Encouraging Word Ministries

STATEMENT OF FAITH

We Believe...

....the Scriptures - The Bible is the inspired Word of God, the product of holy men of old who spoke and wrote as they were moved by the Holy Spirit. The New Covenant, as recorded in the New Testament, we accept as our infallible guide in matters pertaining to conduct and doctrine. (2 Tim 3:16, 1 Thess 2:13, 2 Pet 1:21)

....the Godhead - Our God is one, but manifested in three persons - the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, being co-equal. (Phil 2:6, (Deut 6:4, Gen 1:26-27, Gen 3:22, Gen 11:7)

....man, his fall and redemption - Man is a created being, made in the likeness and image of God, but through Adam's transgression and fall, sin came into the world. "...all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God..." "As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one." Jesus Christ, the Son of God, was manifested to undo the work of the devil and gave His life and shed His blood to redeem and restore man back to God. (Rom 4:12, Rom 3:23, Rom 3:10, 1 John 3:8, Rom 5:14)

Salvation is the gift of God to man, separate from works and the law, and is made operative by grace through faith in Jesus Christ, producing works acceptable to God. (Eph:2:8)

....eternal life and the new birth - Man's first step toward salvation is godly sorrow that works repentance. The New Birth is necessary to all men, and when experienced produces eternal life. (2 Cor 7:10, John 3:3-5, 1 John 5:12)

....water baptism - Baptism in water is by immersion, is a direct commandment of our lord, and is for believers only. The ordinance is a symbol of the Christian's identification with Christ in His death, burial and resurrection. It is an outward expression of an inward experence. (Matt 28:19, Rom 6:4, Col 2:12, Act 8:36-9)

....baptism in the Holy Ghost - The Baptism in the Holy Ghost and fire is a gift from God as promised by the Lord Jesus Christ to all believers in this dispensation and is received subsequent to the New Birth. This experience is accompanied by the initial evidence of speaking in other tongues as the Holy Spirit Himself gives utterance. (Matt 3:11, John 14:16-17, Acts 1:8, Acts 2:38-39, Act 19:1-7, Act 2:1-4)

....sanctification - The Bible teaches that without holiness no man can see the Lord. We believe in the Doctrine of Sanctification as a definite, yet progressive work of grace, commencing at the time of regeneration and continuing until the consummation of salvation at Christ's return. (Heb 12:14, 1 Thess 5:23, 2 Pet 3:18, 2 Cor 3:18, Phil 3:12-14, 1 Cor 1:30)

....divine healing - Healing is for the physical ills of the human body and is wrought by the power of God through the prayer of faith, and by the laying on of hands. It is provided for in the atonement of Christ, and is the privilege of every member of the Church today. (Jms 5:14-15, Mark 16:18, Isa 53:4-5, Matt 8:17, 1 Pet 2:24)

....resurrection of the just and return of our Lord - The angels said to Jesus' disciples, "... this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as you have seen him go into heaven." His coming in imminent. When He Comes, "... the dead in Christ shall rise first; Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air..." (Act 1:11, 1 Thess 4:16-17)

....hell and eternal retribution - The one who physically dies in his sins without accepting Christ is hopelessly and eternally lost in the Lake of Fire and, therefore, has no further opportunity of hearing the Gospel or repenting. The Lake of Fire is literal. The terms "eternal" and "everlasting" used in describing the duration of the punishment of the damned in the Lake of Fire, carry the same thought and meaning of endless existence as used in denoting the duration of joy and ecstasy of saints in the Presence of God. (Heb 9:27, Rev 19:20)

…tithes and offerings - This is God’s will for the New Covenant believer. It’s purpose is to get the Gospel out into the world. It allows us to live under an "open window" of heaven and have the devourer rebuked for our sake. Jesus receives the "faith" of our tithes and it bears witness that He is alive. (Deut 8:18, Mal 3:8-12, Heb 7:8) 

…faith - Is the major doctrine of the Bible. We can receive nothing through God's Word without faith. Faith believes with the heart and confesses with the mouth. Without faith, we cannot please God. (Rom 10:8-10, Heb 11:6)

…walking in love - This is the first and greatest commandment given by Jesus. We are to keep ourselves in the love of God. …and by this all men will know that we are His disciples. (Mat 22:37-40, Jude 21, John 13:34-35)