Faith

We believe in the following biblical mandate.

H.O.M.E. Statement of Faith
We believe:

1. In the one, living, and true God, who has created and sustains all things, who is perfect in love and righteousness in all His ways, who is one in essence, but exists eternally in three persons, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
   
   
2. That God is the source of truth, that He discloses Himself to humankind in creation, in the history of His dealings with His people, through sacred Scripture, and directly by inward and unmediated revelation, which is necessary for the building up of Christian faith but should not contradict the testimony of the Christian Scriptures.
   
   
3. In the Scriptures of the Old (39 books) and the New (27 books) Testaments as the essential and reliable records of divine revelation. Scripture is given by divine inspiration and authority and is fully sufficient for guidance in all matters of faith and practice. The Holy Spirit who inspired the Scriptures must ever be their true interpreter and He works through the disciplined and dedicated minds of those within His church. Under His guidance, Scripture is to be interpreted in each of its parts according to their context and purpose and in reverent obedience to the Lord who reveals Himself through them.
   
   
4. That Scripture teaches the truth about the human condition, that we are created in the image of God, capable of abundant life, creative works and fulfillment, and happiness in fellowship with Him, but that fellowship was broken through the disobedience of our first parents, and so all persons are estranged from God, under the power of sin, and in need of redemption. God’s grace is necessary as the remedy of sin, and His grace has restored moral awareness and enables all persons to respond to His love and accept His saving grace if they will.
   
   
5. In the death of Christ as the necessary atonement for the sins of humanity, the death of Him who, through God’s only Sons, our Lord, was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, was crucified, died and was buried, but rose again from the dead, ascended to heaven, and now sits at the right hand of God, the Father Almighty, and will come again to judge the living and the dead.
   
   
6. That those who put their full trust in Jesus Christ and accept Him by faith as a personal Savior and Lord, are justified and regenerated by God, in a holy, pure, and spiritual birth that produces holiness, righteousness, and purity in them. This imparted righteousness and initial sanctification is not the result of any good works on their part, but it is granted through faith in His mercy and grace, by the washing of regeneration and renewal in the Holy Spirit (Titus 3:5).
   
   
7. In the Holy Spirit who would control and empower the believers who respond in full surrender and trust to God. All believers are called to a holy Christ-filled (or Spirit-filled) abundant, triumphant fruitful life by fully surrendering to the Lordship of Christ and allowing him to crucify all carnality within them (I Peter 1:15-16). All believers are commanded to be filled with the Holy Spirit, that is to seek a life of Holiness whereby they consider themselves dead to sin, self and the world, but alive to Christ (Ephesians 5:18, Romans 6:11). Those surrendered believers live by the power of the Holy Spirit a life that is characterized by triumph over sin and wholehearted love for God and for others. There is still room for spiritual growth, but the peace of God which surpasses all understanding will keep their hearts and their minds in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:7) even though there remains a possibility of committing sin if the mind is not diligently and watchfully applied to heeding the Lord.
   
   
8. That those who are in such communion with Christ are drawn together into the family of God called the church, for worship, for education, for fellowship, and for service. God unites those believers who have accepted Jesus Christ as a personal Savior and Lord into one body known as the church even though they may differ as far as sex, age, race, nationality, religious background, socioeconomic condition or denominational affiliation.
   
   
9. In the infinite worth of every person and in the sanctity of personality and conscience which respects individual conscience, dignity, and achievements of each person. No person, under a pretense of conscience, should prejudice the life or property of his neighbor, or do anything that is destructive to human society or anything inconsistent with the spiritual and material welfare of others.
   
   
10. That the chief purpose of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and His Church is to redeem people in all parts of the world from sinful and vain pursuits of this world and to lead them into inward communion with God and into a fellowship of God’s people who will live in mission to God and seek peace with all people. The Church will find its ultimate consummation the gathering together of the saints (I Thess. 3:17), the personal return of Jesus Christ, the resurrection of the dead, the last judgment, and the establishment of God’s everlasting kingdom.