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Grace Tabernacle Home Page 10/11/08 5:28am Loris, South Carolina 29569 (843)756-2135 Fax: (843)756-4281 Reverend Owen Johnson, Pastor |
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What we believe: 
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Man...We believe that man, in his natural state, is a sinner, lost, undone, without hope, and without God (Romans 3:19-23; Galatians 3:22; Ephesians 2:1,2,12.
Divinity and Humanity of Christ Jesus...We believe that Jesus is God come in the flesh and that He is both divine and human (Luke 1:26-38;John 14:1-3; Acts 2:36;3:14-15;Philippians 2:5-12;Hebrews 2:9-18).
Blood Atonement...We believe in the saving power of the Blood of Jesus and His imputed righteousness (Acts 4:12;Romans 4:1-9;5:1-11;Ephesians 1:3-15).
Bodily Resurrection...We believe in the bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ (Luke 24:39-43;John 20:24-29).
Ascension...We believe that Christ Jesus ascended to the Father and is presently engaged in building Heaven and interceding for the saints (John 14:1-6; Romans 8:34).
Second Coming...We believe in the visible, bodily return of Christ Jesus to this earth to rapture His Church (Bride) and judge the world (Acts 1:10,11; I Thessalonians 1;7-10; James 5:8; Revelation 1:7). (It is not necessary that we all believe alike concerning whether He is coming before, during, or after the Great Tribulation.)
Salvation...We believe that the terms of salvation are repentance toward God for sin, and a personal, heartfelt faith in the Lord Jesus Christ,which results in regeneration of the person. This salvation is entirely by grace of our Lord and not of works. Works are excluded except as FRUITS of salvation (Acts 3:19,20; Romans 4:1-5; 5:1; Ephesians 2:8-10).
Local Church...We believe the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ is a body of believers who have been baptized in the Name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost; who are under recognized, delegated authorities; and who assemble to worship, carry forth the Great Commission, and minister as the Holy Ghost leads (Matthew 16:18;28:19,20; Acts 2:40-47;20:28; Ephesians 5:22-32; I Timothy 3:15).
Ordinances...We believe that the three ordinances of the Church are: Water Baptism, the Lord's Supper and washing the saints' feet. Water Baptism: Immersion in water in the Name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost (Matthew 3:15,16;28:19,20; Acts 8:38; Romans 6:14). A symbol of identification with Jesus Christ in His death, burial, and resurrection. Lord's Supper: A memorial of the death,resurrection, and Second Coming of our Lord Jesus Christ (Luke 22:13-20). Washing the saints' feet: John 13:14-17; I Timothy 5:10.
Separated Life...We believe that believers should seek, as the early disciples did, to practice the separated life from the world and unto Christ, and to set standards of conduct which shall exalt our Lord and His Church (Romans 12:1-3; II Corinthians 6:17; Galatians 6:14; Ephesians 5:11; Colossians 3:17).
Heaven and Hell...We believe the Scriptures clearly set forth the doctrines of eternal punishment for the lost, and eternal bliss and service for the saved--Hell for the unsaved and Heaven for the saved (Matthew 25:34,41,46; Luke 16:19-31; John 14:1-3; Revelation 20:11-15).
Holy Spirit...We believe the Holy Spirit to be the third Person of the Trinity whose purpose in the redemption of man is to convict men of sin, regenerate the repentant believer, guide the believer into ALL truth, indwell and give gifts to believers as He wills, that they may minister as Christ would do to men. We believe that the manifestations of the Holy Spirit that are recorded in I Corinthians 12:8-11 shall operate in present-day churches which yield to the Lord Jesus Christ (Luke 11:13; John 7:37-39; 14:16,17; 16:7-14; Acts 2:39-48). We believe that the Baptism of the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking with other tongues as the Spirit gives utterance, is for all believers as promised by John the Baptist (Matthew 3:11) and Jesus (Acts 1:4,5,8) and Peter (Acts 2:38-41), was witnessed by the early disciples of Christ (Acts 2:4;10:44-47;19:1-6), and is evidenced by many present-day disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Divine Healing...We believe that God uses doctors, medicines, and other material means for healing; but divine healing was also provided for in the Atonement (Isaiah 53:5) and may be appropriated by laying on of hands by elders (James 5:14-16), laying on of hands by the believers (Mark 16:18), by the prayer of an anointed person gifted for healing the sick (I Corinthians 12:9), or by a direct act of receiving this provision by faith (Mark 11:23).
Deliverance...We believe that when Jesus said to cast out devils (Matthew 10:7; Mark 16:17) that He meant for the doctrine of deliverance from evil spirits to be practiced in the church (Acts 8:7; Matthew 8:16,17; Luke 4:18; Luke 4:39; Luke 13:11-16;Luke 10:17). Sometimes when bad habits, infirmities or bad attitudes, and even chronic desires do not respond to prayer or seeking God, there may be a need for Christian exorcism which we practice at Grace Tabernacle, and should be practiced in every church.
Priesthood of Believers...We believe that each believer is a priest of the Lord (Revelation 1:6) and has direct access to the Father through the Lord Jesus Christ. Each person must believe for himself, be baptized for himself, obey for himself, and answer to his Creator for himself.
Government of the Church...We believe that the New Testament Church should be apostolic in nature and is governed by delegated authorities. These delegated authorities are ordained officers who conduct all church affairs based on the Word of God and the leadership of the Holy Spirit.
Ordained Officers...The ordained officers of the Church are apostle, prophet, evangelist, pastor, teacher, local (counselling) elders and deacons (Ephesians 4:11; I Timothy 3; Titus 1:5-9). Apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers shall not necessarily all function in one local church. However, it is believed that all of these officers shall function under the covering of a local church, and all local (counselling) elders are under the supervision of the five-fold ministry listed in Ephesians 4:11 (Acts 15,I Timothy 5:17-21; Titus 1:5-9).
