“But sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence; and keep a good conscience..." 1 Peter 3:15, 16
Every believer in Christ Jesus should be thoroughly familiar with the fundamental teachings of the scriptures, and able to share their understanding and experiences with others clearly and simply by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.
The believer must know the teachings of God’s Word. God has provided for every need we have. Our faith and appropriation of these provisions are based on the promises and provisions of His grace. It is written: “So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” Romans 10:17
What we believe is more important than we realize. Our spiritual existence depends upon what we believe: “Search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; it is these that testify about Me;” John 5:39. “But these have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name.” John 20:31
We are alive spiritually because we have accepted the Christ of the Scriptures. It is also true that our spiritual and physical health depends upon what we have believed and appropriated of the teachings of the Scriptures. Within the confines of the Holy Bible are promises and provisions which few believers have fully explored or appropriated. This truth is written by the Apostle Peter: “Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord; seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence. For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust.” 2 Peter 1:2-4
In the following study, we have briefly and simply outlined the Scriptural truths and principles which the Holy Spirit has emphasized in our services. Each truth has become a reality and a rich experience in our lives.
We are asked frequently, “What do you believe in this church?” There is no special secret. If we should summarize our hopes and faith in serving God, it would be found in the Scripture: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself.” Luke 10:27.
The Scriptures in the following outline should be prayerfully and carefully studied and memorized, so that when the need arises, you will be “ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you…” 1 Peter 3:15.
This We Believe and Do Know
1. We believe that the Holy Scriptures are verbally inspired Word of the living God. 2 Timothy 3:16
2. We believe that the eternal God is the one true and living God (Isaiah 43:10; 44:8), and that God is eternally manifested in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. 1 John 5:7-8; John 1:1-3, 14; 15:26; Matthew 28:19; 2 Corinthians 13:14; John 14:15-23; 16:7-15; Isaiah 48:16.
3. We believe that mankind is lost and spiritually dead through the sin of Adam, but God sent His Son Jesus Christ to redeem us and give us life. Romans 5 (note vs. 9-12, 15-19).
4. We believe that Jesus Christ suffered for us and in our stead and redeemed us from sin and from sickness. Isaiah 53 (note vs. 4-12).
5. We believe that there is nothing a sinner can do to save himself, except to believe on Jesus Christ as His Lord and His Savior. Ephesians 2:8-9; Romans 6:23; Isaiah 64:4; Romans 3 (note vs. 10-24); Romans 5:1-2.
6. We believe that repentance and faith in Christ Jesus will save us eternally. John 3:14-18.
7. We believe in separation from the world of sin, and in sanctification. 1 Thessalonians 4:3; 5:23; 2 Corinthians 6:14 through 7:1; Romans 6.
8. We believe in experiencing water baptism, following our conversion to Christ. Matthew 28:19; Romans 6:4 (note vs. 3-14 also).
9. We believe in the anointing or baptism of the Holy Spirit for the believer. John 14:16-17; 16:7; Acts 1:5; Acts 2:1-4; 8:17; 10:44-46; 19:6; 1 Corinthians 3:16.
10. We believe in a holy walk by the Holy Spirit for the believer. Galatians 5:16, 25; 1 Corinthians 3:16-17.
11. We believe in miracles and in supernatural endowments (gifts) by the Holy Spirit upon the Church today. 1 Corinthians 12:7-11.
12. We believe that believers may be personally taught, led, directed, given revelation of the future, and daily enriched, and empowered by the Holy Spirit. John 16:12-15 (The Holy Spirit to teach us all things); John 16:12-15 (The Holy Spirit to lead, reveal the future, and give us all things); Acts 1:8 (The Holy Spirit to empower).
13. We believe that the Holy Spirit produces godly fruit in our lives. Galatians 5:22-23.
14. We believe in the same foundational ministries for the church today as existed in the primitive Church. Ephesians 4:7-16.
15. We believe in prophetic utterance in the church services. 1 Corinthians 14:1, 4-5, 24-25; 1 Thessalonians 5:20-21.
16. We believe that a believer may receive by impartation or by the laying on of hands from other believers who are qualified and anointed to so minister. Romans 1:11; 2 Timothy 1:6-7; 1 Timothy 4:14-15; Acts 8:14-24; 19:1-7.
17. We believe in the New Testament order and organization for the local church and in the authority of elders and deacons. Titus 1:5-9; 1 Timothy 3:1-15; Acts 20:17-25; 1 Peter 5:1-4.
18. We believe in the New Testament order for the family and home. Ephesians 5:22 through 6:4; 1 Peter 3:1-12.
19. We believe in prophetic ministry of the Living Word of Christ. 1 Corinthians 2:1-5, 9-13; 1 Peter 4:10-11.
20. We believe in the latter day restoration of the Church. Isaiah 58:12, 61:4; Joel 2:23-28; James 5:7-8.
21. We believe in reverent worship and praise to the Lord. Colossians 3:16-17; Ephesians 5:18-20.
22. We believe in faithful attendance to the meetings of the local church, especially in these times. Hebrews 10:24-25.
23. We believe in a spiritual relationship and ministry to one another in the church. 1 Thessalonians 5:11-15; Hebrews 10:24; Romans 12:5; 2 Corinthians 5:16-17.
24. We believe in the many and varied ministries within the local church, and we believe each member needs every other member of the Body of Christ. Romans 12:4-8; 1 Corinthians 12:13-31.
25. We believe in the evangelism of the whole world. Mark 16:15-16; Acts 1:8-9; Ezekiel 3:17-18; John 4:35-37.
26. We believe that in these last days Christ Jesus will manifest Himself in a Spiritual visitation. (Hosea 6:1-3; Joel 2:23-32), and after this visitation He will personally return to this earth as He went away. Acts 1:11; 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17; Titus 2:12-13; Matthew 24:36, 42, 44.
27. We believe that after this life there is a place prepared for those who are saved, and a place for the lost. John 14:2; Revelations 21:4; 22:5; Mark 9:43; Revelations 20:10, 15.
28. We believe the Kingdom of God will ultimately prevail over all the kingdoms of this world. Matthew 6:9-10; Revelations 20:1-6.
29. We believe the key to God’s power in our lives is prayer and meditatively waiting on the Lord. Ephesians 6:18; Isaiah 40:31; Luke 18:1-8; 1 Thessalonians 5:17.
30. We believe in the sovereignty and Lordship of Jesus Christ over the individual believer and over the local church, and in our submission to Him. Colossians 1:12-20; Philippians 2:5-11; Ephesians 1:19-23.
