WhatWeBelieve - Life in Him Ministries

The Scriptures. The Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments are given by inspiration of God, and are the only sufficient, certain and authoritative rule of all saving knowledge, faith, and obedience. (II Tim. 3: 15-17, I Thess. 2: 13, II Pet. 1: 21)

God. There is one God, eternally existent in three persons, God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit, and to whom all creatures owe the highest love, reverence and obedience. (Deut. 6: 4, Ex. 3: 14, Isa. 48: 16, Matt. 28: 19, Lk. 3: 22)

The Fall of Man. God originally created man in His image, and free from sin; but, through the temptation of Satan, man transgressed the command of God, and fell from his original holiness and righteousness; whereby his descendants inherit a nature corrupt and wholly opposed to God and His law, are under condemnation, and as soon as they are capable of moral action, become actual transgressors. (Gen. 2: 16-17, Gen. 3: 1-7, Gen. 6: 5, Rom.5: 12-14)

The Mediator. Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God, is the divinely appointed mediator between God and man. Having taken upon Himself human nature, yet without sin, He perfectly fulfilled the law, suffered and died upon the cross for salvation of sinners. He was buried, rose again on the third day, and ascended to His Father, at whose right hand He lives forever to make intercession for His people. He is the only Mediator, Prophet, Priest, and King of the church, and Sovereign of the Universe. He shall return to this earth in power and glory, to rule a thousand years. (Matt1: 23, Jn. 5: 22-23)

Regeneration. Regeneration is a change of heart, wrought by the Holy Spirit, who makes alive those who are dead in trespasses and sins, enlightening their minds spiritually and savingly to understand the Word of God, and renewing their whole nature, so that they love and practice holiness. It is a work of God's special grace alone. Regeneration by the Holy Spirit is absolutely essential for personal salvation (Titus 3: 5).

Repentance. Repentance is an evangelical grace, wherein the Holy Spirit makes a person aware of the manifold evil of his sin, so that he humbles himself with godly sorrow, detesting sin, and abhorring self, with a purpose and endeavor to walk before God so as to please Him in all things. The only means of being cleansed from sin is through repentance and faith in the precious blood of Christ (Acts 4: 12, Rom. 5: 8-13, 10: 9, James 1: 21, Eph. 2: 8).

Sanctification. Those who have been regenerated are also sanctified by God's Word and Spirit dwelling in them. This sanctification is progressive through the supply of Divine strength, which all saints seek to obtain, pressing after a heavenly life in willing obedience to all Christ's commands (Rom. 6: 22, I Cor. 1: 20, I Thess. 4: 3, Heb. 12: 14).

The Church. The Lord Jesus is the Head of the Church, which is composed of all His true disciples, and in Him is invested supreme power for its government. According to His commandment, Christians are to associate themselves with a body of believers with whom He has given needful authority for administering the order, discipline and worship which He has appointed. The regular officers of the church are Elders and Deacons. The Church is the body of Christ, the habitation of God through the Holy Spirit, with divine appointments for the fulfillment of her Great Commission (Eph. 1: 22-23, 2: 22, Heb. 12: 23, I Cor. 12: 13,28, 14: 12, Eph. 4: 11-16).

Baptism. Baptism is an ordinance of the Lord Jesus, obligatory upon every believer, wherein he is immersed in water in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, as a sign of his fellowship with the death and resurrection of Christ, of remission of sins, and of his giving himself up to God, to live and walk in newness of life (Matt. 28: 19. Mk. 16: 16, Acts 10: 48, Rom. 6: 4).

Baptism of Holy Spirit. We believe in the baptism in the Holy Spirit, according to Acts 2: 4, which is given to believers who ask for it (Lk. 24: 49, Acts 1: 4-8. 8: 12-17, 10: 44-46, I Cor. 12: 1-310)

The Lord's Supper. The Lord's Supper is an ordinance of Jesus Christ, to be administered with bread and wine, and to be observed by His Church till the end of the world. It is in no sense a sacrifice, but is designed to commemorate His death, to confirm the faith of Christians, and to be a bond, pledge, and renewal of their communion with Him, and of their fellowship with the Church (II Pet. 1: 4, I Cor. 11: 23-26).

The Resurrection. The bodies of men after death return to dust, but their spirits return immediately to God. The righteous to rest in Him; the wicked, to be reserved under darkness to judgment. At the last day, the bodies of all the dead, both just and unjust, will be raised, the one to everlasting life, and the other to everlasting damnation (Matt. 25: 31-46, Rev. 20: 11-15, I Thess. 4: 16-17).

The Judgment. God has appointed a day, wherein He will judge the world by Jesus Christ, when every one shall receive according to his deeds: the wicked shall go into everlasting punishment, the righteous, into everlasting life. (John 5: 29, Heb. 9: 27, II Pet. 3: 7, Jude 6).