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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 (2Timothy
3:16; 1Thessalonians 2:13; 2Peter 1:21).
The Bible is the only living book in existence. (Hebrews 4:12)
The
Godhead
Our God is one, but manifested in three Persons -
the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, being coequal (Deuteronomy 6:4;
Philippians 2:6). God the Father is greater than all; the Sender of the
Word (Logos) and the Begetter (John 14:28; John 16:28; John 1:14). The Son is
the Word flesh-covered, the One Begotten, and has existed with the Father
from the beginning (John 1:1; John 1:18; John 1:14). The Holy Spirit proceeds forth from
both the Father and the Son and is eternal (John 14:16; John 15:26).
Man,
His Fall & 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. The Bible says "...all have
sinned, and come short of the glory of God," and "...There is
none righteous, no, not one." (Romans 3:10; 3:23). Jesus Christ, the Son of God, was
manifested to undo the works of the devil and gave His life and shed His
blood to redeem and restore man back to God (Romans 5:14; 1 John 3:8).
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 (Ephesians 2:8-10).
Eternal
Life & 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
Corinthians 7:10; John 3:3-5; 1
John 5:12).
Water
Baptism
The Ordinance of 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 (Matthew 28:19; Romans 6:4; Colossians 2:12; Acts
8:36-39). Because infants are unable
to identify with Christ’s death, burial and resurrection, we do not believe
it is Scriptural to baptize them in water.
However, we do believe in dedicating babies and children to the Lord
until they are old enough to experience the New Birth.
The following recommendation regarding the water
baptismal formula is adopted: "On the confession of your faith in the
Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, and by His authority, I baptize you in
the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Ghost. In Jesus’ Name.
Amen."
The
Lord’s Supper
We believe the Ordinance of the Lord’s Supper / Holy
Communion / the Lord’s Table is a memorial to Christ’s death and to His
soon return. We also believe it to
be a time of fellowship with Christ as well as a point of contact for
releasing faith in any and all of the promises of God written in the Holy
Scriptures. (Luke 22:19,20; 1Corinthians 11:23-26)
JHM also believes partaking of the Lord’s Supper is a privilege
reserved only for Born Again believers who are in
Covenant with the Almighty.
Baptism
with the Holy Spirit
The Baptism with the Holy
Spirit 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
(Matthew 3:11; John 14:16,17; Acts 1:8; Acts 2:38,39; Acts 19:1-7; Acts
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 (Hebrews 12:14; 1 Thessalonians 5:23; 2 Peter
3:18; 2 Corinthians 3:18; Phil. 3:12-14; 1 Corinthians 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 (James 5:14,15; Mark 16:18; Isaiah 53:4,5; Matthew 8:17; 1 Peter 2:24).
Resurrection
of the Just & the 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 ye have seen him go into
heaven." His coming is 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..." (Acts 1:11; 1 Thessalonians 4:16,17).
Following the Tribulation, He shall return to earth as King of kings,
and Lord of lords, and together with His saints, who shall be kings and
priests, He shall reign a thousand years (Zechariah 14:4; Revelation 5:10;
20:6).
Hell
& Eternal Retribution
Hell is as literal as Heaven. 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 (Hebrews 9:27;
Revelation 19:20).
JHM
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