Salvation:
We embrace the full Bible standard of salvation as preached to the New Testament Church in Acts 2:38. The believer is commanded to repent, be baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ for the remission of sins and to receive the Holy Ghost.
And the times of this ignorance winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent. (Acts 17:30)Repentance is a commandment. We must turn away from our sins, rethink our relationships and embrace the fullness of Jesus Christ. Through repentance, we die out to our sinful lusts (Rm. 6:1-2).
And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord. (Acts 22:16)t:
Baptism is administered according to the commandment of Jesus and is an integral part of the salvation experience (Mk. 16:16). Through faith in the work of Calvary and the cleansing blood of Jesus Christ, we invoke His name in baptism as the Apostles did (Acts 2:38, 8:12, 10:48, 19:5). The old man that died out to sin in repentance is buried with Christ in baptism (Rm. 6:3-4).
. . . Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. (Rm. 8.9b)The Holy Ghost is the promised power (Acts 1.7-8). Jesus promised: "I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you" (Jn. 14:18). After His ascension, Jesus came as the Comforter at Pentecost and filled the 120 believer in the Upper Room (Acts 2:1-4). They spoke in tongues, and we believe that this is the evidence of Spirit baptism (Acts 10:45-46). This power is available to all believers (Acts 2:39). Through the Spirit, we receive a spiritual resurrection (Rm. 6:4-5).
Hear O Israel: The Lord Our God is one Lord. (Dt. 6:4)We believe in One God (Dt. 6:4, I Cor. 8:6) manifested as Father, Son and Holy Ghost. With the Apostles, we teach that Jesus Christ is this One God manifested in the flesh (I Tm. 3:16). Jesus reveals the Father (Jn. 14.9) and is One with the Father (Jn. 10:30). The Holy Ghost is the abiding Spirit of Christ given at Pentecost and promised to all believers (Acts 2:39). The Father, Son and Holy Ghost are not separate, but One (I Jn. 5:7).
. . . and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. (Mt. 16:18)We believe that Jesus Christ established and purchased the Church (Acts 20:28). We believe in the unity of Christians (Jn. 17:5) who have experienced a common salvation and faith in Jesus Christ. We believe that the Church is triumphant and victorious through the Lord God and will be resurrected at the last trump (I Thes. 4:16-17). This is our blessed hope!
Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord. (Hb. 12.14)Holiness is not an option for the believer. Jehovah said: " . . . ye shall be holy, for I am holy" (Lv. 11:44). We believe that the Christian life is one of moderation and separation. Because we belong to Christ, we lay aside worldliness and sinful lusts. Holiness is an inward relationship that emanates an outward reality. In all aspects of our lives, our desire is to please Him, and we walk according to the teachings and principles of the Scriptures regarding the regulation of the Christian life.
