Statement of Faith For All Ministries under the Apostolic Covering of RIVER Ministries
RIVER House of Prayer/Fountain of Living Water Healing Room/RIVER Ministries/ The RIVER Center
The Essentials We Believe:
1) God
God is the creator and Ruler of the universe. He has eternally existed in three persons, the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, each possessing all the attributes of deity. These three are co-equal and are One God.
2) Jesus Christ
Jesus Christ, the second person of the Trinity, came to this earth, lived a sinless human life and voluntarily paid for our sin by dying on the cross as our substitute. He arose from the dead and ascended into heaven and is the only mediator between God and man. He will return to earth and reign as the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
3) Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit is the third person of the Trinity. He is present in the world to make men aware of their need for Jesus Christ and provides the Christian with power for living, understanding of spiritual truth and guidance in doing what is right. He equips every believer with spiritual gifts to serve the mission of Christ through the church. Believers can be both filled and led by the Holy Spirit today.
4) The Bible
The Bible is God’s Word to us. It was written by human authors under the supernatural guidance of the Holy Spirit. Because the Bible is God-inspired, it is the supreme source of truth, without error, and the final authority on all matters on which it speaks. It is the basis for our belief and living.
5) The "Church"
The Church is made of all disciples/followers of Jesus, and they are the manifest extension of Him on the Earth. The "church" is not a place you go to, a what,or a planned service, but the church is a "who". Followers/Disciples of Jesus are the Church.....not some building built by man. The purpose of "the church"is to fulfill “The Great Commandment” and “The Great Commission”, birthing and building fully committed mature disciples/followers of Jesus Christ. We believe that we live life as God intended when we commit to relationships with others in fellowship by assembling together in one accord to worship wherever that assembly may take place. Accordingly, we believe that where even two or three are gathered together in His name He is in the midst. We do not hold to the divisive and elitist doctrine that some, through works (that "choosing to be chosen"), are "Bride" and some "are not".Those who follow Jesus are His without distinction, separation,caste,or class. He loves and accepts those who come into relationship with Him and calls us all His beloved.
6) Human Beings
People are made in the image of God, and for the purpose of having fellowship with Him. Although every person has the potential for good, through original sin, that separated mankind from that fellowship, human's need a restorer to make that fellowship possible again. People are the supreme object of God’s creation and target of His love and affection. As a result, God gives grace to man through Jesus Christ, to end our alienation from Him and become reconciled to Him walking in that intimate fellowship again.
7) Salvation
Salvation is God’s free gift to man, but we must accept it. Salvation comes to man by God’s grace through the redemptive work of Jesus Christ, not the good works of humans. We can never make up for our sins by self improvement or good works. Only by receiving God’s grace and trusting in Jesus Christ alone for the forgiveness of sins can anyone be saved from sins penalty. Eternal life begins the moment one personally receives Jesus into their life by faith.
8) Eternity
People are created with an eternal spirit from God to exist forever. We will either exist eternally separated from God by sin, or eternally united with God through salvation through Christ. To be eternally in union with God is eternal life. Heaven and Hell are real places of eternal existence. Only believers in Jesus Christ will enjoy eternal fellowship with God.
More in depth......
WE Believe:
There is one God who is manifest as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit
The Bible is God's revealed and inspired WORD, and has all the answers man needs.
People were originally created good but through the fall in the garden of Eden, sin entered into the world and left mankind in need of a Savior and redeemer. This redeemer came as Jesus Christ of Nazareth, the Son of God, manifest as God in the flesh, fully God and fully Man. Conceived by The Holy Spirit and Born through the Virgin Mary He lived among us, died on the Cross as the sacrifice for our sins, was buried and then resurrected by the Power of Holy Spirit, from the dead, ascended to heaven and is now seated at the right hand of the Father where, in the Courts of Heaven, he acts as our advocate. His redemptive act, and it's acceptance, allows us to live and move and have our being in Jesus, seated in Him in the Heavenly realm, from which we rule and reign with power and authority as the Sons and Daughters of God, bringing The Kingdom of God from within us to without, changing the world around us.
Holy Spirit comes into the life of the believer when they accept Jesus as their savior and begins a sanctifying work in their lives. The Holy Spirit also empowers the believer for service, allowing them to bear fruit and flows through them with the Gifts of the Spirit operating today as at the day of Pentecost.
Believers should be baptized as an outward sign of their inward change and a public declaration of their faith in Jesus as Savior. We believe that is not the "words" said over a person being baptized that have any effect nor do we quibble over mode (sprinkle, pour, or immersion) as it is not the act of Baptism, nor the words spoken, nor mode that saves (for that makes it about "works that we do"). We believe it is the acceptance of the sacrifice of Jesus and that acceptance with public confession is that which provides the initiation of relationship with Him.
In: GRACE ETERNAL and MERCY EVERLASTING this means that once we receive Jesus as Savior and enter into relationship with Him and nothing (NO THING) can separate us from Him. His Grace and Mercy are free gifts that position us into relationship with Him and once in relationship with Him we will seek to live a life that is free from willful sin, but should we stumble, we have an advocate (Jesus) that keeps us in Covenant through His blood with our Most Merciful Loving Father. While Grace is Eternal and Mercy Everlasting this does not give us license to live a wanton life fulfilling all that our flesh desires, but it empowers us to live a life that is pleasing to our Most Loving Father. We believe that is possible for a believer to willfully leave their salvation, breaking the covenant with our Most Loving Father by telling Him we no longer wish to live to please Him or want to be part of Him. If a believer so turns their back on the covenant, there no longer remains a sacrifice for their sins. It is not God's will that any should perish so if that person comes to themselves, and realizes they have a desire to come home, and they return, they receive acceptance again as a child of God by rededicating their life and will to serve the Most Merciful Loving Father and He will not only accept that service but once again call them child.
Baptism in Holy Spirit is available for all believers and is evident through one speaking in their prayer language, starting at the receiving of the Baptism and continues to grow throughout their lives, building them up and making them able to be used in all 9 gifts of the Spirit.
In the Five Fold Ministry Offices in which some are called to serve as Apostles, Prophets, Pastors, Evangelist, or Teachers. These offices are not meant to be a place of elevation or titles from which those so called Lord over others, but active humble servant leader positions that work from the ground up for the building and support of the Body of Christ.
That the church is not 4 walls, a pulpit, and some pews. It is the followers of Jesus joined together to reach out to others in need, transforming this world into The Kingdom one person at a time.
That Jesus is returning to the Earth at some future time, known only by the Father, at which time He will gather His own to Himself and will then set up a benevolent kingdom here on this earth for 1000 years, then a new heaven and earth will be created for all to live in harmony with God forever.
There is a place reserved for those who refuse to accept Jesus as Savior and that place is eternal separation from God known commonly as Hell
That our mission is to reach out to others in need spiritually, physically, mentally, emotionally, financially, and socially, allowing Jesus to bless and transform others through us.
That we are an outlet for the outpouring. As The RIVER of Holy Spirit flows through us, it changes us, and others around us. We are the vessels of vision that God is using to Heal and transform our area, nation and world.