Doctrinal Statement

"I, therefore , the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, with all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ." Ephesians 4:1-7.

Ephesians 4:1-7: We affirm that the seven -fold unity expressed in this passage is the Holy Spirit's doctrinal statement of the church, which is the body of Christ. We believe that all expressions of doctrinal position and requirements for the dispensation of the grace of God must be in full accord with the Holy Spirit's outline. We recognize other doctrinal unities for other dispensations but we affirm the Ephesians 4:4-6 stands alone as the doctrinal unity for this dispensation.

Desiring to be in full accord with the mind of the spirit, we hold the following doctrinal beliefs.

THE GOD HEAD

There is one God manifested in three different persons; Father, Son and Holy Spirit, 1 Timothy 2:5, Ephesians 4:4-6, Matthew 28:19, and 2 Corinthians 13:14.

THE BIBLE

The complete Bible in it's original writings is verbally inspired of God and is of plenary authority . 2 Timothy 3:16, 2 Peter 1:21.

THE PERSON OF CHRIST

Jesus Christ was begotten by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary and is true God and true Man. Luke 1:35, Phil.2:6-9, Romans 1:3,4 and John 3:9-16.

TOTAL DEPRAVITY

All men by nature are dead in trespasses and sins and are, therefore, totally unable to do anything pleasing to God. Ephesians 2:1-3 and Romans 3:9-12.

REDEMPTION

God justifies ungodly sinners by His grace upon the ground of the blood of Christ, through the means of faith. This complete salvation is bestowed as the free gift of God apart from man's works. Romans 3:24-28,5:1,9 and Ephesians 2:8,9.

WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

The Holy Spirit is a person who convicts, regenerates, seals, indwells, enlightens and empowers. Titus 3:5, Ephesians 1:13,17,18 and Ephesians 3:16.

THE CHURCH

In the present dispensation, there is only one true church, which is called in the Bible "the church which is His body." Ephesians 1:22-23. The historical manifestation of this church began after Acts 28:28 with the revelation of the mystery that was hid in God, as revealed in the post Acts epistles written by Paul.

GIFTS

All of the nine gifts of 1 Corinthians 12 were suspended at Acts 28:28. Those set in the Acts church, 1 Corinthians 12:28 are all gone. After Acts 28:28, God set another order of gifts in the body of Christ. Ephesians 4:7-16

WALK

Because of Christ's victory over sin and his indwelling spirit, all believers may and should experience deliverance from the power of sin by obedience to Romans 6:11 . But we deny that means the nature of sin is ever eradicated during this life.

ORDINANCES

In this dispensation of grace the Lord has said "be not subject to ordinances", Colossians 2.

BAPTISM

Those persons who make up the church which is His body, "Endeavour to keep the unity of the spirit of which there is one baptism," Ephesians 4:3-6 and Colossians 2:10-12. During the Acts period there were three baptisms: water, spirit, and Christ's death, but with the change of dispensations at Acts 28:28 water and spirit passed to give all the glory to the Death baptism, Luke 12:50, Matthew 20:22-23, Mark 10:38-39, Galatians 3:27, Colossians 2:10-12, Romans 6 and Ephesians 4:5.

RESURRECTION

The Lord Jesus Christ was resurrected bodily from the dead, Luke 24:39-43. Therefore, in Christ, men will be bodily resurrected, 1 Corinthians 15:21. For this cause there will be four future resurrections. {1. "the church which is His body." Phil 3:11} {2. The churches of God of Acts and Tribulation, 1 Thessalonians 4:3-17.} {3. The nation of Israel, Ezekiel 37:11,12} {4. The rest of the dead. Revelation 21:5,12}.

THE SECOND COMING OF CHRIST

The second coming of Christ is not to take place until the seventh trump, the last trump, 1 Corinthians 15:52, 1 Thessalonians 4,15,18 and Revelations 11:15. He will come back after the great tribulation to take His Kingdom, Revelation 11:15, Zech. 14:4-9, Revelations 19:10-16 ,20:1-6. Those which go up to meet Christ in the air will come back to earth with Him to be with Him always, 1000 years on earth.

OUR HOPE

That the event "the appearing", Colossians 3:4, is in the glory of heavenly places. It is not the second coming to earth with a stop in the air, 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17. "The appearing" is the hope of the church which is His body, Titus 2:13. We look for Christ not in the air, but from the midst of heavenly places, Philippians 3:20-21.

MISSION

The mission and commission of God's people of the dispensation of the mystery is to carry out the mission of Paul as revealed after Acts 28:28. 2nd Timothy 2:2. Paul's mission was to "make all men see what is the dispensation of the mystery." Paul said, "that I should preach among the Gentiles, the unsearchable riches of Christ." Ephesians 3:8-9. What Paul preached we are also to preach, 2ND Timothy 2:2.