What We Believe
A biblical church is a family of people connected by common faith. So beliefs are really important. At Higher Praise Ministries, we are all about Jesus. We believe that Jesus, the Son of God and Savior, is the central figure of the Scriptures and the heart of the gospel. His sacrificial death and resurrection accomplished all that was necessary for our forgiveness and freedom. Eternal life is a free gift of God’s grace based on personal faith in Jesus Christ. We believe the whole Bible to be completely and equally inspired and that it is the written Word of God. We also hold fast to the Trinity, the inspiration and inerrancy of God’s Word, and the transformational power of God’s grace. Below are two statements of faith that dive more into specific beliefs for our church family. All of our teaching & ministry is rooted in and flows out of these biblical truths. Below are statements of faith that dive more into specific beliefs:
We believe the entire Bible to be the inspired, infallible Word of God, the revelation of God’s will for man, and the divine and final authority for the Christian life.
-2 Timothy 3:16-17 ; 2 Peter 1:21
We believe there is only one true, eternally existent God, existing in three persons – the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. The triune God is the Creator and Sustainer of all things and is worthy of worship and obedience. – Deuteronomy. 6:4-5; Genesis 1:31, Luke 3:21-22; Matthew 28:18-20
That Jesus Christ is the only begotten Son of the Father, conceived of the Holy Ghost, and born of the virgin Mary, who lived a sinless life, performed miracles, shed His blood on the cross to pay the debt of our sins, was buried, resurrected, and is now seated at the right hand of God the Father being our High Priest and Advocate, and will return in Glory and Power. – Matthew 1:18-23 ; Philippians 2:5-11 ; 1 Corinthians 15:1-8 ; Hebrews 12:2
That all have sinned and come short of the Glory of God, and that repentance is commanded of God for all and necessary for the forgiveness of sins. – Romans 3:23; Romans 5:8-12
That justification, regeneration, and the new birth are wrought by faith in the blood of Jesus Christ.
Justification: The act by which God moves a willing person from the state of sin (injustice) to the state of grace (justice). For the repentant individual, it is the state of being free from offense toward God. -Romans 5:1-2 ; 2 Corinthians 5:17 ; Romans 3:23-26 ; Titus 3:7 ; 2 Corinthians 7:10
Regeneration: God’s work of imparting new spiritual life to the believer. Without Christ, humanity is “dead in trespasses and sins” and must be made alive -or regenerated – by the Holy Ghost. This new life through Jesus Christ restores our relationship with God, enabling us to worship Him “in Spirit and in Truth” – Ephesians 2:1 ; Titus 3:5 ; John 4:24 ; 1
New Birth: New birth “born again” is the only means of receiving eternal life. The new birth involves a cleansing and deliverance from the penalty and power of sin. It is effectuated through faith in Jesus Christ and repentance form sin. – John 3:3-8 ; Ephesians 2:8-9 ; 1 Peter 1: 18-23
In sanctification subsequent to the new birth, through faith in the blood of Christ, through the Word, and by the Holy Ghost. Sanctification is the process of spiritual development wrought in the believer’s life by the Holy Spirit. The growth involves daily dying to sin and living unto righteousness (Romans 6:1-23), finds expression in a holy life (Hebrews 12:24), and will be culminated at the return of Christ (1 John 3:2).
Holiness to be God’s standard of living for His people. Holiness is a command from the Lord: “Be holy, for I am holy” (1 Peter 1:14-16). It is the state of being free from sin’s dominance, made possible through God’s sanctifying and cleansing work (Romans 6:11-14; 1 Corinthians 6:11). This holiness is sustained by the believer’s active and wholehearted pursuit of a Christ-like life. – Titus 2:11-13 ; Hebrews 12:14 ; 1 Thessalonians 4:7 ; 2 Corinthians 7:1
In the baptism with the Holy Spirit as an endowment of power for all believers, and the initial physical evidence of the baptism with the Holy Spirit is speaking in tongues as experienced on the Day of Pentecost and referenced throughout Acts and the Epistles. (Acts 2:4; Acts 2:38-39; Acts 10:44-46; Acts 19:1-6; Ephesians 5:18). This baptism results in a deeper expression of spiritual fruit (Galatians 5:22-23), a greater growth in Christ-likeness (2 Corinthians 3:18), a genuine manifestation of spiritual gifts (1 Corinthians 12:1-11), and a more effective prayer life (Romans 8:26-27).
In water baptism by immersion after repenting of one’s sins and receiving Christ’s gift of salvation, baptizing in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. (Matthew 28:19; Mark 16:16; Acts 10:47-48; Romans 6:4)
Divine healing for the total person–spirit, mind, and body–and that this healing is accomplished in the redemptive work of Christ on the cross and appropriated in the believer’s life through prayer. (Isaiah 53:5; Matthew 8:16-17; 1 Peter 2:24; James 5:13-15
In the Lord’s supper and washing of the Saints’ feet.
The Lord’s Supper (Communion) was instituted by the Lord himself exclusively for believers to be taken in a symbolic manner. In the observance of the Lord’s Supper, believers are to partake of the elements by: examining oneself; remembering Jesus’ sacrifice upon the cross; and by professing their union and ongoing faith in Christ as their only Lord and Savior. (Luke 22:19-20, John 13:1-17, 1 Corinthians 11:26)
In the premillennial, second coming of Jesus. First, to resurrect the righteous dead and to catch away the living saints to Him in the air. Second, to reign on the Earth a thousand years. (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17; Romans 8:23; Titus 2:13; 1 Corinthians 15:51-52)
In the bodily resurrection, the righteous unto eternal life, and second, the ungodly unto eternal damnation. (Daniel 12:2; John 5:28-29; Revelation 20:4-6; Revelation 20:11-15)
We believe in the power and effectiveness of prayer. (Philippians 4:6-7; James 5:15-16)