DOCTRINAL STATEMENT OF THE INTERIOR CHURCH PLANNING MINISTRY (ICPM) OF LIBERIA

Doctrinal Statement

Every church, individual worker, or Christian organization needs a clear statement of faith that sets forth Biblical doctrines upon which he/she/it believes. This Statement is not designed as a complete defense of the faith but to clearly define and declare our belief in the teachings of the Word of God on these important doctrines. In view of the above, we present this Statement of Faith, which is not exhaustive but simply the foundation of what we believe.

Of the Scriptures: We believe that both the Old and New Testament are verbally inspired by God and are inerrant in the original writings.  Through the providence of God, the scriptures have been preserved and are the supreme and final authority of the Christan faith and practice (2 Peter 1:19-21, 2 Timothy, 3: 16).

Of the True God: We believe that there is only one and true living God, existing in the three persons – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Each is distinct person, but all of one essence and having the same nature, perfections and attributes and each is worthy of the same worship, trust and obedience (Gen. 1:1 & 1:26, Matt. 28:18-19, Exodus 20:23, Heb. 1:8, John 5:26-27).

GOD THE FATHER: We reject the ecumenical teaching that God is the father of all, and that all are brothers. We believe that he is the spiritual father of those who have been born again. (Eph. 4:18, John 3:3, John 1:12, John 8:44).

GOD THE SON: We believe that Jesus Christ was conceived of the Holy Ghost and born of Mary, a virgin, in order that he might reveal God and redeem sinful men, and that he is both the son of God and God the son (John 1:1-2 & 1:4, Luke 1:35).

GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT: We believe that the Holy Spirit is the third person of the God-Head, very God, and co-existent with the Father and the Son.  The Holy Spirit is the Chief convictor of sin and comforter, baptizer of the believers in the Body of Christ, and permanently indwells believers and seals them in salvation for eternity. (Gen. 1:1, John 3:5, Eph. 1:11-14, John 16:7-11, Heb. 9: 14, Matt. 28:19).

Of the Devil or Satan: We believe that Satan once enjoyed heavenly honors, but through pride and ambition, fell and drew after him a host of angels, that he is now the malignant prince of power of the air and the unholy god of this world system. We hold him to be man’s great tempter, the enemy of God and Christ, the accuser of the saints, the author of all false religions, and the chief power of the present apostasy. He is the lord of the anti-christ and the author of all power of darkness. His final judgment will be an eternity in hell, a place prepared for the Devil and his angels. (Isaiah 14:12-15, Ezekiel 28:14-17, Jude 6, 1 Thess. 3:5, 1 Peters 5:8, 2 Corinthians 11:13-15, 2 Thess. 2:3-11, Rev. 20:10, Rev. 12:9).

Of the Creation: We believe that Genesis account of creation; that it is to be literally interpreted, not allegorically or figuratively; that man was created directly in God’s own image and after his own likeness; that man’s creation was not a matter of evolution. (Gen. 1, Gen. 11:24, Exodus 20:11, Acts 4:24, Col. 1:16-17, Hebrews 11:3, John 1:3, Rev. 10:6, Romans 1:20, Acts 17:23-26, Jeremiah 10:12, Neh. 9:6).
Of the Fall Of Man: We believe that man was created in the image and after the likeness of God, but, by voluntary transgression, fell from his sinless and happy estate, the consequence of which resulted in all mankind being born sinners, not by constraint, but by choice, and therefore under the just condemnation of God without defense or excuse (Gen. 3:1-6 & 24, Rom. 5:12-19 & 3:10-19, Eph. 2:1-3, Gal. 3:22).
Salvation: We believe that salvation is a divine act of God through Jesus Christ by his death on the cross of Calvary.  Salvation is received through faith and grace alone through Christ Jesus by the convicting power of the Holy Spirit. (Eph. 2:8-9, John 1:11-12, 3:14-16, Acts 4:12 & 16:31). 

Justification: We believe that Justification is that judicial act of God whereby he declares the believer righteous upon the basis of imputed righteousness of Christ; that it is bestowed not because of works of righteousness which we have done, but entirely through faith in the redeemer’s shed blood. (Rom. 3:24, 4:5, 5:1 & 9, Gal. 2:16, Phil. 3:9).

Sanctification: We believe that God sanctifies (sets us apart) at the time of our personal acceptance of Christ as Lord and Savior from the penalty of our sin. (Rom. 5:8-9, John 17:17, II Thes. 2:13, Eph. 4:24). Secondly, we experience sanctification by degree as we yield to God and grow in wisdom, knowledge.  We also believe that the believer is finally and gloriously set apart from the very presence of sin (Phil. 1:6 & 3:20, I John 3:2).

Of Eternal Security: We believe that salvation is a gift and is sustained by the Lord.  Therefore, since salvation is wholly of the Lord apart from the work of man, we hold that the believer shall be kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation (John 3:16, 5:24, 10:27-30).
Of the Local Church: We believe that the New Testament church is a local body of baptized believers with Christ as its head and the Holy Spirit as its guide. The mission of the church is to evangelize. The local church is to be governed independently of outside persons, bodies, or groups of authorities (Eph. 5:22-23, Acts 2:41-42, II Cor. 12:12, Matt. 28:18-20).

Of Biblical Separation:

Ecclesiastical Separation: We believe in the Bible Doctrine of Separation from Sin an appearance of Evil. The Church must separate from Apostasy and all forms of unbiblical compromises and strive toward purity (II Cor. 6:14 & 7:1).
Personal Separation: We believe that every believer is the Temple of God and as such he must separate Himself from sin and all appearances of Evil (I Cor. 5:1-13, I Cor. 6:15-20).

Separation of Church and State: We believe the separation of Church and State. The Church has a clearly define role (Matt. 28:18-20), and therefore, it must not partake in politics (leaders in government while serving the Church). We believe that government is established by God for the purpose of keeping laws and order. The Church must pray for the government (Rom. 13, I Tim. 6:3-5, I Cor. 6:14).

Of Baptism: We believe that Christian baptism is by immersion in water of a believer in the name of the Father, the Son and the blessed Holy Spirit with the authority of the local church. (Matt. 3:6 & 16, 28:19-20, John 3:23, Acts 2:41-42 & 8:36-39, Rom. 6:3-5, Col. 2:12).

Of the Lord’s Supper: We believe the members of the church use the bread and the fruit of the vine to remember together the dying love of Christ, preceded always by solemn self-examination (I Cor. 11:23-32).

Of the Rapture of the Church: We believe in the literal, visible, personal, pre-millennial, pre-tribulation return of Jesus Christ for his Church. At this event, the dead in Christ and the living believers will be translated to meet Him in the air. (I Thess. 4:16-17).
Tribulation: We believe there will be a great tribulation to be experienced by the world after the rapture. We believe God will use it to cause Israel to believe that Jesus Christ is the Messiah promised and the Savior of the world (Jer. 30:7, Matt. 24:15).

The second coming of Christ and the Millennium: We believe that the tribulation will be followed with the coming of Christ to set up His millennium kingdom in which he will reign as King of Kings and Lord of Lords for a literal one thousand years (John 14:3, Rev. 20:4-6).

Mission: We believe that God has given the church the Great Commission to proclaim the gospel to all nations so that there might be a great multitude from every nation, tribe, ethnic group and every language group who believe on the Lord Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. As Ambassadors of Christ, we must use all available means to go to the foreign nations and not wait for them to come to us (Matt. 28:19-20, Mark 16:15, Lk. 24:46-48, Jn. 20:21, Acts 1:8, 2 Cor. 5:20).

Marriage: We believe that marriage is a life time institution established and ordained by God between a man and a woman for companionship and for procreation. We further believe that marriage is the picture of the gospel. (Gen. 1:27-28, I Cor. 7:1-5, Eph. 5:31-32, Gen. 2:24).

Homosexuality: We believe that homosexuality reverses marriage between a man and a woman. It is unnatural, shameful, dishonor the body and brings future judgment, and condemned by God. (Lev. 18:22, Rom. 1:24-28, Gen. 2:4).

Giving: We believe that every Christian as a steward of that portion of God’s worth entrusted to him, is obligated to support his/her local church financially. We believe God has established the tithe as the basis for Giving, but that every Christian should also give other offerings sacrificially and cheerfully to the support of the church, the relief of those in need, and the spread of the gospel. We believe that a Christian relinquishes all right to direct the use of the tithe or offering once the gift has been made. (Gen. 14:20, Prov. 3:9-10, Acts 4:34-37, I Cor. 16:2, 2 Cor. 9:6, Gals. 6:6, Eph. 4:28, I Tim. 5:17-18, I Jn. 3:17.)