Detailed Statement Of Beliefs
ComingInTheClouds.org ministry subscribes to these fundamental doctrines of the Christian faith:
1. The Bible (in the original Greek & Hebrew) is the infallible Word of God (Psalm 19:7).
a. Bibles translated using the “Received Text” Greek manuscripts are the most accurate and reliable translations (i.e. KJV, MKJV, YLT).
b. Bibles translated using the “Alexandrian Text” Greek manuscripts are NOT reliable translations and are to be avoided (i.e. NIV, NASB).
b. Paraphrased (i.e. loosely translated) Bibles are NOT reliable translations and are to be avoided (i.e. Living Bible).
2. God is manifested in 3 persons (the Holy Trinity) -> Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit, and God the Father (Matthew 28:19).
3. It is every Christian’s responsibility to share the Gospel (Ezekiel 33:8-9, Mark 16:15).
4. Salvation is by grace alone through the finished work of Christ at Calvary (Ephesians 2:8-9, Titus 3:5).
5. The Bible teaches about a literal eternal Heaven (John 14:2) and a literal Hell (Revelation 14:11, 20:15).
6. Eternal life in Heaven awaits the redeemed, eternal damnation in Hell awaits the unsaved (John 3:16, Romans 6:23).
7. Any gospel that adds anything whatsoever to the finished work of Christ that man needs to do to be justified in God’s sight is another gospel – a false gospel (Galatians 1:8).
8. The true church of Christ on earth is the world-wide body of born-again believers (John 3:3, I Corinthians 12:13).
9. Christ is the head of the true Church on earth (Ephesians 5:23) through the leading of the Holy Spirit (John 16:13).
10. All Christians are expected to make disciples (Matthew 25:14-30) and a disciple is far more than just a convert to Christianity – he or she is someone who is equipped to make other disciples.
11. Christians are expected to carefully examine everyone’s doctrine using scripture as the measuring rod (Acts 17:11).
12. Christians are expected to judge other’s claims of personal salvation using scriptural criteria such as Matthew 7:16-20, so that they might know how to witness to and how to disciple those around them.
13. Christians are expected to think, talk, and act different than the unsaved (Titus 2:14, I John 2:15).
14. Christians are not expected to make the Gospel acceptable to the world (Matt 10:22, John 15:19, John 17:14, I Cor 1:18).
15. Christians are expected to be in the world but to avoid all worldliness (John 17:15, Romans 8:6, James 1:27).
16. You cannot work to earn salvation and neither can you work to keep it (John 10:28, I John 5:13), therefore you cannot lose your salvation. However, God promises to chastise those He loves, if they stray from the Shepherd (Hebrews 12:6).
17. All are baptized with the Holy Spirit at the point of conversion to Christ (I Corinthians 12:13, Titus 3:5).
18. Tongues as mentioned in 1 Corinthians 12:1, is a spiritual gift, not an evidence of salvation. Not every Christian has every gift (1 Corinthians 12:30). The New Testament tongues episodes mentioned in scripture were signs for the Jews that God’s plan of salvation is open to all peoples of all nations and tongues, not just for the Jews. If you are a new believer, do not expect to speak in some unknown language. You are OK the way you are, you are complete in Christ (Colossians 2:10) and so you do not need this “second work of grace” that the Pentecostal churches erroneously teach. But what you do need is to see evidence of a changed life, a turning from a life of sin and ungodliness to a life of holiness and a love for God’s people and His word in the Holy Bible and a burden for lost souls..
19. Evidence of salvation is spiritual fruit as described in the parable of the sower (Matt 13). The various spiritual fruits that a Christian will exhibit in their life is listed in Galatians 5:22-25.
20. True churches act like true churches in the manner of Acts 2:42-47. The local believers are committed to one another and are heavily involved in each other’s lives. They live up to the intent of John 13:35…
“By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.”