WORD OF LIFE CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP
& BUNGOMA BIBLE SCHOOL
STATEMENT OF FAITH
1. THE BIBLE
We believe that the Bible is the inspired word of God; that God through the Holy Spirit moved upon the authors of scriptures in such a way that they faithfully, accurately and completely recorded all that God intended them to record; that the scriptures are reliable, accurate and fully trustworthy account of God’s nature and character. His action in human history, His laws and life and teachings of Jesus Christ. We affirm that the scriptures are to be standard of faith and practice by which the life of the church and the lives of its individual members and their families are to be governed. We affirm that no portion of scripture is a matter of one’s own private interpretation, they are standard by which all revelation is to be judged. God will continue to illuminate and unfold the scriptures to His church.
(Isa. 10:28, II Tim. 3:16, II Pet. 1:21).
2. THE GODHEAD
We believe in one God but manifested in three persons. The Father, the Son and The Holy Spirit being Co-Equal. (Phil. 2:6). He is the only one true, eternal and living God. He is infinite in being a in perfection, He is spiritual, immortal and invisible. He is intelligent and a personal being. He is omniscient, omnipresent, omnipotent and complete within himself. He is infinite in holiness, goodness, faithfulness, mercy, righteousness, justice and all other perfection; and is due to the highest love, reverence and obedience. He is creator, redeemer, sovereign ruler of creation. He reveals Himself to us as Father, Son and Holy Spirit with distinct personal attributes, but without division of nature essence or being. God the Father detrimental all things after the counsel of His own will.
God the Son is the Word who speaks that which the Father has determined. He is eternally the uncreated Word of God. Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. He lived a sinless life and through his death on the cross, he made provision for redemption for all who would believe in him. He was raised from the dead and appeared to His disciples. He ascended into heaven and now exalted at the right hand of God the Father, where He is the one mediator, effecting the reconciliation between God and man. The father has established Him as Lord over all things, and has appointed Him as Judge of the world. He is the head of the church. He will return in power and glory at the end of the present age to judge the world.
God the Holy Spirit is the third person of the trinity. He exalts Christ.. He convicts of sin, righteousness and judgment. He calls people to Jesus and effects regeneration. He inspired the authors of scriptures. He grants revelation to men and women, enables them to understand, obey the truth and illuminates and quickens God’s word for them.
3. MAN
We believe that man is a created being made in the likeness and the image of God, but through the temptation of Satan man transgressed the command of God and fell from his unique relationship to God through his sin, sin came into the world, “All have sinned and come short of the glory of God” as it is written, “there is none righteous, no not one”. Because of sin, man is separated from God and is without hope of reconciling himself to God through any of his own efforts. Only the grace of God can restore man to his original fellowship with him, and to fulfill the purposes of which he was created.(Gen. 1:26; 3:1-21, Rom. 5:14, Rom. 3:23, I John 3:8).
4. SALVATION
We believe that salvation is the redemption of the whole person and is available only in and through Jesus Christ. It is offered to all people. Jesus through the shedding of His Blood obtained eternal redemption for those who through faith believe in him. Man’s first step toward salvation is believing upon the Lord Jesus Christ. The New birth is necessary to all men. And when fulfilled produces eternal life. (II Corn. 7:10, I John 5:12, John 3:3-5).
5. WATER BAPTISM
We believe in water baptism by immersion. This is a direct command of the Lord and is for believers only. The ordinance is a symbol of the Christian’s identification with Christ in His death. Burial and resurrection. (Matthew 28:19, Rom 6:4, Col. 2:12, Acts 8:36-39).
6. BAPTISM IN THE HOLY SPIRIT
We believe in the baptism of the Holy Spirit as a gift from God, which was promised by the Lord Jesus Christ to all believers. This experience is accompanied by the evidence of speaking in other tongues as the Holy Spirit Himself gives utterance. (Matthew 3:11, John 14:16,17, Acts 1:8, Acts 2:28, 39, Acts 19:1-7; 2:4).
7. SANCTIFICATION
We believe in the doctrine of sanctification as a definite yet progressive work of grace, commencing at the time of regeneration and continuing until the consummation of salvation. (Heb. 12:14, II Peter 3:18, II Corn 3:18, Phil 3:12-14, I Corn. 1:30).
8. DIVINE HEALING
We believe that divine healing and forgiveness of sin was promised in the atonement. It is for the physical ills of the human body and is wrought by the power of God through prayer of faith and by the laying on of hands. It is the privilege of every member of the church today. (Isa. 53:4,5; I Peter 2:24, Mark 16:18, James 5:14-25, Matthew 8:17).
9. RESURRECTION OF THE JUST AND THE RETURN OF OUR LORD
We believe that Jesus will come again as was proclaimed by the angel,
“This sameness shall so come in this manner”. His coming is imminent. When He comes, the dead in Christ shall rise first, then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. (Acts 1:11, II Thessalonians 4:16,17). Following the tribulation, He shall return to the earth as King of Kings and the Lord of Lords and together with His saints, who shall be kings and priests, He shall reign for a thousand years. Rev. 20:6.
10. HELL AND ETERNAL PUNISHMENT.
We believe that one who dies in his sins without Christ is in hopelessness and in the eternal lake of fire, and therefore, has no further opportunity of hearing the gospel or repenting. The lake of fire is eternal. (Heb. 9:27, Rev. 19:20).
11. THE CHURCH
We believe that the church is the people of God: those who are participants in God’s covenant in Jesus Christ. The Scripture gives us several pictures of the Church, each illustrating an aspect of the church’s nature and function. The church is Christ’s body, with Him as the head. It is His family, with Him as the firstborn. It is His workmanship, with Him as its craftsman. It is His temple with Him as its Cornerstone. It is His army, with Him as its Captain. It is His bride, with Him as the bridegroom..
The goal of the church is to reflect the glory of God and to make disciples of all the nations. For the accomplishment of this goal, the Lord has established leadership in His church.