Reigning by Grace Ministries: What we believe
Statements of Faith
- Scripture. We believe the Bible, both the Old and New Testaments, is inspired and empowered by God, infallible, is our final authority in all matters of faith and practice, and is profitable for doctrine, reproof, correction, and instruction in righteousness (2 Timothy 3:16-17). We believe that the Biblical Scriptures do not simply contain the Word of God but are the Words of God that inherently possess His life and authority and bring faith, revelation, and healing to those who choose to receive (Matthew 4:4; Matthew 22:31; Romans 1:17; Romans 15:4; 2 Corinthians 4:13; Hebrews 10:7; Proverbs 4:20-22).
- God. We believe in only one true and eternal God, one in essence, nature, and attributes, but who eternally exists in three separate persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit (1 John 5:7).
- Jesus. We believe in the deity of the Lord Jesus Christ as the Son of God, that He was born of a virgin, lived a sinless life on earth, demonstrated the authority and power of God in works and speech, died on the cross at Calvary shedding His blood for the forgiveness of our sins, rose from the dead on the third day, and is now seated at the right hand of God having accomplished all that is necessary for the salvation of mankind. We do not accept the doctrine that He is merely "a" way to the Father but rather believe that He is the only way through which we can receive righteousness, regeneration, sanctification, and glorification. He is, in fact, our salvation (1 Corinthians 1:30-31).
- Salvation. We believe it is essential for mankind to repent of sin and by faith receive the finished works of Jesus Christ by confessing with one's mouth Jesus as Lord and believing in one's heart that God raised Him from the dead resulting in salvation and regeneration by the Holy Spirit (Acts 20:20-21; Romans 10:9-13; John 3:5-6). We believe that salvation is offered to all mankind by God's grace but is only effectual for those who believe (Ephesians 1:13). We reject the false doctrines of universalism, ultimate reconciliation, and inclusionism in their various forms.
- Holy Spirit. We believe that the Holy Spirit is the Spirit of God and is God, coequal with the Father and the Son (Matthew 28:19; Acts 5:3-4; Acts 28:25-26; 1 Corinthians 12:4-6; 2 Corinthians 13:14). We believe the Holy Spirit is continuing the work He started at Pentecost, empowering believers to live Godly lives and to continue in all the works of Jesus. We believe in the baptism in the Holy Spirit, expressed through speaking in tongues (Acts 1:8, 2:4, 9:17, 10:44-46; 11:15-16, 19:6). We believe this baptism is distinct from the new birth and can be received by faith (Galatians 3:2). We believe that spiritual gifts and manifestations of the Holy Spirit are available and active today for the common good and the building up of others (1 Corinthians 12:7). We do not accept the doctrine that the gifts of the Holy Spirit ceased.
- The Second Coming of Christ and the Resurrection. We believe in a literal, physical, second return of the Lord Jesus Christ that is a future event. We believe that upon His return those who have believed in Him will be resurrected to a heavenly dwelling in an incorruptible body and those who do not believe will join Satan and his host in everlasting punishment (Matthew 25:46; 1 Corinthians 15). We believe that the hell described in the Old and New Testaments is a literal, eternal destination for all who refuse the gift of salvation, rejecting Christ's redemptive work (Luke 12:5; 2 Peter 2:4-9).
- The Church. We believe the true Church is comprised of all born-again believers who have received salvation through Jesus Christ, regardless of denominational affiliation (Ephesians 1:22-23). We believe all born-again believers have been commissioned to share and proclaim the complete Gospel of Jesus Christ to all the world (Matthew 28:16-20).We also encourage fellowship with a local church (Hebrews 10:25).
- Healing. We believe that the redemptive work of Jesus Christ on the cross has provided healing for the human body (Matthew 8:16-17; Isaiah 53:4; 1 Peter 2:24). We believe it is God's will for everyone who is sick or diseased to receive bodily healing by faith.
- Marriage, Gender Identity, and Sexual Relations. We believe that God instituted marriage between male and female as the foundation of the family, the basic structure of human society (Genesis 2:24). Therefore, the Corporations shall only sanction or conduct marriages between one man and one woman as biologically designated at birth. God has commanded that no intimate sexual activity be engaged in other than in the context of marriage between a man and a woman (Genesis 19:5, 26:8-11; Leviticus 18:1-30; Romans 1:26-29; 1 Corinthians 5:1,6:9; 1 Thessalonians 4:1-8; Hebrews 13:4). God has wonderfully and immutably created each person as male or female and ordained each person individually to be one or the other as expressed biologically at birth. These two distinct, complementary genders together reflect the image and nature of God (Genesis 1:26-27). We reject the notion that other genders exist, outside of male and female, as well as the notion that a person can become, by any means, a gender other than that biologically designated at birth.
- Sanctity of Life. We believe a unique human life bearing the image of God begins at the moment of conception. God alone is the Author of life and He alone numbers our days, from the moment of conception until natural death. Therefore, all human life is sacred from conception until natural death and every person possesses a God-given inalienable right to life. Every human life has inherent value, worth, and dignity because each person is made in His image. The Church must defend, protect, and value the weak, vulnerable, infirm, handicapped, elderly, and pre-born (Psalm 39:4, 127:3, 71:6, 139:14-16; Jeremiah 1:5; Luke 1:44; 1 Corinthians 11:12; Job 14:5-7; Galatians 1:5).