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Mission River Essentials Beliefs
Founder: Michael J. Armbrust
“If God's ultimate desire is for us to "Know Him. Why doesn't He take us to heaven when we become a Christian? Why does He choose to leave us here for the rest of our natural days? There are only three things we can do on earth that we cannot do in heaven: sin, help the less fortunate, and tell others about Jesus. Can you figure out what we are to do? (Hint, it is not sin!) Because of this, we have foundational beliefs for ministry. The beliefs are, help the less fortunate and bring others along! These core essentials are at the heart of all we do as Mission River. It is the measuring stick, which helps us determine our mission, purpose, and ministries.”
In essentials, Unity.
"We are the body of Christ. Through the Spirit, we have been called to the same glorious future. There is only one Lord, one faith, one baptism, and there is only one God and Father, who is over us all and in us all and living through us all." Adapted Ephesians 4:4-6
The Bible
The sole basis of our belief is the Bible, composed of the sixty-six books of the Old and New Testament. We believe that Scripture in its entirety originated with God and that it was given through chosen men. Scripture thus at the same time speaks with the authority of God and reflects the backgrounds, styles, and vocabularies of the human authors. We hold that Scriptures are infallible and inerrant in the original manuscripts. They are the unique, full and final authority on all matters of faith and practice, and there are no other writings similarly inspired by God.
God
Mission River believes that there is one true, holy God, eternally existing in three persons - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit - each of whom possesses equally all the attributes of deity and the characteristics of personality. In the beginning, God created out of nothing the world and all the things thus manifesting the glory of His power, wisdom, and goodness. By His sovereign power, He continues to sustain His creation. By His providence, He is operating throughout history to fulfill His redemptive purposes.
Salvation
The central purpose of God's revelation in Scripture is to call all people into repentant fellowship with Himself. Created to have fellowship with God, man defied God, choosing to go his independent way, and was thus alienated from God, rendering him unable to please God. The fall took place at the beginning of human history. In addition, all individuals since have suffered these consequences, and are thus in need of the saving grace of God. The salvation of humankind is, then, wholly a work of God's free grace, not the result, in whole or in part of human works or goodness and must be received by faith.
Jesus the Christ - Messiah
Jesus Christ is the eternal second Person of the Trinity who was united forever with a true human nature by a miraculous conception and virgin birth. He lived a life of perfect obedience to the Father and voluntarily paid for the sins of all by dying on the cross as their substitute, thus satisfying divine justice and accomplishing salvation for all who trust in Him alone. He rose from the dead in the same body, though glorified in which He lived and died. He ascended into heaven and sat down at the right hand of the Father, where He, the only Mediator between God and man, continually makes intercession for His own. He shall come again to earth, personally and visibly, to consummate history and the eternal plan of God.
The Holy Spirit
The essential accompaniment of a genuine, saving relationship with Jesus Christ is a life of holiness and obedience, attained by believers as they submit to the Holy Spirit, the third Person of the Trinity. The Father and the Son sent into the world the Holy Spirit to apply to humankind the saving work of Christ. He enlightens the minds of sinners, awakens in them a recognition of their need of a Savior, and regenerates them. At the point of salvation, He indwells every believer to become the source of assurance, strength, and wisdom and uniquely endows each believer with gifts for the building up of the body. The Holy Spirit guides believers in understanding and applying Scripture. His power and control are appropriated by faith, making it possible for the believer to lead a life of Christ-like character and to bear fruit to the glory of the Father.
Destiny
Death seals the eternal destiny of each person. For all humanity, there will be a resurrection of the body into the spiritual world and a judgment that awaits everyone. Unbelievers will be separated from God into condemnation (hell). Believers will be received into eternal communion with God (heaven) and will be rewarded for works done in this life.
The Church
There is one true Church universal, comprised of all those who acknowledge Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. The Scripture commands believers to gather together to devote themselves to worship, prayer, the teaching of the Word, observance of baptism (by immersion) and communion. Fellowship, service to the body through the development and use of talents and gifts, and outreach to the world.
Holy Purity
We believe God blesses the gift of sexual intimacy only when it occurs within the boundaries of a publicly committed marriage between one man and one woman.
The Priesthood of Every Believer
That all men and women of all colors and ethnic backgrounds have been created in the image and likeness of God. Men and women who accept the mission, vision, values, and beliefs may be commissioned by God to be leaders in the local church, according to both Biblical history and example, and according to the image God paints of equality in eternity, on earth as it is in heaven.