The Nicene Creed
We
believe in one God,
the
Father, the Almighty,
maker
of heaven and earth,
of
all that is, seen and unseen.
We
believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,
the
only Son of God,
eternally
begotten of the Father,
God
from God, Light from Light,
true
God from true God,
begotten,
not made,
of
one Being with the Father.
Through
him all things were made.
For
us and for our salvation
he
came down from heaven:
by
the power of the Holy Spirit
he
became incarnate from the
Virgin
Mary, and was made man.
For
our sake he was crucified under
Pontius
Pilate; he suffered death
and
was buried.
On
the third day he rose again in accordance with the Scriptures;
he
ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He
will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end.
We
believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from
the
Father and the Son.
With
the Father and the Son he is worshiped and glorified.
He
has spoken through the Prophets.
We
believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church.
We
acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.
We
look for the resurrection of the dead,
and
the life of the world to come. Amen.
The Apostles' Creed
I
believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth:
And
in Jesus Christ his only Son, our Lord;
who
was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary,
suffered
under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried;
he
descended into hell; the third day he rose again from the dead;
he
ascended into heaven, and sits on the right hand of God the Father Almighty;
from
thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead.
I
believe in the Holy Spirit; the holy universal church;
the
communion of saints; the forgiveness of sins;
the
resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting.
Amen
Athanasian Creed
The
Trinity and the Divinity of Christ.
We
worship one God in trinity, and trinity in unity, neither confounding the persons nor dividing the substance. For the person
of the Father is one; of the Son, another; of the Holy Spirit, another. But the divinity of the Father and of the Son and
of the Holy Spirit is one, the glory equal, the majesty equal. Such as is the Father, such also is the Son, and such the Holy
Spirit.
The
Father is uncreated, the Son is uncreated, the Holy Spirit is uncreated. The Father is infinite, the Son is infinite, the
Holy Spirit is infinite. The Father is eternal, the Son is eternal, the Holy Spirit is eternal. And yet there are not three
eternal Beings, but one eternal Being. So also there are not three uncreated Beings, nor three infinite Beings, but one uncreated
and one infinite Being.
In
like manner, the Father is omnipotent, the Son is omnipotent, and the Holy Spirit is omnipotent. And yet there are not three
omnipotent Beings, but one omnipotent Being. Thus the Father is God, the Son is God, and the Holy Spirit is God. And yet there
are not three Gods, but one God only. The Father is Lord, the Son is Lord, and the Holy Spirit is Lord. And yet there are
not three Lords, but one Lord only.
For
as we are compelled by Christian truth to confess each person distinctively to be both God and Lord. The Father is made by
none, nor created, nor begotten. The Son is from the Father alone, not made, not created, but begotten. The Holy Spirit is
not created by the Father and the Son, nor begotten, but proceeds. Therefore, there is one Father, not three Fathers; one
Son, not three Sons; one Holy Spirit, not three Holy Spirits.
And
in this Trinity there is nothing prior or posterior, nothing greater or less, but all three persons are coeternal and coequal
to themselves. So that through all, as was said above, both unity in trinity and trinity in unity is to be adored. Whoever
would be saved, let him thus think concerning the Trinity.
A.
THE SCRIPTURES. The Bible is the inerrant, inspired word of GOD, the product of Holy Men of old who spoke as they were moved
by the Holy Spirit. The Bible we accept as our infallible guide in matters pertaining to conduct and doctrine. (II Tim 3:16;
Thess 2:13; II Pet 1:21)
B.
THE GODHEAD. Our God is One living and true God, Everlasting, of infinite power, wisdom and goodness; the maker and preserver
of all things. And in unity of all this Godhead, there are three persons (or personalities) of one substance, power and entity
-The Father, The Son and The Holy SPIRIT. (Phil 2:6; Mat 3:16-17)
C.
MAN, HIS FALL AND REDEMPTION. Man created being, made in the image and likeness of God. Through Adam's transgression and fall,
sin came into the world. Jesus Christ, the Son of God, was manifested to undo the work of the Devil. He gave His Life and
shed blood to redeem and restore man to God. (Rom 2:12; Rom 3:23; Rom 3:9-10; John 3:8; Gal 3:13-14)
D.
ETERNAL LIFE AND NEW BIRTH. Man's first step toward salvation is Godly sorrow that workes repentance. New birth is necessary
to all men, and when fulfilled, produces eternal life. (II Cor 7:10; I John 5:12; John 3:3-5)
E.
WATER BAPTISM. Baptism in water is a direct commandment of our LORD and is for believers only. The ordinance is an outward
and visible symbol of an inward and invisible work. Water baptism symbolizes the Christian's identification with Christ in
His death, burial and resurrection. (Matt 28:19; Rom 6:4; Col 2:12; Act 8:36-39). We suggest that these words be used at the
moment of baptism: "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 of the Son and of the Holy SPIRIT. Amen"
F.
BAPTISM IN THE HOLY SPIRIT. The baptism in the Holy SPIRIT is a gift from God as promised by the Lord Jesus Christ to those
who are believers in the Lord Jesus Christ. (Acts 1:8; Luke 24:29; Acts 1:5).
G.
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 same time of regeneration and continuing until the consummation
of salvation. (Heb 12:14; Thess 5:23; II Pet 3:18; II Cor 3:18; Phil 3:12-14; I Cor 1:30).
H.
DIVINE HEALING. Healing is for the physical ills of the body and is wrought by the power of God through the prayer of faith,
and by laying on of the hands and anointing with oil. It is the privilege of every member of the church today. (Mark 16:18;
James 5:14-20 I pet 2:24; Matt 8:17; Isaiah 53:4-6).
I.
RESURRECTION OF THE JUST AND THE RETURN OF OUR LORD. The angels said, "this same Jesus shall so come in like manner." His
coming is imminent. When He comes, the dead in Christ shall rise to meet Him, then those believers who are physically still
alive 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). He shall
return to the Earth as King of Kings and Lord of Lords and together with His saints, He shall reign a thousand years. (Rev
20:6).
J.
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 for repentance. The lake of fire is literal.
The terms 'eternal' and 'everlasting', used in describing the duration of punishment of the dammed in the lake of fire, carry
the same thought and meaning of endless existence as used in noting the duration of joy and ecstasy of the saints in the presence
of God. (Heb 9:27; Rev 19:20; Heb 6:1-2).
K.
COMMUNION - THE LORDS SUPPER. We partake of the Lord's Supper to show the Lord's death until He comes. The bread symbolizes
the Lord's broken body and the cup symbolizes the new covenant in His blood which provides us with forgiveness and relationship
with God. We judge ourselves before we receive it for to receive it unworthily (without giving it honor as the symbol of our
salvation and considering our brothers), we are guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. (I Cor 11:23-31).
L.
LAYING ON OF HANDS. In obedience to the example and words of the Bible, we believe in laying on of hands for blessing, for
healing sick, to confer office, to receive the Holy Spirit, to receive anointing and for ordination to consecrate and receive
the necessary ministry tools. (Mark 10:13-16; Mark 5:22; Acts 8:16; I Tim 4:14).
Know
All Men By These Presents
We
Believe that the Bible is God's Holy Word, verbally and fully inspired in the original text, and that it is the supreme authority
in all matters of faith and conduct.
We
Believe in the Church --- the living spiritual body of which Jesus Christ is the Head and of which all saved persons are members.
We believe that it is the mission of the Church to persuade a lost and sinful world to accept Jesus Christ as Savior and to
enthrone Him as Lord and Master in their lives.
We
Believe that all Christians are ordained by the Holy Spirit to spread the Gospel of Christ.
We
Believe in all gifts of the Holy Spirit.
We
Believe it is the primary duty of all Christians to serve as evangelists, and to minister to others according to the gifts
they have received of the Holy Spirit.
We
Believe that the Love of Our Lord Jesus Christ is the greatest gift of God the Father and His Holy Spirit, and should be the
primary message of the Christian church, taking precedence over all differences, whether they be theological, denominational,
ideological, or physical in nature.