Developing Vision for a New Church
Name I think will be NOW Word Community Church.
Faith Statement will be as follows:
1. WE BELIEVE in the living God Who is the Savior of all men, especially of those who believe (1 Timothy 4:10). His salvation will ultimately reconcile all of humanity to Himself…but WE BELIEVE in Him NOW !
2. WE BELIEVE that Jesus Christ is the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world (Revelation 13:8), and we behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29)…and we behold Him NOW!
3. WE BELIEVE that every knee in heaven and on earth and under the earth will eventually bow, and that every tongue in heaven and on earth and under the earth will eventually confess to the glory of God that Jesus Christ is Lord (Philippians 2:9, 10)…but our knees bow to Him NOW …and our tongue confesses that He is Lord NOW !
4. WE BELIEVE that all were condemned in Adam, but all are justified in Christ (Romans 5:17-21), for as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive (1 Corinthians 15:22). We were lost in Adam, but We are found in Christ…condemned in Adam, but justified in Christ…dead in Adam, but alive in Christ…and We are found, justified, and alive NOW !
5. WE BELIEVE that Jesus Christ was and is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not for our sins only, but also for the sins of the whole world (1 John 2:22). He has removed them from me as far as the east is from the west (Psalm 103:12), and we were chosen in Him before the foundation of the world, that WE should be holy and without blame before Him in love (Ephesians 1:4). We are forgiven…and We are forgiven NOW!
6. WE BELIEVE that, because Jesus was lifted up from the earth on the cross, He will ultimately draw all peoples unto Himself (John 12:32), but WE come to Him of our own free will…and WE come to Him NOW!
7. WE BELIEVE that the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all humanity shall see it together (Isaiah 40:5)…that He will pour out of His Spirit on all humanity (Joel 2:28)…and that He will come with clouds, and every eye shall see Him (Revelation 1:7). But WE see His glory NOW …His Spirit is poured out on us NOW …and WE see Him coming to us NOW !
8. WE BELIEVE that it is not His will that any should perish (2 Peter 3:9), that the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all people (Titus 2:11), and that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them (2 Corinthians 5:19). This knowledge of His universal goodness brings us to repentance (Romans 2:4)…and His goodness is revealed in our mind NOW !
9. WE BELIEVE that God has not appointed us unto wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ (1 Thessalonians 5:9), and that we shall not all sleep in death, but we shall all be changed (1 Corinthians 15:51). We will be saved…and We are being saved NOW; We will be changed…and We are being changed NOW!
10. WE BELIEVE that all things shall be made subject to Him so that God may be all in all (1 Corinthians 15:28), and that Christ is all and is in all (Colossians 3:11). The kingdom of God is IN us (Luke 17:21), and therefore God has revealed His Son IN us (Galatians 1:16). Christ IN us is the hope of glory (Colossians 1:27), so WE acknowledge that Christ is IN us…and He is revealed IN us NOW!
It will be a place of comfort and shelter where the presence of God will change people, but we will not try to. The Word will sill be preached and taught but the Spirit will do the work. We will be inclusive.
I see unity in diversity..all races and nationalities.
Note: this church exists in my heart and is coming into manifestation according to the will of God.