What we believe forms the foundation of our strength and purpose at Zion Worship Center
1. The Godhead. Our God is One, but manifested in three persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. (Phil. 2:6; Matt 3:16-17)
A. Father: God has revealed himself as the eternally self-existent One. He is greater than all, the Source of the Word and the Begetter (John 1:14, 14:28, 16:28)
B. Son: The Lord Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God and as much shares in the divinity and deity of God. He is the One Begotten (John 1:1, 14, 18, 10:30)
C. Holy Spirit: He proceeds forth from both the Father and the Son and is eternal (John 15:26). We believe that the Holy Spirit is a Person who convicts the world of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment (John 16:8-11; Rom. 8:9; I Cor. 12:12-14; II Cor. 3:6; Eph. 1:13-14)
2. The Scriptures. The Bible, both the Old and New Testaments, is the inspired Word of God, the product of holy men of old who spoke and wrote as they were moved by the Holy Spirit. (II Tim. 3:15-17; I Thes. 2:13; I Pet. 1:21)
3. Creation. We believe that God created the universe. We reject evolution as an unscriptural theory of origin (Gen. 1-2; Ex. 20:11)
4. Man, His Fall and Redemption. Man is a created being, made in the likeness and image of God, but through Adam’s transgression and fall, sin came into the world. We believe that Satan is the author of sin, and the cause of the fall of man; that he is the open and declared enemy of God and man; and, that he shall be eternally punished in the lake of fire. Jesus Christ, the Son of God, was manifested to undo the works of the devil and gave His life and shed His blood to redeem and restore man back to God. (Job 1:6-7; Is. 14:12-17; Matt. 4:2-11, 25:41; Rom. 3:9-10, 3:23, 5:12, I John 3:8; Gal. 3:13, 14; Rev. 20:10)
5. Salvation. “All have sinned and come short of the glory of God.”(Rom. 3:23) We believe that there is only one way of salvation and that salvation is the gift of God brought to man by grace and received by personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, whose precious blood was shed on Calvary for the forgiveness of our sins (John 1:12, 14:6; Eph. 1:7, 2:8-10; I Pet. 1:18-19)
6. Resurrection and Eternal Existence. We believe in the bodily resurrection of all men, the saved to eternal life, and the unsaved to judgment and everlasting punishment. (Matt. 25:46; John 5:28-29, 11:25-26; Rev. 20:5-6, 12-13)
7. Separation. We believe that all the saved should live in such a manner as not to bring reproach upon their Savior and Lord; and that separation from all religious apostasy, sinful pleasures, practices, and associations is commanded of God (Rom. 12:12; 14:13; II Cor. 6:14-7:1; II Tim. 3:1-5; I John 2:15-17; II John 9-11)
8. The Church. We believe that the church, which is the body and the espoused bride of Christ, is solely made up of born-again persons (I Cor. 11:2; 12:12-14; Eph. 1:22-23;5:25-27). We believe that the establishments and continuance of local churches is clearly taught and defined in the New Testament Scriptures (Acts 14:27;20:17,28-32; I Tim. 3:1-13; Titus 1:5-11).
9. Sanctification. The Bible teaches that without Holiness no man can see the Lord. We believe in the doctrine of sanctification as a definite, yet progressive work of grace, commencing at the time of regeneration and continuing until the consummation of salvation (Heb. 12:14; I Thes. 5:23; Ii Pet. 3:18; II Cor. 3:18; Phil. 3:12-14; I Cor.1:30).
10. Water Baptism. All who repent of their sins and believe in Christ as Savior and Lord are to be baptized. This is a declaration to the world that they identify with Christ in His death and have been raised with Him in newness of life. (Matt. 23:19, Mark 16:16, Acts 10:47-48, Rom. 6:4)
11. Baptism in the Holy Ghost. The Baptism in the Holy Ghost and Fire is a gift from God as promised by the Lord Jesus Christ to those who are believers in this dispensation and is received subsequent to the new birth. This experience is accompanied by the initial evidence of speaking in other tongues as the Holy Spirit Himself gives utterance. (Matt. 3:11; John 14:16-17; Acts 1:8, 2:4, 2:38-39, 19:1-7)
12. Laying on of Hands. A simple belief that power or anointing or any other necessary quality can be transmitted from one person touching another. Laying on of hands was practiced by the Levitical Priesthood. Jesus practiced it in Mark 10:13-16 as a blessing, and is our grounds for baby dedication instead of baptism.
A. Laying on of hands for divine healing, which was provided for in the Old Testament, and is an integral part of the Gospel. (Ex. 15:23-26; Ps. 103:1-3; Is. 53:4-5; Matt. 8:16-17; Mark 5:22-23,41, 28-31; Acts 28:8, 19:11-12; Jas. 5:14-16)
B. Laying on of hands to confer office (Acts 6:2-6)
C. Laying on of hands to receive the Holy Ghost (Acts 8:16-18)
D. Laying on of hands to believe words spoken, to receive anointing, and to cultivate the anointing (I Tim. 4:14)
E. Laying on of hands for ordination to consecrate and receive the necessary ministry tools (I Tim. 4:14).
13. Communion–The Lord’s Supper. The Lord’s Supper is a memorial of His sufferings and death and a prophecy of His second coming. It is enjoyed by all believers until He comes. (I Cor. 11:26)
14. Giving. We believe that every Christian, as a steward of that portion of God’s wealth entrusted to him, is obligated to support his local church financially. We believe that God has established the tithe, ten percent of one’s total income, as a basis for giving, but that every Christian should also give additional offerings cheerfully to the support of various ministries of God’s Kingdom, including, the relief of those in need, and the spread of the Gospel. We believe that a Christian relinquishes all rights to direct the use of the tithe or offering once the gift has been made
15. Missions. We believe that God has given all believers a great commission to proclaim the Gospel to all nations so that there might be a great multitude from every nation, tribe, ethnic group, and language group who believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. 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; Luke 24:46-48; John 20:21; Acts 1:8; II Cor. 5:20).
16. Human Sexuality. We believe that God has commanded that no intimate sexual activity be engaged in outside of marriage between a man and a woman. We believe that any form of homosexuality, lesbianism, bisexuality, bestiality, incest, fornication, adultery, and pornography are sinful perversions of God’s plan. We believe that the only legitimate marriage is the joining of one man and one woman. (Gen. 2:24, 19:5,13, 26:8-9; Lev. 18:1-30; Rom. 1:26-29; I Cor. 5:1, 6:9; I Thes. 4:1-8; Heb. 13:4)
17. Abortion. We believe that human life begins at conception and that the unborn child is a living human being. Abortion constitutes the unjustified, unexcused taking of unborn human life. Abortion is murder (Job 3:16; Ps. 51:5, 139:14-16; Is. 44:24, 49:1,5; Jer. 1:5, 20:15-18; Luke 1:44).
18. Civil Government. We believe that God has ordained and created all authority consisting of three basic institutions: 1) the home; 2) the church; and 3) the state. Every person is subject to these authorities, but all (including the authorities themselves) are answerable to God and governed by His Word. God has given each institution specific Biblical responsibilities and balanced those responsibilities with the understanding that no institution has the right to infringe upon the other. The home, the church, and the state are sovereign in their respective Biblically assigned spheres of responsibility under God (Rom. 13:1-7; Eph. 5:22-24; Heb. 13:17; I Pet. 2:13-14).
19. Lawsuits Between Believers. We believe that Christians are prohibited from bringing civil lawsuits against other Christians, the church, or Christian organizations to resolve personal disputes. We believe the Christian community possesses all of the resources necessary to resolve personal disputes between believers.
Why We Stand To Sing
“Then the Levites…stood up to praise the Lord God of Israel with voices loud and high” (Chr. 20:19) “After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples and tongues, standing before the throne and before the lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice saying, ‘Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.’” (Rev. 7:9-10)
Why We Clap Our Hands
“Oh, clap your hands, all you people! Shout unto God with the voice of triumph!” (Ps. 47:1)
Why We Lift Our Hands
“Because your loving kindness is better than life, my lips shall praise you. Thus will I bless you while I live; I will lift up my hands in your name.” (Ps. 63:3-4) “Lift up your hands in the sanctuary, and bless the Lord.” (Ps. 134:2) “Therefore I desire that the men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.” (I Tim. 2:8)
Why We Offer Audible Praise Unto God
“Bless the Lord, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless His Holy Name!” (Ps. 103:1) “After these things I heard a loud voice of a great multitude in Heaven, saying “Alleluia! Salvation and glory and honor and power to the Lord our God!” And I hear, as it were, the voice of a great multitude, as the sound of many waters and as the sound of mighty thundering, saying ‘Alleluia! For the Lord God omnipotent reigns!’” (Rev. 19:1,6) “What is the result then? I will pray with the spirit and I will also pray with understanding. I will sing with the spirit and I will also sing with understanding.” (I Cor. 14:15)
Why We Have Speaking With Tongues And Interpretation In The Church
“Therefore, brethren, desire earnestly to prophesy and do not forbid others to speak with tongues.” (I Cor. 14:39) “But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all; to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues.” (I Cor. 12:7-10) “I wish that you all spoke with tongues, but even more that you prophesied; for He who prophesies is greater than he who speaks with tongues, unless indeed he interprets, that the church may receive edification.” (I Cor. 14:5) “If anyone speaks in a tongue, let there be two or at the most three, each in turn, and let one interpret.” (I Cor. 14:27)
Why We Sing And Pray In Tongues And In English or other languages
“For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful. What is the result then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will also pray with the understanding. I will sing with the spirit, and I will also sing with the understanding.” (I Cor. 14:14-15)
Why We Have This Type of Worship
“But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship him. God is Spirit and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.” (John 4:23-24)
Why We Sing Choruses As Well As Hymns
“And do not be drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in Psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord. (Eph. 5:18-19) “Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in Psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your heart to the Lord.” (Col. 3:16)
What Is Prophecy?
“A lion has roared! Who will not fear? The Lord God has spoken! Who can but prophesy!” (Amos 3:8) “But he who prophesies speaks edification and exhortation and comfort to men.” (I Cor. 14:3)
Why We Prophesy
“Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you might prophesy.” (I Cor. 14:1) “But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all; to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues.” (I Cor. 12:7-10)
The Problem
“As it is written, ‘There is none righteous, not even one.’” (Rom. 3:10) “ For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” ( Rom. 3:23)
The Solution
“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life.” (John 3:16) “Being justified as a gift by his grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus.” (Rom. 3:24)
The Everlasting Result
“And if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him in order that we may also be glorified with him.” (Rom 8:17) “Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and thus we shall always be with the Lord.” (I Thess. 4:17)
How To Be Saved
Recognize you are loved: For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:16
Recognize your sin: For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God. Rom. 3:23
Confess your sin: That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. Rom 10:9