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~We believe
the word "salvation" is an inclusive word which gathers into itself
all the redemptive acts and processes, i.e., justification,
redemption, deliverance, imputation, sanctification, glorification,
etc. The Hebrew and Greek words for salvation imply the ideas of
deliverance, safety , preservation, healing, and soundness. Salvation
is in three tenses:
(1) The believer has been saved
from the guilt and penalty of sin - Justification (Luke 7:50, I Cor
1:18, II Cor 2:15, Eph 2:5-8, II Tim 1:9).
(2) The believer is being saved -
Sanctification (II Cor 3:18, Gal 2:19-20, Phil 2:12-13, II Thes 2:13).
(3) The believer will be saved -
Full Redemption and Glorification (Rom 13:11, Heb 10:35, I Pet 1:5, I
John 3:2).
~Salvation is by grace through
faith, is a free gift, and wholly without human works (Rom 3:27-28,
Rom 4:1-8, Rom 6:23, Eph 2:8).
~The divine order is: first
salvation, then good works resulting from spiritual regeneration (Eph
2:9-10, Titus 3:5-8).
~We believe each Christian is
called and chosen in God to be a priest unto God to offer up the
sacrifice of praise (the fruit of his lips), to give of his time,
strength, and material possessions to the service of the Lord. All
believers have been purchased with the blood of Jesus and are no
longer their own, but belong to the Father to be used for His glory;
and as possessions of the Lord, must give themselves to serving Him,
finding their place in the Church, His Body, making themselves
available by being present when the Church comes together, that they
might be able to minister their gifts and talents for the building up
of the Body of Christ (John 15:16, I Cor 6:20, I Cor 12:18, Eph 1:4-5,
Heb 13:15, I Pet 2:5, I Pet 2:9).
~We believe the tithe (10%)
of our earnings is holy unto God, and is the offering up by faith of
the first fruits of our increase. Tithing and the giving of offerings
are to be practiced continually by all believers and are outward
expressions of unity of the Church, the Body of Christ, as it joins
together in support of the work of the Lord (Gen 14:20, Lev 27:30-32,
Num 18:26, Mal 3:8-10, Matt 23:23, Rom 12:8, I Cor 9:7-14, I Cor
16:1-3, Heb 7:4-10).
~We believe the nine gifts of
the Spirit should be and must be operative in the Church to enjoy the
fullness of God. Also, that these gifts are imparted by the
sovereignty of the Holy Spirit and only work or are operated by this
one and self-same Spirit (I Cor 12:1-31).
~We believe in the imminent,
personal return of our Lord, and the restitution of all things spoken
by the mouth of all the prophets since the world began (Matt 23:39,
Matt 24:42-44, Matt 25:31, Mark 14:62, Acts 1:11, Acts 3:19-21, Phil
3:20-21, I Thes 4:14-18).
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