What do we believe?

What do we believe?

Repentance

The presence and work of the Holy Spirit in the world and in the heart of man through the gospel of Jesus Christ (John 16:8-11) produces CONVICTION, an awareness and recognition that he has sinned against God and needs to confess that guilt with a sorrow that is according to God (2 Corinthians 7:10). In summary, repentance does not only mean to feel sorry for sin, but in turning away and abandoning the old life (sinful habits) to a new walk in faith in God through the Holy Spirit and in the company of God's people (Acts 2:42). 
Justification
"Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God" (Romans 5:1, 2). Justification is both a state and an action. On the part of the repentant, it is the state of living without offense toward God. On God's part, it is His act of forgiving the sins of which the person has repented and declaring him or her accepted into a new relationship. 

 

Regeneration

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Regeneration describes God's work in providing a new spiritual life in the believer. Human beings without Christ are dead in "their trespasses and sins" (Ephesians 2:1) and must be quickened or regenerated through the Holy Spirit (Titus 3:5).
Sanctification
Sanctification, like salvation, primarily extends throughout the believer's life. Initially, it is a work of grace subsequent to justification, regeneration or the new birth. It is an instantaneous work, which sets one apart for God (1 Corinthians 1:2) and crucifies and cleanses the old nature, allowing the believer to be free from the dominion of sin: "Knowing this, that our old man was crucified with him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer serve sin. For he that is dead is justified from sin" (Romans 6:6, 7). "And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God" (1 Corinthians 6:11). 

 

 Holiness


Holiness is a commandment of the Lord: "Be ye holy, for I am holy" (1 Peter 1:14-16), the state of being free from sin (the dominion of sin) made possible by the sanctifying and purifying work of God (Romans 6:11-14; 1 Corinthians 6:11), and further sustained by an active and wholehearted pursuit to imitate the life of Christ on the part of the maturing believer. "For the grace of God which bringeth salvation to all men hath appeared, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live temperately and righteously and godly in this present world" (Titus 2:11, 12). "Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord" (Hebrews 12:14). 

 

Baptism of the Holy Spirit

​"And Peter saith unto them, Repent ye, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and ye shall receive the gift of the [Holy] Spirit. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, as many as the Lord our God shall call" (Acts 2:38, 39). The baptism of the Holy Spirit as it occurred at Pentecost and in other subsequent places in the book of Acts (8:14-17; 10:44-46; 19:2-7) is a definite experience that follows after the experiences of salvation and sanctification or may be accompanied by them even simultaneously. Jesus told His disciples: "...for he is with you, and shall be in you" (John 14:17). 

Speaking in other tongues


 Speaking in (with) other tongues-languages (magnifying God by expressing His wonderful works in languages normally unknown to the speaker-Acts 2:4-8; 11; 10:44-46) is common in the book of Acts to describe the outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon the believers as clearly set forth in the above biblical texts. Acts 19:6 also shows the same result (speaking in tongues and prophesying) when the apostle Paul laid his hands on the twelve believers in the city of Ephesus to receive the Holy Spirit. 
the Fruits of the Spirit
 
As mentioned in the previous paragraph, daily walking and living in the Spirit will cause the fruit of the Spirit to manifest itself regularly in the life of the believer: "But the fruit of the Spirit is charity, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law" (Galatians 5:22, 23). Such fruit cannot be produced by the flesh or by human nature. In fact, the opposite nature and contrary works of the flesh are partially enumerated in the same text which concludes with the following statement: "...they that do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God" (v. 21). "I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not gratify the lust of the flesh" (v. 16). "For ye were sometimes darkness; but now ye are light in the Lord: walk as children of light (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth)" (Ephesians 5:8, 9). The work of the Spirit is essential to the life of the believer and to the church.

Signs that will follow believers

​Since spiritual gifts are the sovereign work of the Holy Spirit, miraculous signs and wonders can accompany the works and ministries of true believers. Mark 16:17-20 states, "And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; they shall take away serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover...And they went forth, and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.


 Divine Healing​

God's sovereign grace and mercy, through Christ's atonement for all our sins and ultimately for the consequences of sin, provides for the healing/salvation of our souls as well as our bodies through His work on Calvary. According to the testimony of Christ and His apostles, as recorded in the gospels and the book of Acts (Mark 3:1-5, 9-12, 14, 15; Matthew 10:8; Acts 5:12)

Water Baptism

Water baptism is the act of being immersed in water according to Christ's command and instructions (Matthew 28:19). This ordinance does not have the power to wash away sins, but is the response of a good conscience toward God (1 Peter 3:21) and represents for the believer to identify with the death, burial and resurrection of our Lord (Romans 6:3-5). Mark 16:16 further emphasizes the necessity of this step of obedience: "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned".

 The Lord's Supper

​The Lord's Supper is a sacred ordinance that our Lord Himself instituted on the night He was betrayed by eating the Passover with His disciples (Luke 22:14-22). He instructed them that they were to do this in remembrance of Him. It represents our communion and fellowship with Him. The apostle Paul reiterated the Lord's instructions to the Corinthians (1 Corinthians 11:23-25), adding some helpful details: "For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until He comes. Whosoever therefore shall eat this bread, or drink this cup of the Lord unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. Wherefore let every man prove himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, judgeth, eating and drinking to himself, not discerning the body of the Lord. For this cause there are many sick and infirm among you, and many sleep. 


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