STATEMENT OF FUNDAMENTAL TRUTHS
The Gathering Place Christian Center embraces the following Statements of the Truth.
The Bible is the inspired Word of God and is our all-sufficient rule for faith and practice. Both Old and New Testaments were written by holy men inspired by the Holy Spirit and are God's revealed word to man. They are sufficient infallible rule and guide to salvation and all Christian worship and service. (2 Peter 1:20:21; 2 Timothy 3:15:17; 1 Thessalonians 2:13).
There is one and only one True and Living God, Who is the self existent and eternal "I AM", the Creator of heaven and earth and the Redeemer of mankind. He has chosen to reveal Himself as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, the same in essence, though distinct in personality (Deuteronomy 6:4; Isaiah 43:10:11; Matthew 28:18:19; Luke 3:22). These three are one God, having the same nature, attributes, and perfection and are worthy of the same homage and obedience. (Mark 12:29; John 1:14; Acts 5:3,4; II Corinthians 13:14; Revelation 1:4:6).
Jesus Christ is the Son of God and the Son of Man. He was born miraculously of the Virgin Mary (Matthew 1:23; Luke 1:31:35). He lived a sinless life (Hebrews 7:26; 1 Peter 2:22). He came into the world to save men from the guilt and condemnation of sin (John 3:16), offering His blood as an atonement (1 Corinthians 15:3; II Corinthians 5:21) and making it available to all who exercise faith in Him. He died on the cross and was bodily resurrected from the dead (Matthew 28:6; Luke 24:39; 1 Cor. 15:4). He was exalted to the right hand of God (Acts 1:9,11; 2:33; Phil. 2:9-11; Heb. 1:3). He is presently seated at the right hand of God the Father, interceding for His redeemed. We acknowledge Jesus Christ as Lord over all things in Heaven and in Earth and under the Earth. (John 1:1,2,14; 1 Tim. 3:16; Acts 7:37:38; Phil. 2:9-10; Heb. 7:25)
The Holy Spirit guides, knows, moves, gives information, commands, forbids, sends forth, and reproves, as the instrumental segment of the Godhead in the liberal dispersion of spiritual gifts and can be sinned against (Jn. 16:13; I Cor. 2:11; Gen. 1:2; Acts 10:19; 13:2; 16:6; 13:4; Jn. 16:8; Mark 3:29; Acts 7:51; Eph. 4:30; I Cor. 12).
Salvation is man’s only hope of redemption through the shed blood of Jesus Christ, the only Son of God. Salvation is received through repentance toward God and faith toward the Lord Jesus Christ. By the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, being justified by grace through faith, man becomes an heir of God according to the hope of eternal life. It is a free gift, and wholly without human works. (Romans 3:27-28, 4:1:8, 6:23, Ephesians 2:8)
Sanctification is an act of separation from that, which is evil and of a dedication unto God (Rom. 12:1-2; I Thess. 5:23; Heb. 13:12). It is realized in the believer by recognizing his identification with Christ in His death and resurrection and by faith reckoning daily upon that fact of that union, and by offering every faculty continually to the dominion of the Holy Spirit (Rom. 6:1-11,13, 8:1-2,13; Gal. 2:20; Phil. 12:12-13; I Pet. 1:5). It is the process by which, according to the will of God, we become partakers of His Holiness; that it is begun at regeneration; and that it is carried on in the heart’s of believers by the presence and power of the Holy Spirit in the continual use of the appointed means especially the Word of God, self-examination, self-denial, watchfulness, and prayer (1 Thess. 4:3; 1 Jn. 2:29; Rom. 8:5; Phil. 2:12-13).
The Doctrine Of Baptisms is taught in the New Testament. We believe that there is the baptism whereby the repentant sinner, upon trusting Jesus Christ as his Savior, is baptized by the Holy Spirit into the Body of Christ (1 Cor. 12:13). Secondly, there is water baptism by immersion for believers only. This we believe to be an ordinance of the church, whereby the believer experiences the reality of crucifixion and resurrection with the Lord Jesus Christ to walk in newness of life. (Matt. 28:19,20; Rom. 6:3-6; Acts 10:47). Infants and small children may be dedicated to the Lord whenever requested. Thirdly, there is the filling or baptism in the Holy Spirit by the Lord Jesus Christ, with the normative evidence of speaking in tongues as the Spirit gives the utterance (Acts 2:4). Further, we believe that by the believers' continued submission to the Holy Spirit, his very weakness is transformed into strength to witness for Jesus Christ in power, and to live according to the will of God. (Acts 1:5; 10:46; 11:28; 19:6)
Every Believer is called and chosen in God to be a priest unto God to offer up the sacrifice of praise (the fruit of the lips), to give of his time, strength, and material possessions to the service of the Lord. We believe that it is essential that each believer lay a foundation of Biblical truth and experience upon which he/she builds his/her life. These foundational stones are: Repentance from dead works, Faith toward God, Doctrine of Baptisms, Laying on of Hands, Resurrection of the dead, and Eternal Judgment, all of which are prerequisites to going on to perfection (spiritual maturity). (Heb. 6:1,2)
The Five-Fold Ministry of the Apostle, Prophet, Evangelist, Pastor and Teacher is to function in the local church for the purpose of every believer seeing and exercising their priestly and kingly ministry (1 Pet. 2:5,9; Rev. 1:6). The five-fold ministry is to teach and train its people to do the work of the ministry with maturity and unity in mind. Working with these ministries will be Elders, Deacons, and the gifted men and women of the church (Rom. 12:3-8, I Cor. 12:28, Eph. 4:11-13, I Tim. 3:2,12; Titus 1:5-9).
The Gifts of the Spirit set forth in I Cor. 12, should and must be operative in the church to enjoy the fullness of God. These gifts are imparted by the sovereignty of the Holy Spirit and only work or are operated by this one and the self-same Spirit (I Cor.12:11).