Statement of Faith
Encouragement International, Inc. acknowledges that the Hebrew Scriptures and the New Testament Scriptures are authored by God (2 Timothy 3:16, 17). As God-breathed documents they were given by God to guide man, His creation, into correct doctrine and correct behavior. Encouragement International, Inc., therefore, strives to uphold the following divine teaching it reveals.
1. Theology
We believe there is one God existing in three persons who existed and continues to exist in perfect harmony within Himself (Matt 28:19, 20; 2 Cor 13:14). His power in creation was demonstrated by His speaking into existence the universe in its entirety and was accomplished over a six day period (Gen 1). He chose to reveal His eternal glory to the creation in His universe. He identified Himself as YHWH (Exo 3:14) to Moses who was a prophet and leader of the people descended from Abraham through Isaac and Jacob whom He chose to initially represent Himself and His message to a needy world (Gen 12:1-4; 26:23-25; 35:9-15). He has used various individuals over time to communicate His message of hope and love for His creation but in these last days has spoken through His Son, Jesus Christ (Heb 1:1-3).
2. Bibliology
YHWH has authoritatively recorded His message to mankind in the Bible. This volume is in reality a collection of 66 books with two testaments. The first testament was written primarily to Abraham’s descendants through Isaac and Jacob but with a universal message from and about God. It is commonly referred to as the Old Testament and is comprised of 39 books distributed in three categories - The History section (17 books), the Poetry section (5 books), and the Prophecy section (17 books). The second testament was written to the followers of Jesus Christ. It also is comprised of three sections - History (5 books), the Epistles of Paul (13 books), and the General Epistles (9 books). All the books in the Old and New Testaments were inspired by God and contain the complete message of God to His creation (2 Tim 3:16).
3. Christology
Jesus Christ exists eternally as the 2nd Person of the Trinity and as the eternal Son of God (John 1:1-3). He is co-equal with the Father and the Spirit. At His incarnation (John 1:14), He took on the form of a man (becoming the Son of Man) without diminishing His deity. The incarnation was an act of God (Matt 1:18-25; Luke 1:26-37) through the person of Mary who produced Jesus as 100% Man and preserved as 100% God.
4. Anthropology
Man was formed from the dust of the earth (Gen 3:19) and made in the image of God with material and immaterial components (Gen 1:24-28). In accordance with the very clear teaching of Scripture exemplified in the creation of mankind revealed by God in Genesis 1 &2, Encouragement International, Inc. acknowledges that the divine standard for marriage is between a biological man and a biological woman.
5. Hamartiology
Man was created in perfection and placed in a perfect environment enjoying a full relationship with God. However, man’s violation (sin) of God’s one standard resulted in a separation from God with eternal consequences (Gen 3; Rom 3:23; 6:23).
6. Soteriology
Man continues in a state of separation from God today pursuing a futile work of restoration through his own efforts (Gal 2:16). The work is futile because his being is fully corrupted by sin and incapable of ever accomplishing God’s standards. Therefore, no amount of effort to please God is sufficient for man to restore a relationship with God. Restoration is a result of God’s effort on man’s behalf (Rom 8:3). It was God who initiated a work through Jesus Christ that made possible man’s restoration with Him. As the Son of God and Son of Man, Jesus lived a perfect life, then forfeited His life as a substitutionary payment for sin on behalf of all mankind (Isa 53). Man receives the benefits of Jesus’ substitutionary death through faith in Jesus’ work (Acts 16:31; Eph 2:8,9; Tit 3:5,6). Even this faith is a gift from God. Furthermore, redeemed mankind will express their appreciation of God’s work through Jesus with obedience to His revealed will.
7. Pneumatology
The Holy Spirit is the third Person of the Trinity but no more or no less God than the other members (Acts 5:3, 4). It is the Holy Spirit who empowers mankind to believe the Gospel, understand God’s ways and live a life pleasing to Him (Mat 19:25, 26; Eph 1:18; Psa 119:18).
8. Angelology
There is a spirit world created by God for specialized service to Him composed of seraphim and cherubim (Psa 148:2; Isa 6:2, 6; Gen 3:24). Some of the angels, led by the chief angel (Lucifer or Satan), rebelled against their Creator (Isa 14:12-15; Eze 28:1- 10). Of those who rebelled, some are chained in the abyss (2 Pet 2:4) while others are temporarily free to roam the sphere of the earth (Rev 12:7-17) attempting to thwart God’s effort in mankind.
9. Eschatology
Jesus promised to return to earth from His throne in heaven and establish a millennial rule before He re-creates the universe (John 14:3). This millennial rule will be a time in the future of peace and prosperity marred only at the end by Satan’s futile, final attempt to overthrow the rightful King of the earth, Jesus Christ (Rev 20). Preceding the millennial kingdom will be a time of unprecedented havoc on the earth known as the tribulation in which the wrath of God will reign down upon the earthly enemies of God (Rev 6:1-19:6).