Christian Faith International Ministries

Articles of Faith as specified in the Bylaws are:

Section 1. Rule of Conduct
The programs and activities governing the rule and conduct of this Ministry shall at all times be based upon and consistent with the creed and beliefs contained in these Articles of Faith.

Section 2. God's Word
The Word of God alone shall be the rule of doctrine, practice and discipline of this Ministry; it being understood that we always receive the Word as inspired by God and the only divine rule of faith and conduct. The Bible is the product of holy men of old who spoke and wrote as they were moved by the Holy Spirit. The central theme of both the Old and New Testaments are the revelation of Jesus Christ and his presence in every believer (2 Timothy 3:16, 1 Thessalonians 2:13, 2 Peter 1:21, 1 Corinthians 2:13).

Section 3. God
We believe in God the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit; born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead and buried; arose on the third day, and ascended into heaven where he sits at the right hand of God, from whence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead. We believe in the Holy Spirit; in the resurrection from the dead; the communion of saints; and in life eternal through our Lord Jesus Christ, our Savior, our baptizer in the Holy Spirit, our healer and coming king. We believe the Church of Jesus Christ to be a living organism, the body of Christ, and habitation of God, through the Spirit; with its divinely called and appointed ministries for the evangelization of the world and perfecting of the saints; and that every true believer, and every local company of believers are members of his body, the Church of the firstborn written in heaven.

Section 4. Man, His Fall and Redemption
Man is a created being, made in the likeness and image of God; but through Adam's transgression and fall, sin came into the world “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,” “As it is written: "There is no one righteous, not even one;” Jesus Christ, the Son of God, was manifested to undo the works of the devil and gave His life and shed his blood to redeem and restore man back to God (Romans 3:23; 5:12; 3:9,10, 1 John 3:8, Galatians 3:13,14).

Section 5. Salvation
Salvation is the gift of God to man, separate from works and the law, and is made operative by grace through faith in Jesus Christ, producing works acceptable to God (Ephesians 2:8,9).

Section 6. Eternal Life and the New Birth
Man's first step toward salvation is Godly sorrow that brings repentance. The new birth is necessary to all men, and when fulfilled, produces eternal life (2 Corinthians 7:10, 2 John 5:12, John 3:3-5).

Section 7. Water Baptism
Baptism by immersion is an act or expression of faith and obedience to Christ.  This ordinance is a symbol of the Christian's identification with Christ in His death, burial, and resurrection (Matthew 3:15, Acts 2:38, Romans 6:4, Colossians 2:12, Acts 8:36-39).

Section 8. Baptism in the Holy Spirit
The Baptism in the Holy Spirit and fire is a gift from God as promised by the Lord Jesus Christ to those who are believers in this dispensation and is received subsequent to the new birth. (Matthew 3:11, John 14:16-17, Acts 1:8; 2:38,39; 19:1-7).

Section 9. Sanctification
The Bible teaches that without holiness, no man can see the Lord. We believe in the doctrine of sanctification as a definite, yet progressive work of grace, commencing at the time of salvation and continuing until the consummation of our Lord's return (Hebrews 12:14, 1 Thessalonians 5:23, 2 Peter 3:18, 2 Corinthians 3:18, Philippians 3:12-14, 1 Corinthians 1:30).

Section 10. Divine Healing
Healing is for the physical ills of the human body and is wrought by the power of God through the prayer of faith, anointing with oil and by the laying on of hands. It is provided for in the atonement of Christ and it is the privilege of every member of the Church today (Mark 16:18, James 5:14-20, 1 Peter 2:24, Matthew 8:17, Isaiah 53:4,5).

Section 11. Communion - the Lord's Supper
We partake of the Lord's supper to show the Lord's death till he returns (1 Corinthians 11:23-31). The bread symbolizes the Lord's broken body (Isaiah 53:5, 1 Corinthians 11:24). The wine represents the shedding of blood for the remission of sins (1 Corinthians 11:25, Hebrews 9:22). 

Section 12. Laying on of Hands
A simple belief that power or anointing or any other necessary quality can be transmitted from one person touching another. Laying on of hands was practiced by the Levitical Priesthood. Jesus practiced it in Mark 10:13-16 as a blessing, and is our grounds for baby dedication instead of baptism. Laying on of hands for healing (Mark 5:22, 23 and 41; 5:28-31, Acts 28:8; 19:11-12), laying on of hands to confer office (Acts 6:2-6), laying on of hands to receive the Holy Spirit (Acts 8:16-18), laying on of hands to believe words spoken, to receive anointing, and to cultivate the anointing (1 Timothy 4:14), laying on of hands for ordination to consecrate and receive the necessary ministry tools (1 Timothy 4:14).

Section 13. Resurrection of the Just and the Return of the Lord
The angels said, “…This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.” His coming is imminent. When He comes, “…the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air.” (Acts 1:11, 1 Thessalonians 4:16,17).

Last Updated: 03/01/2008 Christian Faith International Ministries