WHAT WE BELIEVE
In brief: We believe that the Bible is the inspired Word of God, giving the true history of the creation of the heavens and the earth, and of mankind, and contains the correct prophecy of the ages to come, regarding the heavens and the earth and the destiny of man.
We believe in the one true all powerful God, who is everlasting, and Holy in nature, attributes and purpose. The first of all commandments is, "Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God is one Lord" (Deut. 6:4) He is "One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all" (Eph. 4:6). We do not believe that He exists in three persons or personages. This one true God, has revealed Himself through His Son in redemption, and as the Holy Spirit in emanation.
This one true God was manifest in His Son Jesus Christ who is the express image of His Person. Jesus came in the image of the invisible God. God is Spirit. God was tabernacled among us, and was referred to as Emmanuel, God with us. Jesus was truly man and truly God.
We believe that man who was created in innocence, pure and holy, fell from his holy state through disobedience and was separated from the Holy God. In order for man to be restored to fellowship with God, he must be restored to obedience. "For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous" (Romans 5:19).
Through God's obedient Son is salvation made available to all. There is redemption through the blood of Jesus Christ. If we would come and call upon the Name of the Lord, we shall be saved. "Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved" (Acts 4:12).
"He that believeth (the gospel) and is baptized shall be saved; he that believeth not shall be damned" (Mark 16:16). We believe that baptism should be done by immersion since it is a symbol of burial. We do not dispose of a dead person's body by sprinkling dust or ashes on it, we bury it. "Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?"
We believe that baptism should be done in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ (Read Acts 2:38, 19:5). The apostles and disciples of our Lord did not baptize using titles, they used the Name. "And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins" (Matt. 1:21). We were instructed in Matthew 28:19 to baptize in the Name of, not in the Names of. The promise is that we shall be filled with the gift of the Holy Ghost, speaking in tongues, as the Spirit of God gives utterance.
We believe that godly living should characterize the life of every child of the Lord, and we should live according to the pattern and the example given in the word of God. "For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lust, we should live soberly, righteously and godly, in this present world"- (Titus 2:11,12).
Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust - (2 Peter 1:4). We are in the world but we are not of the world. God has called us unto sanctification.
Furthermore, we believe that prior to “The Day of the Lord,” the Lord will return for His people. “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also -. (John 14:3). He will descend from Heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trump of God, (the last or 7th trumpet) and that the dead in Christ shall arise, and we that are alive and remain shall be caught up with them to meet our Lord in the clouds of the air - (1 Thess. 4:16). This is commonly called the rapture. He will appear this second time in person, just as he went away - (Acts 1:11). We do not believe in a pre-tribulation rapture as is popularly taught by many Christians. This position cannot be validated by Scriptures, as much as many have tried. The Scriptures simply cannot be broken.
Moreover, we believe that the rapture will serve only as a temporary evacuation of the righteous from the earth, just as Noah’s Ark was. God will subdue His enemies by the pouring out His wrath upon a rebellious earth and will save Israel. The tribulation is described as Jacob’s (Israel’s) trouble – (Jeremiah 30:5-11, Dan. 12:1, Matt. 24:21, Rev. 12:13-14).
This period of darkness will be followed by the dawn of a better day on earth and that for a thousand years there shall be "peace on earth and good will toward men." (Rev. 20:1-4, Isa. 65: 17-25; Matt. 5:5; Daniel 7:27; Mic. 4:1-2; Hebrew 2:14). The previously raptured saints will return with the Lord. – (Matt. 19:28, 1 Thess. 4:14, Jude 14, Rev. 19:14) .
When the thousand years are finished, there shall be a resurrection of all the dead, who will be summoned before the great white throne for their final judgement, and all whose name are not found written in the Book of Life shall be cast into the lake of fire, burning with brimstone, which God hath prepared for the Devil and his angels, Satan himself being cast in first. (Matt. 25:41; Rev. 20:7, 15: 21:8).
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