STATEMENT OF FAITH
I. THE BIBLE
The bible is God's Word and is infallible for it comes directly from God. Holy men of God under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit wrote it. Thus, all of its fundamentals we uphold and make it as our all sufficient rule for faith and practice.
II. THE DOCTRINE OF GOD
We believe in One True and Living God, who has revealed himself as the eternally, self-existent, self revealed "I AM " (YHWH in Hebrew word - Exo. 3:13-14) He is the all-powerful Creator.
We believe in a Holy God who is compassionate, gracious, slow to anger,abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin. (Exo. 34:6-7)
III. THE DOCTRINE OF THE TRINITY
We believe that there are three persons in one God,
The Bible reveals three persons, each distinct in His office from the other, and yet so perfectly one in character and harmony, that together they constitute or make up one Godhead and not three Gods.
Each Person in the Godhead is in action in the baptism of Jesus;
the Father speaks from heaven
the Son (Jesus) is in water being baptized by John
the Holy Spirit descends upon the Son in a form of a dove (Matt. 3:16-17)
Trinity testified by:
Jesus (Matt. 28:18-20)
Paul (2Cor. 13:14)
Peter (1Peter 3:18)
II. THE DOCTRINE OF CHRIST
- HIS DIVINITY
He is above all things. (Col.1: 17)
He existed together with God even before the beginning of all things. (Jn1:1)
He created all things. (Jn 1:3)
Jesus said, "Before Abraham was, "I AM" (Jn. 8:58)
He is God-Worship is attributed to God alone.
The Lord Jesus accepted the worship of the following:
Lepers (Matt. 8:13)
Ruler (Matt. 9:18-19)
Disciples (Matt. 14:31-33)
Blind man (Jn. 9:38)
Angels (Heb. 1:6)Note: Not for one instance did Jesus stop the above mentioned creation from worshipping Him as contrasted by the angel in Rev. 22:8-9
The disciples testified of His deity
Peter (Matt. 16:13-17)
Thomas (Jn 20:28)
Paul (Titus 2:13)
Jesus' testimony of Himself
- Jesus claimed equality with the Father and with the Holy Spirit (Matt. 28:19, Jn 10:30-33)
- The Word "I AM" (Jn 8:57-59) connotes the immutability of Jesus God alone is
immutable (Heb. 13:8) The testimony of the Father (Heb.1: 1-8)
- The Father Himself have acknowledged the divinity of Jesus, "Thy throne O God…" (verse 8) -
The Testimony of God the Father concerning the divinity of Jesus is the strongest of all testimonies.
- HIS HUMANITY (Jn 1:1-14)
The Incarnation of Jesus Christ is the center of Christianity and the object of Christian faith. The incarnation, the atoning death and the resurrection of Christ are vital points in the Christian doctrine. The incarnation of Christ is one of the most central facts of Christianity. The whole superstructure of Christian doctrine depends heavily on the incarnation of the Lord Jesus "…and the word was made flesh." (John 1:14/Isa. 7:14) As a man, the limitations of a human being were found in Him.
- Hungry (Matt. 21:18-19)
- Thirsty (Jn 4:7, 19:28)
- Tired (Jn 4:6)
- Weakness (Lk 22:39-45)
- Death (Lk 23:46)
The Purpose of Incarnation The Purpose of the Lord's Incarnation was His death. Christ was born to die. God cannot die. Man by himself, cannot atone for sin. The only Son of God took upon Himself humanity and became a God-man (Phil. 2:6-7) to die and atone for sin.
III. THE DOCTRINE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
The Holy Spirit is God. (Acts 5:1-5)
A. Omniscient (all knowing) (1Cor.2: 10-11)
B. Omnipresent (all present) (Psa. 139:7-8)
C. Omnipotent (all powerful) (Luke 1:35)
The Holy Spirit is a Person. (John 14:16-17) He has a will (1Cor. 12:11). He has an emotion for He can be grieved (Eph 4:30). During the progress of His discourse in John 16:13-14, Jesus addressed the Spirit of Truth as "He", and "Him" in John 14:17.
He was seen by John the Baptist descending upon Jesus in the form of a dove. The Holy Spirit is a gentle Spirit but the most powerful Person in the whole universe.
The Works of the Holy Spirit
To convict the world of sin. (John 16:8)
To play an important role in our salvation (Titus 3:5/John 3:1-8)
He brings a lost soul to Jesus. Jesus said "…no one comes to the
Father but by Me" (John 14:6).
Likewise no one can come to Jesus apart from the working power of the Holy Spirit. Thus, we got saved.
Apart from His ministry, heaven will have no population of human kind.
To testify of Jesus (John 15:26)
To give glory to Jesus (John 16:14)
To guide us into all truth (John 16:13)
To give us power to win souls (Acts 1:8)
In the Holy Spirit baptism, we receive power to win souls for the Lord Jesus Christ.
To comfort us (John 14:16)
To teach us and remind us of everything. (John 14:26)
To help us pray (Rom 8:26-27)
To help us minister (Luke 4:18)
His fruit (Gal. 5:22-23) in the life of the believer is so vital that spells the difference between the world and the Christian community.
His gifts (1Cor 12:7-10) to the church which we all believe to be operational during the entire church age are so important and precious to us. Through the gifts the Word of God we spoke are confirmed with signs and wonders. (Mark 16:20). The gifts are manifestations of His presence.
IV. THE DOCTRINE OF SALVATION
Ephesians 2:1-9 states the condition of man and his need for a Savior. It reveals also the real problem why man is so depraved and could easily be swayed by sin.
1. Salvation is by grace alone
- God is a gracious God who wants to save all sinners, though none of us is worthy for we all transgressed God's Law.
- Grace means unmerited favor
2. Through Faith Alone
- Not by works so that no man may boast
3. In Christ Alone
- Salvation is in Christ Jesus alone
- Jesus came for this purpose
- to save mankind from the dominion of evil spirit who enslaved people. A powerful slave driver called by Paul in Eph. 2:2 as the prince of the power of the air and (spirit of) sin in Rom 7:14-17. In verse 17 says "…it is no longer I who do it but sin that dwells in me."
SIN in the above verse is not a transgression of the law of God but a person (sin that dwells in me) an evil being called by many as "original sin". This spirit dominates every human being born under the lineage of Adam. All Adamic race except for the Lord Jesus Christ who is from above and not from Adam has these spirit in him which started at conception "But I was born a sinner, yes, from the moment my mother conceived me."(Psa 51:5 TLB). The whole of humanity was in the loins of Adam. As Adam was fallen, so are we who all came from Adam. (Rom 5:12) There is no other way that we can shake off and destroy the real culprit in man's life. No amount of good works can save us from his dominion. But thanks God through Jesus Christ, this evil spirit could now be uprooted and shaken off our lives. Jesus came that He might destroy the works of the devil (1Jn 3:8) and He did, praise God!
Paul said, "Whoever calls on the Name of the Lord shall be saved" (Rom 10:13). As you call upon Jesus, He would come and unseat the cruel slave driver of your life. Paul says "For the law of the Spirit of life that is in Christ Jesus has set me free from the law of sin and death." (Rom 8:2) This is salvation.
V. THE ORDINACES OF THE CHURCH
1. THE BREAKING OF THE BREAD
This ordinance was instituted by the Lord Jesus(Lk22:17-19)
This has nothing to do with the doctrine of salvation. Ordinances have no power to save a human soul.
We do this in memory of His sufferings and death
The bread and the fruit of the vine are just symbols of His Body and Blood.
2. THE WATER BAPTISM
The Lord Jesus in Matt. 28:19 commanded the disciples to immerse in water every one
who will receive the message of the kingdom.
The Biblical method used in Baptism is immersion. For the word baptism comes from a greek word
"bapto" meaning to immerse.
The candidates are those who made a conscious decision to accept Jesus as Lord and Savior of their lives. As in the case of Cornelius cited in Acts 10:23-48. His household, friends, and relatives while hearing the message delivered by Peter were all baptized in the Holy Spirit for they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God (44-46).In other words, they accepted the message and in their hearts were converted. The Holy Spirit would not come and have himself manifested through speaking in tongues if a person is not converted or rather accepted Jesus in his heart as Lord, Savior and Master. So when Peter saw the evidence (speaking in tongues) that they accepted the message, he said "Can anyone keep these people from being baptized with water? They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have. So they ordered that they be baptized…" (Acts 10:44-48)
It has nothing to do with the doctrine of salvation.
VI. THE DOCTRINE OF THE SECOND COMING
We believe that the Lord Jesus Himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the Archangel and with the trumpet call of God to gather God's people, which are bought by the blood and sanctified to meet the Lord in the air. "…and so we shall always be with the Lord." (1Thes. 4:16-17)
This "Blessed Hope" was not only preached by:
A. James (Ja 5:7-8)
B. Peter (1Pet 1:4-13, 5:4, 2Pet. 1:16)
C. Jude (Jude 14)
D. John (Rev. 22:20)
But also by the angels while the Lord Jesus was ascending. They said: "…this same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen Him go into heaven." (Acts 1:11)
VII. THE RESURRECTION OF THE DEAD
The resurrection of Jesus is the bedrock of Christianity. Jesus said, " I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me, though he may die, he shall live." (John 11:25) He lives forever. Our faith has been vindicated by His resurrection. Christianity is the only faith approved by the Father. There is none other. If Jesus was not raised from the dead, we wasted our lives, Jesus' life was misspent and everything that we believed in, preached and hoped for are nothing but lies and illusions. But thanks God death has no power to hold Him in the grave forever.
" But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep " (1Cor.15: 20) "…but we shall all be changed - in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet.For the trumpet will sound and the dead will be raised incorruptible and we shall be changed. For this corruptible has put on the incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: 'Death is swallowed up in victory. 'O Death, where is your sting?' " O hades, where is your victory?'…But thanks be to God who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ". (1Cor. 15:51-55,57)
The bible is God's Word and is infallible for it comes directly from God. Holy men of God under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit wrote it. Thus, all of its fundamentals we uphold and make it as our all sufficient rule for faith and practice.
II. THE DOCTRINE OF GOD
We believe in One True and Living God, who has revealed himself as the eternally, self-existent, self revealed "I AM " (YHWH in Hebrew word - Exo. 3:13-14) He is the all-powerful Creator.
We believe in a Holy God who is compassionate, gracious, slow to anger,abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin. (Exo. 34:6-7)
III. THE DOCTRINE OF THE TRINITY
We believe that there are three persons in one God,
- The Father
- The Son
- The Holy Spirit
The Bible reveals three persons, each distinct in His office from the other, and yet so perfectly one in character and harmony, that together they constitute or make up one Godhead and not three Gods.
Each Person in the Godhead is in action in the baptism of Jesus;
the Father speaks from heaven
the Son (Jesus) is in water being baptized by John
the Holy Spirit descends upon the Son in a form of a dove (Matt. 3:16-17)
Trinity testified by:
Jesus (Matt. 28:18-20)
Paul (2Cor. 13:14)
Peter (1Peter 3:18)
II. THE DOCTRINE OF CHRIST
- HIS DIVINITY
He is above all things. (Col.1: 17)
He existed together with God even before the beginning of all things. (Jn1:1)
He created all things. (Jn 1:3)
Jesus said, "Before Abraham was, "I AM" (Jn. 8:58)
He is God-Worship is attributed to God alone.
The Lord Jesus accepted the worship of the following:
Lepers (Matt. 8:13)
Ruler (Matt. 9:18-19)
Disciples (Matt. 14:31-33)
Blind man (Jn. 9:38)
Angels (Heb. 1:6)Note: Not for one instance did Jesus stop the above mentioned creation from worshipping Him as contrasted by the angel in Rev. 22:8-9
The disciples testified of His deity
Peter (Matt. 16:13-17)
Thomas (Jn 20:28)
Paul (Titus 2:13)
Jesus' testimony of Himself
- Jesus claimed equality with the Father and with the Holy Spirit (Matt. 28:19, Jn 10:30-33)
- The Word "I AM" (Jn 8:57-59) connotes the immutability of Jesus God alone is
immutable (Heb. 13:8) The testimony of the Father (Heb.1: 1-8)
- The Father Himself have acknowledged the divinity of Jesus, "Thy throne O God…" (verse 8) -
The Testimony of God the Father concerning the divinity of Jesus is the strongest of all testimonies.
- HIS HUMANITY (Jn 1:1-14)
The Incarnation of Jesus Christ is the center of Christianity and the object of Christian faith. The incarnation, the atoning death and the resurrection of Christ are vital points in the Christian doctrine. The incarnation of Christ is one of the most central facts of Christianity. The whole superstructure of Christian doctrine depends heavily on the incarnation of the Lord Jesus "…and the word was made flesh." (John 1:14/Isa. 7:14) As a man, the limitations of a human being were found in Him.
- Hungry (Matt. 21:18-19)
- Thirsty (Jn 4:7, 19:28)
- Tired (Jn 4:6)
- Weakness (Lk 22:39-45)
- Death (Lk 23:46)
The Purpose of Incarnation The Purpose of the Lord's Incarnation was His death. Christ was born to die. God cannot die. Man by himself, cannot atone for sin. The only Son of God took upon Himself humanity and became a God-man (Phil. 2:6-7) to die and atone for sin.
III. THE DOCTRINE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
The Holy Spirit is God. (Acts 5:1-5)
A. Omniscient (all knowing) (1Cor.2: 10-11)
B. Omnipresent (all present) (Psa. 139:7-8)
C. Omnipotent (all powerful) (Luke 1:35)
The Holy Spirit is a Person. (John 14:16-17) He has a will (1Cor. 12:11). He has an emotion for He can be grieved (Eph 4:30). During the progress of His discourse in John 16:13-14, Jesus addressed the Spirit of Truth as "He", and "Him" in John 14:17.
He was seen by John the Baptist descending upon Jesus in the form of a dove. The Holy Spirit is a gentle Spirit but the most powerful Person in the whole universe.
The Works of the Holy Spirit
To convict the world of sin. (John 16:8)
To play an important role in our salvation (Titus 3:5/John 3:1-8)
He brings a lost soul to Jesus. Jesus said "…no one comes to the
Father but by Me" (John 14:6).
Likewise no one can come to Jesus apart from the working power of the Holy Spirit. Thus, we got saved.
Apart from His ministry, heaven will have no population of human kind.
To testify of Jesus (John 15:26)
To give glory to Jesus (John 16:14)
To guide us into all truth (John 16:13)
To give us power to win souls (Acts 1:8)
In the Holy Spirit baptism, we receive power to win souls for the Lord Jesus Christ.
To comfort us (John 14:16)
To teach us and remind us of everything. (John 14:26)
To help us pray (Rom 8:26-27)
To help us minister (Luke 4:18)
His fruit (Gal. 5:22-23) in the life of the believer is so vital that spells the difference between the world and the Christian community.
His gifts (1Cor 12:7-10) to the church which we all believe to be operational during the entire church age are so important and precious to us. Through the gifts the Word of God we spoke are confirmed with signs and wonders. (Mark 16:20). The gifts are manifestations of His presence.
IV. THE DOCTRINE OF SALVATION
Ephesians 2:1-9 states the condition of man and his need for a Savior. It reveals also the real problem why man is so depraved and could easily be swayed by sin.
1. Salvation is by grace alone
- God is a gracious God who wants to save all sinners, though none of us is worthy for we all transgressed God's Law.
- Grace means unmerited favor
2. Through Faith Alone
- Not by works so that no man may boast
3. In Christ Alone
- Salvation is in Christ Jesus alone
- Jesus came for this purpose
- to save mankind from the dominion of evil spirit who enslaved people. A powerful slave driver called by Paul in Eph. 2:2 as the prince of the power of the air and (spirit of) sin in Rom 7:14-17. In verse 17 says "…it is no longer I who do it but sin that dwells in me."
SIN in the above verse is not a transgression of the law of God but a person (sin that dwells in me) an evil being called by many as "original sin". This spirit dominates every human being born under the lineage of Adam. All Adamic race except for the Lord Jesus Christ who is from above and not from Adam has these spirit in him which started at conception "But I was born a sinner, yes, from the moment my mother conceived me."(Psa 51:5 TLB). The whole of humanity was in the loins of Adam. As Adam was fallen, so are we who all came from Adam. (Rom 5:12) There is no other way that we can shake off and destroy the real culprit in man's life. No amount of good works can save us from his dominion. But thanks God through Jesus Christ, this evil spirit could now be uprooted and shaken off our lives. Jesus came that He might destroy the works of the devil (1Jn 3:8) and He did, praise God!
Paul said, "Whoever calls on the Name of the Lord shall be saved" (Rom 10:13). As you call upon Jesus, He would come and unseat the cruel slave driver of your life. Paul says "For the law of the Spirit of life that is in Christ Jesus has set me free from the law of sin and death." (Rom 8:2) This is salvation.
V. THE ORDINACES OF THE CHURCH
1. THE BREAKING OF THE BREAD
This ordinance was instituted by the Lord Jesus(Lk22:17-19)
This has nothing to do with the doctrine of salvation. Ordinances have no power to save a human soul.
We do this in memory of His sufferings and death
The bread and the fruit of the vine are just symbols of His Body and Blood.
2. THE WATER BAPTISM
The Lord Jesus in Matt. 28:19 commanded the disciples to immerse in water every one
who will receive the message of the kingdom.
The Biblical method used in Baptism is immersion. For the word baptism comes from a greek word
"bapto" meaning to immerse.
The candidates are those who made a conscious decision to accept Jesus as Lord and Savior of their lives. As in the case of Cornelius cited in Acts 10:23-48. His household, friends, and relatives while hearing the message delivered by Peter were all baptized in the Holy Spirit for they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God (44-46).In other words, they accepted the message and in their hearts were converted. The Holy Spirit would not come and have himself manifested through speaking in tongues if a person is not converted or rather accepted Jesus in his heart as Lord, Savior and Master. So when Peter saw the evidence (speaking in tongues) that they accepted the message, he said "Can anyone keep these people from being baptized with water? They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have. So they ordered that they be baptized…" (Acts 10:44-48)
It has nothing to do with the doctrine of salvation.
VI. THE DOCTRINE OF THE SECOND COMING
We believe that the Lord Jesus Himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the Archangel and with the trumpet call of God to gather God's people, which are bought by the blood and sanctified to meet the Lord in the air. "…and so we shall always be with the Lord." (1Thes. 4:16-17)
This "Blessed Hope" was not only preached by:
A. James (Ja 5:7-8)
B. Peter (1Pet 1:4-13, 5:4, 2Pet. 1:16)
C. Jude (Jude 14)
D. John (Rev. 22:20)
But also by the angels while the Lord Jesus was ascending. They said: "…this same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen Him go into heaven." (Acts 1:11)
VII. THE RESURRECTION OF THE DEAD
The resurrection of Jesus is the bedrock of Christianity. Jesus said, " I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me, though he may die, he shall live." (John 11:25) He lives forever. Our faith has been vindicated by His resurrection. Christianity is the only faith approved by the Father. There is none other. If Jesus was not raised from the dead, we wasted our lives, Jesus' life was misspent and everything that we believed in, preached and hoped for are nothing but lies and illusions. But thanks God death has no power to hold Him in the grave forever.
" But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep " (1Cor.15: 20) "…but we shall all be changed - in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet.For the trumpet will sound and the dead will be raised incorruptible and we shall be changed. For this corruptible has put on the incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: 'Death is swallowed up in victory. 'O Death, where is your sting?' " O hades, where is your victory?'…But thanks be to God who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ". (1Cor. 15:51-55,57)
