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Statement of Faith – What we believe

The Scriptures:
The Bible is the inspired Word of God, the product of holy men of old who spoke and
wrote as they were moved by the Holy Spirit. The New Covenant, as recorded in the New
Testament, we accept as our infallible guide in matters pertaining to conduct and
doctrine. (II Tim. 3:16; I Thes. 2 :13; II Pet, 1:21).

The Godhead:
Our God is one, but manifested in three persons - Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit, being
co-equal, (Phil. 2:6). God the Father is greater than all, the sender of the Word (Logos)
and the Begetter. (John 14:28; John16:28; John 1 :14). The Son is the Word flesh -
covered, the Begotten, and has existed with the Father from the beginning (John 1:1; John
1:18; John 1:14)The Holy Spirit proceeds forth from both the Father and the Son and is
eternal (John 15:26).

Man, His Fall and Redemption:
Man is a created being, made in the likeness and image of God. But through Adam's
transgression and fall, sin came into the world "... all have sinned and come short of the
glory of God," and "...There is none righteous, no, not one." Jesus Christ, the Son of God,
was manifested to undo the work of the devil and gave His blood to redeem and restore
God to man, separate from the works and the Law, and is made operative by grace man
back to God. (Rom. 5:12-15; Rom. 3:10; Rom. 3:23; I John 3:8) Salvation is a gift of
through faith in Jesus Christ, producing works acceptable to God. (Eph. 2:8-10)
God to man, separate from the works and the Law, and is made operative by grace
through faith in Jesus Christ, producing works acceptable to God. (Eph. 2:8-10)

Eternal Life and the New Birth:
Man's first step toward salvation is godly sorrow that worketh repentance. The New Birth
is necessary to all men, and when experienced produces eternal life. (II Cor. 7:10; I John
5:12; John 3:3-5)

Water Baptism:
Baptism in water is by immersion, is a direct commandment of our Lord, and is for
believers only. The ordinance is a symbol of the Christian's identification with Christ in
His death, burial, and resurrection. (Matt. 28:19; Rom. 6:4; Col 2:12; Acts 8:36 -39). The
following recommendation regarding the water baptism; formula is adopted; to wit: "On
the confession of your faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, I baptize you in the Name of the
Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, Amen."

Baptism in the Holy Ghost:
The Baptism in the Holy Ghost and fire is a gift from God as promised by the Lord Jesus
Christ to all believers in this dispensation and is received subsequent to the New Birth.
This experience is accompanied by the initial evidence of speaking in other tongues as the
Holy Spirit Himself gives utterance. (Matt. 3:11; John 14:16-17; Acts 2:38-39; Acts 19:1-7;
Acts 2:4

Sanctification:
The Bible teaches that without holiness no man can see the Lord. We believe in the
Doctrine of Sanctification as a definite, yet progressive work of grace, commencing at the
time of regeneration and continuing until the consummation of salvation at Christ's
return. (Heb. 12:14; I Thess. 5:23; II Pet. 3:18; II Cor. 3:18; Phil. 3:12-14; I Cor. 1:30)

Divine Healing:
Healing is for Physical ills of the human body and is wrought by the power of God through
the prayer of faith, and by the laying on of hands. It is provided for in the atonement of
Christ, and is the privilege of every member of the Church today. (Mark 16:18; James 5:
14 -15; I Peter 2:24; Matt. 8:17; Is. 53: 4-5)

Resurrection of the Just and The Return of The Lord:
The angels told Jesus' disciples,"...this same Jesus which is taken up from you into
heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen Him go into heaven." His coming is
imminent. When He comes,"... the dead in Christ shall rise first; then we which are alive
and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the
air...". (Acts 1:11; I Thess. 4:16-17) Following the Tribulation, He shall return to earth as
King of Kings and Lord of Lords, and together with His saints who shall be kings and
priests, He shall reign a thousands years (Rev. 20:6).

Hell and Eternal Retribution:
The one who physically dies in his sins without accepting Christ is hopelessly and
eternally lost in the lake of fire and therefore, has no further opportunity of hearing the
gospel or repenting. The Lake of Fire is literal. The terms "Eternal" and "Everlasting:,
used in describing the duration of punishment of the damned in the lake of fire, carry the
same thought and meaning of endless existence as used in denoting the duration of joy
and ecstasy of saints in the Presence of God ( Heb. 9:27; Rev. 19:20)

Joy of Faith
Christian Center

...to open their eyes in order to turn
them from darkness to light and
from the power of satan to God
Acts 26:18

Pastors Tony and Denise Cowan