We believe sin to be all disobedience to the commands and/or will of God. Our faith holds that sin was introduced to mankind in the Garden of Eden when Adam and Eve partook of the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Their actions were contrary to the direct command of God to abstain from partaking of it. We further believe that because of Adam and Eve’s original sin, all of mankind has been adversely affected, and as a consequence, have been born with a sinful nature from conception. We believe that there are two types of sin according to scripture: 1). The sin of commission – which is the commission of an act that God had commanded not to be done, and 2). The sin of omission – which is the failure to perform an act that God has commanded should be done. We believe and rejoice in the fact that God is merciful and that His mercies are new every morning: we, therefore, believe that all sins may be forgiven when genuine repentance and faith in Christ Jesus is exercised, except the sin of blasphemy against the Holy Ghost, which shall not be forgiven in this world nor the next, according to God’s Holy Word.

We believe death to be the final foe that was conquered and defeated by our Lord Jesus Christ by his death on the cross and subsequent resurrection from the dead. Sin caused death to enter the world: for the wages of sin is death (see Sin outlined above). Death is separation and it consists of two types:

1). Physical death – which is the separation of the spirit or inner man from the physical body, and
2). Spiritual death – which exists while a person is yet alive and has not yet been regenerated or born again.

We believe that in such a state, a person is declared to be dead in trespasses and sins; and when a person dies in that sinful state, not having been regenerated or born again, upon the cessation of physical life, such a person therefore, becomes eternally separated from God with finality and with no hope of reconciliation, ever. This described status is also called the second death. We believe that physical death is not the end of a person’s existence. No, quite to the contrary, we believe that every person created by God was created to exist eternally in God’s presence in the new heaven and new earth. However, if by choice they select to rebel against God and reject the extension of God’s mercy provided in his Son, Jesus Christ on the cross of Calvary, the ensuing consequence is that they will be eternally separated from God and cast into the lake of fire and brimstone which is the second death. We believe that ultimately death and hell shall be cast into the lake of fire.

We believe salvation to be God’s serenaded love story towards mankind: it is the sweet melodies of God’s amazing grace and abundant mercy to all nations, tongues and kindreds of people preached throughout the world by the gospel message of Jesus Christ. God the Father loved mankind so much that he sent his only beloved Son to die for their atonement and redemption. Salvation is accomplished by:

1). The preaching of the Gospel – which is the birth, life, death, resurrection and ascension of Jesus Christ

2). The hearing or receiving of the word of God on the good ground of the heart of mankind

3). The operation of the Holy Ghost to bring forth conviction upon the sinner’s heart

4). The exercise of faith in the word of God in the heart of the sinner

5). Repentance or the manifestation of genuine godly sorrow for the commission of sin(s)

6). The verbal confession of belief in Christ Jesus by the mouth of the sinner

7). The turning away from sin by the sinner with the sincere intent not to further practice it

8). The continued and steadfast obedience of the believer.

We believe that no one is eternally secure on this side of heaven, for after the salvation experience, a person does not lose their own free will to choose to reject the savior of the world or to return to their sins. We believe that one may lose their salvation and backslide again into sin, if they are not watchful, and if they yield to temptation and thereafter fail to repent. We believe that Christ came indeed to save us from our sins and the dire consequences of death which spring from it. We believe that we are saved by grace through continued faith in Christ Jesus and that salvation cannot be earned for it is the blessed gift of God!

It has been a long standing tenet of our faith that healing and good health belongs to us as an expression of God’s grace and good pleasure towards us. One of the manifestations of God’s love and mercy towards mankind is that he allowed Christ Jesus to bare our infirmities, our sicknesses and all of our diseases. We believe that faith plays a very prominent role in every aspect of our relationship with God – not only in salvation, but also in healing for without faith it is impossible to please God. We believe that the prayer of faith in Christ Jesus will save the sick and if they have committed any sins they shall be forgiven. For we know without any doubt that God has more than sufficient power to deliver out of either one or both conditions (sin and sickness) through faith in the blood of Jesus Christ. Whether by miracle, by sign, by wonder, by the finger of God, by the laying on of hands, by doctor, or by medicine, we believe that God is the source of all healing: for by the stripes of Christ Jesus we are healed through the exercise of our faith.

Temple of Praise Church of God In Christ

Mailing Address:

P.O. Box 1224

Canton, MS 39046

Email:

info@templeofpraiseoutreach.org