Our Beliefs at Gateway on Mt. Zion
It is our conviction that "The Sunday Service" is not the "The Sunday Show" focusing on any one person, but the focus is placed on the worship and adoration of Jesus Christ. GOMZ is a church of interaction, participation and exhilaration In other words it is just plain ole' family fun!
Our desire is for all who visit GOMZ to feel at home surrounded by family who love and care for them, united together as one in Jesus Christ. Our prayer is that each person would feel the tangible touch of Jesus upon their lives in such a way they leave changed, transformed and activated to make a positive difference in the world.
It is vitally important that GOMZ is doctrinally sound, following is our belief statement founded on the word of God.
The One True God
The one true God has revealed Himself as the eternally self existent I AM, the Creator of the universe and the Redeemer of mankind (Deut. 6:4; Ex. 3:14). God has further revealed Himself as a triune Being manifested as Father, Son and Holy Spirit (Is. 48:16; Matt.28:19, Luke 3:22).
The Scriptures Inspired
The Scriptures, both Old and New Covenants, are verbally inspired of God and are the revelation of God to man, the infallible, authoritative rule of faith and conduct (II Tim. 3:15-17; I Thess. 2:13; II Pet. 1:21).
The Deity of the Lord Jesus Christ
The Lord Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God and as such shares in the divinity and deity of God (Matt. 1:23; Jn. 5:22-23; II Jn. 3; Heb. 1:1-3).
Original Sin and the Fall of Man
Man was created good and upright; for God said, "Let us make man in Our image, according to our likeness" (Gen. 1:26). The first man, Adam, through disobedience fell from the grace of God; therefore, sin and death entered into the world. Adam's transgression incurred not only physical death for man, but also spiritual death, which is eternal separation from God (Gen. 2:17; 3:6-24). Man's propensity to sin because of his sinful nature necessitates salvation from the power of sin and a Savior to provide that salvation (Rom. 5:12-21).
The Salvation of Man
Man's only hope of redemption and salvation from the power of sin is through the shed blood of Jesus Christ (Acts 4:12; Rom. 5:8-13; Jas. 1:21; Eph. 2:8).
Christ, the One Shepherd
Jesus Christ is the Good Shepherd (Jn. 10:11) and the Great Shepherd (Heb. 13:20). There is only one spiritual shepherd referred to in the New Testament and Jesus Christ is that One (Jn. 10:16).
The Church and It's Mission
The church is the body of Christ, the habitation of God through the Holy 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 the Church of the firstborn, which was written in heaven (Eph. 1:22-23; 2:22; Heb. 12:23).
Since God's purpose concerning man is to seek and to save those who are lost, to be worshipped by man, and to build a body of believers in the image of His Son, the responsibility of the Church is:
- To be an agency of God for evangelizing the world (Acts 1:8; Matt 28:19-20; Mk. 16:15-16).
- To be a corporate body in which man may worship God (I Cor. 12:13).
- To be a channel of God's purpose to build a body of saints who are being perfected in the image of His Son (Eph. 4:11-16; I Cor. 12:28).
The Ordinances of the Church
a. Baptism in Water - The Ordinance of baptism by immersion in water is commanded in the Scriptures. All who repent of their sins and believe in the Christ as Savior and Lord are to be baptized. This is a declaration to the world that they identify with Christ in His death and have been raised with Him in newness of life (Matt. 28:19; Mk. 16:16; Acts 10:47-48).
b. The Lord's Supper or Holy Communion - This consists of the elements - the bread and the cup of the fruit of the vine - is a symbol expressing our sharing the divine nature of our Lord Jesus Christ (II Pet. 1:4), a memorial of His suffering and death (I Cor. 11:26), and a prophecy of His second coming, and is enjoined on all believers until He comes!
The Baptism in the Holy Spirit
This experience is distinct from and subsequent to the experience of the new birth (Acts 8:12-17). With the baptism in the Holy Spirit comes the endowment of power for life and service, the bestowment of the gifts or enablement"s of the Holy Spirit and their uses in the ministry of the Body of Christ (Lk. 24:49; Acts 1:4;8; I Cor. 12:1-31).
Divine Healing
Divine healing is an integral part of the Gospel and provided in the atonement (Matt. 8:16-17; Acts 5:16, Jas. 5:14-16).
The Second Advent of Christ
The second coming of Christ includes the catching away of the Church (I Thess. 4:16-17), followed by the actual, visible return of Christ with His saints (the Church) to reign with Him on earth for one thousand years (Matt. 24:27,30; Rev. 1:7 19:11-14).
The Redemption of Man
The redemption of man came by the Son of God, born of a virgin, becoming flesh and bearing our sins in His Own body, dying and then raising to life again. The sacrifice for our sin was all God required of His Son and the blood is the sole basis by which God forgives and cleanses the sinner (Heb. 10:5,9,20; I Pet. 1:18,19; 2:24).