Our Statement of Beliefs
We believe the Bible to be the inspired word of God and accept the same as the only infallible guide and rule of our faith and practice. Scripture References: Matt. 24:35; Psa. 119:89; II Tim. 3:16
We believe in the Eternal, Omnipotent, Omniscient, Omnipresent and Immutable Triune God, maker of heaven and earth, and all that in them is; and in the unity of the God head, there are three (3) Persons, equal in every Divine perfection and attribute, executing distinct, but harmonious offices in the great work of redemption.
THE PLAN OF REDEMPTION
We believe that Christ was the Lamb of God fore-ordained from the foundation of the world, and by the shedding of His blood on the cross, made provision for salvation for ALL men. Scripture References: 1 Pet. 1:19-20; Isa. 53:5; Titus 2:14; Heb. 725.
THE NEW BIRTH
We believe that because of man’s total inability to save himself, salvation is by God’s grace alone; is received through sincere godly repentance and a wholehearted acceptance of Jesus Christ as his personal Saviour; through being born again, he becomes a new creature in Christ Jesus. All things have passed away, behold all things have become new. Scripture Reference: John 3:3; II Cor. 5:17; Gal. 2:20; I Pet. 2:24.
DAILY CHRISTIAN LIFE
We believe that having been cleansed by the blood and quickened by the Spirit, it is God’s will that we should be sanctified daily, and be made partakers of His holiness; walking not after the flesh but after the Spirit; forsaking the very appearance of evil, such as worldly amusements, worldly conversation, worldly habits, etc. Scripture References: Rom. 1; Rom. 8:5; Rom. 12:1-2; II Cor. 7:1; 1 Pet. 1:15
MARRIAGE AND DIVORCE
Knowing that marriage is instituted by God, sanctioned by the Lord Jesus, and was commended of St. Paul to be honourable among all men, we believe that a Christian man or woman should not marry an unsaved person. Having been united by God in holy matrimony, neither person, as long as both shall live, shall be free to remarry, “except it be for fornication” Scripture References: II Cor. 6:15; Matt. 19:5-6, 9; Luke16:18; Heb. 13:4.
WATER BAPTISM
We believe that water baptism by immersion, in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost, is commended by God; that it is subsequent to conversion, that it is not a saving ordinance, but an outward sign of an inward work. Scripture References: Matt. 28:19; Rom. 6:4; Acts 2:38
THE LORD’S SUPPER.
We believe in the commemoration of the Lord’s Supper as a type of the broken body and shed blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, and as an ordinance showing forth the death, burial and resurrection of our Lord, and a looking forward to the Marriage Supper of the Lamb. Scripture References: I Cor. 11:23-27; II Cor. 13:5; Luke22:7-22. We believe that all Christian believers, regardless of church affiliation, may partake of the Lord’s Supper. I Cor. 11:28
BAPTISM OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
We believe the Baptism of the Holy Spirit is a definite experience, not identical with conversion. The initial evidence of this experience is the speaking in other tongues as the Spirit gives him utterance. The Baptism of the Holy Spirit is given to endue the believer with power from on high; to give inspired utterance in witnessing for Christ; to lead the believer into holiness and sobriety; to equip him for a practical, efficient, Spirit-filled, soul-winning ministry and service; that inasmuch as this is the dispensation of the Holy Spirit, every believer has a right to expect His incoming to be after the same manner as recorded by the Word of God in Bible days. Scripture References: John 14: 16; Acts 1:8; 2:4; 2:38-39; 19:6; I Cor. 3:16.
SPIRIT FILLED LIFE
We believe that having received the initial filling, the baptism of the Holy Spirit, the believer should experience a continual renewing of the power from on high; that the Holy Spirit is as a gentle dove, easily-grieved and wounded by coldness, prayerlessness, idle conversation, worldliness and judging and criticizing spirit; therefore, it is the will of God that we walk and abide in the Spirit.
GIFTS AND FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT We believe that for the edification of the saints and the up-building of the church of Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit has the following gifts to bestow upon the individual believer: the word of wisdom, the word of knowledge, faith, gifts of healing, working miracles, prophecy, discerning of spirits and diverse kinds of tongues, as well as the interpretation of tongues, dividing to every man severally as He will; that they should be coveted earnestly by all spiritual believers and exercised in the spirit of love. We believe that the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance; against such there is no law. These should be cultivated in the life of every believer. Scripture References: I Cor. 12:7-11; I Cor. 12:31; Gal. 5:22-23;
MODERATION
We believe that our moderation should be known to all men. The Christian should be sober, well-balanced and seasoned with love. His zeal should be governed by godly wisdom. Scripture References: Phil. 4:5; Eph. 4:14-15; I Cor.13:5, Col. 3:12-13
DIVINE HEALING
We believe that Divine healing is the power of God to heal the sick and afflicted in answer to believing prayer and is provided for in the atonement. We believe that God is willing to and does heal the sick today. Scripture References: Isa. 53:4-5; Matt. 8:16-17; James 5:14-16; Acts 3:16 L.
SECOND COMING OF CHRIST
RAPTURE – We believe that the second coming of Christ is personal, imminent and pre-millennial, that the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, with the trump of God, and the dead in Christ shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so shall they ever be with the Lord; that we should therefore be ready, for in such an hour as ye think not, the Son of Man cometh. Scripture References: I Thess. 4:16-17; Titus 2:12-13; Matt. 24:36 & 44; Acts 1:11
REVELATION. We believe that the coming of Jesus Christ with His saints will end The Great Tribulation, and establish the millennial kingdom on earth, when Christ shall rule and reign as King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Scripture References: Rev. 1:7; Zech. 14:4; II Thess. 1:7-10; 2:8
CHURCH RELATIONSHIP
We believe that every born-again child of God should identify himself with the visible church of Jesus Christ and should labour diligently and contribute his temporal means towards the spreading of the Gospel here on earth. We believe that all the tithes should be given into the storehouse of the Lord, which is the local church. Scripture References: Heb. 10:24-25; Psa. 111:1; Acts 2:47; 16:5; Rom. 12:5; Mal. 3:8-10; II Cor. 9:6-7; I Cor. 16:2.
CIVIL GOVERNMENT
We believe that Government is ordained of God, and all Christians should be subject to the laws of the land, except those contrary to the revealed will of God. We pledge allegiance and moral and spiritual support to the Government of the island of Jamaica.
In times of war the individual’s participation in actual combat and taking of life shall be Governed by his own conscience. Scripture References: Rom. 13:1-7; Acts 5:29; Matt. 5:39 – 48; Heb. 12:14.
FINAL JUDGEMENT
We believe in the Final Judgement of the wicked at the Great White Throne when the dead, both small and great, shall be resurrected to stand before God to receive the reward for their deeds done in the flesh. Scripture References: Matt. 13:41-43; Rev. 20:11-15.
HELL
We believe hell is a literal place of outer darkness, bitter sorrow, remorse and woe, prepared by God for the devil and his angels and that there, into A LAKE THAT BURNS WITH FIRE and brimstone, shall be cast the unbelieving, the abominable, the murderers, sorcerers, idolaters and all liars, and those who have rejected the love of Jesus Christ, whose names are not written in the Lamb’s Book of life. Scripture References: Rev.20:10, 14-15; Rev. 21:7-8; Rev. 14:10-11; Matt. 25:41; Mark 9:43-44.
HEAVEN
We believe that heaven is the habitation of the Living God, where Christ has gone to prepare a place for all His children, where they shall dwell eternally in happiness and security with Him. Scripture References: I Cor. 2:9; John 14:2; Rev. 21:14; Rev. 22:5; 7:15-17
EVANGELISM
We believe that as long as conditions indicate that the coming of Jesus Christ draweth nigh, we, His redeemed children should put forth our utmost efforts to the promulgation of the Gospel to every kindred, tribe and tongue; that soul winning is the chief mission of the church upon the earth, and that therefore, every hindrance and hair-splitting doctrine, which could tend to quench or dampen the flame of world-wide evangelism should be cut off and cast away as falling short of the church’s great commission. Scripture References: II Tim. 4:1-2; Eph. 5:16; Prov. 11:30; Ezek. 3:17
MISSIONS
We believe that the great commission of our Lord Jesus Christ to carry the Gospel message to the entire world is literal, imperative and binding today; and that it is the supreme privilege and duty of the church of Jesus Christ to stress the cause of world-wide missions. Furthermore, we believe that the very life and strength of the home church depends on its whole-hearted sacrifice for and support of the overseas missionary programme. Scripture References: Matt. 9:38; Mark 16:15; Rev. 5:9; Rom. 10:13-15; James 5:20