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THE STATEMENT OF FAITH continued...
 

HELL AND ETERNAL RETRIBUTION:
The one who physically dies in his sins without Christ is hopelessly and eternally lost in the lake of fire and has no further opportunity of hearing the gospel or for repentance. The lake of fire is literal. The terms eternal and everlasting used in describing the duration of the punishment of the damned in the lake of fire carries the same thought and meaning as endless existence as used in noting the duration of joy and ecstasy of the Saints in the presence of God (Hebrews 9:27; Revelation 19:20; Hebrews 6:l-2).

COMMUNION –THE LORD'S SUPPER:
Until He comes, we partake of the Lord's Supper to illustrate the Lord's death (I Corinthians 11:23-31). The bread symbolizes the Lord's broken body (Isaiah 53:5; I Corinthians 11:24). The cup represents the new covenant of His blood which provides us with forgiveness and relationship with God (Hebrews 9; I Corinthians 11:25). Christians realize that salvation is provided through the Finished work of Christ and these sacraments are symbolic of His finished work. I Corinthians 11:27 then says that if anyone takes of these sacraments unworthily he is guilty of the body and blood of the Lord.

LAYING ON OF HANDS:
This is a simple belief that God's power and anointing, or any other necessary quality can be transmitted by one person touching another. Laying on of hands was practiced by the Levitical Priesthood. Jesus practiced it in St. Mark 10:13-16 as a blessing. This is our procedure for baby dedications instead of baptism. We also practice laying on of hands for healing (St. Mark 5; Acts 28:8; Acts 19:11-12); to confer office (Acts 6:26); to receive the Holy Ghost (Acts 8:16-18); to believe words spoken, to receive and cultivate the anointing; for ordination to consecrate and receive the necessary ministry tools (I Timothy 4:14).