BIBLICALLY-BASED

OUR BELIEFS

THE GOD HEAD
Our God is a tri-unity in unity, manifested in three persons, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. God is infinitely perfect, being in His three persons co-existent, co-equal, and co-eternal. God the Father is greater than all, the source of the word (LOGOS) and the Begetter. The Son was begotten of the Father, accepting earthly limitations, true God and true man, conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. He died upon the cross, the Just for the unjust as a substitutionary sacrifice, and all who believe in Him are justified by faith on the grounds of His shed blood. He arose from the dead according to the Scriptures. He is now at the right hand of the Majesty on high as our great High Priest, and He will return again to establish His physical Kingdom of righteousness and justice. The Holy Spirit is a divine person, the Executor of the Godhead on earth and teach the believer, and convict the world of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment.
THE SCRIPTURES
The Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments are the authoritative, inerrant, everlasting and inspired Word of God presenting to mankind the complete revelation of God’s will for the salvation of all mankind and constituting the divine and only rule of Christian faith and practice.
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. Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God, was manifested to undo the work of the devil, and gave His life to redeem and restore making back in right relationship with God. 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 words acceptable to God.
SALVATION
Salvation is made possible through the meritorious and vicarious work of Jesus Christ on the cross. Through Holy Spirit conviction, Godly sorrow works repentance and makes possible the experience of the new birth. Christ formed within the believer is the gift of eternal life.
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 our salvation. We believe the saints are set apart from the world and set apart unto God for His name’s sake.
CHURCH
The true church is the body of Jesus Christ, Jesus being the Hear. Its earthy constituents are all true believers, born again by the Sprit and by the Rod. To the Church is delegated the various gifts, ministries and offices of the Holy Spirit necessary for the successful fulfillment of Christ’s Great Commission.
MINISTRY
God, through the Holy Spirit, definitely calls such as He desire to serve as apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers, and specifically endues the one called with the gifts peculiar to that office. We believe God’s gifts and callings are without distinction as the Apostle Paul taught that, “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond for free, there is neither male or female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.”
BAPTISM IN WATER
Baptism in water, by immersion, is a direct commandment of our Lord and is for believers only. Water baptism is recognized as an ordinance of the Church and is a symbol of the Christian’s identification with Christ in His death, burial and resurrection. The following water baptismal formula is adopted, to wit: “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 of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.” To register for Water Baptism at JFWC click here.
THE BAPTISM AND GIFTS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
The baptism of 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. The baptism of Holy Spirit is accompanied with the speaking in other tongues as the Holy Spirit Himself gives utterance, as the initial physical sign and evidence. We believe the fruit of the Spirit should be apparent in all believers. We also hold that the gifts of the Holy Spirit are given for use in the Church today and that the gifts are valid and ongoing since the day of Pentecost for the edification of the Body of Christ.
THE LORD’S SUPPER
The Lord’s Supper, also known as Communion, is recognized as an ordinance of the Church. It is a commandment of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and is a memorial to His death and resurrection, and is therefore limited to Christian believers.
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. Healing is provided for in the atonement of Christ and is available to all who believe. The sick should be prayed for, with the anointing of oil and laying on of hands upon their request.
RAPTURE OF THE CHURCH
We believe in the imminent appearing of our Lord as the blessed hope of the Church, where Christ comes for His Bride, the Church. We hold to a pre-tribulation, pre-wrath, and pre-millennial rapture of the Church, warning all men to be prepared for that coming which may occur at any time.
THE SECOND COMING OF OUR LORD
The Bible promises, “This same Jesus shall so come in like manner.” Following the tribulation (also known as Daniel’s 70th week), Jesus Christ 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 physical kingdom one thousand years. This event is known as the “Second Coming” of Christ where “every eye shall see Him…”. Also, this event is distinguished from the rapture, whereas Christ comes for His Church at the rapture and with His Church at the second coming.
HELL AND ETERNAL RETRIBUTION
The one who physically dies in his sins without Christ is hopelessly and eternally lost in the lake of fire and has no further opportunity for repentance. We hold that the lake of fires is a literal place of punishment. the terms “eternal” and “everlasting” used in reference to an endless existence in the lake of fire, carry the same thought and meaning in denoting an endless duration of joy and ecstasy of the saints in the presence of God.
RELATION TO WAR
Whereas; we believe that the government of the United States of America is ordained of God, and whereas; we are thankful to the government of the United States of America for the freedom to worship God according to the dictates of our conscience, and, whereas; our faith and practice teaches us, “Thou shalt not kill,” therefore; be it resolves that in the time of war we reserve the right not to enter combative service. However, we shall be glad to be of service to our government in any way constant with not-combative service.
TITHES AND OFFERINGS
We recognize the Scriptural duty of all church members, as well as minister, to return the tithes (10% of our income) unto the Lord. Tithes are not a gift to God, but belong to God already, thus tithes are not given, but returned to the Lord. Tithes should be used for the support of the active ministry and for the propagation of the Gospel and work of the Lord in general in the local church. Tithes should not be given to charity or used for other purposes. We also recognize God expects believers to contribute offerings which are above and beyond the tithe.
HOLY MATRIMONY
We recognize holy matrimony as a divine institution created by God. We earnestly hold that marriage is defined as a lifelong, monogamous union and covenant between one man and one woman.
DEDICATION OF CHILDREN
Infants and children may be presented for Godly blessing and dedication to the Lord in the Church. We hold that the dedication of a child does not impart salvation unto the child, but is an acknowledgment that the child is a gift from God.