WHAT WE BELIEVE
New Life Church Of Marquette
The Essentials We Believe:
ABOUT GOD
God is the Creator and Ruler of the universe. He has eternally existed in three personalities: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. These three are co-equal and are one God.
Genesis 1:1,26,27, 3:22; Psalm 90:2; Matthew 28:19; 1 Peter 1:2; 2 Corinthians 13:14
ABOUT JESUS CHRIST
Jesus Christ is the Son of God. He is co-equal with the Father. Jesus lived a sinless human life and offered Himself as the perfect sacrifice for the sins of all people by dying on a cross. He arose from the dead after three days to demonstrate His power over sin and death. He ascended to Heaven’s glory and will return again someday to earth to reign as King of Kings, and Lord of Lords.
Matthew 1:22, 23; Isaiah 9:6; John 1:1-5; 14:10-30; Hebrews 4:14,15; 1 Corinthians 15:3,4;
ABOUT THE HOLY SPIRIT
The Holy Spirit is co-equal with the Father and the Son of God. He is present in the world to make men aware of their need for Jesus Christ. He also lives in every Christian from the moment of salvation. He provides the Christian with power for living, understanding of spiritual truth, and guidance in doing what is right. As Christians, we seek to live under His control daily.
2 Corinthians 3:17; John 16:7-13, 14:16,17; Acts 1:8; 1 Corinthians 2:12, 3:16; Ephesians 1:13; Galations 5:25; Ephesians 5:18
ABOUT BAPTISM IN THE HOLY SPIRIT
All believers are entitled to and should ardently expect and earnestly seek the promise of the Father, the baptism in the Holy Ghost and fire, according to the command of our Lord Jesus Christ. This was the normal experience of all in the early Christian Church. With it comes the enduement of power for life and service, the bestowment of the gifts and their uses in the work of the ministry.
1. Luke 24:49 (NKJV)
49 Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high.”
2. Acts 1:4-5 (NKJV)
4 And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, “which,” He said, “you have heard from Me; 5 for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”
3. Acts 1:7-8 (NKJV)
7 And He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority. 8 But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
4. Acts 2:4 (NKJV)
4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
5. 1 Corinthians 12:1-31
6. Acts 8:12-17, Acts 10:44-46, Acts 11:14-16, Acts 15:7-9
7. This experience is distinct from and subsequent to the experience of the new birth.
With the baptism in the Holy Ghost come such experiences as:
1. An overflowing fullness of the Spirit, John 7:37-39, Acts 4:8
2. A deepened reverence for God, Acts 2:43 Hebrews 12:28
3. An intensified consecration to God and dedication to His work, Acts 2:42
4. And a more active love for Christ, for His Word and for the lost, Mark 16:20
The baptism of believers in the Holy Ghost is witnessed by the initial physical sign of speaking with other tongues as the Spirit of God gives them utterance.
1. Acts 2:4
2. The speaking in tongues in this instance is the same in essence as the gift of tongues, but is different in purpose and use.
3. 1 Corinthians 12:4-10
4. 1 Corinthians 12:28
ABOUT THE BIBLE
The Bible is God’s Word to us. It was written by human authors, under the supernatural guidance of the Holy Spirit. It is the supreme source of truth for Christian beliefs and living. Because it is inspired by God, it is the truth without any mixture of error.
2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:20,21; 2 Timothy 1:13; Psalm 119:105,160, 12:6; Proverbs 30:5
ABOUT SALVATION
Salvation is God’s free gift to us but we must accept it. We can never make up for our sin by self-improvement or good works. Only by trusting in Jesus Christ as God’s offer of forgiveness can anyone be saved from sin’s penalty. When we turn from our self-ruled life and turn to Jesus in faith we are saved. Eternal life begins the moment one receives Jesus Christ into his life by faith.
Romans 6:23; Ephesians 2:8,9; John 14:6, 1:12; Titus 3:5; Galatians 3:26; Romans 5:1
ABOUT ETERNITY
People were created to exist forever. We will either exist eternally separated from God by sin, or eternally with God through forgiveness and salvation. To be eternally separated from God is Hell. To be eternally in union with Him is eternal life. Heaven and Hell are real places of eternal existence.
John 3:16; John 14:17; Romans 6:23; Romans 8:17-18; Revelation 20:15; 1 Cor. 2:7-9
ABOUT WATER BAPTISM
Baptism by immersion is the example our Lord gave us to follow concerning water baptism. The baptismal waters represent a burial ground. When you are buried with Christ in baptism, you are proclaiming to heaven, earth and hell that the old you no longer exists. To be buried with Jesus means that your old self died to sin just as Jesus did when He was made sin for us.
Romans 6:3, 10-12
ABOUT DIVINE HEALING
Divine healing is an integral part of the Gospel. We see Jesus performing many healings and miracles in the books of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. We also see healings after the death and resurrection recorded in the latter books of the New Testament.
Isa. 53:5; Acts 8:7; Acts 3:6-7; I Peter 2:24
ABOUT THE RESURRECTION OF THE DEAD
There will be a bodily resurrection of the dead. The believer shall be raised to everlasting blessedness and joy with the Lord and the unbeliever to everlasting conscious punishment.
Dan. 12:2; John 5:28-29; Acts 24:15; Rev. 20:13
ABOUT THE GIFTS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
We believe that all gifts of the Holy Spirit in I Corinthians 12 and 14, are available and operational in the Body of Christ today.
Zech. 4:6; Romans, 12:6-8; I Cor. 12:8-10
ABOUT COMMUNION
Taking Communion is an act of obedience on the part of the believer. It’s a reminder to us of all that Jesus did on the cross. The cup and the bread are symbols representing Christ’s blood and body. Taking communion is a statement of faith looking forward to the soon return of our Savior and a looking back at the work Jesus did for us on the cross.
I Cor. 11:23-29