Greater Destiny International Ministries Statement of Faith
God
We believe in one God, Creator of all things, holy, infinitely perfect, and eternally existing in three equally divine Persons: God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. Having limitless knowledge and sovereign power, God has graciously purposed from eternity to redeem a people for Himself and to make all things new for His own glory.
The Bible
We believe the Bible, as originally written, was verbally inspired and the product of Spirit controlled men and therefore is truth without error in the original writings. We believe the Bible is the complete revelation of God’s will for the salvation of mankind and the standard by which all humans should live. Therefore, it is to be believed in all that it teaches, obeyed in all that it requires, and trusted in all that it promises.
Mankind, His Fall & Redemption
We believe that man was created in the image of God, but sinned when tempted by Satan. We believe that salvation is a free gift, by God’s grace, received by placing faith in Jesus Christ. We believe that in salvation there is complete forgiveness of sin and the unmerited gift of eternal life.
Jesus Christ
We believe that Jesus Christ is God incarnate, fully God and fully man, one Person in two natures. Jesus was conceived through the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. He lived a sinless life, was crucified, arose bodily from the dead, ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father as our High Priest and Advocate.
The Work of Christ
We believe that Jesus Christ, as our representative and substitute, shed His blood on the cross as the perfect, all-sufficient sacrifice for our sins. His atoning death and victorious resurrection constitute the only ground for salvation.
The Holy Spirit
We believe in the Baptism of the Holy Spirit with the sign of speaking in other tongues. We believe in the manifestation of the gifts of the Holy Spirit. He ministers to His people through tongues, interpretations of tongues, prophecy; words of knowledge and words of wisdom, discerning of spirits, faith, working of miracles and healing. We believe that the evidence of the Holy Spirit’s indwelling presence is a changed life. We believe that the Holy Spirit dwells, illuminates, guides, equips and empowers believers for Christ-like living and service.
Christ’s Return
We believe in the bodily and premillennial return of our Lord Jesus Christ at a time known only to God. We believe that His return is imminent and gives hope to the personal life and service of all believers.
Response and Eternal Destiny
We believe that God commands everyone everywhere to believe the gospel by turning to Him in repentance and receiving the Lord Jesus Christ. We believe that God will raise the dead bodily and judge the world, assigning the unbeliever to condemnation and eternal conscious punishment and the believer to eternal blessedness and joy with the Lord in the new heaven and the new earth, to the praise of His glorious grace.
The Local Church, Baptism, & Communion
We believe that the true church comprises all who have been justified by God’s grace through faith alone in Christ alone. They are united by the Holy Spirit in the body of Christ, of which He is the Head. We believe the local church exists to help people know and glorify God, to equip and build up the believer’s faith, and to empower and unleash people to do the work of the ministry. We believe the Lord Jesus mandated two ordinances, baptism and the Lord’s Supper, which visibly and tangibly express the gospel. Though they are not the means of salvation, when celebrated by the church in genuine faith, these ordinances confirm and nourish the believer.
Christian Living
We believe that God’s justifying grace must not be separated from His sanctifying power and purpose. God commands us to love Him supremely and others sacrificially, and to live out our faith with care for one another, compassion toward the poor and justice for the oppressed. With God’s Word, the Spirit’s power, and fervent prayer in Christ’s name, we are to combat the spiritual forces of evil. In obedience to Christ’s commission, we are to make disciples among all people, always bearing witness to the gospel in word and deed.
Stewardship
We believe that every member should contribute financially to support the inner workings of the ministry. Members have a scriptural obligation to pay tithes and offering as the Bible states that there shall be meat in his house. We believe that obedience in giving is a Godly principle where he in turn blesses individuals in every area of their lives.