GICM Statement of Faith
Growth in Christ Ministries is not a church or associated with any denomination, so our statement of faith is simple and embraces a view of the truths of the Word of God that are clearly enunciated in that Word.
The Holy Scripture – We believe the Holy Scriptures to be the verbal, absolute, complete and inspired Word of God. They are all that is necessary and the absolute authority for faith and practice in our Christian walk. As they were inspired by the Holy Spirit through men, He is able to bring to light all that we need from the Father and the Son that is necessary to be faithful Christians and to bring the lost to Christ. (2 Timothy 3:16-17, I Peter1:20-21, John 1:1,14:21,16:13-15) As such the Word of God is living and active and as such should penetrate us and move us and guide us into all truth. (Hebrews 4:12
Trinitarian God – We believe there is one God who is eternal with no beginning that exists in three persons-Father, Son and Holy Spirit. (Deuteronomy 6:4, Matthew 28:19, Luke 3:22, John 10:30, 2 Corinthians 13:14). As such they are real and living. They are authors of creation and hold all creation together by their Word and they dwell within us actively.
The Father – The Father is sovereign over all His creation. (2 Chronicles 20:6, 29:11, Psalm 115:15, 124:8, Matthew 6:9, 7:21, 10:32, 23:9, Ephesians 1:3) We recognize because of the finished work of Christ, the Father is present within us by the Holy Spirit which He has given. (John 14:23)
Jesus-the Son of God – Eternally begotten of the Father, one with the Father. He was born on earth of the virgin Mary taking on human flesh, He lived a sinless life, He proclaimed the message of salvation to all nations. He was tempted in every way yet without sin. His vicarious and substitutionary death atoned for our sin through the shedding of His blood. He died, was buried and resurrected on the third day triumphant over death and sin. He ascended into heaven where He is seated above all rule and authority with the Father. He is our great High Priest – (Luke 2:1-21, Acts 1:6-9, Ephesians 4:8-10, Philippians 2:5-10, Colossians 1:15-22, 2:9-15, I Corinthian 15:4, Hebrews 1:1-4, 4:14-5:10, Revelation 1:4-16)
The Holy Spirit – The Holy Spirit is a person and is coequal with the Father and the Son. He was at creation and will be until the end of the age. He was sent by the Father and the Son to be the Executive Secretary of the Church and He brings the presence of God to live within us. He is our Advocate and our Comforter. He leads us into righteousness. He leads us away from the flesh. He reveals the truth to us. He is the inspirer of scripture. He reveals Christ and the Father to us. He anoints people to accomplish the Father’s will. (Genesis 1:2, Numbers 17:25-26, James 1:17, Isaiah 44:3, Ezekial 36:27, Joel 2:28, John 7:39, 14:15-17,16:7-15)
The Work of the Holy Spirit – The Holy Spirit brings to the lost the conviction of sin, the awareness of the righteousness of Christ which he/she cannot achieve on their own, and the fear and awareness of a judgement that awaits man who does not repent and believe in Christ. At salvation He brings to the lost the awareness of their absolute depravity and inability to reconcile with God and reveals to them the person of Christ who is the only one, because of His finished work, able to save to the uttermost. He gives us faith to believe and trust fully in Christ (Ephesians 2:8, I Cor. 12:9, 2 Cor. 4:13,Galatians 3:2, 3:14, 2 Thess. 2:13). He reveals both Christ and the Father to the believer. He will help us and lead and guide us. He leads us as in Psalm 23-beside still waters, into green and pleasant pastures, into deep valleys that are shadows of death, He seats us in front of our enemies so that we will not fear evil, He anoints us with oil and makes our cup of blessing to overflow. He cleanses us from all unrighteousness and prepares us for the good works that God has prepared for us (I John 1:7,9, Hebrews 9:13-14, Eph. 2:10) He anoints us to accomplish miraculous feats which only God himself could perform. In our relationship with Him we bear fruit as the result of being joined to the Vine Jesus. He gifts us with spiritual weapons and supernatural abilities (John 16:7-15, I Corinthians 12, 14:1-25, John 14:15-17, Psalm 23, Romans 8:11-14, Genesis 41:38, Exodus 14:21, Numbers 27:18, I Samuel 10:6, John 15:16, Galatians 5:22-23, Colossians 1:6, Ephesians 5:9, Heb. 13:21). We believe and recognize that God can do anything through men and women that believe Him. We can testify to the fact that we have seen every single one of the listed gifts of I Cor. 12 active and effective. They are often most evident in situations where the gospel is early in its presentation to people that have not heard the gospel however, we have always seen the Holy Spirit active and working through men and women that just believe God. (Matthew 21:21)