Confession Of Faith Of Centro Maranatha
1. We believe that the Bible is composed of 66 books which make up the Old Testament and the New Testament. It is inspired in its original manuscripts and is the only rule for faith and conduct. (2Tim. 3:15-16)
2. We believe in a triune God who is eternally existent in three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit, co-eternal in their being, identical in their nature, co-equal in power and glory and having the same attributes and perfections. (Deut. 6:4; Is. 43:10; Mt 28:19; John 10:30; Col. 2:9)
3. We believe the following about the person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ:
a. Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God; He became man without ceasing to be God. He was conceived by the Holy Spirit. He was born of the virgin Mary to reveal to us the Father and to redeem man who is a sinner. (Mt. 1:20; Jn. 1:18; Phil. 2:6,7)
b. Jesus Christ accomplished our redemption through his death on the cross, as a sacrifice for sin and a substitute for the sinner. He is our justification and the One who justifies from sin. This truth was fully attested when He rose literally and physically from the dead. (Ro.4:25; 1Cor.6:20; 2 Cor. 5:21; 1 Pt. 3:18)
c. Jesus Christ ascended into heaven where He is exalted at the right hand of God the Father, where, as our High Priest He carries out His ministry as intercessor and lawyer. (Acts 1:10-11; Heb. 7:25; 8:1-2; 1 Jn. 2:1)
d. Jesus Christ will return again to the earth to take to heaven His bride, the Church, and will later return to set-up His kingdom. His return will be physical, sudden and premillennial.(Acts 1:10-11; 1 Cor. 15:53; Mt. 25:21; 1 Thess. 4:15-17; 5:9)
4. We believe the following about the person and work of the Holy Spirit:
a. The Holy Spirit is a person who convinces the world of sin, of righteousness and of judgment. He is the supernatural means of regeneration. We also believe that there is only one baptism with the Holy Spirit and that it is that baptism which places us into the body of Christ. He lives in the believer and seals the believer until the day of redemption. Theday of Pentecost was a historical day and will never be repeated. Therefore, we do not believe that speaking in tongues should be attributed to the baptism with the Holy Spirit or as a sign of the presence of the Holy Spirit. ( Jn. 16:8; Acts 5:3; 1 Cor. 12:13, 30; Eph. 4:5,30)
b. He is the divine teacher who guides the believer into all truth and it is the privilege and responsibility of every believer to be filled with the Holy Spirit. (Jn. 16:13; Eph. 5:18)
5. We believe that man was created in the image of God, but through the sin of Adam, man fell, inherited a sinful nature and was alienat ed from God. Also, man is totally depraved and through his own works is unable to remedy his lost condition. (Gen. 1:27; 2:17; Rom. 3:23; 5:12-14)
6. We believe that salvation is a gift from God which reaches man through the grace of God and is received through personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ; Those who personally trust Christ by faith are born again by the Holy Spirit and through the new birth become children of God. We also believe that all believers are kept by the power of God and that the Wordof God clearly teaches that a believer should not use his Christian liberty as a license to please himself. (Jn.1:12; 3:5, 16; Eph. 2:8,9; James 5:13)
7. We believe that God hears and answers prayer which is presented through faith, according to His will, for the sick, but we do not accept the teaching that divine healing of the body is necessarily included in the expiation of the Lord Jesus. 2 Cor. 12:7-9; Phil. 2:25-27; 2 Tim.4:20; James 5:15)
8. We believe that every believer has the responsibility of living a life which will not bring shame on the name of his Lord and Savior and that the Lord commands each believer to separate himself from all religious apostasy as well as from all that is of the world. (Romans 6:1-14, 22;12:1-2; 1 Tim. 4:12)
9. We believe that the command of Christ to preach the gospel to all men is still binding on every believer. (Mt. 28:19-20; 2 Cor. 4:5; 2 Tim.4:2,5)
10. We believe that Satan is a person, the author of sin and the cause of the fall of man, that he is the enemy of God and ofman and that he will be eternally punished in the lake of fire. (Is.14:14; Eph. 2:2; Rev. 20:10)
11. We believe that the Scriptures teach that all of those who by faith are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, will reign with him for eternity. Those who do not accept the offer of pardon and the mercy of God by believing in Christ as personal Savior, will spend eternity in hell. (2Tim. 2:12; Rev. 22:5; 20::13-14)
12. We believe that the Church, which is the body of Christ, began with the descent of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost; that each person who personally accepts Christ as his Savior becomes a member of the body of Christ and of the universal Church; that, besides belonging to the universal Church, every believer should feel obligated to belong to a local church in which he should exercise his spiritual gift or gifts. (Romans 12:3-8; 1 Cor. 12:13; Eph. 4:11-16; Heb.10:25)