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 upon by the Holy Spirit and we accept it as our infallible guide in
matters pertaining to conduct and doctrine (2 Tim 3:16; 1 Thess. 2:13; 2 Peter
1:21).
THE GODHEAD - Our God is one, manifested in three persons - the Father, the Son,
and the Holy Spirit, being co-equal (Deut. 6:4, Phil 2:6). God the Father is
greater than all: the Source of the Word (Logos) and the Begetter (John 14:28;
John 1:14, John 16:28). God the Son is the Word flesh-covered, the One Begotten,
and has existed with the Father from the beginning (John 1:1; John 1:18; John
1:14). God the Holy Spirit proceeds forth from the Father and the Son and is
eternal (John 14:16, 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 trasgression and fall, sin came into the world.
The Bible says, "all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God," and
"there is none righteous, no, not one" (Rom. 3:10; 3:23). Jesus Christ, the Son
of God, was manifested to undo the work of the devil and gave His life and shed
His blood to redeem and restore man back to God. (Rom. 5:14; 1 John 3:8).
Salvation is the gift of God to man, separate from 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 (2 Cor. 7:10; 1 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 baptismal formula is adopted; to wit: "On the confession of your faith in
the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, and by His authority, I baptize you in
the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Ghost. 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 and is received
susequent to the New Birth. Evidence of this experience is speaking in other
tongues as the Holy Spirit Himself gives utterance (Matt. 3:11; John 14:16-17;;
Acts 1:8; Acts 2:38-39; Acts 19:1-7; Acts 2:1-4).
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 consumation of salvation at Christ's return (Heb. 12:14, 1 Thess.
5:23, 2 Peter 3:18, 2 Cor. 3:18, Phil. 3:12-14, 1 Cor. 1:30).
DIVINE HEALING - Healing is for the 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 privelege of
every member of the Church today (Mark 16:18, James 5:14-15, 1 Peter 2:24, Matt.
8:17, Isa. 53:4-5).
RESURRECTION OF THE JUST AND THE RETURN OF THE LORD - The angels said to 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." He is coming soon. 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; 1 Thess. 4:16-17).
HELL AND ETERNAL RETRIBUTION - The one who physically dies in his sins without
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 the 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).
P.O. Box 338, Big Rapids, Michigan 49307
(231) 796-8228
