Our primary message of the church is salvation–a belief
that people can find forgiveness for
sins through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ–God’s Son–who
willingly gave His life for all of mankind. Because of
Christ’s love and forgiveness, each person can be saved from
the real and impending hell awaiting the non-believer. Christ
offers eternal life, and, He provides abundant life.
Establishing a relationship with God through Jesus Christ is
the central message of Christianity and the key issue for man
today (Titus 2:11; Romans 10:9; John 3:3, 5).
Divine healing from God is an fundamental part of the Gospel.
Deliverance from sickness is provided through Christ’s
suffering and death (the Atonement). Healing is a privilege of
all believers (Isaiah 53:4-5; Matthew 8:16-17; James 5:14-16),
and is acquired by faith (Matthew 9:29; Mark 11:24).
It is God’s will to heal all who are sick (Matthew 8:16; Acts
5:12-19). In spite of this truth, we know that all are not
healed. Though we cannot explain why some are healed while
others are not, God knows all, and does all things well,
according to a purpose only He knows (Mark 7:37; Romans 8:28).
The Baptism in the Holy Spirit is an experience, distinct from
and following salvation, and brings the believer into the
richness of the Spirit-filled life. The Baptism in the Holy
Spirit gives believers several benefits. These include power
to witness and serve others; a dedication to the work of God;
a more intense love for Christ, His Word, and the lost; and
the bestowment of certain spiritual gifts (Acts 1:4, 8;
8:15-17).
We affirm that when the Holy Spirit initially fills the
believer, that person will speak in an unknown language, as
did the 120 believers on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2:4).
The Second Coming of Christ is preceded by the
Rapture of all Christians, which is our
Blessed Hope. At His return, the Millennial Reign of
Christ will begin, followed by the Final Judgment,
and Eternity–with new heavens and a new earth.
All Christians who have died will one day rise from their
graves and meet the Lord in the air. Christians who have not
yet died will be raptured (caught-up) with them, to be with
the Lord. This event is known as the Blessed Hope
(Titus 2:13; 1 Corinthians 15:51-52; 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17).
Shortly after the Rapture, the Lord will return with
His saints to reign on the earth for 1,000 years (Matthew
24:27, 30; Revelation 1:7; 19:11-14; 20:1-6). This
millennial reign will bring the salvation of Israel as a
nation, and the establishment of universal peace.
At the end of the 1,000 years, there will be a final
judgment in which the wicked dead–those who have died
without accepting Christ’s salvation–will be raised and judged
according to the way they lived. Anyone whose name in not
found written in the Book of Life (the recorded book of people
who received Christ’s forgiveness), together with the devil,
will be sent to everlasting punishment (Matthew 25:46; Mark
9:43-48; Revelation 19:20; 20:11-15; 21:8).
All Christians will dwell forever with God, having access to a
beautiful, restored universe–new heavens and a new earth
(2 Peter 3:13; Revelation 21, 22).
