DOCTRINAL STATEMENT
GOD’S UNMERITED FAVOR CHURCH
The following statement of faith is the theological position of the GOD’S UNMERITED FAVOR CHURCH
1. THE BIBLE
We believe that the Bible, both Old and New Testaments, is verbally inspired by God, without error in the original writings, and is the supreme and final authority for every aspect of faith and life (Rom. 15:4; 2 Tim. 3:16-17; 2 Pet. 1:2
1).
2. THE GODHEAD
We believe there is one God, Creator of all things and eternally existing in three Persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Each is a Person distinct from the others, but inseparable, coequal, coeternal, unlimited and unchanging in power, presence and knowledge. All are worthy of the same worship and obedience. (Gen. 1:26; Deut. 6:4; Matt. 28:19; Acts 5:3-4; Rom. 11:33-36; 1 Cor. 8:6; 2 Cor. 13:14; Eph. 4:4-6; Col. 1:16-17; 1 Tim. 2:5; Heb. 1:8-10).
3. THE PERSON OF CHRIST
We believe in the full humanity and full deity of our Lord Jesus Christ; His virgin birth, His sinless life, His miracles, His substitutionary death, His bodily resurrection, His ascension to the right hand of the Father, and His personal return in power and glory (Luke 1: 35; Rom. 1: 3-4; 1 Cor. 15:1-8; Phil. 2:6-11).
4. THE PERSON OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
We believe that the Holy Spirit is a divine Person, coequal with the Father and the Son. It is the Holy Spirit who convicts unbelievers of their sin and condemnation before God, and regenerates the hearts of believing sinners. He baptizes the believer into the Body of Christ. He also seals, indwells, enlightens, equips for service, and empowers the believer to live a godly life. (John 16:7-8; Acts 5:3-4; 1 Cor. 2:10-12; 6:19; 12:13; 2 Cor. 3:18; Gal. 5:16-26; Eph. 1:13-14; 4:4-6; Tit. 3:5)
5. HUMANITY
We believe that God created the first man and woman in His own spiritual image and likeness. They disobeyed God, died spiritually and became subject to physical death. As their descendants, we are all sinners both by nature and by choice, and are totally unable of ourselves to do anything pleasing to God. (Gen. 1:26-27; Isa. 64:6-7; John 15:5; Rom. 3:9-23; 5:12; 8:5-8; Eph. 2:1-3; Tit. 3:5)
6. SALVATION
We believe that God justifies ungodly sinners solely by His grace upon the grounds of the sacrificial blood of Jesus Christ and His Resurrection. This complete salvation is given as the free gift of God through faith, apart from our works. Only those who trust in Jesus Christ are born of the Spirit and become children of God. (John 1:11-13; 3:16; Rom. 3:24-28; 10:9-13; 1 Cor. 15:1-4; 2 Cor. 5:21; Eph. 1:7; 2:8-9)
7. ETERNAL SECURITY
We believe that all believers are eternally saved through Christ and are sealed by the Holy Spirit until the day of redemption. (John 10: 28-29; Rom. 8:1; 8:28-39; Eph. 1:13-14; 4:30; Col. 3:1-4; 2 Thess. 2:13-14; 1 John 5:11-13)
8. THE CHURCH
We believe that all in this dispensation who are saved by faith in Jesus Christ are united together in the one true Church, the Body of Christ, of which He is the Head.
9. THE ORDINANCES OF THE CHURCH
Baptism in Water
The ordinance of baptism by immersion is commanded by the Scriptures. All who repent and believe on Christ as Saviour 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 )
The Lord’s Supper
We believe that the Lord’s Supper (i.e., Communion or the Lord’s Table) is a memorial of the broken body and shed blood of Christ on the Cross. We believe the elements are only symbolic, serving as a sacred reminder and proclamation of Christ’s death until He comes again. Participation in the Lord’s Supper is open to every believer who is in fellowship with Christ. BAPTISM
We believe that the Holy Spirit places all believers into the Body of Christ at the moment of salvation by one spiritual baptism. Through this work of the Holy Spirit, we are identified with Christ in His death, burial and resurrection. The Bible also speaks of other baptisms, some are spiritual in nature and others were ritualistic and played a key part in God’s program with Israel. While those baptisms all had importance in the past, Scripture speaks of this divine baptism as the one and only baptism that is operative today. Therefore, we practice no other baptism. We emphasize this spiritual baptism as foundational to the unity of all believers. (Rom. 6:3-4; 1 Cor. 1:17; 12:12-13; Gal. 3:26-27; Eph. 4:3-6;
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 ,Matthew 8:16,17,James 5:14-16 )
12. RESURRECTION
We believe in the physical resurrection of the dead. Jesus Christ was resurrected bodily, and therefore everyone will have a bodily resurrection. The saved will be raised to eternal glory and the unsaved to eternal punishment. (Luke 24:39-43; John 5:28-29; Acts 24:15; 1 Cor. 15:12-24; Phil. 3:21; 2 Thess. 1:7-9; Rev. 20:4-6, 11-15)
13. THE RETURN OF CHRIST
We believe the Lord Jesus Christ will personally come to take His Church to heaven, commonly referred to as “the Rapture of the Church.” All members of the Body of Christ, both living and dead, will be caught up together to meet the Lord in the air. This event is imminent and will take place prior to the Tribulation that will come upon the earth. (1 Cor. 15:51-53; Phil. 3:20-21; 1 Thess. 4:13-18; Titus 2:13-13) After the seven-year Tribulation period, Jesus Christ will return in power to establish His Kingdom upon the earth. (Jer. 30:7; Dan. 9:20-27; Zech. 14:4, 9; Matt. 24:15-41; Rev. 19:11-16; 20:1-4)
14. MISSION
We believe our mission is to bring glory to God as we proclaim the message of reconciliation to all the unsaved; as we equip and train the saved for the spiritual and physical growth of the Body of Christ; and as we serve all people through acts of grace and compassion. In this way we make plain to everyone the unsearchable riches of Christ according to the dispensation of the mystery. (Rom. 12:9-21; 16:25-27; 1 Cor. 10:31-11:1; 2 Cor. 5:14-21; Gal. 2:10; 6:10; Eph. 3:8-9; 4:11-16; Phil. 2:1-8; Col. 4:3-6; 1 Tim. 2:3-7)
