Foundations Of Faith

                                           Foundations Of Faith

To which ever Assembly I go , I make it a point to look through their Statements of faith, because I believe that for a building to stand, it's foundation must be stable. If the foundation is wrong, the building will fall. So as to follow Paul's exhortation in Hebrew 6:1 "to press on to maturity" we must check whether our foundation is right with the Word of God.

Therefore leaving the elementary teaching about the Christ, let us press on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, of instruction of baptisms and laying on of hands, and the resurrection of the dead and eternal judgment. (Hebrew 6:1,2)

(1) SALVATION: I believe the Gospel of Jesus Christ has two basic steps: "Repent and believe"(Mark1:15). The foundational teaching Paul mentions in the above passage is in the same order: "Repentance from dead works" comes first, followed by "Faith towards God".

                          The bible declares, "All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God"(Romans 3:23). When the first man and woman sinned, they sold out the entire human race to sin and devil, and therefore there is none righteous, not even one. All are in need of God's salvation. Every man in need of God's salvation must acknowledge that he is a sinner.
Once he acknowledges he is a sinner he must repent of his sins and turn to God. Repentance in Greek means to "change ones mind". After one repents of his sins the next step is faith in the report of the Father about the Son. The bible tells us, if we confess with our mouth Jesus is Lord and believe in our hearts God raised Him from the dead, we shall be saved. (Romans 10: 9)

                         The message of salvation the early Church preached was based on two historical events: the death and resurrection of Jesus. If a person believed Jesus died for their sins and was alive in heaven, that person could be saved. Hebrew 13:20 tells us that Jesus was resurrected through "the blood of eternal covenant". That means the resurrection life was in the blood, and it is through "faith in the blood"(Romans3:25) of Jesus we have eternal life. God can redeem us and forgive us only through the blood of His Son. The moment a person believes in the Gospel, the Holy Spirit uses the blood to bring our dead spirits to life, and thus we are born of the Spirit.

(2) BAPTISMS: I believe in the Christian water baptism to be ministered just as Jesus commanded His disciples: In the name of the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit. The Christian water baptism is an act of obedience to Jesus' command. In water baptism we make a physical declaration of an inward change, where when immersed we declare to the world that we die with Christ and on coming out we declare we are resurrected into a new and living way.

                         I believe in the Holy Spirit baptism which is a promise to all those who have repented and believed in the gospel of Jesus. The Holy Spirit baptism is a must for evangelism. Jesus commanded His disciples not to start His work until they were endued with power from on high. The biblical evidence for the Spirit baptism is speaking in other tongues as the Spirit gives utterance. When one receives the gift of the Holy Spirit, he receives the Giver of the spiritual gifts. The spiritual gifts will be manifested in the life of believers only as the Spirit wills. The operation of the spiritual gifts is a must for effective preaching of the gospel. The spiritual gifts will give the reality of God to those who do not believe.

(3) LAYING ON OF HANDS: I believe in laying on of hands for receiving the Spirit baptism, for healing, for appointing of ministers, and for impartation of gifts.
          We see in the bible that believers were baptized in the Spirit when men of God laid their hands on them. I have seen countless people receive the Spirit baptism in our day.
          Jesus said those who believe in Him would lay hands on the sick and they would recover (Mark 16:17). Healing for the spirit, soul and body is available in the two fold atonement of Jesus. Jesus not only paid for the forgiveness of our sins, but He also paid for our healing, and so we don't have to bear sickness or disease just as much we don't have to bear our sins. This healing can be imparted through laying on of hands. Down through the years many have been healed by laying on of hands. God has used men and women as instruments to bring His healing to His people.
         We also find in the bible the apostles laid hands on people whom they were sending on a mission (Acts 6:6; Acts 13:3).The bible also teaches the impartation of spiritual gifts through laying on of hands. (Romans 1: 11;1 Timothy 4:14).

(4) RESURRECTION: I believe in the resurrection of the dead, and also believe in the resurrection of we who are alive at the coming of the Lord. The bible says, we who are alive at the coming of the Lord will be caught up to meet Him in the air. The dreadful Day of the Lord will come only after the AntiChrist reveals himself. The only thing that keeps the AntiChrist from making his appearance now is the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit has come to prepare the Bride of Christ, and He will be removed from the way when the Bride is ready to be caught up. When the Bride moves out of the stage with the Spirit, the AntiChrist will reveal himself.
And now you know what is restraining, that he(AntiChrist) may be revealed in his(AntiChrist) own time. For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only He(Holy Spirit) Who now restrains will do so until He(Holy Spirit) is taken out of the way.(2 Thessalonians 2:6,7)

(5) ETERNAL JUDGMENT: I believe in Eternal Judgement. However, the righteous and wicked will not stand in Judgment together- these are separate events. The household of believers will be judged for their works at the Judgment Seat of Christ, while those who rejected the Gospel of Jesus Christ will be judged at the White Throne Judgment. Remember, there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ, but those who reject Jesus will be thrown into the Lake of Fire- which is not a state of mind, but a real place.

As I have laid the foundations of Christian faith in the best possible way I could, I now encourage you with Paul's exhortation: " Let us press on to maturity"

Pressing forward,
Sidharth Mohandas

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