Statement of Faith
1. The Scriptures Inspired:
The Bible, consisting of the sixty-six books, is the inspired Word of God, a revelation from God to humankind, the infallible rule of faith and conduct, and is superior to conscience and reason, but not contrary to reason. (Heb. 4:12; 2 Pet. 1:20, 21; 2 Tim. 3:15-17)
2. The One True God:
(a) The one true God has revealed Godself as the eternally, self-existent, self-revealed, “I AM,” and has further revealed Godself as embodying the principles of relationship and association of the Trinity as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. (Deut. 6:4; Isa. 43:10, 11; Matt. 3:16, 17; 28:19; Mark 12:29; John 14:16, 17)
(b) Jesus Christ: When the fullness of time was come, God sent forth God’s only begotten son, Jesus Christ, born of a virgin. The substitutionary and sacrificial death of Jesus Christ on the cross provided the atonement for the sin of humankind. He was resurrected from the dead according to the scriptures, and ascended to the right hand side of the Father, to intercede on our behalf as our High Priest, in the order of Melchizedek. He will return to this earth in power and glory to rule one thousand years. (Gal. 4:4, 5; Luke 1:31-33; Heb. 7:11-28; 8:1-13; 9:26-28; Eph. 5:2; Matt. 28:6; Acts 1:9-11; Rev. 20:1-7).
(c) Holy Spirit: The Holy Spirit is the Lord and Giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and Son together is worshiped and glorified (John 14:16-17).
3. Humans, Their Fall, and Redemption:
Humans were created good and upright, for God said, “Let Us make humans in Our image, after Our likeness.” But humans fell by voluntary transgression and their only hope of redemption is Jesus Christ, the Son of God. (Gen. 1:26-31, 3:1-7; and Rom. 5:12-21)
4. The Salvation of Humankind:
(a) Condition of Salvation: The grace of God which brings redemption from sin is freely offered to humans, through the gospel of Jesus Christ. Those who repent of their own sins and turn towards God by accepting God’s son, Jesus Christ, as their personal Savior and Lord are washed of their sins by the word of God and sprinkling of the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ, and are justified by grace through faith. Such persons who are regenerated by the Word of God and renewed by the Holy Spirit become children of God and co-heirs with Jesus Christ for eternal life. (Luke 24:47; Rom. 10:13-15; Titus 2:11, 3:5-7)
(b) The Evidence of Salvation: The inward evidence to the believer of his/her salvation is the direct witness of the Spirit (Rom. 8:16); the outward evidence to all humans is a life of righteousness and true holiness. (Rom. 10:9; 6:22)
5. Baptism in Water:
The ordinance of baptism by immersion in water, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, should be observed, as commanded in the Scriptures, by all who have really repented and accepted Christ as their personal Savior and Lord. In so doing they declare to the world that they have died, been buried and raised with Jesus Christ to walk in newness of life. (Matt. 22:17-20; Acts 10:47; Rom 6:4)
6. The Lord’s Supper:
The Lord’s Supper, consisting of the elements of bread and the fruit of the vine, is in remembrance of the suffering and death of Jesus Christ, and prophecy of His second coming, and is enjoined on all believers “until He comes.” (Luke 22:17-20; I Cor. 10:16, 17; 11:23-32)
7. The Promise of the Father:
All believers are entitled to and should ardently expect and earnestly seek the promise of the Father, The Baptism of the Holy Spirit, 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 and the bestowment of the gifts of the spirit and their uses in the work of the ministry (Luke 24:29; Acts 1:8; I Cor. 12:1-31). This wonderful experience is distinct from, and subsequent to, the experience of new birth. (Acts 2:38; 10:44-46; 11:14-16; 15:7-9; 19:2)
8. The Evidence of the Baptism in the Holy Spirit:
The full consummation of the baptism of believers in the Holy Spirit is evidenced by the initial physical sign of speaking in other tongues as the Spirit gives utterance, and by the subsequent manifestation of spiritual power in public testimony and service. (Acts 1:8; 2:4, 42, 43; 10:44-46)
9. Sanctification:
The Scriptures teach a life of holiness without which no human shall see God. By the power of the Holy Spirit, we are able to obey the command, “Be holy, for I am Holy.” Sanctification is the will of God for all believers, and should be earnestly pursued by walking in obedience to the Word of God. (Rom. 8:3, 4; 1 Thess. 5:23, 24; 1 Peter 1:15, 16; 1 John 2:6; 2 Cor. 7:1)
10. The Church:
The Church is the body of Christ, the habitation of God, through the Holy Spirit, with divine appointments for the fulfillment of His Great Commission. Each believer born of the Holy Spirit is an integral part of the assembly and church of the Firstborn whose names are written in heaven. (Eph. 1:22-23; 2:19-22; Heb. 12:23)
11. The Ministry and Evangelism:
A divinely called and scripturally ordained ministry has been provided by our Lord for a twofold purpose: (1) the evangelization of the world, and (2) the edifying of the body of Christ. (Mark 16:15-20; Eph. 4:11-13)
12. Divine Healing:
Deliverance from sickness is provided for in the atonement, and is the privilege of all believers. (Isa. 53:4; Matt. 8:16, 17; Mark 16:18-20; James 5:14-16)
13. The Blessed Hope:
The pre-millennial second coming of Jesus Christ, the resurrection of those who have fallen asleep in Christ, and their translation, together with those who are alive in Christ, and remain till the coming of the Lord, is imminent, and is the blessed hope of the church. (Rom. 8:23; 1 Cor. 15:51, 52; 1 Thess. 4:16-18; Titus 2:13)
14. The Millennial Reign of Jesus:
The revelation of the Lord Jesus Christ from heaven, the salvation of all Israel, and the millennial reign of Christ on the earth, is the scriptural promise, and the believers’ hope. (Rom. 11:25-27; 2 Thess. 1:7; Rev. 19:11-16; 20:1-7)
15. The Lake of Fire:
The devil and his angels, the beast, and the false prophet, and whoever is not found written in the Lamb’s Book of Life, shall be cast into the lake that is burning with fire and brimstone, which is the second death. (Rev. 19:20; 20:10-15)
16. The New Heaven and the New Earth:
We,”according to His promise, look for a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells.” (2 Peter 3:13; Rev. 21:1)
17. Statement on Marriage and Sexuality.
We believe that God has ordained marriage and defined it as the covenant relationship between a man and a woman and therefore, Ebenezer India Pentecostal Church, Inc. will only recognize marriages between one
biological man and one biological woman. (Matt. 10:6-9; Gen. 1:27 & 2:21-24).
This Statement on Marriage and Sexuality gives Ebenezer India Pentecostal Church, Inc. the right and authority to restrict the use of church facilities and property consistent with the Bible, with the Tenets of Faith and Statement on Marriage and Sexuality, as solely determined by Ebenezer India Pentecostal Church, Inc.