Fundamental Truths

1. The Scriptures Inspired

The Scriptures, both the Old and New Testaments, are inspired by God and are the revelation of God to man, the divine, infallible, authoritative, and only rule for Christian faith and practice. (2 Timothy 3:15-17; 1 Thessalonians 2:13; 2 Peter 1:21)

2. The One True God

There is one true God, who is everlasting, and has revealed Himself as the eternal, self-existent “I AM.” He is the Creator of heaven and earth and the redeemer of mankind. In the Godhead, there are three persons of one individual essence, who are co-equal, co-existent, and co-eternal; namely, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. The Son is the eternally begotten of the Father, who came to earth, being fully God and fully man. He is the Lord Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit was sent by the Lord Jesus as the Comforter, to indwell, to teach, and to guide the believer, and to convince the world of sin, of righteousness, and of judgement.  (Deuteronomy 6:4; Isaiah 43:10,11; Matthew 3:16; Mathew 28:19; Luke 3:22; John 10:33; John 14:26; John 15:26; Romans 1:20; Colossians 1:16; Hebrews 9:14)

3. The Deity of the Lord Jesus Christ

The Lord Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God. The Scriptures declare:

a.    His virgin birth. (Matthew 1:23; Luke1:31,35)

b.    His sinless life. (Hebrews 7:26; 1 Peter 2:22)

c.    His miracles. (Acts 2:22; 10:38)

d.    His substitutionary work on the cross. (1 Corinthians 15:3; 2 Corinthians 5:21)

e.    His bodily resurrection from the dead. ( Matthew 28:6; Luke 24:39; 1 Corinthians 15:4)

f.     His exaltation to the right hand of God. (Acts 1:9,11; 2:33; Philippians 2:9-11; Hebrews 1:3)

g.    His return for His church. (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17)

4. The Fall of  Man

God created man in His image, but man, through voluntary transgression, fell and sin entered the world. Man incurred not only physical death but also spiritual death, which is separation from God. (Genesis 1:26-27; 2:17; 3:6; Romans 5:12-19)

5. The Salvation of Man

God sent his Son Jesus Christ into the world to die and pay the penalty of sin. Man can receive salvation through the shed blood of Jesus Christ.

Plan of Salvation: God’s plan of bringing humanity back into right relationship with Him.

A.         Conditions of Salvation:

1. Repent

Admit that you have broken your relationship with God because you have sinned and sin brings forth death. (Romans 3:23, Romans 6:23, James 1:15)

For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Romans 3:23

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Jesus Christ our Lord. Romans 6:23

Then when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death. James 1:15

Be forgiven of your sins by confessing them to God. (1 John 1:9)

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9

2. Believe

Believe that the Lord Jesus Christ died on the cross and shed His blood to pay the penalty for your sins, and that God raised Him from the dead. (Romans 10:9)

That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. Romans 10:9

Believe that Jesus Christ is the only way to God. (John 14:6, 1 Timothy 2:5, Ephesians 2:8-9)

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” John 14:6

For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus. 1 Timothy 2:5

For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. Ephesians 2:8-9

Believe and ask God to save you. (Romans 10:13, John 3:16)

For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” Romans 10:13

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. John 3:16

B.         Evidences of Salvation:

1. Obey (Romans 6:15-23)

Ask God to take control of your life. Romans 12:1-2, 1 John 3:23, Ecclesiastes 11:13

The inward evidence of salvation is the direct witness of the Holy Spirit. Romans 8:16

The outward evidence of salvation to all men is a life of righteousness and holiness. Ephesians 4:24; Titus 2:12

I beseech you therefore brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. Romans 12:1-2

And this is His commandment: that we should believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ and love one another, as He gave us commandment. 1 John 3:23

Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is man’s all. Ecclesiastes 11:13

6. The Ordinances of the Church

a.     Baptism in Water.   

Baptism in water by immersion is commanded in the Scriptures. All who repent and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord are to be baptized. This is a symbolic and a public confession to the world that one has died with Christ and has been raised with Him to walk in newness of life. (Matthew 28:19; Mark 16:16; Acts 10:47,48; Romans 6:4; Colossians 2:12)

b.    Holy Communion.

The Lord’s Supper, consisting of the elements- bread, symbolic of the body of Jesus (Matthew 26:26), and the fruit of the vine, symbolic of the blood of Jesus (Matthew 26:27-28)- is the symbolic expressing of our sharing the divine nature of our Lord Jesus Christ (2 Peter 1:4); a memorial of His death and resurrection (1 Corinthians 11:26-27); and a prophecy of His second coming (1 Corinthians 11:26-27); and is to be shared by all believer until He returns.

Other Practices of the Church:

1. Foot Washing: Foot washing is a practice that expresses servanthood and was said to be done by the Lord Jesus. (John13)

2. Tithing: The work tithe means “tenth”, and thus one tenth of our first fruits are offered to God. It is the believers responsibility to give to the church, as unto the Lord, for the furthering of the work of the Lord. (Malachi 3:7-11; Hebrews 7:2, 8)

7. The Baptism of the Holy Ghost

The Baptism of the Holy Ghost and fire is a gift from God that all believers should seek and desire. This experience is distinct from and subsequent to the new birth experience (salvation). (Luke 24:49; Acts 1:4, 8, 2:4, 38, 39; 1 Corinthians 12)

8. The Initial Physical Evidence of the Baptism in the Holy Ghost

The Baptism of the Holy Ghost is witnessed by the initial physical sign of speaking with other tongues as the Holy Spirit gives utterance to the believer. (Acts 2:4) The Scripture teaches that if a man could control his tongue, he could bridle his whole body. (James 3:2) Scripture goes on to say that man can not tame his tongue, (James 3:8) but through the power of the Holy Ghost, this can be done. (Matthew 19:26)

9. Sanctification

The word sanctify means “set apart.” The believer is set apart from the world and sin and set apart unto God and His will for their life. Sanctification is an instantaneous and progressive work of grace. When one accepts the Lord Jesus into their life, they are completely sanctified and saved. Yet sanctification is a continued work in the believer’s life to live and be holy. (Romans 12:1-2; 1 Thessalonians 5:23; Hebrews 13:12)

10. The Church and Its Mission

The Church is built on the Lord Jesus Christ, and is the body of Christ, Christ being the Head. (1 Corinthians 3:11; Romans 12:5; Ephesians 1:22) The Church consists of anyone who has put their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

The Church has a three fold mission:

a.     To worship God. (John 4:23-24; Philippians 3:3)

b.    To build a body of saints perfected in the image of the Jesus. (Ephesians 4:11-16)

c.     To evangelize the world with the gospel of Christ. (Matthew 28:19,20; Mark 16:15,16; Acts 1:8)

11. The Ministry

God has called the Church to partner with Him in His work. The Church carries God’s work out through the power of the Holy Spirit. It’s mission or ministry is three fold, and is listed above.

12. Divine Healing

Divine healing is both spiritual healing and physical healing and both were provided for in the atonement of Christ. The Scripture teaches that through the power of God and by the believers prayer of faith and laying on of hands, physical sickness can be healed. (Isaiah 53; Mark 16:18; James 5:14-15)

13. The Blessed Hope

The Blessed Hope of all believers is the imminent return of Jesus Christ for all who have faith in Him. The dead will rise first and those that remain shall meet Him in the air. (I Thessalonians 4:16-17) The Bible teaches that no one knows the time of the Lord’s return and that believers should take heed, watch, and pray. (Mark 13:32-33)

14. The Millennial Reign of Christ

After the rapture of the Church, which is the blessed hope, Christ will visibly return to the earth with His Church to reign for one thousand years. This will be a time of universal peace and many will be saved.

(Isaiah 11:6-9; Ezekiel 37:21-22; Zephaniah 3:19-20; Zechariah 14:5; Micah 4:3-4; Psalm 72:3-8; Matthew 24:27-30; Romans 11:26-27; Revelation 1:7, 19:11-14, 20:1-6)

15. The Final Judgement

The Final Judgement is a judgement in which a person who has died in sin and has not accepted the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ will be judged according to their works. Whoever is not found in the Book of Life will be cast into the lake of fire, or hell, which is the second death. The devil, his angels, the beast, and the false prophet will also be cast into the lake of fire, forever. (Matthew 25:46; Mark 9:43-48; Revelation 19:20; 20:11-15; 21:8) It is important to note that hell was created for the devil and his angels, and not intended for mankind. It is God’s will that not perish, but that all would come to repentance. (2 Peter 3:9) But God has given man the choice.

16. The New Heavens and the New Earth

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