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We believe the Bible is God's Word, His message to humanity. It teaches that
all have sinned and need God's forgiveness and the new life He gives to everyone
who accepts His Son, Jesus Christ, as Savior. We believe it is God's plan for
every Christian to receive the baptism in the Holy Spirit. This New Testament
experience is evidenced first by speaking tongues as the Spirit gives utterance
and, finally, by the spiritual power to witness and to live the godly life
outlined in the Bible. We believe, as a climax to God's dealings with humanity,
Jesus Christ is coming again for those who trust and serve Him. Here are answers
to a few of the most often asked questions concerning:
The Bible
The Old and New Testaments are the divinely inspired revelation of God and His
purpose for humanity. In the words of the Bible "...holy men of God spoke as
they were moved by the Holy Ghost (2 Peter 1:21). The Bible is our
all-sufficient rule for faith and conduct (2 Timothy 3:15-17).Back
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About God
The God revealed in the Bible and in Creation has always existed and always
will. He is the creator and Ruler of the universe. We cannot explain the mystery
of God, but we accept as fact the revelation of His existence (Deuteronomy 6:4;
Isaiah 43:10; Matthew 28:19; Mark 12:29).Back
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About Jesus Christ
Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God who, in His incarnation, became a man in
order to put God's great plan of salvation into effect (John 17:5; Philippians
2:5-11; Hebrews 1:2).Back
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Man and His Needs
Man was created good, upright, and in the image of God. By choosing to disregard
and disobey God's command, man cut off his relationship with the Creator
introducing suffering and death into humanity (Genesis 1:26,27; 2:16,3:6: Romans
5:12-19). Man's only hope for restoration to God is the forgiveness God has
provided through the death of Jesus Christ. Every individual can be restored to
fellowship with God by asking forgiveness for sin and believing in God's Son
(John 3:3,36,17; Acts20:21; Romans 10&13).
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About the Holy Spirit
Christ taught a distinction of Person in the Trinity which he expressed in
specific terms as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. We believe the Holy Spirit
touches the lives of individuals in many ways, comforting the Christian and
bearing witness to God's work in the world. It is the Spirit working within that
brings salvation to the person who comes to God in faith. In addition, all
Christians may also be filled with The Holy Spirit in an experience different
from and following salvation called the "baptism in the Holy Spirit." It is a
special infusion of God's power to better enable the believer to spread the
gospel and to live the faithful life God expects. Scripture reveals this as the
normal experience for Christians and teaches that every believer should
earnestly seek this baptism. The first physical evidence is speaking in an
unknown language (Acts 1:8; 2:4; 1 Corinthians 12,13 and 14).Back
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The Ordinances we Practice
We observe Holy Communion or the Lord's Supper in which all believers are
invited to take part. We also practice water baptism by immersion as a
believer's public declaration of his identification with Jesus Christ and of his
new relationship with God through faith (Matthew 28:19; Romans 6:4).
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The Doctrine of Divine Healing
We believe healing is an integral part of the good news God has for the world
and that God heals sickness today, as in Bible times, on the basis of the
suffering and death of His Son (Isaiah 53:4,5; Matthew 6:16,17). We do not
pretend to understand everything about divine healing, but the Scriptures are
clear. When one is sick, he may pray in expectation of healing (James 5:16,17).Back
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The Future
God will intervene in human affairs to bring history to a climax and usher in a
better world. This will include judgment upon a corrupt world system, including
unscriptural religious structures, in a period termed the "Great Tribulation."
True believers will escape this time of trouble through what is called the
"rapture of the Church," the catching away of both living and resurrected
Christians to meet Christ and to be with Him forever (Thessalonians 4:13-18;
Romans 8:23; Titus 2:13;1 Corinthians 15:51,52). We believe there will be a
final judgment for the wicked of all ages (Matthew 25:46; Revelation 19:20;
Revelation 20:11-15).Back
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