What We Believe

 

WHAT WE BELIEVE

GOD

We believe that there is only one true and living God who reveals Himself as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

JESUS CHRIST

We believe that Jesus Christ was born of the Virgin Mary and that He is the Son of God and Son of man, that He came to save humanity from the condemnation of sin by offering himself as the acceptable sacrifice on the cross, and that He rose again victorious over death, and that He has made grace available to all who will believe in Him.

CREATION

We believe that the universe, as well as its inhabitants are the product of the intelligent design of God our Creator.  We believe that mankind is specifically created in His image for the purpose of having relationship with Him.

THE CROSS

We believe that the sacrificial work of Jesus Christ on the cross is payment for all our sin and provision for our every need.  The shed blood of Christ is for the forgiveness of our sins and our cleansing from all unrighteousness.  We believe the Body of Christ was injured and bruised and His back bore stripes for both our spiritual and physical healing in answer to the prayer of faith.

THE BIBLE

We believe the bible is God’s infallible Word given by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit and serves as the guide for spiritual, moral, and personal development.

THE CHURCH

We believe that the Church, the Body of Christ, is made up of all believers in Jesus Christ.  We also believe every Christian should be connected to a local church thereby declaring their connection to the greater Body of Christ around the world.  This local connection also serves as a spiritual family from which we draw strength, instruction, and encouragement in our relationship with God as we actively participate.

THE RETURN OF CHRIST

We believe in the real and imminent return of Jesus Christ.

SIN AND SALVATION

We believe it is by God’s Grace accessed by personal Faith in the Lordship and resurrection of Jesus Christ that we are saved.  We were all born into sin and therefore sinners by our nature.  However, we are reborn of the Spirit when we accept Christ as our Lord and Savior.  God’s Grace is deeper than the bottomless pit of human failure.

THE HOLY SPIRIT

We believe that the Holy Spirit is the active agent of God in the world and in the life of the believer.  We are not only Spirit indwelled but we can be Spirit Filled.  This Holy Spirit fullness will produce the fruit of the Spirit (Gal 5:22closeGalatians 5:22 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness. . . . (ESV) ), and empower us to operate in the gifts of the Spirit for the benefit of the whole body of Christ(1 Cor. 12, 14close1 Corinthians 12 12:1 Now concerning spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be uninformed. 2 You know that when you were pagans you were led astray to mute idols, however you were led. 3 Therefore I want you to understand that no one speaking in the Spirit of God ever says “Jesus is accursed!” and no one can say “Jesus is Lord” except in the Holy Spirit. 4 Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; 5 and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; 6 and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. 7 To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. 8 For to one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, 10 to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. 11 All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one inspanidually as he wills. 12 For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. 13 For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit. 14 For the body does not consist of one member but of many. 15 If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. 16 And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell? 18 But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. 19 If all were a single member, where would the body be? 20 As it is, there are many parts, yet one body. 21 The eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you,” nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” 22 On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, 23 and on those parts of the body that we think less honorable we bestow the greater honor, and our unpresentable parts are treated with greater modesty, 24 which our more presentable parts do not require. But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it, 25 that there may be no spanision in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. 26 If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together. 27 Now you are the body of Christ and inspanidually members of it. 28 And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, helping, administrating, and various kinds of tongues. 29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? 30 Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? 31 But earnestly desire the higher gifts. And I will show you a still more excellent way. 1 Corinthians 14 14:1 Pursue love, and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy. 2 For one who speaks in a tongue speaks not to men but to God; for no one understands him, but he utters mysteries in the Spirit. 3 On the other hand, the one who prophesies speaks to people for their upbuilding and encouragement and consolation. 4 The one who speaks in a tongue builds up himself, but the one who prophesies builds up the church. 5 Now I want you all to speak in tongues, but even more to prophesy. The one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues, unless someone interprets, so that the church may be built up. 6 Now, brothers, if I come to you speaking in tongues, how will I benefit you unless I bring you some revelation or knowledge or prophecy or teaching? 7 If even lifeless instruments, such as the flute or the harp, do not give distinct notes, how will anyone know what is played? 8 And if the bugle gives an indistinct sound, who will get ready for battle? 9 So with yourselves, if with your tongue you utter speech that is not intelligible, how will anyone know what is said? For you will be speaking into the air. 10 There are doubtless many different languages in the world, and none is without meaning, 11 but if I do not know the meaning of the language, I will be a foreigner to the speaker and the speaker a foreigner to me. 12 So with yourselves, since you are eager for manifestations of the Spirit, strive to excel in building up the church. 13 Therefore, one who speaks in a tongue should pray for the power to interpret. 14 For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays but my mind is unfruitful. 15 What am I to do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will pray with my mind also; I will sing praise with my spirit, but I will sing with my mind also. 16 Otherwise, if you give thanks with your spirit, how can anyone in the position of an outsider say “Amen” to your thanksgiving when he does not know what you are saying? 17 For you may be giving thanks well enough, but the other person is not being built up. 18 I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you. 19 Nevertheless, in church I would rather speak five words with my mind in order to instruct others, than ten thousand words in a tongue. 20 Brothers, do not be children in your thinking. Be infants in evil, but in your thinking be mature. 21 In the Law it is written, “By people of strange tongues and by the lips of foreigners will I speak to this people, and even then they will not listen to me, says the Lord.” 22 Thus tongues are a sign not for believers but for unbelievers, while prophecy is a sign not for unbelievers but for believers. 23 If, therefore, the whole church comes together and all speak in tongues, and outsiders or unbelievers enter, will they not say that you are out of your minds? 24 But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or outsider enters, he is convicted by all, he is called to account by all, 25 the secrets of his heart are disclosed, and so, falling on his face, he will worship God and declare that God is really among you. 26 What then, brothers? When you come together, each one has a hymn, a lesson, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. Let all things be done for building up. 27 If any speak in a tongue, let there be only two or at most three, and each in turn, and let someone interpret. 28 But if there is no one to interpret, let each of them keep silent in church and speak to himself and to God. 29 Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others weigh what is said. 30 If a revelation is made to another sitting there, let the first be silent. 31 For you can all prophesy one by one, so that all may learn and all be encouraged, 32 and the spirits of prophets are subject to prophets. 33 For God is not a God of confusion but of peace. As in all the churches of the saints, 34 the women should keep silent in the churches. For they are not permitted to speak, but should be in submission, as the Law also says. 35 If there is anything they desire to learn, let them ask their husbands at home. For it is shameful for a woman to speak in church. 36 Or was it from you that the word of God came? Or are you the only ones it has reached? 37 If anyone thinks that he is a prophet, or spiritual, he should acknowledge that the things I am writing to you are a command of the Lord. 38 If anyone does not recognize this, he is not recognized. 39 So, my brothers, earnestly desire to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues. 40 But all things should be done decently and in order. (ESV) ).

THE RESURRECTION

We believe in the bodily resurrection of both believers and non-believers; the believer to everlasting life in the presence of God and the unbeliever to eternal judgment.

 

OUR PURPOSE STATEMENT

“Where Christ is our Passion, and People are our Purpose”

 

OUR MISSION STATEMENT

To exalt our Lord Jesus Christ in Worship and to demonstrate His love through Christian service, to bring people to him through evangelism, and to membership in His family through fellowship. To develop them to Christ-like maturity though discipleship and equip them for ministry in the kingdom of God.

 

MEMBERSHIP STATEMENT

Having accepted Christ as my savior and desiring to covenant with the Body of Christ at River of Life Church to fulfill God’s purpose for my life, I commit:

To the whole Word of God, the Bible, as God’s guide for my life, rightly divided, and to the New Testament as our rule of faith, government, discipline and practice.

To the family of God in this local congregation as my connection to the greater church, deserving of my love, service, faithfulness and support.

To the building of the Kingdom of God in the world by continued giving of my time, talent and tithe through this local church.

To the covering afforded by Godly Pastors, offering them my patient understating, loyal and prayerful respect and submission to their anointed spiritual authority over this fellowship.

Having publicly made my profession of faith and the commitments, I eagerly enter this covenant relationship with my brothers and sisters in Christ at River of Life Church.