Statement of Faith
—Peter Meiderlin, 1626
God's family is One because of Jesus' death on Calvary and our relationship is based on the new birth. However, in order to establish a clear understanding, the following theological statements are affirmed:
1. The autographs of the Old and New Testaments are the only inspired, infallible and authoritative written Word of God.
2. There is one God, eternally existent in three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
3. Jesus of Nazareth is fully human and fully God. He is The Messiah (The Christ). He was born of the virgin Mary; He led a holy, loving and sinless life; He performed miracles; He died for everyone's salvation; He arose from the grave; He ascended to the right hand of the Father; He will return to this earth in power and glory to rule a thousand years.
4. God created man not only sinless, but positively holy. Man fell by an act of own his free will and incurred physical and spiritual death. Consequently, every human being is born with a sinful nature. The new birth by the Holy Spirit is absolutely essential for personal salvation.
5. It is God's will for everyone to be saved. Our part is to ask Christ into our heart and receive him by faith. God justifies us by our faith alone, based solely on the death of his Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. We are saved by God's grace—we cannot save ourselves initially by works or keep ourselves saved by works. God calls us and enables us to believe and repent, but we must choose to believe and repent.
6. Jesus established two practices for the Church, water baptism and holy communion. The word "baptism" means immersion.
7. The redemptive work of Christ on the cross provides healing of the human body in answer to believing prayer. Divine health is God's will for everyone.
8. All believers should be baptized in the Holy Spirit, an experience distinct from and subsequent to the experience of the new birth.
9. It is God's will for every believer to be like Christ. The Holy Spirit enables us to walk in love and to live a sanctified life.
10. Christ still calls and equips the five-fold ministry gifts today to
(a) bring glory to God;
(b) evangelize the world;
(c) build up Christians; and
(d) help equip them for the ministry God has for each one.
11. The Holy Spirit still gives the nine spiritual gifts to laity and clergy as He sees the need.
12. Jesus will come again, rapture the Church, and complete our salvation. The Church consists of every born-again believer. He shall later reign one thousand years on the earth.
13. God shall raise all mankind from the dead—both the saved and the lost. The saved will be raised in the first resurrection to eternal life. The lost shall be raised in the second resurrection, judged and consigned to everlasting separation from God.© John E. Russell 2003-2009.