The presentation of the gospel in our present society and community must be one of our first priorities (Matt. 28:19-20; Col. 4:4-6; 1 Peter 3:15). We believe the current methods of attack upon the truth fall into two (2) main classifications. The first is an appeal to pride through some form of rationalistic philosophy. The second demands a gullibility that is akin to superstition, and calls it “faith.” A common feature is a denial, in whole or in part, of the deity of Jesus Christ (1 John 4:2-3).
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We believe there is one God-eternal, omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent, existing as three Persons-Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, one in nature, attributes, power, and glory (Deut. 6:4; Jer. 10:10; Matt. 3:16-17; 28:19; and 2 Cor. 13:14).
We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures as a representative and substitutionary sacrifice and rose again for our justification. Most important in the message of the gospel are the person and work of our Lord Jesus Christ. "What do you think about the Christ? Whose son is he?" (Matt. 22:42). We affirm the Orthodox Christian position which clearly states that Jesus Christ is the image of the invisible God, perfect in Godhood and perfect in manhood. He is one with the Father from eternity. He took upon Himself the nature of man, and was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. We also believe that He died on a Roman cross as a substitutionary sacrifice for sin, He rose from the dead in the same body that was laid to rest in the tomb. We believe He ascended into heaven in that glorified body, and is now interceding on behalf of all who believe in Him. He will come again, personally, bodily, and visibly, to judge the living and the dead, and to set up His Kingdom. (Matt. 1:18-25; Isa. 7:14; Luke 24; Acts 2:31-36; Phil. 2:5-8; Col. 1:15-18; 1 Thess. 4:16-18; Heb. 4:14-16; 1 Pet. 2:24-25; Rev. 11:15-17; 20:4-6, 11-15).
We believe that God the Holy Spirit is third person of the one triune God, equal with God the Father and God the Son; that He was active in creation; that He convicts of sin, righteousness, and judgment (Matt 28:18-20) that He is the Agent in the new birth; that He baptizes all believers into the body of Christ at conversion; that He indwells, seals, endues, guides, teaches, witnesses, sanctifies, and helps the believer (John 14:16-18; 26; 15:26; 16:7-11).
We believe the Bible consists of the sixty-six (66) books of the Old and New Testaments, is a divine revelation, of which the original manuscripts were inspired by the Holy Spirit. The Bible is absolute in its authority, complete in its revelation, final in its content, and without any errors in its statements. In the Bible is contained all that is necessary for the service of God and for our salvation. It is therefore the supreme and final authority in all matters of faith and conduct, and is the only rule and norm by which all teaching is to be judged (Isa. 8:19-20; Luke 16:29-31; Gal. 1:8-9; 2 Tim. 3:15-17; and 2 Peter 1:20-21).
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