Higher
Praise
Christian
Center
Statement
Of
Faith
Higher
Praise
Church
and
Higherpraise.com
Fundamental
Truths
The
Bible
is
our
all-sufficient
rule
for
faith
and
practice.
This
statement
of
Fundamental
Truths
is
intended
simply
as
a
basis
of
fellowship
among
us
(i.e.
that
we
all
speak
the
same
thing,
1
Cor.1:
10,
Acts
2:42).
The
phraseology
employed
in
this
Statement
is
not
inspired
or
contended
for,
but
the
truth
set
forth
is
held
to
be
essential
to
a
Full
Gospel
ministry.
No
claim
is
made
that
it
contains
all
Biblical
truth,
only
that
it
covers
our
need
as
to
the
fundamental
doctrines.
1.
The
Scriptures
Inspired
The
Scriptures,
both
the
Old
and
New
Testaments,
are
verbally
inspired
of
God
and
are
the
revelation
of
God
to
man,
the
infallible,
authoritative
rule
of
faith
and
conduct.
(2
Tim.
3:15-17,
1Thess.2:13,
2
Peter
1:21)
2.
The
One
True
God
The
one
true
God
has
revealed
Himself
as
the
eternally
self-existent
"I
AM",
the
Creator
of
heaven
and
earth
and
the
Redeemer
of
mankind.
He
further
revealed
Himself
as
embodying
the
principles
of
relationship
and
association
as
Father,
Son,
and
Holy
Spirit.
(Deut.
6:4,
Isaiah
43:10,
11,
Matthew
28:
19,
Luke
3:22)
3.
The
Godhead
A.
Distinction
and
Relationship
in
the
Godhead
Christ
taught
a
distinction
in
the
Godhead
which
He
expressed
in
specific
terms
of
relationship,
as
Father,
Son,
and
Holy
Spirit,
but
that
this
distinction
and
relationship,
as
to
its
mode
is
inscrutable
and
incomprehensible,
because
unexplained.
(Luke
1:35,
1
Cor.1:
24,
Matt.11:25-27,
28:19,
2
Cor.13:14,
1
John
1:3-4)
B.
Unity
of
the
One
Being
of
Father,
Son
and
Holy
Spirit
Accordingly,
therefore,
there
is
that
in
the
Son
which
constitutes
Him
the
Son
and
not
the
Father;
and
there
is
that
in
the
Holy
Spirit
which
constitutes
Him
the
Holy
Spirit
and
not
either
the
Father
or
the
Son.
Whereof
the
Father
is
the
begetter,
the
Son
is
the
begotten,
and
the
Holy
Spirit
is
the
one
proceeding
from
the
Father
and
the
Son.
Therefore,
because
these
three
in
the
Godhead
are
in
a
state
of
unity,
there
is
but
one
Lord
God
Almighty
and
His
name
one.
(John
1:18,
15:26,
17:11,
Zech.14:
9)
C.
Identify
and
Cooperation
in
the
Godhead
The
Father,
the
Son
and
the
Holy
Spirit
work
together
to
fulfill
God's
plan
and
are
not
confused
as
to
relation;
nor
divided
in
respect
to
the
Godhead;
nor
opposed
as
to
cooperation.
The
Son
is
in
the
Father
and
the
Father
is
in
the
Son
as
to
relationship.
The
Son
is
with
the
Father
and
the
Father
is
with
the
Son,
as
to
fellowship.
The
Father
is
not
from
the
Son,
but
the
Son
is
from
the
Father,
as
to
authority.
The
Holy
Spirit
is
from
the
Father
and
the
Son
proceeding,
as
to
nature,
relationship,
cooperation
and
authority.
Hence,
neither
one
in
the
Godhead
either
exists
or
works
separately
or
independently
of
the
others.
(John
5:17
-30,
32,
John
8:17,
18)
D.
The
Title,
Lord
Jesus
Christ
The
appellation,
"Lord
Jesus
Christ",
is
a
proper
name.
It
is
never
applied
in
the
New
Testament
either
to
the
Father
or
to
the
Holy
Spirit.
It
therefore
belongs
exclusively
to
the
Son
of
God.
(Rom.1:1-
3,
7,
2
John
3)
E.
The
Lord
Jesus
Christ,
God
with
us
The
Lord
Jesus
Christ,
as
to
His
divine
and
eternal
nature,
is
the
proper
and
only
Begotten
of
the
Father,
but
as
to
His
human
nature,
He
is
the
proper
Son
of
Man.
He
is,
therefore,
acknowledged
to
be
both
God
and
man;
who
because
He
is
God
and
man,
is
"Immanuel".
God
with
us.
(Matt.1:
23,
1
John
4:2,10,14,
Rev.1:13,
17)
F.
Transgression
of
the
Doctrine
of
Christ
Wherefore,
it
is
a
transgression
of
the
Doctrine
of
Christ
to
say
that
Jesus
Christ
derived
the
title,
Son
of
God,
solely
from
the
fact
of
the
incarnation,
or
because
of
His
relation
to
the
economy
of
redemption.
Therefore,
to
deny
that
the
Father
is
a
real
and
eternal
Father,
and
that
the
Son
is
a
real
and
eternal
Son,
is
a
denial
of
the
distinction
and
relationship
in
the
Being
of
God;
a
denial
of
the
Father
and
the
Son;
and
a
displacement
of
the
truth
that
Jesus
Christ
is
come
in
the
flesh.
(2
John
9,
John
1:1,
2,
14,
18,
29,
49,
1
John
2:22-23,
4:1-5,
Heb.12:2)
G.
Exaltation
of
Jesus
Christ
as
Lord
The
Son
of
God,
our
Lord
Jesus
Christ,
having
by
Himself
purged
our
sins,
sat
down
on
the
right
hand
of
the
Majesty
on
high;
angels
and
principalities
and
powers
having
been
made
subject
unto
Him.
"And
having
been
made
both
Lord
and
Christ,
He
sent
the
Holy
Spirit
that
we,
in
the
name
of
Jesus,
might
bow
our
knees
and
confess
that
Jesus
Christ
is
Lord
to
the
glory
of
God
the
Father
until
the
end,
when
the
Son
shall
become
subject
to
the
Father
that
God
may
be
all
in
all.
(Heb.1:3,
1
Peter
3:22,
Acts
2:32-36,
Rom.14:
11,
1
Cor.15:
24
-
28)
H.
Equal
Honour
to
the
Father
and
to
the
Son
Wherefore,
since
the
Father
has
delivered
all
judgement
unto
the
Son,
it
is
not
only
the
expressed
duty
of
all
in
heaven
and
on
earth
to
bow
the
knee,
but
it
is
an
unspeakable
joy
in
the
Holy
Spirit
to
ascribe
unto
the
Son
all
the
attributes
of
Deity,
and
to
give
him
all
the
honour
and
the
glory
contained
in
all
the
names
and
titles
of
the
Godhead
(except
those
which
express
relationship,
see
paragraphs
A,
B,
and
C)
and
thus
honour
the
Son
even
as
we
honour
the
Father.
(John
5:22,
23,
1
Peter
1:8,
Rev.
5:6
-
14,
Phil.2:
8-9,
Rev.7:
9
-
10,
Rev.
4:
8
-
11)
4.
The
Deity
of
the
Lord
Jesus
Christ
The
Lord
Jesus
Christ
is
the
eternal
Son
of
God.
The
Scriptures
declares:
A.
His
virgin
birth.
(Matt.
1:23,
Luke
1:31,
35)
B.
His
sinless
life.
(Heb.7:
26,
1
Peter
2:22)
C.
His
miracles
(Acts
2:22,
10:38)
D.
His
substitution
work
on
the
cross.
(1
Cor.15:
3,
2
Cor.5:
21)
E.
His
bodily
resurrection
from
the
dead.
(Matt.28:
6,
Luke
24:39,
1Cor.15:4)
F.
His
exaltation
to
the
right
hand
of
God.
(Acts
1:9,11,
2:33,
Phil.2:
9
-11,
Heb.1:3)
5.
The
Fall
of
Man
Man
was
created
good
and
upright;
for
God
said,
"Let
us
make
man
in
our
image,
after
our
likeness."
However,
man
by
voluntary
transgression
fell
and
thereby
incurred
not
only
physical
death
but
also
Spiritual
death,
which
is
separation
from
God.
(Gen.1:26,
27,
2:17,
3:
6,
Rom.5:12-19)
6.
The
Salvation
of
Man
Man's
only
hope
of
redemption
is
through
the
shed
blood
of
Jesus
Christ
the
Son
of
God.
A.
Conditions
to
Salvation
Salvation
is
received
through
repentance
toward
God
and
faith
toward
the
Lord
Jesus
Christ.
By
washing
of
regeneration
and
renewing
of
the
Holy
Spirit,
being
justified
by
grace
through
faith,
man
becomes
an
heir
of
God
according
to
the
hope
of
eternal
life.
(Luke
24:47,
John
3:3,
Rom.10:
13-15,
Eph.
2:8,
Titus
2:11,
3:5-7)
B.
The
Evidences
of
Salvation
The
inward
evidence
of
salvation
is
the
direct
witness
of
the
Spirit.
(Romans
8:16)
The
outward
evidence
to
all
men
is
a
life
of
righteousness
and
true
holiness.
(Eph.4:24,
Titus
2:12)
7.
The
Ordinances
of
the
Church
A.
Baptism
in
Water
The
ordinance
of
baptism
by
immersion
is
commanded
in
the
Scriptures.
All
who
repent
and
believe
on
Christ
as
Saviour
and
Lord
are
to
be
baptized.
Thus
they
declare
to
the
world
that
they
have
died
with
Christ
and
that
they
also
have
been
raised
with
Him
to
walk
in
newness
of
life.
(Matt.28:19,
Mark
16:16,
Acts
10:47,
48,
Romans
6:4)
B.
Holy
Communion
The
Lord's
Supper,
consisting
of
the
elements
-
bread
and
fruit
of
the
vine
-
is
the
symbol
expressing
our
sharing
the
divine
nature
of
our
Lord
Jesus
Christ
(2Peter
1:4);
a
memorial
of
His
suffering
and
death
(1
Cor.11:26);
and
a
prophecy
of
His
second
coming
(1
Cor.11:26);
and
is
enjoined
on
all
believers
"till
He
come!"
8.
Tithes
and
Offerings
Tithes
and
Offerings
are
an
essential
part
of
our
Christian
walk
and
faith.
The
Lord
commands
believers
in
the
Old
and
New
Testament
to
give
a
tenth
to
the
service
of
the
Lord.
(
Prov.
19:15,
Eccles.5:
13-16,
Neh.
10:31,
Mal.
3:8
-
12,
Matt.
27:57,
Romans
10:
14,
15,
1
Cor.9:4,
1
Cor.
16:1,
2
Corth.11:
8)
9.
The
Baptism
in
the
Holy
Spirit
All
believers
are
entitled
to
and
should
ardently
expect
and
earnestly
seek
the
promise
of
the
Father,
the
Baptism
in
Holy
Spirit
and
fire,
according
to
the
command
of
our
Lord
Jesus
Christ.
This
was
the
normal
experience
of
all
in
the
early
Christian
Church.
With
it
comes
the
endowment
of
power
for
life
and
service,
and
bestowment
of
the
gifts
and
their
uses
in
the
work
of
the
ministry.
(Luke
24:49,
Acts
1:4,8,
1
Cor.12:1
-
31).
This
experience
is
distinct
from
and
subsequent
to
the
experience
of
the
new
birth.
(Acts
8:
12
-
17,
10:44
-
46,
11:
14-16,
15:7-9).
With
the
baptism
of
the
Holy
Spirit
come
such
experiences
as
an
overflowing
fullness
of
the
Spirit
(John
7:37
-
39,
Acts
4:8),
a
deepened
reverence
for
God
(Acts
2:43,
Heb.12:28),
an
intensified
consecration
to
God
and
dedication
to
his
work
(Acts
2:42),
and
a
more
active
love
for
Christ,
for
His
word,
and
for
the
lost.
(Mark
16:20).
10.
The
Evidence
of
the
Baptism
in
the
Holy
Spirit
The
baptism
of
believers
in
the
Holy
Spirit
is
witnessed
by
holiness
and
sanctification
to
God,
and
by
the
initial
physical
sign
of
speaking
with
other
tongues,
as
the
Spirit
of
God
gives
them
utterance.
(Acts
2:4)
The
speaking
in
tongues
in
this
instance
is
the
same
in
essence
as
the
gift
of
tongues
(1
Cor.
12:4
-
10,
28),
but
different
in
purpose
and
use.
11.
Sanctification
Sanctification
is
an
act
of
separation
from
that
which
is
evil,
and
of
dedication
unto
God.
(Romans
12:1,
2,
1
Thess.5:23,
Heb.
13:12)
The
Scriptures
teach
a
life
of
"
holiness
without
which
no
man
shall
see
the
Lord."
(Heb.12:14)
By
the
power
of
the
Holy
Spirit
we
are
able
to
obey
the
command:
"Be
ye
holy,
for
I
am
holy."
(1
Peter
1:15,
16)
Sanctification
is
realized
in
the
believer
by
recognizing
his
identification
with
Christ
in
His
death
and
resurrection,
and
by
faith
reckoning
daily
upon
the
fact
of
that
union,
and
by
offering
every
faculty
continually
to
the
dominion
of
the
Holy
Spirit.
(Rom.6:1
-
11,
13,
8:1,
2,
13,
Gal.2:20,
1
Peter
1:5)
12.
The
Church
and
Its
Mission
The
Church
is
the
Body
of
Christ,
and
habitation
of
God
through
the
Spirit,
with
divine
appointments
for
the
fulfillment
of
her
great
commission.
Each
believer
born
of
the
Spirit
is
an
integral
part
of
the
General
Assembly
and
Church
of
the
Firstborn,
which
are
written
in
heaven.
(Eph.1:
22,
23,
2:22,
Heb.12:
23)
Since
God's
purpose
concerning
man
is
to
seek
and
to
save
that
which
is
lost,
to
be
worshipped
by
man,
and
to
build
a
body
of
believers
in
the
Image
of
His
Son,
the
priority
reason
for
being
of
Higher
Praise
Christian
Center
as
a
part
of
the
Church
is:
A.
To
be
an
agency
of
God
for
evangelizing
the
world.
(Acts
1:8,
Matt.28:
19,
20,
Mark
16:
15,
16)
B.
To
be
a
corporate
body
in
which
man
may
worship
God.
(1
Cor.
12:13)
C.
To
be
a
channel
of
God's
purpose
to
build
a
body
of
saints
being
perfected
in
the
Image
of
His
Son.
(Eph.4:
11
-
16,
1
Cor.12:
28,
14:12)
This
Association
will
expressly
give
continuing
emphasis
to
the
reason
for
being
in
the
New
Testament
apostolic
pattern
by
teaching
and
encouraging
believers
to
be
baptized
in
the
Holy
Spirit.
This
experience:
1.
Enables
them
to
evangelize
in
the
power
of
the
Spirit
with
accompanying
supernatural
signs.
(Mark
16:15
-
20,
Acts
4:29-31,
Heb.
2:3
-
4)
2.
Adds
a
necessary
dimension
to
worshipful
relationship
with
God.
(1
Cor.2:
10
-
16,
1
Cor.
12-
14)
3.
Enables
them
to
respond
to
a
full
working
of
the
Holy
Spirit
in
expression
of
fruit
and
gifts
and
ministries
as
in
New
Testament
times
for
the
edifying
of
the
body
of
Christ.
(Gal.
5:22
-
26,
1
Cor.
14:12,
Eph.
4
:11
-
12,
1
Cor.
12:28,
Col.
1:29)
13.
The
Ministry
A
divinely
called
and
scripturally
ordained
ministry
has
been
provided
by
our
Lord
for
the
threefold
purpose
of
leading
the
Church
in:
A.
Evangelization
of
the
World.
(Mark
16:
15
-
20)
B.
Worship
of
God.
(John
4:23
-
24)
C.
Building
a
body
of
saints
being
perfected
in
the
image
of
His
Son.
(Eph.
4:
11
-
16)
14.
Divine
Healing
Divine
Healing
is
an
integral
part
of
the
gospel.
Deliverance
from
sickness
is
provided
for
in
the
atonement,
and
is
the
privilege
of
all
believers.
(Isa.
53:
4-
5,
Matt.
8:
16-
17,
James
5:
14
-
16)
15.
The
Blessed
Hope
The
resurrection
of
those
who
have
fallen
asleep
in
Christ
and
their
translation
together
with
those
who
are
alive
and
remain
unto
the
coming
of
the
Lord
is
the
imminent
and
blessed
hope
of
the
Church.
(
1
Thess.
4:
16-
17,
Romans
8:23,
Titus
2:13,
1
Cor.
15:51
-
52)
16.
The
Millennial
Reign
of
Christ
The
second
coming
of
Christ
includes
the
resurrection
of
the
saints,
which
is
our
blessed
hope,
followed
by
the
visible
return
of
Christ
with
His
saints
to
reign
on
the
earth
for
one
thousand
years.
(Zech.
14:5,
Matt.
24:
27,
30,
Rev.
1:7,
19:
11
-
14,
20:
1-
6)
This
millennial
reign
will
bring
the
salvation
of
national
Israel,
(Ex.
37:
21,
22,
Zeph.
3:
19
-
20,
Rom.11:26-27)
and
the
establishment
of
universal
peace.
(Isa.
11:
6-9,
Ps.
72:
3-8,
Micah
4:3-4)
17.
The
Final
Judgement
There
will
be
a
final
judgement
in
which
the
wicked
dead
will
be
raised
and
judged
according
to
their
works.
Whosoever
is
not
found
written
in
the
Book
of
Life,
together
with
the
devil
and
his
angels,
the
beast
and
the
false
prophet,
will
be
consigned
to
everlasting
punishment
in
the
lake
which
burns
with
fire
and
brimstone,
which
is
the
second
death.
(Matt.
25:46,
Mark
9:43
-
48,
Rev.19:20;
20:
11-15;
21:8)
18.The
New
Heavens
and
the
New
Earth
"We,
according
to
His
promise,
look
for
new
heavens
and
a
new
earth
wherein
dwelleth
righteousness."
(2
Peter
3:13,
Revelation
21:22)
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