FAITH

We identify with the Twenty-Five Articles of Religion that were drawn up by John Wesley in 1784. Although we’re continuationists that believe in experiencing the gifts of the Spirit: we do not identify with the teachings of the New Apostolic Reformation. Although we’re firmly Wesleyan-holiness in doctrine, we’re interdenominational at heart. We consider ourselves to be in fellowship with Spirit-filled Baptists, Presbyterians, holiness people, Pentecostals, non-denominational churches, and Catholics that love God’s Word.

1. Scripture. We believe that the sixty-six books of the Old and New Testaments are given by inspiration of the Holy Spirit and are the true and authoritative Word of God, containing all things necessary for salvation and providing the sure foundation and rule of Christian faith and holy living. They reveal the will of God, bear witness to Jesus Christ and the Gospel, and contain the holy law of the Lord, which converts the soul, and instructs the people of God in righteousness. We receive the Holy Scriptures with reverence and submit our doctrine, our conscience, and our manner of life to their truth (Matthew 5:17–18; Psalm 19:7–8; John 17:17; 2 Timothy 3:15–17; 2 Peter 1:20–21).

2. God. We believe that there is one living and true God, everlasting, holy, almighty, infinite in wisdom, power, goodness, and glory, the Maker and Preserver of all things, both visible and invisible. In the unity of this one godhead there are three separate and distinct persons, of one divine spiritual substance, power, and eternity—the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, equal in divine glory, majesty, and honor. The Father is God, the Son is God, and the Holy Spirit is God, yet there are not three gods, but only one God. These three persons are eternally united in the one godhead and together accomplish the gracious work of creation, redemption, sanctification, and judgment (Deuteronomy 6:4; Matthew 3:16–17; 17:5; 28:19; John 1:1, 14; 2 Corinthians 13:14; 1 John 5:7).

3. Jesus Christ. We believe that there is one Mediator between God and mankind, the Lord Jesus Christ, the eternal and only begotten Son of God, conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary, being fully God and fully man. He lived without sin and willingly offered Himself on the cross as the Substitute for sinners, taking our sins and taking the punishment we deserve for our sins, that we might be reconciled to a saving relationship with God. He was buried, rose physically from the dead on the third day, ascended into Heaven, and now reigns at the right hand of God the Father. He alone is the way of salvation from Hell, and He will personally return in power and glory to judge the living and the dead (Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:18; John 1:1, 14; 3:16; 1 Timothy 2:5; Colossians 2:9; 1 John 2:2; 1 Corinthians 15:3–4; 1 Thessalonians 4:16–17; Hebrews 4:15; 9:27–28).

4. Salvation. We believe that all human beings have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God, and that every person stands in need of the saving grace of Jesus Christ. By consciously turning away from sin and trusting in Christ and His atoning blood, anyone may receive the forgiveness of sins, justification, reconciliation with God, and the new birth of the Spirit. Christ was wounded for our transgressions and bruised for our iniquities; and the Lord laid on Him the iniquity of us all. Salvation is initially received by God’s grace through faith in Jesus Christ, apart from any good works that earn merit before God, and it is received through the simple inward act of repentance and faith in Him. Those who trust in Christ may have confident assurance of God’s saving grace as they abide in Christ and walk faithfully with Him. The Holy Spirit personally bears witness with the spirits of believers that they are children of God, dwells within them, convicts them of sin, leads them into truth and holiness, inclines their hearts to love Christ and obey His Word, produces the fruit of the Spirit, enables them to break sinful addictions and vices, and gives them an urgent burden to preach the Gospel. True faith is therefore a living faith that works by love, pursues holiness, perseveres to the end, and creates a holy burden for the salvation of lost souls from the sinner’s Hell. Those who continue with faith in Christ, walking in repentance and holiness, will inherit eternal life; but those who finally reject Christ and die in their sins will suffer eternal conscious punishment in the lake of fire, under the holiness, power, and wrath of Almighty God (Isaiah 53:4–8; John 3:16, 18, 36; Romans 3:23–26; 4:7; 5:1, 8–9; 8:16; 1 John 1:9; Titus 2:11–14; Galatians 5:22–23; Hebrews 12:14; Matthew 24:13; 25:41, 46; Acts 1:8; Revelation 14:11; 20:10, 15).

5. The Church, Baptism, and the Lord’s Supper. We believe in one universal Church, the body of Christ, which is made up of all who truly belong to Him and are called to be holy in doctrine, worship, fellowship, and behavior. Christ has commanded His Church to preach the Gospel, make disciples of all nations, baptize, take communion, love our neighbors, care for those in need, and keep His commandments. We believe that baptism bears witness to repentance, faith, and relationship with Christ in His death and resurrection, and that the Lord’s Supper was instituted by Christ to remember His sacrificial death on the cross. All who bear the name of Christians are called to walk worthy of that holy name; and to live in prayer, obedience, holiness, mercy, and love, and to labor faithfully for the salvation of the lost until the Lord Jesus Christ comes back again (Matthew 22:37–39; 28:19–20; Acts 2:38–42; Romans 6:3–5; 1 Corinthians 10:16–17; 11:23–32; Ephesians 4:4–6; Hebrews 12:14; 1 Peter 1:15–16).