SOF
STATEMENT OF FAITH (OUR DECLARATION OF HEART FOLLOWS)
THE HOLY SCRIPTURE
We believe that the Bible is the Word of God, infallible, inerrant, fully inspired in the original manuscripts, written under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, and that it has supreme authority in all matters of faith and conduct. We believe that nothing is to be added to nor taken away from the Holy Scripture. These additions and omissions would include fanciful paraphrased interpretations, secular-cultural-minded omissions, ear-tickling phraseology or word-usage. Any valid interpretations of Holy Scripture must use the infallible rule of hermeneutics – that is, interpreting Scripture by Scripture itself; it must take into account proper koine greek grammatical structure and lexical definitions; and must use knowledgeable and reasonable contextual evaluations. Any other interpretations not using these reasonable methods are merely the words of men’s desires, feelings and traditions and not to be relied upon for men’s salvation.
II Timothy 3:16; II Peter 1:20,21; Deuteronomy 4:2; Mark 13:31; John 8:31,32; John 20:31; Acts 20:32; Galatians 1:8-9
GOD AND THE HOLY TRINITY
We believe that there is only one living and true God, infinite in being and perfection, pure spirit, invisible, immutable, incomprehensible, all-wise, all-holy, all-loving, gracious, long-suffering and abundant in truth and goodness, a rewarder of all who diligently seek Him, and most just and terrible in His judgements. That God is eternally existing in three persons, of one substance, power and eternity: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit; equal in every divine perfection, and that they execute distinct but harmonious offices in the work of creation, providence, and redemption. We understand that although Scripture does not explicitly state God exists in three persons, there is implicit statements throughout the entire council of God that any reasonable person must come to the understanding that God has revealed Himself in three persons and that God desires that we understand Him as a Holy Trinity.
Genesis 1:1, 26; Jeremiah 10:10; John 1:1,3; Matthew 28:19; John 4:24; Romans 1:19;
Ephesians 4:5,6
BAPTISM IN THE HOLY SPIRIT
We believe that Scripture speaks of and demonstrates a special empowerment, a receiving of the fullness of the Holy Spirit, which is available to all Believers in Jesus Christ to help
them fulfill their work for Christ in the world and be an emboldened witness to the nations of the love and power of Jesus Christ.
The initial evidence that one has received this special empowerment of the Holy Spirit is glossalalia, or speaking in a tongue not known by the speaker. Speaking either in a known language or a spiritual language as the Spirit gives utterance. Glossalalia is the
initial evidence, but must be found existent with the Fruit of the Spirit in order to know that one has received this special empowerment of the Holy Spirit.
We believe that God’s original intent for the Baptism in the Holy Spirit was both as a powerful external and internal witness of God’s power and love. God most certainly still uses Baptism in the Holy Spirit as an external witness today, but that since the establishment of the Canon of Scripture – especially that it is now translated into nearly every tongue existent on the planet today – that Baptism in the Holy Spirit is used by God more consistently as a powerful internal witness, both to His corporate church and His individual children, that His desire for empowerment to manifest His love has been graciously granted to them who ask for it.
This special empowerment is only to be used for the honor and glory of God and that, as with all God’s gracious gifts, if used to enhance the pride of the recipient is a grievous misuse of the gift. As Paul explicitly points out in I Corinthians 13, to have any of God’s blessed gifts but not have love, those gifts are without any meaning to God or men.
In accordance with God’s Word, we understand that all God’s gifts can be mimicked and perverted by the enemies of God, and that it is imperative for the true church to examine every utterance and action according to Holy Scripture. Any public utterance of an unknown tongue must be accompanied by Scripturally sound interpretation so that it may be understood and examined against the Holy Scripture by all present.
Accordingly, we believe Scripture gives no understanding whatsoever that this manifestation of His Spirit to the believer takes any form outside of orderly conduct and prudence. Any behaviour that is attributed by men to the Holy Spirit of God that brings dishonor to the Lord’s Holy Name cannot be from the Living God.
Matthew 3:11; Mark 1:8; Acts 1:5; Acts 1:8; Acts 19:2-6; Luke 24:49; Acts 1:4; Acts 1:4, 5:32; Ephesians 5:18; John 14:12; Acts 4:29-31; Romans 8:26-27; John 7:38-39; Acts 2:4, 4:31, 19:6; 2:14-41; I Corinthians 2:4-5; Acts 6:4 John 16:13; I Corinthians 12:4-11, 13:1,3-13; II Corinthians 11:14-15; Acts 17:11
FALL OF MAN AND REDEMPTION
We believe that man was created by God in His own image; that our first parents, Adam and Eve, sinned and thereby fell from their original righteousness and communion with God, incurring physical, spiritual, and eternal death, which is conscious separation from God; that as they were the root of all mankind, the guilt of their sin was imputed to all their posterity descending from them by ordinary generation; therefore, all human beings are born with a sinful nature, wholly inclined to all evil, and are sinners by choice and therefore already condemned. We believe that those who repent, forsake sin, and trust Jesus Christ as Saviour and Lord receive the imputed righteousness of Christ, are regenerated by the Holy Spirit, become new creatures, and are delivered from condemnation, receiving life eternal through the blood of Jesus Christ.
Genesis 1:26-28; 5:2; Genesis 3; Genesis 2:17; 3:19; Ecclesiates 2:11; John 3:14; 5:24; John 5:30; 7:13; 8:12; 10:26; Romans 9:22; II Thesselonians 1:9; Revelation 19:3, 20; 20:10; 4:15; 21:18; Ps. 51:7; Jeremiah 17:9; James 1:14; Genesis 6:5; Romans 3:10-12; 3:19; 5:19; Proverbs 28:13; 1 John 1:9; John 3:16; John 1:13; II Corinthians 5:17; Romans 8:1
THE FATHER
We believe in God the Father, who is infinite, inscrutable, personal, spirit, perfect in holiness, wisdom, power, justice, and love. We believe that He concerns Himself mercifully in the affairs of men, that He hears and answers prayer, and that He saves from sin and death all who come to Him through Jesus Christ. We believe that He has purposed all things to the culmination of His ends.
Luke 10:21,22; Matthew 23:9; John 3:16; 6:27; Romans 1:7; I Timothy 1:1,2; 2:5,6; I Peter 1:3; Revelation 1:6
JESUS CHRIST
We believe in Jesus Christ; eternally begotten by God the Father, conceived by the Holy Spirit, who is both God and man with two distinct natures, and one Person forever. We believe in His virgin birth, sinless life, miracles, and teachings. We believe in His substitutionary atoning death only for those who believe by faith, His bodily resurrection, ascension into heaven, perpetual intercession for His people, and visible return to earth.
John 1: 14,18; Matthew 1:18-25; Luke 1:26-38; John 1:1; 20:28; Romans 9:5; II Corinthians 5:21; I Peter 2:21-23; John 20:30,31; Matthew 22:14; Matthew 20:28; Ephesians 1:4; Acts 1:11; Romans 5:6-8; 6:9,10; Hebrews 7:25; Hebrews 9:28; I Timothy 3:16
THE HOLY SPIRIT
We believe in the Holy Spirit who came forth from the Father and the Son to convict the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment, and to regenerate, sanctify, and empower all who believe in Jesus Christ. We believe that the Holy Spirit indwells every believer in Christ, and that He is an abiding helper, teacher, guide, and seal.
John 14:16,17; 26; John 16:9-14 ; Romans 8:9; I Corinthians 3:16; 6:19; Gal. 5:22-26
THE CHURCH
We believe in the universal church, a living spiritual body of which Christ is the head and all regenerated persons are members. We believe in the local church, consisting of a company of believers in Jesus Christ, baptized on a credible profession of faith in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, and associated for worship, work, and fellowship. We believe that God has laid upon the members of the church the primary task of giving the gospel of Jesus Christ to a lost world, baptizing them upon belief in Christ as Saviour, and teaching them all the Lord has commanded.
Ephesians 2:19-22; Acts 1:8; Acts 2:42; Hebrews 10:23-25; Matthew 28:19-20
CHRISTIAN DUTY AND CONDUCT
We believe that a Christian, saved from the penalty of his sin by the propitiation of the holy blood of Jesus Christ without having done anything whatsoever to merit such extraordinary mercy and grace from the supreme Lord of the Universe, must live diligently and purposely for the glory of God and the well-being of his fellow men who are created in the image (eikon) of God; that his conduct should always be blameless and righteous before the world; that he should always be a faithful steward of his possessions, which include his time and talents; and that he must “walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in ALL RESPECTS, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God,” that by doing so, he continues striving for himself and others the full stature of the maturity of Christ Jesus.
I Corinthians 10:31; Romans 12:1-3; Hebrews 12:1-2; John 14:15; 23-24; I John 2:3-6; II Corinthians 9:6-9; I Corinthians 4:2; Col. 1:9-10
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Isaiah 62:10 ? Colossians 1:9-12 ? I Corinthians 1:25-31
“Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD And whose trust is the LORD.
For he will be like a tree planted by the water, that extends its roots by a stream and will not fear when the heat comes; but its leaves will be green, and it will not be anxious in a year of drought nor cease to yield fruit. The heart is more deceitful than all else and is desperately sick; who can understand it? I, the LORD, search the heart; I test the mind, even to give to each man according to his ways, according to the results of his deeds.” Jeremiah 17:7-10
OUR ALTAR PIECE: A DECLARATION OF OUR HEART’S DEPENDENCE UPON JESUS CHRIST.
Our Lord, the Creator of heaven and earth Who has dominion over all things, does not need nor require us. Incredibly, wonderfully and amazingly, He desires us even unto death, yes even death on a hard cross. That we may and, indeed can, love Him is because He loved us even when we were His bitterest and most vile enemy. He willingly and humbly took upon Himself the horrifying torture and final sentence of death, which is actual, painful, eternal and conscious separation from God in hell, that we very rightly deserved, thereby proving to all heaven and earth that He is Love. The debt owed to our Lord for His love which was so magnificently manifest in His sacrificing His Life to the saving of our own; and the life we now have by the power manifest to us in His Resurrection through faith, can never be repaid though we had seven-hundred eternities to make it good. We know from what grievous sin we have been saved and what terrible cost incurred by Jesus, the Paschal Lamb and God incarnate, to satisfy God’s justice against us.
We understand by His Word that He does not require payment for what He accomplished at Calvary, but that He does require us to do justice, love kindness and to walk in humble, restful obedience to Him as our Creator, King, Redeemer, Healer and Friend, by abiding faith, without which we cannot please Him. We cannot repay His love; we can only love Him in return. Ourselves, a living sacrifice, for Himself which is our spiritual act of worship for our All-in-All. The Way, Truth, and Life are not principles of a lifestyle, but a Person, Jesus Christ, with whom we have intimate relationship and act according to the consequent responsibility of that intimate relationship.
Since love seeks nothing for its own, but only to please its object, therefore, we humbly and before our Lord Jesus Christ, Immanuel, submit this, our candid declaration of our heart’s dependence upon Him. May it please Him, Jesus Christ, to accept it as our altar of remembrance for the supreme love He manifest to us by His Incarnation, at Calvary, and in His Resurrection; by the precious Blood He gave to cleanse our sin, by His Resurrection Life, by which, through faith, He gives us victory over death by His Holy Spirit.
By our gracious Lord’s indwelling Spirit, we have counted the costs of discipleship and choose Life, Truth, and the Way; no matter any personal cost, even the drinking of bitter dregs that would murder us, but on the contrary, counting it all joy to fill up what is lacking in our Lord’s suffering, remembering His Living Word to us that whosoever loses his life shall receive it and abundantly; yet regardless of outcome, that is, benefit to ourselves, to be ultimately found faithful in His eyes that He only, would receive all Glory and Honor and Praise for Himself.
By our gracious Lord’s indwelling Spirit, we choose to live a cruciform life, whether that daily life be prosaic or heroic, each moment taking up our own cross and diligently pursuing His rest that we may receive and accept His wisdom, salvation, sanctification and redemption to accomplish His will on earth as it is in heaven, that we should never boast of our own strength, but only of His Glory.
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By our gracious Lord’s indwelling Spirit, we have His Living Word, which is infallible and inerrant, written upon our heart and upon the frontals of our forehead and yet we hunger and thirst for more of His delights, tenderness and depths revealed by His Word, to ever increasing measure, that we may have His mind and know His will in all things, with understanding, that we may walk in a manner worthy of Him, Who is Holy, in every way.
By our gracious Lord’s indwelling Spirit, we acknowledge from our heart that our life is wholly dependent upon His promised Holy Spirit to empower and embolden us in worship, in praise, in wisdom, and in service; and to guide us in every way, giving us our Lord’s Mind and Righteousness, sealing us in Him until the Day of Redemption – that we may be Jesus’ witnesses, Who is love and mercy, to a condemned, angry and hateful world, that they may know Him and believe and so be saved even as we are, yet always trusting Him with the weight and measure of every result.
By our gracious Lord’s indwelling Spirit, we see the Imago Dei in every living man, woman, and child no matter their temporal condition, but weep bitterly for the eternal state of condemnation for those who disbelieve as well as for those pitiable souls who have tasted the Fruit of Righteousness yet flounder in the tar pits of worldly desire. We remember, however, our own condition as vile sinners redeemed by Jesus Christ alone, made victorious through His Blood, and desire to reveal the Sweet Remedy of Deliverance from sin’s imprisonment to all, without partiality, prejudice, or fear and to be guided by The Spirit on their behalf for His sola gloria.
By our gracious Lord’s indwelling Spirit, we pray in the Spirit continually that He will search our heart, mind and kidneys to reveal any hidden, unmortified sin and earthly desire, any lurking right to self, any pride of life cunningly proffered by the old man of wickedness to tempt us to sedition against our Most Holy and Awesome King, that we will place that wantonness within us outside the gate of His Holy City and seek His cleansing Blood with true repentance and hot tears.
By our gracious Lord’s indwelling Spirit, we make no excuses for sin nor brook any compromise with sin by any degree no matter how sweetly laid upon us or reasoned by cultural context.
SIGNED, Sterling & Mindy Carroll