The Bible is our all-sufficient rule for faith and practice. Hence, this statement of Fundamental Truths is intended as a basis of fellowship among us (i.e. that we all speak the same thing. 1 Cor. 1:10 and Acts 2:42). The human phraseology employed in such a statement is not inspired nor contended for, but the truth set forth is held to be essential to the ministry. No claim is made that it contains all the truth in the Bible, only that it covers our present needs as to these fundamental matters.

  1. The Scriptures Inspired

The Bible is the inspired Word of God, a revelation from God to man, the infallible rule of faith and conduct, and is superior to conscience and reason, but not contrary to reason. 2 Tim. 3:15, 16; 1 Pet 2:2.

  1. The One True God

The one true God has revealed Himself as the eternally self-existent, self-revealed “I AM”; and has further revealed Himself as embodying the principles of relationship and association. (i.e., as Father, Son and Holy Ghost. Duet. 6:4; Mark 12:29; Isa. 43:10, 11; Matt. 28:19) and He has made known Himself to us as the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob (Gen 50:24, Exo. 3:15, Acts 7:32)

The Adorable Godhead

(a). Terms Defined

The terms “Trinity” and “Persons,” as related to the Godhead, while not found in the Scriptures, are words in harmony with Scripture, whereby we may convey to others our immediate understanding of the doctrine of Christ respecting the Being of God, as distinguished from “gods many and lords many.” We, therefore, may speak with propriety of the Lord our God, who is One Lord, as a Trinity or as one Being of three persons, and still be absolutely Scriptural. (Examples Matt 2:6, 8:16, 17; and Acts 15:15-18).

(b). Distinction and Relationship in the Godhead

Christ taught a distinction of Persons in the Godhead which He expressed in specific terms of relationship, as Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, but that this distinction and relationship, as to its mode, is inscrutable and incomprehensible, because unexplained. Luke 1:35; 1 Cor. 1:24; Matt 11:25-27; 28-19; 2 Cor 13-14; 1 John 1:3-4

(c). Unity of the One Being of Father, Son and Holy Ghost

Accordingly, therefore, there is that in the Son which constitutes Him the son and not the Father; and there is that in the Holy Ghost which constitutes Him the Holy Ghost and not either the Father or the Son. Wherefore the Father is the Begetter, the Son is the Begotten; and the Holy Ghost is the one proceeding from the Father and the Son. Therefore, because these three persons in the Godhead are in a state of unity, there is but one Lord God Almighty and His name one. John 1:18; 15:26; 17:11, 21; Zech, 14:9.

(d). Identity and Cooperation in the Godhead

The Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost are never identical as to Person; nor confused as to relation; nor divided in respect to the Godhead; not opposed as to cooperation. The son is in the Father and the Father is in the Son as to relationship. The Son is with the Father and the Father is with the Son, as to fellowship. The Father is not from the Son, but the Son is from the Father, as to authority. The Holy Ghost is from the Father and the Son proceeding; as to nature, relationship, cooperation and authority. Hence, neither Person in the Godhead either exists or works separately or independently of the others. John 5:17-30.

(e). The Title, Lord Jesus Christ

The appellation, “Lord Jesus Christ,” is a proper name. It is never applied, in the New Testament, either to the Father or to the Holy Ghost. It therefore belongs exclusively to the Son of God. Rom. 1:1-3, 7; 2 John 3.

(f). The Lord Jesus Christ, God with Us

The Lord Jesus Christ, as to His divine and eternal nature, is the proper and only Begotten of the Father, but as to His human nature, He is the proper Son of Man. He is, therefore, acknowledged to be both God and man; who, because He is God and man, is “Immanuel,” God with us. Matt 1:23; 1 John 4:2, 10, 14; Rev 1:13, 14-17.

(g). The Title, Son of God

Since the name “Immanuel” embraces both God and man in the one Person, our Lord Jesus Christ, it follows that the title, Son of God, describes His proper deity, and the title, Son of Man, His proper humanity, Therefore the title, Son of God belongs to the order of eternity, and the title, Son of man. to the order of time. Matt. 1:21-33; 2 John 3: John 3:8; Heb. 7:3, 1:1-13.

(h). Transgression of the Doctrine of Christ

Wherefore, it is a transgression of the Doctrine of Christ to say that Jesus Christ derived the title, Son of God, solely from the fact of the incarnation, or because of His relation to the economy of redemption. Therefore, to deny that the Father is a real and eternal Father, and that the Son is a real and eternal Son, is a denial of the distinction and relationship in the Being of God; a denial of the Father and the son; and a displacement of the truth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. 2 John 9; John 1:1, 2, 14, 18, 29, 49; 8:57, 58; 1 John 2:22-23, 4:1-5; Heb. 12:3, 4.

(i). Exaltation of Jesus as Lord

The Son of God, our Lord Jesus Christ, having by Himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the majesty on high; angels, principalities and powers having been made subject unto him. And, having been made both Lord and Christ, He sent the Holy Ghost that we, in the name of Jesus, might bow our knees and confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the Glory of God the Father until the end, when the Son shall become subject to the Father that God may be all in all. Heb. 1:3; 1 Peter 3:22; Acts 2:32-36; Rom. 14:11; 1 Cor. 15:24-28.

(j). Equal Honor to the Father and to the Son

Wherefore, since the Father has delivered all judgment unto the Son, it is not only the express duty all in heaven and earth to bow the knee, but it is an unspeakable joy in the Holy Ghost to ascribe unto the Son all the attributes of Deity, and to give Him all the honor and the glory contained in all the names and titles of the Godhead (except those which express relationship. Ref. paragraphs b, c, and d), and thus honor the Son even as we honor the Father. John 5:22-23; 1 Peter 1:8; Rev. 5:6-14; Phil 2:8-9; Rev. 7:9-10; Rev. 4:8-11.

  1. Man, His Fall and Redemption

Man was created good and upright; for God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, after Our likeness.” But man, by voluntary transgression, fell, and his only hope of redemption is in Jesus Christ, the Son of God. Gen. 1:26-31, 3:1-7; Rom 5:12-21.

  1. The Salvation of Man

(a). Condition to Salvation

The grace of God, which brings salvation, has appeared to all men, through the preaching of repentance toward God and faith toward the Lord Jesus Christ; man is saved by the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost, and, being justified by grace through faith, he becomes an heir of God according to the hope of eternal life. Titus 2:11; Rom. 10:13-15; Luke 24-47; Titus 3:5-7.

(b). The Evidence of Salvation

The inward evidence, to the believer of his salvation, is the direct witness of the Spirit. Rom 8:16. The outward evidence to all men is a life of righteousness and true holiness. Matt 5:16.

  1. Baptism in Water

The ordinance of Baptism by a burial with Christ should be observed as commanded in the Scriptures, by all who have really repented and in their hearts have truly believed in Christ as Savior and Lord. In so doing, they have the body washed in pure water as an outward symbol of cleansing, while the heart has already been sprinkled with the blood of Christ as an inner cleansing. Thus they declare to the world that they have died with Jesus and that they have also been raised with Him to walk in the newness of life. Matt. 29:19; Acts 10:47-48; Rom. 6:4; Acts 20:21; Heb. 10:22.

  1. The Lord’s Supper

The Lord’s Supper, consisting of the elements, bread, and the fruit of the vine, is the symbol expressing our sharing the divine nature of our Lord Jesus Christ (2 Peter 1:4) a memorial of His suffering and death (1 Cor. 11:26) and a prophecy of His second coming (1 Cor. 11:26) and is enjoined on all believers “until He comes”.

  1. The Promise of the Father

All believers are entitled to, and should ardently expect, and earnestly seek, the promise of the Father, the Baptism in the Holy Ghost and fire, according to the command of our Lord Jesus Christ. This was the normal experience of all in the early Christian Church. With it comes the enduement of power for life and service, the bestowment of the gifts and their uses in the work of the ministry. Luke 24:49; Acts 1:4, 1:8; 1 Cor 12:1-31. This wonderful experience is distinct from and subsequent to the experience of the new birth. Acts 10:44-46, 11:14-16, 15:7-9.

  1. The Evidence of the Baptism in the Holy Ghost

The Baptism of Believers in the Holy Ghost is witnessed by the initial physical sign of speaking with other tongues as the Spirit of God gives them utterance (Acts 2:4). The speaking in tongues in this instance is the same in essence as the gift of tongues (1 Cor. 12:4-10, 28) but different in purpose and use.

  1. Entire Sanctification

The Scriptures teach a life of holiness without which no man shall see the Lord. By the power of the Holy Ghost, we are able to obey the command, “Be ye holy, for I am holy.” Entire sanctification is the will of God for all believers and should be earnestly pursued by walking in obedience to God’s Word. Heb 12:14; 1 Pet. 1:15, 16; 1 Thess. 5:23, 24; 1 John 2:6.

  1. The Church

The Church is the body of Christ, the habitation of God through the spirit, with divine appointments, for the fulfillment of her great commission. Each believer, born of the Spirit, is an integral part of the General Assembly and Church of the First-Born, which are written in heaven. Eph. 1:22, 23; 2:22; Heb 12:23.

  1. The Ministry and Evangelism

A divinely called and Scripturally ordained ministry has been provided by our Lord for a twofold purpose; (1) The evangelization of the world, and (2) The edifying of the body of Christ. Mark 16:15-20; Eph 4:110-13.

  1. Divine Healing

Deliverance from sickness is provided for in the atonement and is the privilege of all believers. Isa. 53:4, 5; Matt 8:16, 17.

  1. The Blessed Hope

The resurrection of those who have fallen asleep in Christ and their translation together with those who are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord is the imminent and blessed hope of the church. 1 Thess. 4:16, 17; Rom. 8:23; Titus 2:13; 1 Cor. 15:51, 52.

  1. The Millennial Reign of Jesus

The revelation of the Lord Jesus Christ from heaven, the salvation of national Israel, and the millennial reign of Christ on the earth is the Scriptural promise and the world’s hope. 2 Thess. 1:7; Rev 19:11-14; Rom. 11:26, 27; Rev 20:1-7.

  1. The Lake of Fire

The devil and his angels, the beast and the false prophet, and whosoever is not found written in the Book of Life, shall be consigned to everlasting punishment in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death. Rev. 19:20; Rev. 20:10-15.

  1. The New Heavens and New Earth

We, “according to His promise look for new heavens and a new earth where dwells righteousness.” 2 Peter 3:13; Revelation 21:22.

  1. Civil Government

We believe that God has ordained and created all authority consisting of three basic institutions: 1) the home; 2) the church, and 3) the state. Every person is subject to these authorities, but all (including the authorities themselves) are answerable to God and governed by His Word. God has given each institution specific Biblical responsibilities and balanced those responsibilities with the understanding that no institution has the right to infringe upon the other. The home, the church, and the state are equal and sovereign in their respective Biblically assigned spheres of responsibility under God (Rom. 13:1-7; Eph. 5:22-24; Heb. 13:17; 1 Pet. 2:13-14).

  1. Human Sexuality

We believe that God has commanded that no intimate sexual activity be engaged in outside of a marriage between a man and a woman. (Gen. 2:24; Gen. 19:5, 13; Gen. 26:8-8; Lev. 18:1-30; Rom 1:26-29; 1 Cor. 5:1, 6:9; 1 Thess. 4:1-8; Heb. 13:4).

  1. Abortion

We believe that human life begins at conception and that the unborn child is a living human being. (Job 3:16; Psalms 51:5; 139:14-16; Isa. 44:24; 49:1, 5; Jer. 1:5; 20:15-18; Luke 1:44).

  1. Lawsuits between Believers

We believe that Christians are prohibited from bringing civil lawsuits against other Christians or the church to resolve personal disputes. We believe the church possesses all the resources necessary to resolve personal disputes between members. We do believe, however, that a Christian may seek compensation for injuries from another Christian’s insurance company as long as the claim is pursued without malice or slander (1 Cor. 6:1-8; Eph. 4:31-32).

  1. Giving

We believe that every Christian, as a steward of that portion of God’s wealth entrusted to him, is obligated to support his church financially. We believe that God has established the tithe as a basis for giving, but that every Christian should also give other offerings sacrificially and cheerfully to the support of the church, the relief of those in need, and the spread of the Gospel. We believe that a Christian relinquishes all rights to direct the use of the tithe or offering once the gift has been made (Gen. 14:20; Prov. 3:9-10; Acts 4:34-37; 1 Cor. 16:2; 2 Cor. 9:6-7; Gal. 6:6; Eph. 4:28; 1 Tim. 5:17-18; 1 John 3:17).