Jesus Over India (JOI) Statement of Faith
Jesus Over India Ministries affirms the following doctrinal statements that reflect the broad, mainstream, and conservative teachings consistent with the teachings of the Holy Bible:
1. The Bible
We believe that the entire Bible is the divinely inspired Word of God. The human authors were men of God moved by the Holy Spirit to write the Scriptures. Throughout the centuries God supernaturally preserved and protected His Word from destruction, from error and from revisions of the original manuscripts. Therefore, the Bible is without error (inerrant) and is the sole and final authority for faith, guidance, instruction and training in righteousness and truth for all true Christians. 2 Tim. 3:16-17; 2 Pet. 1:20-21
2. The Godhead (Trinity)
There is only one true God eternally existing in three Persons (Father, Son and Holy Spirit) who created the heavens and the earth. (Gen. 1:1; Matt. 28:19; Mark 1:9-11; Luke 22:69; John 14:9; John 14:15- 21) God is omnipresent, omniscient, and omnipotent. God the Father is the Father of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and the Father of all true believers (John 1:12-14)
3. Jesus Christ
Jesus Christ is the only begotten eternal Son of God who became flesh (John 3:16). He was born of a virgin, Mary (Luke 1:27), and lived a life of sinless perfection (Heb 4:14-15). At the precise predetermined time, Jesus Christ surrendered His life upon the cross (Gal. 4:4-5) and upon the third day after His death He arose from the tomb and lived in His physical body (Luke 24:40-42) He remained upon the Earth where He appeared first to Mary Magdalene then to the disciples; and then after His Ascension to the right hand of the Father in heaven, He appeared to the Apostle Paul (Acts 1:9-11; 1 Cor. 15:3-8; Heb 12:2).
4. Holy Spirit
At the moment of salvation, the Holy Spirit indwells the believer and imparts new life (John 3:5-8). The ministry of the Holy Spirit in the church began on the day of Pentecost and continues in the Body of Christ (the church) to this day (Acts 2:1-4; 1 Cor 12:2-14; 1 Cor 12:27). He convicts people of sin and convinces them to confess Jesus Christ as Lord, all to the glory of the Father (John 16:7-15). The Holy Spirit lives in every believer, teaches them, and equips them with all spiritual gifts necessary for effective ministry (Rom. 12:3-8; 1 Cor. 6:19; 1 Cor. 12:4-11; Eph. 1:13-14; 1 Pet. 4:10-11). The Holy Spirit empowers believers to grow in faith, live a life free from sins dominion, and to serve in obedience to God (Rom. 8:1-11; Gal. 5:16-18; Gal. 5:22-26).
5. Salvation
We believe all humans are born in sin and separated from God from birth (Psalm 51:5; Rom. 1:18-25). Apart from salvation, all men are without hope and destined for eternal separation from God, what the Bible calls "the second death" (Rev. 20:11-15). We believe that the gospel is the "good news" of salvation for all people, which is the forgiveness of sin and the reconciliation of the sinner to a absolutely Holy and Righteous God who is the Creator of everything (Rom. 1:16-17). It is the blood of Jesus shed upon the cross that provides the sole basis for forgiveness of sins and salvation, which is the free gift of God's grace, and cannot be secured by man's works or personal merit (Col. 1:19-22; 1 Pet. 1:17-21).
6. The Church Universal
We believe there is but one Church and that Christ Himself is the builder and the Head of this Church (Matt. 16:18; Eph. 1:22, 23) . The church is not organizations or buildings or programs; it is made up of those who have received Christ by faith and are united with Him into one body by His Spirit (Eph. 4:4, Eph. 4:15-16, Col. 1:15-18, Col. 1:24-29) . We believe the fulfillment of the Great Commission is the greatest work of the church until the Lord's return. Jesus commands His followers to go into the whole world and "make disciples of all the nations " (Matt. 28:18-20; Luke 24:46-48; Acts 1:8).