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Doctrinal Platform. The doctrinal platform of this Church shall be The Holy Bible, as it is the inerrant, infallible Word of God. We believe the Bible to be the inspired Word of God that it claims to be. This church accepts the scriptures of the Old and New Testament as the inspired record of God's revelatory actions in human history and as the authoritative basis for our doctrine and practice. The Bible shall be the final authority on matters concerning God, church and spiritual issues. Apostolic Doctrine.
No, Apostolic is not a denomination! To say that we are Apostolic does not identify us as a denomination, nor does it mean we hold to certain traditions. It simply means that we identify ourselves with the teachings and the instructions of the Apostles as they received them directly from our Lord Jesus Christ. The first church, according to Scripture, continued "steadfastly in the apostles doctrine and fellowship"" (Acts 2:42). Being Apostolic means we identify our faith with the same faith that the Apostles received from Christ and that of the early church started on the day of Pentecost.
Throughout His earthly ministry, Jesus preached that the kingdom of God was at hand. Jesus' disciples received firsthand teachings and instructions and were commissioned to carry this good news (the gospel of Jesus Christ) to the world. Apostolic doctrine, therefore, is the interpretation and implementation by the Apostles of those firsthand teachings and instructions received from Christ. For example, they were instructed to baptize in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost (Matt. 28:19) and this was interpreted/implemented throughout the book of Acts as they baptized in Jesus' name (Acts 2:38, Acts 8:5, 12-17; Acts 10:48; Acts 19:5). So as proponents of Apostle Doctrine – simply put, we preach the gospel of Jesus. We preach that He was indeed the Christ – the Messiah sent to save the world from its sins. He was born into the world – came and brought light and truth. He ministered through teachings, signs and wonders and then suffered, died, and was buried, and that He rose again from the dead, according to the scriptures (I Corinthians 15:2-4). After the gospel is preached, believers are baptized in Jesus’ name and receive the Holy Ghost (Acts 2:38) and are trained in Christian knowledge and for effective service. Salvation.
We believe that salvation comes only through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and His finished work at Calvary - saved by grace (not by works). Salvation involves: recognition of our sinful state and that Christ is the only way back into fellowship with God, repentance from sins, confession of Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, water baptism (by immersion) in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, baptism/infilling of the Holy Ghost with the evidence of speaking in tongues (as the Spirit of God gives utterance), and growth in grace. See "Road to Redemption through Jesus Christ" below. Vision Statement. Considering the directives of Christ, the purpose of Living Water Apostolic Church shall be to walk in the ways of the Lord Jesus Christ and to uncompromisingly proclaim His Gospel to all mankind - to be in fellowship with Christ and to minister in His name. As a family in Jesus Christ experiencing the love and fellowship of God, caring and sharing, having in common an inward witness, it shall be our goal to seek to bring all people into these same relationships, exalting the worship of the one true God, laboring for the progress of knowledge, and looking with faith for the triumph of righteousness and life everlasting. Road to Redemption through Jesus Christ (Acts 4:12, Acts 10:43, Colossians 3:17): (1) Recognize that you are a sinner condemned to death and eternal separation from God (Romans 3:23; Romans 6:23). (2) Recognize that because of God's great love for us, Christ died for us and acceptance of His finished work at Calvary is the only way back into fellowship with God (Romans 5:8; John 14:6). (3) Repent of your sins - turn from your sins and turn to God for forgiveness (Luke 13:3; Acts 2:38; Acts 3:19). (4) Believe in the saving grace of Christ - that He died for our sins, was buried and rose again the third day (Romans 10:9, 10). (5) Be baptized in water (by immersion) in Jesus' name for the remission of your sins (Acts 2:38; 8:16; 10:48; 19:5; 22:16; Romans 6:3-6). (6) Receive the baptism/infilling of the Holy Ghost with the evidence of speaking in tongues as the Spirit of God gives utterance (John 3:5; Acts 2:4; Romans 8:9; I Cor. 6:19). This is not the "gift of tongues" - each believer speaks in tongues as the initial evidence of the infilling of the Holy Ghost. (7) Growth in Grace - Spiritual Growth (Eph. 4:15; I Peter 2:2; 2 Peter 3:18).
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