Beliefs
A “Declaration of Faith” is a set of core biblical beliefs that form the doctrinal foundation for everything we do – both as a denomination and as a church. Real Life Community Church is a member congregation of the International Church of God, based in Cleveland, TN.
www.ChurchOfGod.org
www.ChurchOfGod.org
- We believe in the verbal inspiration of the Bible.
- We believe in one God eternally existing in three persons; namely, the Father, Son, and the Holy Ghost.
- We believe that Jesus Christ is the only begotten Son of the Father, conceived of the Holy Ghost, and born of the Virgin Mary. That Jesus was crucified, buried, and raised from the dead. That He ascended to heaven and is today at the right hand of the Father as the Intercessor.
- We believe that all have sinned and come short of the glory of God and that repentance is commanded of God for all and necessary for forgiveness of sins.
- We believe that justification, regeneration, and the new birth are wrought by faith in the blood of Jesus Christ.
- We believe in sanctification subsequent to the new birth, through faith in the blood of Christ; through the Word, and by the Holy Ghost.
- We believe holiness to be God’s standard of living for His people.
- We believe in the baptism of the Holy Ghost subsequent to a clean heart.
- We believe in speaking with other tongues as the Spirit gives utterance and that it is the initial evidence of the baptism in the Holy Ghost.
- We believe in water baptism by immersion, and all who repent should be baptized in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.
- We believe divine healing is provided for all in the Atonement.
- We believe in the Lord’s Supper and washing of the saints’ feet.
- We believe in the premillennial second coming of Jesus. First, to resurrect the righteous dead and to catch away the living saints to Him in the air. Second, to reign on the earth a thousand years.
Our Vision
Our vision at RLCC is simple. Real Church … Real People.
Our mission is to connect Real People to a Real God while being an authentically Real Church.
RESTORING means to return something to a previous condition: to bring something back to an earlier and better condition. When something breaks it must be repaired so that it functions properly. Isaiah 58:12 states, “Some of you will rebuild the deserted ruins of your cities. Then you will be known as a rebuilder of walls and a restorer of homes.” At RLCC we believe we have a mandate to help restore broken lives. We have a saying for anyone who needs restoring, “Real Life Begins Now!”
EMBRACING is a community and relational connection. At RLCC you will find that we put a real emphasis on our personal, everyday relationship with Christ. Nevertheless, our relationships with one another (community) are a necessity. Scripture tells us that a “real friend sticks closer than a brother.” (Proverbs 18:24 NLT) The Message translation says, “Friends come and friends go, but a true friend sticks by you like family.” At RLCC we strive to be build life giving relationships that will continually add to the individual. Real Life is a New Life through Christ.
ACCEPTING or the fear of acceptance in any environment, but especially in the church, can be overwhelming. Morton Kelsy wrote, “The church is not a museum for saints, but a hospital for sinners.” Jesus said it best, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, Because He has anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of the sight to the blind, To set at liberty those who are oppressed; to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.” (Luke 4:18-19 NKJV) At RLCC, our desire is to be what Jesus was in the world, a center of love, designed for the healing and acceptance of broken people.
LOVING God and loving people. Jesus calls us to love others the way He loves—UNCONDITIONALLY. “A new commandment I give to you, that you love another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” The reason Jesus came to earth was to offer “Real Life” as a gift to everyone. “Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.” (John 15:13 NKJV) The purpose of RLCC is to be “Christ’s representatives”. God uses us to persuade men and women to drop their differences and enter into God’s work of making things right between them. We’re speaking for Christ Himself now: Become friends with God; He’s already a friend with you.” (2 Corinthians 5:20 The Message)
Our mission is to connect Real People to a Real God while being an authentically Real Church.
RESTORING means to return something to a previous condition: to bring something back to an earlier and better condition. When something breaks it must be repaired so that it functions properly. Isaiah 58:12 states, “Some of you will rebuild the deserted ruins of your cities. Then you will be known as a rebuilder of walls and a restorer of homes.” At RLCC we believe we have a mandate to help restore broken lives. We have a saying for anyone who needs restoring, “Real Life Begins Now!”
EMBRACING is a community and relational connection. At RLCC you will find that we put a real emphasis on our personal, everyday relationship with Christ. Nevertheless, our relationships with one another (community) are a necessity. Scripture tells us that a “real friend sticks closer than a brother.” (Proverbs 18:24 NLT) The Message translation says, “Friends come and friends go, but a true friend sticks by you like family.” At RLCC we strive to be build life giving relationships that will continually add to the individual. Real Life is a New Life through Christ.
ACCEPTING or the fear of acceptance in any environment, but especially in the church, can be overwhelming. Morton Kelsy wrote, “The church is not a museum for saints, but a hospital for sinners.” Jesus said it best, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, Because He has anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of the sight to the blind, To set at liberty those who are oppressed; to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.” (Luke 4:18-19 NKJV) At RLCC, our desire is to be what Jesus was in the world, a center of love, designed for the healing and acceptance of broken people.
LOVING God and loving people. Jesus calls us to love others the way He loves—UNCONDITIONALLY. “A new commandment I give to you, that you love another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” The reason Jesus came to earth was to offer “Real Life” as a gift to everyone. “Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.” (John 15:13 NKJV) The purpose of RLCC is to be “Christ’s representatives”. God uses us to persuade men and women to drop their differences and enter into God’s work of making things right between them. We’re speaking for Christ Himself now: Become friends with God; He’s already a friend with you.” (2 Corinthians 5:20 The Message)