Section
THREE “Discipleship”
What does it mean to be a disciple? For some it means to
be a student of a person or teaching. Although this is
accurate, there is a more literal meaning. “A person who
submits to a discipline, or one who disciplines themselves
to a teaching.” While many people study Christianity,
those who discipline themselves to the teachings of
Christ are fewer. Remember, its one thing to know who
Jesus is, and quite another to submit oneself to Him as
Lord and become obedient to His teachings which are His
will for us.
Every Wheels of Faith member is expected to have a daily
devotional time which would include prayer and Bible
reading. Of course, we all should be attending church as
well. God’s word tells us this:
“ Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without
wavering, for He who promised is faithful; and let us
consider how to stimulate one another to love and good
deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is
the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all
the more, as you see the day drawing near. "
(Heb 10:23-25 NASB)
The Wheels of Faith way is one of integrity, honesty,
love, and accountability. As a membership we are all
accountable to one other. When we put on the patch, we
are no longer just representing ourselves, but now make
a public confession of Christ as our patch proclaims,
“Jesus is Lord.” Therefore, each of us loves the other.
We have their best interest at heart. Our relationships
help us remain accountable to the Fellowship and to
God.Every disciple should have a clear understanding of
what they believe. Each of us should have a basic
understanding of the following sixteen statements:
1. The Scriptures Inspired
The Scriptures, both the Old and New Testaments, are
verbally inspired of God and are the revelation of God
to man, the infallible, authoritative rule of faith and
conduct .
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 has further revealed
himself as embodying the principles of relationship and
association as Father, Son, and Holy Ghost
3.
The Deity of the Lord Jesus Christ
The Lord Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God.
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 transgression fell and thereby incurred not
only physical death but also spiritual death, which is
separation from God
5.
The Salvation of Man
Man's only hope of redemption is through the shed blood
of Jesus Christ the Son of God.
a. Conditions to Salvation. Salvation is received
through repentance toward God and faith toward the Lord
Jesus Christ.
b. The Evidences of Salvation. The inward evidence of
salvation is the direct witness of the Spirit. The
outward evidence to all men is a life of righteousness
and true holiness.
6.
The Ordinances of the Church
a. Baptism in Water. The ordinance of baptism by
immersion is commanded in the Scriptures. All who repent
and believe on Christ as Savior and Lord are to be
baptized.
b. Holy Communion. The Lord's Supper, consisting of the
elementsbread and the fruit of the vineis the symbol
expressing our sharing the divine nature of our Lord
Jesus; a memorial of His suffering and death, and a
prophecy of His second coming; and is enjoined on all
believers "till He come!"
7.
The Baptism in the Holy Ghost
All believers are entitled to and should ardently expect
and earnestly seek the promise of the Father, the
baptism in the Holy Ghost and fire, according to the
command of our Lord Jesus Christ. This was the normal
experience of all in the early Christian church. With it
comes the enduement of power for life and service, the
bestowment of the gifts and their uses in the work of
the ministry. This experience is distinct from and
subsequent to the experience of the new birth.
8.
The Initial Physical Evidence of the Baptism in the Holy
Ghost
The baptism of believers in the Holy Ghost is witnessed
by the initial physical sign of speaking with other
tongues as the Spirit of God gives them utterance (Acts
2:4). The speaking in tongues in this instance is the
same in essence as the gift of tongues , but different
in purpose and use.
9.
Sanctification
Sanctification is an act of separation from that which
is evil, and of dedication unto God. Sanctification is
realized in the believer by recognizing his
identification with Christ in His death and
resurrection, and by faith reckoning daily upon the fact
of that union, and by offering every faculty continually
to the dominion of the Holy Spirit.
10. The Church and Its Mission
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.
11. The Ministry
A divinely called and scripturally ordained ministry has
been provided by our Lord for the threefold purpose of
leading the Church in: (1) evangelization of the world
(2) worship of God, and (3) building a body of saints
being perfected in the image of His Son.
12. Divine Healing
Divine healing is an integral part of the gospel.
Deliverance from sickness is provided for in the
Atonement, and is the privilege of all believers.
13. The Blessed Hope
The resurrection of those who have fallen asleep in
Christ and their translation together with those who are
alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord is the
imminent and blessed hope of the Church.
14. The Millennial Reign of Christ
The second coming of Christ includes the rapture of the
saints, which is our blessed hope, followed by the
visible return of Christ with His saints to reign on the
earth for one thousand years.
15. The Final Judgment
There will be a final judgment in which the wicked dead
will be raised and judged according to their works.
Whosoever is not found written in the Book of Life,
together with the devil and his angels, the beast and
the false prophet, will be consigned to everlasting
punishment in the lake which burns with fire and
brimstone, which is the second death
16. The New Heavens and the New Earth
"We, according to His promise, look for new heavens and
a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness".
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