GARY CLARKE MINISTRIES and MEAFORD HARVEST CHURCH
STATEMENT OF FAITH
REVISED JANUARY 2017
This ministry shall accept the Holy Scriptures as the revealed will of God, the all-sufficient rule for faith and practice, and for the purpose of maintaining general unity adopts the following Statement of Faith:
1. THE HOLY SCRIPTURES
All Scripture (Old and New Testaments) is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine, reproof, correction, and instruction in righteousness. The New Covenant as recorded in the New Testament is our infallible guide in matters relating to conduct and doctrine. 1ST THESSALONIANS 2:13, 2ND TIMOTHY 3:16, 2ND PETER 1:21
2. THE GODHEAD (THE TRINITY)
Our God is triune in personality – God, the Father, God, the Son; and God, the Holy Spirit, yet one God, eternally existent in three persons. DEUTERONOMY 6:4; MATTHEW 3:16-17; MATTHEW 28:19; PHILIPPIANS 2:5-6; 1ST JOHN 5:7
God the Father is greater than all; the source of the Word (Logos) and the Begetter.
JOHN 1:14; JOHN 14:28; JOHN 16:28
3. THE DEITY OF JESUS CHRIST
Jesus, the Son of God, is God incarnate and was manifest in human flesh. Jesus is the First-Begotten and has existed with the Father since the Beginning. Jesus was like us in all ways except for one, He was completely free from sin.
ISAIAH 9:6-7; JOHN 1:14, 18; JOHN 5:22-23; JOHN 8:54-58; JOHN 10
4. THE HOLY SPIRIT
The Holy Spirit proceeds forth from both God the Father, and Jesus the Son of God, and is eternal. The Holy Spirit’s present-day ministry is to fill the Christian Believer with His presence and brings help, truth, comfort, leadership, and direction to believers. JOHN 14:16-17; 26; JOHN 15:26
5. THE VIRGIN BIRTH
Jesus Christ was conceived by the Holy Spirit and was born of the Virgin Mary.
ISAIAH 7:14; MATTHEW 1:18-23
6. JESUS CHRIST DIED FOR MAN’S SINS
The vicarious atoning death of Jesus, who died on the cross so that we might live, offered Himself up as the perfect sacrifice for sinful man – the salvation of man.
JOHN 3:16-17; ROMANS 5:6-10; 1ST THESSALONIANS 5:9-10
7. THE BODILY RESURRECTION AND ASCENSION OF JESUS CHRIST
Jesus Christ is the risen Saviour. Jesus arose from the dead, ascended into Heaven, and is seated at the right hand of God the Father. ACTS 1:9-11; ROMANS 8:31-35
8. THE WORD OF GOD
All scripture, both Old and New Testaments, (the Word of God) is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, and for instruction in righteousness. 1ST CORINTHIANS 10:11; 1ST TIMOTHY 3:16
Man should live his life according to the Word of God, knowing that every word has proceeded from the mouth of the Lord. DEUTERONOMY 8:3
The Word of God is pure and undefiled; God’s Word stands forever. We should never add to it or take away from it. PROVERBS 30:5-6; ISAIAH 40:8
Believers are to meditate in the Word of God day and night and observe to do what the Word says. JOSHUA 1:8
God’s thoughts and His ways are higher than man’s thoughts and ways. God’s Word always accomplishes what God sends His word to do. ISAIAH 55:8-11
God’s people perish from a lack of His Word. HOSEA 4:6
The sword of the Spirit is the Word of God. EPHESIANS 6:17
The Word of God is alive and powerful, divides as under the soul and spirit and joints and marrow, and discerns the thoughts and intents of our hearts. HEBREWS 4:12
Believers are to be doers of the Word, not hearers only. JAMES 1:22
9. THE FALL OF MAN
Man is a created being, made in the likeness and image of God, but through Adam’s voluntary transgression and fall, sin came into the world. As a result, man incurred both physical and spiritual death. ROMANS 3:10; ROMANS 5:12; ROMANS 6:23
10. THE REDEMPTION OF MAN
Jesus Christ, the Son of God, was manifested to undo the works of the devil, and gave His life on the cross and shed His blood to redeem and restore man back to God. 1ST JOHN 3:8
11. SALVATION THROUGH JESUS CHRIST
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved.” JOHN 3:16-17
Jesus died on the cross of Calvary, was buried, and rose again from the dead, providing eternal life to those who believe and accept Him as their personal Saviour and Lord.
ROMANS 5:6-10; 1ST CORINTHIANS 15:3-4
Jesus is able to save all those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them. HEBREWS 7:2, 5
God has given Jesus the Name above every name that at the Name of Jesus, every knee should bow and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.
ACTS 2:32-33; PHILIPPIANS 2:9-11
12. BECOMING BORN AGAIN
All mankind must be “born again” to enter the Kingdom of God, to obtain His blessings, to have peace with God, and to meet Him in the air as His bride, without spot or blemish. This is done by believing in your heart and confessing with your mouth that Jesus Christ is Lord and that God raised Him from the dead. Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. JOHN 3:3; JOHN 14:6; ROMANS 10:9
13. WATER BAPTISM
Baptism in water is by full immersion, and is a direct commandment of our Lord Jesus Christ, and is for believers only. It symbolizes our identification with Jesus Christ in His death, burial, and resurrection.
MATTHEW 28:19; ACTS 8:36-39; ROMANS 6:4; COLOSSIANS 2:12
14. THE BAPTISM IN THE HOLY SPIRIT
The baptism in the Holy Spirit and Fire is a gift from God as promised by the Lord Jesus to those who are believers in this dispensation.
LUKE 24:49; ACTS 1:4, 8; 1ST CORINTHIANS 12:1-31
The baptism in the Holy Spirit is distinct from and received subsequent to the New Birth – becoming born again.
ACTS 8:12-17; ACTS 10:44-46; ACTS 11:14-16; ACTS 15:7-9
This experience is accompanied by the initial evidence of speaking in other tongues as the Holy Spirit gives utterance.
MATTHEW 3:11; JOHN 14:16-17; ACTS 1:8; ACTS 2:4, 38-39; ACTS 10:46; ACTS 19:1-7
The manifestation of the miraculous power of God is evidenced in the lives of all believers through the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit, through the nine fruit of the Holy Spirit, the nine gifts of the Holy Spirit, and obedience to His Word. 1ST CORINTHIANS 12:7-10; GALATIANS 5:22
15. ALL BELIEVERS ARE TO WALK BY FAITH
Faith comes to believers by hearing the Word of God and by praying in the Holy Spirit.
ROMANS 10:17; JUDE 1:20
Faith is exercised by believing in the heart, confessing what one believes of the Word of God and being a doer of the Word and not a hearer only.
ROMANS 10:9; MARK 11:23; JAMES 1:22; JAMES 2:18
Through faith we have access to all the grace of God: salvation, water baptism, the laying on of hands, baptism of the Holy Spirit, knowledge of His Word, answered prayer, and a personal relationship as a child of God. ROMANS 5:2; MATTHEW 9:29
16. SANCTIFICATION
The Bible teaches that without Holiness no man can see the Lord. The doctrine of sanctification is a definite, yet progressive work of Grace, commencing at the time of the New Birth and continuing until the consummation of salvation.
1ST CORINTHIANS 1:30; PHILIPPIANS 3:12-14; 1ST THESSALONIANS 5:23;
HEBREWS 12:14; 2ND PETER 3:18
17. ALL BELIEVERS HAVE DOMINION OVER SIN, SATAN AND SELF
All believers have power over all the works of the enemy and should live a lifestyle that represents the life of Jesus Christ. MATTHEW 10:7-8; LUKE 10:19
Sin has no dominion over a born again believer. MATTHEW 1:21; ROMANS 6:9, 14
Jesus Christ overcame sin and is an overcomer, victorious and more than a conqueror. Therefore as His body of believers, we are the same through Him! ACTS 1:8; ROMANS 8:37; EPHESIANS 1:19-23
18. ALL BELIEVERS SHOULD WALK IN HOLINESS AND PURITY
Holy living and holiness is the goal of all believers. All forms of sexual perversion (fornication, adultery, homosexuality) are unbiblical and are considered sin by the Holy Scriptures.
LEVITICUS 18:22, 20:13; ROMANS 1:24-27; 1ST CORINTHIANS 6:9-10;
2ND CORINTHIANS 7:1; 1ST THESSALONIANS 4:7
19. ALL BELIEVERS HAVE THE PROMISE OF PROSPERITY
God wants all believers to be healthy and prosperous, and through His principle of giving and His law of sowing and reaping, we live under a more efficient economic system with God as our source and supply.
MATTHEW 6:31-33; 2ND CORINTHIANS 8:9; 3RD JOHN 2
20. ALL BELIEVERS HAVE ACCESS TO GODLY POWER
All believers have power over all the power of the enemy, and they are to heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils, and preach the good news of the Gospel. MATTHEW 10:7-8; LUKE 10:19
21. DIVINE HEALING
Healing for the physical human body, as well as the human soul is wrought by the power of God through the prayer of Faith, and the laying on of hands. Healing is provided for in the atonement of Jesus, and is available to every believer in the Church today.
MATTHEW 8:17; MARK 16:18; JAMES 5:14-20; ISAIAH 53:4-5; 1ST PETER 2:24
22. THE SACRED TITHE
The sacred tithe represents the first ten percent of all increase and belongs to the Lord. Believers are to bring the tithe into the storehouse (the local Church) and honor and worship the Lord with their substance. PROVERBS 3:9-10; MALACHI 3:10
The sacred tithe is the Lord’s and does not become the Lord’s when a believer decides to present it. LEVITICUS 37:30-31
Tithing was initiated by Abraham before the giving of the Law and is taught in both the Old and New Testaments. MATTHEW 23:23; HEBREWS 7:2, 5
A tithing believer has tither’s rights. MALACHI 3:8-12
23. CHRIST IS THE HEAD OF THE CHURCH
Jesus Christ is the Head of the Church, and all attention and glory are directed to Him alone, and it is Jesus Christ whom we preach, praise, worship and serve.
JOHN 12:32; EPHESIANS 1:22
24. THE FIVEFOLD MINISTRY
Jesus, the Head of the Church, has given apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers for the perfecting of the saints and the work of the ministry. These five offices are actual, literal offices functioning in the church today. EPHESIANS 4:8, 11-12
25. JESUS IS THE ONLY WAY TO HEAVEN
All individuals must be “born again” to enter the kingdom of God, to obtain His blessings, to have peace with God, and to meet Him in the air as His bride, without spot or blemish. JOHN 3:3; ACTS 4:12; ROMANS 10:9
26. THE SACRAMENTS AND ORDINANCES
There are ordinances by which believers can demonstrate and express their faith:
- Holy Communion
LUKE 22:19-20; 1ST CORINTHIANS 11:24-27
- Baptisms
ACTS 1:8, 2:38; 1ST CORINTHIANS 12:13
There are holy sacraments we hold sacred and live by with deep conviction:
- Anointing of the Sick
JAMES 5:14-15
- Holy Matrimony Between a Man and a Woman
MATTHEW 19:5-6; EPHESIANS 5:31; HEBREWS 13:4
- Child Dedication
DEUTERONOMY 6:4-7; LUKE 2:22
- Ordination of Ministers
EXODUS 28:41; ACTS 13:1-4; 1ST TIMOTHY 2:7
27. THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH
Jesus Christ is the Head of the Body, the Church. Jesus has preeminence in all things. It is Jesus Christ whom we praise, worship, preach and serve. JOHN 12:32; COLOSSIANS 1:18
God builds His Church on the foundation of the revelation that Jesus Christ is the Son of the living God. The gates of Hades (hell or the anti-Christ motives and movements) will not prevail against His Church. MATTHEW 16:13-18
The local church is the place that believers of like-precious faith gather together to praise and worship God and to increase their knowledge of God, faith, and godliness. It is the place to be equipped, trained, taught, coached, and mentored for living a Christian life and becoming fruitful Christians prepared for this life and eternity. 2ND PETER 1:1-11
Jesus Himself gave gifts to men – apostles, prophets, teachers, pastors, and evangelists to perfect the believers to do the work of the church/ministry. EPHESIANS 4:11-12
Church is where believers come together in the unity of the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God recognizing Jesus Christ as the Head of the Church. Church is where people mature as Christian believers. EPHESIANS 4:13-16
28. THE INSTITUTION OF THE CHRISTIAN HOME
As Christians, we believe that life begins in the mother’s womb.
JEREMIAH 1:5; PSALM 139:13, 16
As Christians, we believe that Marriage is between a man and a woman only. God Himself created and instituted marriage as the holy union between one man and one woman, according to the Holy Scriptures. No other form of union or marriage is acceptable in the eyes of God or by this corporation/Church.
GENESIS 2:18-25; PROVERBS 5:18-19; 1ST CORINTHIANS 7:1-16
“But from the beginning of the creation, God made them male and female. For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh; so then they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate.” MARK 10:6-9
Children are a heritage from the Lord and are to be brought up according to the scriptures. PSALM 127:3; PROVERBS 22:6
The husband is the head of the home, and is responsible to give an account of his spiritual leadership, love, and provision for the home and family to Christ. EPHESIANS 5:22-23; COLOSSIANS 3:18-19
29. THE RETURN OF JESUS - HIS APPEARING
Jesus will literally return to the earth to receive His Church of faith-filled believers – perfected, and without spot or blemish.
His appearing will occur prior to the commencement of the last 7-year period on the earth, known as the tribulation period.
LUKE 18:8; EPHESIANS 5:27; 1ST THESSALONIANS 4:16-17
30. THE RETURN OF JESUS - HIS SECOND COMING
Jesus will literally return to the earth at the conclusion of the last 7-year period knows as the tribulation period to establish His throne and rule upon the earth. Jesus returns to earth with the believers who were received into heaven at His appearing.
ZECHARIAH 14:4-6; MATTHEW 24:30; 1ST THESSALONIANS 1:10; TITUS 2:13; REVELATION 1:7, 19:11-16
31. THE MILLENNIAL REIGN OF CHRIST
Following the last 7-year period, known as the tribulation period, Jesus Christ will return to earth to rule as King of Kings and Lord of Lords for a period of one thousand years, the millennial reign of Jesus Christ. The believers who return with Jesus will serve Jesus and assist His reign for the one thousand year period. During this period, satan and his forces will be bound and the Lord Jesus will have things the way He always intended for His kingdom and His saints. REVELATION 20:1-6
32. ETERNAL JUDGMENT
The Lord Jesus will ultimately judge all people. The believer will be judged for their works and the sinner will be judged to condemnation; satan and all his demons will be judged and condemned to the Lake of Fire. The Lake of Fire is eternal damnation; there is no further opportunity of hearing the Gospel or of repentance.
1STCORINTHIANS 3:13-15; HEBREWS 9:27; REVEALTION 19:20; REVELATION 20