Statement of Faith
Glad Tidings Church considers the following statements to be true according to the infallible Word of the One true and living God.
SCRIPTURES INSPIRED... All Scripture is verbally inspired by God as written in the original languages and is inerrant revelation of God to man. The Bible is the infallible authority for faith and conduct. (2 Timothy 3:16-17, 2 Peter 1:20-21)
ONE TRUE GOD...The One True God is the eternally self-existent “I AM,” the Creator of the universe. He has further revealed Himself as a triune Being, manifested as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. (Deut. 6:4, I John 5:7, John 14:23, John 14:16)
THE LORD JESUS CHRIST...The Lord Jesus is 100% divine (Son of God) while simultaneously being 100% human (Son of Man). As God Incarnate, He is the express image of the Living God in human form. (John 1:1,14, Luke 3:22, John 10:30)
ORIGINAL SIN / FALL OF MAN...Man was created good and upright in the image and likeness of God. The first man, Adam, through disobedience, fell from the grace of God and, thus, sin and death entered into the world. Adam’s transgression incurred not only physical death for man, but also spiritual death which is eternal separation from God. Man’s propensity to sin because of his sinful nature necessitates salvation from the power of sin and a Savior to provide that salvation. (Genesis 3:7-24, John 1:29, Romans 5:12-19)
SALVATION OF MAN...Man’s only hope of redemption and salvation from sin is through the shed blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. His blood is completely sufficient to deliver every person from the power and penalty of sin. Everyone was born into sin therefore everyone must come to repentance acknowledging their need of the Savior. We receive this salvation as we repent of our sin and believe in our hearts and confess with our mouths that Jesus is Lord. (John 3:16, Romans 3:23, Romans 10:9-10, Ephesians 1:7, Hebrews 9:12)
BAPTISM IN WATER...Baptism by immersion in water is commanded in the Scriptures. All who repent of their sins and believe in Christ as Savior and Lord are to be baptized. Baptism in water is outwardly symbolic of our identification with Christ in His death, burial and resurrection. We do not believe the act of Baptism in and of itself brings about salvation, but rather it is a public declaration of such salvation -- an outward display of an inward work. We are buried with Him in His death and raised again in eternal life in His resurrection. (Romans 6:3-5, Matthew 28:18-20)
HOLY COMMUNION...The Lord’s Supper, consisting of bread and a cup of the fruit of the vine, is a memorial of Jesus’ suffering and death and a celebration of His resurrection to be enjoyed by all believers until He comes again. This celebration of "The Lord's Supper" is an intimate time between the believer and our savior as we remember the life that He has given us as our "Passover lamb". We are no longer under a curse of death, but because of His sacrifice we have a new covenant of life! (I Cor. 11:23-26, Matthew 26:26-28)
DIVINE HEALING...Divine healing is provided for in both Old and New Testaments and is integral to the Gospel. Christ has purchased our freedom, redeeming us from the curse of the law which includes every kind of sickness and disease. Manifestations of this miraculous power is not only recorded in the Word of God, but also continues to be seen in the earth today. (Galatians 3:13, Deuteronomy 28:21-65, Psalm 103:2-3, Isaiah 53:4-5, Romans 8:11, I Peter 2:24, James 5:14-15, Hebrews 13:8)
TITHE, OFFERINGS AND PROSPERITY...The giving of tithes and offerings is a basic foundational principal of the Word of God. For those that faithfully support the Kingdom of God out of a joyful and obedient heart, God will rebuke the devourer and open up the windows of Heaven and pour out His blessings. God delights to respond to giving with gracious provision. (Malachi 3:8-12, Luke 6:38, Philippians 4:15-19, 2 Corinthians 9:6-10, 2 Corinthians 8:1-7)
BAPTISM OF THE HOLY SPIRIT...We believe the need for the Holy Spirit’s power and presence in a believer’s life is as critical today as it was in the first century. We do not teach that the Holy Spirit’s power and the expression of gifts ceased centuries ago. Rather we hold the position, supported by Scripture, that the Holy Spirit’s presence and power are for every believer until Jesus returns. The Holy Spirit indwells all those that put their faith in Christ! The Holy Spirit does the work of regeneration in the heart of the believer. However, we see in the scripture the subsequent experience of a continual immersion, or baptism, in the Holy Spirit for those that open their heart and ask! The baptism of believers in the Holy Spirit is evidenced by the initial physical sign of speaking with other tongues as the Holy Spirit gives utterance. This "baptism" empowers, strengthens and allows the gifts of the Spirit to flow. This experience is distinct from and subsequent to the experience of the new birth. (Acts 1:4-5, Acts 2:1-4, Acts 10:45-46, Ephesians 5:18, Mark 16:17, 1 Corinthians 14:4,14,15)
CHURCH AND ITS MISSION...The Church is the Body of Christ and is comprised of all believers. Since God’s purpose concerning man is to seek and to save that which is lost, to be worshiped by man, and to build a body of believers in the image of His Son, the Church’s responsibility is: #1- to evangelize the world, and #2- to be a corporate body in which man may worship and glorify God. (Luke 19:10, Matthew 28:19-20, Mark 16:15, Acts 1:8, Hebrews 10:25, Colossians 3:15-16)
EVER-INCREASING FAITH...Faith comes by hearing and hearing the Word of God. God is a faith God and without faith it is impossible to please Him. Our faith should continually increase as we grow in spiritual understanding of God’s Word. Christians are saved through faith, justified by faith, shall live by faith, and overcome the world by faith. (Romans 10:17, Hebrews 11:6, Ephesians 2:8, Romans 5:1, Romans 1:17, I John 5:4)
FREEDOM IN CHRIST...Jesus ministered to the broken, needy, sick and demon possessed. He addressed the real needs of people He dealt with. He provided all that people needed to move out of the kingdom of darkness and into the kingdom of God, (Colossians 1:17). As Jesus proclaimed the Gospel of the Kingdom of Heaven, His ministry was characterized by teaching about the kingdom and instruction regarding life as a kingdom resident. Along with this teaching, Jesus provided demonstrations of power evidencing the kingdom at work among the people. 1 John 3:8 states that Christ came into the earth to destroy and eradicate the works of the devil. Christ still brings freedom and deliverance to lives today! (John 8:36) Jesus said that believers, not just those 2,000 years ago, would lay hands on the sick, preach freedom and deliverance and cast out devils! (Mark 16:15-18)
WORSHIP EXPRESSED... Worship can be described as sincere and passionate awe, devotion, and love shown by man (creation) to God (our Creator). We believe worship is an action of the believer towards God that is an outward expression of the heart. Worship includes thanksgiving, the giving of tithes and offerings, as well as the tribute of song to the Lord. Our worship expression is invaluable to the overarching Biblical Spirit-filled view of our victory in Christ. To openly and publicly express our commitment to the Lord in worship is to continually acknowledge the covenant that we have in Him through the blood of our Savior, Jesus Christ. We believe that the use of instruments, the singing, the shout of praise, the dance, the lifting of the hands, the kneeling, the bowing, and the laying prostrate before the Lord are all Biblical forms of worship and should be appropriated in both public and private worship as an outflow of our love for God. (Luke 7:36-50, Hebrews 7, Hebrews 12:28-29, Matthew 6:21, Psalm 150, Psalm 96:1-2, I Timothy 2:8, Nehemiah 8:6, Psalm 98:4, 2 Samuel 6:14-22, 2 Chronicles 7:1-4, Exodus 15:20, Ephesians 5:18-20, Revelation 4:10)
MARRIAGE, DIVORCE and REMARRIAGE...We believe that God instituted marriage as an earthly picture of Christ’s relationship with the church (Ephesians 5:22–32). We also believe that He created marriage to be the foundation of a strong church and stable society. The Bible teaches that the marriage covenant should be between a man and a woman for a lifetime, (Matt. 19:5). God never intended for the marriage relationship to function without His involvement. We believe that the most successful marriages are those that are Christ-centered when each spouse is submitted to God and His principles for biblical marriage. We believe every couple needs the full measure of God’s grace in their relationship, as well as training and relational encouragement, to have a successful, lifelong marriage. We are committed to seeing even the most troubled marriage work. We will do everything possible to see restoration in a marriage. In cases of a believer that has an unbelieving spouse that leaves they are free to remarry, (1 Corinthians 7:12-16). For those that have come to a new or fresh commitment to Christ, the Apostle Paul says that God has called us to peace and we should move forward with life, not living under guilt and condemnation.
THE BLESSED HOPE and SOON COMING RETURN OF CHRIST...We believe Jesus Christ will return to earth personally and visibly according to the promises in Scripture. Christians are exhorted to be watchful and obedient until His return. While there are diverse opinions regarding the "rapture" of the church, the millennial reign of Christ and the final judgment, we affirm that Jesus Christ will be returning for a mature bride who has reached “the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ” (Ephesians 4:13, NASB). He is coming for her as she makes her garments of holiness and righteousness. Scripture clearly states that we won’t know when He will return, (Matt. 24:36).
We hold to a premillennial view. Christ will return and physically rule and reign for a thousand years on earth. We believe this 1,000 year reign will be preceded by a great tribulation period consisting of seven years of judgment upon the earth,(Matt. 24:21). We believe those that are a part of the "church that loves Him" will be raptured or caught away to escape the judgment of this time,(Revelation 3:7-10). This millennial reign will bring the establishment of universal peace for a 1,000 year period of time, (Matthew 24:27,30, Revelation 20:1-6). We also hold to a Biblical view of a final judgment. There will be a final judgement in which the wicked dead, those who have died without accepting Christ’s salvation, will be raised and judged according to the way they lived. Anyone whose name is not found written in the Book of Life (the recorded list of people who received Christ’s forgiveness), together with the devil, his angels, the beast, and the false prophet, will be sent into everlasting punishment in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone (sulfur), which is the second death. (Matthew 25:46, Mark 9:43-48, Revelation 19:20, 20:11-15, 21:8)
THE NEW HEAVENS AND THE NEW EARTH... According to God’s promise, we look for the new heavens and a new earth where righteousness will dwell and reign forever. This new creation will come about after the final judgment when Christ will make all things new! (II Peter 3:13, Revelation 21,22)
SCRIPTURES INSPIRED... All Scripture is verbally inspired by God as written in the original languages and is inerrant revelation of God to man. The Bible is the infallible authority for faith and conduct. (2 Timothy 3:16-17, 2 Peter 1:20-21)
ONE TRUE GOD...The One True God is the eternally self-existent “I AM,” the Creator of the universe. He has further revealed Himself as a triune Being, manifested as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. (Deut. 6:4, I John 5:7, John 14:23, John 14:16)
THE LORD JESUS CHRIST...The Lord Jesus is 100% divine (Son of God) while simultaneously being 100% human (Son of Man). As God Incarnate, He is the express image of the Living God in human form. (John 1:1,14, Luke 3:22, John 10:30)
ORIGINAL SIN / FALL OF MAN...Man was created good and upright in the image and likeness of God. The first man, Adam, through disobedience, fell from the grace of God and, thus, sin and death entered into the world. Adam’s transgression incurred not only physical death for man, but also spiritual death which is eternal separation from God. Man’s propensity to sin because of his sinful nature necessitates salvation from the power of sin and a Savior to provide that salvation. (Genesis 3:7-24, John 1:29, Romans 5:12-19)
SALVATION OF MAN...Man’s only hope of redemption and salvation from sin is through the shed blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. His blood is completely sufficient to deliver every person from the power and penalty of sin. Everyone was born into sin therefore everyone must come to repentance acknowledging their need of the Savior. We receive this salvation as we repent of our sin and believe in our hearts and confess with our mouths that Jesus is Lord. (John 3:16, Romans 3:23, Romans 10:9-10, Ephesians 1:7, Hebrews 9:12)
BAPTISM IN WATER...Baptism by immersion in water is commanded in the Scriptures. All who repent of their sins and believe in Christ as Savior and Lord are to be baptized. Baptism in water is outwardly symbolic of our identification with Christ in His death, burial and resurrection. We do not believe the act of Baptism in and of itself brings about salvation, but rather it is a public declaration of such salvation -- an outward display of an inward work. We are buried with Him in His death and raised again in eternal life in His resurrection. (Romans 6:3-5, Matthew 28:18-20)
HOLY COMMUNION...The Lord’s Supper, consisting of bread and a cup of the fruit of the vine, is a memorial of Jesus’ suffering and death and a celebration of His resurrection to be enjoyed by all believers until He comes again. This celebration of "The Lord's Supper" is an intimate time between the believer and our savior as we remember the life that He has given us as our "Passover lamb". We are no longer under a curse of death, but because of His sacrifice we have a new covenant of life! (I Cor. 11:23-26, Matthew 26:26-28)
DIVINE HEALING...Divine healing is provided for in both Old and New Testaments and is integral to the Gospel. Christ has purchased our freedom, redeeming us from the curse of the law which includes every kind of sickness and disease. Manifestations of this miraculous power is not only recorded in the Word of God, but also continues to be seen in the earth today. (Galatians 3:13, Deuteronomy 28:21-65, Psalm 103:2-3, Isaiah 53:4-5, Romans 8:11, I Peter 2:24, James 5:14-15, Hebrews 13:8)
TITHE, OFFERINGS AND PROSPERITY...The giving of tithes and offerings is a basic foundational principal of the Word of God. For those that faithfully support the Kingdom of God out of a joyful and obedient heart, God will rebuke the devourer and open up the windows of Heaven and pour out His blessings. God delights to respond to giving with gracious provision. (Malachi 3:8-12, Luke 6:38, Philippians 4:15-19, 2 Corinthians 9:6-10, 2 Corinthians 8:1-7)
BAPTISM OF THE HOLY SPIRIT...We believe the need for the Holy Spirit’s power and presence in a believer’s life is as critical today as it was in the first century. We do not teach that the Holy Spirit’s power and the expression of gifts ceased centuries ago. Rather we hold the position, supported by Scripture, that the Holy Spirit’s presence and power are for every believer until Jesus returns. The Holy Spirit indwells all those that put their faith in Christ! The Holy Spirit does the work of regeneration in the heart of the believer. However, we see in the scripture the subsequent experience of a continual immersion, or baptism, in the Holy Spirit for those that open their heart and ask! The baptism of believers in the Holy Spirit is evidenced by the initial physical sign of speaking with other tongues as the Holy Spirit gives utterance. This "baptism" empowers, strengthens and allows the gifts of the Spirit to flow. This experience is distinct from and subsequent to the experience of the new birth. (Acts 1:4-5, Acts 2:1-4, Acts 10:45-46, Ephesians 5:18, Mark 16:17, 1 Corinthians 14:4,14,15)
CHURCH AND ITS MISSION...The Church is the Body of Christ and is comprised of all believers. Since God’s purpose concerning man is to seek and to save that which is lost, to be worshiped by man, and to build a body of believers in the image of His Son, the Church’s responsibility is: #1- to evangelize the world, and #2- to be a corporate body in which man may worship and glorify God. (Luke 19:10, Matthew 28:19-20, Mark 16:15, Acts 1:8, Hebrews 10:25, Colossians 3:15-16)
EVER-INCREASING FAITH...Faith comes by hearing and hearing the Word of God. God is a faith God and without faith it is impossible to please Him. Our faith should continually increase as we grow in spiritual understanding of God’s Word. Christians are saved through faith, justified by faith, shall live by faith, and overcome the world by faith. (Romans 10:17, Hebrews 11:6, Ephesians 2:8, Romans 5:1, Romans 1:17, I John 5:4)
FREEDOM IN CHRIST...Jesus ministered to the broken, needy, sick and demon possessed. He addressed the real needs of people He dealt with. He provided all that people needed to move out of the kingdom of darkness and into the kingdom of God, (Colossians 1:17). As Jesus proclaimed the Gospel of the Kingdom of Heaven, His ministry was characterized by teaching about the kingdom and instruction regarding life as a kingdom resident. Along with this teaching, Jesus provided demonstrations of power evidencing the kingdom at work among the people. 1 John 3:8 states that Christ came into the earth to destroy and eradicate the works of the devil. Christ still brings freedom and deliverance to lives today! (John 8:36) Jesus said that believers, not just those 2,000 years ago, would lay hands on the sick, preach freedom and deliverance and cast out devils! (Mark 16:15-18)
WORSHIP EXPRESSED... Worship can be described as sincere and passionate awe, devotion, and love shown by man (creation) to God (our Creator). We believe worship is an action of the believer towards God that is an outward expression of the heart. Worship includes thanksgiving, the giving of tithes and offerings, as well as the tribute of song to the Lord. Our worship expression is invaluable to the overarching Biblical Spirit-filled view of our victory in Christ. To openly and publicly express our commitment to the Lord in worship is to continually acknowledge the covenant that we have in Him through the blood of our Savior, Jesus Christ. We believe that the use of instruments, the singing, the shout of praise, the dance, the lifting of the hands, the kneeling, the bowing, and the laying prostrate before the Lord are all Biblical forms of worship and should be appropriated in both public and private worship as an outflow of our love for God. (Luke 7:36-50, Hebrews 7, Hebrews 12:28-29, Matthew 6:21, Psalm 150, Psalm 96:1-2, I Timothy 2:8, Nehemiah 8:6, Psalm 98:4, 2 Samuel 6:14-22, 2 Chronicles 7:1-4, Exodus 15:20, Ephesians 5:18-20, Revelation 4:10)
MARRIAGE, DIVORCE and REMARRIAGE...We believe that God instituted marriage as an earthly picture of Christ’s relationship with the church (Ephesians 5:22–32). We also believe that He created marriage to be the foundation of a strong church and stable society. The Bible teaches that the marriage covenant should be between a man and a woman for a lifetime, (Matt. 19:5). God never intended for the marriage relationship to function without His involvement. We believe that the most successful marriages are those that are Christ-centered when each spouse is submitted to God and His principles for biblical marriage. We believe every couple needs the full measure of God’s grace in their relationship, as well as training and relational encouragement, to have a successful, lifelong marriage. We are committed to seeing even the most troubled marriage work. We will do everything possible to see restoration in a marriage. In cases of a believer that has an unbelieving spouse that leaves they are free to remarry, (1 Corinthians 7:12-16). For those that have come to a new or fresh commitment to Christ, the Apostle Paul says that God has called us to peace and we should move forward with life, not living under guilt and condemnation.
THE BLESSED HOPE and SOON COMING RETURN OF CHRIST...We believe Jesus Christ will return to earth personally and visibly according to the promises in Scripture. Christians are exhorted to be watchful and obedient until His return. While there are diverse opinions regarding the "rapture" of the church, the millennial reign of Christ and the final judgment, we affirm that Jesus Christ will be returning for a mature bride who has reached “the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ” (Ephesians 4:13, NASB). He is coming for her as she makes her garments of holiness and righteousness. Scripture clearly states that we won’t know when He will return, (Matt. 24:36).
We hold to a premillennial view. Christ will return and physically rule and reign for a thousand years on earth. We believe this 1,000 year reign will be preceded by a great tribulation period consisting of seven years of judgment upon the earth,(Matt. 24:21). We believe those that are a part of the "church that loves Him" will be raptured or caught away to escape the judgment of this time,(Revelation 3:7-10). This millennial reign will bring the establishment of universal peace for a 1,000 year period of time, (Matthew 24:27,30, Revelation 20:1-6). We also hold to a Biblical view of a final judgment. There will be a final judgement in which the wicked dead, those who have died without accepting Christ’s salvation, will be raised and judged according to the way they lived. Anyone whose name is not found written in the Book of Life (the recorded list of people who received Christ’s forgiveness), together with the devil, his angels, the beast, and the false prophet, will be sent into everlasting punishment in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone (sulfur), which is the second death. (Matthew 25:46, Mark 9:43-48, Revelation 19:20, 20:11-15, 21:8)
THE NEW HEAVENS AND THE NEW EARTH... According to God’s promise, we look for the new heavens and a new earth where righteousness will dwell and reign forever. This new creation will come about after the final judgment when Christ will make all things new! (II Peter 3:13, Revelation 21,22)
