The Bible is our all-sufficient rule for faith and practice. These Tenets of Faith are intended simply as a basis of fellowship among us (i.e., that we all speak the same thing, 1 Corinthians 1:10; Acts 2:42). The phraseology employed in this statement is not inspired or contended for, but the truth set forth is held to be essential to a full-gospel ministry. No claim is made that it contains all biblical truth, only that it covers our need as to these fundamental doctrines (John 21:25).

1. The Scriptures Inspired. The Scriptures, both Old and New Testaments, are verbally inspired of God and are the revelation of God to man, the infallible, authoritative rule of faith and conduct (2 Timothy 3:15-17; 1 Thessalonians 2:13; 2 Peter 1:21).
   
   
2. The One True God. The one true God has revealed Himself as the eternally self-existent "I AM," the Creator of heaven and earth and the redeemer of mankind. He has further revealed Himself as embodying the principles of relationship and association as Father, Son, and Holy Ghost (Deuteronomy 6:4; Isaiah 43:10, 11; Matthew 28:19; Luke 3:22) and as the Seven Spirits of God (Zech. 3:9, 4:10; Rev. 1:4, 3:1, 4:5, 5:6)
   
   
   1. Terms Defined. The terms trinity and persons, as related to the Godhead, while not found in the Scriptures, are words in harmony with Scripture, whereby we may convey to others our immediate understanding of the doctrine of Christ respecting the Being of God, as distinguished from "gods many and lords many." We therefore may speak with propriety of the Lord our God, who is One Lord, as a Trinity or as one Being of three persons, and still be absolutely scriptural (examples, Matthew 28:19; 2 Corinthians 13:14; John 14:16, 17).
      
      
   2. Distinction and Relationship in the Godhead. Christ taught a distinction of persons in the Godhead which He expressed in specific terms of relationship as Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, but that this distinction and relationship, as to its mode is inscrutable and incomprehensible, because unexplained (Luke 1:35; 1 Corinthians 1:24; Matthew 11:25-27; 28:19; 2 Corinthians 13:14; 1 John 1:3, 4).
      
      
   3. Unity of the One Being of Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Accordingly, therefore, there is that in the Son which constitutes Him the Son and not the Father; and there is that in the Holy Ghost which constitutes Him the Holy Ghost and not either the Father or the Son. Wherefore the Father is the Begetter; the Son is the Begotten; and the Holy Ghost is the One proceeding from the Father and the Son. Therefore, because these three persons in the Godhead are in a state of unity, there is but one Lord God Almighty and His name one (John 1:18; 15:26; 17:11, 21; Zechariah 14:9).
      
      
   4. Identity and Cooperation in the Godhead. The Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost are never identical as to person; nor confused as to relation; nor divided in the respect to the Godhead; nor opposed to cooperation. The Son is in the Father and the Father is in the Son, as to relationship. The Son is with the Father and the Father is with the Son, as to fellowship. The Father is not from the Son, but the Son is from the Father, as to authority. The Holy Ghost is from the Father and the Son proceeding, as to nature, relationship, cooperation, and authority. Hence, no person in the Godhead either exists or works separately or independently of the others (John 5:17-30, 32, 37; 8:17, 18).
   
   
3. The Deity of the Lord Jesus Christ. The Lord Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God. The Scriptures declare:
   
   
   1. His virgin birth (Matthew 1:23; Luke 1:31, 35).
      
      
   2. His sinless life (Hebrews 7:26; 1 Peter 2:22).
      
      
   3. His miracles (Acts 2:22; 10:38).
      
      
   4. His substitutionary work on the cross (1 Corinthians 15:3; 2 Corinthians 5:21).
      
      
   5. His bodily resurrection from the dead (Matthew 28:6; Luke 24:39; 1 Corinthians 15:4).
      
      
   6. His exaltation to the right hand of God (Acts 1:9, 11; 2:33; Philippians 2:9-11; Hebrews 1:3).
   
   
4. The Fall of Man. Man was created good and upright; for God said, "Let us make man in our image, after our likeness." However, man by voluntary transgression, fell and thereby incurred not only physical death, but also spiritual death, which is separation from God (Genesis 1:26, 27; 2:17; 3:6; Romans 5:12-19).
   
   
5. The Salvation of Man. Man's only hope of redemption is through the shed blood of Jesus Christ the Son of God. This sinless blood was shed for the redemption of the sins of mankind at the Cross of Calvary, as described in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.
   
   The belief in and acceptance of the provisions of the Cross of Jesus Christ is the only means of obtaining salvation from sin and of experiencing a right relationship with God. No person can come to God unless it is accomplished through belief in Jesus Christ. (John 14:6) The efficacy of the Cross makes available the salvation from sin and divine healing for the physical body (Acts 4: 8-12).
   
   
   1. Conditions to Salvation. Salvation is received through repentance toward God and faith toward the Lord Jesus Christ. By the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost, being justified by grace through faith, man becomes an heir of God according to the hope of eternal life (Luke 24:47; John 3:3; Romans 10:13-15; Ephesians 2:8; Titus 2:11; 3:5-7).
      
      
   2. The Evidences of Salvation. The inward evidence of salvation is the direct witness of the Spirit (Romans 8:16). The outward evidence to all men is a life of righteousness and true holiness (Ephesians 4:24; Titus 2:12). Believers should not presume upon the grace of God, but are exhorted to continue steadfast in faith without wavering (Matthew 26:41; 2 Peter 3:17; 2 Peter 1:10; 1 Timothy 1:19), taking up and bearing their personal cross of devotion and service as faithful disciples of Jesus before God (Luke 9:23, 14:27).
   
   
6. The Ordinances of the Church.
   
   
   1. Baptism in Water. The ordinance of baptism by immersion is commanded in the Scriptures. All who repent and believe on Christ as Savior and Lord are to be baptized. Thus, they declare to the world that they have died with Christ and that they also have been raised with Him to walk in newness of life (Matthew 28:19; Mark 16:16; Acts 10:47, 48; Romans 6:4). The ordinance of baptism by immersion in water (Matthew 28:19) shall be administered to those who have believed on the Lord Jesus Christ to the saving of their souls and who give clear evidence of their salvation (Romans 6:3-5; Colossians 2:12).
      
      
   2. Holy Communion. The Lord's Supper, consisting of the elements--bread and the fruit of the vine--is the symbol expressing our sharing the divine nature of our Lord Jesus Christ (2 Peter 1:4); a memorial of His suffering and death (1 Corinthians 11:26); and a prophecy of His second coming (1 Corinthians 11:26); and is enjoined on all believers "till He come!" The ordinance of the Lord's Supper shall be observed regularly as enjoined in the Scriptures (Luke 22:19, 20; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26).
      
      
7. The Baptism in the Holy Spirit. All believers are entitled to and should ardently expect and earnestly seek the promise of the Father, the baptism in the Holy Ghost and fire, according to the command of our Lord Jesus Christ. This was the normal experience of all in the early Christian church. With it comes the enduement of power for life and service, the bestowment of the gifts and their uses in the work of the ministry (Luke 24:49; Acts 1:4, 8; 1 Corinthians 12:1-31). This experience is distinct from and subsequent to the experience of the new birth (Acts 8:12-17; 10:44-46; 11:14-16; 15:7-9). With the baptism in the Holy Ghost come such experiences as an overflowing fullness of the Spirit (John 7:37-39; Acts 4:8), a deepened reverence for God (Acts 2:43; Hebrews 12:28), an intensified consecration to God and dedication to His work (Acts 2:42), and a more active love for Christ, for His Word, and for the lost (Mark 16:20).
   
   
8. Speaking in Tongues and Divers Tongues. The baptism of believers in the Holy Ghost is witnessed by the initial physical sign of speaking with other tongues as the Spirit of God gives them utterance (Acts 2:4). The initial evidence of speaking in unknown tongues is not intended to be a one-time issuance of the divine empowerment of supernatural utterance. Rather, there should be an ongoing desire to continually be filled with the Spirit of God (Ephesians 5:18). This can be demonstrated by the utterance of divers kinds of tongues, as defined in 1 Corinthians 12: 4, 10, 28.
   
   
9. God's Purpose and Plan for Church Ministry. By one triune God and through the person of the Holy Spirit the church has received many diversities of gifts for the ministry to the saints and to the lost including wisdom, knowledge, faith, gifts of healing, working of miracles, prophecy, discerning of spirits, divers kinds of tongues, and interpretation of tongues (1 Corinthians 12:4-12, 13:2, 14:26, Romans 12:1-8). Further, God has appointed offices of Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, Pastors and Teachers for the perfecting of the saints, for the ministry of the Church and for the edifying of the body of Christ (Ephesians 4:7-16).
   
   

10. Sanctification. Sanctification is a process whereby Jesus is separating us from that which is evil, and increasing our dedication unto God (Romans 12:1, 2; 1 Thessalonians 5:23; Hebrews 13:12). Scriptures teach a life of "holiness without which no man shall see the Lord" (Hebrews 12:14). By the power of the Holy Ghost we are able to obey the command: "Be ye holy, for I am holy" (1 Peter 1:15, 16).
    
    Sanctification is realized in the believer by recognizing his identification with Christ in His death and resurrection, and by faith reckoning daily upon the fact of that union, and by offering every faculty continually to the dominion of the Holy Spirit (Romans 6:1-11, 13; 8:1, 2, 13; Galatians 2:20; Philippians 2:12, 13; 1 Peter 1:5).