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Biblical Doctrine Held by Hope Fellowship of Somerset, Wisconsin

1. WE BELIEVE...The Holy Bible is Inspired by God and declare His design and plan for mankind.

Read 2nd Timothy 3:16 and 1 Peter 1:21. The Holy Bible is completely inerrant, without fault or

contradiction. Read John 17:3 and 2nd Timothy 2:13 which proves innerancy from God’s integrity.

Read Matthew 5:17 and John 10:35 from Jesus’ own testimony and teaching about the innerancy of

The Scriptures. Read Hebrews 4:12 and 2nd Timothy 3:16 which proves innerancy from The

Scriptures themselves.

2. WE BELIEVE...There is only One True God–revealed in three persons...Father, Son, and Holy Spirit

(commonly known as the Trinity). Read Genesis 1:1 with John 1:1-4 along with Exodus 3:14 to see

how the Trinity worked together in creation. God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit are

spoken of in both Covenants. Read Isaiah 43:10; Matthew 28:19; Luke 3:22; John 1:18 & 15:26 and

John 17:11, 21.

3. WE BELIEVE...In the Deity of the Lord Jesus Christ. As God's son Jesus was both human and divine.

Read Isaiah 9:6; Micah 5:2; John 1:1-14. 8:58 and 14:6; Hebrews 1:8;

4. WE BELIEVE...though originally created good, Man Willingly Fell to Sin–ushering evil and death,

both physical and spiritual, into the world. Read Genesis 1:23 and Romans 5:12-19.

5. WE BELIEVE...Every Person Can Have Restored Fellowship with God Through Salvation (accepting

Christ's offer of forgiveness for sin) by believing in His Atoning Work alone for Salvation. Read

Romans 10:13-15; Ephesians 2:8-10 and Titus 3:5-7.

6. WE BELIEVE...Every Person who receives Christ as His or Her Savior is “Sealed with the Holy

Spirit” as Promised By Christ, as the Secure Downpayment of each believer’s Eternal Life until the

“Day of Redemption”. Read 2nd Corinthians 1:21-22 and Ephesians 1:13-14.

7. WE BELIEVE...and practice two ordinances—

A. Water Baptism by Immersion after repenting of one's sins and receiving Christ's gift of

salvation. Read Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:16; Romans 6:3-5; and, Colossians 2:12-13.

B. Holy Communion (the Lord's Supper) as a symbolic remembrance of Christ's suffering and

death or our salvation. Read Matthew 28:17-30; Mark 14:12-26; Luke 22:1-23; and,

1st Corinthians 11:23-31.

8. WE BELIEVE...the Baptism in the Holy Spirit is a Special Experience Following Salvation that

empowers believers for witnessing and effective service, just as it did in New Testament times. Read

John 7:37-39, John 14:26; Acts 1:4, 8 and 1st Corinthians 12:1-31.

9. WE BELIEVE... The Initial Physical Evidence of the Baptism in the Holy Spirit is ‘Speaking in

Tongues,’ as experienced on the Day of Pentecost and referenced throughout Acts and the Epistles.

This was originally spoken of in Joel 2:28-29; Mark 16:17; and Acts 2:4

10. WE BELIEVE...Sanctification Initially Occurs at Salvation and is not only a declaration that a believer

is holy, but also a progressive lifelong process of separating from evil as believers continually draw

closer to God and become more Christlike. Read 1st Thessalonians 4:3; 1st Corinthians 1:2;

Hebrews 12:14; 1st Peter 1:15-16 for sanctification. Read Romans 6:1-11, 13; 8:1-2, 13;

Galatians 2:20; Philippians 2:12-13 and, 1st Peter 1:5 for the sanctification process.

11. WE BELIEVE...The Church has a Mission to seek and bring to salvation all who are lost in sin. We believe

'the Church' is the Body of Christ and consists of the people who, throughout time, have accepted God's offer

of redemption (regardless of religious denomination) through the sacrificial death of His son Jesus Christ.

Read Mark 16:15-18; Acts 1:8; and, Ephesians 1:22-23, 2:22.

12. WE BELIEVE...A Divinely Called and Scripturally Ordained Leadership Ministry Serves the Church.

The Bible teaches that each of us under leadership must commit ourselves to reach others for Christ, to

worship Him with other believers, and to build up or edify the body of believers–the Church. Read

Mark 16:15-20; John 4:23-24; and, Ephesians 4:8-12, 16.

13. WE BELIEVE...Divine Healing of the Sick is a Privilege for Christians Today and is provided for in

Christ's atonement (His sacrificial death on the cross for our sins). Read Isaiah 53:4-5;

Matthew 8:16-17; and, James 5:14-16.

14. WE BELIEVE...in The Blessed Hope—When Jesus Raptures His Church Prior to His Return to Earth

(the second coming). At this future moment in time all believers who have died will rise from their

graves and will meet the Lord in the air, and Christians who are alive will be caught up with them, to

be with the Lord forever. Read Romans 8:23; 1st Corinthians 15:51-52; 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17; and,

Titus 2:13.

15. WE BELIEVE...in The Millennial Reign of Christ when Jesus returns with His saints at His second

coming and begins His benevolent rule over earth for 1,000 years. At that time many in the nation of

Israel will recognize and accept Him as the Messiah, the Savior who died for them and all mankind.

Read Zechariah 14:5; Matthew 24:27-30; Revelation 1:7, 19:11-14, 20:1-6. For the salvation of Israel,

read Ezekiel 37:21-22; Zephaniah 3:19-20; and, Romans 11:26-27. Concerning the establishment of

world peace, read Isaiah 11:6-9; Psalm 72:23-8; and, Micah 4:3-4.

16. WE BELIEVE...A Final Judgment Will Take Place for those who have rejected Christ. They will be

judged for their sin and consigned to eternal punishment in a punishing lake of fire, which is called the

“Second Death.” Read Matthew 25:46; Mark 9:43-48; and, Revelation 19:20, 20:11-15, 21:18.

17. WE BELIEVE...and look forward to the perfect New Heavens and a New Earth that Christ is preparing

for all people, of all time, who have accepted Him. Read 2nd Peter 3:13 and Revelation 21:22. We will

live and dwell with Him there forever following His millennial reign on Earth. 'And so shall we forever

be with the Lord!' Read 2nd Peter 3:13.

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