Open Arms Outreach Ministries
A CommunityChurch
Theological Doctrine
What We Believe
1. We believe that the Bible is the only rule of faith and practice.
2. We believe that there is one God and in this being there exists eternally three co-equal persons namely the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.
3. We believe that Christ is the only head of His church - no Popes.
4. We believe that Christ started His church during his earthly ministry which first included the Apostles.
5. We believe for membership in the New Testament church confession of faith in Christ, repenting of sin and baptism by immersion in water and in that order.
6. We believe in the independence of the local church.
7. We believe the church is local and visible.
8. We believe the church has only three ordinances (Ordinances are sacred rites)- believer's baptism by immersion in water, the Lord's Supper and marriage between one man and one woman.
9. We do not believe or practice closed communion. Closed communion is the practice of restricting the serving of the elements of Holy Communion to those who are members of a particular church, denomination, sect, or congregation. We believe your either saved by the finished work of Jesus Christ or your not, its that simple, we offer communion to anyone professing to be Born Again Christians.
10. We believe in ecclesiastical separation from other institutions which do not conform to the New Testament pattern for a church. Ecclesiastical Separation deals with the fellowship of one church with another.
11. We believe that there are two offices - Pastors and Deacons/Board of Directors.
12. We believe in the separation of Church and State - The State does not run the church.
13. We believe in the right of the individual to interpret Scripture privately and to have direct access to God. However we are grounded in our personal interpretation of God’s Holy Word and no other Doctrine will be taught at OAOM.
14. We believe in the right of others to be wrong and so we do not persecute those that believe different, providing other interpretations are not represented here at OAOM.
15. We believe that faith in Christ and faith alone in Christ is the way to salvation and that faith is from God.
16. We believe in man's spiritual deadness and his inability to come to Christ outside the work of God.
17. We believe in the election of God in His choosing of His people before the foundation of the world.
18. We believe in the substitutionary (Substitutionary atonement is a doctrine in Christian theology which states that Jesus of Nazareth died – intentionally and willingly – on the cross as a propitiation, or substitute, for sinners.) sacrifice and propitiation of Christ for His people and only His people.
19. We believe in the absolute sovereignty of God over all things and people.
20. We believe that the way to finance the Lord's work is by tithes and offerings along with reasonable fundraising among God’s people as we generate fellowship among others. Two fold purpose in generating necessary funds as well as introducing ourselves to the community.
21. We believe in Congregational voicing, God ultimately holding absolute authority over His Church and Pastor as extension of leadership and the United Church (Members in Good Standing) having voting rights within the Church.
22. We believe in and are Premillennial as well as Pre-tribulational. Meaning that OAOM’s stance is that Jesus Christ will come back after all His believers prior to the Tribulation as well as prior to the Millennial Reign.
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- A New Testament Church -
Is a local and visible body of scripturally Baptized believers who publicly and corporately worship God in organized relationship and is independent of any and all others churches, boards and organizations and the Bible being the only rule and practice of faith with Jesus Christ as the head of the church.
- Scriptural Baptism -
is an ordinance of the New Testament, ordained by Jesus Christ and obligatory upon every believer, wherein he is immersed in water in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, as a sign of his fellowship with the death and resurrection of Christ, of remission of sins and of his giving himself up to God, to live and walk in newness of life. It is prerequisite to church membership and fellowship and to participation in the Lord's Supper. Baptism does not save.
- The Lord's Supper -
is an ordinance of the New Testament and is a symbolic act of obedience whereby members of the local church, through partaking of the bread and the fruit of the vine, memorialize the death of the Lord Jesus Christ and anticipate His return.
- The Doctrines of Grace –
1. The Grace is unmerited favor of God. 2. We are not property of ourselves, we belong to God. 3. That Salvation is a Gift of God. 4. Those Saved must remain in a Gospel following, sin free status to the best of their ability.
_____________________________
"But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness; But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God. Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men. For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: That no flesh should glory in his presence." - 1Corinthians 1:23-29
"Unless you have a company of regenerated and believing people, scripturally baptized, organized on N. T. lines, worshipping God in the ways of his appointing-particularly in having fellowship with the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, maintaining the ordinances, preserving strict discipline, active in evangelistic endeavor—it is not a "New Testament church," whatever it may or may not call itself. But a church possessing these characteristics is the only institution on this earth ordained, built, and approved of by the Lord Jesus Christ..." - A. W. Pink
"The secret things belong unto the LORD our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law." - Deuteronomy 29:29
A CommunityChurch
Theological Doctrine
What We Believe
1. We believe that the Bible is the only rule of faith and practice.
2. We believe that there is one God and in this being there exists eternally three co-equal persons namely the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.
3. We believe that Christ is the only head of His church - no Popes.
4. We believe that Christ started His church during his earthly ministry which first included the Apostles.
5. We believe for membership in the New Testament church confession of faith in Christ, repenting of sin and baptism by immersion in water and in that order.
6. We believe in the independence of the local church.
7. We believe the church is local and visible.
8. We believe the church has only three ordinances (Ordinances are sacred rites)- believer's baptism by immersion in water, the Lord's Supper and marriage between one man and one woman.
9. We do not believe or practice closed communion. Closed communion is the practice of restricting the serving of the elements of Holy Communion to those who are members of a particular church, denomination, sect, or congregation. We believe your either saved by the finished work of Jesus Christ or your not, its that simple, we offer communion to anyone professing to be Born Again Christians.
10. We believe in ecclesiastical separation from other institutions which do not conform to the New Testament pattern for a church. Ecclesiastical Separation deals with the fellowship of one church with another.
11. We believe that there are two offices - Pastors and Deacons/Board of Directors.
12. We believe in the separation of Church and State - The State does not run the church.
13. We believe in the right of the individual to interpret Scripture privately and to have direct access to God. However we are grounded in our personal interpretation of God’s Holy Word and no other Doctrine will be taught at OAOM.
14. We believe in the right of others to be wrong and so we do not persecute those that believe different, providing other interpretations are not represented here at OAOM.
15. We believe that faith in Christ and faith alone in Christ is the way to salvation and that faith is from God.
16. We believe in man's spiritual deadness and his inability to come to Christ outside the work of God.
17. We believe in the election of God in His choosing of His people before the foundation of the world.
18. We believe in the substitutionary (Substitutionary atonement is a doctrine in Christian theology which states that Jesus of Nazareth died – intentionally and willingly – on the cross as a propitiation, or substitute, for sinners.) sacrifice and propitiation of Christ for His people and only His people.
19. We believe in the absolute sovereignty of God over all things and people.
20. We believe that the way to finance the Lord's work is by tithes and offerings along with reasonable fundraising among God’s people as we generate fellowship among others. Two fold purpose in generating necessary funds as well as introducing ourselves to the community.
21. We believe in Congregational voicing, God ultimately holding absolute authority over His Church and Pastor as extension of leadership and the United Church (Members in Good Standing) having voting rights within the Church.
22. We believe in and are Premillennial as well as Pre-tribulational. Meaning that OAOM’s stance is that Jesus Christ will come back after all His believers prior to the Tribulation as well as prior to the Millennial Reign.
_________________________________
- A New Testament Church -
Is a local and visible body of scripturally Baptized believers who publicly and corporately worship God in organized relationship and is independent of any and all others churches, boards and organizations and the Bible being the only rule and practice of faith with Jesus Christ as the head of the church.
- Scriptural Baptism -
is an ordinance of the New Testament, ordained by Jesus Christ and obligatory upon every believer, wherein he is immersed in water in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, as a sign of his fellowship with the death and resurrection of Christ, of remission of sins and of his giving himself up to God, to live and walk in newness of life. It is prerequisite to church membership and fellowship and to participation in the Lord's Supper. Baptism does not save.
- The Lord's Supper -
is an ordinance of the New Testament and is a symbolic act of obedience whereby members of the local church, through partaking of the bread and the fruit of the vine, memorialize the death of the Lord Jesus Christ and anticipate His return.
- The Doctrines of Grace –
1. The Grace is unmerited favor of God. 2. We are not property of ourselves, we belong to God. 3. That Salvation is a Gift of God. 4. Those Saved must remain in a Gospel following, sin free status to the best of their ability.
_____________________________
"But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness; But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God. Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men. For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: That no flesh should glory in his presence." - 1Corinthians 1:23-29
"Unless you have a company of regenerated and believing people, scripturally baptized, organized on N. T. lines, worshipping God in the ways of his appointing-particularly in having fellowship with the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, maintaining the ordinances, preserving strict discipline, active in evangelistic endeavor—it is not a "New Testament church," whatever it may or may not call itself. But a church possessing these characteristics is the only institution on this earth ordained, built, and approved of by the Lord Jesus Christ..." - A. W. Pink
"The secret things belong unto the LORD our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law." - Deuteronomy 29:29
