Articles of Faith
We Believe...

In One Eternal God, self-existent in three persons, co-eternal and co-equal without ontological hierarchy or subordination in eternality and essence, manifested to man as God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. (Co. l:16; He. 1:2; Ep. 3:19; 1Thess 5:23. He. 9:14; Jo. 20:28)

In the Lord Jesus Christ, God's only begotten Son; the Word of God, who was in the beginning with God and is God; who was born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried; who rose again on the third day and ascended to the right hand of the Father from whence He comes to judge the living and the dead (John 1:1-2);

That the Bible is God's written revelation to man; that all Scripture is given by the inspiration of God, and is without error in original autographs. (2 Timothy 3:16);

That humanity was created in God’s image and likeness, without sin and in perfect harmony with the Creator. Through rebellion and disobedience, humanity fell into sin. Adam became the representative head of a race (humanity) of sinners, separated from God. All humanity is lost apart from the saving grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. God's salvific appeal to all humanity is to believe (not intellectually consent) with the heart, and confess with the mouth Jesus Christ as Lord. (Ge. 3:1 ff.; Ro. 5:13-21; Ro. 10:9; Acts 4:12). We believe personal salvation is the result of regeneration by the Holy Spirit who baptizes the believer into the body of Christ. (Jo.3:16; Titus 3:5; 2Co. 5:17; Ga. 6:5)


That Jesus Christ, in his sinless humanity, died on the cross and shed his blood as a once and for all time atoning sacrifice for our sins. He was buried and on the third day; rose bodily from the dead, ascended into heaven and is seated on the throne at the right hand of the Majesty on High. (Ac 20:28; He. 13: 12; Re. 1:5; He. 1:3; 1 Co. 15:12; Jo. 20: 17; Ep. 4:8-10).


That by grace we are saved through faith and that not of ourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, that no man should boast (Ephesians 2:8-9);

That there is one church Universal, the Body of Christ, which is called to be a visible manifestation of God's love and a steward of the grace of God.

in the earth, and this universality finds expression in governmentally autonomous local assemblies. (Ephesians 3:2);

That God is working, empowering mankind through the baptism of the Holy Spirit and the gifts of the Spirit, which are distributed to every man as He wills (Acts 1:8; Acts 2:2-4; I Corinthians 12:8-11);

That God has given present day ministry gifts (Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, Pastors and Teachers) to the Church to equip the saints for the work of the ministry and to build up the Body of Christ (Ephesians 4:11-12).

In evangelistic and missionary fervor as the Church seeks to fulfill its God-given commission to carry the good news unto all the world and to make disciples of all humanity. (Acts 1:8; Mk 16:15-18; Mt. 29:19-20).

In a literal heaven as a place of eternal blessedness, rest, reward and the communion with God for all who die in the faith of Jesus Christ. We also believe the objective of the believer is not merely arrival in heaven, but to be daily conformed to the image of Christ with the ultimate goal of sitting with Him on the throne in the kingdom of God. (Ro. 8:29-30; Re. 2:26-27; Re. 3:21; 1Pe. 1:4; Co. 1:15).


In a literal devil, a fallen angel, satan, the adversary and accuser of the brethren who is defeated by Christ's finished work on the cross and is destined for eternal abode in a lake of fire. We believe hell was designed by God for the devil and fallen angels, but through sin, unbelief, rebellion, disobedience, and failure to appropriate God's provision in Christ, unredeemed mankind is destined for eternal loss, and separation from God in this same hell, its duration being a matter of open inquiry between orthodox believers. (Is 14:12-14; Ez. 28:13-19; Re. 20:2; Re. 20:10; Re. 20:14; Mt. 25:41).


In the final judgment, resurrection of all the dead, the righteous in Christ to everlasting reward and blessedness, the unbelieving to everlasting judgment. (Re. 20:6; 1Co. 15:22-23; 1Co. 15:41-58; He. 9:27; 2Co.5-10; Ro. 14:10; Re. 20:12-13).

In the return of the Lord. Genuine believers hold different interpretations on matters of timing and sequence of end-time events. Such matters should not be tests of orthodoxy, but each believer should hold convictions in his/her own heart and demonstrate a spirit of charity toward other believers who hold differing views.


We believe that all the major historical schema of end time interpretations have a "seed" of truth in them and that they co-exist in divine tension.

Copyright © 2005 - Wave of Life (ESS) Ministries

Articles of Faith