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Mel L. Piper is known for his anointed and insightful teaching ministry and for his unique music tapes, "Scripture
Sounds." For more than 30 years he has been fulfilling the prophetic word that came forth in 1972, stating that he
would be a teacher to thousands.
During those years, he has touched thousands of lives as an instructor at Rhema Bible Training Center and Victory
Bible Institute in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and other pastoral assignments, and he is currently a faculty member of Christian
Life School of Theology.
Rev. Piper is committed to bringing fresh revelation and enlightenment of God's Word to the Body of Christ. Since
1990, he has been in the full-time traveling ministry, teaching the Word of God in churches and in seminars
throughout the United States, Canada, and in other countries.
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The Scriptures:
The Bible is the inspired Word of God, the product of holy men of old who spoke and wrote as they were moved by
the Holy Spirit. The New Covenant, as recorded in the New Testament, we accept as our infallible guide in matters
pertaining to conduct and doctrine (2 Timothy 3:16; 1 Thessalonians 2:13; 2 Peter 1:2).
The Godhead:
Our God is one, but manifested in three persons, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, being co-equal
(Philippians 2:6).
God the Father is greater than all; the Sender of the Word (Logos) and the Begetter (John 14:28; 16:28; 1:14).
The Son is the Word flesh-covered, the One Begotten, and has existed with the Father from the beginning
(John 1:1,18,14).
The Holy Spirit proceeds forth from both the Father and the Son and is eternal (John 15:26).
Man, His Fall and Redemption:
Man is a created being, made in the likeness and image of God, but through Adam's transgression and fall, sin came
into the world. "All have sinned, and come short of the glory of God." As it is written, There is none righteous, no not
one." Jesus Christ, the Son of God, was manifested to undo the work of the devil and gave His life and shed His blood
to redeem and restore man back to God (Romans 5:14; 3:23; 3:10; 1 John 3:8).
Salvation is the gift of God to man, separate from works and the Law, and is made operative by grace through faith
in Jesus, producing works acceptable to God (Ephesians 2:8).
Eternal Life and the New Birth:
Man's first step toward salvation is "godly sorrow that worketh repentance." The New Birth is necessary for all men,
and when experienced produces eternal life (2 Corinthians 7:10; 1 John 5:12; John 3:3-5).
Water Baptism:
Baptism in water is by immersion is a direct commandment of our Lord, and is for believers only. The ordinance is a
symbol of the Christian's identification with Christ in His death, burial, and resurrection
(Matthew 28:19; Romans 6:4; Colossians 2:12; Acts 8:36-39).
The following recommendation regarding the water baptismal formula is adopted; to wit: "On the confession of your
faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, and by His authority, I baptize you in the Name of the Father, and the
Son, and the Holy Ghost. Amen."
Baptism in the Holy Ghost:
The Baptism in the Holy Spirit and fire is a gift from God as promised by the Lord Jesus Christ to all believers in this
dispensation and is received subsequent to the New Birth. This experience is accompanied by the initial evidence of
speaking in tongues as the Holy Spirit Himself gives utterance
(Matthew 3:11; John 14:16; Acts 1:8;2:38,39;19:1-7;2:4).
Sanctification:
The Bible teaches that without holiness no man can see the Lord. We believe in the Doctrine of Sanctification as a
definite, yet progressive work of grace, commencing at the time of regeneration and continuing until consummation
of salvation at Christ's return (Hebrews 12:14; 1 Thessalonians 5:23; 2 Peter 3:18; 2 Corinthians 3:18;
Philippians 3:12; 1 Corinthians 1:30).
Divine Healing:
Healing is for the physical ills of the human body and is wrought by the power of God through the prayer of faith and
by the laying on of hands. It is provided for in the atonement of Christ and is the privilege of every member of the
Church today (Mark 16:18: James 5:14,15; 1 Peter 2:24; Matthew 8:17; Isaiah 53:4,5).
Resurrection of the Just and the Return of Our Lord:
The angels said to Jesus' disciples, "This same Jesus shall so come in like manner as ye have seen Him go into
heaven." His coming is imminent. When He comes, "The dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and
remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air."
(Acts 1:11; 1 Thessalonians 4:16,17).
Following the Tribulation, He shall return to earth as King of kings, and Lord of lords, and together with His saints,
who shall be kings and priests, He shall reign a thousand years (Revelation 20:6).
Hell and Eternal Retribution:
The one who physically dies in his sins without accepting Christ is hopelessly and eternally lost in the Lake of Fire
and, therefore has no further opportunity of hearing the Gospel or repenting. The Lake of Fire is literal. The terms
"eternal" and "everlasting" used in describing the duration of the punishment of the damned in the Lake of Fire,
carry the same thought and meaning of endless existence as used in denoting the duration of joy and ecstasy of
saints in the Presence of God (Hebrews 9:27; Revelation 19:20). |
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