Statement of Faith

Final authority for matters of belief and conduct: The statement of faith does not exhaust the extent of our beliefs. The Bible itself, as the inspired and infallible Word of God that speaks with final authority concerning truth, morality, and the proper conduct of mankind, is the sole and final source of all that we believe. For purposes of New Hope Full Gospel Church’s faith, doctrine, practice, policy, and discipline, our Pastor and/or his official designee(s) is/are New Hope’s final interpretive authority on the Bible’s meaning and application.

Tenets of Faith

This assembly accepts the Holy Scriptures as the revealed will of God and the all-sufficient rule of faith and practice, and it adopts the following statement of fundamental truths, to wit:

1. The Scriptures Inspired. The Scriptures, both the Old and New Testaments, are verbally inspired of God and are the revelation of God to man; and they are infallible, authoritative rule of faith and conduct ( I Thes. 2:13; II Tim. 3:15-17, II Pet. 1:2).

2. The One True God. The one true God has revealed Himself as the eternally self-existent " I AM," the Creator of heaven and earth, and the Redeemer of mankind. He has further revealed Himself as embodying the principles of relationship and association as Father, Son, and Holy Ghost (Deut. 6:4; Isa. 43:10,11; Matt. 28:19, Luke 3:22).

3. The Deity of the Lord Jesus Christ. The Lord Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God. The Scriptures declare the following; a. His virgin birth (Matt. 1:23; Luke 1:31,35) b. His sinless life (Heb. 7:26, I Pet. 2:22) c. His miracles (Acts 2:22; 10:38) d. His substitutionary work on the cross (I Cor. 15:3; II Cor. 15:4) e. His bodily resurrection from the dead (Matt. 28:6; Luke 24:39, I Cor. 15:4) f. His exaltation to the right hand of God (Acts 1:9, 11; 2:33; Phil. 2:9-11, Heb. 1:1-3)

4. The Fall of Mankind. Mankind was created good and upright, for God said, "Let us make man in Our image, after our likeness." However, man by voluntary transgression fell and thereby incurred not only physical death but also spiritual death, which is separation from God (Gen. 1:26; 2:17; 3:6; Rom. 5:12-19).

5. The Salvation of Man. Man's only hope of redemption is through the shed blood of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. a. Conditions of Salvation Salvation is received through repentance toward God and faith toward the Lord Jesus Christ. By the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost, being justified by grace through faith, man became an heir of God according to the hope of eternal life (Luke 24:47; John 3:3; Rom. 10:13-15; Eph. 2:8, Tit. 2:11; 3:5-7). b. The Evidences of Salvation The inward evidence of salvation is the direct witness of the Spirit (Rom. 8:16). The outward evidence to all men is a life of righteousness and true holiness (Eph. 4:24; Tit. 2:12).

6. The Ordinances of the Church a. Baptism in Water The ordinance of baptism by immersion is commanded in the Scriptures. All who repent and believe on Christ as Saviour and Lord are to be baptized. Thus they declare to the world that they have died with Christ and that they have also been raised with Him to walk in newness of life. (Matt. 28:19: Mark 16:16; Acts 10:47, 48; Rom. 6:4). b. Holy Communion The Lord's Supper, consisting of the elements of bread and the fruit of the vine, is the symbol of expressing the divine nature of our Lord Jesus Christ (II Pet. 1:4). It is a memorial of His suffering and death (I Cor. 11:26) and a prophecy of His second coming (I Cor. 11;26); and is it enjoined on all believers "till He come!"

7. The Baptism in the Holy Ghost. 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 the uses of the gifts in the work of the ministry (Luke 24:49; Acts 1:4,8; I Cor. 12:1-31). This experience is distinct from and subsequent to the experience of New Birth (Acts 8:12-17; 10:44-46; 11:14-16, 15:7-9). With the baptism in the Holy Ghost comes such experiences as an overflowing fullness of the Spirit (John 7:37-39, Acts 4:8), a deepened reverence for God (Acts 2:43; Heb. 12:28), and intensified consecration to God and dedication to His work (Acts 2:42), and a more active love for Christ, for His Word, and the lost (Mark 16:20).

8. The 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 with other tongues as the Spirit of God gives them utterance (Acts 2:4). The speaking in tongues in this instance is the same in essence as the gift of tongues (I Cor. 12:4-10,28), but different in purpose and use.

9. Sanctification. Sanctification is an act of separation from that which is evil and of dedication unto God (Rom. 12:1,2; I Thes. 5:23, Heb. 13:12). The scriptures teach a life of "holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord" (Heb. 12:15). By the power of the Holy Ghost we are able to obey the command; "Be ye holy; for I am Holy" (I Pet. 1:15,16). Sanctification is realized in the believer by recognizing his identification with Christ in His death and resurrection, and by faith reckoning daily upon the fact of that union, and by offering every faculty continually to the dominion of the Holy Spirit (Rom. 6:11;13; 8:1,2,13: Gal. 2:20; Phil. 2:12,13; I Pet. 1:5).

10. The Church. The church is the body of Christ, the habitation of God through the Spirit, with divine appointments for the fulfillment of her great commission. Each Believer, born of the Spirit, is an integral part of "the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven" (Heb.12:23; see also Eph. 1:22,23; 2:22).

11. The Ministry. A divinely called and scripturally ordained ministry has been provided by our Lord for a twofold purpose; 1. The evangelization of the world (Mark 16:15-20) 2. The edifying of the body of Christ (Eph. 4:11-13).

12. Divine Healing. Divine healing is an integral part of the gospel. Deliverance from sickness is provided for in the atonement and is the privilege of all believers (Is. 53:4; Matt. 8:16; James 5:14-16).

13. The Blessed Hope. The Second Coming of Christ includes the rapture of the saints, which is our blessed hope, followed by the visible return of Christ with His saints to reign on the earth for one thousand years (Zech.14:5; Matt. 24:27, 30; Rev. 1:7; 19:11-14; 20:1-6). This Millennial Reign will bring the salvation of Israel (Ezek. 37:21,22; Zeph. 3:19,20; Rom. 11:26,27) and the establishment of universal peace (Psa. 72:3-8, Isa. 11:6-9; Mic. 4:3,4).

14. Marriage, Gender, and Sexuality. Marriage is God-ordained. Marriage is to be an exclusive relationship, a lifelong faithful union between a man and a woman. This relationship between a husband and wife should parallel the relationship between Christ and the Church. (Matt. 19:4-5, Eph. 5:23-30). We believe that God wonderfully and immutably creates each person as male or female. These two distinct, complementary genders together reflect the image and nature of God. (Gen 1:26-27.) Rejection of one’s biological sex is a rejection of the image of God within that person. We believe that the term “marriage” has only one meaning: the uniting of one man and one woman in a single, exclusive union, as delineated in Scripture. (Gen 2:18-25.) We believe that God intends sexual intimacy to occur only between a man and a woman who are married to each other. (1 Cor 6:18; 7:2-5; Heb 13:4.) We believe that God has commanded that no intimate sexual activity be engaged in outside of a marriage between a man and a woman. We believe that any form of sexual immorality (including adultery, fornication, homosexual behavior, bisexual conduct, bestiality, incest, and use of pornography) is sinful and offensive to God. (Matt 15:18-20; 1 Cor 6:9-10.) 

We believe that in order to preserve the function and integrity of New Hope Full Gospel Church as the local Body of Christ, and to provide a biblical role model to the New Hope Church members and the community, it is imperative that all persons employed by New Hope Church in any capacity, or who serve as volunteers, agree to and abide by this Statement on Marriage, Gender, and Sexuality (Matt 5:16; Phil 2:14-16; 1 Thess 5:22.) We believe that God offers redemption and restoration to all who confess and forsake their sin, seeking His mercy and forgiveness through Jesus Christ (Acts 3:19-21; Rom 10:9-10; 1 Cor 6:9-11.) We believe that every person must be afforded compassion, love, kindness, respect, and dignity (Mark 12:28-31; Luke 6:31.) Hateful and harassing behavior or attitudes directed toward any individual are to be repudiated and are not in accord with Scripture nor the doctrines of New Hope Church.  

  15. The Final Judgement. There will be a final judgement in which the wicked dead will be raised and judged according to their works. Whosoever is not found written in the Book of Life, together with the devil and his angels and the beast and the false prophet, will be consigned to everlasting punishment in "the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone; which is the second death" (Rev. 21:8, see also Matt. 25:46; Mark 9: 43-48; Rev. 19:20; 20: 11-15).

16. The New Heavens and the New Earth. "we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness" (II Pet. 3:13; also see Rev. 21 and 22).

17. Sanctity of Life. We believe that all human life is sacred and created by God in His image. Human life is of inestimable worth in all its dimensions, including pre-born babies, the aged, the physically or mentally challenged, and every other stage or condition from conception through natural death. We are therefore called to defend, protect, and value all human life (Ps 139).