Restoration Life, Rochester NY

What We Believe

Our Statement of Faith

Holy Bible: The Holy Bible, and only the Bible, is the authoritative Word of God. It alone is the final authority for determining all doctrinal truths. In its original writing, the Bible is inspired, infallible and inerrant (see Prov. 30:5; Rom. 16:25,26; 2 Tim. 3:16; 2 Pet. 1:20,21).
Trinity: There is one God, eternally existent in three persons: Father, Son (Jesus) and Holy Spirit. These three are coequal and co-eternal (see Gen. 1:26; Isa. 9:6; Matt. 3:16,17; 28:19; Luke 1:35; Heb. 3:7-11; 1 John 5:7).
Jesus Christ: Jesus Christ is God the Son, the second person of the Trinity. On earth, Jesus was 100 percent God and 100 percent man. He is the only man ever to have lived a sinless life. He was born of a virgin, lived a sinless life, performed miracles, died on the cross for humankind and, thus, atoned for our sins through the shedding of His blood. He rose from the dead on the third day according to the Scriptures, ascended to the right hand of the Father, and will return again in power and glory (see Isa. 9:6; John 1:1,14; 20:28; Phil. 2:5,6; 1 Tim. 2:5; 3:16).
Virgin Birth: Jesus Christ was conceived by God the Father, through the Holy Spirit (the third person of the Trinity) in the virgin Mary's womb; therefore, He is the Son of God (see Isa. 7:14; Matt. 1:18,23-25; Luke 1:27-35).
Redemption: Though originally good, Man Willingly Fell to Sin ushering evil and death, both physical and spiritual, into the world. Humanity's only hope for redemption is in Jesus Christ, the Son of God (see Gen. 1:26-31; 3:1-7; Rom. 5:12-21)..
Regeneration: For anyone to know God, regeneration by the Holy Spirit is absolutely essential (see John 6:44,65).
Salvation: The only means of Salvation is by grace through faith in Jesus Christ: His death, burial and resurrection. Salvation is a gift from God, not a result of our good works or of any human effort (see Rom. 10:9,10; Acts 16:31; Gal. 2:16; 3:8; Eph. 2:8,9; Titus 3:5; Heb. 9:22).
Repentance: Repentance is the commitment to turn away from sin in every area of our lives and to follow Christ, which allows us to receive His redemption and to be regenerated by the Holy Spirit. Thus, Every Person Can Have Restored Fellowship with God being cleansed from sin through Repentance and Faith in the Precious Blood of Christ. (see Luke 24:47; John 3:3; Rom.5:1; Romans 10:13-15; Ephesians 2:8; Eph.2:8-9,13-18; Titus 2:11; Titus 3:5-7; Acts 2:21; 3:19; 1 John 1:9).
Sanctification: Sanctification is only available through the Cross. When we place our Faith in the Finished Work of the Cross the Holy Spirit, who works exclusively through the Cross, sets us free from the Law of Sin & Death and begins the process of the development of Christ's character in us. The Just Shall Live by faith... (see Rom. 1:17; 8:2; 8:29; 12:1,2; 1 Cor. 2:2; 2 Cor. 3:18; 6:14-18; 1 Thess. 4:3; 5:23; 2 Thess. 2:1-3; Heb. 2:11).
Jesus' Blood: The blood that Jesus Christ shed on the Cross of Calvary was sinless and is 100 percent sufficient to cleanse humankind from all sin. Jesus allowed Himself to be punished for both our sinfulness and our sins, enabling all those who believe to be free from the penalty of sin, which is death (see John 1:29; Rom. 3:10-12,23; 5:9; Col. 1:20; 1 John 1:7; Rev. 1:5; 5:9).
Jesus Christ Indwells All Believers: Christians are people who have invited the Lord Jesus Christ to come and live inside them by His Holy Spirit. They relinquish the authority of their lives over to Him, thus making Jesus the Lord of their lives as well as Savior. They put their trust in what Jesus accomplished for them when He died, was buried and rose again from the dead (see John 1:12; 14:17,23; 15:4; Rom. 8:11; Rev. 3:20).
Baptism in the Holy Spirit: Given at Pentecost, the baptism in the Holy Spirit is the promise of the Father. It was sent by Jesus after His Ascension to empower the Church to preach the gospel throughout the whole earth. We see in scripture that the initial evidence of the Baptism of the Holy Spirit is the speaking in other tongues. (see Joel 2:28,29; Matt. 3:11; Mark 16:17; Acts 1:5; 2:1-4,17,38,39; 8:14-17; 10:38,44-47; 11:15-17; 19:1-6).
The Gifts of the Holy Spirit: The Holy Spirit is manifested through a variety of spiritual gifts to build and strengthen the Church, demonstrate the validity of the Resurrection and confirm the Power of the Gospel. The lists of these gifts in the Bible are not necessarily exhaustive, and the gifts may occur in various combinations. All believers are commanded to earnestly desire the manifestation of the gifts in their lives. These gifts always operate in harmony with the Scriptures and should never be used in violation of biblical parameters (see Rom. 1:11; 12:4-8; 1 Cor. 12:1-31; 14:1-40; Eph. 4:16; 1 Tim. 4:14; 2 Tim. 1:5-16; Heb. 2:4; 1 Pet. 4:10).
The Church: The Church is the Body of Christ, the habitation of God through the Spirit, with divine appointments for the fulfillment of Jesus' Great Commission. Every person born of the Spirit is an integral part of the Church as a member of the Body of believers. There is a spiritual unity of all believers in our Lord Jesus Christ (see John 17:11,20-23; Eph. 1:22; 2:19-22; Heb. 12:23).
The Church's Mission: This Church exists expressly to give continuing emphasis to this reason for being in the New Testament apostolic pattern by teaching and encouraging believers to be baptized in the Holy Spirit. this experience:
1- Enables them to evangelize in the Power of the Spirit with accompanying supernatural signs.
(Mark 16:15-20; Acts 4:29-31; Hebrews 2:3,4)
2- Adds a necessary dimension to worshipful relationship with God.
(1 Corinthians 2:10-16; & Chapters 12,13,14)
3- Enables them to repsond to the full working of the holy Spirit in expression of fruit and gifts and ministries as in the New Testament times for the edifying of the body of Christ and care for the poor and needy of the world.
(Gal. 5:22-26; Matt. 25:37-40; Gal. 6:10; 1 Cor. 14:12; Eph. 4:11,12; 1 Cor. 12:28; Col. 1:29)
Two Ordinances Celebrated:
- Water Baptism: Following faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, the new convert is commanded by the Word of God to be baptized in water in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit (see Matt. 28:19; Acts 2:38)
- The Lord's Supper: A unique time of communion in the presence of God when the elements of bread and grape juice (symbols of the body and blood of the Lord Jesus Christ) are taken in remembrance of Jesus' sacrifice on the cross. (See Matt. 26:26-29; Mark 16:16; Acts 8:12,36-38; 10:47,48; 1 Cor. 10:16; 11:23-26).
Healing of the Sick: Healing of the sick is illustrated in the life and ministry of Jesus, and included in the commission of Jesus to His disciples. It is given as a sign that is to follow believers. It is also a part of Jesus' work on the cross and one of the gifts of the Spirit (see Ps. 103:2,3; Isa. 53:5; Matt. 8:16,17; Mark 16:17,18; Acts 8:6,7; Rom. 11:29; 1 Cor. 12:9,28; Jas. 5:14-16).
               - Spiritual ( John 3:3-11; Rom.10:9,10; 2 Cor.5:17-21).
               - Mental and emotional (see Isa. 26:3; Rom. 12:2; Phil. 4:7,8; 2 Tim. 1:7; 2:11).
               - Physical (see Isa. 53:4,5; Matt. 8:17; 1 Pet. 2:24).
The Blessed Hope: One day there will be a resurrection of those who have died in Christ and a rapture of those believers who remain, to meet the Lord in the air. This event will usher in the Great Tribulation of the book of Revelation. 1 Thess. 4:16,17; Rom. 8:23; Titus 2:13; 1 Cor. 15:51,52; Rev. 3:10,11
Second Coming: Jesus Christ will physically and visibly return to earth for the second time to establish His kingdom. This will occur at a date undisclosed by the Scriptures (see Matt. 24:30; 26:63,64; Acts 1:9-11; 2 Thess. 1:7,8; Rev. 1:7).
Resurrection: Jesus Christ was physically resurrected from the dead in a glorified body three days after His death on the cross. As a result, both the resurrection of life, and they that are lost to the resurrection of eternal damnation (see Luke 24:16,36,39; John 2:19-21; 20:26-28; 21:4; Acts 24:15; 1 Cor. 15:42,44; Phil. 1:21-23; 3:21).
Heaven: Heaven is the eternal dwelling place for all believers in the gospel of Jesus Christ (see Matt. 5:3,12,20; 6:20; 19:21; 25:34; John 17:24; 2 Cor. 5:1; Heb. 11:16; 1 Pet. 1:4).
Hell: After living one life on earth, the unbelievers will be judged by God and sent to hell where they will be eternally tormented with the devil and the fallen angels (see Matt. 25:41; Mark 9:43-48; Heb. 9:27; Rev. 14:9-11; 20:12-15; 21:8).