The doctrinal statement below reflects what all members of Arise & Shine Fellowhip believe. Our leadership and teaching ministries reflect the full doctrinal statement.
The Bible
We believe that the Bible the Scriptures are inspired by God. It is without error in all its teachings. The Bible is God’s method of revealing knowledge that man cannot discover for himself, the foundation of knowledge and the guidebook of life. God’s written Word, is revealed in two parts, the Old and New Testaments. It was written under the guidance and inspiration of the Holy Spirit.
God
We believe in one God eternally existing in one essence, yet three co-equal persons, commonly called the Trinity: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, who exclusively share in the work of creation, sovereign maintenance of the universe, redemption, and judgment.
Jesus Christ
God has revealed Himself to man in the person of Jesus Christ. He is fully God and fully man, the eternal and only begotten Son of God, conceived of the Holy Spirit, born of a virgin, sinless in His life, died a substitution atoning death on the cross, rose bodily from the dead and ascended to heaven to sit at God’s right hand as our Intercessor. He is the only mediator between God and man.
Holy Spirit
God is present in the world today in the person of the Holy Spirit who draws us to faith in Jesus and who bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God. Upon first receiving Jesus Christ, every believer receives the fullness of the Holy Spirit, who comes to indwell, guide, teach, and empower all who believe by imparting to them the life of Jesus, so that they may live godly lives.
Faith
Faith is the absolute knowledge that God exists and that He can and will fulfill His promises. Faith is necessary for salvation, of which, the basic elements are courage, action, and risk.
Repentance and Acceptance
We believe that, when people repent for their sins and accept Christ, they are justified through Jesus sacrificial death on the cross. To repent means to be sorry for sins, but it also means to turn away from a sinful lifestyle. Accepting Christ means believing in Him as the only Savior. To be justified means being declared “not guilty” in regard to sin. All who believe in Jesus Christ are justified on the basis of His shed blood.
Water Baptism
We believe water baptism is an outward sign or symbol demonstrating an inward or heart change. Water baptism is by immersion only and an act of obedient faith. Immersion is a picture of the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ as well as a picture of the new birth. Baptism also provides an opportunity for the believer to publicly proclaim his or her commitment and allegiance to Christ.
Salvation
We are saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ; His death, burial, and resurrection. Salvation is a gift from God, not a result of our good works or of any human efforts.
Sanctification
We believe that sanctification is the process by which, according to the will of God, we are made partakers of his Holiness, that it is a progressive work, that it is begun in regeneration, and that it is carried on in the hearts of believers by the presence and power of the Holy Spirit, the sealer and comforter, in the continual use of the appointed means especially, the word of God, self-examination, self-denial, watchfulness and prayer.
The Church
We believe in the universal church, the living spiritual body, of which Christ is the head and all who are born again are a part of the Body of Christ. We believe that Jesus is the head of the Church of which all Believers are members. A local church is not a building, but people. We believe that the core of the local Church should be a loving and supporting community of Believers who gather for worship, Holy communion, fellowship and services in the world. We believe that God has laid upon these Believers the primary task of below three:
- Reaching out and sharing the Good News of Jesus with people who are seeking after truth and inviting them into a saving relationship with Him,
- Offering baptism to all who claim the name of Christ, and
- Nurturing, teaching and helping one another to grow in their faith in God.
Lord’s Supper (Communion)
Communion or the Lord’s Supper, is an ordinance given to all believers by Jesus Christ to remember his sacrifice for us and to symbolize the new covenant. We believe the bread and the grape juice are symbols of His broken body and spilled blood used to remind us of His sacrificial death for the forgiveness of our sins.
Spiritual Gifts
We believe that the spiritual gifts are given for the edification, education and equipping of Christ’s church to glorify God. Spiritual gifts are given to all true believers by God’s grace and power in order to fit His people for specific and corresponding service.
Hell
Hell is a place of separation from God. After living one life on earth, unbelievers will be judged by God, those who reject Jesus free gift of salvation’ will spend eternity separated from the Lord in Hell. Where they will be eternally tormented with the Devil and the Fallen Angels.
Heaven
Heaven is the eternal dwelling place for all believers in Jesus Christ, all those who place their faith, hope and trust in Jesus Christ and will walk according to the will of God shall spend eternity in Heaven with the Lord.
The Second Coming
We believe in the glorious hope of the visible return of Jesus Christ. We believe that the end of the world is approaching, that at the last day Christ will descend from heaven, and raise the dead from the grave to final retribution, that a solemn separation will then take place, that the wicked will be adjudged to endless punishment, and the righteous to endless joy, and that this judgment will fix forever the final state of men in heaven or hell, on principles of righteousness.