Statement of faith
“The love of God is to edify, encourage, and strengthen servants in ministry. We creatively seek ways to fulfill our charter through personal and small groups. Our ministry priorities are targeted toward missionaries, pastors, national church leaders, and their families. ”Preamble: We believe that our Lord commissions His Church to share the gospel with all people, beginning with the local church, but extending to all nations through its representatives, who are called by God to go forth into every part of India bearing witness to Jesus Christ and His salvation; we believe, moreover, that the Church needs to support, strengthen, edify, encourage and further enable in every possible way, these servants of Jesus Christ.
What We Believe
THE SCRIPTURES
The Bible is the inspired Word of God, the product of Holy men of old who spoke and wrote as they were moved by the Holy Spirit. The New Covenant, as recorded in the New Testament, we accept as our infallible guide in matters pertaining to conduct and doctrine. (2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:21; 1 Thessalonians 2:13)
THE GODHEAD
Our God is One, but manifested in three persons. The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. (Philippians 2:6; John 14:21-26) God the Father is greater than all, and He is the Source of the Word and the Begetter. (John 14:28; John 16:28; John 1:14) The Son is the flesh-covered Word, the One Begotten, and has existed with the Father from the beginning. (John 1:14; John 1:18; John 1:1) The Holy Spirit proceeds forth from both the Father and the Son and is eternal. (John 15:26)
MAN, HIS FALL AND REDEMPTION
Man is a created being, made in the likeness and image of God. Through Adam’s transgression and fall, sin came into the world. The Bible tells us in Romans 3:23 that “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” In Romans 3:10 it says, “As it is written, there is none righteous, no not even one.” Jesus Christ, the Son of God, was manifested to undo the work of the devil, and He gave His life and shed His blood to redeem and restore man back to God. (Romans 5:12; Romans 3:23; Romans 3:10; 1 John 3:8) Salvation is the gift of God to man, separate from works and the law and is made operative by His grace through faith in Jesus Christ, producing work acceptable to God. (Ephesians 2:8)
ETERNAL LIFE AND NEW BIRTH
Man’s first step toward salvation is godly sorrow that works repentance. The new birth is available to all mankind, and when Jesus Christ is accepted as Saviour, salvation takes place. He is born again. His spirit becomes alive in God eternally. (2 Corinthians 7:10; 1 John 5:12; John 3:3-5)
WATER BAPTISM
Baptism in water is by immersion. It is a direct commandment of our Lord and it is for believers only. The ordinance is a symbol of the Christian’s identification with Christ in His death, burial, and resurrection. (Matthew 28:19; Romans 6:4; Colossians 2:12; Acts 8:36-39) The following recommendation regarding the water baptism formula is adopted to wit: “On the confession of your faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, and by His authority, I baptize you in the name of the Father, the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.”
BAPTISM IN THE HOLY SPIRIT
The baptism in the Holy Spirit and fire is a gift from God. It is promised by the Lord Jesus Christ to those who are believers in this dispensation and is received subsequent to the new birth. This experience is accompanied by the initial evidence of speaking in other tongues as the Holy Spirit Himself gives utterance. (Matthew 3:11; John 14:16-17; Acts 1:8; Acts 2:38-39; Acts 19:1-7; Acts 2:4).
SANCTIFICATION
The Bible teaches that without holiness no man can see the Lord. We believe in the doctrine of sanctification as a definite, yet progressive, work of grace, which commences at the time of regeneration and continues until the consummation of salvation. (Hebrews 12:14; 1 Thessalonians 5:23; 2 Peter 3:18; 2 Corinthians 3:18; Philippians 3:12-14; 1 Corinthians 1:30).
THE DEITY OF JESUS CHRIST
We believe that Jesus Christ is the only begotten Son of God, born of a virgin, was crucified, died, and rose again on the third day, ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of God the Father (Isaiah 7:14, Luke 1:30-35).
DIVINE HEALING
Healing is for the physical ills of the human body and is wrought by the power of God through the prayer of faith and by laying on of hands. It is provided in the atonement of Christ and it is the privilege of every member of the church today. (Mark 16:18; James 5:14-16; 1 Peter 2:24; Matthew 8:17; Isaiah 53:4-5).
LAYING ON OF HANDS
We think it’s one of the ways to convey blessing, the healing power of God and a human being to another (Acts 8:15-20, 1 Timothy 4:14, 2 Timothy 1:6).
THE FIVE FOLD MINISTRIES
We believe in the five ministries of Ephesians 4:11, as the gifts given by God to the body of Christ (Ephesians 4:11).
THE HEALING POWER AND LIBERATING THE KINGDOM
We believe in the power of the Kingdom to heal the sick, cast out demons and perform miracles, signs and wonders (Matthew 12:28).
FAITH
We believe that without faith it is impossible to live a life pleasing to God and that she will inherit the promises (Hebrews 11:6).
PREACHING THE GOSPEL
We believe in spreading the gospel of the Kingdom locally, nationally and globally, by all available means (Matthew 24:14).
RESURRECTION OF THE JUST AND THE RETURN OF OUR LORD
The angels said, “…this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner…” (Acts 1:11). His coming is imminent. When He comes, “the dead in Christ shall rise first: then we shall rise.”