WE BELIEVE THAT ONLY THE SIXTY-SIX BOOKS OF THE BIBLE ARE THE INSPIRED AND, THEREFORE, INERRANT WORD OF GOD. THE BIBLE IS THE FINAL AUTHORITY FOR ALL WE BELIEVE AND FOR HOW WE ARE TO LIVE. (MT. 5:18; JN. 10:35; 17:17; 2 TIM. 3:16–17; 2 PET. 1:20–21)
WE BELIEVE THAT THE ONE TRUE GOD EXISTS ETERNALLY IN THREE PERSONS—FATHER, SON, AND HOLY SPIRIT—AND THAT THESE, BEING ONE GOD, ARE EQUAL IN DEITY, POWER, AND GLORY. WE BELIEVE THAT GOD NOT ONLY CREATED THE WORLD BUT ALSO NOW UPHOLDS, SUSTAINS, GOVERNS, AND PROVIDENTIALLY DIRECTS ALL THAT EXISTS AND THAT HE WILL BRING ALL THINGS TO THEIR PROPER CONSUMMATION IN CHRIST JESUS TO THE GLORY OF HIS NAME. (PS. 104; 139; MT. 10:29–31; 28:19; ACTS 17:24–28; 2 COR. 13:14; EPH. 1:9–12; 4:4–6; COL. 1:16–17; HEB. 1:1–3; 1 JN 5:7 & REV. 1:4–6)
WE BELIEVE THAT SALVATION IS BY GRACE ALONE, THROUGH FAITH ALONE, IN CHRIST ALONE. NO ORDINANCE, RITUAL, WORK, OR ANY OTHER ACTIVITY ON THE PART OF MAN IS REQUIRED OR ACCEPTED IN ORDER TO BE SAVED FROM THE LAW OF SIN AND DEATH. THIS SAVING GRACE OF GOD, THROUGH THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, ALSO SANCTIFIES US BY ENABLING US TO DO WHAT IS PLEASING IN GOD’S SIGHT IN ORDER THAT WE MIGHT BE PROGRESSIVELY CONFORMED TO THE IMAGE OF CHRIST. (JN. 1:12–13; 6:37–44; 10:25–30; ACTS 16:30–31; ROM. 3:1–4:2; 8:1–17, 31–39; 10:8–10; EPH. 2:8–10; PHIL. 2:12–13; TITUS 3:3–7; 1 JN. 1:7, 9)
WE BELIEVE THAT THE LORD JESUS CHRIST BAPTIZES BELIEVERS IN THE HOLY SPIRIT, IN WHOM WE ARE ALSO SEALED FOR THE DAY OF REDEMPTION. THE HOLY SPIRIT REGENERATES, FOREVER INDWELLS, AND GRACIOUSLY EQUIPS, THE BELIEVER IN CHRIST FOR GODLY LIVING AND SERVICE. SUBSEQUENT TO OUR CONVERSION, THE SPIRIT DESIRES TO FILL, EMPOWER, AND ANOINT BELIEVERS FOR MINISTRY AND WITNESS. WE ALSO BELIEVE THAT SIGNS AND WONDERS, AS WELL AS ALL THE GIFTS OF THE SPIRIT DESCRIBED IN THE NEW TESTAMENT, ARE OPERATIVE TODAY AND ARE DESIGNED TO TESTIFY TO THE PRESENCE OF THE KINGDOM AND TO EMPOWER AND EDIFY THE CHURCH TO FULFILL ITS CALLING AND MISSION. (MT. 3:11; JN. 1:12–13; 3:1–15; ACTS 4:29–30; ROM. 8:9; 12:3–8; 1 COR. 12:12–13; 2 COR. 1:21–22; GAL. 3:1–5; EPH. 1:13–14; 5:18)
WE BELIEVE THAT THE CHURCH IS GOD’S PRIMARY INSTRUMENT THROUGH WHICH HE IS FULFILLING HIS REDEMPTIVE PURPOSES IN THE EARTH. TO EQUIP THE SAINTS FOR THE WORK OF MINISTRY, CHRIST HAS GIVEN THE CHURCH APOSTLES, PROPHETS, EVANGELISTS, PASTORS, AND TEACHERS. WE ALSO AFFIRM THE PRIESTHOOD OF ALL BELIEVERS AND THE IMPORTANCE OF EVERY CHRISTIAN BEING JOINED WITH AND ACTIVELY INVOLVED IN A LOCAL FELLOWSHIP OF THE SAINTS. WE BELIEVE THAT WOMEN, NO LESS THAN MEN, ARE CALLED AND GIFTED TO PROCLAIM THE GOSPEL AND DO ALL THE WORKS OF THE KINGDOM. (MT. 16:17–19; ACTS 2:17–18, 42; EPH. 3:14–21; 4:11–16; 1 TIM. 2:11–15; HEB. 10:23–25; 1 PET. 2:4–5, 9–10)
WE BELIEVE IN MONOGAMOUS HOLY MATRIMONY BETWEEN A MAN AND A WOMAN AS A DIVINELY ORDAINED INSTITUTION OF GOD AND IN THE FAMILY, CONSISTING OF A FATHER, A MOTHER AND/OR CHILDREN, AS THE BASIC UNIT OF CHRISTIAN SOCIETY THROUGH ITS MINISTRY AND TESTIMONY. (GEN. 1:26-28, 2:24; DEUT. 6:7, 11:9; LK. 20:34; 1 CORIN. 7:2-4, 10, 11:3, 9; EPH. 5:23, 31, 6:1; COL. 3:20; HEB. 13:4; 1 TIM. 3:2; TIT. 1:6)
WE BELIEVE THAT GOD HAS CALLED THE CHURCH TO PREACH THE GOSPEL TO ALL NATIONS, TO ESPECIALLY REMEMBER THE POOR, AND TO MINISTER TO THEIR NEEDS THROUGH SACRIFICIAL GIVING AND PRACTICAL SERVICE. THIS MINISTRY IS AN EXPRESSION OF THE HEART OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST AND IS AN ESSENTIAL PART OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD. (ISA. 58:6–12; 61:1; MT. 5–7; 28:18–20; LK. 4:18; 21:1–4; GAL. 2:10; 1 TIM. 6:8)
STATEMENT ON MARRIAGE, GENDER, AND SEXUALITY
WE BELIEVE THAT GOD WONDERFULLY AND IMMUTABLY CREATES EACH PERSON AS MALE OR FEMALE. THESE TWO DISTINCT, COMPLEMENTARY GENDERS TOGETHER REFLECT THE IMAGE AND NATURE OF GOD. (GEN 1:26-27.) REJECTION OF ONE’S BIOLOGICAL SEX IS A REJECTION OF THE IMAGE OF GOD WITHIN THAT PERSON.
WE BELIEVE THAT THE TERM “MARRIAGE” HAS ONLY ONE MEANING: THE UNITING OF ONE MAN AND ONE WOMAN IN A SINGLE, EXCLUSIVE UNION, AS DELINEATED IN SCRIPTURE. (GEN 2:18-25).
WE BELIEVE THAT GOD INTENDS SEXUAL INTIMACY TO OCCUR ONLY BETWEEN A MAN AND A WOMAN WHO ARE MARRIED TO EACH OTHER. (1 COR 6:18; 7:2-5; HEB 13:4.)
WE BELIEVE THAT GOD HAS COMMANDED THAT NO INTIMATE SEXUAL ACTIVITY BE ENGAGED IN OUTSIDE OF A MARRIAGE BETWEEN A MAN AND A WOMAN.
WE BELIEVE THAT ANY FORM OF SEXUAL IMMORALITY (INCLUDING ADULTERY, FORNICATION, HOMOSEXUAL BEHAVIOR, BISEXUAL CONDUCT, BESTIALITY, INCEST, AND USE OF PORNOGRAPHY) IS SINFUL AND OFFENSIVE TO GOD. (MATT 15:18-20; 1 COR 6:9-10.)
WE BELIEVE THAT IN ORDER TO PRESERVE THE FUNCTION AND INTEGRITY OF PNEUMA Ministries International (PMI), AS A CHRIST BELIEVING ENTITY, AND TO PROVIDE A BIBLICAL ROLE MODEL TO PMI MEMBERS AND THE COMMUNITY, IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT ALL PERSONS EMPLOYED BY PMI, IN ANY CAPACITY, OR WHO SERVE AS VOLUNTEERS, AGREE TO AND ABIDE BY THIS STATEMENT ON MARRIAGE, GENDER, AND SEXUALITY. (MATT 5:16; PHIL 2:14-16; 1 THESS 5:22.)
WE BELIEVE THAT GOD OFFERS REDEMPTION AND RESTORATION TO ALL WHO CONFESS AND FORSAKE THEIR SIN, SEEKING HIS MERCY AND FORGIVENESS THROUGH JESUS CHRIST. (ACTS 3:19-21; ROM 10:9-10; 1 COR 6:9-11.)
WE BELIEVE THAT EVERY PERSON MUST BE AFFORDED COMPASSION, LOVE, KINDNESS, RESPECT, AND DIGNITY. (MARK 12:28-31; LUKE 6:31.) HATEFUL AND HARASSING BEHAVIOR OR ATTITUDES DIRECTED TOWARD ANY INDIVIDUAL ARE TO BE REPUDIATED AND ARE NOT IN ACCORD WITH SCRIPTURE NOR THE DOCTRINES OF PMI.