Spiritual gifts

We believe that all spiritual gifts were given by Christ during His ascension (Ephesians 4:8) and that the Holy Spirit assigns as He desires (1 Corinthians 12:13). There are temporary and permanent spiritual gifts. The temporary gifts ceased in 96 A.D. with the completion of the Canon of Scripture. The documentation for these ceasing of temporary gifts is found in 1 Corinthians 13:8 where the word "perfect" is in the neuter gender which refers to the completion of the Bible. In James 1:25 the Bible is referred to as the "perfect law of liberty". The gifts that ceased were: Apostle, prophecy, wisdom, knowledge, miracles, healings, tongues, interpretation of tongues, distinguishing of spirits, and the gift of faith. Anyone claiming to have any or all of these gifts today is misinformed and into false doctrine.

The permanent spiritual gifts still in use after A.D. 96 are: Evangelist, pastor-teacher, teacher, administration, exhortation, financier or giving, counseling or showing mercy, helps for men, helps for women. The purpose of these permanent gifts is to insure the cooperation and smooth function of the body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:27–31; Romans 12).

Second Coming or Second Advent of Christ

We believe that the Second Coming of Christ will be seven literal years after the beginning of the tribulation (Zechariah 14:4–11; Matthew 24:27-51; 2 Thessalonians 1:7–10, Revelation 20:6). He returns to set up His millennial kingdom upon the earth which was offered at the first advent but postponed due to rejection by the Jewish nation. Those believers who survive the Tribulation will enter into His kingdom and will rule the earth. Those who are unbelievers will be cast into Hades for 1,000 years to await the Great White Throne Judgment.

Eternal state

We believe that the soul and human spirit of those who have believed in the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation at death will immediately pass into His presence and remain there in conscious bliss until the resurrections. At the rapture, the dead church age believers will be joined with their resurrection bodies and then the living church age believers receive their resurrection bodies. At the second coming, the Tribulation and Old Testament believers receive their resurrection bodies. At the end of the Millennium the millennial believers receive their resurrection bodies (1 Corinthians 15:23–24, 2 Corinthians 5:8, Philippians 1:23). All these believers will remain with the Lord throughout eternity in a state of happiness.

The unbelievers from all human history will be collected, judged at the Great White Throne judgment, and sentenced to the lake of fire where they will spend eternity in conscious agony. They will not be annihilated but will be punished in everlasting flames in complete separation from the glory and fellowship of the Lord. (Luke 16:19-26, 23:43; 2 Thessalonians 1:7–9, Jude 1:6-7; Revelation 20:11–15)

The responsibility of believers

We believe that each believer must grow in grace doctrine and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ. The believer's daily life must be consistent with the Lord's plan and will. This brings glory to the Lord. (2 Peter 3:18).

Every believer is responsible to be an ambassador for Christ which means witnessing to the lost when the opportunity arises. (2 Corinthians 5:17–21).

Every believer is a royal priest and therefore responsible to function in prayer for himself and others (1 Peter 2:5, 7, 9). The believer priest will offer spiritual sacrifices to the Lord in order to fulfill his priesthood (Hebrews 13:10–18).

Every believer is responsible to fulfill the laws of divine establishment, nationalism, and patriotism to his country. We are told to pay our taxes and uphold the laws of the land. (Romans 13:1–8; 1 Peter 2:13–20). Believers are told to be submissive to the government and laws of the land (1 Peter 2:13–20, 1 Timothy 2:1–2). In application to this principle we honor and respect the Constitution of the United States, the three branches of government, the laws of the land, and we pray for those who have promised to protect and serve the people of this land.