Statement of Faith

These are the foundational doctrinal beliefs of James H Boyd Gospel Ministries. All teaching and ministry work will be consistent with the following. We believe that:

1. THE SCRIPTURES of the Old and New Testaments are the infallible Word of God, the source and the rule of all our faith and practice (Psalm 19:7-13; 119:89, 105). They are designed to lead us to salvation through faith in Jesus Christ. They are fully inspired by God and therefore serve as an authoritative guide for Christian understanding, life, and ministry (2 Timothy 3:15-17). The Scriptures accordingly in all that they affirm are without error, in the whole and in the part, and therefore are completely trustworthy (John 10:35;17:17; Matthew 24:35). The Scriptures are not to be added to, superseded, or changed by later tradition or supposed revelation (Isaiah 8:20; Galatians 1:8-9). Every doctrinal formulation, whether of creed, confession, or theology must be put to the test of the full counsel of God in Holy Scripture (Matthew 22:29-33; Ephesians 2:20; Acts 28:23). All redemptive understanding of the Scriptures depends upon the illumination of the Holy Spirit: therefore, the most accurate factual knowledge attained through exegesis, exposition, and interpretation does not bring about conversion or spiritual comprehension without the Holy Spirit creating understanding through the Word and applying its message to the heart (1 Corinthians 2:7-16).

2.GOD IS TRIUNE-There is but one God infinite, eternal, almighty and perfect in holiness, truth and love (Deuteronomy 6:4; 1 Corinthians 8:4,6; Isaiah 44:6-8; Isaiah 57:15; 1 John 4:8; Genesis 17:1; Psalm 145:3). In the unity of the godhead there are three persons, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, co-existent, co-equal and co-eternal (Matthew 3:16-17; 28:19; 1 Corinthians 12:4-6; 2 Corinthians 13:14). The Father is not the Son and the Son is not the Holy Spirit, yet each is truly deity. One God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, is the foundation of Christian faith and life (John 14:23, 25; 15:26;16:13-15). He is faithful to every promise, works all things together for good to those who love Him, and in His unfathomable grace He gave His Son Jesus Christ for mankind’s redemption (Psalm 147:13; Romans 8:28; John 3:16). He made man for fellowship with Himself, and intended that all creation should live to the praise of His glory (Romans 11:36;Revelation 4:11).

3 .MAN-Male and female-was created in the image and likeness of God (Genesis 1:26-27). Through the original sin of man-Adam and Eve-mankind has fallen from God, become corrupt in his whole nature, and is totally incapable in himself of returning to God (John 3:3-7;Acts 4:12). Fallen, sinful men, whatever their character or attainments, are lost and without hope apart from salvation in Christ (Romans 5:12,16,17; Jeremiah 17:9; Ephesians 2:1-3; John 6:44).

4.JESUS CHRIST THE SON is fully God and fully man: the only Savior for the sins of the world (John 1:1; 20:28; Colossians 1:19; 2:9;1 Timothy 2:5-6; Hebrews 2:14-18). He is the Word made flesh, supernaturally conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary and was perfect in nature, teaching and obedience (John 1:14; Matthew 1:18, 22, 23; Luke 1:35; John 8:29). He died on the cross as the vicarious sacrifice for all mankind, rose from the dead in His own glorified body, ascended into Heaven, and will return in glory (John 19:33-37; Romans 4:24,25; 1 Corinthians 15:1-3; 2 Corinthians 5:21; 1 Peter 2:24; 1 John 2:2; Acts 1:9-11:1; 1 Thessalonians 4:16,17). He is the head of His body the Church, Victor over all the powers of darkness, and now reigns at the right hand of the Father (Colossians 1:8, 2:15; Hebrews 1:3-4).

5. SALVATION, the gift of God, is provided solely by His grace through faith in Jesus Christ (Ephesians 2:8-9; Romans 5:1; Acts 16:31). Turning from sin in repentance, looking to Christ and His vicarious death, burial and resurrection, man is born anew into eternal life by the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38; Titus 3:3-7; Acts 3:19-21). There is no other name except Jesus Christ by which men may be saved (Acts 4:12). Through His great redemptive act there is forgiveness of sin, liberation from bondage to the world and freedom in His Spirit (Ephesians 1:7; Galatians 6:14,15).

6. THE HOLY SPIRIT, the Lord and Giver of life, convicts the world of sin, righteousness and judgment, unites man to Jesus Christ in faith, brings about the New Birth, dwells within the regenerate, producing within them the fruit of the Spirit, and enables them to grow in sanctification (John 15:8-10; 1 Corinthians 12:13; John 3:5; 1 Corinthians 6:19; Romans 8:9-11; Galatians 5:22,23; 2 Corinthians 3:17-18). The Holy Spirit inspired prophets, judges and kings in ancient times, anointed Jesus Christ for His ministry, filled the Church with pentecostal power, and will transform the mortal bodies of believers into one like His own immortal body at the resurrection (1 Peter 1:2,10-12; 2 Peter 1:20,21; Luke 4:1,18-21; Acts 2:4;4:31; Romans 8:11; Philipians 3:21; 1 Corinthians 15:51,52).

7. THE BAPTISM IN THE HOLY SPIRIT is available to all who are in Christ Jesus (Acts 2:38-39; Luke 11:13). This promise of the Father that the Holy Spirit would be sent in power was not only made to the early disciples but continues through generations to come (Luke 24:49;1 Corinthians 13:10). This gracious and supernatural gift of power, evidenced by overflowing joy, praise and accompanied by speaking in other tongues, enables the believer to exercise the powers of the age to come in ministry and mission (Acts 1:8; 2:4; 10:44-47;13:52;19:6; Hebrews 6:5; Romans 15:18,19). God delights to give His Holy Spirit to those who ask and obey, but since this is a gift there is nothing man can do to merit it (Luke 11:13; Galatians 3:2). Likewise all the gifts of the Holy Spirit, such as word of wisdom, word of knowledge, faith, gifts of healing, working of miracles, prophecy, discernment of spirits, tongues and interpretation of tongues are earnestly to be desired and expected (1 Corinthians 12:7-11, 28-31; 14:1,13; Romans 12:6-8; Ephesians 4:11; 1 Peter 5:10,11). They are God’s sovereign action for edifying the Body of Christ. The present trans denominational spiritual renewal is a manifestation of the will of God for the Church in these last days (1 Corinthians 12:7-11; Hebrews 2:4; Acts 2:17-21).

8. THE CHURCH, which is the Body and Bride of Christ is dedicated to the worship and service of God, the observance of the sacraments or ordinances of Baptism and the Lord’s Supper and the practice of good works (Romans 12:4-5; 1 Corinthians 12:27; Ephesians 5:23,26,27;2:22;1 Peter 2:5,9,10; Ephesians 2:10; Titus 2:14). The primary task of the Church in all ages is to teach all nations and make disciples, bringing the Gospel to bear on every aspect of life and thought. The ultimate mission of the Church is the redemption of souls. When God transforms human nature, this then becomes the chief means of society’s transformation (Matthew 28:19-20;2 Corinthians 10:4-5).

9. THE CONSUMMATION of all things includes the visible, personal and glorious return of Jesus Christ, the resurrection of the dead and the translation of those alive in Christ, the judgment of the just and the unjust, and the fulfillment of Christ’s kingdom in the new heavens and the new earth (1 Thessalonians 4:13-17; Revelation 1:7; Acts 1:11; Revelation 20:11-15; 2 Corinthians 5:10; Revelation 21:1-4). Satan with his hosts and all people outside of Christ are finally separated from the presence of God, enduring eternal punishment (Matthew 25:41; Mark 9:47,48; 2 Thessalonians 1:7-10). All who have been redeemed by Christ from the kingdom of darkness to the kingdom of light will be in the presence of God forever, giving Him unending praise and glory (Revelation 21:1-4). Amen.

Keep It Real!