Understanding the Articles of Faith

  1. Inerrancy of the Holy Bible
    The Bible, both Old and New Testaments, is our complete and final authority. A careful, conscientious, and continual study of God's Word will reveal to the believer a growing understanding of what it means to live worthy of our calling in Christ Jesus. Spirit Quest International believes the Holy Bible to be the inspired, inerrant, and authoritative Word of God.
  2. Trinity
    We are Trinitarian in our faith, as opposed to the Unitarian. We believe in One God, comprised of three persons - the Father, the Son Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit - comprising the Trinity in unity. We reject the teachings of those who propose "Jesus Only".
  3. Christ
    We believe in the incarnation of Christ through the virgin birth, which we hold without question, as written in the Word of God (Isaiah 7:14; 9:6; Matthew 1:18-25; Luke 2:26-35). We believe He was a perfect, sinless human being in whom dwelt all the fullness of the Godhead bodily (Colossians 2:9), that He was very God and perfect man. We believe He lived a sinless life and died upon the cross as an all sufficient atonement for our sins, for our personal transgressions, and also for original sin.
  4. Christ's Resurrection
    We believe in the bodily resurrection of Christ, in His triumphant ascension into heaven, and that He (in His glorified body, as a complete human being, with all things appertaining to the perfections of man's nature) now sits at the right hand of heaven's Majesty until He shall return to judge the world at the last day. Perfect, sinless humanity is at the heart of the moral universe, participating in the government of creation and interceding for His saints, until He shall come to judge the living and the dead in the end of the age (Luke 24:1-7, Romans 1:4; 1st Corinthians 15: 1-19).
  5. Justification and Regeneration
    We believe in the efficacy and sufficiency of the shed blood of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins committed in the past: for the regeneration, or new birth from above, of penitent sinners, and for salvation or deliverance from sin and sinning (Matthew 26:28; Luke 22:20; Acts 20:28; Romans 5:9; Ephesians 1:7; 2:13; Colossians 1:14, 20; 1st Peter 1:18-19; 1st John 1:7; Revelation 1:5, 5:9; 1st John 2:1; 3:5-10, 5:18; Romans 6:22; 7:24-25; 8:1-4).

    We believe, teach and firmly maintain the scriptural doctrine of justification by faith alone (Romans 5:1; Ephesians 2:8-9; Titus 3:4-7). We do not believe that any sort or degree of good works can procure or contribute toward our justification or salvation.
  6. Water Baptism
    Water baptism is, according to the Bible, an outward testimony of what has occurred inwardly in a believer's life. Water baptism illustrates a believer's identification with Christ's death, burial, and resurrection. The Bible declares in Romans 6:3-4, , "OR DON'T YOU KNOW THAT ALL OF US WHO WERE BAPTIZED INTO CHRIST JESUS WERE BAPTIZED INTO HIS DEATH? WE WERE THEREFORE BURIED WITH HIM THROUGH BAPTISM INTO DEATH IN ORDER THAT, JUST AS CHRIST WAS RAISED FROM THE DEAD THROUGH THE GLORY OF THE FATHER, WE TOO MAY LIVE A NEW UFE." In water baptism, the action of being immersed in the water symbolizes dying and being buried with Christ. The action of coming out of the water pictures Christ's resurrection.

    In water baptism, there are two requirements before a person is baptized: (1) The person being baptized must have trusted in Jesus Christ as Savior, and (2) The person must understand what baptism signifies. If a person knows the lord Jesus as Savior, understands that water baptism is a step of obedience in publicly proclaiming his faith in Christ, and desires to be baptized, then there is no reason to prevent the believer from being baptized. According to the Bible, water baptism is important because it is a step of obedience - publicly declaring faith in Christ and commitment to Him -an identification with Christ's death, burial, and resurrection.
  7. Sanctification
    Sanctification is an act of separation from that which is evil, and of dedication unto God (Romans 12:1-2; 1st Thessalonians 5:23; Hebrews 13:12). Scriptures teach a life of "HOLINESS WITHOUT WHICH NO MAN SHALL SEE THE LORD:" (Hebrews 12:14). By the power of the Holy Spirit we are able to obey the command, "BE YE HOLY, FOR I AM HOLY" (1st Peter 1:15-16).
  8. Pentecost
    Pentecost (Gr. pentecoste: fiftieth day) has for its forerunner the "Feast of Weeks", also called, the "Feast of Harvest", which was one of the seven feasts that the lord commanded Israel to observe annually. Three of the seven feasts were to be observed in the beginning of the spring season: Passover, Unleavened Bread, and the Feast of Firstfruits.

    FollOwing the night of the Passover Feast, Israel was to observe the Feast of Unleavened Bread, which lasted one week. During this week, the Feast of Firstfruits, which lasted but one day, or a part of a day, was held the "morrow after the Sabbath" of the Feast of Unleavened Bread. corresponding to our Sunday. From that Sabbath of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, Israel was commanded to number seven weeks (which would make the seventh Sabbath the forty-ninth day), On the day after the seventh Sabbath, Israel was commanded to observe the "Feast of Weeks", (or "Feast of Harvest"), which would be a feast on the fiftieth day.

    The apostles, by Christ's command, returned from the Mount of Olives, where they had seen Christ depart from earth. In the Upper Room, with over one hundred other believers, they began tarrying for the fulfilment of the "promise of the Father". They sought and waited ten days. The tenth day was actually the fiftieth day after the resurrection of Christ. On that day, the old "Feast of Weeks", (or "Feast of Harvest"), was observed. That was the day the Holy Spirit fell upon the Upper Room and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit. Pentecost was the name for the Jewish Feast of Weeks because it was held on the fiftieth day. Hence, the relationship between the Upper Room Holy Spirit experience on the Day of Pentecost exists. However, Pentecost now refers to the baptism of the Holy Spirit, and not to any special day.
  9. Spiritual Gifts
    Members of Spirit Quest International are continuationists, meaning we believe that all the spiritual gifts, including the miraculous or "sign gifts", found in 1st Corinthians 12:4-11, continue to operate within the Church in the present time.

    We place the gifts of the Spirit in context with the fruit of the Spirit. The fruit of the Spirit is the result of the new birth and continuing to abide in Christ. It is by the fruit exhibited that spiritual character is assessed. Spiritual gifts are received as a result of the baptism with the Holy Spirit. As gifts freely given by the Holy Spirit, they cannot be earned or merited, and they are not appropriate criteria with which to evaluate one's spiritual life or maturity. We see in the biblical writings of Paul, an emphasis on having both character and power, exercising the gifts in love.

    Just as fruit should be evident in the life of every Christian, we believe that every Spirit-filled believer is given some capacity for the manifestation of the Spirit. It is important to note that the exercise of a gift is a manifestation of the Spirit, not of the gifted person, and though the gifts operate through people, they are primarily gifts given to the Church. They are valuable only when they provide spiritual profit and edification to the body of Christ.

    All manifestations of the Spirit are to be judged by the church. This is made possible, in part, by the gift of discerning of spirits, which is the capacity for discerning the source of a spiritual manifestation, whether from the Holy Spirit or from the human spirit. Spirit Quest International believes in the Gifts of the Spirit as set forth by the Apostle Paul in 1 at Corinthians chapters 12, 13, and 14. We believe these gifts are for the edification of the church.
  10. Divine Healing
    Divine healing, as we teach and believe, is altogether a product of the atoning merit of Christ's sacrifice on the cross. "HIMSELF TOOK OUR INFIRMITIES, AND BARE OUR SICKNESSES" (Matthew 8:17), and "WITH HIS STRIPES WE ARE HEALED" (Isaiah 53:5). This healing is wrought solely by the application of the atonement to the body, through faith alone. The Holy Spirit applies the efficacy of the blood of healing to the sick and afflicted body, or parts, which in fact, is the impartation of the resurrected life of the glorified Christ. This is direct divine healing. effected by the divine Being in response to faith alone.

    We are eternally thankful for the strides that modem medicine has attained, and give glory to the Omnipotent One for providing knowledge to mere mortals. We remember that all good comes from the Throne of God.
  11. The Second Coming of Jesus
    We believe in the imminent, personal, premillennial second coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The word imminent indicates the second coming of Christ as being near, impending, soon, or likely to occur at any moment. (Matthew 25:29-44; Mark 13:32-37; Titus 2:13)

    The word personal indicates the "THE LORD HIMSELF" shall return (1st Thessalonians 4:16), "THIS SAME JESUS WHICH IS TAKEN UP FROM YOU INTO HEAVEN SHALL SO COME IN LIKE MANNER" (Acts 1:11).

    The word premillennial refers to the fact that He will come before the millennium during which the "blessed and holy" of the "first resurrection" will live and reign with Christ "a thousand years" (Revelation 20:4-6).

    The second coming of Christ will occur in two stages: the first for the purpose of "catching away His saints" who are prepared for the Rapture before the Great Tribulation period (Matthew 24:40-44; 1st Thessalonians 4:13-18; Revelation 3:10-11; 4:1-2), and the second at the end of the Great Tribulation, when He shall come back "with His saints" to destroy the armies of the Antichrist, to judge the nations of the world, and to inaugurate the millennial reign (Matthew 25:31-33; 2nd Thessalonians 2:8; Revelation 19:11-21; 20:1-6).

    The proper attitude of Christians toward the coming of Christ should be: to love His appearing (2nd Timothy 4:8), to watch and pray always to be accounted worthy to escape the things that will come upon the earth during the Great Tribulation (Luke 21:36), to pray for His coming (Matthew 6:10; Revelation 22:20), and to faithfully "occupy" until He comes (Luke 19:13).
  12. The Coming of the Lord
    The word millennium is the name for the Latin numeral 1,000. Pre means before, thus His coming will be before the millennium shall begin, meaning His coming "with all the saints" will be the event that shall inaugurate the millennial (one thousand years) reign of Christ on earth.

    That millennial reign will be preliminary and preparatory in purpose. It is preliminary to the final and absolute regeneration of all that belongs to this creation. It is preparatory to the reign of Christ, as itwill place absolutely everything beneath the will of the Father by destroying all enemies, animosities, and every possible degree of rebellion against the royal will of God. When this is done, the eternity of the kingdom will be fully inaugurated.

    All the saints look for, long for, and pray for the coming of Christ. A thousand signs and events proclaim and signify the immediate end of this present age. The Great Tribulation shadows are visible now on the earth, and the Second Coming may occur at any moment. Amen. "EVEN SO, COME, LORD JESUS." (Revelation 22:20).
  13. Great White Throne Judgment
    The Great White Throne Judgment is a trial, set in the future, for all people who have rejected God's Call to salvation. Every person who has lived upon earth and has refused to accept God's way to redemption from sin, will kneel before their Creator at this time, and acknowledge that He is God - that Jesus Christ is Lord. No person who has not been saved by acceptance of the Lord Jesus' sacrifice on the cross will escape this horrifying judgment against sin. The Lord Jesus foretold of this moment.

    MATTHEW 7:23 "AND THEN WILL I PROFESS UNTO THEM,I NEVER KNEW YOU: DEPART FROM ME, YE THAT WORK INIQUITY."

    Each will then be cast into the Lake of Fire, which will be their place throughout Eternity (Mark 9:43-48). The Great White Throne Judgment is found in the following:

    REVELATION 20:11-15 "AND I SAW A GREAT WHITE THRONE, AND HIM THAT SAT ON IT, FROM WHOSE FACE THE EARTH AND THE HEAVEN FLED AWAY; AND THERE WAS FOUND NO PLACE FOR THEM. AND I SAW THE DEAD, SMALL AND GREAT, STAND BEFORE GOD; AND THE BOOKS WERE OPENED: AND ANOTHER BOOK WAS OPENED, WHICH IS (THE BOOK) OF L1FE: AND THE DEAD WERE JUDGED OUT OF THOSE THINGS WHICH WERE WRITTEN IN THE BOOKS, ACCORDING TO THEIR WORKS. AND THE SEA GAVE UP THE DEAD WHICH WERE IN IT; AND DEATH AND HELL DELIVERED UP THE DEAD WHICH WERE IN THEM: AND THEY WERE JUDGED EVERY MAN ACCORDING TO THEIR WORKS. AND DEATH AND HELL WERE CAST INTO THE LAKE OF FIRE. THIS IS THE SECOND DEATH. AND WHOSOEVER WAS NOT FOUND WRITTEN IN THE BOOK OF LIFE WAS CAST INTO THE LAKE OF FIRE."

    JOHN 5:22-23 "FOR THE FATHER JUDGETH NO MAN, BUT HATH COMMITTED ALL JUDGMENT UNTO THE SON: THAT ALL (MEN) SHOULD HONOUR THE SON, EVEN AS THEY HONOUR THE FATHER. HE THAT HONOURETH NOT THE SON HONOURETH NOT THE FATHER WHICH HATH SENT HIM."

    ROMANS 2:16 "IN THE DAY WHEN GODSHALL JUDGE THE SECRETS OF MEN BY JESUS CHRIST ACCORDING TO MY GOSPEL."

    Our status in the Lord Jesus determines how we will be judged. Immediately following the Rapture, the believer will stand before the Judgment Seat of Christ.

    2nd CORINTHIANS 6:10 "FOR WE MUST ALL APPEAR BEFORE THE JUDGMENT SEAT OF CHRIST; THAT EVERYONE MAY RECEIVE THE THINGS (DONE) IN (HIS) BODY, ACCORDING TO THAT HE HATH DONE. WHETHER (IT BE) GOOD OR BAD."

    There, the resurrected saints will receive rewards for the good works they performed while on earth. But, this is far different from what will happen to the unbeliever, who will appear before the Great White Throne Judgment at the end of the Millennium.
  14. Communion
    Spirit Quest Intenational churches practice "Open Communion", meaning any born again Christian may participate at the Lord's Supper when communion is offered.

    The reason for the "open" table is more than being "inclusive" or "accepting" of others, but rather it is because the responsibility for one's salvation is ultimately up to the individual. Therefore, we will offer communion to everyone, but explain in detail what it means to participate so that no one takes communion in a manner that will cause condemnation to fall upon them.

    1st CORINTHIANS 11:27-29 "WHEREFORE WHOSOEVER SHALL EAT THIS BREAD, AND DRINK THIS CUP OF THE LORD, UNWORTHILY, SHALL BE GUILTY OF THE BODY AND BLOOD OF THE LORD. BUT LET A MAN EXAMINE HIMSELF, AND SO LET HIM EAT OF THAT BREAD, AND DRINK OF THAT CUP. FOR HE THAT EATETH AND DRINKETH UNWORTHILY, EATETH AND DRINKETH DAMNATION TO HIMSELF, NOT DISCERNING THE LORD'S BODY."

    The practice of the Lord's Supper was instituted by Jesus, the Savior of the world. His disciples participated in the ordinance out of reverent obedience to the Lord and in "remembrance" of Him, as the Scriptures instructed.

    1ST CORINTHIANS 11:23-26 ....... THAT THE LORD JESUS THE SAME NIGHT IN WHICH HE WAS BETRAYED TOOK BREAD: AND WHEN HE HAD GIVEN THANKS, HE BRAKE IT, AND SAID, 'TAKE, EAT: THIS IS MY BODY, WHICH IS BROKEN FOR YOU: THIS DO IN REMEMBRANCE OF ME'. AFTER THE SAME MANNER ALSO, HE TOOK THE CUP, WHEN HE HAD SUPPED, SAYING, 'THIS CUP IS THE NEW TESTAMENT IN MY BLOOD: THIS DO YE, AS OFT AS YE DRINK IT,IN REMEMBRANCE OF ME'."

    Spirit Quest International Christians do not believe that the elements used (bread and grape juice) mystically transform into flesh and blood.
  15. Tithing
    The Old Testament is abundant in its regulations regarding tithing, and in Matthew and Luke, Jesus speaks to the matter.

    MALACHI 3:10-11 "BRING YE ALL THE TITHE INTO THE STOREHOUSE, THAT THERE MAY BE MEAT IN MINE HOUSE, AND PROVE ME HEREWITH, SAITH THE LORD OF HOSTS, IF I WILL NOT OPEN YOU THE WINDOWS OF HEAVEN, AND POUR YOU OUT A BLESSING THAT THERE SHALL NOT BE ROOM ENOUGH TO RECEIVE IT. AND I WILL REBUKE THE DEVOURER FOR YOUR SAKES, AND HE SHALL NOT DESTROY THE FRUITS OF YOUR GROUND; NEITHER SHALL YOUR VINE CAST HER FRUIT BEFORE THE TIME IN THE FIELD, SAITH THE LORD OF HOSTS."

    MATTHEW 23:23 "WOE UNTO YOU, SCRIBES AND PHARISEES, HYPOCRITES! FOR YE PAY TITHE OF MINT AND ANISE AND CUMMIN, AND HAVE OMITTED THE WEIGHTIER MATTERS OF THE LAW, JUDGMENT ,MERCY, AND FAlTH: THESE OUGHT YE TO HAVE DONE, AND NOT TO LEAVE THE OTHER UNDONE."

    LUKE 11:42 "BUT WOE UNTO YOU, PHARISEES! FOR YE TITHE MINT AND RUE AND ALL MANNER OF HERBS, AND PASS OVER JUDGMENT AND THE LOVE OF GOD: THESE OUGHT YE TO HAVE DONE, AND NOT TO LEAVE THE OTHER UNDONE."

    Jesus could have done away with tithing at this point, but indicated that tithing was correct, continuing that the Pharisees have left other matters undone. In some quarters, the argument has been advanced that because the New Testament does not explicitly address tithing, it therefore is not a requirement. This same logic would then prevail concerning the Ten Commandments because all the Commandments are not detailed in the New Testament, (specifically No. 4 "Remember the Sabbath and keep it Holy."), they need not be followed.

    It should be obvious that this is not the prevailing intent of the scriptures regarding all of the Ten Commandments and, likewise, the semi-silence concerning tithing in the New Testament is only stating the obvious.

    Spirit Quest International believes there is a fundamental difference between offering and tithing. "Offerings" are gifts to the Lord in any amount that His Will has been conveyed to the Christian. "Tithing" is not a general or lump sum; rather, it is the tithe - ten percent - of the Christian's income.

    Spirit Quest International believes that tithing is biblically required and proper.
  16. The Great Commission
    The first fifteen of our Articles of Faith state "what we believe as a church", Article 16 defines for us "what we are to do about it", Our Lord's last command on earth was to charge every believer with the responsibility of taking the gospel to all nations.

    MARK 16:15 AND HE SAID UNTO THEM, "Go YE INTO ALL THE WORLD, AND PREACH THE GOSPEL TO EVERY CREATURE."

    MARK 16:19 SO THEN AFTER THE LORD HAD SPOKEN UNTO THEM, HE WAS RECEIVED UP INTO HEAVEN, AND SAT ON THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD.

    We can never be content just experiencing God in Christ for ourselves. We must also be actively involved in spreading the gospel to others - to the ends of the earth.