We Believe In The Gospel of
Jesus Christ.
Our
BELIEFS
1
THE HOLY SPIRIT TRI-UNITY OF GOD
We believe in one living and true God, eternal and infinite power, wisdom, goodness, and righteousness. He is a loving and faithful God who is the Creator and preserver of all life (Genesis 1:1; I Timothy 1:7). For there are three that bear record in heaven, The Father, The Word (Jesus), and the Holy Spirit: and these three are one (I John 5:7; 1:1-2, 14).
2
THE SON OF GOD
We believe in the divine nature of Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, who was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. Christ was both fully man and fully God. He walked our earth, suffered at the hands of men, was crucified, died and buried as a sacrifice for the sins of all men and women everywhere. The purpose was to restore our relationship to God which was broken by sin (disobedience) (Luke 1:27, 31, 35; John 3:16; Romans 5:16; Ephesians 5:2). Christ rose from the dead and ascended into heaven in full victory over Satan and sin. He now intercedes for the body of believers to God the Father (Matthew 28:5-9; Luke 24:4-7).
3
THE HOLY SPIRIT
We believe in the Holy Spirit, which is our Comforter, who lives within us giving us the power to live a holy life and guiding us to the truth (Acts 1:8; Romans 8:9; Galatians 4:6).
4
THE AUTHORITY OF SCRIPTURE
We believe that the sixty-six books of the Old and New Testaments combined constitute the Holy Bible; no books may be added or deleted. The Holy Bible is inspired and inerrant (that is, without error or failure of basic contents and meaning in the original manuscripts). The Holy Bible contains all necessary truth to lead men and women into salvation (Psalm 19:7; John 17:17; Romans 15:4; I Thessalonians 2:13; II Timothy 3:15-17).
5
MAN
We believe that mankind, was created by God in His own image (Genesis 1:27), but because of Adam’s sin (disobedience) man inherits a corrupt nature that inclines him to do wrong (Genesis 3:6, 6:5; Romans 3:20; Galatians 2:16). Because man is created in God’s own image, we have a “God-likeness” which includes the knowledge between right and wrong, the ability to choose which course we will take, and the responsibility for our actions, or our choices (Joshua 24:15; I Kings 20:40; John 7:17).
Heaven…no doubt you have thought about it. Certainly you are interested in it. But, do you know that you are going there?
FRIEND, IF YOU DIED TODAY WOULD YOU HAVE THE ASSURANCE OF GOING TO HEAVEN?
Let’s take time to make sure we are going to heaven. There’s only one place to look for the answer, God’s Word. The Bible gives us that answer.
Jesus said, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born-again, he cannot see the kingdom of God” (John 3:3).
Who said that? Jesus did. To whom was He speaking? Nicodemus, a sincere, and religious, man. Why did He say all must be born-again? Because every man has sinned. “All have sinned” (Romans 3:23) and need a spiritual birth.
Did you notice that Jesus said there was only one way to heaven? Jesus repeated in John 3:7, “You must be born-again.” Now we have discovered something very important. The only way you and I can go to heaven is by being “born again” or in other words- have a spiritual birth.
SIX THINGS YOU MUST DO TO OBTAIN THE SPIRITUAL BIRTH AND KNOW THAT YOU ARE GOING TO HEAVEN...
STEP #1 YOU MUST REPENT “And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commands that all men everywhere repent” (Acts 17:30). The word repent means to be sorry for sins you have committed in the past. And you must be sorry enough to change.
STEP #2 YOU MUST BELIEVE “He that believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he that believes not in the Son shall not see life: but the wrath of God abides on him” (John 3:36). To know we are going to heaven we must believe that Jesus is the Son of God and that He died to forgive us our sins.
STEP #3 YOU MUST CONFESS YOUR SINS “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us of our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (I John 1:9) We must confess our sins to Jesus for forgiveness. And we must admit to ourselves we are to blame for our sins. We believe that Jesus Christ, the living Son of God, was given by God as a sacrifice for the sins of all men. Christ died on the cross to mend the broken relationships, which were caused by man’s sin of disobedience. This severed relationship between God and man may be restored into perfect harmony through belief in Jesus Christ by faith, not by the basis of our works (Galatians 5:4-5; Ephesians 2:8-9). This belief and faith in Jesus Christ recognizing Him as Lord and Savior, gives men and women the free gift of eternal life (John 1:29; 3:16; I Corinthians 5:7; Ephesians 5:2; I Peter :19). After receiving salvation by faith through Jesus Christ, the “born-again” (John 3:3) believer may live free from the judgment of God by living a life according to the teaching of the scriptures and trusting the Holy Spirit for the power to live a holy life according to God’s Word. We believe that after we have experienced regeneration it is possible to fall into sin, for in this life there is no such height of strength of holiness form which it is possible to fall. But by the grace of God one who has fallen into sin, may by confession, and true repentance, find forgiveness and restored fellowship with God (Matthew 18:21-22; I John 1:9, 2:1, 24-25).
STEP #4: YOU MUST RECEIVE CHRIST “But as many as receive Him, to them He gave power to become sons of God, even to them that believe on His name” (John 1:12). The key word is receiving, repenting, believing, and confessing are necessary, but not enough. There is a difference in believing in and receiving Jesus; we must receive Him. Friend, you must right now reach out by faith and receive Jesus Christ as your Savior. Jesus said, “Behold I stand at the door and knock, if any man hears my voice and opened the door, I will come in to him…” (Revelation 3:20) You can receive Christ now and know you are on your way to heaven by sincerely praying…
LORD JESUS, I KNOW I HAVE SINNED AND I AM SORRY. I TRULY REPENT OF MY SINS AND ASK YOU TO FORGIVE ME. I BELIEVE YOU DIED FOR MY SINS. I CONFESS MY SINS TO YOU AND I NOW OPEN MY HEART AND RECEIVE YOU INTO MY LIFE AS MY PERSONAL SAVIOR. THANK YOU FOR ANSWERING MY PRAYER AMEN.
STEP #5: BAPTISM And as they went their way, they came unto a certain water and the eunuch said, See here is water; What doth hinder me to be baptized? (Acts 8:36) The importance of water baptism is for the remission or removal of sin. It is symbolic of cleansing. Water baptism is necessary to acquaint one with the death (repenting), burial (water baptism) and resurrection (rising in the newness of life) of Jesus Christ. Out of the obedience to the Word of God we are to be baptized. (Acts 2:38)
STEP #6 YOU MUST RECEIVE THE INDWELLING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT The Holy Spirit was sent to be a Comforter to the Believers of Jesus Christ (John 16:7) and it is our guarantee (seal) until the day of redemption (Ephesians 1:3). It is your guidance and direction and is necessary in your every-day life. The Holy Spirit will guide you into all truth (John 16:13). God has promised the gift of the Holy Spirit to every believer. The Holy Spirit also gives us sonship with Jesus (Romans 8:9) and the baptism of the Holy Spirit is for all that God will draw near to Him.
6
SALVATION!
WELCOME TO YOUR NEW LIFE IN Christ!
7
SANCTIFICATION
We believe that sanctification is the work of God and the power of the Holy Spirit, making the believer pure in heart and totally committed and dedicated to God. This work is both instantaneous and gradual (or progressive). It begins when a person is saved and continues throughout life. In this process of sanctification there is a time when the believer is convicted of “lukewarm” Christian life and looks to Christ with total commitment and dedication to “Christ-like living”. There is no black and white time line involved; for some this occurs soon following salvation and for others much time may elapse. But for all believers sanctification is the will of God (I Thessalonians 4:3). Sanctification is the point in life when a believer renounces the desire to live for self and desires to live totally for the glory of God. Christ indeed becomes Lord of your life. The believer is then empowered by the Holy Spirit, making him able to live a life of holiness. This does not mean perfection of the believer, but purity of heart, soul and mind (Deuteronomy 30:6; Luke 1:74-75; Acts 15:8-9; I Corinthians 6:11; Ephesians 4:13, 24; I Thessalonians 4:3, 7; James 4:8).
8
GIFTS OF THE
SPIRIT
We believe that the Holy Spirit has given spiritual gifts to all believers for the purpose of building up the body of Christ and bringing glory to God. The gifts are to be exercised in love and emphasize the need for unity (1 Corinthians 12:4, 11, 18, 21-25; Ephesians 4:11-16). FOREVER PRAISE MINISTRIES INTERNATIONAL believes in the miraculous use of languages and the interpretation of languages in its Biblical and historical setting. That is, languages were an evangelistic, and prophetic tool used for the purpose of spreading the gospel. The languages were unknown to the speaker, but known by hearers (Acts 2:4-8). It is not contrary to the teaching of God’s Word, as understood by Forever Praise Ministries to teach that speaking in an unknown tongue, or the gift of tongues, is the evidence of being filled with the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22-24). So we believe in this teaching.
9
SACRAMENTS
We believe that God ordained two sacraments: The Lord’s Supper and Baptism. The Lord’s Supper is received in remembrance of Christ’s death for our sins; the bread representing His body and the wine, His blood. It is received in remembrance of God’s love and grace toward us, and the love we must share with one another (Matthew 26:26-28; Mark 14:22; I Corinthians 10:16). Baptism is an outward symbolic act signifying salvation and cleansing of sin (Numbers 8:7, Mark 16:16, Acts 22:26). At Forever Praise Ministries International we baptize by immersion.
10
THE SECOND COMING OF CHRIST!
We believe that those who have not accepted Christ as their personal Savior and are unrepentant will be judged by God in His perfect justice and doomed to eternal punishment (Ecclesiastes 12:14; Matthew 25:31-46; II Corinthians 5:10; Romans 2:16). We believe in the personal return of Jesus Christ to receive His believers into heaven and eternal life. The time of His return is unknown, but may be at any moment. This is the glorious hope of all God’s children (John 14:1-3; I Thessalonians 4:13-18; James 5:7-8; Revelation 22:12, 20).