Church on the Hill
What We Believe/ Statement of Doctrine:
Scriptures Inspired:
The Bible is the
inspired Word of God, a revelation from God to man, the
infallible rule
of faith and conduct, and is superior to conscience and reason, but not
contrary to reason. II Tim. 3:15, 16; 2 Peter 1:21
The One True God:
The one true God has
revealed Himself as the eternally self-existent "I Am", and has
further revealed Himself as embodied by the principles of relationship and
association as FATHER, SON, and HOLY GHOST. Deut. 6:14; Mark 12:29;
Isa. 43:10-11; Matt. 28:19.
Man, His Fall, and
Redemption:
Man was created good
and upright; for God said,: "But man by voluntary transgressions, fell, and his only hope of redemption is in
Jesus Christ, the Son of God. Gen. 1:26 -31, 3:1-7, Rom. 5: 12-21.
His Deity and Virgin
Birth:
We believe in the
deity of our, Lord Jesus Christ and that He not only was portrayed as the Son
of Man, but also the Son of God. We believe the Virgin Birth of
Christ, according to Isa. 7:14; Luke 1:34-35; Matt. 1:23; and it was fulfilled
at his birth in Luke 2:7.
Burial,
Resurrection, Ascension and Coming Again:
God sent His Son,
Jesus, to be sacrificed for the redemption of our sins once and for
all. When Jesus was crucified and died, He conquered death, hell and
the grave. Rev. 1:18 He rose on the third day and after 40 days on
Earth ascended to Heaven Acts 1:3. He is alive today, sitting on the
right hand of the Father, preparing a place for us and will return to Earth one
day to take his children to heaven. John 14:3
Salvation of Man:
All can be
saved: John 3:16 "For God so loved the world, that he gave his
only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting
life."
Conditions of Salvation:
The grace of God
which bringeth Salvation hath appeared to all men through the
preaching of repentance toward God and faith toward the Lord Jesus
Christ: Man is saved by the washing of regeneration justified by
grace through faith; he becomes an heir of God according to the hope of eternal
life. Titus 2:11; Rom 10:13-15; Luke 24-47; and Titus 3: 5-7.
The Evidence of
Salvation:
The inward evidence,
to the believer of his salvation, is the direct witness of the Spirit, Rom
8:16. The outward evidence is a life of righteousness and true
holiness.
Baptism in Water:
The ordinance of
Baptism by a burial with Christ should be observed as commanded in the
scriptures, by all who have truly repented and in their hearts have truly
believed on Christ as their Savior. Being fully immersed in
water, they have the body washed in pure water as an outward symbol of
cleansing. While their heart has already been cleansed with the blood of
Christ as an inner cleansing. Thus they declare to the world that
they have died with Jesus and they have also been raised with Him to walk in
newness of life. Matt. 28: 19; Acts 10: 47 - 48; Rom 6:4 Acts 20:21;
Heb. 10:22.
Testimony:
We encourage
believers to give their testimony of what the Lord has done for them because in
Rev. 12:11 it says we can overcome the accuser of the brethren by the blood of
the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony. Also in James 5:16 it
says to confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye
may be healed.
The Lord's Supper:
The Lord's Supper,
or communion service, is observed regularly. Consisting of the
elements bread and the first fruit of the vine, is the symbol expressing our
sharing the divine nature of our Lord Jesus Christ 2Peter 1:4, a memorial of
His suffering and death (1 Cor 11:26), and a prophecy of His second
coming (1 Cor. 11:26), and is enjoined on all believers "until He
comes". Also, washing of the feet according to John 13:2-9.
The Promise of the
Father:
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. This was the normal experience of all in the early Christian
Church. With it comes the endowment of power for life and service,
the bestowment of the spiritual gifts and their uses in the work of the
minister. Luke 24:49; Acts 1:4-8; 1 Cor. 12: 1-31. This
wonderful experience is distinct from and subsequent to the experience of the
new birth. Acts 10: 44-46; 1:4-16; 15: 7-9. Jude 20 - 23.
Evidence of the
Baptism in the Holy Ghost:
The Baptism of
believers in the Holy Ghost is witnessed by the initial physical sign of
speaking in tongues as the Spirit of God gives the utterance. Acts
2:4; 10:46; 19:6. The speaking in tongues in these instances is the
same in essence as the gifts of tongues (1 Cor. 12:4-10, 28), but different in
purpose and use.
Entire
Sanctification:
The Scriptures teach
a life of holiness without no man shall see the Lord. By
the power of the Holy Ghost we are able to obey the command, "Be ye Holy
for I am Holy." Entire sanctification is the will of God for
all believers, and should be earnestly pursued by walking in obedience to God's
Word. Heb. 12:14; 1 Peter 1:15; 1: 16; 1 Thess. 5:23, 24: 1 John
2:6.
Fasting and Prayer:
II Chronicles 7: 14
"If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and
pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from
heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their
land. Fasting and prayer is the cure for unbelief Matt.
17:14-21. Faith needs prayer for its development and full growth,
and prayer needs fasting for the same reason. Fasting has done
wonders when used in combination with prayer and faith.
To fast means to
abstain from food- that which caused the fall of man. Fasting
humbles the soul before God Ps. 35:13; chastens the soul Ps. 69:10; and
crucifies the appetites and denies them so as to give entire time to prayer (2
Sam 12:16-23; Matt. 4: 1-11. It manifests earnestness before God
to the exclusion of all else (1 Cor. 7:5); shows obedience; gives the digestive
system a rest Matt 6:16 -18; 9-15; Luke 5:33; demonstrates the mastery of man
over appetites; aids in temptation; helps to attain power over demons; develops
faith; crucifies unbelief and aids in prayer Matt 4:1-11; 17:14-21.
All believers are
supposed to fast but no regulations or set rules are given as to how long or
how often. That is determined by individual desire and needs, Matt
9:14-15, 1 Cor 7:5; Acts 13: 1-5.
Christians should
fast
when: under
chastening (2 Sam 12: 16-23
under judgment
(1 Kings 21:27)
in need
(Ezra 8:21)
in danger
(Esther 4)
when worried
(Dan. 6:18)
in trouble
(Acts 27:9, 33)
in spiritual
conflict (Matt 4: 1-11)
when desperate
in prayer (Acts 9)
Since fasting and
prayer are so prominent in the Bible, modern Christians should do more of this
until they receive power with God over all the powers of the devil.
Miracles:
Jesus is the same
yesterday, and today, and forever. Heb 13:8 We believe in miracles
through Jesus, yesterday, today and forever. Deliverance from
sickness is provided in the atonement, and is the privilege of all believers. Isa
53:4:5; Matt. 8: 16-17, James 5: 13-15.
Anointing:
There are three
kinds of
anointing: 1. Oil (Gen. 28:18;35:14;Mark 6:7-13;
James 5:14-16)
2. Compound of spices
(Ex. 30:22-25)
3. Holy Spirit (Ps.
45:7; Isa. 61:1; Luke 4:18-21; Acts 10:38;
Heb 1:9)
Tithing:
A tithe is one-tenth
part of something and is given as a voluntary contribution. The tithes and
offerings belong to God by virtue of covenant agreements with man; and to use
them for personal gain is robbery of what rightly belongs to Him. Robbing God
of tithes and offerings brings a curse. Malachi 3: 8-10. This applies not only
to Israel but to other nations, for He is no respecter of
persons. Paying tithes was before the law and commanded under grace
in the New Testament. (Gen 14:20, Matt 23:23; Rom 2:22; 1 Cor 9:7-14;
16:2; Gal. 6:6; Heb. 7: 1-10.
4 rewards of tithing
Malachi 3:10-12
1. There
will be meat in your house.
2. The
windows of heaven will pour out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough
to receive it.
3. God
will rebuke the devourer for your sakes.
4. All
nations shall call you blessed, for you will be a delightsome land.
Offerings of Praise
and Worship:
Psalms 150 tells us
how and when to praise the Lord. Verse 6 commands, "Let
everything that hath breath praise the Lord. Praise ye the
Lord". We praise God in the good times and bad because the
Bible says in Heb. 13:15 to offer a sacrifice of praise to God continually.
Psalms 66 says to make a joyful noise unto God, all ye
lands. Worship the Lord in the beauty of His holiness, 1 Chron16:29;
Jesus said in John 4:23, 24 to worship Him in spirit and in truth.
Missions:
Mark 16: 15
"Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every
creature."
Church on the Hill
supports missions with tithes, offerings and prayer.
Church on the Hill's
mission is to serve others with charity (love) Gal 5:13; 1 Cor. 13:13; Matt 28:
18-20.
The Divine Order in
the Moral Government of the Universe:
God is the head of
Christ. Christ is the head of man. Man is head of woman
and husband is head of wife. 1 Cor. 11: 3.
The Blessed Hope:
The resurrection of
those who have fallen asleep in Christ and their translation together with
those who are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord is the eminent and
blessed hope of the Church. 1 Thess. 4: 16-17; Rom 8:23; Titus 2:13;
1 Cor. 15:51.
The Lake of Fire:
The devil and his
angels, the beast and the false prophet and whosoever is not found written in
the Book of Life shall be consigned to everlasting punishment in the Lake,
which burneth with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.
Rev. 19:20; 20: 10-15.
The New Heaven and
New Earth:
We, according to His
promise, look for new Heavens and a new earth wherein dwelleth righteousness. II Peter 3:13; Rev
21 & 22.
Pledge to the
Christian Flag:
"I pledge
allegiance to the Christian Flag and to the Savior for whose Kingdom it
stands. One, Savior, crucified, risen and coming again with life and
liberty to all who believe."
Pledge to the Bible:
"I pledge
allegiance to the Bible, God's Holy Word, I will make it a lamp unto my feet
and a light unto my path and will hide its words in my heart that I might
not sin against God."