Ray Robinson Ministry’s Values & Beliefs
Our commitment to fulfill Christ's command of Matthew 28:19-20 requires that we have a scriptural foundation for what we believe and teach at Ray Robinson Ministries. We have chosen to use the Bible, God's Holy Word, as our authority. The Bible sheds light on human nature, human suffering and world problems. Not only does it tell about these issues, it also gives the answers and solutions to the dilemmas that face mankind. It clearly reveals humanity's way to reach Deity.
The message of the Bible is the message of Jesus Christ, who said, "I am the way, the truth and the life..." (John 14:6). It is the story of salvation; the story of redemption; the story of life, peace and eternity. As a result, the Bible is the only real authority we have. We have purposely chosen to allow God, through His Word, to guide us in our quest to, "work out our own salvation..." (Ph 2:7). We are trusting in the simplicity of the Gospel and the guidance of the Holy Spirit to "...lead us into all truth" (John 16:13) The following Articles of Faith are the result of our belief and commitment to the authority of the Word of God in our lives.
We believe…the Bible
We believe the Bible to be inspired of God, the inerrant and infallible Word of God. "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness". (II Tim. 3:16)
The Bible is the only God-given authority which man possesses; therefore all doctrine, faith, hope and instruction for the Ministry/ministry must be based upon and harmonize with the Bible. It is to be read and studied by all men everywhere, and can only be clearly understood by those who are anointed by the Holy Spirit (I John 1:9). "No prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For prophecy came not in old time by the will of man; but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost" (II Pet. 1:20-21).
We believe in the.…one true God
We believe in the one everlasting, eternal God: infinite in power, Holy in nature, attributes and purpose; and possessing absolute, indivisible deity. This one true God has revealed Himself as Father, through His son, in redemption; and as the Holy Spirit, by emanation (I Cor. 8:6; Eph. 4:6; II Cor. 5:19; Joel 2:28).
The Scripture does more than attempt to prove the existence of God; it asserts, assumes and declares that the knowledge of God is universal. (Rom. 1:19, 21, 28, 32; 2:15). God is invisible, incorporeal, without parts, without body, and therefore free from all limitations. He is Spirit (John 4:24), and "...a spirit hath not flesh and bones..." (Luke 24:39).
"...The first of all the commandments is, hear, O Israel; the Lord our God is one Lord" (Mark 12:29; Deut. 6:4). "One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all" (Eph. 4:6).
We believe in the...Son of God
"He came unto His own, and His own received Him not" (John 1:11). This one true God was manifest in the flesh, that is, in His Son Jesus Christ. "...God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto Himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them..." (II Cor. 5:19). We believe that, "...in Him (Jesus) dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily" (Col. 2:9). "For it pleased the Father in Him should all fullness dwell" (Col. 1:19). Therefore, Jesus in His humanity was man; in His deity was and is God. His flesh was the lamb, or the sacrifice of God. He is the only mediator between God and man. "For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus" (I Tim. 2:5). Jesus on His Father's side was divine, on His mother's side, human; Thus, He was known as the Son of God and also the son of man, or the God-man. "For He hath put all things under His feet. But when He saith all things are put under Him, it is manifest that He is excepted, which did put all things under Him" (I Cor. 15:27). "And when all things shall be subdued unto Him, then shall the Son also Himself be subject unto Him that put all things under Him, that God may be all in all" (I Cor. 15:28).
"...unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: ...and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace" (Is. 9:6). The prophecy of Isaiah was fulfilled when the Son of God was named, "And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call His name Jesus: for He shall save His People from their sins" (Matt. 1:21).
"Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved" (Acts 4:12).
We believe in the...Holy Spirit
John the Baptist, in Matthew 3:11, said, "...He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire."
Jesus, in Acts 1:5, said, "...ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence."
The Lord, through the Prophet Joel, said, "...I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh;..." (Joel 2:28).
Peter, in explaining this phenomenal experience, said, "...having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, He (Jesus) hath shed forth this which ye now see and hear" (Acts 2:33).
Further, "..the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call" (Acts 2:39).
We believe in the…Sacrament of Baptism
The Scriptural mode of baptism is immersion, and is only for those who have fully repented, having turned from their sins and a love of the world. At Ray Robinson Ministries we baptize according to an individual confession of faith and repentance in obedience to the great commission of Christ as stated in Matthew 28:19 following the pattern and example of the Apostles as they went forth to baptize in the Acts of the Apostles 2:38; 8:16; 10:48; 19:5, thus obeying and fulfilling Matthew 28:19.
We believe in the…Grace of God
"For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and Godly, in this present world" (Titus 2:11-12). "For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ" (John 1:17). A Christian, to keep saved, must walk with God and keep himself in the love of God (Jude 21) and in the grace of God. The word "grace" means "favor". "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God" (Eph. 2:8).
We are justified by His grace through our faith in Christ's sacrifice on Calvary. (Rom. 3:21-24)
We believe in…Repentance & Conversion
True pardon and forgiveness of sins is obtained by genuine repentance, which includes a confessing and forsaking of sins. We are justified by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ (Rom. 5:1). John the Baptist preached repentance, Jesus proclaimed it, and the Apostles emphasized it to both Jews and Gentiles. (Acts 2:38; 11:18; 17:30).
The word "repentance" comes from several Greek words which mean, change of views and purpose, change of heart, change of mind, change of life, to transform, etc.
We believe in…Holiness
Godly living should characterize the life of every child of the Lord, and we should live according to the pattern and example given in the Word of God. "For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and Godly, in this present world" (Titus 2:11, 12).
"Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord" (Heb. 12:14).
We believe in…Divine Healing
The first covenant that the Lord (Jehovah) made with the children of Israel after they were brought out of Egypt was a covenant of healing. The Lord said, "...if thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the Lord (Jehovah-Rapha, the Lord that healeth) God, and wilt do that which is right in His sight, and wilt give ear to His commandments, and keep all His statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians; for I am the Lord that healeth thee" (Ex. 15:26).
The vicarious suffering of the Lord Jesus Christ paid for the healing of our bodies, the same as for the salvation of our souls, for "...with His stripes we are healed" (Is. 53:5). Matthew 8:17 reads, "...Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses". (See also I Pet. 2:24).
"For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow His steps: who did no sin, neither was guile found in His mouth: who, when He was reviled, reviled not again; when He suffered, He threatened not; but committed Himself to Him that judgeth righteously" (I Peter 2:21-23).
We believe in the…Second Coming of Jesus
That Jesus is coming again, the second time in person just as He went away, is clearly set forth by the Lord Jesus Himself, and was preached and taught in the early Christian Ministry by the apostles, hence, the children of God today are earnestly, hopefully, looking forward to the glorious event. (Matt. 24; Acts 1:11; 3:19-21; I Cor. 11:26; 4:1-2; Heb. 2:14; Rom. 11:25-27).
We believe in the…Sacrament of Communion
On the night of our Lord's betrayal, He ate the Passover supper with his Apostles, after which He instituted the sacrament. "And He took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, this is my body which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. Likewise also the cup after supper saying, this cup is the New Testament in my blood, which is shed for you" (Luke 22:19-20). Paul instructed the Ministry how to observe it (I Cor. 11:23-34). Thus was instituted the use of literal bread and the fruit of the vine, which are partaken of literally, as emblems of His broken body and shed blood. This is also a spiritual significance in partaking of the sacrament.
We believe in the…Creation & Fall of Man
In the beginning God created man innocent, pure and holy; but through the sin of disobedience, Adam and Eve, the first of the human race, fell from their holy state, and God banished them from Eden. Hence by one man's disobedience, sin entered into the world (Gen. 1:27; Rom. 3:23; 5:12).
