16 Fundamental Truths

The Bible is our all-sufficient rule for faith and practice. The Scriptures, both Old and New Testaments, are verbally inspired of God and are the revelation of God to man, the infallible, authoritative rule of faith and conduct.

The one true God has revealed Himself as the eternally self-existent "I AM," the Creator of heaven and earth and the Redeemer of mankind. He has further revealed Himself as embodying the principles of relationship and association as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

The Lord Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God. The Scriptures declare His: virgin birth, sinless life, miracles, substitutionary work on the cross, bodily resurrection, and His exaltation to the right hand of God.

Man was created good and upright; for God said, "Let us make man in our image, after our likeness." However, man by voluntary transgression fell and thereby incurred not only physical death but also spiritual death, which is separation from God.

Man's only hope of redemption is through the shed blood of Jesus Christ the Son of God. Salvation is received through repentance toward God and faith toward the Lord Jesus Christ, leading to regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit.

We observe two ordinances: (a) Water Baptism by Immersion as a public declaration of identifying with Christ's death and resurrection, and (b) Holy Communion (The Lord's Supper) consisting of the elements—bread and the fruit of the vine—as a memorial of His suffering and death and a prophecy of His second coming.

All believers are entitled to and should ardently expect and earnestly seek the promise of the Father, the Baptism in the Holy Spirit, according to the command of our Lord Jesus Christ. This was the normal experience of all in the early Christian Church, bringing endowment of power for life and service.

The Baptism of believers in the Holy Spirit is witnessed by the initial physical sign of speaking with other tongues as the Spirit of God gives them utterance. This experience is distinct from and subsequent to the experience of the new birth.

Sanctification is an act of separation from that which is evil, and of dedication unto God. The Scriptures teach a life of "holiness without which no man shall see the Lord." By the power of the Holy Spirit we are able to obey the command: "Be ye holy, for I am holy."

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 Firstborn.

A divinely called and scripturally ordained ministry has been provided by our Lord for the twofold purpose of leading the Church in: (1) Evangelization of the world, and (2) Edifying the Body of Christ.

Divine healing is an integral part of the gospel. Deliverance from sickness is provided for in the atonement, and is the privilege of all believers.

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.

The second coming of Christ includes the rapture of the saints, which is our blessed hope, followed by the visible return of Christ with His saints to reign on earth for one thousand years. This millennial reign will bring the salvation of national Israel and the establishment of universal peace.

There will be a final judgment in which the wicked dead will be raised and judged according to their works. Whosoever is not found written in the Book of Life, together with the devil and his angels, the beast and the false prophet, will be consigned to the everlasting punishment in the lake of fire.

"We, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth wherein dwelleth righteousness." We look forward to an eternity of fellowship with God, free from suffering, in perfect communion with all saints.