What We Believe

We believe our God is one, but is manifested in three persons - the Father, the son, and the Holy Spirit, being co-equal (1 John 5:7). God the Father is greater than all, the Source of the Word (Logos), and the Begetter (John 1:14, 14:28, 16:28). The Holy Spirit proceeds forth from both the Father and the Son and is eternal (John 15:26).

We believe the Bible is the inspired Word of God, the product of holy men of old who spoke and wrote as they were moved by the Holy Spirit. The new Covenant, as recorded in the New Testament, is what we accept as our infallible guide in matters pertaining to conduct and doctrine (1 Thessalonians 2:13, 2 Timothy 3:16-17, 2 Peter 1:21).

We believe that man is a created being, made in the likeness and the image of God, but through Adam's transgression and fall, sin came into the world. Romans 3:23 says, "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God." "As it is written, there is none righteous, no, not one'" (Romans 3:10). Jesus Christ, the Son of God was manifested to undo the work of the devil and to give His life and shed His blood to redeem and restore man back to God (1 John 3:8). Salvation is the gift of God to man, separate from works and the Law, which is made operative by grace through faith in Jesus Christ, producing works acceptable to God (Ephesians 2:8).

We believe man's first step toward salvation is godly sorrow that works itself into repentance (turning from all that is sinful and turning toward God). The new birth is necessary to all men, and when fulfilled, produces eternal life (John 3:3-5, 2 Corinthians 7:10, 1 John 5:12).

We believe baptism in water by immersion is a direct commandment of our Lord and is for believers only. The ordinance is a symbol of the Christian's identification with Christ in His death, burial, and resurrection (Matthew 28:19, Acts 8:36-39, Romans 6:4, Colossians 2:12). The following recommendation regarding the water baptismal formula is adopted: "On the confession of your faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, and by His authority, I baptize you in the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Ghost. Amen."

We believe in observing the Lord's supper, or communion, just as Jesus instructed.
This means that Christians take the broken bread and the fruit of the vine as a remembrance and celebration of the new life that is theirs because of Jesus' death, burial and resurrection. (1 Corinthians 11:24-26)

We believe the Baptism in the Holy Spirit is a gift from God as promised by the Lord Jesus Christ to all believers in this dispensation and is received subsequent to the new birth. This experience is accompanied by the evidence of speaking in other tongues as the Holy Spirit Himself gives utterance (Matthew 3:11, John 14:16-17, Acts 1:8, 2:4, 2:38-39, 19:1-7).

We believe healing is available in Christ for sickness and disease. It is worked by the power of God through the prayer of faith and by the laying on of hands. It is provided for in the atonement of Christ and is the privilege of every member of the Church today (Isaiah 53:4-5, Matthew 8:17, Mark 16:18, James 5:14-16, 1 Peter 2:24).

We believe the angels said, "This same Jesus...shall so come in like manner" (Acts 1:11). His coming is imminent. When He comes, "...the dead in Christ shall rise first: then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air... " (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17). Following the tribulation, He shall return to earth as King of kings and Lord of lords. Then, together with His saints, who shall be kings and priests, He shall reign for a thousand years and then enter into a time when His Kingdom will reign forever (Revelation 11:15, 20:6).

We believe in observing the Lord’s supper, or communion, just as Jesus instructed. This means that Christians take the broken bread and the fruit of the vine as a remembrance and celebration of the new life that is theirs because of Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection. (1 Corinthians 11:24-26).
 

We believe the Bible teaches that no man can see the Lord without holiness. We believe in the Doctrine of Sanctification as a definite yet progressive work of grace, commencing at the time of regeneration and continuing until the consummation of salvation (1 Corinthians 1:30, 2 Corinthians 3:18, Philippians 3:12-14, 1 Thessalonians 5:23, Hebrews 12:14, 2 Peter 3:18).  

We believe in the beginning that God created man (male) and woman (female) in His image and likeness (Gen. 1:26-27). These two genders complement each other. The rejection of one’s biological sex is a rejection of the image of God within that person.
 
We believe that according to the scriptures (Gen. 2:18-25), God’s definition of marriage is one man (male) and one woman (female). In addition, we believe that God created sexual intimacy to occur only between a man and a woman who are joined in Holy Matrimony (1 Cor. 6:18, 7:2-5, 1 Thess. 4:3, Heb. 13:4). We believe that any type of sexual activity such as adultery, fornication, homosexuality, bisexuality, bestiality, incest and the use of pornography is sinful and offensive to God (Rom. 1:26-32, 1 Cor. 6:9-10, Gal. 5:19-21).
 
To preserve the integrity and purpose of Sozo Church as a local church and to be a biblical example to the members of Sozo Church and our community, it is imperative that all persons employed by Sozo Church in any capacity and those who serve as volunteers, agree to abide by this Statement on Marriage, Gender, and Sexuality (Phil. 2:14-16, 1 Thess. 5:22).
 
We believe that God offers forgiveness and restoration through Jesus Christ to all those who confess and forsake their sin (Prov. 28:13, Acts 3:19-21, Rom. 10:9-10).
 
We believe that God has called us as a church to love people regardless of their lifestyle and to extend compassion, kindness, respect, and dignity towards them (Mark 12:31). Hateful and harassing behavior toward any person is contrary to the Scriptures and the doctrine of Sozo Church and should be repudiated. 

We believe that every human being has been created in the image of God. Human life is sacred and valuable in all dimensions, including pre-born babies, the elderly, those who are physically and mentally challenged, and every other stage or condition from conception through natural death. As a result, we are called and instructed by God to defend, protect and value all human life (Ps. 139). 

The angels said, “This same Jesus…shall so come in like manner” (Acts 1:11). His coming is imminent. When He comes, “…the dead in Christ shall rise first: then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air… “ (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17). Following the tribulation, He shall return to earth as King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Then, together with His saints, who shall be kings and priests, He shall reign for a thousand years (Revelation 20:6). 

We believe that heaven is the habitation of the living God and the eternal home of born-again believers (John 14:2; Revelation 7:15-17) 

We believe the one who physically dies in his sins without Christ is hopelessly and eternally lost in the Lake of Fire and, therefore, has no further opportunity of hearing the Gospel or repenting. The Lake of Fire is literal. The terms “eternal” and everlasting” used in describing the duration of the punishment of the damned in the Lake of Fire carry the same thought and meaning of endless existence as used in denoting the duration of joy and ecstasy of saints in the presence of God (Hebrews 9:27, Revelation 19:20)
 

We believe that tithing (giving 10 percent of earnings) and offerings (amounts determined by the individuals) are God’s instruments to carry on His ministry, spread the gospel, and release personal blessing (Gen. 14:18-20, 28:18-22, Malachi 3:10, 1 Cor. 16:1-2, 2 Cor. 9:6-8, Heb. 7:1-11)  

We believe that power, anointing, or any other necessary quality can be transmitted from one person touching another. The Levitical Priesthood practiced the laying on of hands. Jesus practiced it in Mark 10:13-16 as a blessing and is our grounds for baby dedication instead of water baptism. The laying on of hands is used for the following reasons:
 
A. To Impart Inner Healing and Deliverance (Luke 4:18).
B. To Impart Blessing (Genesis 48:13-20, Mark 10:16).
C. To Impart Authority (2 Kings 13:15-17).
D. To Impart Physical Healing (Mark 16:17-18, Acts 19:11-12, 28:8, James 5:14-15).
E. To Impart the Baptism of the Holy Spirit (Acts 8:16-18).
F. To Impart Gifts and Ordain to Ministry (Romans 1:11, Acts 13:1-4, 1 Timothy 4:14, 2 Timothy 1:6).