Statement of Faith

THE SCRIPTURES

We believe that the Scriptures, both Old and New Testaments, are the inspired Word of God, without error in the original writings, the complete revelation of His will for the salvation of mankind, and the final authority for all Christian faith and life.

Matthew 5:18; John 10:35; John 17:17; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:20-21

THE TRIUNE GOD

We believe that the one true God exists eternally in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and that these, being one God, are equal in deity, power, and glory. We believe that God not only created the world but also now upholds, sustains, governs, and providentially directs all that exists and that He will bring all things to their proper consummation in Christ Jesus to the glory of His name. We believe that God has exhaustive foreknowledge of all future events, including the free choices of all moral agents, both angelic and human; that He hears and answers prayer; and that He saves from sin and death all who come to Him through Jesus Christ.

Isaiah 40:1-48:22; Psalm 104:1-35; Psalm 139:1-24; Matthew 10:29-31; Matthew 28:19; Acts 17:24-28; 2 Corinthians 13:14; Ephesians 1:9-12; Ephesians 4:4-6; Colossians 1:16-17; Hebrews 1:1-3; Revelation 1:4-6

JESUS CHRIST

We believe that Jesus Christ is God incarnate, fully God and fully man; that He was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of a virgin; lived a sinless life; and offered Himself as a substitutionary sacrifice for sinners. By the blood of His cross He satisfied the wrath of God, obtained for us eternal redemption, the forgiveness of sins, spiritual adoption as sons and daughters, life everlasting, and defeated the powers of darkness. He was raised bodily on the third day and ascended to the right hand of the Father, there to make intercession for the saints.

Isaiah 53:1-12; Matthew 1:18-25; John 1:1-18; Romans 8:34; 1 Corinthians 15:1-28; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Galatians 3:10-14; Ephesians 1:7; Philippians 2:6-11; Colossians 1:15-23; Colossians 2:15; Hebrews 7:25; Hebrews 9:13-15; Hebrews 10:19; 1 Peter 2:21-25; 1 John 2:1-2; 1 John 3:8

THE HOLY SPIRIT

We believe that the Holy Spirit is fully God, equal with the Father and Son. The primary ministry of the Holy Spirit is to glorify the Lord Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit also convicts unbelievers of their need for Christ and imparts spiritual life through regeneration (the new birth). The Spirit indwells, sanctifies, leads, illumines, and graciously empowers for godly living and service all who come to faith in Christ. We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ baptizes believers in the Holy Spirit, in whom also we are sealed for the day of redemption. Subsequent to conversion, the Spirit desires to fill, empower, and anoint believers for ministry and witness.

Matthew 3:11; John 1:12-13; John 3:1-15; John 15:26-27; John 16:7-15; Romans 8:9; 1 Corinthians 12:12-13; 2 Corinthians 1:21-22; Ephesians 1:13-14; Ephesians 5:18

SALVATION

We believe mankind is sinful and separated from God. The consequence of this for every person is death and hell, forever being separated from God. Furthermore, every person is incapable of earning acceptance with God based on any good deeds or any merit of his or her own. However, God, in His infinite love and mercy for mankind, has done everything necessary for mankind to be forgiven, redeemed, reconciled to God, and given new life in Jesus. Whoever will repent and believe in Jesus, calling upon His name, will be saved. This happens by grace alone (a gift from God—not given as a result of any works or merit on the part of the recipient) that is received by faith alone in the finished work of Jesus Christ alone. Whoever calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.

Romans 3:9-11; Romans 3:23; Romans 6:23; Isaiah 64:6; Ephesians 2:1-10; 2 Corinthians 5:17; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Romans 10:9-11; Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38

THE CHURCH: INSTRUMENT OF THE KINGDOM

We believe in the one, holy, universal Church. All who repent of their sins and confess Jesus as Lord and Savior are regenerated by the Holy Spirit and form the living Body of Christ, of which He is the Head and of which we are all members.

John 17:20-21; Ephesians 4:3-6; 1 Corinthians 3:16-17; Matthew 16:17-18; 1 Corinthians 1:2; Ephesians 2:18-19; 1 Peter 2:9-10; Titus 3:4-7; Romans 12:4-5; Ephesians 1:22; Ephesians 5:23; 1 Corinthians 12:27

BAPTISM AND THE LORD'S SUPPER

We believe that Jesus Christ committed two ordinances to the Church: water baptism and the Lord's Supper. Both are available to all believers.

Matthew 28:19-20; 1 Corinthians 10:14-17; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26

THE KINGDOM OF GOD AND THE FINAL JUDGMENT

We believe that God's Kingdom has come in the ministry of our Lord Jesus Christ, that it continues to come in the ministry of the Spirit through the Church, and that it will be consummated in the glorious, visible, and triumphant appearing of Christ—His return to the earth as King. After Christ returns to reign, He will bring about the final defeat of Satan and all of his works, the resurrection of the dead, the final judgment, and the eternal blessing of the righteous and eternal conscious punishment of the wicked. Finally, God will be all in all and His Kingdom, His rule and reign, will be fulfilled in the new heavens and the new earth, recreated by His mighty power, in which righteousness dwells and in which He will forever be worshiped.

Daniel 7:13-14; Matthew 4:23; Matthew 12:28; Matthew 6:10; Matthew 10:7-8; Matthew 24:14; Mark 13:11; John 15:26-27; Romans 14:17-18; Mark 13:26; Acts 1:9-11; 2 Thessalonians 2:8; Revelation 19:11-16; Matthew 25:31-32; 1 Corinthians 15:23-25; Revelation 20:10; 1 Corinthians 15:51-52; John 5:28-30; Revelation 20:11-15; Matthew 25:31-46; 1 Corinthians 15:24-28; 1 Timothy 6:13-16; 2 Peter 3:13; Revelation 21:5; Revelation 21:27; 1 Timothy 1:17; Revelation 7:9-12

GOD'S ORIGINAL DESIGN

We believe that God's original creative design, as set forth in Scripture, is for complete fidelity (physically, emotionally, and spiritually) within heterosexual and monogamous marriage. Regardless of one's marital status, we believe Christians should pursue purity and abstain from sexually immoral practices such as adultery, premarital sex, and pornography.

Matthew 19:4-6; Romans 1:18-32; Romans 13:13-14; 1 Corinthians 6:9-20; 1 Corinthians 10:8; Ephesians 5:3-14; 1 Thessalonians 4:1-8; 1 Timothy 1:8-10; Hebrews 13:4

AFFIRMATION OF THE HISTORIC CHRISTIAN FAITH

Streams of Life International joyfully affirms the historic Christian faith as faithfully summarized in the Apostles' Creed and the Nicene Creed. We recognize these ancient creeds as accurate summaries of essential biblical doctrine and as faithful expressions of the historic, orthodox Christian faith. While Holy Scripture alone is our supreme and final authority in all matters of faith and practice, these creeds serve as enduring testimonies to the foundational truths confessed by the Church throughout the centuries.