Statement of Faith
We believe in the Word of God. The Bible is the inerrant, authoritative, infallible Word of God. "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work... I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom. Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching." (2 Tim. 3:16-17; 4:1-2)
We believe in One God. God eternally exists in three persons: the Father, the Word (Jesus), and the Holy Spirit. (I John 5:7, Deuteronomy 6:4; Matthew 28:19) God Almighty sent His Son, the Lamb of God, to take away the sins of the world. (John 3:16, John 1:1-14) Born of the virgin Mary (Mat. 1:23), conceived by the Holy Spirit (Luke 1:31-35), the baby Jesus is the only begotten Son of God. (John 3:18) He is the incarnation, Immanuel, God with us. (Mat. 1:23, John 1:1-14, II Corinthians 5:19-21, Galatians 4:4-5, Philippians 2:5-8)
We believe all have sinned. All of mankind has sinned and come short of the glory of God. (Rom. 3:23; 5:12) "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Rom. 6:23) Repentance is necessary for forgiveness of sins.
We believe in the Gospel. The gospel of Jesus Christ is His death, burial, and resurrection from the dead. (1 Cor. 15:1-4) The Son of Man secured our redemption from sin through His crucifixion. He triumphed over all principalities and powers by physically dying on the cross (Col. 2:14-15). Only by believing in the redeeming blood of the sinless Lamb of God can one be redeemed in the sight of God. (Ephesians 2:1-3, 4:17-19, John 1:14, Ephesians 1:7, 2:8-10, I Peter 1:18-19) His literal, physical resurrection from the dead justifies all believing in Him. (Acts 2:18-36; Romans 3:24-25; I Peter 2:24; Ephesians 1:7; I Peter 1:3-5)
We believe salvation is only through Jesus Christ. The salvation of ones soul comes by believing in Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God. (1 John 3:16-18) "Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved." Salvation is a gift of God that cannot be earned by doing good works. "For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them." (Eph. 2:8-10) God grants every person the free will to believe in Him or deny Him. (2 Tim. 2:12) One must continually abide in the doctrine of Christ to be saved. (2 John 1:9) During the days of the Great Tribulation (Mat. 24:21-22) the saints getting the victory over the Beast will be caught up at the coming of the Son of Man. (Mark 13:24-27, Rev. 7:9-14; 15:2) The saints overcome will be blotted out of the Book of Life forever. (Rev. 13:7; 2 Thes. 2:3, Rev. 3:5)
We believe in the first and second coming of Christ. Both have a beginning and an ending. His first coming to earth began when the Word of God was born in a manger (John 1:14, Luke 2:16). The Messiah was twelve when He shared with teachers (Luke 2:46). At thirty, the Lamb of God was baptized by John (Mat. 3:13-16, John 1:29). After this, the Son of Man healed the sick, cast out demons, and proclaimed the gospel (Mark 1:34; 2:10). These events were part of His first coming which began in a manger and ended when the Son ascended (John 20:17, Acts 1:9-11). His second coming also has a beginning and an ending. It consists of four events: the coming of the Son of Man, the physical return of the Messiah, the appearing of the Word of God, and the descent of the Lamb of God. These events, take place at different times, for different reasons, each having different results. Jesus highlights each event of His coming. (Chart-The Second Coming of Christ) His second coming will begin when the Son of Man comes in the glory of His Father (Mat. 24:30-31, I Thes. 4:15-17). Angels will gather the dead in Christ from heaven before gathering overcomers from earth (Mark 13:26-27, I Thes. 4:14-17, John 5:28-29, Rev. 7:9-14). Jesus has promised the church He will come back for them. (John 14:1-4) The promise of His coming is the catching up of His elect from the wrath to come (Rev. 7:9-14), the day of the Lord (2 Pet. 2:3-13, 1 Thes. 1:10, 2 Thes. 2:1-4) Our Blessed Hope (Tit. 2:13), highlights the events and signs which will warn us His coming is near. (Mat. 24:33) The events the Lord instructed the church to watch for (Mat. 24:3-29) are the same events John saw his vision of the Revelation of Jesus Christ (Rev. 1:1-6; 6:1-17). Every Christian should be watching for the events of the first six seals of the heavenly scroll (Rev. 5:1-14)
1ST Seal: Satan coming to conquer the saints. (Mat. 24:4-5, Rev. 6:1-2)
2RD Seal: Wars and rumor of wars. (Mat. 24:6, Rev. 6:3-4)
3TH Seal: Famines. (Mat. 24:7, Rev. 6:5-6)
4TH Seal: Persecution of the saints by the Beast (Mat. 24:9, Rev. 6:8; 13:1-18)
5TH Seal: Martyrdom of the saints by the False Prophet. (Mat. 24:9-13, Rev. 13:11-15; 16:13)
6TH Seal: Sun, moon, and stars losing their light. (Mat. 24:29, Isa 13:9-11, Joel 2:30-31)
Between the opening of the 6th and 7th seals, the Son of Man will come back at the sound of the trumpet of God, in the clouds, in the glory of His Father (sign of the Son of Man). (Mat. 24:29-31, Rev. 7:9-14) His holy angels will gather the dead in Christ (1 Thes. 4:14-16), followed by believers alive on earth. (1 Thes. 4:17)
7THSeal: Silence
in heaven for a half an hour. (Rev. 8:1)
No man knows the exact day or hour of the coming (rapture) of the Son of Man. (Mat. 24:36) Yet, Jesus exhorts to watch for the events of the first six seals. (Mat. 24:3-29) When we see the sun, moon, and stars out, we will know His coming is near. (Mat. 24:33) Anyone refusing to watch for these events will be living in darkness (sleeping) when our Blessed Hope comes like a thief in the night. (1 Thes 5:1-7, Rev. 3:3, Tit. 2:13-14, 2 Pet. 3:10-13) The second event is the Messiah (Deliverer) returning to earth for the salvation of Israel (Acts 1:11, Dan. 9:24, Rev. 10:1-7, Rom. 11:25-27) When the Jewish people see their Messiah they will say, 'barukh haba b'shem Adonai' (blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord) (Mat. 23:37-39). After fulfilling the mystery of God (Rev. 10:7, Rom 11:25-27), the Lord will split the Mount of Olives and hide this remnant from God's final wrath (Rev. 14:1-4, Zech. 14:4-5, Rev. 15:1)The third event is the Word of God appearing in heaven at the great day of God Almighty, Armageddon. (Rev. 16:14-16, 19:11-13) The Word will make war against the Beast and his armies (Rev. 19:17). During this supper of the great God, the Beast and the False Prophet will be cast into the lake of fire (Rev. 19:20) Then the Rider of the white horse will kill all who followed the Beast. His second coming will end after a demolished earth is restored like the Garden of Eden (Ezek. 36:35, Rev. 22:1). The Lamb of God will descend to a new earth with His bride inside a new heaven, the New Jerusalem (2 Pet. 3:13, Rev. 21:2-10).
We believe in heaven. Jesus ascended to heaven and is now exalted at the right hand of God. (Acts 1:9-10, Luke 22:69, Hebrews 9:24) The Son of God is our eternal Intercessor (Heb. 7:25), our High Priest (Heb. 9:11), and our Advocate I (John 2:1-2). At the coming of the Son of Man, all believers in the faith (Old and New Testament saints) will be resurrected and receive everlasting life. (Mark 13:27, I Thessalonians 4:16-17, John 5:28-29, Rev. 7:9-14)
We believe in the lake of fire. The wicked will be resurrected out of Hades, be judged by Jesus at the white throne judgment, before being cast into the lake of fire. (Rev. 20:11-15) The spirit of a person will never die; even in fire. Their torment is eternal, forever and ever. (Rev. 14:9-11)
We believe in a new heaven and a new earth. On the first day of Christ's reign over the nations (Rev. 12:5; 20:6); the Lamb of God will descend to a new earth inside the New Jerusalem (new heaven). (Rev. 21:2-10) The bride of Christ will rule with Jesus over a restored earth from within this four square city for a thousand years. (Rev. 21:9-10; 20:4) Eternity will begin after all on earth are devoured by fire at the end of the millennium (Rev. 20:7-9). After Satan, Hades, and death are cast into the lake of fire (Rev. 20:10, 14), the Son will give His kingdom back to His Father, so God (Father, Word, Holy Spirit) (1 John 5:7) may be all in all. (1 Cor. 15:24-28)
