Open Gate Church accepts the Scriptures as the inspired and inerrant Word of God, the all sufficient rule of faith and practice, and adopts this Statement of Fundamental Truths and Doctrine.
The Scriptures Inspired : The whole Bible is completely and equally inspired and is the inerrant Word of God, the revelation from God to man, the infallible rule of faith and conduct. (2 Tim. 3:15-17; Peter 1:23-25; Heb. 4:12).
The One True Godhead : The triune Godhead is comprised of 3 separate and distinct personalities; The Father, The Son and The Holy Spirit, who are externally self-existent, self-revealed and function as one entity. Jesus Christ, who is God manifested in the flesh, is the second member of the Godhead, co-equal and co-eternal with The Father and The Holy Spirit.
Man, His Fall and Redemption : Man was created good and upright, for God said, “Let Us make man in his image, after Our likeness.” But, man, by voluntary transgression, fell and his only hope of redemption is in Jesus Christ the Son of God (Genesis 1:26-31, 3:1-7; Romans 5:12-21).
The Salvation of Man : Man’s only hope of redemption is through the shed blood of Jesus Christ. On the cross Jesus Christ became sin and sickness providing both salvation and divine healing for all mankind (Psalm 103:3) being justified freely by His Grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. For by grace we are saved through faith. “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart — that is, the word of faith which we are preaching, that if you confess with your mouth Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved; for with the heart man believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.” (Romans 3:24; Ephesians 2:8; Romans 10-8-10)
The Evidences of Salvation : The inward evidence, to the believer of his salvation, is the direct witness of the Spirit (Romans 8:16). The outward evidence to all men is a life of righteousness and true holiness. “and this is His commandment, that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as He commanded us” (I John 3:23).
Faith and Works : Salvation is by faith in Jesus Christ and not by human works; however, our works will determine the rewards in eternity (Acts 16:3; Romans 10: 9-1 0; Ephesians 2:8-9; Titus 3:5-7; Romans 14:20-12; and 2 Cor. 5:10).
Baptism In Water : In water baptism by immersion for those who repent. It is a sign of identification with and an act of obedience to Jesus Christ. The ordinance of baptism by a burial with Christ should be observed as commanded in the Scriptures by all who have really repented and in their hearts have truly believed in Christ as Savior and Lord. In so doing, they declare to the world that they have died with Jesus and that they have also been raised with Him to walk in newness of life. (Matt. 28: 1 0; Acts 10:47-48; Romans 6:40)
The Lord’s Supper and the Washing of the Saints Feet : “And when He had given thanks, He broke it, and said, “This is my body which is broken for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way also the cup, after supper, saying “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” Let a man examine himself, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup. “He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded.” Jesus by example showed his disciples what it was to be a servant to all. In God’s kingdom you must first be a servant. “If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me.” (1 Cor. 11:24, 25, 28. John 13:4-14).
The Promise of the Father : 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 endowment of power for life and service, the bestowment of the gifts and their uses in the work of the ministry (Luke 24:49; Acts 1:4-8; 1 Cor. 12:1-31).
The Church : 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 first born, which are written in Heaven (Ephesians 1:22, 2:19-22; Hebrews 12:23).
The Baptism of the Holy Spirit : That Jesus still baptizes His followers in the Holy Spirit, giving them power to reach the lost, encourage the brethren, and perform miracles. (Joel 2:28-29, Acts 2:1-4, Acts 8:15-17, 1 Cor 12:13).
Blessed Hope : Jesus is coming again to gather all His Saints to Heaven (1 Cor. 15:51-52; 1 Thess. 4:16-17; and 2 Thess. 2:1).
The Lake of Fire : Those who have not accepted the redemptive work of Jesus Christ will suffer eternal separation from the Godhead. 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 banished to everlasting punishment in the lake of fire which burns with brimstone. This is the second death, the lake of fire (Rev. 19:20; 20:10-15).
The Millennial Reign of Jesus : 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 (Romans 11:25, 27; 2 Thess. 1:7; Rev. 19:11-16; 20:1-7). After this, there shall be a new heaven and a new earth (Rev. 21). Apostolic Ministry. We believe that all Christians are called to minister – to the Lord, to the Church, and to the world. In addition, God calls, commissions, and equips the five-fold ministry of apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers. (Ephesians 4:11-12)