EDI Philosophy
As an independent, nonprofit faith mission, we are totally dependent upon the
support of God's people. This comes through churches, individuals and
families that feel led by God to give. On occasion we receive offerings
and honorariums.
EDI teams go at their own expense unless a mission is able to provide the
funds. We seek to encourage
by finding out specific needs and attempting to meet them. This could be
tools, study materials, clothing or books.
Statement of Faith
Section
1 -The Scriptures
We
believe the Bible to be the verbally inspired word of God, without error in the
original writings, and the supreme and final authority in doctrine and practice.
(II Tim. 3:16-17; II Pet. 1:21: John 17:17)
Section
2 -The Godhead
We believe in one God eternally existing in three equal persons-Father,
Son and Holy Spirit-who have the same nature and attributes but who are distinct
in office and activity. (Matt. 28: 19; II Cor. 13: 14)
Section
3 -The Person and Work of God the Father
We
believe God the Father is the Father of all creation, the nation of Israel, the
Lord Jesus Christ, and all believers in Christ. He is the author of the decree,
which is His eternal purpose, according to the counsel of His own will, whereby,
for His own glory, He has foreordained whatsoever comes to pass. As such, He is
the author of election, which involves God's choosing a people for Himself. He
was the begetter and sender of His only Son, Jesus Christ. As the Father of the
elect, He is also their provider and disciplinarian. (Acts 17:29; Ex. 4:22;
Matt. 3: 17; Gal. 3:26; Eph. 1:3-6; John 3:16; Matt 6:30-32)
Section
4 -The Person and Work of Christ
We
believe that the Lord Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God, became man without
ceasing to be God. He was conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin
Mary in order that He might reveal God to man and redeem sinful man. We believe
that He accomplished our redemption through His death on the cross as a
substitutionary sacrifice. We believe that our redemption and salvation are
guaranteed by His literal, physical resurrection from the dead. (John 1:1,14,18;
Luke 1:35; Romans 3:24-26,4:25)
We
believe the Lord Jesus Christ is now in heaven, exalted to the right hand of
God, where, as High Priest, He fulfills the ministry of intercession and
advocacy for His people. (Heb. 1:3, 3:1, 7:23-25; I John 2:1-2)
Section
5 -The Person and Work of the Holy Spirit
We
believe that God, the Holy Spirit, is that person of the Trinity who restrains
evil in the world and convicts men of sin.
He also regenerates those who receive Christ as Savior, baptizes them
into the Church (the Body of Christ), indwells them permanently, seals them unto
the day of redemption, bestows one or more spiritual gifts on each believer, and
empowers those yielded to Him. (John 16:7-11; 3:8, 4:16-17, I Cor. 12:4-11; 13;
Eph. 4:30; 5:18)
Section
6 -Angels, Fallen and Unfallen
We
believe that angels are spiritual beings who were created in a sinless state and
that they occupied different orders and ranks. They presently exist in both
fallen and unfallen states; the former includes Satan and his angels. (Heb. 1:
13-14; II Pet. 2:4; Rev. 7:12)
We
believe that Satan, by his own choice the enemy of God and of the people of God,
is the originator of sin. We believe he led our first parents into sin and now
rules as the god of this world. Satan was judged at the cross, and ultimately he
will be cast into the lake of fire for eternity. (Is. 14:12-14; Gen. 3:1-19;
Heb. 2: 14; Rev. 20: 10)
Section
7 -Creation
We
believe all things in heaven and earth were created by God and exist by His
power. (Gen. 1: 1; Col. 1: 16-17)
We
believe that man was created innocent and in the image and likeness of God but
that he sinned, bringing both physical and spiritual death to himself and his
posterity. We believe, that man has inherited a sinful nature, is alienated from
God, and is in need of salvation. (Gen. 1:27, 2:17, 3:19; Eph. 2:1-3)
Section
8 -Salvation
We believe that salvation
is a gift of God and is received by man only through personal faith in Jesus
Christ. We believe that man is justified by grace through faith apart from
works. (Acts 13:38-3 9; Rom. 6:23; Eph. 2:8-10)
We
believe that all true believers, once saved, are kept secure in Christ forever.
(Rom. 8: 1, 38-39; John 10:27-30)
Section
9 -Sanctification
We
believe that sanctification, which is a setting apart unto God, is positional,
progressive, and ultimate:
Positionally,
it is already complete, since the believer is in Christ and is set apart unto
God as Christ is set apart unto God.
Since
the believer retains his sinful nature, however, there is need for progressive
sanctification whereby the Christian grows in grace by the power of the Spirit.
The
Child of God will be sanctified, ultimately, when he is taken to be with Christ
and becomes like Him. (John 17:17. II Cor. 3:18; Eph. 5:25-27; I Thess. 5:23;
Heb. 10:10, 14; I John 3:2-3)
Section
10 -The Church
We
believe that the universal church, the Body and Bride of Christ, is a
spiritual organism, made up of all born-again persons of this present age. We
believe the church began at Pentecost and that a believer is placed into the
church by the baptizing work of the Holy Spirit. We believe the church is
distinct from Israel. (Eph. 1:22-23, 5:25-27; I Cor. 12: 12-13, 10:32)
We
believe the local church is an assembly of professed believers in Jesus
Christ who are voluntarily joined together in one locality for the purpose of
worship, study of the Word of God, observance of the ordinances, Christian
fellowship, and to be equipped for Christian service. (Acts 2:42-47; Eph. 4:
11-13.)
Section
11 – The Ordinance of Baptism and the Lord’s Super
We
believe that Christ instituted the ordinances of water baptism and the Lord’s
Supper, which are to be observed by believers until He returns.
(Matt. 28:19-20; I Cor. 11:23-26)
We
believe that by water baptism a believer is publicly identified with his Savior;
also, we believe that immersion is the preferred mode of baptism and should be
followed when practicable. (Acts 8:36-38)
We
believe the Lord's Supper is a memorial of Christ's death, the elements being
symbols of His body and blood. We feel every Christian has a right to partake of
the elements of the Lord's Supper but that participation should always be
preceded by solemn self-examination. Each
parent has the responsibility to determine the qualifications of his own
children to participate. The Lord's Supper shall be observed as often as the
fellowship is led. (II Cor. 11:23-24)
Section
12 -Events of the End Times
A.
The Blessed Hope
We
believe in the personal, imminent coming of the Lord Jesus Christ in the air to
receive to Himself all those, dead or alive, who belong to Him. This event,
commonly called "The Rapture of the Church" is the blessed hope
implied in the Scriptures for which we should be constantly looking. (John 14:
1-3; I Cor. 15:51-52; I Thess. 4:13-18; Titus 2:11-14.)
B.
The Tribulation:
For the seven
years following the translation of the church, the earth will undergo a time of
judgment known as "The Time of Jacob's Trouble" or "The
Tribulation." (Jer. 30:7; Matt. 24: 14-22)
During
this period many will turn to Christ and be slain for their faith. (Rev.
6:1-19:21)
C.
The Second Advent:
The
culmination of the Tribulation period wil1 be the return of the Lord Jesus
Christ to earth, bodily, to establish the Millenial Age, during which Christ
will reign, Satan will be bound, Israel will be restored and the earth will be
filled with the knowledge of the Lord. (Is. 1l:9; Ezek. 37:21-28; Matt.24:15-25, 46; II Tim.3:
1-5; Rev. 20:1-3)
D.
The Eternal State
We believe that the spirits of believers in Jesus Christ in
this age, do at death immediately pass into His presence, and there remain in
conscious bliss until the resurrection of the body at His coming for the church.
At that time the spirit and body shall be reunited and shall be associated with
Him forever in glory. We believe that the spirits of unbelievers remain, after
death, in conscious torment in Hades until the final judgment of the Great White
Throne at the close of the Millennium. At that time spirit and body shall be
reunited and shall be cast into the Lake of Fire, not to be destroyed, but to be
punished with everlasting separation from the presence of the Lord. (Luke
16:19-26, 23:43; II Cor. 5:8; Phil. 1:23; II Thess. 1:7-9; Rev. 20; 11-15.)
