Statement of faith

The following are the core beliefs of Imiola Congregational Church based on the foundational truths taught in the bible. All of our teaching and ministry is rooted in and flows out of these biblical doctrines.

We believe that the scriptures of the Old and New Testaments are the fully inspired Word of God without error and the infallible rule of faith and practice.  The Word of God is the foundation upon which the church operates and is the basis for which the church is governed.  We believe that the Word of God supersedes any earthly law that is contrary to the Holy Scriptures. (Isaiah 28:13; Nehemiah 8:8; John 17:17; II Timothy 3:16-17; Hebrews 4:12; I Peter 1:23-25; II Peter 1:3-4, 21)

We believe that there is only one living and true GOD, eternally existing in three persons:  The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, equal in power and glory; that this triune God created all, upholds all, and governs all things.  (Genesis 1:1; Deuteronomy 6:4; Isaiah 44:8, 48:16; Matthew 28:19-20; John 10:30; Hebrews 1:3)

GOD THE FATHER: We believe in the person of God the Father, an infinite, eternal, personal Spirit, perfect in holiness, wisdom, power and love; that He concerns Himself mercifully in the affairs of men; that He hears and answers prayer; and that He saves from sin and death all those who come to Him through Jesus Christ as provided.  (Deuteronomy 33:27; Psalm 90:2, 102:27; John 3:16, 4:24; I Timothy 1:17; Titus 1:3)

GOD THE SON: We believe in the person of Jesus Christ, God’s only begotten Son.  We believe He became a man conceived by the Holy Spirit.  We believe in His virgin birth, sinless life, miracles and teachings.  We believe in His substitutionary atoning death, bodily resurrection, ascension into heaven sitting at the right hand of the Father making intersession for the saints, and His eventual visible return to earth. (Isaiah 7:14; Micah 5:2; Matthew 1:23; Mark 16:19; Luke 1:34-35; John1:1-2, 8:58, 11:25; I Corinthians 15:3-4; I Timothy 3:16; Hebrews 1:8; I John 1:2; Revelation 1:8)

GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT: We believe in the person of the Holy Spirit Who came forth from the Father to convict the world of sin, righteousness and judgement and to regenerate, sanctify, and empower for ministry all who believe in Christ.  (John 16:8-11; Acts 1:8; Romans 8:26, 15:13-16; II Corinthians 3:18; Hebrews 9:14)  We believe the Holy Spirit indwells every believer in Jesus Christ and that He is an abiding helper, teacher, and guide (John 6:13, 14:16-17 16:8-11; Romans 8:26)  We believe in the Baptism with the Holy Spirit as a distinct and separate experience to that of regeneration, occurring either subsequent to or simultaneous with salvation, evidenced by a greater dynamic in the Christian’s life, enabling that person to be a bold and more effective witness.  The supreme evidence of the Spirit-filled life is the fruit of the Spirit, love.  We believe in the present day ministry of the Holy Spirit in regard to the exercise of all Biblical gifts of the Holy Spirit according to the instructions given to us. (I Corinthians 12-14)

We believe that all people are sinners by nature and choice, falling short of God’s standard by breaking His commandments and therefore are under God’s righteousness judgement.  We believe that God saves and gives new life to all who come to Him in repentance and faith by trusting in the Person and work of Jesus Christ.  We believe that Jesus died in our place on the cross as our substitute, absorbing God’s wrath for our sins.  We believe the invitation to salvation is open to all because Jesus died for all and whosoever desires may come unto Jesus for new life through the forgiveness of sins through faith.  (Matthew 11:28; John 3:16; Acts 3:19, 20:21; Romans 3:23; Ephesians 2:1-3, 8-9; I John 2:2; Revelation 22:17)

We believe that the Lord, Jesus Christ instituted two ordinances for the church: the full immersion water baptism of believers and the Lord’s Supper. (Matthew 28:19; Luke 22:19-20; Acts 2:38; I Corinthians 11:23-26)

We believe in a literal Heaven and a literal Hell and that all those who place their faith, hope, and trust in Jesus Christ will spend eternity in heaven with the Lord.  Those who reject Jesus as Lord will spend eternity separated from Him. (Psalm 9:17; Matthew 5:3, 5:22, 18:9, 25:31-34; Mark 9:42-49; Luke 12:5; John 3:18; Hebrews 12:23; I Peter 1:4; Revelation 14:10-11, 20:11-15)

We believe in the second coming of Jesus Christ, which is His personal, visible, return to earth, the establishment of His millennial kingdom, the resurrection of the body, the final judgement, the eternal blessing of the righteous and the eternal separation of the wicked. (Matthew 16:27;Acts 1:11; Revelation 19:11-16,20:11-15)  We believe in the Pre-Tribulation Rapture of the Church where all believers will meet the Lord in the air and be taken out of this world prior to the Tribulation that will come upon the earth.  (Isaiah 26:20; Matthew 24:29-31; Luke 21:36; Romans 1:18, 5-9; I Thessalonians 1:10, 4:13-16, 5:9; II Peter 2:7-9; Revelation 3:10, 5:7-10, 7:13-14)

We believe that God created mankind and that He created them male and female.  As such, He created them different so as to compliment and complete each other.  God instituted monogamous marriages between male and female as the foundation of the family and basic structure of human society.  Therefore, we perform marriages only in accordance with the Bible, consistent, as expressed in the Old and New Testament. (Genesis 2:24; Matthew 19:4-6; John 4:16-18; Romans 1:18-32; I Corinthians 5:11, 6:9-11, 18-20, 7:1-3, 8-9; Galatians 5:19-21; Ephesians 5:3-7; I Timothy 1:9-11)