Statement of Faith This statement is based our understanding of God's Word, The Holy Bible.
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We at Galaxy Dawn believe in God the Father, Who is a Spirit, God the Son, Jesus, and God the Holy Spirit. These three are one God. They are all equal and have personhood. God has always existed and will never cease to exist. He is all-powerful (omnipotent), all-wise (omniscient), and is consciously aware of everything in every possible place (omnipresent). He does not change (He is immutable).
The Bible is God's message to all mankind. It was God-breathed as human authors penned it in its original form. It has been Divinely preserved. It is without error and is the final authority for all matters which it addresses.
When God created people, He made them with the moral ability to choose between good and evil. Those first people chose to disobey God. This resulted in death, both with immediate spiritual consequences, and eventual physical consequences. Every person since Adam and Eve, except Jesus, has inherited through Adam a fallen nature that results in death. Also, each person, except Jesus, has willfully chosen to disobey God and live life their own way to some degree or another. We call this "sin", the consequences of which is death; not just because God says so, or makes it so--it is a natural result. God is the One Who warns us. The natural result of selfishness and pride, or self-determination (sin), is always the destruction of our relationships, peace, love, joy, and everything good.
Jesus, the second Adam, was physically, literally born by the power of the Holy Spirit through a virgin. He lived a sinless life, and did not inherit a sinful nature since He did not have a human biological father. Jesus retained His divine nature, although He willingly forfeited some of His rights and privileges for a time while on earth. He is 100% God and 100% man. Being sinless, He willingly died physically and literally on the cross to pay the death penalty for the sin of the world. He was buried in a borrowed tomb and rose the third day, physically and literally. He ascended into heaven and is seated at God the Father's right hand, praying for us. He will return physically and literally to rule on this earth for one thousand years. After that, He will make a new heaven and a new earth where the blessed will live in righteousness forever. We will have responsibilities in this new order, but they are somewhat of a mystery.
Salvation from sin's death penalty is granted only by God's grace (unearned favor), and requires our repentance and faith alone. Repentance means a sorrow over and turning 180 degrees away from sin and self-servitude. This turning away from sin and self is toward God to receive His undeserved, unearned favor (grace). It is not a turning toward our own attempts at goodness to impress Him with our efforts. Our faith must be in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus as payment for one's own sin. We cannot earn salvation in any way because we have all sinned. It is God's free gift because of Jesus' sinless sacrifice for us. Salvation is freely offered to everyone, but it is not automatically applied; it must be individually received. Imagine a person owes a debt to the bank for their house, has lost their job, and cannot pay their debt. Their rich uncle offers to pay it for them. They are given the choice of either receiving his gracious offer, or losing their home. Most likely, they would gladly accept the offer. Of much more significance, Jesus is willing to step in and put His righteousness on our soul's account, removing our record of wrongs, since He has paid sin's death penalty in full. We may either choose to receive His gracious payment on our soul's behalf, or we may reject it and suffer for eternity to pay our own sin debt. Our good does not outweigh our bad, no matter how much good there is. Our own goodness, apart from Jesus, is like filthy rags to God, since it is tainted by self interest and pride. No respectable system of human justice would overlook a person's guilt in committing a crime simply because he or she has, to this point, been an upstanding member of society and even a great humanitarian. The punishments and sentences may vary from case to case, but crime is crime and a criminal is always held accountable, if justice is truly served. Just as the rewards will vary for followers of Jesus, punishments will vary in degree according to the deeds done by the unbeliever, but the punishment will be eternal.
The Holy Spirit convicts people of sin and convinces them of righteousness and the judgement to come. He regenerates (makes spiritually alive) the one who repents and believes in Jesus' sacrifice for his/her sin. The Holy Spirit indwells the follower of Jesus, intercedes for him/her according to God's will, seals the follower until the day of redemption (when we trade in this life for eternal life, either when we die or when Christ returns), and gives gifts to each follower as He sees fit, to build up believers.
We believe that those who follow Jesus and have been reborn by God's Holy Spirit inherit eternal rest in heaven and God's new world. Those who do not follow Jesus suffer an eternal, fiery torment in hell. Followers of Jesus will not be punished for their sins at the judgement; Jesus already has borne their judgement. They will, however, suffer the loss of reward at the judgement seat of Christ for every empty word, deed, or thought. They will be rewarded for those things that were done for the honor and glory of God.
We believe that God sends missionaries to people who respond positively to His general revelation of Himself in creation. No one will stand before God in the judgment with an excuse. God has revealed much about Himself in His creation, including His power and His very nature of being three-in-one. For instance, the universe itself is three-dimensional: time, space, and matter. Time is three: past, present, future. Space is three: height, width, length. Matter is three: solids, liquids, gases. This is not coincidental; it is the stamp of its Creator. And that is just the beginning! General revelation alone is not enough information to bring about saving faith, but responding favorably to the light one is given leads to more specific light being given.
Angels are servants of God. They are not male or female, but they have always appeared in Scriptural incidences as men. They are spirits. They are not to be worshipped or prayed to. They are assigned to us to watch over us and to do God's bidding. People do not become angels when they die. People will still be people. The Bible teaches that when people die, they go directly to either Heaven or to Hell, depending on whether or not they have personally received the forgiveness of sin offered by Jesus' sacrifice on the cross. They do not hang around and haunt the earth.
Our soul's enemy and hater of God, the devil, or Satan, is a fallen angel who quite possibly took one third of heaven's angels with him when he rebelled. He is real. He is evil. Unlike God, he is not all-powerful, all-wise, and everywhere at once, but his army is vast. He and his demons oppose God and anyone who follows Jesus. They work to prevent people from receiving God's truth. They can be disguised as angels of light, and they are very sophisticated in the area of deception. Hell, which will be their final and eternal destiny, was created for them.
While some people just pretend they have supernatural powers and gifts, there are others who truly are connected. Some people have power from God's Holy Spirit. There are others who are empowered by the devil and his demons. They often attempt to pass themselves off as servants of God, and may even believe it themselves. There are mediums today that believe they are communicating with the dead, a practice forbidden by God, but they are actually hearing from evil spirits who were familiar with the departed and who immitate them very well. These evil spirits are responsible for any and all "hauntings" rather than the spirits of people who have died. When a person dies, their consciousness (soul and spirit) go immediately to heaven or hell. Witchcraft is very real and is to be shunned by anyone who values their soul and respects the wisdom of God, Who denounces it. We believe some forms of demon possession still exist today, and even immitate or cause many physical, mental, and emotional illnesses. People open themselves up for potential demonic possession or oppression by dabbling in the occult. Some of these practices include, but are not limited to, palm reading, horoscope and astrology (allowing the stars to direct us rather than God), terrot cards, seance, ouija board games, and the recreational use of hallucinagens, such as LSD and marijuana. Not every instance results in possession or oppression, but there are plenty of cases that point to such things as causal. Wisdom bids us to follow hard after God rather than allowing an enemy, who would do anything to destroy us, to ensnare us in his traps.
A Sample Prayer of Repentance: "Dear God, I know you love me, but I also know that my sin has separated me from you because you are perfect and holy. I believe that Jesus died on the cross to pay the death penalty for my sin, that He was buried, and that He rose the third day. I humbly ask forgiveness for my sin because of Jesus' sacrifice for me, and ask that your Holy Spirit breathe new life into me and indwell me that I may be able to live a life pleasing to you. I pray in Jesus' name, amen."
There are no magic words that will save you, but a repentant heart toward God, turning away from sin, and acknowledging Jesus as one's Savior is vital. It involves the surrender of a person's own will to the will of their Maker. There is no such thing as a perfect person, except for Jesus. In a true follower, however, there is a sincere, godly sorrow over sin (not just its consequences), and a desire to become more like Jesus every day.
We use the word follower (imitator) rather than believer, because even the demons believe--and tremble! But they do not follow, and we know what their end will be. Believers should make sure they are true believers by determining whether or not they are truly surrendered as evidenced by following the teachings in God's Word revealed in the Bible. Likewise, followers need to make sure they are believers of God's Truth, and that they are not just performing acts to please God without having been born into God's family through the regenerating work of the Holy Spirit.
So, in short, believers, be sure you are following. Followers, be sure you believe the right Truth. Some of the saddedst and most sobering words in all of Scripture are the words of Jesus found in Matthew 7:21-23: "Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity." KJV
Search the Scriptures for yourself--do not ever take the word of a mere human as the Truth of God until you investigate God's Word, the Bible, thoroughly for yourself! Life is too short to throw away on things that do not matter, and your eternal destiny is too precious to gamble away! Ask God to open your spiritual understanding as you study. You will be amazed! Friend, the way is narrow, and few find it, according to Jesus. Are you one of the few?
We believe that those who follow Jesus and have been reborn by God's Holy Spirit inherit eternal rest in heaven and God's new world. Those who do not follow Jesus suffer an eternal, fiery torment in hell. Followers of Jesus will not be punished for their sins at the judgement; Jesus already has borne their judgement. They will, however, suffer the loss of reward at the judgement seat of Christ for every empty word, deed, or thought. They will be rewarded for those things that were done for the honor and glory of God.
We believe that God sends missionaries to people who respond positively to His general revelation of Himself in creation. No one will stand before God in the judgment with an excuse. God has revealed much about Himself in His creation, including His power and His very nature of being three-in-one. For instance, the universe itself is three-dimensional: time, space, and matter. Time is three: past, present, future. Space is three: height, width, length. Matter is three: solids, liquids, gases. This is not coincidental; it is the stamp of its Creator. And that is just the beginning! General revelation alone is not enough information to bring about saving faith, but responding favorably to the light one is given leads to more specific light being given.
Angels are servants of God. They are not male or female, but they have always appeared in Scriptural incidences as men. They are spirits. They are not to be worshipped or prayed to. They are assigned to us to watch over us and to do God's bidding. People do not become angels when they die. People will still be people. The Bible teaches that when people die, they go directly to either Heaven or to Hell, depending on whether or not they have personally received the forgiveness of sin offered by Jesus' sacrifice on the cross. They do not hang around and haunt the earth.
Our soul's enemy and hater of God, the devil, or Satan, is a fallen angel who quite possibly took one third of heaven's angels with him when he rebelled. He is real. He is evil. Unlike God, he is not all-powerful, all-wise, and everywhere at once, but his army is vast. He and his demons oppose God and anyone who follows Jesus. They work to prevent people from receiving God's truth. They can be disguised as angels of light, and they are very sophisticated in the area of deception. Hell, which will be their final and eternal destiny, was created for them.
While some people just pretend they have supernatural powers and gifts, there are others who truly are connected. Some people have power from God's Holy Spirit. There are others who are empowered by the devil and his demons. They often attempt to pass themselves off as servants of God, and may even believe it themselves. There are mediums today that believe they are communicating with the dead, a practice forbidden by God, but they are actually hearing from evil spirits who were familiar with the departed and who immitate them very well. These evil spirits are responsible for any and all "hauntings" rather than the spirits of people who have died. When a person dies, their consciousness (soul and spirit) go immediately to heaven or hell. Witchcraft is very real and is to be shunned by anyone who values their soul and respects the wisdom of God, Who denounces it. We believe some forms of demon possession still exist today, and even immitate or cause many physical, mental, and emotional illnesses. People open themselves up for potential demonic possession or oppression by dabbling in the occult. Some of these practices include, but are not limited to, palm reading, horoscope and astrology (allowing the stars to direct us rather than God), terrot cards, seance, ouija board games, and the recreational use of hallucinagens, such as LSD and marijuana. Not every instance results in possession or oppression, but there are plenty of cases that point to such things as causal. Wisdom bids us to follow hard after God rather than allowing an enemy, who would do anything to destroy us, to ensnare us in his traps.
A Sample Prayer of Repentance: "Dear God, I know you love me, but I also know that my sin has separated me from you because you are perfect and holy. I believe that Jesus died on the cross to pay the death penalty for my sin, that He was buried, and that He rose the third day. I humbly ask forgiveness for my sin because of Jesus' sacrifice for me, and ask that your Holy Spirit breathe new life into me and indwell me that I may be able to live a life pleasing to you. I pray in Jesus' name, amen."
There are no magic words that will save you, but a repentant heart toward God, turning away from sin, and acknowledging Jesus as one's Savior is vital. It involves the surrender of a person's own will to the will of their Maker. There is no such thing as a perfect person, except for Jesus. In a true follower, however, there is a sincere, godly sorrow over sin (not just its consequences), and a desire to become more like Jesus every day.
We use the word follower (imitator) rather than believer, because even the demons believe--and tremble! But they do not follow, and we know what their end will be. Believers should make sure they are true believers by determining whether or not they are truly surrendered as evidenced by following the teachings in God's Word revealed in the Bible. Likewise, followers need to make sure they are believers of God's Truth, and that they are not just performing acts to please God without having been born into God's family through the regenerating work of the Holy Spirit.
So, in short, believers, be sure you are following. Followers, be sure you believe the right Truth. Some of the saddedst and most sobering words in all of Scripture are the words of Jesus found in Matthew 7:21-23: "Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity." KJV
Search the Scriptures for yourself--do not ever take the word of a mere human as the Truth of God until you investigate God's Word, the Bible, thoroughly for yourself! Life is too short to throw away on things that do not matter, and your eternal destiny is too precious to gamble away! Ask God to open your spiritual understanding as you study. You will be amazed! Friend, the way is narrow, and few find it, according to Jesus. Are you one of the few?