What We Believe, Clutch Student Ministries, Kinsman, Ohio

Who We Are

We Are:

1. Saved from sin & it’s consequence of hell by faith, through the grace of Jesus Christ, God’s Son
2. The Family of God – Sons and daughters of our Father God
3. Made to Worship and spend our lives with God for God
4. Empowered by the Holy Spirit to Search and Rescue those lost w/out Christ

What We Believe

We Believe:

1. The Bible is The Truth
2. The One True God
3. God’s Creation
4. Jesus is God’s Son
5. The Fall of Man
6. The Salvation of Man
7. The Ordinances of Baptism and Communion
8. The Baptism of the Holy Spirit
9. The First Sign of The Baptism
10. Holiness
11. The Church and Its Mission
12. The Ministry
13. Divine Healing
14. Our Hope – Rapture
15. The Millennial Reign of Christ
16. The Final Judgment
17. The New Heavens and New Earth

IIn greater detail, we believe in:

1. The Scriptures inspired - The (Bible)Scriptures, both the Old Testament and the New Testaments, are verbally inspired of God and are the word of God to man, the infallible, authoritative rule of faith and conduct. (2 Timothy 3:15-17; 1 Thesalonians 2:13; 2 Peter 1:21) We recommend the New International Version (NIV), The Message (simple read) and the Life Application Study Bible. Bibles can be purchased at any local Book Store, Bible Store, Borders, Wall-Mart or our book store at Clutch Student Ministries/Rock of Grace Family Ministries (330-924-4431)
2. The One True God - The one true God has revealed Himself as the eternally self-existent “I AM,” the Creator of Heaven and earth and the redeemer of mankind. He is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.(Deut. 6:4; Is. 43:10,11; Matt. 28:19; Luke 3:22; 2 Cor.13:14; John 1:18; John 14:16,17; 1 John 1:3,4)
3. God’s Creation-God Almighty formed the earth, the sky, the whole world and man in 6 literal days and rested on the 7th. He created us to inhabit it for His glory. God created man in His own image beginning with Adam, then Eve, then commanded them to fill the earth (have lots of kids).
4. The Fall of Man-Man was created good and upright, for God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness,” However, man by voluntary decision, sin, “fell”, and thereby incurred not only physical death but also spiritual death, which is separation from God. (Genesis 1:26,27 2:17; 3:6; Rom. 5:12-19)
5. Jesus is God’s Son- The Lord Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God and God Himself. (Matt. 1:23;Luke 1:31,35; Heb 7:26; 1 Peter 2:22; Acts 2:22 10:38; 1 Cor. 15:3 2 Cor. 5:21; Matt 28:6)
6. The Salvation of Man-Man’s only hope of redemption is through the shed blood of Jesus Christ the Son of God. Salvation is received through repentance toward God and faith toward the Lord Jesus Christ. By the washing away of sins and being justified by grace (undeserved mercy) through faith, man becomes an child of God and receives eternal life with Him. (Luke 24:47; John 3:3, 3:16; Rom. 10:13-15; Eph 2:8; Titus 2:11; 3:5-7) The inward evidence of Salvation is the direct witness of the Holy Spirit (Rom 8:16) The outward evidence of salvation to all men is a life of righteousness, making right decisions and loving people. (Eph 4) (Galations…)
7. The Ordinances of the Church - a. Baptism in Water & b. Holy Communion (Baptism: Matt 28:19; Mk.16:16 Acts 10:47,48; Rom. 6:4 / Communion: 2 Pet. 1:4, 1 Cor. 11:26) Clutch Students participate in this symbolism when offered through our home church, Rock of Grace Family Ministries.
8. The Baptism in the Holy Ghost - All believers are entitled to and should expect and earnestly seek the promise of the Father, the baptism in the Holy Spirit. It was a teaching and command of our Lord Jesus Christ… With it comes the power for life and service, the gifts and their use in the ministry. (Luke 24:49; Acts 1:4,8; 1 Cor. 12:1-31) (it’s a blast! It’s not something to be afraid of; it’s something to anticipate! God gives you peace, direction, and helps you with decision-making and
most of all, the Holy Spirit gives you joy to live the life that God intended you to live.
9. The First Sign of the Baptism in the Holy Spirit - The baptism of believers in the Holy Spirit is witnessed by the initial physical sign of speaking with other tongues as the Spirit of God gives them utterance (Acts 2:4 ; 1 Cor 12:4-10,28) This is your “prayer language.” It’s kinda your “God-talk” It’s most often used for you and God, but sometimes it’s used for someone else to interpret and for God to give a message to someone. (Luke 3:16; John 1:32-34)
10. Holiness - Holiness is an act of separation from that which is evil, and of dedication unto God (Rom 12:1,2;1 Thess. 5:23; Heb. 13:12) ie. Keeping our eyes from movies we shouldn’t watch, keeping distance from blatant sin. But we do not totally separate ourselves from the sinner; that we be disobeying Christ and not understanding the intent of His message. We must be free from sin in our lives, but ready and willing to accept the sinner and point him/her in the right direction.
11. The Church and It’s Mission - The church should act like and look like Jesus Christ. We should have His attributes, characteristics and even behavior. He taught this and through disciples like Paul we understand that is “not I, but Christ who lives in me.” The church is the body of Christ, the habitation of God through the Spirit, with divine appointments for the fulfillment of her Great Commission. Each believer born of the Spirit,is an integral part of the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven. (Eph 1:22,23; 2:22; Heb. 12:23)
12. The Ministry - A God-initiated and Biblically ordained ministry has been provided by our Lord for the threefold purpose of leading the Church:
a. Evangelization of the world
b. Worship of God
c. Building Christians to be perfected in the image of His Son (Jesus Christ) . (Mk16:15-20, Jn. 4:23,24 / Eph 4:11,16)
13. Divine Healing-God’s healing is an integral part of the gospel. Deliverance from sickness is provided forin the Atonement (when Jesus died for our sins, He took pain so we don’t have to), and is the privilege of all
believers. We also believe in the validity of doctors and medicine and know their wisdom and knowledge are gifts from God. (Is. 53:4,5; Matt 8:16,17, James 5:14-16)
14. Our Hope - The resurrection of those who’ve passed away, but believed in Christ and their translation together with those who are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord is the hope of the Church (Christians all over the world). (1 Thess. 4:16,17; Rom 8:23; Titus 2:13; I Cor. 15:51,52)
15. The Millennial Reign of Christ - The second coming of Christ includes the rapture of the saints, which is our hope(see above), followed by the visible return of Christ with His disciples (we who believe) to reign on the earth for one thousand years. (Zech. 14:5; Matt. 24:27,30; Revel 1:7; 19:11-14; 20:1-6) This will bring the salvation of Israel and the establishment of universal peace.
16. The Final Judgement-There will be a final judgment in which the dead who didn’t follow Jesus will be raised and judged according to their works. Whosoever is not found written in the Book of Life (by believing in Jesus and following Him), together with the devil and his angels, the beast and the false prophets, will be consigned to everlasting punishment in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death. (Matt. 25:46; Mk 9:43-48; Rev. 19:20; 20:11-15; 21:8)
17. The New Heavens and the New Earth-“We according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, where righteousness dwells.” (2 Pet. 3:13; Rev 21,22)