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Our church objectives and Statement of Faith
Objectives
This church seeks to fulfill the
following objectives:
Worship
The purpose of the Church begins with the recognition that we do not belong to
ourselves, but to God. Jesus Christ is Lord, and our entire allegiance belongs
to Him. We gratefully embrace Jesus Christ as Head of all the church's life and
activities through worship, fully acknowledging His majesty in all realms.
(Matthew 16:16-18; Acts 2:36; Ephesians 1:20-23; Philippians 2:9-11; Colossians
1:18; 2:9-10).
Growth and Edification of Believers
The Church is composed of interdependent members, each uniquely designed and
gifted to build up the other members, thereby strengthening the entire body of
Christ. This process of effective ministry to one another is the means by which
believers grow into spiritual maturity. (Ephesians 4: 11-16; I Peter 4: 10-11;
Romans 12:4-8; 1 Corinthians 12: 14).
Evangelism and Church Planting
The Church is called upon, both collectively and as individual members, to share
the good news (gospel) of the love and forgiveness of God through His Son Jesus
Christ. Every believer is a witness in word and deed. This witness and
proclamation of the gospel must be accompanied by genuine love and concern for
the whole person.
(Matthew 28:19-20; Mark
16:15; Luke 24:47; Acts 1:8, 2:38-39; Romans 10: 14-17, Mark 16:15¬18.)
Statement of
Faith
We believe the Bible, composed of the sixty-six (66) books of the Old and New
Testaments, to be the inspired (God-breathed) Word of God (II Timothy 3:16).
It is the final authority for all matters of faith and practice. In other words,
it is the revealed will of God concerning what Christians should believe and how
they should live.
The Bible is our ultimate statement of faith. "Where the Bible speaks, we speak;
where the Bible is silent, we are silent." Doctrinal creeds and statements of
Faith can be both divisive and misleading, since they are all composed by
imperfect human beings.
Therefore, we assert the following: In essential beliefs - we have unity
(Ephesians 4:4-6); in non-essential beliefs - we have liberty (Romans 14: 1, 4,
12, 22); and in all our beliefs - we exhibit charity (I Corinthians 13:2;
Ephesians 4:15).
What We Believe
About :
1. GOD
There is only one true GOD, eternally existing in three distinct personalities:
the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. These three are one God, having the
same nature, attributes, and perfections and are, therefore, worthy of the same
worship and obedience. God is the Creator, Sustainer, and Ruler of the universe.
2. JESUS CHRIST
Jesus Christ is the Son of God, meaning He is co-equal with the Father. He is
the express image of the invisible God and Creator of all things. He became a
man, being born of the virgin Mary, and lived a sinless life. Consequently,
Jesus offered himself as the perfect sacrifice for the sins of all people by
dying on a cross. He rose bodily from the dead after three days, demonstrating
His victory over sin and death. He ascended to heaven, seated in authority, and
will return again to earth to reign as King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
(John 1:1-5,14,15-18; Colossians 1:15-20; Hebrews 1:1-3, 4:14-15; Philippians
2:5-11; Isaiah 9:6; Matthew 1 :22-23; I Corinthians 15:3-4; Acts 1 :9-10).
3. THE HOLY SPIRIT
The Holy Spirit is co-equal with the Father and the Son. He is creator, and is
present in the world to convict people of their sin and make them aware of their
need for the Savior - Jesus Christ. People are regenerated (born again) by the
Holy Spirit, and He lives in believers to manifest the character of Christ. He
provides believers with power for holy living, understanding of spiritual truth,
and guidance for life. He also gives Christians spiritual gifts, so they might
serve the church and the world in a manner that surpasses their own natural
abilities and limitations. The victorious Christian life must be lived under His
daily control.
(Genesis 1:2, John 14:16-17, 16:7-13; Acts 1:8, 5:3-4; I Corinthians 2:10-14,
12:3¬11; II Corinthians 3:17-18; Galatians 5:22-25; Ephesians 1:13, 5-18).
4. PEOPLE
People are created in the image of God, and are designed to reflect his
character. People are the supreme object of God's creation and love. Through
willful transgression and disobedience, people have fallen from their originally
created state of righteousness, peace and joy into a state of separation from
God. Being separated from the source of life, love and joy has resulted in
bondage and death. People are unable to deliver themselves from their sinful
condition, but are totally dependent upon the power of God as presented in the
Gospel of Jesus Christ.
5. SALVATION
Because people are unable to save themselves from their sinful condition,
salvation is altogether the work of God. Neither good works nor self-improvement
can make up for our sin. Salvation is the free gift of God. However, like any
gift, it must be received. This gift is received by faith, or by believing and
trusting in Jesus Christ, who died as our substitute that we might live. Through
repentance from sin and faith toward God, we turn from our self-ruled life to
trust in Jesus as Lord and Savior.
(John 1:12, 14:6; Romans 5:6-21, 6:23; Galatians 3:26; Ephesians 2:8-9; Titus
3:5).
6. THE CHURCH
The church is composed of all who have experienced, through faith in Christ, the
new birth into the family of God. All true believers are then members of the
Universal church, the body of Christ. Since the New Testament exhorts believers
to gather for such purposes as worship, prayer, fellowship, sharing the Lord's
Supper, teaching of the Word, ministry to fellow Christians, and evangelism, the
local church is an indispensable part of God's plan for His people and the
world. The work of Para-church groups is appreciated, but the local church is
God's chosen instrument for both the nurture of Christians and world evangelism.
W e believe in the spiritual unity of all true believers in the Lord Jesus
Christ and in cooperating with one another for the causes of evangelism, Social
action and missions.
(Matthew 16: 16-18; Romans 12:5; I Corinthians 12: 12-13; Ephesians 1:22-23;
4:4¬6, 9-6).
7. ETERNAL DESTINY
God created people to exist forever. We will either exist eternally separated
from God by sin, or eternally with God through forgiveness and salvation.
Eternal separation from God is Hell. Eternal fellowship and union with God is
eternal life. Heaven and Hell are real places of eternal existence.
(John 3:16; Matthew 25:31-45, 19:29; II Thessalonians 1:7-9; Revelation
20:11-15).
Sincerely,
Oasis of Life Church
Michael Michaels, Pastor
Oasis of Life
Empire Towers 1
3633 Inland Empire Blvd.,
Suite 750
Ontario, CA 91764
909.684.9705
pastor@oasisoflife.net
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