We stand on the shoulders of the early Church fathers, firmly grounded by the work they did in Christendom’s formative years. They left us fundamental confessions of faith, or creeds, to guide us through the centuries. Foremost among them is The Apostle’s Creed:
I believe in God, the Father Almighty,
the Creator of heaven and earth,
and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord:
Who was conceived of the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried.
He descended into hell.
The third day He arose again from the dead.
He ascended into heaven
and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty,
whence He shall come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy *catholic church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and life everlasting.
Amen.
* the universal Christian Church
Charismatic Orthodox Fellowship International adheres to this creed as a doctrinal statement fully based in Scripture and centered on the Person of Jesus Christ. He is The Truth. All other truths, however time-honored or treasured, must be subject to Him. Any belief held apart from The Truth is idolatry.
As a local church, our confession of faith is a declaration of truths that hinge on The Truth. Like the Apostle’s Creed, it is an essential outline of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
The Charismatic Orthodox Fellowship International Confession of Faith
Article One: We believe in one eternal God, revealed in the Trinity of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit
(Deut. 6:4; 1 Tim. 1:17; Ps. 2:7; 1 Pet. 1:2; 1 Cor. 13:14).
- All Persons of the Triune God are Deity, equal in purpose, equal in power, equal in authority, and completely and totally unified.
- God the Father is the Master Architect of the plan of Creation.
- Jesus is the Chief Minister, the divine bridge between mankind and the Creator.
- The Holy Spirit is the Revealer of Truth and the divine “down payment” on salvation’s promise of eternal life.
- Jesus Christ was not created, but begotten (John 1:1,14; 3:16)—fully God (John 10:30; 17:5) and fully man (Matt. 8:20; 26:12,38; John 1:30; 4:6; 19:28; Heb. 2:18).
- Jesus was born of the Virgin Mary; His conception was not natural, but supernatural (Matt. 1:18-2:11).
- Jesus lived a sinless life (Heb. 4:15; 1 Pet. 2:22); therefore only His blood could redeem us. Without blood there can be no remission of sin (Heb. 9:22).
- Jesus died a vicarious and atoning death for the sins of the world (John 11:50-52; Rom. 5:8-9; Titus 2:14; 1 Pet. 3:18; Matt. 20:28; Mark 10:45; 1 Cor. 6:20).
- Jesus was resurrected bodily for our justification (Rom. 14:9; 1 Cor. 15:4-8) and now reigns in glory until all things are put under His feet (1 Tim. 3:16).
Article Three: We believe in justification of by faith.
We believe that justification is by grace through faith in our Lord’s sacrifice, burial, and resurrection (Rom. 3:21-24; 4:5; 5:1). Without justification, the souls of those who sin must surely die. This death is a spiritual death first and a natural death second.
- Through His death, Jesus Christ satisfied the requirements of a holy, just God. Jesus was our substitution; He took the punishment we deserved (John 1:29; 2 Cor. 5:21; Gal. 3:13).
- Jesus bore for us God’s righteous wrath against disobedience (sin). The experience caused Jesus to cry out, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” (Matt. 27:46).
Article Four: We believe in sanctification.
We believe that those who are called by the name of Christ should depart from iniquity (1 Pet. 1:15-16). We are redeemed at conversion, yet sanctification remains an ongoing process of being conformed to the ways of God (Rom. 12:1-2; Eph. 4:22-24). Sanctification produces:
- Restoration
- Changes in lifestyle
- An increasing reflection of the nature and character of Jesus Christ in us
Article Five: We believe in the second coming of Christ.
Our Lord’s second coming and future rule upon the earth are literal events. His return will set in motion the resurrection of the regenerate to eternal life and the unregenerate to eternal damnation, and the ultimate victory of the eternal Kingdom of God (1 Thess. 3:13; 4:15; 2 Thess. 1:6-7; 1 Tim. 6:14; 2 Tim. 4:8; 1 Pet. 4:13; Titus 2:13-14; Rev. 22:7; Rev. 20:4-7; John 5:29).
- Jesus Christ, who was raised from the dead, is still alive today (Rev. 1:18).
- Jesus Christ is seated at the right hand of God, interceding on our behalf (Rom. 8:34; Heb. 7:25).
Article Six: We believe in the Holy Spirit.
We believe that the Holy Spirit dwells in all believers, conforming them to the image of Jesus Christ (Rom. 8:9; 1 Cor. 3:16-17; 6:19; 12:13; John 16:8; John 16:12-14).
- The Holy Spirit sets us apart to fulfill God’s purpose for our lives (Acts. 13:4).
- The Holy Spirit seals our salvation (Rom. 8:23; 2 Cor. 1:21-22; Eph. 1:13-14; 4:30).
- Scripture describes the Holy Spirit as one called alongside to help provide comfort and counsel regarding the will and teachings of God (John 14:16; 16:7).
- We believe in the baptism of the Holy Spirit by which believers are empowered and equipped for service and given access to all His gifts.
Article Seven: We believe in one holy Christian and apostolic Church
(Rom. 12:5; 1 Cor. 10:17; 12:20; Col. 3:15).
We believe the Church is imperfectly represented on earth by various institutions. Her unity is spiritual, her culture diverse and transitional, and her mission eternal. Though there are many Christian institutions, there is only one Church, one Body of Christ.
- There is the Church universal (worldwide) and the local church (of which The Master’s Touc International Church is an example).
- The universal Church (the “catholic” Church mentioned in the Apostle’s Creed) was birthed by Jesus Christ.
- The universal Church is a spiritual organism whose life and activity are under the authority and control of Jesus Christ.
This is the spiritual unity of all who are born of God (1 Cor. 12:12-14; Col. 3:11). We uphold the individuality of the local church and regard highly our larger relationship with the Church universal. We value the confession of Christ by His people everywhere and reject any separation inspired by denominational differences.
- We respect and honor cultural ways of worshiping the Lord that differ from our own.
- We don’t major on the minors; we major on unity.
- We choose to build bridges, not walls.
Article Ten: We believe in the divine inspiration and inerrancy of the Holy Scriptures
(2 Tim. 3:15).
The Holy Scriptures were recorded by the servants of God under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. As the inspired Word of God, Scripture is wholly reliable and without error. The Church has no authority to establish doctrine or practice that is contrary to the Scriptures accepted as Canon by the early Church.
- All that we believe is based in the entirety of the Scriptures and the absolute truths contained therein.
- The Holy Scripture is our highest authority for establishing doctrine and for reproving, instructing, convicting of sin, correcting error, and training in righteousness.
We affirm the value and dignity of human nature.
Man and woman, the crown of Creation, were made in the image and likeness of God; therefore the complete likeness of God cannot be known in the absence of the full, divinely-established expression of male and female (Gen. 1:26-27).
Because of The Fall of Man (Gen. 3), man became spiritually depraved, alienated from the Creator, and unable to attain to his high calling (Ps. 8; Eph. 2: 8-9).
- Created in the image of God, man is a triune being having a spirit, soul, and body (1Thess. 5:23; Heb. 4:12).
- Man and woman were created, not evolved (Gen. 1:26-28).
Marriage was instituted by God as a Life long covenant between to committed individuals regardless of Sexual Orientation whether Heterosexual or Homosexual and it is designed to reflect the full image and likeness of God, and to meet the needs of marital partners for companionship and fulfillment—spiritually, emotionally, and physically.
We believe in the priesthood of the believer
(1 Pet. 2:5).
We believe in the priesthood of the believer. That is to say, all people born of God have equal status in His eyes and direct access to Him.
- Relationship with God requires no human mediator; Jesus is the only mediator between God and man (1 Tim. 2:5; Heb. 8:6).
- We are all called as priests to minister to those who don’t have relationship with the Lord (Mark 16:15-18) and to fellow believers (1 Thess. 5:11).
We believe in the local church
(Heb. 10:25).
We believe that the identity of the Body of Christ on the earth is primarily perceived through the local church. While we encourage the voluntary association of local churches and recognize the need for consensus on matters of fundamental doctrine and conduct, we strongly confess the local church to be sovereign and autonomous (Rev. 2-3). This autonomy exists within the context of trans-local authority and the interdependence of those who share like precious faith.
That sexual orientation in no way disqualifies anyone from fellowship in the kingdom of God through expression of local church and All people are welcome to be part of the church and believe in these tenets of faith regardless of being heterosexual, homosexual, bisexual, trans-gender, intersexed or any other orientation that a person was born with. "Let whosoever come...." (John 3:15-17; Rev. 22:17)
- Everyone who professes relationship with Jesus Christ should be involved in a local community of believers.
- The local church should represent Jesus Christ to the community.
- The local church is a place of accountability and covering.
We believe in the equipping of the saints for the work of the ministry (Eph. 4:12).
We believe in the fivefold ministry callings and profess that the offices of the apostle, prophet, evangelist, pastor, and teacher continue to operate within the Body of Christ today. These ministries are gifts to the Church for the purpose of equipping the saints for the work of the ministry, so that the Body of Christ might be edified (Eph. 4:11-16)
- We need to exercise balance and sensitivity in allowing the gifts of the Holy Spirit to operate (1 Cor. 12).
- In a church service, the gifts of the Holy Spirit are to be manifested decently and in order under the leading of the ministry oversight (1 Cor. 14:40).
We believe in baptism
(Luke 3:21; Acts 2:38).
We believe that, subsequent to conversion, God’s people are to be “buried” with the Lord Jesus Christ in the waters of baptism (Matt. 28:19; Rom. 6:4).
- Water baptism is an outward expression of an inward work. It is something you choose to do, not to become born again, but because you are born again. Water baptism is an action that signifies the burial of old ways and mindsets.
- Jesus was baptized (Matt. 3:13-17) and commanded His disciples to water baptize others (Matt. 28:16).
- The church in the Book of Acts was baptized (Acts 2:38,41; 10:47-48).
- The choice to be baptized is made by those who are mature enough to understand its significance.