Statement of Faith

1.  Overall Statement:

We believe in the fundamental principle of the Gospel that proclaims the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ (1 Cor 15:1 – 4). We are not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. (Rom 1:16)

We do not have a contentious spirit to argue and cause divisions in the Body of Christ over biblical aspects of which we do not have all the facts available (such as creation and eschatology). Therefore, we embrace each other in forbearance regarding specific scriptural revelations which do not have any significant salvation value, as long as they do not contradict the true Gospel, or pose a threat to the sound practices of the Church in holiness and truth.  However, we should always act as Custodians of the Gospel in Truth and in Spirit in these last days.

Essential Statements of faith: Salvation – how do I receive salvation?

The foundation of our faith according to scripture, states:  

Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,  Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. (Heb 6:1- 2) 

Therefore, we believe in the following teachings according to Scripture:

  1. Repentance from dead works

We believe that all people who repent of their sins and receive the Lord Jesus Christ by faith are born-again of the Holy Spirit.

  • That everyone needs to be born-again of the water and the Spirit to enter the Kingdom of God. (John 3:5)
  • To be born-again is a complete, immediate once-off work of God where He transforms the old man into a new creation, completely made righteous and holy through the working of God’s Spirit.  Rebirth and salvation are connected and without rebirth, there is no salvation.
  • We can only be saved through faith and total surrender to Jesus Christ, Lord of all.  He is the only Way to salvation, the Truth and the Life.
  • But repentance alone does not provide salvation!  Neither does faith alone save.

B. Faith towards God.

“But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him”. (Heb 11:6) 

We believe in the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments, in their original writing as fully inspired by God and accept them as the supreme and final authority for faith and life. (2Tim 3:16)  

  • The New Testament is the fulfilment of the Old Testament. The promises and prophesies in the Old Testament about salvation, redemption and the new life are all fulfilled in and through Jesus.
  • We further believe:
    • In the Oneness of God and not in a “Holy Trinity” theology from Roman Catholicism (325AD), based upon pagan worshipping of three gods/multiple gods (roots from Babylonian and Egyptian empires).
    • Jesus Christ was begotten of the Father; conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary and is true God and true man (1 Tim 3:16; Col 1:15; 2;9)
    • The Lord Jesus Christ died for our sins, a substitutionary sacrifice according to the Scriptures and all born-again believers are justified on the grounds of His shed blood and righteousness.
    • Jesus was not crucified on a Friday but most probably on a Wednesday, as He was 3 days and 3 nights in the grave.  We believe in the bodily resurrection of the Lord Jesus on the 3rd day (1st day of the week) and His ascension into Heaven. 
    • Therefore, the ONE God revealed Himself as follows:
    • The Almighty God is Spirit and also Holy. Therefore, the Holy Spirit is God Himself and not another person in a trinity.
    • God was manifested in the flesh – in Jesus Christ, the Son (1 Tim 3:16). The fullness of the Godhead dwelt in Christ (Col 2:9 KJV).  Jesus is Immanuel – God with us!
    • Therefore, Jesus is truly God and man (the dual nature of Jesus). 
    • If you cannot believe that Jesus is GOD (God manifested in flesh; the great I Am) then you will die in your sins according to scriptures.
      • Read: Isa 9:6; Isa 43:10-11; John 8:24; 58)

C. Doctrine of baptisms; the Lord’s Supper & washing of feet

We believe the Lord Jesus Christ appointed two ordinances – Water Baptism and the Lord’s Supper to be observed as acts of obedience and as perpetual witnesses to the essential facts of the Christian faith.

  1. Water Baptism – the single immersion of the believer in water (not sprinkling or pouring) as a confession and identification with Christ in burial and resurrection (Rom 6:3-4). 
  2. We should be baptized in the Name and not in the titles of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
  3. The authority unto salvation resides in the Name of Jesus, who is the Lord and Christ.
  4. There is only one name through which we must be saved – Jesus Christ (Acts 4:12)
  5. We believe there is only one water baptism given unto the Church for salvation according to Acts 2:37 – 39 on the day of Pentecost (the day when the Church was born in the fire of the Holy Ghost).  Other scriptures in Acts confirm this fact. 

Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. Act 2:38 

  • Any other method or practice of water baptism stems from Roman Catholicism and Babylonian/pagan origins. 
  • We believe in the baptism in the Holy Ghost (Spirit), empowering and equipping believers for service, and in fellowship with the Holy Spirit during our services with the accompanying gifts, ministries and revelation knowledge of the Spirit.

This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. 1Co 4:1 (ESV)

  • Laying on of hands – We believe in the laying on of hands when we pray for the sick, to anoint for ministry, or to deliver a person from bondage. (Matt 19:13; Jas 5:14)
  • Divine healing was provided for in the Old and New Testament and is an integral part of the Gospel and our belief. 
  • However, we are wary of the practice of ‘spiritual impartation’ by major Charismatic churches lately, as gifts of the Spirit cannot and should never be imparted from one person to another.  This impartation should come directly from God and His Holy Spirit.  
  • We also have another warning from the Word which most preachers tend to forget, or ignore when they ordain specific people in the ministry:  

1Ti 5:22  Do not be hasty in the laying on of hands, nor take part in the sins of others; keep yourself pure. 

  • The Lord’s Supper – the partaking of the symbolism of the Saviour’s broken body and shed blood, in remembrance of His sacrificial death until He comes.  We also believe in the washing of each other’s feet as ordained by Jesus in the Scriptures.

D. Resurrection of the dead:

We believe in the resurrection of both the just and the unjust, the eternal blessedness of the redeemed, and the eternal banishment of those who have rejected the offer of salvation.

  • We reject the “secret” rapture doctrine, where some are raptured while the rest of the world will receive a second chance at salvation. Only Israel will receive a 2nd chance as they go through the 7-year tribulation. 

E. Eternal judgment

  • We believe in the personal return of the Lord Jesus Christ, to gather His children (Church) and to judge all people according to their works. Our hope is that the return of our Lord will be before the tribulation period (pre-trib rapture), but we as the Church should also be prepared to perhaps endure a period of the 7-year tribulation if so required. 
  • Without holiness, no man can see the Lord (1 Pet 1:16). We believe in the doctrine of sanctification as a definite, yet progressive work of grace, commencing at the time of the new birth and continuing until the consummation of salvation. (Rom 12:1 – 2; 2 Cor 7:1;
  • God is both Holy and love – but He hates sin. Both these attributes exist within God’s character. We consider the Biblical teaching and especially the New Testament perspective on what sin is as normative.
  • The righteous shall live by faith and we reject the ‘once-saved-always-saved’ theology. 

F. Other Faith Matters

On the following matters of faith, we believe:

  • God created man in His image; that man sinned and thereby incurred the penalty of sin (physical and spiritual death).  All human beings inherit a sinful nature (from Adam) which proceeds into actual transgressions involving personal guilt and moral responsibility.
  • God created the earth and universe in 6 days – whether literally (6 days) or symbolically (6 periods). The difference between the two answers has no salvation value at all.  However, we reject the “big bang” hypothesis and evolution- doctrine as humans, animals and plants did not evolve from ancient forms, but were created directly by God.
  • God wants to engage in a mutual, intimate love relationship with every human being. Therefore, we teach and mentor new and old believers alike to engage in a personal relationship with Christ.
  • That God’s will for His children sometimes involves suffering (trials and tribulations) and that it is not necessarily due to sin or punishment.  Rather to grow us in faith and trust in Him.
  • We reject prosperity theology that teaches that Christians never ought to experience suffering.  Although it is not wrong to be wealthy, our focus should be more on spiritual treasures and not material wealth.  However, we do believe that God provides (Jehovah- Jireh) for us in all circumstances.
  • Submission to authority – we believe in the principle of being in authority because we are under authority.  As such, membershipwith Galilee Ministriesshall be subject to submission to EXCO authority in matters pertaining to church governance, doctrine, the Constitution, and ethical conduct.
  • In the divinely ordained five-fold ministries of Apostle, Prophet, Evangelist, Pastor, and Teacher through the Holy Spirit to equip the church for service and edification (1Cor 12:28)
  • The one true Church is the whole company of those who have been redeemed by Jesus Christ and regenerated by the Holy Spirit. The congregation (ecclesia) of Christ is not a human-made organisation, but the fellowship of born-again believers. They are the Body of Christ of which He is the Head.
  • In regular tithes and free offerings to the treasury of the ministry (as a Godly principle) to support the work of the Kingdom and to provide for the upkeep /maintenance of buildings and equipment, the needs of the shepherds, and most of all to provide funding for outreaches.  (1 Cor. 9:7-14; 1 Cor.16: 1-3; 2 Cor. 9:5-15)  

3. We do not believe:

  • In die celebration of Christmas, in Christmas trees or any service linked to this feast due to various reasons.  More info is available upon request. 
  • In keeping the 7th day Jewish Sabbath according to the Law, because Christ has fulfilled the Law and the Church has received a NEW Covenant and Sabbath according to the Word. More info is available upon request. 
  • That the Church should be forced to utilize the Hebrew translations of God and Jesus and that salvation exists only in the original language. This is a false doctrine that deceives many people.  We serve the God of ALL nations and tongues. More info is available upon request. 

4. Regarding Matrimonial matters, we believe or consider:

  • In heterosexual relationships between a natural-born man and a natural-born woman within the confines of lawful matrimony. That the marriage between such two persons is a divine institution and the only legitimate environment wherein sexual activity may exist. Any sexual activity outside a husband-wife-marriage is sinful. 
  • The Word teaches that God hates divorce for all the reasons attached to it.  Notwithstanding this fact, we accept that divorce has become part of people’s lives today and therefore do not condemn those who have been divorced but see them as broken people who need our love, support, and restoration.
  • Homosexuality, lesbianism, and bi-sexuality (LGBTQ+) or any other sexual deviation is not a neutral genetically determined orientation, nor a mental illness, but is sin – because the Word of God condemns it as such. We condemn the sin but not the person. We believe there is salvation and deliverance in Christ from all sin and sickness.

5. The way we worship:

  • We pray together with raised voices (Acts 4:24)
  • We lift our hands in praise and worship to God (Ps 134:2)
  • We sing with all of our hearts, soul and body (Ps 98:4)
  • We play all sorts of instruments in making a joyful noise unto the Lord (2 Sam 6:5)
  • We clap hands and shout to the Lord in adoration, and dance with joy. (Ps 47:2; Ps 150:4)
  • We anoint with oil when we pray for healing in the Name of Jesus Christ (Jam 5:14)
  • We testify openly about Jesus Christ as our Lord and Saviour. (Ps 22:22)
  • We most definitely allow for the movement of the Holy Spirit and the operation of spiritual gifts in our services. (1 Cor 14:26)

More information in this regard can be obtained from our website: www.galmin.co.za by submitting your specific questions under the FAQ page.  

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