The programs and activities of Samaritan’s Heart Mission Church shall be based upon and at all times shall be consistent with the following beliefs:
We believe that the Bible is the inspired Word of God equally in all parts and without error in its original manuscript, infallible, and our source of supreme revelation from God, superior to conscience and reason, though not contrary to reason; and it is, therefore, our infallible rule of faith and practice.
We believe in one God who has revealed Himself in three persons, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are all co-eternal, all stand equally superior to time, free from the temporal distinctions of past and future.
We believe in the pre-existence, incarnation, and virgin birth of Jesus Christ who came into the world to reveal the Father and was the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person; that Jesus Christ was the Creator of all things, for Him the worlds were made. We further believe that in Christ dwelt all the fullness of the Godhead bodily and that He was very God and very Man.
We believe in Jesus Christ’s sinless life, miracles, substitutional death, bodily resurrection, and His ascension into Heaven, and acknowledge His Lordship—that Jesus Christ is Lord over all things in heaven and in earth, and under earth. We believe that man was created by a direct and immediate act of God. (Genesis 1:26-27; 2:4.)
We believe that man by transgression fell from a state of righteousness and holiness in which he was first created, into total spiritual depravity, a state of death in trespasses and sins in which he is held as a slave of sin and an enemy of God, being unable to attain divine righteousness by his own efforts but must be redeemed and delivered by the power of the Gospel.
We believe that each believer must lay a foundation of Biblical truth and experience upon which he or she builds his or her life. These foundation stones are repentance from dead works, faith toward God, the doctrine of baptism, laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, eternal judgment, and perfection.
We believe that through repentance and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ the believer is justified. Through faith in the shed blood of Christ, he or she is justified and made a partaker in the death of Christ. This is the initial step of salvation.
We believe that water baptism is an essential and necessary part of the doctrine of baptism, performed only upon repentant believers in the name of the Father, Son. and Holy Spirit. This act is to be done by immersion.
We believe in the baptism of the Holy Spirit according to that speaking in other tongues is one accompanying sign of receiving the baptism of the Holy Spirit. We also hold that the real evidence of the baptism of the Holy Spirit is one’s response to the Word of God. a Christ-like life, showing forth Christ’s character, nature and experiencing and manifesting the fruit of the Holy Spirit.
Section XI from bilaws.
We believe in the doctrine of the laying on of hands for:
- a) The confirming of believers’ faith.
- b) The confirmation of one’s call by the laying on of hands with prophecy.
- c) The impartation of the spiritual gifts when accompanied by prophecy and the laying on of hands.
- d) The ordination and official recognition and setting apart for the ministry.
- e) The impartation of the gift of the Holy Spirit.
- f) The ministry of healing the sick.
- g) The blessing and dedication (setting apart) of children
We believe in the five-fold ministries given to the Church at the ascension of Jesus Christ and that they continue to be needed and should be expected today, that is ministries of apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers.
We believe in the New Testament order for the local church is its government, structure, and worship. Five-fold ministries: Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, Pastors and Teachers Helpers, Administrators, and those able and appointed to lead in Music and Worship. We believe in Pastoral accountability and authority (Hebrews 13:17). Ordination and commissioning in this church is a separation and recognition of a specific gifting of God. We believe that God calls men and women into specific ministries as Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, Pastors and Teachers. God calls, man can only recognize the call and acknowledge it. Ordination is on the basis of that recognition of God’s gifting. Men and women called to specific office by God and ordained or commissioned by this church will have the right to participate in the traditional sacramental and ordinal functions of the church such as marriage, funerals, baptisms, and the like. They shall also be expected to function in the spiritual giftings of their office and to demonstrate the reality of their calling. We reject the efficacy of ritual and the concept of a separate priestly class. We recognize the priesthood of believers and the serving ministry of the Apostle, Prophet, Evangelist, Pastor and Teacher with government by these Elders. As such we recognize that those called to those offices will function in a manner to lead by example in prayer, worship, teaching, laying on of hands, and prophesying and that such actions on the part of those ordained and commissioned by this church would be compared to the sacramental function of the priesthood in traditional sacramental churches.
We believe that ―”by grace are we are saved through faith and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not by works so that no one should boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9) We further believe that the emphasis for a continuous walk in grace should be the emphasis of heart, righteousness and purity, believing in the keeping power of God, walking after the spirit and not after the flesh in a lifestyle that demonstrates the character, standards and convictions of Jesus Christ, not being conformed to the world.
We believe in the practice of worship with one’s total being as set forth in the Word of God.
We believe that the ministry of the Holy Spirit is being manifested in the Church through the fruits, (Galatians 5:22-23)-graces, ministries, and gifts, and we hold that the nine gifts of the Spirit, (I Corinthians 12:8-11) should be and must be operative in the Church today in order for the Church to enjoy the fullness of God. Also, we hold that these gifts are imparted by the sovereignty of the Holy Spirit and only work or operate by the one and self-same Spirit. (I Corinthians 12:11).
