Articles of Faith

 

Article I, The True God: We believe the Father is God, the Son is God, and the Holy Spirit is God, but that they are united in such a way that there is only one God. He is eternal, infinite, and sovereign.

 

 

Article II, Jesus Christ: He is eternally one with the Father. He became a man, came to earth, and was born of Virgin Mary. He died for our sins, but arose from the dead lives in heaven to intercede for us.

 

 

Article III, The Holy Spirit: He is also God. He is present and active in the church. He is the one who works in the hearts of men and women to apply the benefits of our redemption.

 

 

Article IV, The Holy Scripture: We believe that the 66 books of the Old and New Testaments were inspired by God and reveal everything we need to know to be saved. The Bible is the basis for everything we hold essential to the Christian faith.

 

 

Article V, Sin, Original and Personal: We believe that sin exists in two forms. Original (or inbred) sin is the inclination towards evil (sometimes called depravity) with which we were all born as a part of a sinful race. Personal sins are an act of wilful disobedience when we know Gods law but violate it anyway, which results I guilt or condemnation. The problem of guilt is solved by forgiveness. The problem of the sinful nature is solved by a cleansing act of the Holy Spirit in the human heart.

 

 

Article VI, Atonement: We believe that Jesus suffered and died on the cross to pay the price of redemption. There is no other ground of salvation apart from faith in what He did for us. His sacrifice is sufficient for every person of the human race who repents and believes in Him.

 

 

Article VII, Prevenient Grace: We believe that all human beings have the power to choose between right and wrong, and therefore are morally responsible before God. Since men never loses his free will, it is possible to depart from God and be lost even after one has been saved.   

 

 

Article VIII, Repentance: Repentance means to be truly sorry for the sins a person has committed, along with a strong resolve to avoid all sin in  the future.

 

 

Article IX, Justification, Regeneration, and Adoption: We believe that in the experience of conversion (when Christ forg person) there are three things that happen all at once:

 

 

1.    Justification: We are justified before the law of God. That means we are no longer considered guilty or condemned. God then sees us just as we had never sinned.

 

 

2.    Regeneration:  We are given spiritual life, symbolized by the expression “born again.”  (We were previously died in our sins.)

 

 

3.    Adoption: We become sons of God and members of the family of God.

 

 

Article X, Entire Sanctification: This is an experience and stage in the life of a believer in which the total orientation of their lives is on God, and away from themselves. It is defining and deeper step toward Christ-likeness. We believe that after conversion a person maybe wholly cleansed from the sinful nature through the second work of grace by the Holy Spirit. This is the experience the disciple had on the Day of Pentecost. It is a cleansing that results in the purity of heart. The Holy Spirit dwells in our hearts in His fullness and gives us power to do God’s work. The experience comes to those who make a complete consecration which allows God to take complete control of their hearts and lives.

 

 

Article XI, The Church: The true Church is composed of all who have repented their sins and trusted in Christ alone for their salvation (sometimes called the “invisible church” to distinguish it from a human organisation). God works through His Church to accomplish His purposes in the world. The Church in this world is called “the body of Christ.”

 

 

Article XII, Baptism: Baptism is a sacrament (a public ceremony which symbolizes a change that has taken place in the heart of a believer). It was commanded by Christ to be a declaration of our faith in Him, and a symbol of our acceptance of the benefits of His death for us.

 

 

Article XIV, Divine Healing: We that God can heal bodies in response to our prayers, although He does not always choose to do so. He also heals through the use of medicine.

 

 

Article XV, Second Coming of Christ: We believe that Christ will return to earth someday to take His Church to heaven. At that time the dead will be resurrected, and the saints will meet Him in the air. We will live with Him forever.

 

 

Article XVI, Resurrection, Judgment, and Destiny: We believe that both the just and the unjust will be resurrected to face final judgement. The eternal destiny of each person will be determined at that time. Those who have been saved will spend eternity in heaven. Those who have rejected Christ will suffer in hell.