BELIEF (UPNA)

BIBLE

The Bible is the infallible Word of God and the authority for salvation and Christian living. (2 Timothy 3:15-17)

ONE GOD

There is one God, Who has revealed Himself as our Father, in His Son Jesus Christ, and as the Holy Spirit. Jesus Christ is God manifested in flesh. Jesus was both fully God and fully man. (Deuteronomy 6:4; Ephesians 4:4-6; Colossians 2:9; 1 Timothy 3:16)

SIN & SALVATION

Everyone has sinned and needs to be saved. Salvation comes by grace through faith and known by our obedience to His Word. We know that our salvation is based on the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ. (Romans 3:23-25; 6:23; Ephesians 2:8-9)

GOSPEL

The good news is Jesus lived a perfect life, died for our sins, was buried, and rose again three days later. We express our belief in the gospel through our obedience to the gospel. We obey the gospel and apply it to our lives by repenting of our sins (death to sin), being baptized in water in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of our sins (burial), and receiving the gift of the Holy Spirit (resurrection) with the initial evidence of speaking in other tongues. This threefold experience is the consistent pattern of conversion in the early church (1 Cor 15.1-4; 2 Thes 1.8; 1 Pet 4.17; Mark 1.15; Acts 15.7; Rom 6.3-4; Acts 2.4, 37-39; 8.9-17; 10.1-48; 19.1-7).

CHRISTIAN LIVING

As Christians we are to love God and love others. We are to worship God joyfully and seek to live a life that is pleasing to him both inwardly and outwardly—in our thoughts, words, and actions. We are empowered to live a life pleasing to God through the Holy Spirit. As a Pentecostal church, we believe that the supernatural gifts of the Spirit are at work in and for the church today and are available to all Spirit-filled believers (Mark 12.28-31; 1 Cor 12.8-10; 2 Cor 7.1; Rom 8.13-14; Gal 5.19-26; Heb 12.14).

Individuals

A biblical believer is someone who hears the gospel, accepts it, and commits to following Jesus as a disciple; Scripture makes no distinction between believing and discipleship (Acts 11:26). 

In the New Testament, being filled with the Holy Spirit was expected and necessary for belonging to Christ (Acts 19:1–6; Romans 8:9; I Corinthians 12:13). 

Repentance and baptism marked a person’s entry into Christ, forgiveness of sins, and participation in His community (Acts 2:38; Colossians 2:11–14). 

To know Christ also meant accepting His mission and authority (Luke 19:10; Matthew 28:19–20; Acts 1:8).

Believers are described as members of Christ’s body and as God’s dwelling place, called to live lives shaped by worship, gratitude, prayer, and moral integrity (I Corinthians 3:16; John 4:23–24; Philippians 4:6). 

They are expected to guard their thoughts, habits, and bodies from influences that promote corruption, addiction, or self-indulgence (Philippians 4:8; I Corinthians 15:33; I Corinthians 6:19–20). 

Sexual relationships are reserved for marriage (Hebrews 13:4). Modesty, self-restraint, and resistance to cultural pressures are seen as expressions of loyalty to God (I Timothy 2:9; Titus 2:10). 

Scripture also maintains meaningful distinctions between male and female rooted in creation, while affirming equal worth before God (Genesis 1:27; I Corinthians 11:3–15; Galatians 3:28).

THE FUTURE

Jesus Christ is coming again to catch away His church. We believe in Heaven and Hell; that there will be a final calling away (resurrection) and the final judgment. The righteous will inherit eternal life, and the unrighteous eternal death. (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17; Revelation 20:11-15)