- That the Holy Bible is the infallible, living Word of God, written by men of old as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.
- In salvation through grace by faith in Jesus Christ, resulting in a changed life.
- Water Baptism by immersion is explicit in the New Testament.
- Baptism in the Holy Spirit as a separate work of grace (evidenced by power and speaking in tongues) is for every Christian.
- Living a sinless life (as specified in God’s Word / worthy of receiving Holy Communion) will be marked by growth through prayer, Bible study, and witnessing.
- In supporting the local church with tithes and offerings.
Salvation
You may ask WHY do we choose to be born again?
John 3:3 tells us: “Jesus answered and said unto him, truly, truly, I say unto you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God” (NASB). And John 3:7 adds, “Do not be amazed that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’”
Okay, now HOW does this happen?
Romans 10:9–10 “That if you shall confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and shall believe in your heart that God has raised him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart, a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.”
Also see Acts 3:19, 1 John 1:9, Ephesians 2:8-9, John 3:16.
So, I am saved. WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?
Second Corinthians 5:17: “Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things are passed away; behold new things have come.”
See 1 John 5:13
Sometimes I doubt that it’s real. CAN I KNOW FOR SURE?
Romans 8:16: “The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God.” See Hebrews 10:18 and 1 John 2:1-3
Water Baptism
Colossians 2:12 “Buried with Him in baptism, in which you were also raised up with Him through faith.”
Matthew 28:19 “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.”
See also Mark 16:16, Galatians 3:27, Romans 6:3-4, Matthew 3:16-17.
Baptism in the Holy Spirit
Scriptures bear out that there is an initial supernatural baptism in the Holy Spirit available to every born again believer. While praising God in our prayer language, we continue to be filled. First Corinthians 12 offers instruction concerning spiritual gifts, which are given only to Spirit-filled believers.
Joel 2:28: “It will come about after this That I will pour out My Spirit on all mankind; And your sons and daughters will prophesy, Your old men will dream dreams, Your young men will see visions.”
See Luke 24:49
Acts 1:8 “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses in both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.”
See Acts 2:4, Acts 4:31 and also Acts 19:6
Prayer
Prayer (of faith) is essential in a Christian’s life. The disciples of Jesus were not clear about prayer and asked Jesus to teach them how to pray. In Matthew 6:9–13 you may read his example often referred to as The Lord’s Prayer. In this example, you will find most of the types that are listed below.
- Confession/repentance
- Praise
- Submission
- Petition
- Blessing
- Unknown Tongues – where the Holy Spirit prays through you
First John 5:15: “And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that have the requests which we have asked from Him.”
See Hebrews 11:6, Matthew 6:6 and James 5:16
Mark 11:24: “Therefore I say to you, all things for which you pray and ask, believe that you have received them, and they will be granted you.”
See James 4:2-3 and also Matthew 7:7
Bible Study
The answer to life’s questions can be found in the Word of God. The Word serves you best when it is memorized. When an answer is needed, Holy Spirit will bring the proper Scripture to your memory. He can do this only after you have learned the verse. The Word is food for your soul and spirit. It is God’s letter to you. Read and reread.
Second Timothy 2:15: “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”
First Peter 2:2: “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth.”
See Romans 10:17, Hebrews 4:12, Psalm 119:11 and Psalm 119:89
Renewing of the Mind
Our every action begins in our mind. If we allow unclean thoughts to linger, we will act on them. Repeated actions form habits. Make sure your habits are good ones by continuously renewing your mind through prayer and studying the Word.
Romans 12:2: “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.”
See 1 Peter 1:13 and Romans 8:6-7
Ephesians 4:23–24: “And that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.”
See 1 Corinthians 2:16 and Psalm 51:10
Clean Hands/Pure Heart
This is not a given just because we believe on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. It takes much effort on our part. All of the aforementioned Scriptures are purposed toward living with clean hands and a pure heart.
Galatians 5:16: “But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh.”
See Romans 13:14, 2 Corinthians 6:17-18 and 2 Corinthians 7:1
Romans 12:1: “Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.”
See also 2 Timothy 4:12-13 and Psalm 51:10
Holy Communion
First Corinthians 11:23–30: “For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus in the night in which He was betrayed took bread; and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, ‘This is My body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of Me.’ In the same way He took the cup also after supper, saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant in My blood; do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.’ For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes. Therefore whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner, shall be guilty of the body and the blood of the Lord. But a man must examine himself, and in so doing he is to eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For he who eats and drinks, eats and drinks judgment to himself if he does not judge the body rightly. For this reason many among you are weak and sick, and a number sleep.”
Church Attendance
Preparation for service through faithfulness…
Faithfulness in church attendance will bring spiritual growth and a sense of belonging, as long as we have the right attitude toward it. The people in church are not perfect. Mistakes will be made. A determined mind to not take offense, but to worship and learn, should make church attendance a highlight in your week.
Psalm 122:1: “I was glad when they said to me, ‘Let us go to the house of the LORD.’”
See Hebrews 10:24-25 and 1 Pete 3:8-9
Financial Responsibility and Blessing
Giving back to God a portion of what he has given to us brings multiple blessings. The person or organization to whom you give is blessed and the giver is also richly blessed. Acts 20:35 tells us “remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He Himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”
Tithe – 10%
Malachi 3:8–11: “Will a man rob God? Yet you are robbing Me! But you say, ‘How have we robbed You?’ In tithes and offerings. You are cursed with a curse, for you are robbing Me, the whole nation of you! Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in My house, and test Me now in this,” says the LORD of hosts, “if I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you a blessing until it overflows. Then I will rebuke the devourer for you, so that it will not destroy the fruits of the ground; nor will your vine in the field cast its grapes,” says the LORD of hosts.”
See Luke 11:42 and 1 Corinthians 16:2
Offerings
Luke 6:38: “Give, and it will be given to you. They will pour into your lap a good measure—pressed down, shaken together, and running over. For by your standard of measure it will be measured to you in return.”
See also 2 Corinthians 9:6-8, Proverbs 11:24 and Philippians 4:15-19