This Statement of Fundamental Truths (“Tenets of Faith”) does not exhaust the extent of our beliefs, it is intended simply as a basis of fellowship among us (i.e., that we all speak the same thing, 1 Corinthians 1:10; Acts 2:42). No claim is made that it contains all biblical truth, only that it covers our need as to these fundamental doctrines. We do not presume to say the phraseology employed in this Statement of Fundamental Truths is inspired or that it is the final work on Bible truth. However, we are persuaded it is proper and consistent with the Scriptures to “set forth in order a declaration of those things which are most surely believed among us” (Luke 1:1). The Bible itself, as the inspired and infallible Word of God that speaks with final authority concerning truth, morality, and the proper conduct of mankind, is the sole and final source of all that we believe, our faith and practice.
For purposes of the Church’s faith, doctrine, practice, policy, and discipline, our Senior Minister is Church’s final interpretive authority on the Bible’s meaning and application.
The Inspired Holy Scriptures
We believe the Bible is the inspired Word of God. It is God’s revealed will for all of mankind and is true, absolute, infallible, unchangeable, dependable, and trustworthy. The Word of God reveals God’s will for our faith and life, resulting in a life lived out of love for God and man. (Matthew 22:37-40; 2 Thessalonians 1:3; 2 Timothy 3:16- 17)
The Eternal One True God
We believe in the eternal triune God existing in three persons, God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit, who are equal in divine perfection. (Luke 1:35; 3:22; Hebrews 9:14; 1 John 5:7)
The Fall of Man
We believe man was created in the image and likeness of God. However, through man’s willful disobedience, man fell experiencing both physical and spiritual death resulting in eternal separation from God. All of mankind has inherited this sin nature and are spiritually dead in our sins and stand before God guilty and in need of redemption.(Genesis 1:27; Romans 3:23; 5:12-14)
The Plan of Salvation
We believe while we were still dead in our sins and in need of salvation God sent His Son Jesus Christ to die upon a cross and shed His sinless blood for our sins, resulting in justification of life for all those who believe in Him. (John 3:16; Acts 4:10-12; Romans 5:18; 2 Timothy 3:15; Titus 1:2; 2:14; Hebrews 5:9; 9:11-15)
Salvation by Grace Alone
We believe the free gift of salvation is by grace alone through faith, and that there is no amount of keeping the law, works of righteousness, or good works through self-effort that can earn salvation. We must not allow the rules, regulations, and legalism of outward observance to take away our freedom in Christ, since He abolished the law, in His death, as a way of being justified. The Lord judges us according to our motives, the internal condition of our heart, and the intentions of our heart. Therefore, we must avoid “going through the motions” of outward observances by keeping our hearts right with Him. (Acts 15:22-29; 21:15-25; 28-29; Romans 6:23; Galatians 2:16-21; Ephesians 2:8; Colossians 2:11-23; 1 Timothy 4:1-5; Titus 2:11; 3:7; Hebrews 7:5, 12, 18-19, 22; 8:6-13; 9:15; 10: 14-22; 12:22-24)
Receiving Salvation through Faith
We believe through sincere repentance toward God and sincere faith in Jesus Christ, we are justified by His grace through the redemption that is in Him alone, and that experiencing salvation results in the inward witness of the Holy Spirit. (Acts 13:38-39; Romans 1:16, 3:21-26; 4:16, 8:16, 10:6-10; Galatians 3:24, 5:4; Ephesians 1:13; Titus 3:4-7 Hebrews 11:6; 1 John 5:10)
The Salvation Experience
We believe that when we experience salvation we become new creations, no longer under the dominion of the old lifestyle of sin. We have been set free from the power and controlling influence of sin in our lives and are to walk in newness of life in obedience to Him. (Romans 6:1-23; 2 Corinthians 5:17; Galatians 2:20; Philippians 2:12-13; Colossians 1:27-28)
Water Baptism
We believe those who accept Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord are to be baptized in water by immersion in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit in obedience to Jesus’ command. Through water baptism we declare we have been buried with Christ into His death and have been raised with Christ to walk in the newness of life. (Matthew 28:19; Mark 16:16; Romans 6:4)
The Lord’s Supper
We believe in observing the Lord’s Supper receiving both the bread and the fruit of the vine in faith and love. We partake in Christ’s life through the Spirit as we celebrate His death, His victory through the Cross, and His second coming. (Matthew 26:26-30; Mark 14:22-26; Luke 22:14-23; 1 Corinthians 11:24-26)
Evangelism
We believe it is every believer’s responsibility to share the good news of Jesus Christ with those we come into contact with as we are led by the Holy Spirit, and share how Jesus Christ has change and transformed our lives. We can do this by both sharing our testimony with those who are unsaved and through our conduct, which is our godly behavior, as we live a righteous life around those who are unsaved. (Acts 8:1-8, 8:12-17; 1 Corinthians 1:4-9; 2:1; 2 Thessalonians 1:10; 2 Timothy 1:8; 1 Peter 3:1-2; 3:15-17; Revelation 12:11)
The Necessity of Making Disciples
We believe making disciples is the believers’ primary responsibility, commission and calling as Jesus said “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations”. We believe Jesus wanted disciples who would count the cost of following Him and be totally committed, loyal, and faithful followers. Jesus said, “…whoever of you does not forsake all that He has cannot be my disciple”. Jesus focused His attention on the few rather than the multitudes, He chose quality over quantity. Therefore we believe we as the church should be raising up radical disciples who are sold out, have committed their whole hearts, and have forsaken all to follow Him. (Matthew 28:19-20; Mark 4:13-20; Luke 14:25-33; John 6:66; Romans 1:5; 16:26)
The Importance of Being a Disciple and Discipleship
We believe being a disciple of Christ and the discipleship process is the key to experiencing the kingdom of God, which consists of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. In order to be a disciple, we must be willing to forsake all to follow Jesus Christ; otherwise, we cannot be His disciple. Jesus Christ must have first place in our hearts above all else in our lives, and we must be willing to obey Him. We must be willing to surrender all to Him, and learn to yield our own will to Him and His will. This requires us to change our way of thinking, believing, attitudes, behavior, and our traditions that do not align will His will and ways. A disciple of Christ is a disciple who follows Jesus Christ and not a particular denomination with its traditions and beliefs. (Matthew 5:3; 6:10; 15:6; Mark 4:13-20; Luke 14:23-33; John 10:10; Romans 14:17; 1 Corinthians 3:1-17; 2 Corinthians 12:9; Ephesians 4:11-16; Philippians 1:27; 2:2; 4:11; 1 Timothy 6:6-8; Hebrews 13:5-6)
The Necessity of the Baptism with the Holy Spirit
We believe the baptism with the Holy Spirit is available to all believers by faith and is absolutely essential for the believers’ empowerment for ministry. We believe every believer should sincerely and fervently seek after the promise of the Father until they are baptized with the Holy Spirit. Believers should expect the Holy Spirit to come upon them in the same manner as He came upon the believers in the early Church. (Mark 16:17-18; Luke 24:49; John 16:13-15; Acts 1: 5, 8; 2:4, 38-39; 8:12-17; 10:44-48; 11:14-16; 19:5-6; Romans 16:25-27; 1 Corinthians 2:4-5; Galatians 1:6-10; 3:2, 5)
Intimate Relationship
We believe every believer should make knowing the Lord Jesus Christ their one thing, highest aim, main goal, their reason for living, and their best and closest friend. Every believer’s purpose in life should be to seek to develop an intimate relationship with the Lord that they may know Him, know His voice, and be led by the Holy Spirit everyday 24/7/365. (John 10:27; Romans 8:14; Galatians 5:16-18, 5:24-25; Ephesians1:17-19; 3:17-19; Philippians 3:7-11)
Living the Christian Life
We believe God’s grace teaches us to put on the new man created in true righteousness and holiness. As we seek to please the Lord through holiness of heart, it results in righteous, holy, and godly living lived out of love for God and others. However, those who fail to pursue a life of obedience and holiness of heart will not inherit the kingdom of God. (1 Corinthians 6:6-10, 20; 2 Corinthians 7:1; Galatians 5:16-24; Ephesians 4:24; 5:1-7; Colossians 1:27-28; 2 Timothy 2:19-21; Titus 2:11-12; Hebrews 8:10-11; 12:14, 12:28; 2 Peter 1:3-11)
The Fruit and Gifts of the Holy Spirit
We believe the Spirit-filled life results in a life of obedience, righteousness, holiness, and godliness, which is characterized by godly character and the fruit of the Holy Spirit, namely love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance, in the lives of believers. The Holy Spirit empowers believers with spiritual gifts, distributing them to believers for ministry and service for the edifying of the Body of Christ. (Romans 12:3-8; 15:18-19; 1 Corinthians 1:7; 2:4-5; 4:19-20; 12-14; Galatians 5:22-25; 1 Thessalonians 5:20; 1 Timothy 4:14; 2 Timothy 1:6; Hebrews 2:4; 12:14; 1 Peter 1:15-16; 4:10-11; 2 Peter 3:11)
The Holy Spirit Guidance
We believe believers are to live a Spirit-filled and Spirit-led life, being sensitive to the voice of the Holy Spirit and His inward guidance throughout their daily lives. As the Holy Spirit directs them, they should learn to respond in obedience to His instruction and direction for their lives. (John 14:26; 16:13-15; Acts 8:29; 10:19; 13:2; 15:28; 16:6-7; 21:11; Galatians 5:16-25; Ephesians 4:30; 5:18-21; Philippians 2:12-13; 1 Thessalonians 4:9; Hebrews 8:10-11; 1 John 2:27)
The Prayer of Faith, Healing and Miracles
We believe healing is part of the atonement and it is available for all believers today, because Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. We believe the Lord heals those who are sick in answer to a believer’s prayer of faith. We also believe the Lord heals believers divinely as the Holy Spirit distributes the gifts of healing and miracles. We believe a believer must stand in faith, without doubt, and can expect the living God to show up in power to heal us according to our faith. (Psalm 66:18; Matthew 4:23; 8:5-13; 8:16-17; 9:22; 9:27-29; 9:35; 17:20; 21:21; Mark 5:34; 10:34;16:17-18; Luke 9:11; 17:11-19; Acts 3:1-10; 1 Corinthians 12:1-11; Hebrews 13:8; James1:6-8; 4:3; 5:14-16; 1 Peter 3:7; 1 John 5:14-15)
We the believers are the Church, the Body of Christ, the Temple and House of God
We believe, as disciples who have been baptized with the Holy Spirit, we are the temple of the living God. As individual members of the Body of Christ, as members of the Body of Christ locally, and as members of the universal or worldwide Body of Christ, we are the temple of God, the Church. As believers, we are the called out ones, the assembly, and the church; therefore, it is impossible to “go to church”. A building is not God’s house, nor is it the church; we are the church, the Body of Christ. As disciples of Jesus Christ, we are to worship the Lord in Spirit and in truth; there is no longer any need to go to a special place or a certain building to worship the Lord. We can gather as the church wherever we choose to gather together as believers and worship the Lord in Spirit and in truth and minister to one another. (John 4:19-24; 1 Cor. 3:16; 6:19; Eph. 2:20-21; 4:1-16; 5:17-21; Col. 3:16-17; Heb. 10:19-25; 1 Peter 4:10-11)
Definition of a “Church”
We believe “church” is defined as “where two or three believers are gathered in the name of Christ”. We believe Jesus Christ defined the meaning of the word “church” in Matthew 18:20 when He said, “For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.” We believe Jesus sent His disciples “two by two” to find “a man of peace” so there would be “two or three” believers to form a church in each house. (Matthew 18:20; Mark 6:7; Luke 10:1, 5-6)
Meeting as the Church, the Priesthood of All Believers
We believe Spirit-filled disciples are to meet according to the apostles’ doctrine as Paul taught everywhere in every church, with every believer ministering to one another. We believe every Spirit-filled believer has been empowered by the Holy Spirit to minister and function according to their gifting. Everyone has received a gift and is to minister to one another seeking to build up and edify promoting the growth of Body of Christ. Believers are to be equipped to share the Gospel of Christ with unbelievers and to teach, admonish, warn, correct, instruct, exhort, and comfort one another according to their gifting and function in the Body of Christ. (Matthew 23:8; Romans 8:14;12:3-8; 13:8-10; 15:14; 1 Corinthians 14:23-33; 15:58; Galatians 3:26-28; 5:13-14; 6:2-4; Ephesians 4:6-7, 11-16; 5:19-21; Colossians 3:14-17; 1 Thessalonians 4:18; 5:11,14; Hebrews 2:11; 3:13; 6:10-12; 8:10-11;10:19-25; James 5:16, 19-20; 1 Peter 1:22; 2:4-5, 2:9-10; 3:8; 4:7-10; 1 John 2:27; Revelation 1:5-6)
Meeting in Homes of Believers (House Churches) and Benefits
We believe Jesus Christ laid down the best pattern and most effective method for believers to meet when He sent out His disciples in two’s to start churches in houses. Believers met in houses for approximately 300 years before the first buildings were built and changed the way we meet together as the church. We believe meeting in believers’ homes or “house church” is the best way to meet due to the natural, normal, comfortable environment it provides. Meeting in house churches provides accountability for growth, maturity, and ministry. Meeting in houses puts the responsibility for the meeting upon every believer to be prepared and provides equal opportunity to participate and function in their gifting in order to minister to one another. The benefits of meeting in the homes of believers are many, including the fact that the “the building” rent is already taken care of, so it is cost efficient with little overhead. There is no need to purchase land and develop it, no buildings to build, no electric and water bills, no pastoral salaries, very little yard and maintenance care is needed saving both time and money. The giving of offerings would go to meet the needs of the believers within the Church. Also, used for training materials to reach the lost, disciple, and plant more churches. (Matthew 23:8; Luke 10:1-12; John 4:19-24; Acts 2:46; 5:42; 20:20; 28:30; Romans 15:14; 16:5; 1 Corinthians 3:16; 4:16-17; 6:19; 14:23-33; 15:58; 16:19; Ephesians 2:20-21; 4:1-7, 16; 5:17-21; Colossians 3:16-17; 4:15; Philemon 1:2; Hebrews 6:9-12; James 5:19-20; 1 Peter 4:10-11)
New Testament Giving
We believe due to being under the grace of Jesus Christ, we should be generous in our giving. We should give what we are able to give, not limiting ourselves to only a tithe, rather we should give all we can. Our giving is to be done according to our ability as we purpose in our hearts, both willingly and cheerfully to meet the needs of believers, not resentfully out of obligation. We believe the Law of Moses was for the Jews, so the requirement to tithe was for the Jewish people alone. The Gentiles have never been subject to the Law of Moses with its requirement to tithe either before or after Christ came. Therefore, in Christ we are under grace and have been set free from the Law of Moses with its requirement to tithe. (Acts 15:22-29; 21:15-30; Romans 12:3-8; 1 Corinthians 16:1-3; 2 Corinthians 8:1-15; 9:5-14; Gal. 5:1-6; Colossians 2:4-23)
The Hope of the Resurrection at Christ’s Second Coming
We believe no one knows the time of Jesus Christ’s second coming. However, when He returns He will descend from Heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. The dead in Christ shall rise first, then all true believers who are alive and remain at His coming will be translated, caught up, together to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will be forever with our Lord. (Matthew 24:36-44; 1 Corinthians 15:51-52; 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17; Titus 2:13; Hebrews 9:28)
The Judgment Seat of Christ
We believe all believers whose names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life will receive everlasting life in heaven. Every believer will appear before the judgment seat of Christ to receive reward or suffer loss for the good things or bad things done in our bodies while on earth. Every believer’s work will be tested and tried by fire, and only that which is done out of love in obedience to the Lord will stand the test and will receive reward. Those whose works are burnt up by fire will suffer loss of reward; however, all true believers will inherit eternal life. (1 Corinthians 3:11-15; 2 Corinthians 5:9-11; Revelation 20:4-6; 21:27; 22:3-5)
The Believers Reign with Jesus Christ 1000 Years
We believe after the believers are caught up in the air at Jesus Christ’s second coming will return to earth. Satan will be bound for a thousand years and the saints will live and reign with Jesus Christ for a thousand years on earth. After the thousand years, Satan will be set free from prison to deceive the nations and will gather the nations against the saints. God with intervene with fire coming down from heaven and devour them. Satan, the devil, will be “cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast [or the antichrist] and false prophet are.” (Revelation 20:1-10).
The Great White Throne Judgment
We believe those who do not know God and those who do not obey the Gospel, those who are unrepentant sinners or unbelievers, will be judged according to their works. Then death and hell will be thrown into the lake of fire and everyone whose name is not written in the Book of Life will be cast in the lake of fire, which was never prepared for man, but for Satan. The unsaved, those who rejected Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord, will be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and be eternally separated from the Lord. (2 Thessalonians 1:8-10; Revelation 20:11-15; 21:8)
The New Heavens and New Earth
We believe according to the Scriptures the present earth will be burnt up with fire. According to His promise, we are to look for a new earth and new heavens, which is the eternal home of all who are saved, where only righteousness dwells.(2 Peter 3:10-13; Revelation 7:14-17; 21:1-4, 24-27; 22:3-5)
Gender/Gender Identification
We believe that God wonderfully and immutably creates each person as male or female. We believe these two distinct, complementary genders together reflect the image and nature of God. We believe that being man or being woman is a reality which is good and is willed by God, and comes to each from God, reflecting God’s wisdom and design. We believe that an individual’s gender as a man or a woman is based solely on that person’s biological sex as determined at conception and as revealed at birth by that person’s anatomy. We believe that the rejection of, or any conduct with the intent to adopt a different gender or change one’s gender or biological/anatomical sex, is a rejection of the image of God and His design within that person and is sinful and offensive to God. (Genesis 1:26-27; Leviticus 20:13; Deuteronomy 22:5; Psalm 139:13-16; Matt. 5:17-20)
All gender related references in this Constitution, including but not limited to male, man, female, or woman, is specifically limited to Gender as defined in this Section.
The Sanctity (Blessedness) of Marriage
We believe that God created and established the institution of marriage as a covenant relationship between a man, a woman, and Himself. We believe that God designed and limited the expression of sexual intimacy to be the exclusive boundaries of a one man and one woman marriage covenant. We believe that God designed marriage to reflect the beauty and permanence of Christ’s loving relationship with his bride, the Church. We believe God established marriage to be a sacred, lifelong, exclusive relationship between one man and one woman. We believe the term “marriage” has only one meaning: the uniting of one man and one woman in a single, exclusive union, as delineated in the Bible. Because God has defined and ordained marriage as the covenant relationship between one man and one woman, we only recognize, honor, permit, or conduct marriages between one man and one woman. Any other form of marriage is a perversion of God’s Word and His intended purpose to create life by reproducing and multiplying. (Genesis 1:27-28; 2:18-25; 2:24-25; Matthew 19:3-6;1 Corinthians 7:3-5; Romans 1:22-27; Galatians 5:19-21; Ephesians 5:23-24; Hebrews13:4; 13:8; Revelation 19:7)
Sexual Purity
We believe that God commands that each individual abstain from any form of sexual impurity. We believe that any form of sexual immorality including but not limited to: adultery, fornication, homosexual behavior, bisexual conduct, bestiality, and incest is sinful and offensive to God. (Genesis 2:24; 19:5, 13; 26:8-9; Leviticus 18:1-30; Romans 1:26-29; 7:2; 1 Corinthians 5:1; 6:9-10; 7:10; Galatians 5:19-21; 1 Thessalonians 4:1-8; Hebrews 13:4)
All Human Life Begins at Conception
We believe in the biblical foundational truth that all human life begins at conception and that we are created in the image of God, therefore, all human life is a gift from God. Abortion is taking a human life and is therefore viewed as sin or a sinful action. We also acknowledge that there may be extremely rare cases where the life of the mother is in fatal danger or when abnormalities with the newborn pose a lethal danger to the newborn. One may have to choose the most loving way and highest good possible for all those involved in the situation. For those considering abortion we offer the biblical option of adoption, since we as believers have been adopted into the family of God ourselves. (Genesis 1:27; Job 31:15; Psalm 139:13-16; Galatians 4:4-7; Ephesians 1:4-6)
Sanctity of Human Life
We believe that all human life is sacred and created by God in His image. Human life is of inestimable worth in all its dimensions, including pre-born babies, the aged, the physically or mentally challenged, and every other stage or condition from conception through natural death. We are therefore called to defend, protect, and value all human life. (Palms 139)