The Glory Refuge Church (herein referred to as The Church) holds to the following tenets of faith:
First tenet: Inspired Scripture
The 66 books contained in the Protestant canon are the inspired Word of God (herein referred to simply as the Bible). The Church accepts the Bible as revelation of God’s will for humanity and is considered infallible The Bible is the standard for faith and practice and therefore supersedes conscience and reason, as a rule of conduct, though such faith is not contrary to reason. (2 Timothy 3:16-17; 1 Peter 1:23-25; Isaiah 40:6-8; 2 Peter 3:16; Hebrews 4:12).
Second tenet: Triune God
The Church does not consider the trinitarian tenet as reflective of three distinct deities. Rather, the doctrine of the trinity teaches the complexity of the one and only Divine being. This complexity is expressed in three distinct personalities, as the Father, the Son, and The Holy Spirit. Such personalities are eternally self-existent, self-revealed, and function as a single entity. Jesus Christ, who is God manifested in human flesh, is the second personality in this one and only complex Divine being, co-equal with the Father and the Holy Spirit. (Deut 6:4; John 1:1-3, 14, Ps 110:1; Matt 22:44; Gen 1:1-2, 26; 1 Cor 12:4-7).
Third tenet: Humanity
God created humanity in the Divine image and was declared by God to be good. Mankind disobeyed God’s will, rejecting Divine rule over humanity. Through Jesus Christ, the Son of God, a hope of redemption and restoration of the original Divine image is provided by God Himself. (Gen 1:26-31, 3:1-7; Rom 3:23, 5:12-21, 6:23; John 3:17).
Fourth tenet: Salvation of Humanity
Humanity’s hope of redemption lies in the shed blood of Jesus Christ. On the cross, Jesus became sin and sickness, providing salvation and divine healing for all humanity (Isa 52:12-53:13; Ps 103:3; Heb 9:22), being justified freely by His Grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus (Rom 3:24). For by grace humanity is saved through faith (Eph 2:8-9). One who believes in their heart, that God raised Jesus from the dead and with their mouth confesses Jesus as Lord, will be saved (Rom 10:9-10).
The attestations of Salvation: The internal witness of the Spirit is evidence of the believer’s salvation (Rom 8:16); The external evidence to all people is righteous and holy conduct (1Jn 3:23).
Faith and Works: Salvation cannot be earned as it is a gift from God through Jesus Christ the Savior of humanity (Eph 2:8). The deeds of the believer determine rewards in the life to come (2 Cor 5:10; 1 Cor 3:11-13).
Fifth tenet: Water Baptism.
The Chruch observes the ordinance of water baptism as commanded by the Scriptures. All who have truly repented and believe on Jesus as Lord and God’s anointed Savior, are baptized. In so doing, they declare to the world that they have died with jesus and that they have also been raised with Him to walk in newness of life (Matt 28:19; Acts 2:38, 10:47-48; Rom 6:4).
Sixth Tenet: The Lord’s Supper (Communion)
The Lord Jesus Christ told his disciples that the unleavened bread and wine, which he ate at His last supper, were His body and blood respectively (Matt 26:26; Mark 14:22; Luke 22:19). This became a tradition in the early Christian movement and was passed along among the communities of faith (1 Cor 11:23) eventually becoming a sacrament in the Church. This sacrament is a statement of faith which recalls the Lord Jesus Christ’s sacrifice until he returns (1 Cor 11:24-26).
Seventh tenet: Baptism in the Holy Spirit
Those having confessed Jesus as their Lord should earnestly desire baptism in the Holy Spirit. This promise of God, the Father, was the norm in the early Christian movement. Power for daily life and service, supernatural gifts, and ministry within the community of faith accompany the baptism in the Holy Spirit. (Luke 24:49; Acts 1:4-8; 1Cor 12:1-31). The baptism in the Holy Spirit is a separate and distinct experience apart from the new birth experience (John 3:1-21, 20:22; Acts 1:8).
Eighth tenet: Evidence of Baptism in the Holy Spirit
The distinct initial evidence of baptism in the Holy Spirit, as recorded in the New Testament, is that the believer spoke in a language (tongue) unknown to them (Acts 2:1-13, 10:44-46, 19:5-6). The sign of speaking in unknown languages fulfills scripture while equipping the believer for the proclamation of the the gospel message (Acts 2:14-39; 1Cor 12:20-29).
Ninth tenet: The Church
The universal Christian community is referred to as the Church. The Church is referred to as the body of Christ (1Cor 12:12-31). The Church is inhabited by God through the Holy Spirit whereby He empowers and enables willing believers to fulfill the great commission (Matt 28:16-20). God has placed gifts within certain members of the body, all believers are an integral part of this community of faith (Eph 4:7-16).
Tenth tenet: Divine Prosperity
Divine prosperity transcends and envelops all of life including but not limited to the spiritual, mental, physical, financial, and social aspects. Believers are encouraged regarding the benefits of true prosperity, “…but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come (1 Tim 4:8; John 10:10).
Eleventh tenet: Christ’s Return
Jesus promised to return and gather His elect (Matt 24:29-31) and that those believers who have passed away would also be resurrected that all of the saints will be with him forever (1 Cor 15:51-52; 1 Thess 4:16-17; 2Thess 2:1).
Twelfth tenet: Judgement
All who reject the redemptive work of Christ will suffer eternal separation from God. The devil, his minions, the beast, and the false prophet, along with all those whose names are not written in the book of life, will be cast into the lake of fire. As God is pure in His holiness and completely just, sin must be eradicated. As such the lake of fire is final and eternal separation from God (Rev 19:20; 20:10-15).
Thirteenth tenet: The Millennial Reign of Christ
For one thousand years, the Lord Jesus Christ will return from heaven with His saints to reign on the earth according to the scriptures (Rom 11:25, 27; 2Thess 1:7; Rev 19:11-16, 20:1-7). Following this millennium there will be a new heaven and new earth (Rev 21).