WHAT
WE BELIEVE
There is only one living and true God. There are three people in the Godhead: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. He is totally and completely Holy. (Genesis 1:2, 27; Matthew 28:19; I John 5:7).
We believe that the Bible is God’s Word. It is accurate, authoritative and applicable to our everyday lives. (II Timothy 3:16; II Peter 1:20, 21).
We believe Jesus Christ, conceived of the Virgin Mary, is the only begotten Son of the Father. Jesus was crucified, buried and rose from the dead. He ascended to heaven and is today at the right hand of the Father as our Intercessor. (Luke 1:26-33; Hebrews 7:25).
With the Baptism of the Holy Spirit comes the power for life and service, the gifts given by the Holy Spirit are for ministry to the body of Christ. (Acts 2:4; Acts 10:44-46; Acts 19:6; I Corinthians 12:4-11).
We believe every person is disobedient to God’s desires and plans in varying degrees. Any disobedience to God, regardless of how large or small, is characterized as “sin”. “Sin” literally separates each person from God, which is spiritual death. Spiritual death is not God’s desire. People can be united with God through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and through Him alone. Jesus died for sinners. Anyone who accepts and believes in Jesus’ death for his or her personal sins, and desires to have Him as King of their life, is forgiven for every sin. Upon this personal decision, God re-establishes a personal relationship with that person and promises eternal life. (Acts 4:12; Romans 10:9-10; John 14:6). 12:23).
We believe in water baptism by immersion in water in the name of the Father, His Son Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit. (Matthew 3:11; Matthew 28:18-19; John 14:6).
We believe that God wants to heal and transform us to that we can live healthy and prosperous lives in order to help others more effectively. (Acts 3:2-12; Acts 5:15-16; James 5:14-15).
We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ is coming back again as He promised. (Acts 1:10-11; I Thessalonians 4:13-18; Revelation 1:7).
We believe that our eternal destination of either Heaven or hell is determined by our response to the Lord Jesus Christ. (Daniel 12:2; Matthew 25:46, John 5:29; Jude 1:7).
We believe that marriage is between a man and a woman. We believe in the sacredness of marriage and family commitment. We promote strong family values. (Genesis 2:24; Ephesians 5:31-33; Ephesians 6:1-4; Hebrews 13:4).
Statement of Faith
ARTICLE I – Scripture
We believe the Holy Bible is the divine Word of God, passed on, proclaimed and transmitted to man to reveal His purposes and designs. It was written by men divinely inspired, that is a perfect treasure of heavenly instruction, having God as its real author, that its aim is the salvation of men, the edification of believers and to manifest the glory of God in heaven and earth, that its content is the truth without any error. It reveals the ultimate fate of the world and the principles by which God will exercise full justice to all men and that is why it is, and will remain the supreme standard by which all conduct, creeds, and opinions of men must be measured, evaluated and judged. It must only be interpreted in light of the person and teachings of Jesus Christ, Son of God.
ARTICLE II – THE TRUE GOD
We believe that there is one and only one living and true God, Spirit infinite and intelligent, whose name is Jehovah, Creator and Supreme Ruler of heaven and earth, inexpressibly glorious in holiness and worthy of all honour, trust and love; that in the divine trinity there are three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit, equal in every divine perfection and executing distinct offices, but harmonious, in the great work of redemption.
ARTICLE III – THE PERSON OF THE FATHER
God our Creator manifests His fatherly disposition towards all men. Historically He first revealed Himself as the Father to the people of Israel, whom he chose according to the purposes of His grace. He is the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ to whom he sent to this world to save sinners and making them sons by adoption. Those who receive Jesus Christ and believe in him are sons of God, born by His Spirit, and thus come to have Him as a Heavenly Father, receiving protection, love and discipline from Him.
ARTICLE IV – THE PERSON OF THE SON
Jesus Christ, one in essence with the Father is the eternal Son of God. In Him, through Him and for Him were all things created. In the fullness of time He became flesh, in the real, historical person of Jesus Christ, begotten by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary, being in His person the true God and the true man. Jesus is the expressed image of his Father, the supreme revelation of God to man. He honoured and fulfilled the divine law of the Jews and obeyed the will of God. Identified entirely with the men, suffering the punishment and expiating the guilt of our sins, even though he had not sinned. To save us from sin He died on the cross, was buried and rose again on the third day from the dead, and after appearing to his disciples, ascended into heaven, where, at the right hand of the Father exercises His eternal high priesthood. Jesus Christ is the only mediator between God and man and the only one capable, powerful and sufficient Saviour and Lord. By His Spirit He is present and dwells in the heart of every believer and the church. He will return visibly to this earth in great power and glory, to judge men and to consummate His redemptive work.
ARTICLE V – THE PERSON OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
We believe that the Holy Spirit is the Spirit of God. One in essence with the Father and the Son. It is the Spirit of truth. He inspired holy men of antiquity to write the Scriptures. By illuminationing He enables men to understand the truth. He exalts Christ. He convicts of sin, righteousness and judgment. It attracts men to the Saviour, and effects regeneration. He cultivates Christian character, comforts believers, and bestows spiritual gifts by which they serve God through His Church. Seal the saved for the day of final redemption. His presence in the Christian is the assurance of God’s safety to bring the fullness of the stature of Christ. He lights up and covers in power (baptism in the Holy Spirit) the Christian and the Church for worship, evangelism and service.
ARTICLE VI – THE FALL OF MAN
We believe that man was created in holiness, under the order, making and sovereign will of his Creator, but dropped from that holy and happy state, by voluntary transgression, in consequence of which all mankind became sinners, not by constraint, but by choice, being by nature completely devoid of communion, glory and holiness that the Word of God requires, and positively inclined to evil, while, without defence or excuse, justly condemned to eternal ruin.
ARTICLE VII – THE WAY OF SALVATION
We believe that salvation of sinners is fully by grace through the mediation of the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who according to the plan of the Father, freely took our nature, yet without sin, honoured the divine law by His personal obedience, and by His death made a full atonement for our sins, that, having risen from the dead, is now enthroned in heaven and that uniting in his wonderful person the most accurate expression of the divine perfection, is fully qualified to be the appropriate Saviour, compassionate and all-sufficient of men.
ARTICLE VIII – THE JUSTIFICATION
We believe that the great blessing of the Gospel, which Christ secures to those who believe in him, is the justification; that this includes the forgiveness of sins and the promise of eternal life on principles of righteousness, which is bestowed not in consideration of any righteous deeds we have done. But solely through faith in the Redeemer’s blood, which, by virtue of that faith, Christ’s perfect righteousness is freely imputed by God, leads us to the state of perfect peace, communion and favour for God and secures every other blessing needful for time and eternity.
ARTICLE IX – THE GRATUTITY OF SALVATION
We believe that the blessings of salvation are free to all through the Gospel; Which is the immediate duty of all to accept them with obedient, submissive and sacrificial faith in Christ, and that nothing prevents the salvation, not even the greatest sinner of the land, but in its inherent perversity to the voluntary rejection of the Gospel, which increases their condemnation.
ARTICLE X – THE GRACE OF REGENERATION
We believe that to be saved, sinners must be regenerated, that is, born again, that regeneration is effected by the power of the Holy Spirit in connection with the divine truth by means of an inward work in man, reviving and reactivating the spirit and effecting a complete transformation of the mind, becoming a new person in Christ, obeying and serving Him in everything. And the evidence of regeneration is apparent in the fruits of repentance and faith and newness of life
ARTICLE XI – REPENTANCE AND FAITH
We believe that repentance and faith are sacred duties and also inseparable graces, originated in our souls by the regenerating Spirit of God; that, being deeply convinced of this because of our guilt, danger and helplessness, and of the way of salvation by Christ, we turn to God with unfeigned contrition, confession and supplication for mercy while receiving the heart of our Lord Jesus Christ as our Prophet, Priest and King, and trusting in Him as the only self-sufficient Saviour.
ARTICLE XII – THE PURPOSE OF THE GRACE OF GOD
We believe that the election is the eternal purpose of God whereby He freely regenerates, sanctifies and saves sinners; that this purpose, being perfectly consonant with the free will of man, comprehends all the means that contribute to this end. Which is the glorious manifestation of the sovereign will of God, which is infinitely free, wise, holy and unchangeable; entirely excludes boasting and promotes humility, love, prayer, praise, trust in God, and the active manifestation of his free mercy, that encourages the search for more sanctification and can be ascertained by its effects in all who truly believe in the Gospel, that is the foundation of Christian assurance and checking it in ourselves demands and deserves our greater diligence.
ARTICLE XIII – SANCTIFICATION
We believe that sanctification is the process by which, according to the will of God, we are made partakers of His holiness, which is a gradual process that begins in regeneration, which is continued in the hearts of believers by the Holy Spirit’s presence, the confirmer and comforter, in the continued use of the means indicated, especially the Word of God, the self-examination, renunciation, watchfulness and prayer. It occurs as the dedication of the believer manifests itself through a character steeped in the presence and fruits of the Spirit, as well as a life of testimony loyal and service consecrated to God and to his\her neighbours.
ARTICLE XIV – THE DIVINE HEALING
We believe in divine healing and that it is God’s will to heal, today and always, everyone saved and unsaved, as well as every kind of disease or infirmity. We believe that by faith in the promises of God one can receive and hold the cure for physical ailments and mental conditions giving man a healthy life for the glory of the Father. Divine healing is manifested through the prayer of faith, laying down of hands or through the gifts of the Holy Spirit, being the same provided by the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross of Calvary, and it is a right of everyone who believes.
ARTICLE XV – THE CHURCH IN THE ASPECT OF MEETING
We believe that the church, duly and biblically organized, is an assembly, meeting or gathering of people regenerated and baptized after a profession of faith. Such congregations are made up of free enterprise for the purpose of these people to worship God, observe the ordinances of Jesus, and meditate on the teachings of the Bible for mutual edification and for spreading of the gospel. We believe also that this church should relate to other churches that share the same faith and the fundamental biblical principles in order to cooperate in activities and expanding the kingdom of God
ARTICLE XVI – BAPTISM AND HOLY SUPPER
Baptism and the Lord’s Supper are the two ordinances of the church established by the Lord Jesus Christ, both being symbolic in nature. Baptism is the immersion of a believer in water, after his profession of faith in Jesus Christ as one’s only, sufficient and personal Saviour. It symbolizes the death and burial of the old man and the resurrection to a new life in identification with the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ and also herald of the resurrection of the redeemed. Baptism, which is a condition for membership in a church, is to be administered under the invocation of the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. The Lord’s Supper is a ceremony of the gathered church, commemorating and proclaiming the death of the Lord Jesus Christ, symbolized by the elements used: the bread and wine. In this memorial the bread represents His body given for us on Calvary and the wine symbolizes the blood shed. The Lord’s Supper should be celebrated by the Church until the return of Christ and his ministry must presuppose biblical baptism of the participants, as well as a thorough personal examination in relation to itself, in relation to fellowship with other church members, and their spiritual life to God
ARTICLE XVII – THE RIGHTEOUS AND THE WICKED
We believe that there is a radical and essential difference between the righteous and the wicked; that only those who by faith are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and sanctified by the Spirit of our God are truly righteous at God’s eyes while all those who continue in disobedience and unbelief are in His sight wicked and are under condemnation; that this distinction holds among men both in death or after death
ARTICLE XVIII – THE EXISTINCE OF SPIRITUAL BEINGS
We believe in the existence of spiritual beings: angels and demons, which are not gods, but were created by God. That the angels are endowed with great moral judgment and large capacity and intelligence. That are invisible spiritual creatures and can only be seen by determination, will and permission of the Lord and that its up to them to guard and protect us, as well as delivering the most perfect worship. That demons are fallen angels. That Satan, ruler of the demons, is a person, who rebelled against God, is declared an enemy of God and all His creation. That he is the author of sin and the cause for the fall of man, becoming the personal agent of evil and human misery and operates with all the fury to prevent the conversion of men to Jesus Christ and tries to ruthlessly oppress the believers. We believe that Jesus Christ has already won on Calvary’s cross and smashed his head as it is written
ARTICLE XIX – THE DEATH AS A CONSEQUENCE OF SIN
We believe that all men are marked by the finitude of life on earth, since, as a result of the sin death passed upon all children of Adam and Eve. God’s Word assures the continuity of the conscience and the personal identity after death, as well as the need for all men to accept the grace of God in Christ while they are in this world. With the death is the eternal destiny of each person. By faith in the merits of the substitutionary sacrifice of Christ on the cross, the death of a believer in the Lord is no longer a tragedy, because it transports oneself to the heavenly kingdom where one can enjoy the eternal glorious presence of God. However, the unbelievers and disobedient enter, through death, to a state of permanent separation from God. In the Word of God we find very clearly expressed the divine prohibition of search and contact with the dead, and the ineffectiveness of actions and attitudes of a religious nature in relation to those who have died.
ARTICLE XX – THE COMING WORLD
We believe that God, in the exercise of His sovereignty, is leading the world and history to its final time. In fulfilment of His promise, Jesus Christ will return to this world, personally and visibly in great power and glory. The dead in Christ will be resurrected, and the believers that are still alive along with them will be transformed, raptured and will be joined to the Lord. The dead also without Christ will be resurrected. The wicked will be condemned and destined to hell and there they will suffer eternal punishment separated from God. The righteous, justified by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ with glorified bodies will receive their reward and will dwell forever in Heaven with the Lord.