OUR STATEMENTS OF FAITH
The fundamental and foundational teachings of our Congregation are
reflected in the following clear statements of faith:
THE BIBLE:
We believe the scriptures of the entire Bible are
inspired by God, are God’s method of revealing himself to mankind, are
never wrong, and are our guide for faith, belief, and manner of living (2
Timothy 3:15-17; 1 Thessalonians 2:13; 2 Peter 1:21).
inspired by God, are God’s method of revealing himself to mankind, are
never wrong, and are our guide for faith, belief, and manner of living (2
Timothy 3:15-17; 1 Thessalonians 2:13; 2 Peter 1:21).
GOD:
We believe in one and only one true and living God. He has
always existed without any outside cause or agent bringing Him into
being. He is the creator of all things and has chosen to reveal Himself as
One God, the same in essence though existing in Three Manifestations,
Father, Son and Holy Spirit, distinguishable but indivisible
(Deuteronomy 6:4; Isaiah 43:10-11; Matthew 28:19; Luke 3:22).
always existed without any outside cause or agent bringing Him into
being. He is the creator of all things and has chosen to reveal Himself as
One God, the same in essence though existing in Three Manifestations,
Father, Son and Holy Spirit, distinguishable but indivisible
(Deuteronomy 6:4; Isaiah 43:10-11; Matthew 28:19; Luke 3:22).
JESUS CHRIST:
We believe in the deity of Jesus Christ. The Lord
Jesus Christ, the Son of God and the Savior of all men, was conceived of
the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, has always existed, God with
us, fully human and fully God. He lived a sinless life. In order to restore
fallen mankind, He died on the cross as a substitute for the sins of every
person, was buried and was raised from the dead on the third day by the
supernatural power of God, personally appeared to His disciples and is
now ascended into Heaven, praying for us and one day returning a
second time for his church. (Isaiah 7:14; 9:6; Matthew 1:21-23; Luke
1:26-35; John 1:1-2; 1:14-18; 1:29; 1:49; 5:22-23; 14:2-3; Acts
2:32-36; Romans 1:1-3; 4:11; 4:25; 1 Corinthians 15:1-4, 15:24-28;
Philippians 2:8-9; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; Hebrews 1:1-13; 12;2; 1
Peter 1:8; 2:22; 3:22; 1 John 4:1-5; 4:10; 4:14; Revelation 1:13;
1:17-18; 5:6-14; 7:9-10).
Jesus Christ, the Son of God and the Savior of all men, was conceived of
the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, has always existed, God with
us, fully human and fully God. He lived a sinless life. In order to restore
fallen mankind, He died on the cross as a substitute for the sins of every
person, was buried and was raised from the dead on the third day by the
supernatural power of God, personally appeared to His disciples and is
now ascended into Heaven, praying for us and one day returning a
second time for his church. (Isaiah 7:14; 9:6; Matthew 1:21-23; Luke
1:26-35; John 1:1-2; 1:14-18; 1:29; 1:49; 5:22-23; 14:2-3; Acts
2:32-36; Romans 1:1-3; 4:11; 4:25; 1 Corinthians 15:1-4, 15:24-28;
Philippians 2:8-9; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; Hebrews 1:1-13; 12;2; 1
Peter 1:8; 2:22; 3:22; 1 John 4:1-5; 4:10; 4:14; Revelation 1:13;
1:17-18; 5:6-14; 7:9-10).
HOLY SPIRIT:
We believe Holy Spirit is an intelligent being as
distinct as God the Father and Jesus the Son. He thinks (Romans 8:27),
feels (Romans 15:30), wills (i.e., desires, determines and purposes
specific things, 1 Corinthians 12:11) and has the capacity to love and to
enjoy personal companionship. He testifies about Christ, which means
he moves about and communicates. He was sent by God to bring
believers into a close personal relationship with Jesus (John 14:16-18,
26). Because He is God, Holy Spirit is omnipresent (everywhere at the
same time), omniscient (all-knowing) and omnipotent (all powerful). He
is also loving, forgiving, merciful and persistent. Holy Spirit was present
and active in creation, credited with inspiration, the giving of life and
sanctification and to this day dwells with all believers. (Genesis 1:2;
John 16:13; Acts 10:19; 1 Corinthians 2:11; 1 Corinthians 12).
distinct as God the Father and Jesus the Son. He thinks (Romans 8:27),
feels (Romans 15:30), wills (i.e., desires, determines and purposes
specific things, 1 Corinthians 12:11) and has the capacity to love and to
enjoy personal companionship. He testifies about Christ, which means
he moves about and communicates. He was sent by God to bring
believers into a close personal relationship with Jesus (John 14:16-18,
26). Because He is God, Holy Spirit is omnipresent (everywhere at the
same time), omniscient (all-knowing) and omnipotent (all powerful). He
is also loving, forgiving, merciful and persistent. Holy Spirit was present
and active in creation, credited with inspiration, the giving of life and
sanctification and to this day dwells with all believers. (Genesis 1:2;
John 16:13; Acts 10:19; 1 Corinthians 2:11; 1 Corinthians 12).
THE FALL OF MANKIND:
We believe mankind was created
good and upright, but by willful choice, ignored God’s instructions and
chose to engage in what was wrong and evil. As a result, mankind fell
from innocence and goodness and thereby incurred not only physical
death, but also spiritual death, which is separation from God. (Romans
5:12-18)
good and upright, but by willful choice, ignored God’s instructions and
chose to engage in what was wrong and evil. As a result, mankind fell
from innocence and goodness and thereby incurred not only physical
death, but also spiritual death, which is separation from God. (Romans
5:12-18)
SALVATION:
We believe in the salvation of all sinners by grace,
through repentance and faith in the perfect and sufficient work of the
cross of Calvary by which we obtain remission of sins (Ephesians 2:8-9;
Hebrews 9:12; Romans 5:11)
through repentance and faith in the perfect and sufficient work of the
cross of Calvary by which we obtain remission of sins (Ephesians 2:8-9;
Hebrews 9:12; Romans 5:11)
WATER BAPTISM:
We believe in the necessity of water baptism
by immersion in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ for every new
Christian believer. This practice publicly states to family and friends
their desire to live a biblically ordered life. (Matthew 28:19; Acts
2:34-38; 19:1-6)
by immersion in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ for every new
Christian believer. This practice publicly states to family and friends
their desire to live a biblically ordered life. (Matthew 28:19; Acts
2:34-38; 19:1-6)
HOLY SPIRIT BAPTISM:
We believe in the baptism of the Holy
Spirit as a real experience at or after salvation, with the Scriptural
evidence, namely, speaking in other tongues as the Spirit gives utterance.
We believe the Spirit-filled life, the transformed life, leads to a life of
separation from the world and perfecting of holiness in the fear of God
as expressing the true Christian faith (Acts 2:1-4; 8:14-17; 10:44-46;
Galatians 3:14; Ephesians 5:18; 2 Corinthians 6:14; 7:1).
Spirit as a real experience at or after salvation, with the Scriptural
evidence, namely, speaking in other tongues as the Spirit gives utterance.
We believe the Spirit-filled life, the transformed life, leads to a life of
separation from the world and perfecting of holiness in the fear of God
as expressing the true Christian faith (Acts 2:1-4; 8:14-17; 10:44-46;
Galatians 3:14; Ephesians 5:18; 2 Corinthians 6:14; 7:1).
HOLY SPIRIT GIFTS:
We believe in the operation of the Gifts of
the Holy Spirit as enumerated in I Corinthians 12-14, as manifested in
the Early Church. We believe these gifts empower the believer for
witnessing and effective service, just as it did in New Testament times.
(1 Corinthians 12-14)
the Holy Spirit as enumerated in I Corinthians 12-14, as manifested in
the Early Church. We believe these gifts empower the believer for
witnessing and effective service, just as it did in New Testament times.
(1 Corinthians 12-14)
DIVINE HEALING:
We believe in the healing of the body by
Divine power, or Divine healing in its varied aspects as practiced in the
Early Church (Acts 4:30; Romans 8:11; I Corinthians 12:9; James 5:14).
Divine power, or Divine healing in its varied aspects as practiced in the
Early Church (Acts 4:30; Romans 8:11; I Corinthians 12:9; James 5:14).
HOLY COMMUNION:
We believe in the table of the Lord,
commonly called “Communion” or “the Lord’s supper”, for believers (I
Corinthians 11:28-32; Matthew 26:26-28).
commonly called “Communion” or “the Lord’s supper”, for believers (I
Corinthians 11:28-32; Matthew 26:26-28).
ETERNAL LIFE:
We believe in eternal life for believers (John
5:24; 3:16), and eternal punishment for the unbelievers (Mark 9:43-48;
II Thessalonians 1:9; Revelation 20:10-15). All Christians who have
died will immediately go to Heaven. One day, those Christians still
living on earth will be “raptured” or “caught up” to meet Jesus Christ
and His resurrected followers in the air. Then, Christians of all ages will
live with God forever.
5:24; 3:16), and eternal punishment for the unbelievers (Mark 9:43-48;
II Thessalonians 1:9; Revelation 20:10-15). All Christians who have
died will immediately go to Heaven. One day, those Christians still
living on earth will be “raptured” or “caught up” to meet Jesus Christ
and His resurrected followers in the air. Then, Christians of all ages will
live with God forever.
THE CHURCH:
We believe that there is one true universal
Church, made up of genuine believers, but this one universal Church is
also composed of many local churches in given localities. These
Churches are under the sovereign Headship of the Lord Jesus Christ,
exercising autonomous government under Him, administering all its
local affairs and ministry, as well as the propagation of the Gospel (Acts
15:22; with Matthew 16:18; 18:15-20).
Church, made up of genuine believers, but this one universal Church is
also composed of many local churches in given localities. These
Churches are under the sovereign Headship of the Lord Jesus Christ,
exercising autonomous government under Him, administering all its
local affairs and ministry, as well as the propagation of the Gospel (Acts
15:22; with Matthew 16:18; 18:15-20).
MARRIAGE & FAMILY:
At creation, God instituted marriage for
the well-being of humanity and procreation. Marriage is an institute of
God described singularly as a lifelong and exclusive union of one man
and one woman in a faithful relationship that the Scriptures call “one
flesh”. This covenant signifies to us the mystery of the union between
Christ and His church. Marriage is the only proper setting for sexual
intimacy. Scriptures require purity before and faithfulness within
marriage. A healthy marriage should provide a loving, life-giving
context for raising children in the fear and instruction of the Lord. It is
the foundation of the family, the basic structure of human society.
the well-being of humanity and procreation. Marriage is an institute of
God described singularly as a lifelong and exclusive union of one man
and one woman in a faithful relationship that the Scriptures call “one
flesh”. This covenant signifies to us the mystery of the union between
Christ and His church. Marriage is the only proper setting for sexual
intimacy. Scriptures require purity before and faithfulness within
marriage. A healthy marriage should provide a loving, life-giving
context for raising children in the fear and instruction of the Lord. It is
the foundation of the family, the basic structure of human society.
SANCTITY OF LIFE:
We believe the Holy Scriptures clearly
teach that life begins at conception. TRANSFORMATION CHURCH
encourages our church body to help women and men in unplanned
pregnancies by providing understanding, forgiveness, and counseling in
a spirit of love. They should be helped morally, spiritually, and
financially when possible.
teach that life begins at conception. TRANSFORMATION CHURCH
encourages our church body to help women and men in unplanned
pregnancies by providing understanding, forgiveness, and counseling in
a spirit of love. They should be helped morally, spiritually, and
financially when possible.
DIVERSITY:
God has made every person imprinted with God’s
own image and worthy of dignity, respect, and honor. In that image, we
find unity in Christ. The diversity of ethnicity, gender, age, station
affords believers opportunity to extend the love of God to all people
irrespective of their differences. The segmentation of society resulting in
racism, sexism, ageism, elitism or any other type of discrimination is
contrary to the heart of God and God’s desire for people. Disciples of
Jesus endeavor to bring justice and righteousness to all, advocating
especially for those who are impacted by the sinful forces of prejudice
wherever it is found.We believe in the necessity of water baptism
by immersion in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ for every new
Christian believer. This practice publicly states to family and friends
their desire to live a biblically ordered life. (Matthew 28:19; Acts
2:34-38; 19:1-6)
own image and worthy of dignity, respect, and honor. In that image, we
find unity in Christ. The diversity of ethnicity, gender, age, station
affords believers opportunity to extend the love of God to all people
irrespective of their differences. The segmentation of society resulting in
racism, sexism, ageism, elitism or any other type of discrimination is
contrary to the heart of God and God’s desire for people. Disciples of
Jesus endeavor to bring justice and righteousness to all, advocating
especially for those who are impacted by the sinful forces of prejudice
wherever it is found.We believe in the necessity of water baptism
by immersion in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ for every new
Christian believer. This practice publicly states to family and friends
their desire to live a biblically ordered life. (Matthew 28:19; Acts
2:34-38; 19:1-6)