What We Believe

1. The Bible being the inspired Word of God

Think about the reality of the Bible not being just one book but a combination of 66 books, written by 40 different authors, over 1500 years, in 3 different languages, on 3 different continents. What’s more, this collection of books shares a common storyline- the creation, fall, and redemption of God’s people; a common theme- God’s universal love for all of humanity; and a common message- salvation is available to all who repent of their sins and commit to following God with all of their heart, soul, mind and strength. In addition to sharing these commonalities, these 66 books contain no historical errors or contradictions. God’s word truly is an amazing collection of writings!

John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

2 Timothy 3:16 (KJV)  All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

1 Thessalonians 2:13 (KJV) For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.

2 Peter 1:21 (KJV)  For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. 

The simple reality is that true believers are to be known by their fruit, we were left with Christ fulfilling the law and leaving us with the commandment to love.  Yes the Bible plainly tells us to Love even our enemies, to bless those who curse us, to do good to those who hate us and to pray for those that spitefully use and persecute us.  Wow…that really takes the guess work out of what and/or how we should act, react, think and do when it comes to all other created beings made in the likeness and image of God.

Matthew 5:44-46 44 But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46 If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that?

Mark 12:30-31 30 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’[a] 31 The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’[b] There is no commandment greater than these.”

Luke 6:27-35 27 “But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. 29 If someone slaps you on one cheek, turn to them the other also. If someone takes your coat, do not withhold your shirt from them. 30 Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. 31 Do to others as you would have them do to you. “If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. 33 And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that. 34 And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, expecting to be repaid in full. 35 But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked.

John 13:34-35 (KJV)   34 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

John 15:12-17  12 My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command. 15 I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. 17 This is my command: Love each other.

4. The Trinity

God is one, but manifested in three persons – the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

1 John 5:7-8King James Version (KJV)  For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.  And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one.

John 1:1,14 (KJV)  In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

John 10:30 I and [my] father are one.

2 Corinthians 13:14– The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, [be] with you all. Amen.

Philippians 2:6 (KJV) Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God. 

5. The Holy Spirit

On the night before Jesus’ crucifixion, He made one of the most astounding statements of His whole ministry. John 16:7 records these words: “Nevertheless I tell you the truth; it is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.” Grasp what Jesus is saying! Jesus said it is more beneficial for us to have the ministry of the Holy Spirit than it was to have Jesus present with us in His physical body! Most Christians are totally shocked by this. They would give anything to have Jesus present in His physical body. How could anything be better than to physically see, hear, and touch Him?

Jesus knew His disciples would be shocked by His statement, so He prefaced it with the words, “I tell you the truth.” As hard as it may be to understand, the ministry of the Holy Spirit in the life of the believer is better than the earthly ministry of Jesus. This is not to take anything away from His ministry on this earth. Without Jesus coming to the earth and accomplishing what He did, there could be no ministry of the Holy Spirit. The whole plan of God hinges on the redemptive work of Christ. But, once His work was done, it was actually to our advantage to have Jesus return to His Father and send the Holy Spirit to take His place. Therefore, we shouldn’t lessen the preeminence of Jesus, but we should increase the importance of the Holy Spirit’s ministry.

Matthew 3:11 (KJV)  I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance. but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:

John 14:16, 17 (KJV)  And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;  Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.

John 16:7“Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.”

Acts 1:8 (KJV)  But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

Acts 2:4 (KJV)  And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

6. Health and Healing

Health and healing are God’s will for all of us, just as salvation from sin is for all of us.  The Hebrew and Greek words for salvation are all inclusive.  They include: salvation, soundness, wholeness, health, healing, welfare, deliverance.  God has made a way for our entire being.  We receive health and healing the same way we receive salvation from sin.  Ephesians 2:8,9 says it is a gift from God, not of works lest anyone should boast.  Isaiah was looking toward the cross, the disciples were watching Jesus fulfilling it and Peter was looking back at the cross.  They all agreed it is a done deal.

Isaiah 53:4 (KJV)  Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. 5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

Matthew 8:17 (KJV)  That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses.

1 Peter 2:24 (KJV)  Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.

7. The Virgin Birth

Jesus was not born in sin; that is, He had no sin nature (Hebrews 7:26). The sin nature within mankind is passed down from generation to generation through the father (Romans 5:12, 17, 19). The Virgin Birth circumvented the transmission of the sin nature and allowed the eternal God to become a perfect man.

Isaiah 7:14 (KJV) 14 Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.

Matthew 1:23 (KJV)  Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.

Luke 1:27 (KJV)  To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary.

Luke 1:34 And Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?

Galatians 4:4 God sent his son born of a woman

8. Water Baptism

Water baptism is an outward sign of our burial and resurrection with Jesus.  The Greek work used is Baptizo, G907 – to immerse. Baptism is our first opportunity to be a doer of the Word and not a hearer only. (James 1:22)

Matthew 28:19 (KJV)   Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

Romans 6:4 (KJV)  Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

Colossians 2:12 (KJV)   Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.

Acts 8:36-39 (KJV)   And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?  And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.  And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.  And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing.

9. Heaven and Hell

Heaven and Hell are more real than the earth we live on. Matthew 25.41 tells us that Hell was prepared for the devil and his angels. Revelation 21 describes Heaven.  God has allowed us to choose where we spend eternity. Jesus paid the price for sin so that no human being ever has to go to Hell because of sin. It is our choice, accept the sacrifice that Jesus paid for us and spend eternity in Heaven with God or reject Jesus’ sacrifice and spend eternity in Hell.

Matthew 10:28 (KJV)   And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

Acts 1:11 (KJV)   Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.

1 Peter 1:4,5 (KJV)  To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

Revelation 19:1 (KJV)  And after these things I heard a great voice of much people in heaven, saying, Alleluia; Salvation, and glory, and honour, and power, unto the Lord our God:

Luke 16:23-26 (KJV)   And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame. But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented. And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence.

Revelation 20: 13-15 (KJV)  And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.  And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.  And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

10. Having Childlike Faith

Having childlike faith is not falling for anything…the scriptures are clear in that we are to test everything however once tested we are to receive the good news message like a child and let it consume our mind like a child revving up a pretend car and driving it around.  We are to step into that level of believing God’s word, doubting nothing.

Luke 18:17 (KJV)   Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child shall in no wise enter therein.

Matthew 18:3 (KJV)  And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.

Mark 10:13 (KJV)  And they brought young children to him, that he should touch them: and his disciples rebuked those that brought them.  But when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God.  Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein.

Hebrews 11:6 (KJV)   But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

11. The fact that “ALL” really means “ALL”

Our belief in the fact that all really means all can totally and completely transform your life.  Think about it, mixed with faith…can you do all things through Christ if he really strengthened you?  Could the reality be… that all things can become possible to you if you really believed it? 

Philippians 4:13 (KJV)   I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

Mark 9:23 (KJV)   Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.

Mark 10:27 (KJV)   And Jesus looking upon them saith, with men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible.

12. Viewing all things through the light of John 10:10

Jesus’s words in this one verse rightly divides good from evil (love/hate, light/darkness, peace/fear, joy/sorrow) perfectly to the point there isn’t even a fence to sit on between the parking lot and the playground.  Zero middle ground; all black or all white…no grey!

John 10:10 (KJV)   The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

13. Communion

Communion is just that – Communion!  Too many people make it a ritual.  Communion is not just for church.  It is not just a little wafer and a little cup of juice.  You can and should have communion every day.  Every time you eat you should remember the blood that Jesus shed for you and the body that was broken for you.  His blood was shed to free us from the penalty of sin.  His body was broken to free us from the curse of the law (Deut. 28:15-68)  1 Corinthians 11:27-30 says that many are weak and sickly and have died because they ate the bread and drank the wine unworthily.  This does not mean that you had sin in your life while partaking of communion.  This means that you did not discern the Lord’s body.  You do not believe that by the stripes of Jesus you were healed.

Matthew Chapter 26:26-28 And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed [it], and brake [it], and gave [it] to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body.  And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave [it] to them, saying, Drink ye all of it;  For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.

Luke Chapter 22:19-22:20 And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake [it], and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me.  Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup [is] the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you.

John Chapter 6:53-58 Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you.  Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day. For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed.  He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him. As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me.  This is that bread which came down from heaven: not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead: he that eateth of this bread shall live for ever.

John 6:51 I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.

14. Works

Yes I know in most church settings today “works” is almost a bad word however I am not talking about legalistic works under the law, I am talking about the proof positive “works” created by a changed heart.  Throughout all the stories of the Bible when a person of faith is mentioned, it almost always includes their action item or what they did to prove they really had faith in the first place (Read Hebrews 11).

James 2:14–26 (KJV)  What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? Can faith save him? If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?  Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.  Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.  Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.  But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?  Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?  Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?  And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.  Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.  Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way?  For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

15. Jesus died once for all sins everywhere, forever and always

Jesus took the sin (singular) of the world to the cross.  The only thing needed from us is the belief that Jesus did it for us.  If we receive His sacrifice as our own, we are fee from the punishment (curse) of the law.

John 3:16  For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Colossians 1:22  In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:

Romans 5:8  But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

John 1:29-34  The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.

1 Peter 3:18  For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:

Romans 6:10  For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God.

16. Repentance

Yes, repentance but not in the way most see it.  We believe you have to have a repentant heart not just say sorry once in a while when you feel like you’ve done wrong. Repentance means to change, think differently.  It means a change of heart.  Repentance is a heart issue.  You can be sorry and not be repentant.  Being sorry is only the first step of repentance.

Matthew 4:17 (KJV)   From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

Luke 24:46-48 (KJV)  And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behooved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among  all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.  And ye are witnesses of these things.

Acts 3:19 (KJV)   Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord.

Acts 20:21 (KJV)   Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.

17. Prosperity

God is the one that gives us the ability to create wealth.  First and foremost He gives us wealth to establish his covenant, but it does not stop there.  He makes us rich and adds no sorrow with it.  He says if we give it will be given back to us good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over by men.   That means in this lifetime, in this world.  He also gives us richly all things to enjoy.  He just wants us to enjoy our time here, not worrying about finances.  He has this covered for us.

Deuteronomy 8:18 (KJV) But thou shalt remember the LORD thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant which he sware unto thy fathers, as it is this day.

Proverbs 10:22 (KJV)  The blessing of the LORD, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it.

Luke 6:38  Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.

1 Timothy 6:17  Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy.

18. Being Humble (Real Humility)

To be truly humble is to be totally reliant upon Jesus Christ and His finished work on the cross.  Reliance on anything else is pride.

James 4:10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.

1 Peter 5:6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.

Ephesians 3:20-21 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

James 3:13 Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. Paul stated…it is not I who lives but Christ who lives through me.

19. Grace of God

We are living in the Grace dispensation.  True Grace empowers you to be and do what God wants you to do.  According to Ephesians 2:8 you cannot even get saved without Grace.  Grace is much more than God’s unmerited favor.  Grace gives us the power to live the life that is pleasing to God.

John 1:16-17 (KJV)  And of his fullness have all we received, and grace for grace.  For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.

Ephesians 2:8-9 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.

Romans 5:20-21 (KJV) Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound:  That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.

Romans 6:14 (KJV) For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.

2 Corinthians 9:8 (KJV) And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work.

20. Forgiveness

In a stunning answer to Peter’s question on forgiveness, Jesus stated: “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven”.  In essence we are to never stop forgiving because Christ’s example would mean someone would literally have to do something wrong to or against you every 2.93 minutes during that 24 hour period.

Matthew 6:15 But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.

Matthew 18:21-35 21 Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?” Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.  “Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. As he began the settlement, a man who owed him ten thousand bags of gold was brought to him. Since he was not able to pay, the master ordered that he and his wife and his children and all that he had be sold to repay the debt.  “At this the servant fell on his knees before him. ‘Be patient with me,’ he begged, ‘and I will pay back everything.’ The servant’s master took pity on him, canceled the debt and let him go.  “But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred silver coins.[c] He grabbed him and began to choke him. ‘Pay back what you owe me!’ he demanded. “His fellow servant fell to his knees and begged him, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay it back.’ “But he refused. Instead, he went off and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay the debt. When the other servants saw what had happened, they were outraged and went and told their master everything that had happened.  “Then the master called the servant in. ‘You wicked servant,’ he said, ‘I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to.  Shouldn’t you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?’ In anger his master handed him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed. “This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother or sister from your heart.”

Mark 11:26 But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your trespasses.