Our Core Beliefs

Statement of Faith

1.  The Scriptures - The Holy Bible was written by men divinely inspired and is God's revelation of Himself to man. It is a perfect treasure of divine instruction. It has God for its author, salvation for its end, and truth, without any mixture of error, for its matter. Therefore, all Scripture is totally true and trustworthy. It reveals the principles by which God judges us, and therefore is, and will remain to the end of the world, the true center of Christian union, and the supreme standard by which all human conduct, creeds, and religious opinions should be tried. All Scripture is a testimony to Christ, who is Himself the focus of divine revelation. (Exodus 24:4; Deuteronomy 4:1-2; 17:19; Joshua 8:34; Psalms 19:7-10; 119:11,89,105,140; Isaiah 34:16; 40:8; Jeremiah 15:16; 36:1-32; Matthew 5:17-18; 22:29; Luke 21:33; 24:44-46; John 5:39; 16:13-15; 17:17; Acts 2:16ff; 17:11; Romans 15:4; 16:25-26; 2 Timothy 3:15-17; Hebrews 1:1-2; 4:12; 1 Peter 1:25; 2 Peter 1:19-21.)

2. God - There is one and only one living and true God. He is an intelligent, spiritual, and personal Being, the Creator, Redeemer, Preserver, and Ruler of the universe. God is infinite in holiness and all other perfections. God is all-powerful and all knowing; and His perfect knowledge extends to all things, past, present, and future, including the future decisions of His free creatures. To Him we owe the highest love, reverence, and obedience. The eternal triune God reveals Himself to us as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, with distinct personal attributes, but without division of nature, essence, or being.

2a. God Our Father - God as Father reigns with providential care over His universe, His creatures, and the flow of the stream of human history according to the purposes of His grace. He is all-powerful, all knowing, all loving, and all wise. God is Father in truth to those who become children of God through faith in Jesus Christ. He is fatherly in His attitude toward all men.  (Genesis 1:1; 2:7; Exodus 3:14; 6:2-3; 15:11ff; 20:1ff; Leviticus 22:2; Deuteronomy 6:4; 32:6; 1 Chronicles 29:10; Psalm 19:1-3; Isaiah 43:3,15; 64:8; Jeremiah 10:10; 17:13; Matthew 6:9ff.; 7:11; 23:9; 28:19; Mark 1:9-11; John 4:24; 5:26; 14:6-13; 17:1-8; Acts 1:7; Romans 8:14-15; 1 Corinthians 8:6; Galatians 4:6; Ephesians 4:6; Colossians 1:15; 1 Timothy 1:17; Hebrews 11:6; 12:9; 1 Peter 1:17; 1 John 5:7.)

2b. Son of God - Christ is the eternal Son of God. In His incarnation as Jesus Christ He was conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. Jesus perfectly revealed and did the will of God, taking upon Himself human nature with its demands and necessities and identifying Himself completely with mankind yet without sin. He honored the divine law by His personal obedience, and in His substitutionary death on the cross He made provision for the redemption of men from sin. He was raised from the dead with a glorified body and appeared to His disciples as the person who was with them before His crucifixion. He ascended into heaven and is now exalted at the right hand of God where He is the One Mediator, fully God, fully man, in whose Person is effected the reconciliation between God and man. He will return in power and glory to judge the world and to consummate His redemptive mission. He now dwells in all believers as the living and ever present Lord.

(Genesis 18:1ff.; Psalms 2:7ff.; 110:1ff.; Isaiah 7:14; 53; Matthew 1:18-23; 3:17; 8:29; 11:27; 14:33; 16:16,27; 17:5; 27; 28:1-6,19; Mark 1:1; 3:11; Luke 1:35; 4:41; 22:70; 24:46; John 1:1-18,29; 10:30,38; 11:25-27; 12:44-50; 14:7-11; 16:15-16,28; 17:1-5, 21-22; 20:1-20,28; Acts 1:9; 2:22-24; 7:55-56; 9:4-5,20; Romans 1:3-4; 3:23-26; 5:6-21; 8:1-3,34; 10:4; 1 Corinthians 1:30; 2:2; 8:6; 15:1-8,24-28; 2 Corinthians 5:19-21; 8:9; Galatians 4:4-5; Ephesians 1:20; 3:11; 4:7-10; Philippians 2:5-11; Colossians 1:13-22; 2:9; 1 Thessalonians 4:14-18; 1 Timothy 2:5-6; 3:16; Titus 2:13-14; Hebrews 1:1-3; 4:14-15; 7:14-28; 9:12-15,24-28; 12:2; 13:8; 1 Peter 2:21-25; 3:22; 1 John 1:7-9; 3:2; 4:14-15; 5:9; 2 John 7-9; Revelation 1:13-16; 5:9-14; 12:10-11; 13:8; 19:16.)

2c. Spirt of the Father and Spirit of Jesus Christ (Holy Spirit) - The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of God, fully divine. He inspired holy men of old to write the Scriptures. Through illumination He enables men to understand truth. He exalts Christ. He convicts men of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment. He calls men to the Saviour, and effects regeneration. At the moment of regeneration He baptizes every believer into the Body of Christ. He cultivates Christian character, comforts believers, and bestows the spiritual gifts by which they serve God through His church. He seals the believer unto the day of final redemption. His presence in the Christian is the guarantee that God will bring the believer into the fullness of the stature of Christ. He enlightens and empowers the believer and the church in worship, evangelism, and service.  Main Texts: Romans 8:9; John 15:26 (Genesis 1:2; Judges 14:6; Job 26:13; Psalms 51:11; 139:7ff.; Isaiah 61:1-3; Joel 2:28-32; Matthew 1:18; 3:16; 4:1; 12:28-32; 28:19; Mark 1:10,12; Luke 1:35; 4:1,18-19; 11:13; 12:12; 24:49; John 4:24; 14:16-17,26; 16:7-14; Acts 1:8; 2:1-4,38; 4:31; 5:3; 6:3; 7:55; 8:17,39; 10:44; 13:2; 15:28; 16:6; 19:1-6; Romans 8:9-11,14-16,26-27; 1 Corinthians 2:10-14; 3:16; 12:3-11,13; Galatians 4:6; Ephesians 1:13-14; 4:30; 5:18; 1 Thessalonians 5:19; 1 Timothy 3:16; 4:1; 2 Timothy 1:14; 3:16; Hebrews 9:8,14; 2 Peter 1:21; 1 John 4:13; 5:6-7; Revelation 1:10; 22:17.)

3. Man - Man is the special creation of God, made in His own image. He created them male and female as the crowning work of His creation. The gift of gender is thus part of the goodness of God's creation. In the beginning man was innocent of sin and was endowed by his Creator with freedom of choice. By his free choice man sinned against God and brought sin into the human race. Through the temptation of Satan man transgressed the command of God, and fell from his original innocence whereby his posterity inherit a nature and an environment inclined toward sin. Therefore, as soon as they are capable of moral action, they become transgressors and are under condemnation. Only the grace of God can bring man into His holy fellowship and enable man to fulfill the creative purpose of God. The sacredness of human personality is evident in that God created man in His own image, and in that Christ died for man; therefore, every person of every race possesses full dignity and is worthy of respect and Christian love.  (Genesis 1:26-30; 2:5,7,18-22; 3; 9:6; Psalms 1; 8:3-6; 32:1-5; 51:5; Isaiah 6:5; Jeremiah 17:5; Matthew 16:26; Acts 17:26-31; Romans 1:19-32; 3:10-18,23; 5:6,12,19; 6:6; 7:14-25; 8:14-18,29; 1 Corinthians 1:21-31; 15:19,21-22; Ephesians 2:1-22; Colossians 1:21-22; 3:9-11.)

4. Ministry - Divinely called and Scripturally ordained ministry has been provided by our Lord for a two-fold purpose: (1) The evangelization of the world, and (2) The edification of the Body of Christ (Mark 16:15, 20; Eph. 4:11-13)

5. Salvation - We are saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ: His death, burial, and resurrection. Salvation is a gift from God, not a result of our good works or of any human efforts (Ephesians 2:8-9; Galatians 2:16, 3:8; Titus 3:5; Romans 10:9-10; Acts 16:31; Hebrews 9:22).

6. Repentance - Repentance is the commitment to turn away from sin in every area of our lives and to follow Christ, which allows us to receive His redemption and to be regenerated by the Holy Spirit. Thus, through repentance we receive forgiveness of sins and appropriate salvation (Acts 2:21, 3:19; 1 John 1:9).

7. Sanctification - Sanctification is the ongoing process of yielding to God's Word and His Spirit in order to complete the development of Christ's character in us. It is through the present ministry of the Holy Spirit and the Word of God that the Christian is enabled to live a godly life (1Thessalonians 4:3, 5:23; 2 Corinthians 3:18, 6:14-18, 2 Thessalonians 2:1-3, Romans 8:29, 12:1-2, Hebrews 2:11).

8. Jesus' Blood - The Blood that Jesus Christ shed on the Cross of Calvary was sinless and is 100% sufficient to cleanse mankind of all sin. Jesus allowed Himself to be punished for both our sinfulness and our sins, enabling all those who believe to be free from the penalty of sin, which is death (1 John 1:7; Revelation 1:5, 5:9; Colossians 1:20; Romans 3:10-12, 23, 5:9; John 1:29).

9. The Family - God has ordained the family as the foundational institution of human society. It is composed of persons related to one another by marriage, blood, or adoption.

9a. Marriage - Marriage is the uniting of one man and one woman in covenant commitment for a lifetime. It is God's unique gift to reveal the union between Christ and His church and to provide for the man and the woman in marriage the framework for intimate companionship, the channel of sexual expression according to biblical standards, and the means for procreation of the human race.

9b. The husband and wife -The husband and wife are of equal worth before God, since both are created in God's image. The marriage relationship models the way God relates to His people. A husband is to love his wife as Christ loved the church. He has the God-given responsibility to provide for, to protect, and to lead his family. A wife is to submit herself graciously to the servant leadership of her husband even as the church willingly submits to the headship of Christ. She, being in the image of God as is her husband and thus equal to him, has the God-given responsibility to respect her husband and to serve as his helper in managing the household and nurturing the next generation.

9c. Children - Children, from the moment of conception, are a blessing and heritage from the Lord. Parents are to demonstrate to their children God's pattern for marriage. Parents are to teach their children spiritual and moral values and to lead them, through consistent lifestyle example and loving discipline, to make choices based on biblical truth. Children are to honor and obey their parents.  (Genesis 1:26-28; 2:15-25; 3:1-20; Exodus 20:12; Deuteronomy 6:4-9; Joshua 24:15; 1 Samuel 1:26-28; Psalms 51:5; 78:1-8; 127; 128; 139:13-16; Proverbs 1:8; 5:15-20; 6:20-22; 12:4; 13:24; 14:1; 17:6; 18:22; 22:6,15; 23:13-14; 24:3; 29:15,17; 31:10-31; Ecclesiastes 4:9-12; 9:9; Malachi 2:14-16; Matthew 5:31-32; 18:2-5; 19:3-9; Mark 10:6-12; Romans 1:18-32; 1 Corinthians 7:1-16; Ephesians 5:21-33; 6:1-4; Colossians 3:18-21; 1 Timothy 5:8,14; 2 Timothy 1:3-5; Titus 2:3-5; Hebrews 13:4; 1 Peter 3:1-7.)

10. Jewelry/Face Painting/Tattoo/Locks - The word of God encourages us to dress modestly.  We are told that our outward must not be with gold or costly array but an inward adoring of the spirit and heart.  The first sign of rebellion against God is when His people start painting their faces and putting jewelry. God church is seen as a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars. We admonish not to mark(tattoo) on our skin.  Locks were a mark for the Nazirite Vow. We are counsel that men should not have long hair. (Genesis 35:1-4; Isaiah 3:16-21; 1 Peter 3:3-6; 1 Timothy 2:9-10; 2 Kings 9:30; Revelation 2:20; Revelation 17: 1-6 and Revelation 12:1; Leviticus 19:28 (KJV; ESV; NLT); Numbers 6:1-27; Judges 16:27; Acts 18:18; 1 Corinthians 11:14-15)

11. Diet - In the book Genesis (Genesis 1:29 - fruits, grains, seeds, legumes, succulent foods containing seeds, and nuts) we were given a diet of fruits, nuts, seeds, and grains. This is the best dietary combination for our bodies. After sin herb (vegetables) were added to man's original diet. (Genesis 3:17-18 - Herbs (vegetables): leafy, flower, and roots)

12. Flesh/Meat - We are given dietary laws regarding the eating of flesh/meat. The distinction is clearly made between what sea creatures, fowl creatures, insect creatures, and land creatures to eat. They are place in the unclean and clean category. The clean meats we are allowed to eat and the unclean meat were forbidden. (Leviticus 11 and Deuteronomy 14)

13. Alcohol & Drugs - We must not consume no alcoholic beverages or wine substance because these substances will destroy our bodies. Alcohol and any type of drugs (cocaine, crack, prescription pills, weed, marijuana, cigarette, etc.) will affect our minds and entire body systems. Our body is God's temple. This is place where He wants to live in us. 1 Corinthian 3:17; 1 Corinthian 10:31; 1 Corinthian 6:19; Proverbs 23: 29-35

14. Caffeine, coke, and chocolate - These substances destroy our body defense system. These three substances derange our nerve system and bone structure. 1 Corinthian 3:17; 1 Corinthian 10:31; 1 Corinthian 6:19

15. Vaccination - We believe in God, and that God has created us in His image. In being created in God's image, we were given bodies, which He commanded us in the Holy Bible to keep clean and pure. We are required to keep this wonderful gift, our human bodies, in good condition, and not to swallow or inject anything into it that would be unclean or diseased. We believe it is sacrilegious and a violation of our sacred religious beliefs to violate what God has given us by showing a lack of faith in God. Immunizations are a lack of faith in God and His plan for the care of our bodies. We believe it is morally wrong, and against our religious beliefs to receive immunizations either for ourselves or for our children.

We believe in Jesus' many promises of protection for us, and that He loves us, and will take care of us if we place our trust in Him. I believe that immunizations show no faith in God's promises of protection for us, saying to God that you trust man more than His holy words of protection for us.  God desires us to love Him and our neighbors first and foremost. This is His first command. By loving Him, we are to fully trust in Him for all things. He is our Lord and our Father. He is our Rock, our fortress and our Saviour.  Our faith is in God and in the Holy Word, being the Holy Bible, which is authored by God. This is the instruction book for living that He has left us; and, in it, He tells us He is our protector and we stand firm on His promise. Our faith is in Him!  Our religious beliefs are also based upon the understanding of what God requires of us as provided in the Bible. (Mark 2:17; 1Corinthians 6:19; 1 Corinthians 2:5; 1 Corinthians 3:17; 1 Corinthians 10:31; Psalm 91:11; Romans 12:1; Leviticus 19:1-2; 3 John 2)

16. Dress - We are encouraged as males and females to dress in a way that will reflect the correct gender. The way we dress will show and teach others about the values express in the word of God. We must not cross street. (1 Peter 3:3-65; 1 Timothy 2:9-10; Deuteronomy 22:5)

17. Education  - Christianity is the faith of enlightenment and intelligence. In Jesus Christ abide all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. All sound learning is, therefore, a part of our Christian heritage. The new birth opens all human faculties and creates a thirst for knowledge. Moreover, the cause of education in the Kingdom of Christ is co-ordinate with the causes of missions and general benevolence, and should receive along with these the liberal support of the churches. An adequate system of Christian education is necessary to a complete spiritual program for Christ's people.

In Christian education there should be a proper balance between academic freedom and academic responsibility. Freedom in any orderly relationship of human life is always limited and never absolute. The freedom of a teacher in a Christian school, college, or seminary is limited by the pre-eminence of Jesus Christ, by the authoritative nature of the Scriptures, and by the distinct purpose for which the school exists. (Deuteronomy 4:1,5,9,14; 6:1-10; 31:12-13; Nehemiah 8:1-8; Job 28:28; Psalms 19:7ff.; 119:11; Proverbs 3:13ff.; 4:1-10; 8:1-7,11; 15:14; Ecclesiastes 7:19; Matthew 5:2; 7:24ff.; 28:19-20; Luke 2:40; 1 Corinthians 1:18-31; Ephesians 4:11-16; Philippians 4:8; Colossians 2:3,8-9; 1 Timothy 1:3-7; 2 Timothy 2:15; 3:14-17; Hebrews 5:12-6:3; James 1:5; 3:17.)

18.  Stewardship - God is the source of all blessings, temporal and spiritual; all that we have and are we owe to Him. Christians have a spiritual debtorship to the whole world, a holy trusteeship in the gospel, and a binding stewardship in their possessions. They are therefore under obligation to serve Him with their time, talents, and material possessions; and should recognize all these as entrusted to them to use for the glory of God and for helping others. According to the Scriptures, Christians should contribute of their means cheerfully, regularly, systematically, proportionately, and liberally for the advancement of the Redeemer's cause on earth. (Genesis 14:20; Leviticus 27:30-32; Deuteronomy 8:18; Malachi 3:8-12; Matthew 6:1-4,19-21; 19:21; 23:23; 25:14-29; Luke 12:16-21,42; 16:1-13; Acts 2:44-47; 5:1-11; 17:24-25; 20:35; Romans 6:6-22; 12:1-2; 1 Corinthians 4:1-2; 6:19-20; 12; 16:1-4; 2 Corinthians 8-9; 12:15; Philippians 4:10-19; 1 Peter 1:18-19.) 

19. Ten Commandments - We believe that the Ten Commandments are a reflection of God's character. These ten principles are the foundation of God's heavenly constitution and government. God's church is mark by those who keep the Ten Commandments. The people of God will keep the Commandments and the faith of Jesus Christ.  The Ten Commandments will the passport to the Tree of Life.  We will be judge by this law of liberty. (Genesis 2: 1-3; Exodus 20:1-17; Deuteronomy 4:12-13; Deuteronomy 10: 1-5; James 1:25; James 2: 10-13; Revelation 14:12; Revelation 12:17; Revelation 22:14)

19a. The Lord's Day (Sabbath) - Included in these ten principles is the fourth commandment (the seventh day of the week-Saturday), which is the Sabbath Day (the Lord's Day).  It is a Christian institution for regular observance. It commemorates and memorializes the Creator of the heaven and the Earth.  It should include exercises of worship and spiritual devotion, both public and private. Activities on the Lord's Day should be commensurate with the Christian's conscience under the Lordship of Jesus Christ.  The saints of God will worship God from one new moon to another, and from one Sabbath to another. (Genesis 2: 1-3; Exodus 20:8-11; Isaiah 56:1-5; Isaiah 58: 13-14; Isaiah 66:22-23; Ezekiel 20:12; Matthew 12:1-12; Mark 2:27-28; 16:1-7; John 4:21-24; Revelation 1:10)

19b. Ten Commandments in the New Testament

20.  Spirit of Prophecy - We believe in the spirit of prophecy. The purpose of prophecy is to cause the day Star who is Jesus Christ to arise in our hearts. We believe that the prophecies in the book of Daniel and Revelation and also the last day prophecies in the Matthew and other gospel authors must be part of diligent study. God is going to use the old and experienced as well as the young to prophesy in these last days. The spirit of prophecy is part of the gifts given to God's church. All these prophecies are to cause us to see and be transformed in the image (character of Jesus Christ. (2 Peter 1:19-21;Joel 2:28-32; Matthew 24; 1 Corinthians 12:10; 2 Timothy 3:1-5; Revelation 19:10; 1 Corinthians 12:27-31; 1 Corinthians 14:1-40)

21.  Jesus Christ Indwells All Believers - Christians are people who have invited the Lord Jesus Christ to come and live inside them by His Holy Spirit. They relinquish the authority of their lives over to him thus making Jesus the Lord of their life as well as Savior. They put their trust in what Jesus accomplished for them when He died, was buried, and rose again from the dead (John 1:12; John 14:17, 23; John 15:4; Romans 8:11; Revelations 3:20).

22. Baptism in the Holy Spirit - Given at Pentecost, it is the promise of the Father, sent by Jesus after His Ascension, to empower the church to preach the Gospel throughout the whole earth (Joel 2:28-29; Matthew 3:11; Mark 16:17; Acts 1:5, 2:1-4, 17, 38-39, 8:14-17, 10:38, 44-47, 11:15-17, 19:1-6).

23.  The Gifts of the Holy Spirit - The Holy Spirit is manifested through a variety of spiritual gifts to build and sanctify the church, demonstrate the validity of the resurrection, and confirm the power of the Gospel. The Bible lists of these gifts are not necessarily exhaustive, and the gifts may occur in various combinations. All believers are commanded to earnestly desire the manifestation of the gifts in their lives. These gifts always operate in harmony with the Scriptures and should never be used in violation of Biblical parameters (Hebrews 2:4; Romans 1:11, 12:4-8; Ephesians 4:16; 2 Timothy 1:5-16, 1 Timothy 4:14; 1 Corinthians 12:1-31, 14:1-40; 1 Peter 4:10).

24.  The Church - The church is the Body of Christ, the habitation of God through the Spirit, with divine appointments for the fulfillment of Jesus' great commission. Every person who is born of the Spirit is an integral part of the church as a member of the body of believers. There is a spiritual unity of all believers in our Lord Jesus Christ (Ephesians 1:22, 2:19-22; Hebrews 12:23; John 17:11, 20-23).

25.  Healing of the Sick - Healing of the sick is illustrated in the life and ministry of Jesus, and included in the commission of Jesus to His disciples. It is given as a sign, which is to follow believers. It is also a part of Jesus' work on the Cross and one of the gifts of the Spirit (Psalm 103:2-3; Isaiah 53:5; Matthew 8:16-17; Mark 16:17-18; Acts 8:6-7; James 5:14-16; 1 Corinthians 12:9, 28; Romans 11:29). 

26.  The Christian and the Social Order - All Christians are under obligation to seek to make the will of Christ supreme in our own lives and in human society. Means and methods used for the improvement of society and the establishment of righteousness among men can be truly and permanently helpful only when they are rooted in the regeneration of the individual by the saving grace of God in Jesus Christ. In the spirit of Christ, Christians should oppose racism, every form of greed, selfishness, and vice, and all forms of sexual immorality, including adultery, bestiality, homosexuality, pedophilia and pornography. We should work to provide for the orphaned, the needy, the abused, the aged, the helpless, and the sick. We should speak on behalf of the unborn and contend for the sanctity of all human life from conception to natural death. Every Christian should seek to bring industry, government, and society as a whole under the sway of the principles of righteousness, truth, and brotherly love. In order to promote these ends Christians should be ready to work with all men of good will in any good cause, always being careful to act in the spirit of love without compromising their loyalty to Christ and His truth.  (Exodus 20:3-17; Leviticus 6:2-5; Deuteronomy 10:12; 27:17; Leviticus 20:13; Deuteronomy 23:17-18; 1 Kings 14:24; Numbers 31: 1-18; Romans 1:27-32; Exodus 22:19; Leviticus 20:15; Leviticus 18:23; Psalm 101:5; Micah 6:8; Zechariah 8:16; Matthew 5:13-16,43-48; 22:36-40; 25:35; Mark 1:29-34; 2:3ff.; 10:21; Luke 4:18-21; 10:27-37; 20:25; John 15:12; 17:15; Romans 12-14; 1Corinthians 5:9-10; 6:1-7; 7:20-24; 10:23-11:1; Galatians 3:26-28; Ephesians 6:5-9; Colossians 3:12-17; 1 Thessalonians 3:12; Philemon; James 1:27; 2:8.)

27.  God's Will for Provision - It is the Father's will for believers to become whole, healthy and successful in all areas of life. But because of the fall, many may not receive the full benefits of God's will while on Earth. That fact, though, should never prevent all believers from seeking the full benefits of Christ's provision in order to better serve others.

  • Spiritual (John 3:3-11; 2 Corinthians 5:17-21; Romans 10:9-10).
  • Mental and Emotional (2 Timothy 1:7, 2:11; Philippians 4:7-8; Romans 12:2; Isaiah 26:3). 
  • Physical (Isaiah 53:4-5; Matthew 8:17; 1 Peter 2:24).
  • Financial (Joshua 1:8; Malachi 3:10-11; Luke 6:38; 2 Corinthians 9:6-10; Deuteronomy 28:1-14; Psalm 34:10, 84:11; Philippians 4:19).

28.  Resurrection - Jesus Christ was physically resurrected from the dead in a glorified body three days after His death on the cross. In addition, both the saved and the lost will be resurrected; they that are saved to the resurrection of life and they that are lost to the resurrection of eternal damnation (Luke 24:16, 36, 39; John 2:19-21, 20:26-28, 21:4; Acts 24:15; 1 Corinthians 15:42, 44; Philippians 1:21-23, 3:21; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; Revelation 1:7; Revelation 20).

29. The New Heavens and New Earth - We, as promised in the Scriptures, look for a new heavens and a new earth wherein righteousness dwells. Heaven is the eternal dwelling place for all believers in the Gospel of Jesus Christ (Matthew 5:3, 12, 20, 6:20, 19:21, 25:34; John 17:24; 2 Corinthians 5:1; Hebrews 11:16; 1 Peter 1:4; Revelation 21; Revelation 22; 2 Pet. 3:13; Rev. 21: l)

30. The Lake of Fire - The devil and his angels, the beast and the false prophet, and whosoever is not found written in the Lamb's Book of Life shall be consigned to everlasting punishment in the lake which burns fire and brimstone, which is the second death (Rev. 19:20; 20:10-15).).

31.  Second Coming - Jesus Christ will physically and visibly return to earth for the second time to establish His Kingdom. This will occur at a date undisclosed by the Scriptures (Matthew 24:30, 26:63-64; Acts 1:9-11; 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17; 2 Thessalonians 1:7-8; Revelation 1:7; Revelation 20; Revelation 21).

33. Ordinances

33a.  Baptism and the Lord's Supper - Christian baptism is the immersion of a believer in water in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. It is an act of obedience symbolizing the believer's faith in a crucified, buried, and risen Savior, the believer's death to sin, the burial of the old life, and the resurrection to walk in newness of life in Christ Jesus. It is a testimony to his faith in the final resurrection of the dead. Being a church ordinance, it is prerequisite to the privileges of church membership and to the Lord's Supper. The Lord's Supper is a symbolic act of obedience whereby members of the church, through partaking of the bread and the fruit of the vine, memorialize the death of the Redeemer and anticipate His second coming. (Matthew 3:13-17; 26:26-30; 28:19-20; Mark 1:9-11; 14:22-26; Luke 3:21-22; 22:19-20; John 3:23; Acts 2:41-42; 8:35-39; 16:30-33; 20:7; Romans 6:3-5; 1 Corinthians 10:16,21; 11:23-29; Colossians 2:12.)

33b.  Foot Washing - The ordinance of shall be observed as seen fit by all established places of worship, as enjoined in the Scriptures (John 13:1-17; Luke 7:36-50).

34. State of the Dead: We believe that when you died the breath of life goes back to God. All dead are asleep and unconscious.  No one goes straight to Heaven when they died.  All human beings, good and bad rest in the grave until the appearing of Jesus in the clouds of heaven. All will be raised from their graves. The second resurrection, the resurrection to damnation, also called the resurrection of the unjust, occurs a thousands years after the first resurrection. God's people depend for their reward upon the second coming of Christ and the resurrection. The wicked are mortal and have no promise of eternal life. "For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not any thing, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten.  Also their love, and their hatred, and their envy, is now perished; neither have they any more a portion for ever in any thing that is done under the sun." Ecclesiastes 9:5-6 "Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest." Ecclesiastes 9:10 "Put not your trust in princes, nor in the son of man, in whom there is no help.  His breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth; in that very day his thoughts perish." Psalm 146:3-4; John 11:11; 1 Thess. 4:13; Acts 7:60; 1 Cor. 15:6, 18, 20; Ps. 6:5; Job 14:12; 2 Chron. 26:23; John 5:28-29; Acts 2:29; Acts 2:31; Eccl. 9:10; Eccl. 12:7; Job 5:26; Job 14:10-14;Job 17:13,18; Job 21:13, 23-26; Ps. 31:17; Hosea 13:14; Eze. 37:12;Matt. 27:52-53; rev. 20:6; John 5:28-29; Rev. 20: 5: 1 Thess. 4:13-18; 1 Cor. 15:22-23,50-55; Phil. 3:10-11; Heb. 11:55; John 6:40, 44,54: Luke 14:14; 1 Cor 15:51-55; Jer. 31:15-17; Matt. 16:27; Acts 23:6; Acts 26: 6-8; Titus 2:13; James 5:7-8; ! Peter 5:4; 2 Peter 3:3-4,11-13; 1 John 3:3; Rev. 11:17-18; Rev 22:12; John 3:16; John 3:36; 2 Thes. 1:7-9; Ps. 37:1-2, 10, 20, 38; Deu 30:17-19; Prov. 13:13; Eze 18:4, 26; Rom. 8:26; Rev. 21:8