Pure In Heart Int'l Ministries, Inc.'s - STATEMENT OF FAITH

PURE IN HEART INTERNATIONAL MINISTRIES, INC. (PIHIM)

Today, I post this "PIHIM Statement of Faith" on my blog, because its becoming increasingly important for "the church" to let the world abroad KNOW what we believe, and why...

It is our ministry's theological position, by the direction of the Father, through the empowerment of His precious Holy Spirit, concerning the essential and non-essential Christian doctrines - that "all things" must be done in love and in the utmost sincerity, with the unity of the Holy Spirit and God's divine wisdom as the guiding force for every outreach effort, our fellowship amongst the brethren, the basis for every message that we proclaim in HIS name, and concerning our Christian witness to the world on behalf of Christ our Lord. The whole counsel of God is the irrevocable standard in which we interpret the Father's heart concerning our responsibility, and we preach and teach the word of faith and of power, by the grace of Almighty God.

Whether considered an essential or non-essential doctrine, the Lord has instructed us that there are four types of scriptural doctrines that we should consistently abide by in our ministry, which includes:

Foundational Doctrines - which we define as essential, fundamental and sustaining for the church's organizational health and wholeness of its members. The tenets/non-negotiable - absolutes of the Christian faith. Interpretations often turn into denominations.
(I Corinthians 15:12-19)

Organizational Doctrines - which we define as developmental, administrative and operational for the church's ongoing progress and growth in their unique mandate from the Father.
(I Corinthians 12:4-11)

Recreational Doctrines - which we define as relational, fellowship and worship
related for the church's constructive interaction and strategic communications with its members, and especially with unbelievers and seekers of the Christian faith. The message is sacred - the methods are not.
(I Corinthians 9:19-23)

Personal Doctrines - which we define as peculiar, purpose-driven and destiny-related for the individual believer's journey of faith in relationship with Christ.  
(Romans 14:1-8)

Therefore, our ministry passionately emboldens and stands upon, as the foundational pillars for our statement of faith, the following doctrinal teachings from the Word of God, based upon the following scriptural references:

1 Timothy 1:5, "Now the purpose of the commandment is love from a pure heart, from a good conscience, and from sincere faith."
2 Timothy 3:16-17, "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work."
Galatians 5:14, "For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: you shall love your neighbor as yourself."
Ephesians 6:24, "Grace be with all those who love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity, Amen."
Revelations 22:17, "And the Spirit and the Bride say, come! And let him who hear say, come! And let him who thirsts come. And whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely."

Note: "This STATEMENT OF FAITH is not intended to be comprehensive, but to provide a thorough understanding and doctrinal foundation to our faithful supporters, curious seekers, or our loving critics.  Refer to the EXPANDED STATEMENT OF FAITH for a comprehensive view of our convictions and believes.

>>>Pastor Walter L. Smith III (WS-3)
_____________________________________________________

Concerning the Church:

THE MANDATE AND WORD OF GOD
The apostolic mandate and commission received by the disciples as true followers of Jesus Christ, which Christ authenticated, authorized and called the Church - or Ekklesia, called-out ones, were then and presently are, born in the labor of Christ's resurrection power to remove the stain of sin, to present every person of uniqueness and diversity of tribe, kindred and tongue, complete in Christ, as the sweet fragrance and the aroma that brings glory to God. This Body reveals the true knowledge of His eternal purposes to all mankind as His obedient followers and representatives through ongoing discipleship in spiritual growth and maturity, doing greater works while re-claiming and maintaining the lost territory of souls in the world.

This mandate and commission extends beyond pop-culture, cultural conformity and cultural relevance, and models the mind of Christ in an age of darkness and depravity with an unbending standard of faith in the line-of-fire. The Word of God is the only pillar of infallibility, inerrancy and incorruptibility, and if obeyed, causes the Church to escape the corruption of lust and greed of this present world system.

THE FOUNDATION OF PRAYER
Prayer and intercession are foundational stones, which the Church wields as an offensive and defensive tool for strategic warfare, and worship that welcomes the providential intervention of God, and causes alignment and adjustment of His Body during the course of history and world events. Facilitating the will of God for the earth's inhabitants, while bridging the gap between human effort and God's abiding presence, is our primary purpose in prayer.

THE TRUE NATURE OF THE CHURCH
The Hand of God, through our intentional submission to God's sovereign governance, and our occupation, undergirds the corporate nature of the Body of Christ as agents of His theocratic rule in the earth. The Church possesses a 'welcoming spirit' by nature, and does not exclude any person for any reason from entering in to its gates. Those of the "new creation" are not simply of human origin, but are born from above through and by His Holy Spirit. God's fingerprint is upon the beliefs and behaviors of His loyal subjects, and has created the ultimate standard and principles that guard and protect His faithful servants. Embracing the designated roles given to His five-fold ministers, the Church develops in love, which is the bond of perfection, and commissions the competent and committed to do the work of ministry. Without this unifying understanding of the corporeal function of the Body of Christ, we abdicate our responsibilities concerning the lost, the State of Israel, and other segments of the Church that are different but necessary for synergy and integrated efforts.

When a believer comes to Christ, the conception, confession and commitment began when true faith and genuine heart-repentance occurs. It is then the responsibility of that believer, in committing to their cross and becoming a true follower, to arm themselves with the Word of God, get understanding into God's ways, nature and character, and devote time to daily devotion to grow in intimacy and dependence upon the Lord in every area. Salvation entails more than a saved soul, but emotional and physical healing, deliverance from destructive habits and tendencies, as well as the power through Christ to overcome any yokes and burdens that come as a result of living for Christ in the fellowship of suffering. The eternal change in the heart plays itself out in a total lifestyle transformation, where living for ourselves ends, and where living for Him begins in a fulfilling and rewarding journey.

The process of regeneration and sanctification occurs until our final glorification and redemption from these corruptible bodies we presently live in. Our process of spiritual growth is similar to the developmental transitions of mankind from childhood to adolescence to adulthood, except there are spiritual depths that can never be fully experienced in our earthly existence, but will be fulfilled in our eternal home with the Father. As a disciple, our focus and concentration becomes reproducing after ourselves through principles of mentoring and discipling others into the faith we have in Christ.


THE WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT THROUGH THE CHURCH
The work of the Holy Spirit in the Church, and before the formation of mankind in creation, God has governed, guarded, guided, created, filled, regenerated, sanctified, glorified, performed, and demonstrated, amongst many other acts, His awesome power and majesty through His creative works, His redemptive acts, and His sustaining power in the lives of believers worldwide.

Although the believer is equipped with the Holy Spirit, the major work done in the lives of persons in the world is accomplished in cooperation with the Spirit bringing conviction, truth and light to bear. No one who gets saved is convicted due to human intelligence, impressive words, or long sermons, though God may use our words. It is the Holy Spirit that works behind our backs in the hearts of mankind, as well as keeping the believer attuned with the Father's heart and plan.

Concerning the Person of Jesus Christ:

THE FATHER'S INTENTION
Jesus Christ is the Word of God, Logos, made flesh to dwell among mankind. He came to re-establish and reclaim the lost territory of heaven and earth during the initial fall of mankind in the Garden of Eden. He was with God the Father in the beginning, and this proves His pre-existence in God's providence that all things created, both in heaven and earth, are upheld by His power and authority as the Spoken Word and Wisdom that was the original architect of the earth, from the thoughts and mouth of God in creative power and with divine purpose. Through Christ's Church, all things will be filled and summed up in Christ, and He, who is the Alpha and Omega, will fulfill His good purposes for all of mankind.

Christ also emptied himself of His former glory with the Father, as He became an agent and servant of God entering into time, space and matter, with the intent of being the only begotten Son of God and propitiatory sacrifice at the cross, for the remission of our sins and iniquities, and restored our right standing with God by becoming our only justification. There is no other name, no other plan, and no other deed that can justify lost humanity.

Christ came as a silent lamb, but will return for His Church in the rapture as the Lion of the Tribe of Judah. During His return, Christ will bring His rewards. God's plan for the ages will be fulfilled, including Satan's final defeat and eviction to the prison of unfulfilled purpose, torture and eternal despair, chained in the place of the eternal doomed and damned.

HIS EARTHLY JOURNEY
Jesus Christ was born of a virgin, through the divine sperm or seed of God through human agency, who was Mary; for the purpose of fulfilling prophetical utterance through God's holy prophets, of Jesus' virgin birth, being begotten of His heavenly father and not an earthly father. Jesus was crucified, buried and resurrected for the sins of all mankind, and willingly gave His life as a ransom for our sins. Christ's crucifixion and resurrection was literal and not figurative or symbolic. Both the just and the unjust will also be resurrected, if they are dead at His second coming, to eternal life with Him, or eternal damnation without Him.

Christ is the unifying force of the Church, and where He is, there is liberty. He provides freedom from habitual sin; delivers from the power of sin and death from reigning in our mortal bodies; and empowers His followers with strength and courage in thought, word and deed for successful daily living. No one can come to the Father except through His Son, Jesus Christ. In Christ, there are no distinctions, prejudices or hypocrisy - culturally, ethnically, socially, financially, educationally, or politically.

Christ is the fullness of the Godhead bodily, and He fully represented the Father to the world, and demonstrated a perfect and sinless life in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation. He is now seated at the right hand of the Father, with all authority and power in heaven and in earth, as He stripped the keys of the kingdom from Satan, made a public spectacle of him, and Christ sovereignly rules over every wicked principality, every demonic power, and the spiritual wickedness in high places. Through His finished work at Calvary, the lives of His willing followers are potent for the work of ministry, and His life energizes the spirits and minds of every pursuant and hungry disciple.

Concerning the Origin of Man:

THE MAKEUP OF MAN
In the creation story, God fashioned mankind of the dust of the ground, breathed into his nostrils and man became a living soul. Mankind existed to have fellowship and perfect communion with God forever. Man is a tri-partite being, made up of spirit, soul and body, yet perfectly fashioned without flaw or disconnection in their being. The soul and spirit were uniform and woven harmoniously with conscious, intuition and instinct working together. Man's consciousness with God was absolutely perfect and unbroken, and his fellowship was intimate and passionate. Man was not originally created in sin, and was in every way perfect and faultless, without sin. God created man after His own image and made Him into His likeness for the purpose of sharing His love and expressing His giving nature to lavish His blessings upon us all. God gave mankind full, complete and legal authorization to steward the earth and its resources, and with that command, accountability and responsibility must be followed.

God created a lush environment with everything needed to live a happy, fulfilling and contented life without any need for disobedience or denial of God's governing commands to subdue, replenish and fill the earth. We believe that Satan supplanted and deceived Adam and Eve concerning the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil in the Garden of Eden, and God truly loving His creation, provided mankind free will or volition in choosing to follow His perfect will and plan or choose another way.

After mankind's fall in the garden, the curse pronounced upon Lucifer, Eve and Adam, sent the present world into death and decay, and the original authority of mankind was lost to Satan, and irretrievable without a perfect sacrifice and redeemer to legally de-throne Satan's illegitimate rule and authority over mankind. Also, the consciousness mankind initially shared with God became de-fragmented, making it impossible to hear God's voice without an atoning sacrifice to cleanse every sinner and accept the judgment mankind deserves because of God's perfect justice. Now, what was "one" became compartmentalized, and the soul and spirit were disjointed by the spiritual death experienced during the heart-disobedience of Adam and Eve.

This compartmentalized existence, sent mankind into a dangerous and reckless frenzy, and the superiority complex for seeking knowledge over the eternal reward of intimacy with the Father, sent mankind into a spiraling pursuit for purpose and meaning, identity and value, as well as finding the satisfying fulfillment of the eternal vacuum, the size of God's fingerprint, that He placed in the heart of every person born in this world. This pursuit is now lived out in materialism, hedonism, secularism, religiosity, and self-actualization or personal peace.

Concerning the Atonement:

GOD'S PLAN FOR REDEMPTION
The Father created and instituted a system for ceremonial and sacrificial laws through Moses and the children of Israel, His chosen people, in the Old Testament Books of Leviticus and Numbers. This system enabled God's people to properly atone for their sins and bridge the gap that was created through the fall of mankind in the garden.

This death sentence that Adam and Eve received caused all of mankind to come under God's strict judgment for sin, unless an atoning sacrifice was offered by the designated priestly tribe, which were the only one's permitted of all the Hebrew tribes to make atonement for the people and themselves. There was no other way to reconcile mankind eternally but through the blood of Jesus Christ, which was perfect and potent, so that mankind could escape the judgment and the wrath to come. Christ being the propitiatory sacrifice did once and for all, what ongoing temple sacrifices could not do - He purchased our souls and removed our sins forever. Abiding in this freedom purchased through Christ is the challenge every believer faces, yet His Holy Spirit and His grace make it possible for every committed disciple.

Those who trust in Jesus Christ have open access into God's throne of grace, for mercy, provision, strength, and favor for living a righteous and holy life. Our good works in light of our new standing in our new family do not make us acceptable or grant us special graces or approval with God. The Father sees us complete in Christ, and all our works in Him are as an acceptable sacrifice and love offering before God, developing in us a willing heart without ever handicapping or paralyzing our spiritual growth through self-righteous attitudes and mindsets.

Our good works demonstrate to a lost world our righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Ghost, and supports the Christian lifestyle that does not reflect western cultural values, but demonstrates our heavenly citizenship and treasures that are not earthly but eternal. The goal of every act of mercy and kindness is proper representation as ambassadors of Christ, and facilitators of His purposes and plans to prove His genuine love for the world.

Concerning the Authority of Scripture:

GOD'S INSPIRED WORD
All 66 books of the Holy Bible as seen in the first 39-books of the Old Testament, as well as the 27-books of the New Testament, are, and will always be, absolutely God-inspired, illuminated and revealed to ordinary men for the purpose of God revealing Himself to mankind and providing basic instructions for the way to salvation through Christ; as well as living each day, in a godly and peculiar manner, for a prosperous journey, and for a purposeful life.

God's Holy Word, in all 1,188 chapters within the 66-books of the Bible is completely infallible, inerrant, irrefutable, unchangeable, and undeniable. The Bible authenticates every proven scientific fact, is the basis for every invention in space, time, or matter; and stands up against any competing theories, ideologies, philosophies, or erroneous conclusions that would "attempt" to disprove or contradict the Word of God.

THE DANGERS OF MISHANDLING GOD'S WORD
There are much orthodoxy, principles and doctrines taught of men that are never specifically addressed in scriptures, but everything in all of creation has its origin in God. Satan, through opponents of Christianity, the ill-prepared in the Church, as well as wolves in sheep's clothing, works to pervert and distort the Word of God to make it irrelevant in a world of relativity and moral compromise. Even many proclaimed ministers of the gospel, without the purest intentions and motives could become enemies of the cross of Christ through pretense, appetites and profit-motives.

When God's word is properly read in context, without over-simplification, spiritualizing, or blatant heresy, the historical and cultural setting, using any translation close to the original Hebrew or Greek, as well as having the Holy Spirit's guidance, is crucial to successfully applying God's word, without reading your preferences or experiences into it. For God's word stands all by itself with inherent power to fulfill itself, without the need for any crutches or excuses, and any experience, revelation, dream, vision, doctrine, prophecy, or ministry that does not align with his full counsel cannot be scripturally based.

Concerning the Ordinances:

FOOT WASHING
In the Gospel of John, in the thirteenth chapter, Jesus demonstrated the importance of service to our brethren in Christ through washing His disciple's feet. After three-and-a-half years of powerful miracle ministry, demonstrating the Kingdom of God, one of His last instructions during fellowship was revealing the heart of a servant that works to bring glory to the Father without seeking men's applause.

In this walk of faith, our feet being shod with peace, and our wisdom in where we walk, to avoid the appearance of evil, is important to our glowing witness and having a reputation above reproach. Finally, there must be the conscious effort of the believer to walk on the road created by the Father, so the gruesome fields and the difficult work does not endanger or threaten the ability to acquire additional ground, by encountering obstructions in the pathway due to disobedience.

THE LORD'S TABLE
As Christ's disciples, we acknowledge and remember the testimony of the Lord's broken body and shed blood at the cross of Calvary, through the Lord's Table. This communion table provides common-union in a community of believers in fellowship with one another, and releases the power of His resurrected life into the lives of His followers. It is a holy ordinance because scripture states that without the shedding of blood there is no remission for sins.

It is also a reminder of our need for Christ's ongoing work in our lives. Without His hand and grace to sustain and preserve us, we are without the strength to live, move and have our being. He is our one and only defense and salvation.

WATER BAPTISM
The total immersion of new converts or followers of Christ rededicating their lives is biblical and important to the full meaning of the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ. A believer can be saved without being baptized, but the desire to symbolically and literally bury the old life and be raised into the new life, through His resurrection, is the basis of our Christian faith.

The personal and public statement being made through the baptismal act reveals the outward commitment of an internal work and regeneration of the heart that every sincere believer should desire in their new birth in Christ. Although other "body parts" often prefer infant baptisms and sprinkling, what is important is the recognition of a believer at the age of accountability, the true meaning and purpose for this bold statement of your faith in laying down your life for Christ.

Concerning the Gifts of the Spirit:

SPIRITUAL GIFTS
Spiritual gifts are endowments and impartations from the Father to thoroughly equip and empower any born-again believer with the desire to live for Christ with and through their committed lives. These gifts are imparted to the believer at God's bidding and selection to further the work of His kingdom in the earth, and to empower believers to be His mouthpiece, His hands and His feet in the world. Some of the gifts include, miracles, prophecy, tongues, the interpretation of tongues, etc.

These gifts cannot be earned, bought or copied, but they do develop through proper use and sanctified experience. They should never be used for selfish motive or personal gain, and work in cooperation with God's plan and purpose that never contradicts the order or government of God. The spiritual gift never violates any of God's commandments concerning decency, order and submission to His ordained authority through His church, and proper spiritual discipline should be enacted when God's prescribed order is not followed.

BAPTISM OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
The Baptism in the Holy Spirit is an additional impartation, which may be subsequent to salvation but is not a requirement for salvation. Before any person becomes a believer and is drawn to the Lord, the seal and deposit of the Holy Spirit is planted in the heart of the believer, in His fullness, but the believer must learn to hear His voice, be responsive to God's commandments, and grow in the full and complete knowledge of God, so that they do not grieve or quench the Holy Spirit of God through calling good-evil or evil-good.

This Baptism in the Holy Spirit is usually accompanied with the evidence of speaking in "unknown tongues", or the heavenly language, that acts as a direct line and communication with God, where Satan's interference or hindrances cannot hinder the believer's prayers and His voice in their spirit. The spiritual power to become a witness is distinguished from "being filled with the spirit" on a continuous basis, which is the Father's commandment to every believer, to soak up and wade in God's presence through ongoing communion and development for specific purposes that He has identified. "Being filled with the spirit" also characterizes the believer taking on the nature and bearing the fruit of a committed follower with the testimony of the power of God at work through their lives. This continuous filling happens at the willful obedience of the believer, through committing to a lifestyle of being transformed by the renewing of their minds, through God's word on a daily basis.

Concerning the Second Coming of Christ:

THE SECOND COMING
Every believer in Christ, who makes a commitment to endure until the end, should be comforted with the blessed hope of Christ's final return and our redemption from this corrupt worldly system, as well as the ongoing decay of our physical bodies. The literal and physical return of Christ is guaranteed for every believer, as all things in heaven, in the earth, and under the earth, bow at the authority and rule of Jesus Christ, and the thousands of prophetic promises and faithful predictions are fulfilled.

The Church of Jesus Christ will be raptured first, and after the tribulation period ends on the earth, we will return for the final battle in dethroning Satan and his cohorts, and take our role in judging the nations.

The scripture says the dead in Christ rise first, and we that are alive and remain together shall meet Him in the air. As the literal and physical resurrection of the just and unjust is promised for the Day of Judgment, those justified by Christ's precious blood will spend eternity with Him.

*Please contact our ministry with any questions, comments, or any known or identifiable edits. If you notice any grammatical errors in this document while reading, please email us at your earliest convenience. God Bless YOU for helping us serve Christ with excellence!

(Email us at: lilwlsmithiii@gmail.com)

© Updated November of 2013



Sent from Walter's IPAD
Walter L. Smith III (WS-3)