Changing Lives Ministries

Our Statement of Faith, like all doctrine and theology, is a declaration of truths about “The Truth.” It is an attempt to give us a handle on His Gospel, as we understand it.

•     We Believe in One God Who Exists as Father, Son and Holy Spirit
•     We Believe in Jesus Christ
•     We Believe in the Sanctity of Human Life
•     We Believe in Justification by Faith
•     We Believe in Baptism
•     We Believe in the Holy Spirit
•     We Believe that the Baptism in the Holy Spirit is an Endowment of Power 
•     We Believe in the Holy Scriptures
•     We Believe in Sanctification
•     We Believe in the Priesthood of the Believer
•     We Believe in the Equipping of the Saints for the Work of the Ministry
•     We Believe in Marriage
•     We Believe in One Holy Christian and Apostolic Church
•     We Believe in the Unity of the Church
•     We Believe in the Local Church
•     We Believe that Local Churches Need Friends
•     We Believe in the Second Coming of Jesus Christ

This Statement of Faith does not exhaust the extent of our beliefs. The Bible itself, as the inspired and infallible Word of God, speaks with final authority concerning truth, morality, and the proper conduct of mankind and is the sole and final source of all that we believe. For purposes of CLM's  faith, doctrine, practice, policy, and discipline, our Board is CLM's final interpretive authority on the Bible's meaning and application.

We Believe in One God Who Exists as Father, Son and Holy Spirit
We believe there is only one God, revealed as Father, Son and Holy Spirit. (Deuteronomy 6:4, 2 Corinthians 13:14, John 1:1) In the New Testament, time and time again we see the expression of God the Father, Jesus the Son of God and God the Holy Spirit.

We Believe in Jesus Christ
We believe that our Lord Jesus Christ was begotten, not created, very God, truly God, truly Man. He was born of the Virgin Mary, lived a sinless life, died a vicarious and atoning death for the sins of the world, resurrected bodily for our justification, and now reigns in glory until all things be put under His feet. (1 Timothy 3:16)

We Believe in the Sanctity of Human Life
We believe that all human life is sacred and created by God in His image.  Human life is of inestimable worth in all its dimensions, including pre-born babies, the aged, the physically or mentally-challenged, and every other stage or condition from conception through natural death.  We are, therefore, called to defend, protect, and value all human life.

We Believe in Justification by Faith
We believe that justification is by grace through faith in our Lord’s sacrifice on Calvary. (Romans 3:21 - 24) The soul that sins shall surely die. This death is a spiritual death first and a natural death second.

•     This alienation from God because of sin can only be corrected by grace through faith in what Jesus did in His death, burial and resurrection.  
•     Jesus Christ, through His death, satisfied the requirement, or standards, established by God. He becomes our substitution.
•     God’s entire wrath against disobedience (sin) was taken out on Jesus on the cross. “My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?”

We Believe in Baptism
We believe that all of God’s people are to be buried with our Lord Jesus Christ in the waters of baptism, subsequent to conversion. (Matthew 28:19, Acts 2:38, Romans 6:4)

•     Baptism is a command. Everyone who confesses Christ should be baptized.  
•     Baptism comes from the word “baptize” which means to immerse.  
•     Baptism represents a burial of the old way of life and mindset.  
•     Baptism is not a prerequisite to salvation.  
•     CLM does not baptize infants.  
•     Baptism is to be participated in when the concept it represents can be fully understood by the participant.
•     We baptize  in accordance with the scriptural record. ( Matthew 28:19) 
•     Jesus was baptized as a way of identifying with us as sinners.

We Believe in the Holy Spirit
We believe that the Holy Spirit dwells in all believers, conforming them to the image of Jesus Christ. (1 Corinthians 12:13, Romans 8:16 - 17)

•     The Holy Spirit sanctifies – sets us apart to fulfill God’s purpose for our lives.  
•     The Holy Spirit preserves – He keeps us until the day that Christ returns.  
•     The Holy Spirit comes within you when you accept Christ into your heart.  
•     The scriptures identify Him as “the one called alongside to help provide comfort, revelation regarding the will of God and teaching”.

We Believe that the Baptism of the Holy Spirit is an Endowment of Power
We believe that the baptism of the Holy Spirit is an endowment of power, subsequent to conversion, given by God to anoint the believer for sanctification and evangelism. It is our understanding that the supernatural charisma of the Holy Spirit is active within the Body of Christ until the coming of the Lord. Furthermore, we believe the development of the charismatic gifts ought to be encouraged under the guidance of local church authorities. (Acts 8:14-17, Acts 19:1-2, 1 Corinthians 12:4-7)

•     The Baptism of the Holy Spirit is a subsequent experience to salvation.  
•     Evidence of the empowerment of the Holy Spirit is demonstrated by speaking in tongues and boldness as recorded in the book of Acts.
•     The Holy Spirit within produces fruit for an internal work.  
•     The Holy Spirit upon us produces power for external work.  
•     The Baptism of the Holy Spirit is not a requirement of Salvation.  
•     We encourage you to ask Jesus to baptize you with the Holy Spirit.

We Believe in the Holy Scriptures
We believe in the absolute inspiration of the Holy Scriptures, given by the Holy Spirit without error, as He moved upon holy men of old. Furthermore, we believe that the Church has no authority to establish doctrine or practice contrary to these same Scriptures, which were subsequently accepted as canon by the early Christian Church. (2 Timothy 3:16)
 
The Holy Bible is the word of God, written by men who were inspired by the Holy Spirit.

•     All that we believe has its basis in the entirety of the scripture and the absolute truths that it contains. Absolutes are principles that stand alone.
•     The Holy Scripture is our highest authority for establishing doctrine, reproving, instructing, convicting of sin, correction of error, and training in righteousness.  
•     The canon of scripture was established prior to the universal church's fragmentation into denominations. At the same time the scriptures were written, the universal church was still an organic body, not an institutional one.

We Believe in Sanctification
We believe that those who are called by the name of Christ should depart from iniquity. Understanding that salvation from the penalty of sin only begins the process of redemption, we acknowledge that one work of the Holy Spirit is to create in us the character of Christ. (2 Timothy 2:19) In order to achieve this new character, we believe:

•     your walk matches your talk,
•     we can break free from the power of sin,
•     in complete restoration, not just redemption,  
•     in a lifestyle change in every arena of life: mental, spiritual and physical.  
•     in a life that reflects the nature and character of Jesus Christ.

We Believe in the Priesthood of the Believer
We believe in the priesthood of the believer. That is to say, all people born of God have equal status before, and direct access to, their Lord,

We Believe in the Equipping of the Saints for the Work of the Ministry
We believe that the calling of Apostle, Prophet, Evangelist, Pastor and Teacher are functional within the Body of Christ until the Lord’s return. Furthermore, these ministries are gifts to the Church for the purpose of equipping the saints for the work of the ministry, that the Body of Christ will be edified. (Ephesians 4:11-16) We believe that the ministry gifts listed in Ephesians 4 are still in operation today (Apostle, Prophet, Evangelist, Pastor and Teacher).

 

We Believe in Marriage
We believe that God wonderfully and immutably creates each person as male or female and that those two distinct, complementary genders together reflect the image and nature of God.  We believe that God created marriage to be exclusively the union of one man and one woman and that intimate sexual activity is to occur exclusively within that union.

We Believe in One Holy Christian and Apostolic Church
We believe in the Holy Christian Church, imperfectly represented on earth, by the various Christian institutions. Her unity is spiritual, her culture diverse and transitional, her mission eternal. (Hebrews 12:18-23) There’s only one church body in the earth. 

We Believe in the Unity of the Church
We believe in the spiritual unity of all who are born of God. We confess even those with whom we disagree, those who do not confess us, and others who we exclude because of our willful ignorance. (1 Corinthians 12:12-14)

•     We do not disassociate from other churches that profess Jesus Christ but may have different doctrinal beliefs or cultural ways of worshiping the Lord.  
•     We don’t major on the minors.  
•     We want to build bridges not walls.

We Believe in the Local Church
We believe the identity of the Body of Christ on the earth is primarily perceived through the local church. While encouraging the voluntary association of local churches, and recognizing the need of consensus on matters of fundamental doctrine and conduct, we strongly confess the local church to be sovereign and autonomous.
(Revelation 2-3)

•     Every individual who professes relationship with Jesus Christ should be involved in a local community of believers.
•     The local church should represent Jesus Christ to the community.
•     The local church is a place of accountability and covering.

We Believe in the Second Coming of Jesus Christ
We believe in the literal second coming of our Lord, the literal rule of Christ upon the earth, the resurrection of the regenerate to eternal life and the unregenerate to eternal damnation, and the ultimate victory of the eternal Kingdom of God.(Acts 1:9-11, Daniel 12:2, Revelation 22:1 -7)

•     Jesus Christ, who was raised from the dead, is still alive today.  
•     Jesus Christ is seated at the right hand of God and He is interceding on our behalf daily.  
•     John 3:16 says that God so loved the world. The word “world” is translated cosmos, which means the earth and the entire universe. God is not just in love with His highest creation called man, but He is in love with His creation.  
•     Jesus Christ’s rule (government) will literally be established in the earth.
•     We await His literal return to the earth.