What We Believe
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We believe God is triune: all three persons co-eternal and equal. We believe Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is fully God and fully man. He was preexistent with the Father, conceived of the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, crucified under Pontius Pilate, and resurrected by the power of God.
We believe human beings, created good, nonetheless disobeyed God and fell. Furthermore, humans, sinful in nature, cannot save themselves or be reconciled to God on the basis of their good works. We believe that reconciliation was initiated by God and based solely upon the atoning death of Christ on the cross. We believe the Bible is the Word of God, trustworthy and authoritative for every area of life. We believe the Holy Spirit calls, separates and sanctifies believers, enabling them to bear fruit in Christian works, not as a means of earning salvation, but as demonstration of the power of God in the life of an individual or a community. We believe God has called every Christian to some kind of ministry. The job of the church is to equip its people for these works of service, to build up the Body of Christ, and carry the gospel to uttermost parts of the world. ABOUT THE BIBLE
The Bible is God’s Word to us. It was written over a span of 1500 years by 40 writers, under the supernatural guidance of the Holy Spirit. It is the supreme source of truth for Christian beliefs and living. Because it is inspired by God, it is the truth without any mixture of error. ABOUT GOD
God is the Creator and Ruler of the universe. He has eternally existed in three personalities: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. These three are co-equal and are one God. ABOUT JESUS CHRIST
Jesus Christ is the Son of God. He is co-equal with the Father. Jesus lived a sinless human life and offered Himself as the perfect sacrifice for the sins of all people by dying on a cross. He arose from the dead after three days to demonstrate His power over sin and death. He ascended to Heaven’s glory and will return again someday to earth to reign as King of Kings, and Lord of Lords. Matthew 1:22,23 | Isaiah 9:6 | John 1:1-5 14:10-30 | Hebrews 4:14,15 | 1 Corinthians 15:3,4 | Romans 1:3,4 | Acts 1:9-11 | 1 Timothy 6:14,15 | Titus 2:13
ABOUT THE HOLY SPIRIT
The Holy Spirit is co-equal with the Father and the Son of God. He is present in the world to make men aware of their need for Jesus Christ. He also lives in every Christian from the moment of salvation. He provides the Christian with power for living, understanding of spiritual truth, and guidance in doing what is right. He gives every believer a spiritual gift when they are saved. As Christians we seek to live under His control daily. 2 Corinthians 3:17 | John 16:7-13, 14:16,17 | Acts 1:8 | 1 Corinthians 2:12, 3:16 | Ephesians 1:13 | Galatians 5:25 | Ephesians 5:18
ABOUT HUMAN BEINGS
People are made in the spiritual image of God, to be like Him in character. People are the supreme object of God’s creation. Although every person has tremendous potential for good, all of us are marred by an attitude of disobedience toward God called “sin”. This attitude separates people from God and causes many problems in life. ABOUT SALVATION
Salvation is God’s free gift to us but we must accept it. We can never make up for our sin by self-improvement or good works. Only by trusting in Jesus Christ as God’s offer of forgiveness can anyone be saved from sin’s penalty. When we turn from our self-ruled life and turn to Jesus in faith we are saved. Eternal life begins the moment one receives Jesus Christ into his life by faith. ABOUT ETERNITY
People were created to exist forever. We will either exist eternally separated from God by sin or eternally with God through forgiveness and salvation. To be eternally separated from God is Hell. To be eternally in union with Him is eternal life. Heaven and Hell are real places of eternal existence. Final Authority for Matters of Belief and Conduct:
The Bible itself, as the inspired and infallible Word of God speaks with final authority concerning truth, morality, and the proper conduct of mankind, is the sole and final source of all that we believe. Statement on 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. (Psalm 139) Statement on marriage, sexuality and gender:
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. (Genesis 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. (Genesis 2:18-25) We believe that God intends sexual intimacy to occur only between a man and a woman in the confines of marriage. (1 Corinthians 6:18; 7:2-5; Hebrews 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. (Matthew 15:18-20; 1 Corinthians 6:9-10.) We believe that in order to preserve the function and integrity of Joy Christian Ministries, Inc. as the local Body of Christ, and to provide a biblical role model to our members and the community, it is imperative that all persons employed by Joy Christian Ministries, Inc. agree to and abide by this Statement on Marriage, Gender, and Sexuality. (Matthew 5:16; Philippians 2:14-16; 1 Thessalonians 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; Romans 10:9-10; 1 Corinthians 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 Joy Christian Ministries, Inc. Statement of Assembly:
We believe that it is essential for the church to meet in person. We are mandated in Scripture to meet regularly and to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ daily. The meeting in person is essential to fulfilling the Biblical sacraments as delineated in the Holy Bible. Lay hands on people, sing praises to God, shout for joy, dance in worship, baptize new believers in water, are a few of the sacraments that must be fulfilled without regard to how many are in attendance; few or many, dozens or thousands, whether sick or well, during peacetime or in a declared war time, indoors or outdoors, as laid out in the Bible. Joy Christian Ministries, Inc. will hold meetings without restriction as to the presence or absence of apparel, devices, masks, immunizations, vaccines, or other mandates that are not specifically laid out in the Bible. (Zephaniah 2:1; Mark 2:27; Hebrews 10:25) Our Tenets of Faith:
1. We believe the Bible to be inspired, the only infallible, authoritative Word of God and that it is supreme and the final authority (II Timothy 3:16-17) 2. We believe in the trinity as eternally existent in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. (1 John 5:7) 3. We believe in the deity of Jesus Christ, in His virgin birth, in His sinless life, in His miracles, in His vicarious death and atonement through His shed blood, in His bodily resurrection, in His ascension to the right hand of the Father, and in His present priestly ministry. (1 Timothy 3:16; Romans 3:25,26) 4. We believe in evangelistic and missionary fervor and endeavor. (Acts 1:8; Mark 16:15-18) 5. We believe that for the salvation of lost and sinful man, regeneration by the Holy Spirit is absolutely essential. We further believe in the keeping power of God. (Hebrews 9:22; Jude 24,25) 6. We believe in sanctification and holiness and the overcoming life in God’s design for the church, which is the Bride of Christ. (Ephesians 5:25-27) 7. We believe that sexual purity is a necessary expression for all of God’s children and requires abstinence from adultery, fornication, incest, homosexuality, or other sexual relationships or practices forbidden by Scripture. (Romans 1:26-27; Hebrews 13:4; I Corinthians 6:18; Leviticus 18:1-30) 8. We believe marriage is the uniting of one man and one woman in covenant commitment for a lifetime and a sacred institution established by God. (Matthew 19:4-6) 9. We believe Baptism is an outward expression of an inward acceptance of Jesus. (Acts 10:47-48) 10. We believe that Baptism is for believers in the Lord Jesus Christ and to be administered by immersion, thus bearing witness to the Gospel of Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection for us, and our new life in Him. (Matthew 28:19; Romans 6:4) 11. We believe in the Baptism in the Holy Spirit as on the day of Pentecost and in the continuing ministry of the Holy Spirit as evidenced in charismatic gifts and ministries, and in the fruit of the Holy Spirit in the life of the believer. (Acts 2:4; 10:46; 19:6; Ephesians 4:11; I Corinthians 12:8-11; Galatians 5:22-23) 12. We believe that divine healing is obtained on the basis of the atonement. (I Peter 2:24; Matthew 8:17) 13. We believe that the resurrection of the church (rapture) will occur prior to the Second Coming of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. (1 Thessalonians 5:9; Revelation 3:10) Statement on marriage and facilities:
Because God has ordained marriage and defined it as the covenant relationship between a man, a woman, and Himself, [the Church] will only recognize marriages between a biological man and a biological woman. Further, the [pastors/ministers/clergy] and staff of Joy Christian Ministries, Inc. shall only participate in weddings and solemnize marriages between one man and one woman. Finally, the facilities and property of the church, and all other property in the future shall only host weddings between one man and one woman. Tithes, Offerings and Other Givings:
The law of tithing existed from the beginning and continues today. The first distinct mention of the word “tithe” in the Bible is in the very first book of the Old Testament. Abram … was met by Melchizedek, king of Salem and priest of the Most High God. Melchizedek blessed him, and Abram “gave him tithes of all.” (Gen. 14:20.) … “Of all that thou shalt give me I will surely give the tenth unto thee.” [Gen. 28:20–22.] The third mention is in connection with the Levitical law. The Lord spoke through Moses: “And all the tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land, or of the fruit of the tree, is the Lord’s: it is holy unto the Lord.” (Lev. 27:30.) The tithe has a blessing attached to it according to Mal. 3, “Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.” (Mal. 3:8–10.) The Bible outlines many forms of giving which Joy Church will partake in. The forms in which we will give are outlined below: Tithe: The tithe, by definition, means 10% of our gross income. It is not something that we give God, but belongs to Him. Malachi 3:10- Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it. Offering: An offering is what you give above the tithe to honor God. 2 Corinthians 9: 6-8. Remember this—a farmer who plants only a few seeds will get a small crop. But the one who plants generously will get a generous crop. 7 You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. “For God loves a person who gives cheerfully.”[c] 8 And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others. First Fruits Giving: First fruits is given joyfully to a minister after receiving a “raise, bonus, or surplus”. By acknowledging that increase come from God, we set ourselves apart for further increase. Deuteronomy 26:1-5 “When you enter the land the Lord your God is giving you as a special possession and you have conquered it and settled there, 2 put some of the first produce from each crop you harvest into a basket and bring it to the designated place of worship—the place the Lord your God chooses for his name to be honored. 3 Go to the priest in charge at that time and say to him, ‘With this gift I acknowledge to the Lord your God that I have entered the land he swore to our ancestors he would give us.’ 4 The priest will then take the basket from your hand and set it before the altar of the Lord your God.” “You must then say in the presence of the Lord your God, ‘My ancestor Jacob was a wandering Aramean who went to live as a foreigner in Egypt. His family arrived few in number, but in Egypt they became a large and mighty nation.” Almsgiving: Giving to the poor according to the Bible, is called almsgiving. Proverbs 28:27 “Whoever gives to the poor will lack nothing, but those who close their eyes to poverty will be cursed.” Sacrificial Giving: An offering that goes beyond simply giving your best, its giving beyond your best. Matthew 6:21 “Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.” Honoring a Man of God: Giving to honor a man of God can be found by example, in many books of the Bible. Honoring a man of God triggers a blessing that money can't buy. When we bless other ministers, we know that we are heaping blessings upon this ministry. 2 Kings 4:9-10 “She said to her husband, “I am sure this man who stops in from time to time is a holy man of God. 10 Let’s build a small room for him on the roof and furnish it with a bed, a table, a chair, and a lamp. Then he will have a place to stay whenever he comes by.” Matthew 25:40 “And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters,[a] you were doing it to me!’ Partnership with a traveling ministry: Partnering with a traveling ministry puts an end to all losses personally and in business according to the Word of God (2 Kings 4; Phl 4:11-19) Luke 8:1-3 Soon afterward Jesus began a tour of the nearby towns and villages, preaching and announcing the Good News about the Kingdom of God. He took his twelve disciples with him, 2 along with some women who had been cured of evil spirits and diseases. Among them were Mary Magdalene, from whom he had cast out seven demons; 3 Joanna, the wife of Chuza, Herod’s business manager; Susanna; and many others who were contributing from their own resources to support Jesus and his disciples. |
