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TENETS OF OUR FAITH
ACCOUNTABILITY STRUCTURES
QUALITIES WE DESIRE IN MEMBERS AND
MENTOREES
1.
The Scriptures Inspired
The Scriptures, both the Old
and New Testaments, are verbally inspired of God and are the revelation of
God to man, the infallible, authoritative rule of faith and conduct (2
Tim. 3:15-17; 1 Thess.2:13; 2 Peter 1:21).
2.
The One True God
The one
true God has revealed himself as the eternally self-existent "I AM," the
Creator of heaven and earth and the Redeemer of mankind. He has further
revealed himself as embodying the principles of relationship and
association as Father, Son, and Holy Ghost (Deut. 6:4; Isaiah 43:10;
Matt.28:19; Luke 3:22).
3.
The Deity of the Lord Jesus Christ
The Lord Jesus Christ is the
eternal Son of God. The Scriptures declare:
a)
His virgin birth (Matthew 1:23; Luke 1:31,35).
b)
His sinless life (Hebrews 7:26; 1 Peter 2:22).
c)
His miracles (Acts 2:22; 10:38).
d)
His substitutionary work on the cross (I Cor. 15:3; 2 Cot. 5:21).
e)
His bodily resurrection from the dead (Matthew 28:6; Luke 24:39; I
Cor. 15:4).
f)
His exaltation to the right hand of God (Acts 1:9, 11; 2:33;
Philippians 2:9-11; Hebrews 1-3).
4.
The Fall of Man
Man was
created good and upright; for God said, "Let us make man in our image,
after our likeness." However, man by voluntary transgression fell and
thereby incurred not only physical death but also spiritual death, which
is separation from God (Genesis 1:26, 27; 2:17; 3:6; Romans 5:12-19).
5.
The Salvation of Man
Man's
only hope of redemption is through the shed blood Jesus Christ the Son of
God.
a)
Conditions to Salvation
Salvation
is received through repentance toward God and faith toward Lord Jesus
Christ. By the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost,
being justified by grace through faith, man becomes an heir of God
according to the hope of eternal life (Luke 24:47, John 3:3; Romans
10:13-15; Ephesians 2:8; Titus 2:11; 3:5-7).
b)
The Evidence of Salvation
The
inward evidence of salvation is the direct witness of the Spirit (Romans
8:16). The outward evidence to all men is a life of righteousness and true
holiness (Eph. 4:24; Titus 2:12) and walking as one spirit with His Spirit
(1 Cor.6:17).
6.
The Ordinances of the Church
a)
Baptism in Water
The
ordinance of baptism by immersion is commanded in the Scriptures. All who
repent and believe on Christ as Savior and Lord are to be baptized. Thus
they declare to the world that they have died with Christ and that they
also have been raised with Him to walk in newness of life. (Matthew 28:19;
Mark 16:16; Acts 10:47, 48; Romans 6:4).
b)
Holy Communion
The
Lord's Supper, consisting of the elements, bread and the fruit of the
vine, is the symbol expressing our sharing the divine nature of our
Lord Jesus Christ (2 Peter 1:4); a memorial of His suffering and death (I
Cor. 11:26); and a prophecy of His second coming (I Cor. 11:26); and is
enjoined on all believers "till He come!"
7.
The Baptism in the Holy Ghost
All believers are
entitled to and should ardently expect and earnestly seek the promise of
the Father, the baptism in the Holy Ghost and fire, according to the
command of our Lord Jesus Christ. This was the normal experience of all in
the early Christian church. With it comes the endowment of power for life
and service, the bestowment of the gifts and their uses in the work of the
ministry (Luke 24:49; Acts 1:4, 8; I Cor. 12:1-31). This experience is
distinct from and subsequent to the experience of the new birth (Acts
8:12-17); 10:44-46; 11:14-16; 15:7-9). With the baptism in the Holy Ghost
come such experiences as an overflowing fullness of the Spirit
(John7:37-39; Acts 4:8), a deepened reverence for God (Acts 2:43; Heb.
12:28), an intensified consecration to God and dedication to His work
(Acts 2:42), and a more active love for Christ, for His Word, and for the
lost (Mark 16:20).
The
baptism of believers in the Holy Ghost is witnessed by the endowment of spiritual gifts (l
Cor. 12) (Acts 2).
8.
Sanctification
Sanctification is an act of separation from that which is evil, and of
dedication unto God (Rom.12:1,2; I Thess. 5:23; Heb 13:12). The scriptures
teach a life of “holiness without which no man shall see the Lord” (Heb.
12:14). By the power of the Holy Ghost we are able to obey the command "Be
ye holy, for I am holy" (I Peter 1:15,16).
Sanctification is realized in the believer by recognizing his
identification with Christ in His death and resurrection, and by faith
reckoning daily upon the facts of that union, and by offering every
faculty continually to the dominion of the Holy Spirit (Rom. 6:1-11, 13;
8:1,2,13; Gal. 2:20; Phil. 2:12,13; I Peter 1:5).
9.
The Church
The
Church is the Body of Christ, the habitation of God through the Spirit,
with divine appointments for fulfillment of her great commission. Each
believer, born of the Spirit, is an integral part of the body of Christ,
which is written in heaven (Ephesians 1:22,23; 2:22; Hebrews 12:23).
10.
The Ministry
A
divinely called and scripturally ordained ministry has been provided by
our Lord for the threefold purpose of leading the Church in: (1)
Transformation of the saints being perfected in the image of His Son (Eph.
4:11-16) , (2.) Evangelism of the world (Mark 16:15-20), (3.) Worship of
God (John 4:23,24).
Since
God's purpose concerning man is to seek and to save that which is lost, to
be worshiped by man, and to build a body of believers in the image of His
son, the priority reason-for-being of Cross Walk Life is:
a)
To be a agency for transformation of the saints being perfected in
the image of His Son (Eph.4:11-16
b)
To be an agency of God for evangelizing the world (Acts 1:8,
Matthew 28:19, 20; Mark 16:15,16).
c)
To be an agent to the body in the worship God (I Cor. 12:13).
11.
Divine Healing
Divine
healing is an integral part of the gospel. Deliverance from sickness is
provided for in the Atonement, and is the privilege of all believers
(Isaiah 53:4, 5; Matt. 8:16, 17; James 5:14-16).
12.
The Blessed Hope
The
resurrection of those who have fallen asleep in Christ and their
translation together with those who are alive and remain unto the coming
of the Lord is the imminent and blessed hope of the Church (I Thess. 4:16,
17; Romans 8:23; I Cor. 15:51, 52).
13.
The Millennial Reign of Christ
The second coming of Christ
includes the rapture of the saints, which is our blessed hope, followed by
the visible return of Christ with His saints to reign on the earth for one
thousand years (Zech. 14:5; Matt. 24:27, 30; Rev. 1:7; 19:11-14; 20:1-6).
This millennial reign will bring the salvation of national Israel (Ezekiel
37:21,22; Zephaniah 3:19,20; Romans 1:26, 27) and the establishment of
universal peace (Isaiah 11:6-9, Psalm 72:3-8; Micah 4:3,4).
14.
The Final Judgment
There
will be a final judgment in which the wicked dead will be raised and
judged according to their works. Whosoever is not found written in the
Book of Life, together with the devil and his angels, the beast and the
false prophet, will be consigned to everlasting punishment in the lake
which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death (Matt.
25:46; Mark 9:43-48; Rev. 19:20; 20:11-15; 21:8).
15.
The New Heavens and the New Earth
"We
according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth wherein
dwelleth righteousness (2 Peter 3:13; Revelation 21,22)."
OUR
ACCOUNTABILITY STRUCTURES
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