WHAT WE BELIEVE

1.    We believe the Holy Bible, consisting of both Old and New Testaments, is the inspired revelation of God to man.  Therefore, the Scriptures are the infallible, authoritative rule for all matters of faith and conduct.

2.    In one God eternally existing in three persons; namely, the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.

3.    That Jesus Christ is the only begotten Son of the Father, conceived of the Holy Ghost and born of the Virgin Mary.  That Jesus was crucified, buried, and raised from the dead.  That He ascended to heaven and is today at the right hand of the Father as the Intercessor.

4.    That all have sinned and come short of the glory of God and that repentance is commanded of God for all and necessary for forgiveness of sins.

5.    That justification, regeneration, and the new birth are wrought by faith in the blood of Jesus Christ.

6.    In sanctification subsequent to the new birth, through faith in the blood of Christ, through the Word and by the Holy Ghost.

7.    Holiness to be God’s standard of living for His people.

8.    We believe the Holy Spirit baptism, as experienced in the early Christian Church, is promised to all believers in Christ, imparting to them spiritual gifts (charisma), to edify the body of Christ and equip for Christian service.  This experience is distinct from and subsequent to the new birth and enables the believer to receive a spiritual language (glossalalia) for personal edification and prayer.

9.     We believe the Church of Jesus Christ is the habitation of God through the Spirit, with divine appointments for the fulfillment of the great commission.  Each believer, having been born of the Spirit, is a valuable part of the body of Christ.  We further believe in a called and ordained five-fold ministry for the purpose of the evangelization of the world and the edifying of the Body of Christ.

10.  In water baptism by immersion, and all who repent should be baptized in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.

11.  Divine healing is provided for all in the Atonement.

12.  In the Lord’s Supper and washing of the saints’ feet.

13.  We believe in the second coming of Christ to receive the church unto himself and rule and reign forever.  The return of Jesus Christ is imminent and will precede his reign upon the earth and the final judgments.  Afterward there will be a new heaven and new earth.

DOCTRINAL COMMITMENTS

1.     Repentance.  Mark 1:15; Luke 13:3; Acts 3:19.

2.     Justification.  Romans 5:1; Titus 3:7

3.     Regeneration.  Titus 3:5.

4.     New Birth.  John 3:3; 1 Peter 1:23; 1 John 3:9.

5.     Sanctification subsequent to justification.  Romans 5:2; 1 Corinthians 1:30; 1 Thessalonians 4:3; Hebrews 13:12.

6.     Holiness.  Luke 1:75; 1 Thessalonians 4:7; Hebrews 12:14.

7.     Water Baptism.  Matthew 28:19; Mark 1:9, 10; John 3:22, 23; Acts 8:36, 38.

8.     Baptism with the Holy Ghost subsequent to cleansing; the enduement of power for service.  Matthew 3:11; Luke 24:49, 53; Acts 1:4-8.

9.     The speaking in tongues as the Spirit gives utterance as the initial evidence of the baptism in the Holy Ghost.  John 15:26; Acts 2:4; 10:44-46; 19:1-7.

10.  The Church.  Exodus 19:5, 6; Psalm 22:22; Matthew 16:13-19; 28:19, 20;    Acts 1:8; 2:42-47; 7:38; 20:28; Romans 8:14-17; 1 Corinthians 3:16, 17; 12:12-31; 2 Corinthians 6:16-18; Ephesians 2:19-22; 3:9, 21; Philippians 3:10; Hebrews 2:12; 1 Peter 2:9; 1 John 1:6,7; Revelation 21:2, 9; 22:17.

11.  Spiritual gifts.  1 Corinthians 12:1, 7, 10, 28, 31; 14:1.

12.  Signs following the believers.  Mark 16:17-20; Romans 15:18, 19; Hebrews 2:4.

13.  Fruit of the Spirit.  Romans 6:22; Galatians 5:22, 23; Ephesians 5:9; Philippians 1:11.

14.  Divine healing provided for all in the Atonement.  Psalm 103:3; Isaiah 53:4, 5; Matthew 8:17; James 5:14-16; 1 Peter 2:24.

15.  The Lord’s Supper.  Luke 22:17-20; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26.

16.  Washing the saints’ feet.  John 13:4-17; 1 Timothy 5:9, 10.

17.  Tithing and giving.  Genesis 14:18-20; 28:20-22; Malachi 3:10; Luke 11:42; 1 Corinthians 16:2; 2 Corinthians 9:6-9; Hebrews 7:1-21.

MISSION STATEMENT

We at Fellowship of Praise are a family of believers challenged to REPAIR the breach between God and man.  It is our heartfelt desire to REACH   those who are hurting; to RESTORE those who have fallen and REJOICE with those who have been delivered.  We have RESOLVED in our hearts to worship the RISEN Savior in spirit and in truth.