FAITH, HOPE & LOVE, INC. & SAPPHIRE FAMILY CHURCH

We believe the Scriptures to be the inspired and inerrant Word of God, and as such, they are revelation from God to man, the infallible rule of faith and conduct (1Tim 3:16; 1Peter 2:2).  We believe in the Trinity of one God, eternal and self existent, self revealed as Father, Son and Holy Ghost (Deut 6:4; Mark 12:29; Is 43:10-11; Mat 28:19).  We believe that Jesus Christ is true God and true man, having been conceived of the Holy Ghost and born of the virgin Mary (John 1:1, 14; Matt 1:18; Luke 1:26-27; Luke 2:7; 1Tim 2:5).  We believe that Jesus Christ died on the cross and shed His blood as a sacrifice for our sins; He arose bodily from the dead, ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Majesty on High (1Pet 2:24; Heb 9:11-14; 1Cor 15:3-8; Acts 2:32-36; Heb 10:12).

We believe in the ministry of the Holy Spirit to glorify Christ, to convict men of sin, righteousness and judgment, and to empower the believer (John 15:26; John 16:8, 14; Acts 1:8).  We believe that man was created in the image of God, but fell into sin (Gen 1:26-31; Gen 3:1-7; Rom 5:12-21). We believe that man can be justified only by grace through personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ (Eph 4:11-12; Rom 3:24-28).  We believe that water baptism identifies us with the death and burial of Christ, and that we should arise to walk in newness of life (Rom 6:3-9; 1Pet 3:221).  We believe that the true Church is composed of such persons who, through saving faith in Jesus Christ, have been regenerated by the Holy Spirit (1Pet2:4-5; Eph 2:19-22).  We believe in the personal, literal, second coming of our Lord Jesus Christ to judge both the living and the dead (1Thes 4:16; Heb 9:27; 1Cor 15:51-52; Rev 20:11-15; Acts 24:15; 2Tim 4:1).  We believe in the bodily resurrection of all the dead (Acts 24:15; 1Cor 15:35-44; Rev 20:11-15).  We believe in everlasting blessedness for the believer, with judgment and everlasting punishment for the unbeliever (Mat 7:21-23; Rev 20:11-15; John 5:29).

We believe that Christ wants the members of His Church to carry the Gospel into all the world so that all mankind would be saved (Mat 28:18-20; Acts 1:8; 1Tim 2:4).   We believe the Holy Spirit is at work today within the Church through His gifts, fruit, and anointed ministers (Acts 2:39; Rom 12:6-8; 1Cor 12:1-11; Gal 5:22-23; Eph 4:11; 1Cor 12:28).  We believe that the gifts of the Holy Spirit are given to every believer and need to be activated and exercised to fulfill their divine purpose of blessing the Body of Christ (Acts 2:39; Rom 12:6-8; 1Cor 12:1-11; Gal 5:22-23; 1Cor 12:28).  We believe in the baptism of the Holy Spirit wherein the Spirit is sent to gift each believer with their own private prayer / praise language used to edify themselves, and that such a baptism empowers the believer to be effective for Christ (Acts 1:8; Acts 2:39; 1Cor 14:2, 18; Jude 20; Acts 19:1-6).

We believe in divine healing of the body as part of the atoning work of Jesus Christ.  This healing can be received and also ministered to others by various gifts (1Cor 12:8-10; Mat 8:16-17; 1Pet 2:24).  We believe in perfecting and equipping the saints so they can enter into the full function  of their membership ministry thereby edifying the whole Body of Christ Eph 4:11-16; 1Cor 12:28).  We believe in the present-day ministries of the apostles and prophets which Christ has set in the Church as foundational and revelational ministries.  We believe these two ministries will be restored to function in full power and authority before the literal second coming of Christ (Eph 2:20; Acts 3:21).  We believe that the Church of Jesus Christ is God’s instrument to establish and extend God’s Kingdom until the literal second coming of Christ to reign over all the earth (Rev 11:15).

We believe in the full restoration of the corporate Body of Christ (Acts 3:21).  We believe in proclaiming present-truth for the purpose of establishing dynamic and growing local churches, building on the foundational ministries of the apostles and prophets.  We believe in the autonomy of each local church and that itinerant ministries should be based out of and related to a local church with accountability to a senior minister (2Pet 1:12; Acts 13:1; Acts 15).  We believe that the Church is the Body of Christ expressed as the church individual, the church local, the Church universal and invisible.  As such, we believe the Church to be more than a building or a gathering of people.  It is a Body living in relationship and harmony under direction of the Head, Jesus Christ (1Cor 15; 2Cor 11:1; Rom 16:5; 1Pet:2:4-5; Eph 2:19-22; 1Cor 12:12-31; Rom 12:4-5; Eph 4:11-16).

We believe in church discipline administered within the relational group in a spirit of meekness and confidentiality.  The purpose of such discipline is the restoration of the one subject to the discipline and/or the purification of the relational group.  The steps of discipline are: one on one private confrontation, private confrontation with witnesses, and finally, exposure to the relational group for judgment leading to restoration or separation (Mat 18:15-20; Gal 6:1; Rom 16:17; 2John 9:11; 1Cor 5:11; 2Cor 2:6-8; 1Tim 5:20).   We believe as members of the same Body of Christ, baptized by one Spirit into one Body, that we must endeavor to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace, and as such, we should not bring a lawsuit against another Christian individual or ministry, unless all Scriptural principles have been complied with through efforts of mediation.  We believe that all such disputes should be resolved within the Body of Christ without taking them before unbelievers for judgment (1Cor 6:1-8). 

We believe that God speaks today.  There are at least five avenues of prophecy by which God speaks to His people.  They are the office of the prophet, prophetic preaching, prophetic presbytery, the gift of prophecy, and the spirit of prophecy.  We believe that hearing from God, both individually and corporately as a church through prophecy or any other Biblical means chosen by God to communicate, is essential to our faith and walk with God.  Prophecy and prophetic utterance is only one method of discerning God’s will and direction.  It is recognized that the methods or avenues of prophecy will not always be 100% accurate.  Actions should not be taken on the basis of prophetic words alone without other confirmation.  We believe that prophetic presbytery serves the purpose in the Body of Christ in activating, establishing, releasing, commissioning, and ordaining gifts to their office, function, and place of relationship and/or leadership (1Cor 14:1, 3, 39; Eph 4:11 & 2:20; 1Tim 4:14 & 5:22;  Acts 13:1-3; Titus 1:5; Rom 12:6; 1Pet 4:10; 1The 5:19-21; 2Tim 1:6).  We believe that in all matters concerning the Body of Christ, in its direction, discipline ministry, and functioning, that specific guidance and instruction, revelation, and discernment of truth from falsehood, is available by the leading of the Holy Spirit who enables us to know spiritual things by the Spirit (Acts 13:1-3; 1Tim 1:18 & 5:22; Rom 8:14; John 16:13-15; 1Cor 2:9-12 & 5:3).