Updated June 2018 WHAT WE BELIEVE statement.
Statement of Faith For All Ministries and Licensed/Ordained Ministers under the Apostolic Covering of:
RIVER Ministries
RIVER House of Prayer/Fountain of Living Water Healing Room/ The RIVER Center/New Creations Outreach
What We Believe/Doctrinal Statement
While the essentials of this document are rooted and grounded in the Word of God , Cardinal Doctrines(marked with *) are immutable. There are positions in our Statement of Faith that may evolve under leading of Holy Spirit in light of need and cultural responsiveness.
The Essentials We Believe:( Eight Cardinal Doctrines)
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. This Eternal Life is deposited in the Believer by Holy Spirit and is known as Baptism OF Holy Spirit.
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 by 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.
(Explanation of Cardinal Doctrines and Positional Statements.)
THE GODHEAD
**There is one God who is manifest as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit commonly known as The Trinity
THE WORD OF GOD
**The Bible is God's revealed and inspired WORD, and has all the answers man needs. While we hold that God is still speaking, and shines Light on Biblical Truth that may adapt our understanding of The Word, no prophetic or revelatory word received will contradict or add to the Bible.
MANKIND
**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. He was manifested in flesh through the Virgin Mary, lived among us, died on the Cross as the sacrifice for our sins, was buried in a borrowed tomb and and the third day was resurrected by the Power of Holy Spirit as the first fruit 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.
SALVATION/BAPTISM
(*see Cardinal Doctrine #7 above)
BAPTISM
Believers should be baptized as an outward sign of their inward change and a public declaration of their faith in Jesus as Savior as soon as possible after Salvation. 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.
GRACE ETERNAL and MERCY EVERLASTING/Security of the Believer
Once we receive Jesus as Savior and enter into relationship with Him nothing (NO THING) can separate us from Him. His Grace and Mercy are free gifts that position us into relationship with Him as Lord through redemption,justification, and progressive Sanctification. 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. The Seed(security) of Salvation remains within us and bears us the fruit of continued relationship as we are submitted to repentance, being transformed from Glory to Glory into His Image. 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 do believe that is possible for a believer to willfully leave their salvation, refusing 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 by word of denial or deed of willingly walking in the separation of a life of Sin. If a believer so turns their back on the covenant, there no longer remains an application of sacrifice for their sins, leading them to eternal separation.. 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 restore them to the Rights and Identity as a Son.
HOLY SPIRIT
** Holy Spirit comes into the life of the believer when they accept Jesus as their Savior(Baptism OF Holy Spirit) and begins a progressive sanctifying work in their lives. The Holy Spirit also empowers the believer for service, allowing them to bear fruit and once Baptized IN Holy Spirit flows through them with the Gifts of the Spirit available, operating today as at the day of Pentecost.
BAPTISM IN HOLY SPIRIT
** Baptism in Holy Spirit is available for all believers immediately upon Salvation and is evident through one speaking in their prayer language, starting at the receiving of the Baptism IN Holy Spirit and continues to grow throughout their lives, building them up and making them able to be used in all 9 gifts of the Spirit.
ASCENSION GIFTS/OFFICES
** The Five Fold Ministry Offices in which some are called to serve as Apostles, Prophets, Pastors, Evangelist, or Teachers are valid and in force today as in the Early Church. 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, edification and support of the Body of Christ.
THE CHURCH
** The church is not 4 walls, a pulpit, and some pews. It is not a place you “GO” to but is a living breathing manifest BEING of Jesus to the World around. It is the all the followers of Jesus joined together to reach out to others in need, transforming this world into The Kingdom one person at a time.,exacting our Dominion Mandate to make disciples of All Nations. We hold that where two or three are gathered together in His name in homes, ministry centers, Hubs/Axis of Transformation or Traditional Church buildings constitutes the “Gathering Together of Ourselves” and are the places whereby we come to be trained, lifted up by one another and from which we go out to BE the Church.
SECOND COMING
** 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 who are Christ's to live in harmony with God forever.
HEAVEN AND HELL
**There is a place reserved for those who are followers of Jesus commonly known as Heaven, and it is a state of dwelling in the presence of God forever….. There is also a place for those refuse to accept Jesus as Savior and that place is eternal separation from God known commonly as Hell.
MISSION STATEMENT
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 and 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 of RIVER Ministries believe that we are the vessels of vision that God is using to Heal and transform our area, nation and world and that the 3rd Great Awakening is happening NOW through those who will let it flow out of them into the World around them bringing the Reformation of Transformation acting as Ambassadors of Christ; His agents of redemption, revealing to creation ourselves as the Manifest Sons and Daughters of God.
POSITIONAL STATEMENTS:
END TIMES
As a Ministry, we are made up of several persons who are individuals with individual revelations and understanding regarding End Times. As a Ministry, We do not espouse a position on nor argue with others on the doctrines of Pre, Mid or Post Tribulation “Rapture”. Whether there will be a “rapture” or tribulation as held by a dispensational view of end times, a post “rapture” world leader known as “The Antichrist” ,Mark of the Beast or other Dispensational views other than this:” We hold that We are Christ’s own and that we will, with Grace, Mercy and Protection face anything that comes our way through the power of Christ that is resident within us in an ever Victorious position of Kingdom Dominion.” We believe that we should live life and minister as though Jesus will come with our next heartbeat, but plan and operate as though it may be 200 years.
MARRIAGE
We hold to the Biblical definition of Marriage as a Covenant between one Biological Man and one Biological Woman. We hold that sexual intimacy is reserved for Marital Relationship and any sexual activity outside of that place is considered Adultery(for those married) or Fornication (for those not married)
SEXUAL IDENTITY/SSA/BIBLICAL RELATIONSHIPS
We hold that while God is Gracious and Merciful, His desire is for those in relationship with Him to eschew Homosexual, Bi-Sexual or any sexual practice outside of Heterosexual Marriage. We also understand that there are those in the Body of Christ who may struggle with SSA(Same Sex Attraction).We condemn any action towards those who struggle with SSA that would be mean, hate filled or spiteful. We hold that the best thing Love can do is explain what the Bible says about Sexual Identity, SSA, and Relationships, in a loving convincing manner to bring those in such situations that are outside God’s Master Design, to repentance through the Kindness of Truth revealed in His Word. We understand that in this day and age we may face situations where persons may have entered into relationships that are outside the truth of Marriage or surgical reassignments that have altered the appearance of their biological sex. We know and hold that God makes no mistakes, and what sex you are genetically is who you are. If persons who have situations such as that arise, we hold that it is our part to ask Holy Spirit for complete Gracious and Merciful direction as to how to handle each, on a case by case basis of how to lead them back into Biblical Truth that aligns with God’s Master Design.
While this document attempts to explain our beliefs, values, and positions we lean to Holy Spirit as our guide for the loving enactment of the Ministry God has called us, and the Ministries/Ministers under our Apostolic Covering.
(this updated document approved by the Founders and Executive Board June 22 2018)