The Bible
We believe the Bible, including both the old and new testaments, to be the inspired Word of God which is without error and the infallible rule of faith and practice. The Word of God is the foundation upon which the Church operates and is the basis for which the church is governed. We believe the Word of God supersedes culture and every earthly law that is contrary to the Holy Scriptures.
Psalm 19:7-8 "The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple. The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes."
Hebrews 4:12 "For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart".
2 Timothy 3:16-17 "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works".
2 Peter 1:3-4 "According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these you might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust".
2 Peter 1:21 "For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Ghost."
Isaiah 40:8 "The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God endures forever."
Matthew 24:35 "Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away."
THE BIBLE GIVES US HOPE
The Bible was “written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope” (Romans 15:4). We find hope through learning about God, His ways, and His plans for our lives. When we discover the promises of God, we recognize there is more to life than merely existing. We discover there is life beyond this physical and temporal life. Through the Bible, we obtain hope, encouragement, comfort, strength, wisdom, and much more. Best of all, we gain understanding of how to know God personally and how to live for Him righteously.
THE BIBLE GIVES DIRECTION
To find our way through the dark, we need a flashlight. Only then can we see clearly and avoid stumbling. The psalmist described God’s Word as “a lamp to my feet, and a light to my path” (Psalm 119:105). As we allow the Living Word of God in the Bible to direct our lives, we’ll keep from stumbling and falling.
If you want to be wise, read the Bible. If you want to be safe, believe the Bible. If you want to be right, obey the Bible.
The translations of the Bible that we accept as accurate. These translations were crafted by diverse, interdenominational committees of biblical scholars and are heavily trusted for study, sermon preparation, and mainstream theology are as follows:
KJV and NKJV King James Version and New King James Version
NIV New International Version
RSV Revised Standard Version
NRSV New Revised Standard Version
ESV English Standard Version
NASB New American Standard Bible
Bibles that we do not accept as accurate. These versions are generally rejected by mainstream Catholic, Protestant, and Orthodox scholars alike, usually due to heavy theological bias or because they were translated by a single individual rather than an accountable committee. These are:
NWT New World Translation (Jehovah’s Witness version. Rejected for changing verses about Jesus.)
TPT / MSB The Passion Translation / Mirror (Solo translations. Rejected for inserting modern personal opinions.)
MSG The Message (A modern paraphrase. Rejected for serious doctrinal study or teaching.)
Book of Mormon (An additional book proliferated by the Mormon church supposedly found by Joseph Smith, the false prophet, that founded the Mormon cult.)
Nearly 2,000 years ago, Jesus asked the question, “What do you think about the Christ? Whose Son is He?” (Matthew 22:42). A person’s answer to that question can determine his or her eternal destiny.
JESUS’ PREEXISTENCE
The Apostle John declares Jesus’ preexistence in John 1:1, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” Jesus says He is “the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End” (Revelation 1:8). Jesus reigns eternally (Hebrews 1:8), and He exists before all things (Colossians 1:17).
JESUS’ DEITY
Jesus did not become God-He always has been God, and is the second member of the Godhead. Referring to His deity, Jesus said, “Before Abraham was, I AM” (John 8:58). The preexistence of Jesus Christ and the deity of Jesus Christ are inseparable. You cannot accept one and deny the other.
JESUS’ INCARNATION
The word incarnation means “in flesh.” It denoted the act in which the Son of God took to Himself the nature of humanity through the Virgin Birth (Matthew 1:23). John writes, “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us” (John 1:14).
JESUS’ HUMANITY
For Jesus to represent fallen humanity, He had to become a man. His Virgin Birth, which was essential for Him to be sinless, was prophesied long before it occurred (Genesis 3:15; Isaiah 9:6; Matthew 1:18, 23; Luke 1:34-35; and Galatians 4:4). Jesus experienced everything in life that we do: pain, suffering, thirst, hunger, sorrow, anger, and so on; yet, He was without sin (Hebrews 4:15).
JESUS’ DEATH
The penalty for our sin is death (Romans 6:23). Jesus died in our place and paid our penalty (Matthew 20:28; John 10:17-18; 2 Corinthians 5:21; 1 Peter 3:18). The death of Jesus on the cross laid the foundation on which a righteous God could pardon guilty and sinful people without compromising His righteousness in any way.
JESUS’ RESURRECTION
Jesus’ resurrection assures us of our future resurrection. Because of His victory over death, we have victory as well. Without the resurrection, there would be no gospel message. His resurrection has been proven beyond a shadow of a doubt (Matthew 28:5-8; Luke 24:39; John 20:27-28). The empty tomb, the shape of His linen wrappings, and His appearances to many after His crucifixion were just a few of the credible evidence of His resurrection.
JESUS’ ASCENSION AND EXALTATION
After His resurrection, Jesus visibly departed from His disciples into heaven (Luke 24:51; Acts 1:9). His ascension and exaltation were necessary to complete when He rose from the dead (Mark 16:19; Philippians 2:9; Ephesians 1:20-21; Hebrews 1:3).
JESUS’ PERSONAL RETURN
Jesus Christ will return to this earth and receive His Church, the body of Christ, to Himself (John 14:1-4; Acts 1:11; Revelation 1:7).
We believe that there is one living and true God, eternally existing in three persons:
The Father
Exodus 33:20 "And he said, Thou canst not see my face: for there shall no man see me, and live."
John 1:18 "No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him."
John 6:46 "Not that any man hath seen the Father, save he which is of God, he hath seen the Father."
1 Timothy 6:16 "Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honor and power everlasting. Amen."
The Son
John 14:9-10 "Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then , Shew us the Father? Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works."
Colossians 1:12-20 "Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins: Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell; And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say , whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven."
The Holy Spirit
John 14:23-26 "Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent me. These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you. But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you."
1 John 4:12-15 "No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us. Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit. And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Savior of the world. Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God."
The "Church" is not a building, time, or place. It's not a social club of like minded people. It's not a divided array of denominational institutions, governed by boards of directors and adhering to varying doctrines. The real Church is heavenly and not instituted by man or of this world. (Luke 20:3-4) It is a shared Life community of God's people who have been called out of the world and all share a common spiritual Life in Jesus Christ, with Him as the Head. (1 Corinthians 12:12-27; 1 Colossians 1:18; John 14:6; 1 John 1:1-3)
When the ideas of men corrupt the church with earthly things, values and methods, then the Church is no longer heavenly and is broken. The results are divisions, heresies, wrong motives, greed for positions and power, money, and many sins. That church is spiritually dead. It may have some resemblance of life, but not in truth. With impressive buildings, programs, equipment and amplifiers and leaders with a natural charisma, the show goes on, but it's Spiritually dead because it does not derive it’s power and influence from the Person and work of Christ.
To walk with God and grow spiritually, it’s an absolute necessity to be involved in a local expression of the Church. The Bible instructs us to “consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together…” (Hebrews 10:24-25).
WHAT IS THE CHURCH?
In The New Testament, temple and synagogue are the only words that describe a building as a place of worship. Today’s Church is not a building, but an assembly of people who share a common spiritual Life and are actual members of the body of Christ (Colossians 1:24; Romans 16:5). The universal church consists of all genuine Christian believers through all the ages of time, both now on earth and those in heaven. A Church gathering can be in a traditional church building, a home, barn, or under a tree, etc.
IS IT NECESSARY TO JOIN A LOCAL CHURCH?
Although we are all members of the universal Church, the body of Christ, it’s very important for a Christian to identify with and participate in a body of believers as a local church. We need each other in order to mature spiritually as Christians (1 Corinthians 12:4-27). We are all disciples who are commanded to make disciples (Matthew 28:19). But to do so, we must spend time with other believers.
WHAT MAKES A CHURCH EFFECTIVE?
What makes the Church effective today is no different from what made the early Church effective. It’s the Spirit of God working through the Word of God in the hearts of His people. Jesus told His disciples, “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth” (Acts 1:8). Only a Spirit-filled church can accomplish anything for God. We simply need to ask God to empower us, and seek Him until He does. (Luke 11:13)
WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF THE CHURCH?
The purpose of the church is threefold. First, the church is to exalt God. He called us to live “to the praise of His glory” (Ephesians 1:12).
Second, the church is to edify the saints. Paul exhorts us to “present every man perfect in Christ Jesus” (Colossians 1:28).
Third, the church is to evangelize the world. Jesus told His disciples, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature” (Mark 16:15). We believe in adhering to these purposes while keeping them in proper balance.
WHAT IS THE PRACTICE OF THE CHURCH?
The practice of the church is fourfold. It is to be a worshipping church, a learning church, a loving and united church and a praying church. We find the trademarks of a healthy church in the book of Acts: “And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine, and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers” (2:42).
WHAT ARE THE ORDINANCES OF THE CHURCH?
Ordinances of the church are outward rites or symbolic observances commanded by Jesus, which set forth essential Christian truths. We observe the ordinances of water baptism and communion.
WHO IS THE HEAD OF THE CHURCH?
Jesus told His disciples, “On this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it” (Matthew 16:18). The Bible says that the head of the church is Jesus Christ Himself (Ephesians 1:22; 5:23).
Repentance
The Greek word for repentance is metanoia, which means a complete shift in how you think. It is a change of mind about sin that results in a direct change of action.
Repentance is granted by God. Acts 11:18 "When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life."
A conviction of sin and repentance are the preliminary steps towards faith in Christ.
Isaiah 40:3-5 "The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low: and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain: And the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it." See also: (Matthew 3:3, Mark 1:3, Luke 3:4, and John 1:23)
Mark 1:14-15 "And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel."
Luke 5:31-32 "And Jesus answering said unto them, They that are whole need not a physician; but they that are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance."
What is Prayer?
Prayer is a communication with God. It is not just talking to God, but also listening for His response. And the more we communicate with Him, the more we will be able to recognize His voice. ( John 10:27 )
Prayer is not meritorious. The practice of prayer in itself does not earn us favor with God just because we pray. Some other religions pray as a good work. Muslims pray as a good work to reduce their time in Hell. It's possible that Christians can have a view like that too.
Why we need to Pray
First of all, if the Man, Jesus, the Son of God prayed, then we should realize that it must be pretty important for us to pray too. Secondly, God says; "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. ( Isaiah 55:8-9 ) We need to know God's thoughts and ways. Since His thoughts and ways are higher, much higher than ours, we need for His revelation into what is His will and what pleases Him. This will achive our best outcomes as well. We should not depend on our own inclinations, but ask for wisdom in all aspects of our lives. ( James 1:5 )
What is the proper way to pray
From the heart
Jeremiah 29:12 "Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. And ye shall seek me, and find me , when ye shall search for me with all your heart."
Not for the recognition from men, but in secret to God
Matthew 6:5-8 "And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are : for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly. But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do : for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him."
The Lord's example prayer, short and concise
Matthew 6:9-13 "After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen."
Confidence and boldness in prayer
1 John 5:14-15 "And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him."
Matthew 7:7-8 "Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened."
Matthew 21:21-22 "Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done. And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive."
Mark 11:24 "Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them , and ye shall have them"
Forgive anyone who you have ought against
Mark 11:25 "And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses."
Matthew 6:12, 14-15 "And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors....For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses."
What things can we ask God for
Philippians 4:6 "Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God."
Pray for concerns about the Church, fellow believers and leaders, your family, friends, your country and it's leaders and all in authority, your enemies, and yourself.
Colossians 4:3-4 "Withal praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds: That I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak."
When is the best time to Pray
The short answer is anytime our heart desires His presence and fellowship. A good habit is to pray first thing in the morning when our minds are clear and fresh, not cluttered or distracted by the day's activities and problems. Meeting with God as the first thing of the day, you will find that God will be waiting for you.
Psalm 5:3 "My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O LORD; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up."
Psalm 88:13 "But to You I have cried out, O LORD, And in the morning my prayer comes before You.
Be persistent
Luke 18:1–8 (The Parable of the Persistent Widow)
Luke 11:5–10 (The Friend at Midnight)
1 Thessalonians 5:17–18 "Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you."
Romans 12:12 "Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;"
Colossians 4:2 "Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving;"
There is much confusion in the Christian community concerning "Salvation". What does it mean to be "Saved"? And if you're saved, can you loose your salvation? And if you loose your salvation, can you get it back again?
There's a fundamental problem with all these questions and that is that they talk about salvation as if it were just a thing. "Salvation" is not a thing that you have and maybe can loose. Instead it is a Person, Jesus Christ, and your relationship with Him. ( John 17:3, 1 Corinthians 1:30, 2 Corinthians 13:5 ) If we take this perspective, then all the scriptures fall into place and the contradictions go away. Otherwise, we end up divided into groups of people who reference different scriptures that seem to prove their specific doctrinal beliefs.
Water Baptism
Baptism is not a personal choice, but a command for believers. Jesus established water baptism as an ordinance when He gave the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19; Mark 16:16).
WHAT IS WATER BAPTISM?
Water baptism is a public, outward testimony that indicates a personal, inward faith, and a commitment to follow Jesus. It gives evidence of the inner change that has already occurred in the believer’s life, when he or she was “born again” through faith in Jesus Christ.
WHY SHOULD WE BE BAPTIZED?
We are to be baptized because Jesus Christ commanded it (Matthew 28:19), and because we love the Lord. Jesus said, “If you love Me, keep My commandments” (John 14:15). Throughout the book of Acts, we read how the early church gave importance to water baptism (2:41; 8:12,38; 9:18; 10:47-48; 16:15,33; 19:3-5).
Another reason we need to be baptised, is because, in our commitment to Christ, we are incorporated into His death. Jesus would say, take up your cross and follow me. ( Matthew 10:38;16:24, Mark 8:34, Luke 9:23; 14:27 ) His death on the cross becomes our death in a supernatural way and becomes our death and breaks the power of sin in our lives so we can live a new life worthy of the calling of Christ. ( Romans 6:1-7 )
WHO SHOULD BE BAPTIZED?
All born-again believers in Jesus Christ and only believers should be baptized. (Mark 16:15-16; Acts 8:12, 36-38; 16:31-33; 18:8).
SHOULD INFANTS AND CHILDREN BE BAPTIZED?
After Peter spoke at Pentecost, “those who gladly received his word [in its entirety] were baptized” (Acts 2:41, emphasis added). In the New Testament, every instance in which a person was baptized and his or her identity was given, that person was an adult. In light of Scripture, infant baptism must be ruled out, because infants cannot receive the Word of God and understand it. However, infants are to be dedicated to the Lord (1 Samuel 1:26-28). Children may be baptized if they receive and understand God’s Word.
IN WHOSE NAME SHOULD WE BE BAPTIZED?
As part of the Great Commission, Jesus instructed the disciples to baptize “in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 28:19).
IS WATER BAPTISM NECESSARY FOR SALVATION?
First of all, under the topic of Salvation, we have already stated that "Salvation" is a Person, not a thing. It is a relationship with God through our love with Jesus resulting in our obedience to His commands and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit in our lives. ( John 14:19-24 ) This scripture also shows that the indwelling of the Holy Spirit is the Triune God of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
The Bible clearly teaches that we are saved by grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8-9) and according to God’s mercy (Titus 3:5). The thief on the cross next to Jesus had no time to be baptized; yet Jesus promised that he would be with Him in Paradise that day (Luke 23:43). We should not think that God works in a mechanical, rigid and always in a pre-determined way. He's at a higher level and always does what He determines as righteous regardless of our outward and situational circumstances.
The Apostle Paul declared, “For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel…” ( 1 Corinthians 1:17). This clearly indicated that salvation is a response of faith in the gospel, not from the act of baptism. Therefore, water baptism is not an act that saves, but an act flowing out of faithful obedience. "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned." ( Mark 16:16 )
Let's illistrate this in another way. A man and woman can fall in love. As they get to know each other, their love grows and they desire to commit to one another in marriage and get engadged. But no matter how much they may love each other, they are not husband and wife until the wedding day when they say their vowes in public. In the same way, as you get to know Jesus through His Word, you develop a love relationship with Him. But you are not a Christian in the full sense until you have made a commitment to follow Jesus and recognize Him as your saviour. Baptism is where that commitment is made public, not just on Earth, but also before Heaven.
In modern times, some churches have adopted the practice of the alter calls where people can come forward and say a prayer to accept Christ as their saviour. Then later, at a convienient time, they would be baptised as a ritual that needed to be done. But this was not the practice of 1st century Christians. Instead, being baptised was the act of coming forward to receive Christ. People did not wait to be baptised, but did it immediately after coming to faith. ( Acts 2:37-41, Acts 8:26-40, Acts 16:25–34 )
Communion
Communion, often called “The Lord’s Supper,” is a memorial in which Christians identify with the crucifixion of Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 10:16, 11:20). It’s a time for believers to remember the Lord’s broken body and His shed blood for all people (Luke 22:19-20).
The Lord's
INSTITUTION OF COMMUNION
Jesus Christ instituted communion on the eve of His death when He ate the Passover meal with His disciples 1 Corinthians 11:23-26 "For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread: And when he had given thanks, he brake it , and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it , in remembrance of me. For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come.
(Matthew 26:26-29; Mark 14:22-25; Luke 22:14-20; 1 Corinthians 11:23-25).
MEANING AND SYMBOLISM OF COMMUNION
Bread and wine were once served for the Lord’s Supper. (Today many churches use crackers and grape juice.) The bread symbolizes Christ’s body, which was beaten and broken for us as He died for the sins of humanity. The cup of wine symbolizes His blood, which was shed for us as He paid for our sins. His blood also establishes the New Testament or Covenant with us and God. (Matthew 26:28; John 10:17-18; Ephesians 1:7; Romans 5:8-9).
ESSENTIALS FOR OBSERVING COMMUNION
Anyone who participates in the Lord’s Supper must first be a believer. Jesus commanded His disciples to observe communion (Matthew 26:26); therefore, a person must have placed his or her faith in Jesus Christ for salvation before taking part in communion.
In addition to being believers, we must prepare our hearts to participate in the Lord’s Supper. Paul instructed believers not to “eat this bread or drink this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner…” (1 Corinthians 11:27).
Last, we must examine our lives for any unconfessed sin. Paul reminds us, “Let a man examine himself” (1 Corinthians 11:28) to avoid bringing judgment upon ourselves. As we become right with God through confessing our sins (1 John 1:9), we may then participate in the Lord’s Supper in a worthy manner.
PAST SIGNIFICANCE OF COMMUNION
Communion is a time to look back, remembering the Lord’s death on the cross. His death was more than just an atoning death – it was a substitutional death. He died in our place so that we might live. He took our sins upon Himself so that we could receive His righteousness (2 Corinthians 5:21).
PRESENT SIGNIFICANCE OF COMMUNION
Communion is a time to look within, considering our lives in light of our profession of faith. As we enter into a time of communion with the Lord, we are to thank Him for our salvation and the privilege of being His children.
FUTURE SIGNIFICANCE OF COMMUNION
Communion is a time to look ahead toward the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. Paul said we’re to “Proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes” (1 Corinthians 11:26). The Lord’s Supper foreshadows the great Marriage Supper of the Lamb (Revelation 19).
Today, we stand between the two most important events in human history: the First and the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. When we observe The Lord’s Supper as Christians, we become connected to both.
To do God’s work, we need God’s power. Jesus told His disciples, “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you…” (Acts 1:8).
WHAT IS THE BAPTISM OF THE HOLY SPIRIT?
The baptism of the Holy Spirit occurs when the Spirit of God comes upon a believer. The Holy Spirit opens the believer’s mind with a genuine revelation and understanding of truth, takes possession of the believer’s abilities, and imparts gifts that qualify the believer for service in the body of Christ.
The Holy Spirit also speaks to the hearts of unbelievers, showing them their need for salvation (John 16:7-11). When a person repents of their sins and accepts Jesus Christ as their personal Savior and Lord, the Holy Spirit indwells him or her (John 14:15-17; 1 Corinthians 3:16; 12:13). But believers also need the baptism of the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:5-8).
WHY WE NEED THE BAPTISM OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
The Christian life is progressive. (Romans 1:16-17) "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith." After becoming a Christian, we continue to seek and learn and grow in our faith through the word of God until we have a solid relationship and faith as we become new creations in Him. In God's own timing and way, He then baptises us in the Holy Spirit. The experience is a filling and overflowing joy as we experience God's presence.
The baptism of the Holy Spirit empowers believers for service, witness, spiritual warfare, and boldness in their testimonies (Acts 1:8, 4:19-20, 29-31; 6:8-10; 1 Corinthians 2:4).
Jesus commanded the disciples not to begin the work to which He had called them until they were baptized in the Holy Spirit (Luke 24:48-49; Acts 1:4,8). When the apostles met believers in Christ, they at once asked whether the believers had received the Holy Spirit. If not, they made sure the believers received Him (Acts 8:14-16; 19:1-5). The baptism of the Holy Spirit is an absolute necessity in every Christian’s life for the service to which God has called us.
HOW TO RECEIVE THE BAPTISM OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
Ask. Continue to seek and obey God's word. Jesus said, “If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!” (Luke 11:13). God fulfills His promises in a variety of ways, and no two human beings are alike in how they receive spiritual things.
The New Testament tells us that some believers received the baptism of the Holy Spirit at the moment of their conversion, such as Cornelius and his family (Acts 10). Others, such as the believers in Ephesus, received it at a later time (Acts 19:1-5). We should never limit God by our own expectations. He is sovereign and will work in whatever way He chooses.