-29; Rev.3:12; 20:14-15; 21:4).
Angels Elect and Fallen
We believe angels are spirit beings created directly by God during the first week of creation (Psalm 148:2-5; Job 38:4-7). As created beings, angels were made to serve God and are not to be worshiped (Hebrews 1:14; Revelation 19:10; 22:8-9). We believe Satan is a created angel, originally made perfect by God, who incurred the judgment of God when he introduced sin into the universe by rebelling against his Creator (Isaiah 14:12-17; Ezekiel 28:11-19). As a result of his rebellion, Satan and the angels who followed him (whom we now call demons), were removed from their exalted position in heaven (Ezekiel 28:16). During this age, Satan and his demons actively oppose the plans of God and seek to deceive men from obeying God and His truth (1 Peter 5:8; 2 Corinthians 4:3-4). They seek the destruction of the Jewish people and the Nation of Israel (Rev.12:1-17). Though Satan and his demons are presently active in the world today, they will, after the return of the Messiah and Kingdom, be sent to the lake of fire for eternity (Revelation 20:1-3, 7-10). Though we believe that demon possession of unbelievers is possible, we do not hold that true Christians can be demon possessed (Hebrews 2:14; 1 John 4:4). The Bible also nowhere encourages believers to engage Satan and demons directly, whether by speaking to them, binding them, or casting them out.
Last Things
We believe in the imminent, pre-tribulational rapture of the church is the first stage of the Messiah’s return. We believe in the premillennial, visible, bodily return of Jesus the Messiah to earth (The Second Coming) which will occur at the end of the 7 year tribulation period. Messiah will rule and reign with His saints for one thousand years upon the earth. Then will come a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness will dwell and will last for all eternity. (Dan.12:2; Mt.25:46; Acts 24:15; 1Thes. 4;13-18; 2Thes.2:1-12; Rev.20-21).
Israel
We believe in the sovereign election of Israel as God’s eternal covenant people. In the year 1948, Israel was re-formed as a nation, yet still as a nation in unbelief. Most of the Jewish people are still scattered throughout the world because of the rejection of Jesus the Messiah. Many of the Jewish people today, both in the land and out of the land, are coming to saving faith. We have a responsibility to support this nation, pray for the peace of Jerusalem and bring the gospel to the Jewish people both in the land and world-wide. At the return of the Messiah, the Jewish people will be re-gathered back to the land in faith. (Gen.12:1-3; Levit 26; Deut.28; Ezek 37; Mt.28:19-20; Rom.1:16; 11:1-32).
Dispensationalism
We believe in the dispensational view of Bible interpretation but reject the teaching known as “Hyper Dispensationalism” and also “Progressive Dispensationalism”. We believe in Classical or Traditional Dispensationalism, which is distinguished by a consistent literal interpretation, a clear distinction between Israel and the Church, an understanding of progressive revelation, and recognizing the glory of God as the ultimate purpose of God in the world (Eph.1:10; 3:2,9).
Separation
We believe in the Biblical command to separate from worldliness, ecclesiastical apostasy, and church and state separation (1John 2:15-17; 2Pet.2; Jude).
