Faith Statements

What We Believe at Joy Christian Center

THE SCRIPTURES

The Bible, containing both Old and New Testaments, is the inspired Word of God, the product of holy men of old who spoke and wrote as they were moved by the Holy Spirit. The New Covenant, as recorded in the New Testament, we accept as our infallible guide in the matters pertaining to conduct and doctrines (2 Timothy 3:16; 1 Thessalonians 2:13; Hebrews 4:12; 2 Peter 1:21).

 

ONE TRUE GODHEAD
Our God in One, but manifested in three persons — [The Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, being co-equal (Philippians 2:6)]. God the Father is greater than all, the sender of the Word (Logos), and the Begetter (John 14:28, 16:28, 1:14). The Son (Christ-The Messiah) is the Word flesh-covered, the One Begotten, and has existed with the Father from the beginning (John 1:1, 1:18, 1:14). The Holy Spirit proceeds forth from both the Father and the Son and is eternal (John 15:26).

 

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. “All have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” As it is written “There is none righteous, no not one.” Jesus Christ (Messiah) the Son of God, was manifested to destroy the works of the devil, and gave His life and shed His blood to redeem and restore man back to God (Romans 5:14, 3:10, 3:23; 1 John 3:8). Salvation is the gift of God to man, separate from works and the law, and is made operative by grace (a free gift) through faith (trusting and believing) in Christ the Messiah, producing works acceptable to God (Ephesians 2:8-10).

 

ETERNAL LIFE AND THE NEW BIRTH
Man’s first step toward salvation is godly sorrow that works repentance. The New Birth is necessary to all, and when experienced, produces eternal life (2 Corinthians 5:17-21; 2 Corinthians 7:10; 1 John 5:12, John 3:3-5; 1 Peter 1:23).

 

WATER BAPTISM
Baptism in water is by immersion, is a direct commandment of our Lord, and is for believers only. The ordinance is a symbol of the Christian’s identification with Messiah in His death, burial, and resurrection (Matthew 28:19; Romans 6:4; Colossians 2:12; Acts 8:36-39, 10:47).

 

BAPTISM IN THE HOLY GHOST
The Baptism in the Holy Ghost and fire is a gift from God as promised by the Lord Jesus Messiah to all believers in this dispensation, and is received subsequent to the New Birth. This experience is accompanied by the initial evidence of speaking in other tongues as the Holy Spirit Himself gives utterance (Matthew 3:11; Mark 1:8; Luke 3:16; John 1:33, John 14:15-17, 23-27; John 15:26; John 16:7-15; Acts 1:8, 2:4, 2:38-39, 8:12-17, 10:44-48, 11:4-17; Acts 19:1-6).

 

SANCTIFICATION
The Bible teaches that without holiness (living separated unto and for God) 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 salvation and Messiah’s return (Hebrews 12:14; 1 Thessalonians 5:23; 2 Peter 3:18; 2 Corinthians 3:18; Philippians 3:12-15; 1 Corinthians 1:30).

We Are “Pro Life” and “Pro Family”

PRO LIFE
The Bible clearly teaches that abortion is wrong and is murder; however, abortion is NOT the unpardonable sin; so if someone has had an abortion, they can receive forgiveness according to 1 John 1:9.  We believe the Bible and it clearly shows that abortion is murder!   Please read and meditate these scriptures: John 10:10; Isaiah 44:2a, 44:24a, 49:5a, 49:15a, 49:16a; Jeremiah 1:4-5, 7:6-7, 22:3, 21:6, 21:16a; 2 Kings 21:6, 21:16a; Job 10:10-11, 31:15; Proverbs 6:16a, 6:17, 31:2, 31:9; Psalms 139:13-17, 119:73a, 100:3a, 106:34-38; Luke 1:15b, 1:36, 1:39-44 (Isaiah 9:6, Psalm 22:9-10); Exodus 20:13; Mark 10:13-16

 

PRO FAMILY
The Bible clearly teaches that marriage is honorable and only between one man and one woman. In Genesis God made them male and female and actually conducted the first marriage (Genesis 2:21-24). The Bible further teaches that homosexuality and other perverted lifestyles (gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, beastiality etc.) are an abomination to God. We believe the Bible!   Please read and meditate these scriptures: Genesis 13:13, Sodomite: Male cult prostitute (named after the wicked men of Sodom). One who practices sodomy. One who commits sodomy: copulation [to engage in sexual intercourse] with a member of the same sex [homosexual] or with an animal. Genesis 18:20, 18:26, 18:28b,18:29b, 18:31b, 18:32b, 19:4-11, 19:13, 19:24-25; 2 Peter 2:1-6; Jude 1:7; Leviticus 18:22-23, 20:13; Deuteronomy 23:17-18, 29:23; Lamentations 4:6; 1 Kings 14:24, 15:11-12, 22:46; 2 Kings 22:1a, 22:2, 23:7a; Isaiah 13:19; Jeremiah 49:18, 50:40; Malachi 3:6a; Hebrews 13:8; Romans 1:16-32; 1 Corinthians 6:9-10; Titus 2:11-15; Revelation 21:8, 22:14-15; Jude 1:7; 2 Peter 2:6; Isaiah 5:20a

 

DIVINE HEALING
Healing is for the physical ills of the human body and is wrought by the power of God through the reading and meditating healing scriptures, the prayer of faith, and the laying on of hands. It is provided for in the redemptive sacrifice of Messiah Jesus, and is the privilege of every member of the Church today (Exodus 15:26; Psalms 103:2-3; Matthew 8:2-3; Mark 16:17-18; James 5:14-20; 1 Peter 2:24; Matthew 8:16-17; Isaiah 53:4-5).

 

PROSPERITY OF THE CHURCH
Financial prosperity is provided for in the redemption provided by Messiah and is therefore the will of God for all believers and the privilege of every believer today (2 Corinthians 8:9; Romans 8:32; Psalms 35:27). The purpose of prosperity is to establish God’s Covenant in the earth, by demonstrating God’s “Blessing” upon His people, and by providing the financial means to preach the Gospel (Genesis 1:28, 9:1, 12:1-3; Deuteronomy 8:18, 28:1-14; Joshua 1:8; 2 Corinthians 9:6-15). The foundation for financial prosperity is tithing, which predates the law and is confirmed in the New Testament (Genesis 14:18-20; Hebrews 7:4-8). The tithe (ten percent of one’s income) belongs to God and is normally to be brought to the local church (Leviticus 27:30-33; Deuteronomy 26:1-19; Malachi 3:8-12; 1 Corinthians 16:2; Hebrews 7:8). Scripture also teaches that we are to give offerings over and above the tithe; we should give in faith, expecting a harvest (Proverbs 3:9-10, 11:24-25; Malachi 3:8-12; Luke 6:38; 2 Corinthians 9:6-15; Galatians 6:6-10; 1 Timothy 6:17-19).

 

RESURRECTION OF THE JUST & THE RETURN OF OUR LORD
The angels said to Jesus’ disciples, “This same Jesus shall so come in like manner as ye have seen Him go into heaven” (Acts 1:11).  His coming is imminent. When He comes, the dead in Christ shall rise first; then we, which are alive and remain, shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; 1 Corinthians 15:50-57; Revelation 1:7, 4:1-2).  Following the Tribulation, Jesus shall return to earth as King of kings and Lord of lords, together with His saints, who shall be kings and priests (Revelation 1:4-6).  Jesus shall reign on earth for a thousand years and His saints shall reign with Him (Revelation 19:11-16, 20:1-7).

 

HELL AND ETERNAL RETRIBUTION
The one who physically dies without Christ – The Messiah (without being saved) is hopelessly and eternally lost, eventually in the Lake of Fire, and therefore, has no further opportunity of repenting and being saved. The Lake of Fire is literal. The terms “Eternal” and “Everlasting” which are used in describing the duration of the punishment in the Lake of Fire, carry the same thought and meaning of endless existence that is used in denoting the duration of joy and ecstasy of saints in the presence of God (Hebrews 9:27-28; Revelation 19:20, 20:6-15, 21:8).

 

NEW HEAVEN AND NEW EARTH
Following the thousand year (Millennial) reign of Jesus and His saints upon this earth, the devil (satan), and his demonic angels (demons), along with all the people who did not receive Jesus as Lord, and death and hell itself, are cast into the Lake of Fire (which is the second death). Then there will be a New Heaven and New Earth with a magnificent and glorious Holy City of God. This “New Jerusalem” will be 1,500 miles long, wide, and tall, to be inhabited by God the Father, Jesus, and The Holy Spirit, and the saints – the family of God – who serve God and reign with Him for ever and ever, Amen! And of His Kingdom there shall be no end! (Revelation 21:1 – 22:5; Luke 1:30-33; Hebrews 1:8; Isaiah 9:6-7; Daniel 2:44, 7:13-14, 27; Micah 4:7).

 

ARE YOU SAVED?  YOU CAN KNOW FOR SURE!

The Bible says a person can “know” they are saved, with eternal life, and headed for heaven “And this is the record, that God hath given to vs eternal life, and this life is in his Son.  He that hath the Son, hath life; and he that hath not the Son, hath not life.  These things have I written unto you that believe on the Name of the Son of God, that ye may know, that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the Name of the Son of God. (1 John 5:11-13).

 

To activate the saving grace of God one must:

  • Repent of the past (be truly sorry for their sinful life and ask God to forgive you) and be willing to turn to God, wholeheartedly, and live for Him and obey His Word – The Bible. (Mark 1:14-15, 6:12; Luke 13:3)
  • Sincerely believe in your heart that Jesus sacrificed Himself for us on the cross and in hell, to deliver us (from all our sins, sicknesses, diseases, anxieties, worries, poverty, and all the things of the devil) so we could be free from all evil. Also, truly believe that God raised Jesus from the dead – both from hell and the grave – so that we could be born again (born anew, spiritually), and live for God, and serve with God throughout eternity (eternal life). (John 3:3-7; Isaiah 53:3-11; Hebrews 9:14, 28, 10:10, 12:2, 13:12, 20-21; Romans 10:9-13; Revelation 1:17-18)
  • Confess to God that you believe the above truths by praying like this:

 

Dear Heavenly Father, I admit I am a sinner and need to be forgiven and saved. I am sorry for my past and I “repent” – I turn away from all sin – I renounce satan and all evil, and I now ask Jesus to be my Lord, Master, and Saviour. “Jesus”, I am calling on You to save me now. I give You myself and I receive You. Thank You Lord Jesus for saving me. Because of Your grace, by faith (trusting and believing in You and what You’ve done for me), I declare that I am now a born again child of God – a Christian. Jesus, please fill me to the full with the Holy Spirit, who will lead me and help me live for You. I am determined with all my heart to live for God, from now throughout eternity! In Jesus’ Name, Amen! Praise the Lord!

(John 6:37; Romans 10:9-10; 2 Corinthians 4:13; Proverbs 18:21; Romans 8:9-17; 2 Corinthians 5:17-21; Luke 11:13 (also see Section above “Baptism in The Holy Spirit”).

 

Walk in love and forgiveness:  Romans 5:5, 13:8; John 13:34, 15:12, 15:17; Hebrews 12:14; 1 Thessalonians 3:12, 4:9; 1 John 3:11, 23; 1 John 4:7-8, 16; 2 John 1:5; Matthew 5:44-48; Ephesians 4:32; Colossians 3:13; Mark 11:24-26.

Now be sure you attend a good Spirit-filled Bible teaching church. Ask the Holy Spirit to direct you to where He wants you to worship, study, grow, and serve.

Click here for “Bible Study Resources” for additional study aides. 

Copyright © 2022. All Rights Reserved.  |  Privacy Policy

Designed by Kingdom Church Websites, Mansfield, PA 1-800-827-5167.