Ellis Temple Church is a loving, caring spiritual church that believes in serving God in spirit and in truth (John 4:24). Our faith is based upon the scripture found in Acts 2:38. "Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost." This scripture is the foundation, and we believe you build upon this by growing in the grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ.
THE PLAN OF SALVATION
We believe that the Gospel is the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ -- I Corinthians 15:1-4. We believe the plan of salvation to be (1) Faith in our Lord Jesus Christ -- Hebrews 11:6; (2) Repentance -- II Corinthians 7:10, Acts 2:38, Acts 3:19, Luke 24-46-47; (3) Baptism in water by immersion in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins -- Acts 2:38, Mark 16:15-16, and (3) the baptism of the Holy Ghost, the evidence of speaking in other tongues as the Spirit gives utterance -- Acts 2:4, Acts 10:46, and Acts 19:6. The only condition upon which God will accept a sinner is repentance from the heart for the sins that he has committed. "A broken and contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise." Psalm 51:17. John preached it, and before His ascension Jesus commanded His disciples that they preach repentance and remission of sins in His name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem -- Luke 24:47. This is what Peter did on the day of Pentecost in Acts 2:38.
THE ONE TRUE GOD
We believe in the one ever living, 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 Jesus, in redemption; and as the Holy Spirit, by emanation. (I Corinthians 8:6; Ephesians 4:6; II Corinthians 5:19; Joel 2:28)
DIVINE HEALING
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". (Isaiah 53:5) Matthew 8:17 reads "...Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses". (See also I Peter 2:24) We see from this that divine healing for the body is in the atonement. That being true, then it is for all who believe. Jesus said of believers, "...they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover". Later, James wrote in his Epistle to all the churches: "Is any sick among you? Let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: and the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him. Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much." (James 5:14-16)
