DOCTRINAL STATEMENT FOR CHURCH ALIVE NWA
We are an independent Spirit-filled church. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is the only way of salvation. We preach and teach the Bible as the inspired and infallible word of God. The Bible is our love letter, road map, and rule book for living. We believe the baptism with the Holy Spirit is essential for developing unto maturity and living the Christian life. We are a growing family, a community of believers, and those who are local in our service with a vision for Northwest Arkansas and touching the world for Christ.
SCRIPTURE
We believe the Holy Spirit spoke to men the inspired word of God and they wrote it down. This is the accepted canon or collection of scriptural writings as originally given. They are infallible, authoritative, and free from error of any sort in all matters with which they deal; including scientific, historical, moral, and theological. [II Timothy 3:16; I Corinthians 2:13]
GOD, HIMSELF
We believe in the Eternal Godhead who has revealed Himself as ONE God existing in THREE persons; Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; distinguishable but indivisible. When the Hebrew text says, “Hear oh Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one!” God is the word “Elohim”, and this is the plural word for God, as in God who is One and expresses Himself in multiple ways. [Deuteronomy 6:4; Matthew 28:19; II Corinthians 13:14]
BIBLICAL HISTORY
We believe in the full literal historical account and the absolute accuracy of the biblical record of primeval history, including a literal six days creation, an actual Adam and Eve as the progenitors of all people, the literal fall resulting in the divine curse upon the whole creation, the worldwide cataclysmic deluge, and the origins of nations and languages at the tower of Babel. [Genesis 1-11]
CREATION
We believe in the creation, test, and fall of mankind as recorded in Genesis. We believe in our total spiritual depravity and inability to attain to divine righteousness apart from salvation in Jesus Christ. [Genesis 3:10-18; John 14:6; Acts 4:12]
THE LORD JESUS CHRIST
We believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, the only Savior of any people who will repent and call upon Him. We believe He was conceived of the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary. We believe in the mystery and fact that He is fully God and fully man. [Luke 1:26-35; John 1:18; Isaiah 7:14; 9:16; Romans 10:9-13]
CHRIST’S DEATH AND RESURRECTION
We believe that Christ died for our sins, was buried, and rose again on the third day. He personally appeared to His disciples and more than 500 people after He arose. [I Corinthians 15:14; Romans 4:25]
JESUS CHRIST’S BODILY ASCENSION
We believe in the bodily ascension of Jesus to heaven, His exaltation at the right hand of God, and we believe in His personal, literal, and bodily return for a second time to rapture the church. He will put an end to the Enemy, set up His millennial kingdom, and reign forever in the New Jerusalem with us at His side! [John 14:2-3; I Thessalonians 4:13-18; Revelation 19-22]
SALVATION BY GRACE THROUGH FAITH
We believe in the salvation of sinners by grace, through repentance and faith in the perfect and all- sufficient finished work of the cross at Calvary by which we obtain remission of our sins. He has become our sin and died our death, so we can be born-again with a new nature and we become a new creation. [Ephesians 2:8-9; Hebrews 9:12, 22; Romans 5:11; II Corinthians 5:17-21]
WATER BAPTISM
We believe in the necessity of water baptism as specified by the command of Jesus. We believe we are to be baptized by immersion in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit after we repent and are born-again. This is a burial of the past and a resurrection to a new life. [Matthew 28:19; Acts 2:37-39; 19:1-6]
BAPTISM OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
We believe in the baptism of the Holy Spirit as an experience subsequent to salvation. This is evidenced by several expressions that involve speaking in tongues, prophesying, praying with confident faith, and speaking the word of God boldly. [Acts 2:1-4; 4:29-31; 8:14-17; 10:44-46; Galatians 3:14-15]
PRAISE AND WORSHIP
We believe that the Father, Son, and The Holy Spirit are worthy only of our highest praise and worship. We believe that we worship starting personally in our spirits and heart and is expressed often with actions. It is a daily practice through confessions, declarations, and singing. Also, this is expressed by the quality of our work and service, as well as times of corporate celebration. We believe that what is listed in the Psalms and in the New Testament is appropriate expression for praise and worship. [Psalm 47:1; 95:6; 100:1-5; 150:4; Ephesians 5:19-20]
SPIRIT-FILLED LIVING
We believe in the Spirit-filled life that conforms us to the image of Christ through bearing the fruit of the Spirit, living a life of separation from the world, and perfecting holiness in the fear of God as our expression of the Christian faith. Galatians 5:22-25; Ephesians 5:18; I Corinthians 6:14; 7:1]
THE GIFTS OF THE SPIRIT
We believe in the gifts of the Spirit as manifested in Scripture and the early church. As the Holy Spirit works in our gatherings, spiritual gifts are a regular part of what we do. [I Corinthians 12-14; Book of Acts et al.]
HEALING AND DELIVERANCE
We believe in the healing and freedom of the body and soul by Divine power and the authority Jesus’ name. [Luke 4:18-19; Acts 4:30; Romans 8:11; I Corinthians 12:9; James 5:1]
COMMUNION
We believe in celebrating the “Lord’s Table” or communion on a regular basis (monthly) as a congregation and on special occasions. This table is shared by those who are Christians and committed to following Jesus and strengthening His body, the church. [I Corinthians 11:28-32]
TITHES, OFFERINGS, AND PROSPERITY
We believe in giving the tithe (first fruits) which is the first ten percent of our income to the local church of which we are a part. Offerings are given with a free will as the Holy Spirit directs, and we give alms to the poor on occasion. We believe God’s desire is to bless every person in His body with increase and it is for advancing His kingdom and personal enjoyment that honors God. With prosperity comes great responsibility and challenge. [Deuteronomy 8:18; II Corinthians 8:9; 9:6-15]
ETERNAL LIFE
We believe in eternal life for believers in Jesus Christ (John 3:16; 5:24; 17:3) and eternal punishment for unbelievers that do not know or reject Jesus Christ (Mark 9:43-58; II Thessalonians 1:9; Revelation 20:10-15)
SECOND COMING
We believe that Jesus will return at the last trumpet to rapture out His bride, the church, take us to the “Marriage supper of the Lamb”, and we all return together to see Him destroy Satan and all wickedness. He will set up His millennial kingdom for a thousand years and then after final judgment, we will reign forever with Him in glory! [I Corinthians 15:51-52; I Thessalonians 4:16-17; Revelation 19-21]
SATAN, HELL, AND JUDGMENT
We believe in a literal Satan and demons, a real place called Hell or the Lake of Fire, and eternal judgment. Satan and all his servants, angels, and hierarchy will be condemned and cast into the Lake of Fire forever. [Matthew 25:41; Revelation 20:10-15]