What We Believe

The following are the core beliefs of Sozo Church 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 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).