What We Believe

The following are the core beliefs of Maranatha Fellowship based on the foundational truths taught in the Bible. All of our teaching and ministry is rooted in and flows out of these Biblical doctrines.

We believe that there is one living and true God, existing in three persons; the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, equal in power and glory; that this triune God created all, upholds all, and governs all.

We believe in God the Father, an infinite, personal Spirit, perfect in holiness, wisdom, power and love; that He concerns Himself mercifully in the affairs of men; that He hears and answers prayer; and that He saves from sin and death all who come to Him through Jesus Christ.

We believe in Jesus Christ, God's only begotten Son, conceived by the Holy Spirit. We believe in His virgin birth, sinless life, miracles and teachings, His substitutionary atoning death, bodily resurrection, ascension into heaven, perpetual intercession for His people, and personal visible return to earth.

We believe in the Holy Spirit, who came forth from the Father and Son to convict the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment, and to regenerate, sanctify and empower for ministry all who believe in Christ; we believe the Holy Spirit indwells every believer in Jesus Christ and that He is an abiding Helper, Teacher, and Guide. We believe in the present ministry of the Holy Spirit, the validity of the Baptism of the Holy Spirit, and in the exercise of all the biblical gifts of the Spirit.

We believe that the scriptures of the Old and New Testaments are the Word of God, fully inspired without error in the original manuscripts, and the infallible rule of faith and practice.

We believe in a literal, 6-day creation by God as stated in the scriptures. We believe that any other theory, including atheistic or theistic evolution, is in error and directly contradicts the Word of God.

We believe that all people are sinners by nature and choice and, therefore, are under condemnation; but God regenerates by the Holy Spirit, those who repent of their sins and confess Jesus Christ as Lord. Jesus Christ baptizes the seeking believer with the Holy Spirit and power for service, often subsequent to regeneration.

We believe Jesus Christ came to reconcile us with God. He lived a life without sin and willingly died on the cross to pay the penalty for our transgressions. God raised him from the dead and now, by grace, offers us a free gift of eternal life to all who follow Christ, by faith, as their Lord and Savior. That is why salvation can be found in Christ alone. Whoever confesses with their mouth, and believes in their heart that Jesus is Lord, shall be saved.

We believe in the universal Church, the living spiritual Body, of which Christ is the Head and all regenerated persons are members. 

We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ committed two ordinances to the Church; 1) Baptism and 2) The Lord's Supper. We believe in baptism by immersion, and that communion is open to all believers.

We believe in the sanctity of marriage, that the Lord Jesus Christ validated the ordinance of marriage as a sacred covenant between one man and one woman.

We believe also in the laying on of hands for ordination of pastors, elders and deacons; also to be the usual (though not the only) means of receiving the Baptism of the Holy Spirit and gifts of healing.

We believe in the Pre-Tribulation Rapture of the Church, where all believers will meet the Lord in the air and be taken out of this world prior to the Tribulation that will come upon the earth.

We believe in the personal, visible return of Christ to earth and the establishment of His Kingdom, in the resurrection of the body, the final judgment and eternal blessing of the righteous, and endless suffering of the wicked.

We believe in a literal Heaven and a literal Hell, and that all those who place their faith, hope and trust in Jesus Christ will spend eternity in Heaven with the Lord, while those who reject Jesus’ free gift of salvation will spend eternity separated from the Lord.