Perfecting Church Toledo

Section 1. The Scriptures Inspired. We believe the WORD OF GOD as contained in the Holy Bible is inerrant in content, absolute in authority and complete in revelation. (Psalm 68:11, II Timothy 3:16-17; II Peter 1:20-21).

Section 2. The One True Godhead. We believe in ONE GOD, existing in three persons (Trinity or Tri-unity). God the Father, God the Word (Jesus Christ the Son) and God the Holy Ghost. (Genesis 1:1-3, St. John 15:26, II Corinthians 13:14; I John 5:7).

Section 3. The Deity and Lordship of Jesus Christ. We believe in the DEITY and LORDSHIP of Jesus Christ, that He is God in the flesh, the Lamb that takes away the sin of the world and Lord over the Church. (Isaiah 7:14, St. Matthew 1:23, St. John 1:14, 29; Colossians 1:18).

Section 4. Man, His Fall and Redemption. We believe that man was made in the image and likeness of God, through disobedience, man fell from the grace of God and is redeemed by the atoning work of Jesus Christ on the Cross. (Genesis 1:26-31, Genesis 3:1-7; Romans 5:6-21; Ephesians 1:7).

Section 5. Salvation of Mankind. We believe in the SALVATION of mankind through confessed faith. You confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has resurrected Him and live according to the confession of your faith. (Romans 10:9-10, I Corinthians 15:1-4; I Timothy 4:12-16).

Section 6. Water Baptism. We believe that WATER BAPTISM by immersion is a rite of the Church, that is an outward expression of an inward experience, and that it shows that the believer is dead to sin, that the old man has been buried with Christ and it shows that he (the believer) has been resurrected in the newness of life. (Romans 6:3-4, I Peter 3:21; Acts 2:38).

Section 7. Baptism of the Holy Ghost. We believe in the BAPTISM of the HOLY GHOST, and that it is subsequent to salvation, a necessity for every believer, essential for kingdom building, and is accompanied initially by the evidence of other/unknown tongues. (Acts 19:2, Acts 2:4, Romans 8:9, Acts 1:8, Acts 10:46; I Corinthians 14:2).

Section 8. Holy Communion and Feet Washing. We believe in HOLY COMMUNION and FEET WASHING, that these too are rites of the Church, and they show that you are one with Christ, that you believe in and walk according to His teachings and that you partake in this rite, to commemorate His death. (St. John 13:4-15, I Corinthians 11:23-28; St. Luke 22:19).

Section 9. Church Fellowship. We believe CHURCH FELLOWSHIP is essential for spiritual growth, a command of God to corporately worship together, and an assembly ordained of God to increase faith, knowledge and strength. (I Peter 2:1-2, Hebrews 10:25, Acts 2:41-44; Acts 20:27-28).

Section 10. Total Prosperity. We believe TOTAL PROSPERITY (III John 1:2) to be Spiritual (St. John 3:3, II Corinthians 5:17-21; Romans 10:9-10), Mental (Isaiah 26:3, Romans 12:1-2; II Timothy 1:7), Physical (Isaiah 53:4-5, St. Matthew 8:17; I Peter 2:24), Financial (Deuteronomy 28:1-14, Malachi 3:10-11, St. Luke 6:38; II Corinthians 9:6-10) and Social (Proverbs 3:3-4, Hebrews 12:14; I Timothy 2:1-4).

Section 11. The Law of Giving. We believe that GIVING is the highest manifestation of love and worship. "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." (St. John 3:16). The Law of Giving as instituted by God is a precedent for mankind to live an abundant life as God has promised. Through faith, God has commanded His people to tithe and bring offerings. As Abraham believed God and it was accounted to him for righteousness (for he brought tithes of all unto Melchizedek), we believe, since tithing and offerings precede the Law of Moses, it is therefore an act of faith and not simply obedience to Jewish custom. Tithe and offering is inherent in the Law of Giving, which is an integral part of our worship, and the command of God that is evidentiary to our faith and in obedience to the Word of God. (Genesis 14:18-20, Genesis 18:19, Genesis 26:12; Galatians 3:6-9, 14-18). To withhold the tithe and offering is an abomination to the Lord that invokes a curse, not only upon the individual, but also upon their household and upon the entire congregation. (Malachi 3:8-9, Deuteronomy 28:15-20; Joshua 6:17-19).

(a) Tithe - the tenth part of agricultural or personal income set apart as an offering to God. The tithe is sacred and separate, belonging wholly to God and is the first tenth of all increase. In observing and keeping the Law of Giving [through tithing] postures the doer to participate in the manifold blessings promised by God. (Malachi 3:10-12, Proverbs 3:9-10, Deuteronomy 28:1-14; St. Luke 6:38).

(b) Offering - an act of worship presented to God, of the remaining aggregate of our substance, with a cheerful spirit and a willing heart. The offering is not of equal gift, but rather of equal sacrifice and should represent the escalating increase of the individual giver. (Exodus 25:1-2, St. Luke 21:1-4, II Corinthians 9:6-11; Philippians 4:10, 15-19).

Section 12. The Great Commission. We believe the GREAT COMMISSION of the Church is to go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature, make disciples of believers and to establish the Kingdom of God on earth. (St. Matthew 28:18-20, Acts 1:8, St. John 4:1; Revelation 11:15).

Section 13. The Blessed Hope.
(a) We believe the spirit and soul of those who die in the Lord are immediately in the presence of God awaiting the resurrection of the body and their eternal reward. (Ecclesiastes 12:7, St. Luke 16:22, St. Luke 23:43, II Corinthians 5:6-8, I Thessalonians 4:14; I Thessalonians 5:9-10).

(b) We believe that Jesus is coming again to gather all His saints to Heaven, which is the rapture of the Church. (I Corinthians 15:51-52, I Thessalonians 3:13, I Thessalonians 4:16-17; II Thessalonians 2:1).

(c) We believe in the return of our Lord Jesus Christ with His saints from heaven to rule and reign for one thousand years on earth as the Scriptures promised (Revelation 20:1-6). After this, there shall be a new heaven and a new earth (Revelation 21:1-2).

Section 14. Hell and the Lake of Fire. We believe those who die and have not accepted the redemptive work of Jesus Christ will suffer and be tormented in the flames of hell where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth and eternal separation from God (Psalm 9:17, Isaiah 5:14, St. Matthew 10:28, St. Matthew 25:41; St. Luke 16:23).

The devil and his angels, the beast and the false prophet, and anyone whose name was not found written in the Book of Life, shall be consigned to everlasting punishment in the lake of fire, which burns with brimstone. This is the second death, the lake of fire (St. John 5:28-29, Revelation 19:20, Revelation 20:10-15; Revelation 21:8).

Section 15. Lifestyle of the Believer.
(a) Family
God's order of the family:

i. Marriage - covenant or union between one naturally born man and one naturally born woman.

(St. Matthew 19:4-6, Genesis 2:24; Hebrews 13:4)

ii. Husband - responsible for the spiritual and financial development of the home; he is to love his wife as Christ loved the Church; rear children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord and provide for the household.(Ephesians 5:25, 28-29, Ephesians 6:4, I Timothy 5:8; I Peter 3:7-9)

iii. Wife - responsible for the development of a peaceful and loving home; she reveres and is submitted to her husband; she rears children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.
(Proverbs 14:1, Proverbs 31:27-29, Ephesians 5:22-24, 33; I Peter 3:1-6)

iv. Children - are to honor and obey their parents; conduct themselves in a manner, which reveres God.
(Exodus 20:12, Ecclesiastes 12:1, Ephesians 6:1-3; I Timothy 4:12)

(b) Christian Ethics. Believers must practice and exemplify lifestyles that is conducive to righteousness, honesty and integrity; having a good report, distinguishing a spiritual and moral deference. (Romans 12:9-13, 17, Romans 16:17-18, Ephesians 4:22-24, III John 1:11, Proverbs 11:1-3, Proverbs 16:2, Proverbs 20:7; Proverbs 22:1).

(c) Obedience to Civil Law (as it coincides with the Scriptures). (Proverbs 21:30, Romans 13:1-7, St. Matthew 22:20-21, Acts 4:19; Acts 5:29).

(d) Overcoming the Works of the Flesh/Sin.

i. Adultery
(Romans 7:13, Galatians 5:16, 19-21, St. Matthew 5:27-28; I Corinthians 6:9-11)

ii. Fornication
(I Corinthians 6:18-20, I Corinthians 7:2, II Timothy 2:22, I Thessalonians 4:1-4; Ephesians 5:3-9)

iii. Drinking (Alcohol Consumption); Substance Abuse
(Proverbs 20:1, Proverbs 23:20-21, 29-32, I Corinthians 6:10; Ephesians 5:18)

iv. Smoking
I Corinthians 3:16-17, I Corinthians 6:19-20; II Corinthians 7:1

v. Gambling
Proverbs 13:11; Jeremiah 17:11

vi. Homosexuality, Gay Life-Style, Lesbianism, Tran sexuality (Transgender), Bi-Sexuality, Transvestitism and the like
(Leviticus 18:22-24, Leviticus 20:13, Deuteronomy 23:17-18, St. Matthew 10:15, St. Matthew 11:22-23, Romans 1:26-29; I Corinthians 6:9-10)

vii. Sexual Perversions (including but not limited to pornography, pedophilia, bestiality, incest, etc.)
(Leviticus 20:15-16, Romans 1:22-32; Colossians 3:5)

Section 16. Idolatry/Idolatrous Practices. We believe the practice of idolatry is a sin; idolatry is the worship or divine honour paid to any created object or being. We believe any form of syncretism is idolatry. We believe the God of the Bible is to be worshipped in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, giving thanks to God our Father, by Him through the Holy Spirit. (Exodus 20:3-5, St. Matthew 4:10, Acts 17:16, 22-31, Colossians 3:17, I John 5:21; Revelation 21:8).

Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. (1 John 3:9)

For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. (1 John 5:4)