Statement of Fundamental Truths

Mountain of Praise Church

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The Bible is our rule book for every area of life.  We believe the truths set forth in this statement to be essential to a full-gospel ministry.

                         "ALL SCRIPTURE IS GIVEN BY INSPIRATION OF GOD . . . "

 1.  THE SCRIPTURE IS INSPIRED.   The Scriptures, both the Old and the New Testaments, are verbally inspired of God and are the revelation of God to man, the infallible, authoritative rule of faith and conduct (2 Timothy 3:15-17; 1 Thessalonians 2:13; 2 Peter 1:21).

2.  THE ONE TRUE GOD.  The one true God has revealed Himself as the eternally self-existent "I AM," the Creator of heaven and earth and the Redeemer of mankind.  He has further revealed Himself as embodying the principles of relationship and association as Father, Son, and Holy Ghost (Deuteronomy 6:4; Isaiah 43:10,11; Matthew 28:19; Luke 3:22).

3.  THE GODHEAD.  The terms "Trinity" and "persons", as related to the Godhead, while not found in the Scriptures, are words in harmony with Scripture.  We speak of the Lord our God, who is One Lord, as a trinity or as one Being of three persons, which is entirely scriptural. (Examples:  Matthew 28:19, 2 Corinthians 13:14; John 14:16,17). 

          Christ taught a distinction of Persons in the Godhead which He expressed in specific terms of relationship, as Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, but that this distinction and relationship, as to its mode is inscrutable and incomprehensible, because unexplained.  (Luke 1:35; 1 Corinthians 1:24;  Matthew 11:25-27; 28:19; 2 Corinthians 13-14; 1 John 1:3,4).  

          Accordingly, therefore, there is that in the Son which constitutes Him the Son and not the Father, and there is that in the Holy Ghost which constitutes him the Holy Ghost and not either the Father or the Son.  Wherefore the Father is the Begetter, the Son is the Begotten, and the Holy Ghost is the one proceeding from the Father and the Son.  Therefore, because these three persons in the Godhead are in a state of unity, there is but one Lord God Almighty and His name one.  (John 1:18; 15:26; 17:11,21; Zechariah 14:9). 

          The Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost are never identical as to Person; nor confused as to relation; nor divided in respect to the Godhead; nor opposed as to co-operation.  The Son is in the Father and the Father is in the Son as to relationship.  The Son is with the Father and the Father is with the Son, as to fellowship.  The Father is not from the Son, but the Son is from the Father, as to authority.  The Holy Ghost is from the Father and the Son proceeding, as to nature, relationship, co-operation and authority.  Hence, neither Person in the Godhead either exists or works separately or independently of the others.  (John 5:17-30,32,37; 8:17,18).  

          The appellation, "Lord Jesus Christ," is a proper name.  It is never applied, in the New Testament, either to the Father or the the Holy Ghost.  It therefore belongs exclusively to the Son of God. (Romans 1:1-3,7; 2 John 3). 

          The Lord Jesus Christ, as to His divine and eternal nature, is the only begotten of the Father, but as to His human nature, He is the proper Son of Man.  He is, therefore, acknowledged to be both God and man; who because He is God, and man, is "Immanuel," God with us. (Matthew 1:23; 1 John 4:2, 10, 14; Revelation 1:13,17). 

          Since the name, "Immanuel" embraces both God and man in the one Person, our Lord Jesus Christ, it follows that the title, Son of God describes His proper deity, and the title Son of Man his proper humanity.  Therefore, the title, Son of God, belongs to the order of eternity, and the title, Son of Man, to the order of time.  (Matthew 1:21-23;  11 John 3;  1John 3:8;  Hebrews 7:3; 1:1-13). 

          Wherefore, it is a transgression of the doctrine of Christ to say that Jesus Christ derived the title, Son of God, solely from the fact of the incarnation, or because of His relation to the economy of redemption.  Therefore, to deny that the Father is a real and eternal Father, and that the Son is a real and eternal Son, is a denial of the distinction and relationship in the Being of God; a denial of the Father and the Son; and a desplacement of the truth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh.  (2John 9: John 1:1,2,14,18,29,49:  1John 2:22,23;  4:1-5;  Hebrews 12:2). 

          The Son of God, or Lord Jesus Christ, having by Himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high; angels and principalities and powers having been made subject unto Him.  And having been made both Lord and Christ, He sent the Holy Ghost that we, in the name of Jesus, might bow our knees and confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father until the end, when the Son shall become subject to the Father that God may be all in all.  (Hebrews 1:3;  1Peter 3:22;  Acts 2:32-36;  Romans 14:11;  1Corinthians 15:24-28). 

          Wherefore, since the Father has deliverd all judgment unto the Son, it is not only the express duty of all in heaven and on earth to bow the knee, but it is an unspeakable joy in the Holy Ghost to ascribe unto the Son all the attributes of Deity, and to give Him all the honor and glory contained in all the names and titles of Godhead and thus honor the Son even as we honor the Father.  (John 5:22,23;  1Peter 1:8;  Revelation 5:6-14;  Philippians 2:8,9;  Revelation 7:9,10,  4:8-11).

3.  THE DEITY OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST.  The Lord Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God.  The Scriptures declare:  a)  His virgin birth (Matthew 1:23;  Luke 1:31,35)  b)  His sinless life (Hebrews 7:26;  1Peter 2:22)  c) His miracles (Acts 2:22;  10:38)  d)  His substitutionary work on the cross (1Corinthians 15:3;  11Corinthians 5:21)  e)  His bodily resurrection from the dead.  (Matthew 28:6;  Luke 24:39;  1Corinthians 15:4)  f)  His exaltation to the right hand of God (Acts 1:9, 11: 2:33;  Philippians 2:9-11;  Hebrews 1-3)

4.  THE FALL OF MAN.  Man was created good and upright; for God said, "Let us make man in our image, after our likeness."  However, man by voluntary transgression fell and thereby incurred both physical and spiritual death.  (Genesis 1:26,27;  2:17;  3:6;  Romans 5:12-19) 

5.  THE SALVATION OF MAN.  Man's only hope of redemption is through the shed blood of Jesus Christ the Son of God.  Salvation is received through repentance toward God and faith toward the Lord Jesus Christ.  By the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost, being justified by grace through faith, man becomes an heir of God according to the hope of eternal life.  (Luke 24:47;  John 3:3;  Romans 10:13-15;  Ephesians 2:8:  Titus 2:11, 3:5-7)  The inward evidence of salvation is the direct witness of the Spirit (Romans 8:16).  The outward evidence to all men is a life of righteousness and true holiness.  (Ephesians 4:24;  Titus 2:122)

6.  THE ORDINANCES OF THE CHURCH.  a) Water Baptism.....The ordinance of water baptism by immersion is commanded in the Scriptures.  All who repent and believe in 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).  b) Holy Communion.....The Lord's Supper, consisting of the elements - bread and the fruit of the vine - is the symbol expressing our sharing the divine nature of our Lord Jesus Christ (2Peter 1:4); a memorial of His suffering and death (1Corinthians 11:26); and is enjoined on all believers "till He come!"

7.  THE BAPTISM IN THE HOLY GHOST.  All believers are entitled to and should ardently expect and earnestly seek the promise of the Father, the baptism in the Holy Ghost and fire, according to the command of our Lord.  This was the normal experience of all in the early Christian church.  With it comes the enduement of power for life and service, the bestowment of the gifts and their uses in the work of the ministry (Luke 24:49;  Acts 1:4-8:  1Corinthians 12:1-31).  This experience is distinct and subsequent to the new birth (Acts 8:12-17;  10:44-46;  11:14-16;  15:7-9).  With the baptism in the Holy Ghost come such experiences as an overflowing fullness of the Spirit (John 7:37-39;  Acts 4:8), a deepened reverence for God (Acts 2:43;  Hebrews 12:28), an intensified consecration to God and dedication to His work (Acts 2:42), and a more active love for Christ, His Word, and for lost souls (Mark 16:20).

8.  THE EVIDENCE OF THE BAPTISM IN THE HOLY GHOST.  The Baptism in the Holy Ghost is witnessed by the physical sign of speaking with other tongues as the Spirit gives them utterance (Acts 2:4).

9.  SANCTIFICATION.  Sanctification is separating oneself from evil and dedicating oneself unto God.  (Romans 12:1,2:  1Thessalonians 5:23;  Hebrews 13:12).  Without holiness no man shall see God (Hebrews 12:14).  The Holy Ghost gives us the power to obey the command to "Be holy, for I am Holy"  (1Peter 1:15,16).  The believer recognizes sanctification by identification with Christ in His death and resurrection, and by completely surrendering every faculty to the dominion of the Holy Spirit (Romans 6:1-13;  8:1,2,13;  Galations 2:20;  Philippians 2:12,13;  1Peter 1:5).

10.  THE CHURCH.  The church is the Body of Christ, which God inhabits through the Spirit.  It is to fulfill the great commission. (Ephesians 1:22,23, 2:22,  Hebrews 12:23).

11.  THE MINISTRY.  The purpose of a divinely called and scripturally ordained ministry is to 1) evangelize the world.  And 2) The edifying of the Body of Christ (Mark 16:15-20;  Ephesians 4:11-13).

12.  DIVINE HEALING.  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).  

13.  THE BLESSED HOPE.  The resurrection of the dead in Christ and their translation together with those who are alive and remain when Jesus returns is the imminent and blessed hope of the church.  (1Thessalonians 4:16,17;  Romans 8:23;  Titus 2:13;  1Corinthians 15:51,51). 

14.  THE MILLENIAL REIGN OF CHRIST.  Christ will rapture the saints, followed by the visible return of Christ with His saints to reign on the earth for 1000 years.  (Zechariah 14:5;  Matthew 24:27,30;  Revelation 1:7; 19:11-14;  20:1-6).

15.  THE FINAL JUDGMENT.  The final judgment will be for the wicked dead to be raised and judged according to their works.  Anyone not found in the Book of Life, along with the devil and his angels, the beast and false prophet will be thrown into the lake of fire eternally.  (Matthew 25:46;  Mark 9:43-48;  Revelation 19:20;  20:11-15;  21:8). 

16.  THE NEW HEAVENS AND THE NEW EARTH.  God promises a new heaven and earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.  (2Peter 3:13;  Revelation 21:22).                                                                   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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