OUR FULL TENETS OF FAITH

1. We believe the Bible is the inspired word of God ( 2Tim. 3:15-17, 2Pet. 1:21 )

2. We believe in one God in three persons. God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit.
Under the direction of the Holy Spirit, Moses starting in Gen. 1:1 uses Elohim for God, Gen. 19:24 speaks of a Lord on earth and a Lord in Heaven, Gen. 1:26 & 11:7 uses “Us” for the latter fuller revelation of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit (Trinity) in John 17:11-21, 14:26 , 2Cor 13:14 just to name a few . One also refers unity as in John 17:21.
Jesus Himself taught the Trinity in John 14:16

3. We believe Jesus Christ is God (the Word) manifest in human flesh, born of the virgin Mary by the power of the Holy Spirit ( Isaiah 7:14, Matt. 1:18, John 1:1, 14, 1John 5:7) And He is now at the right hand of the Father advocating for us. ( Acts 7:55, Heb. 8:1 )

4. Salvation after the fall of man:

A. Man was created in God’s image and by voluntary transgression he fell. His only hope of redemption is in Jesus Christ. ( Gen. 1:26 & 3:17 Rom 5:12-21)

B. Salvation is offered to all through faith in 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 ( Luke 24:47, John 3:3, 16, Acts 16:31 & 10:43, Romans 10: 9-15, Eph. 2:8, Titus 2:11 & 3:5-7)

C. The inward evidence of salvation is the direct witness of the spirit ( Rom. 8:16 )
The outward evidence of salvation is a life of love. ( 1John 3:23-24 )

5. Ordinances:

A. Water baptism. A commandment of our Lord Jesus. It is a symbol of a Christian’s identification with Christ in His death, burial and resurrection.
( Matt. 28:19, Roman 6:4, Colossians 2:12, Acts 8:36-39 )

B. Holy Communion, we are to do it often. The Lord’s supper consists of bread and fruit of the vine, it is a symbol expressing our sharing the divine nature of our lord Jesus, a
memorial of his suffering and death, and a prophesy of His second coming.
( 2 Pet. 1:4, 1Cor. 11:26, )

6. The returning of Jesus to gather his saints to Heaven ( 1Cor. 15:51-52, 1Thess. 4:15-17
2Thess. 2:1, 1John 3:2-3 )

7. The millennial reign of Jesus here on earth and then a new heaven and earth.
( Rev. 20:4-7 )

8. Those who have accepted the redemptive work of Jesus Christ will spend eternity in the presence of God. Those who reject Christ will perish in the lake of fire. (John 3:16, Rom. 3:26)

FUNDAMENTAL TRUTHS

1. ONE GOD IN THREE PERSONS: GOD THE FATHER, GOD THE SON, GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT.

2. SALVATION IS A FREE GIFT OFFERED TO ALL THROUGH FAITH IN JESUS.

Jesus said That God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. John 3:16 Jesus did not tell half truths!

When you put your faith in the completed work of Christ, and accept His death, burial & resurrection as payment in full for your sins, you are saved. Rom. 10: 8-10
The Apostle John, who was present on the day of Pentecost, wrote his Gospel some 70 years after the resurrection, and in verse 20:31 he stated his whole purpose in writing his gospel, which says: These things where written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in His name.

3. ALL BELIEVERS ARE GIVEN THE HOLY SPIRIT

The Holy Spirit lives in all believers to comfort them and lead them in truth.
Apostle Paul wrote the new believers in Ephesus and told them “And you also where included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed you marked in Him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession- to the praise of His glory. Eph. 1: 13-14 NIV

Also 1John 4:15 states: If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in him and he in God.

As the above scriptures plainly prove all believers have the Holy Spirit.
There is no scripture that even hints that one must fast, beg, cry, “seek” or “tarry” to receive the Holy Spirit nor any command to speak in tongues to show “evidence” of receiving Him.

A closer look at the book of Acts, Pentecost & speaking in tongues

Acts is a historical book that details the beginning of the New Testament church after the resurrection and the coming together of the Jews and Gentiles.
The Holy Spirit was poured out as promised beginning on the day of Pentecost ( a Jewish holiday). First to the Jews and later the Gentiles. The gift of tongues ( human languages ) served several purposes. They where used as a supernatural sign to the Jews, allowed the Apostles to magnify God to people from other nations who spoke different languages.
Tongues also was used to unify the early church ( unlike today ) by bring Jews & Gentiles into one faith. Peter himself, a Jew, would not have believed Gentiles had received the Holy Spirit nor allowed them to be baptized had he not heard them speak in tongues. Acts 10.

4. BAPTISM IS ONLY FOR SAVED BELIEVERS

Baptism is for those who have already been saved by placing their faith and Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. BAPTISM IS NOT AND NEVER WAS TO GET SAVED. The message through out the whole New Testament (over 185 scriptures) is salvation is by FAITH IN THE FINISHED WORK OF JESUS. ( John 3:16, 3:36, Acts 16:30-31, Romans 10: 9-10, 13 just to name a few)
Neither is baptism to actually receive forgiveness of sins, Acts 10:43 states that happens at the moment of belief. Therefore baptism is an act of obedience to Jesus and a public profession of your faith.

5. THE PRIESTHOOD OF ALL BELIEVERS

The Scripture teaches that every believer, without the aid of priest or churchmen may go “boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace in our time of need.” ( Hebrews 4:16) The Scripture states “ therefore brethren, boldness to enter into the Holiest by the blood of Jesus”. (Heb. 10:19) The believer does not need a priest or church to intercede on their behalf to God. The believer can have instant contact with God through simple prayer, and may have forgiveness of sins, and petition God without a priest or church. (1john 1:9) We recognize we are instructed to not fail to meet together with fellow believers for the purpose of building up one another and walking in truth.

6. WE BELIEVE IN THE AUTONOMY OF THE LOCAL CHURCH

Simply stated the Scripture gives no higher authority than the local congregation of born again believers. We believe the local congregation is to be governed by the Word of God, and the local church does not need, nor does Scripture teach that the local body rest under the authority of any earthly group. It is a group unto itself, under the authority of God, and solely responsible unto Him for its conduct, direction and affairs. In Revelation 2:6, 15 Jesus stated that he “hated” the doctrine of the Nicolaitanes. This group of heretics in the early church with other doctrinal errors promoted a clerical hierarchy in the church.

CONCLUDING COMMENTS

The validity of a church as being a true Biblical New Testament church does not rest in its ability to show an unbroken line of succession from the time of Christ. In fact, no church on earth can make that claim. Even the Roman Catholic Church which boasts of its unbroken history cannot prove an unbroken line of churches earlier than the third century, and what Catholicism teaches today, in no way resembles what the New Testament teaches or what the early church believed or practiced.

A true New Testament church is founded on its belief and practice of Scriptures, and not on any outward succession of a visible or invisible organization. In this sense, any church which founds itself strictly on the New Testament teachings, is a true and Biblical church, even if it existed in time, only yesterday. It is not the name or the organization that makes a biblical church, it is the practice of faith as revealed in the New Testament.