OUR BELIEFS

Real Life Ministries-Pullman has grown because God has added to our numbers. (Acts 2:47) We seek to glorify Christ in everything we do. Our Church has sought to be unified in the “major” things and have allowed for differing opinions in the “minor” things. Jesus said that the world would know that we are His because we love one another and because we are one. John 13:35; John 17: 21-22

This Church has people with many different backgrounds, but we are a team. We are more interested in glorifying God than arguing over non-salvation issues. “How can we agree rather than disagree?” is a very important question we seek to answer. “How can we apply the truth of scripture in a way to that shows love for our Father and love for one another so that Jesus is glorified in all we do?”

STATEMENTS OF FAITH

THE BIBLE

The Bible is God’s Word to us. It was written by human authors, under the supernatural guidance of the Holy Spirit. It tells the story of our good God who created everything “good” and invites us to be part of His story. It is the supreme source of truth for Christian beliefs and living. Because it is inspired by God, it is the truth without any mixture or error. The Bible is infallible, inerrant and absolute truth. Where it speaks we listen and obey.

Psalms 12:6, 119:105, 160; Proverbs 30:5; 2 Timothy 1:13, 3:16; 2 Peter 1:20-21

GOD

God is the Creator and Ruler of the universe. He has eternally existed in three persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. These three are co-equal and are one God.

Genesis 1:1, 26–27; 3:22; Psalm 90:2; Matthew 28:19; 2 Corinthians 13:14; 1 Peter 1:2

JESUS

Jesus Christ is the Son of God. He is coequal with the Father. Jesus lived a sinless human life and offered himself as the perfect sacrifice for the sins of all people by dying on the cross. He arose from the dead after three days to demonstrate His power over sin and death. He ascended to Heaven’s glory and will return again someday to claim His own and take them to Heaven.

Isaiah 9:6; Matthew 1:22-23; John 1:1-5, 14:10-30; Acts 1:9-11; Romans 1:3-4; 1 Corinthians 15:3-4; 1 Timothy 6:14-15; Titus 2:13; Hebrews 4:14-15

THE HOLY SPIRIT

The Holy Spirit is coequal with the Father and the Son of God. He is present in the world as our Helper and to make all people aware of their need for Jesus Christ. He lives in every Christian from the moment of salvation. He provides the Christian with the power to live a new life in Christ, to experience God’s love in our hearts, and to understand spiritual truth and freedom. As Christians we seek to live under His control daily.

John 14:16-17, 16:7-13; Acts 1:8; Romans 5:5; 1 Corinthians 2:12, 3:16; 2 Corinthians 3:17; Galatians 5:25; Ephesians 1:13, 5:18

SALVATION

Salvation is received through repentance toward God and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. By the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, being justified by grace through faith, man becomes a child and heir of God according to the hope of eternal life.

Luke 24:47; John 3:3; Romans 10:13-15; Ephesians 2:8; Titus 2:11, 3:5-7

In our Church we will encourage those who have given their lives to Christ to grow. If they fall down in their faith we will help them to get back up and continue on with Christ. We believe that a Christian can have great confidence in their salvation.

BAPTISM

At Real Life we practice baptism by immersion. Immersion has always been the form of baptism displayed in scripture. It is also the clearest picture of what baptism symbolizes.

Baptism is a public or outward display and commitment in response to Christ’s calling on a person’s life. Baptism identifies us both with the death of Christ and with His resurrection to a new life now and to eternal life to come.

Baptism is also commanded by Jesus in the great commission (Matthew28:18-19) and as a response to the Gospel message.
Romans 6:4, Colossians 2:12, Galatians 2:20, II Corinthians 5:17, Acts 2:38

SPIRITUAL GIFTS

God has designed the local Church like a physical body with Jesus Christ as the head. God gifts each of His children in unique and special ways to serve and build up the body. Therefore, spiritual gifts are not for personal benefit or glory, but to bring glory to God, as well as encouraging and building up the Church.

1 Corinthians 14:4

No one individual can have all the gifts. 1 Corinthians 12:17-30 We are interdependent on each other; together we are the body of Christ which is a clear demonstration of true diversity. There is no division as we all have equal concern and need for each other.

We all must be the part God has designed us to be, if not the body suffers and becomes ill. “If a man’s gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.”

Romans 12:6-8

ETERNITY

People will either exist eternally separated from God by sin, or exist eternally with God through forgiveness and salvation. To be eternally separated from God is eternal death in Hell. To be eternally in union with Him is eternal life in Heaven. Heaven and Hell are real places of eternal existence.

John 3:16, 14:17; Romans 6:23, 8:17-18; 1 Corinthians 2:7-8; Revelation 20:15

THE RETURN OF CHRIST

We believe there will be a literal return of Christ and a judgment day. We believe the details are in God’s hands and this is not a salvation issue.

Matthew 12:36, John 5:22, 16:8; 2 Corinthians 5:10; 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17; 2 Peter 3:7;
Jude 6

OUR VISION

Reaching the world for Jesus – one person at a time.

MISSION

Growing biblical disciples in relational environments

PROCESS

Expressing Jesus to others with grace & love, making disciples who make disciples.

THE LEADERSHIP MODEL OF THE CHURCH

Real Life Ministries-Pullman is a non-denominational Christian Church. While recognizing the value of associating and cooperating with other groups of Christians, we believe the local Church should be Elder-governed.

Acts 14:23; 1 Timothy 5:17

THE PRIESTHOOD OF EVERY BELIEVER

“Christ loves us, and by His death He has freed us from our sins and made us a kingdom of priests to serve God.” Revelation 1:6 “You are . . . the King’s priests, God’s own people, chosen to proclaim the wonderful acts of God.” 1 Peter 2:9 The Bible teaches that every Christian is called to “full-time” Christian service, regardless of his or her vocation. We practice the truth that every believer is a minister by encouraging every member to find a place of service and ministry. Every believer has direct access to God through Bible reading, study, prayer and the leading of the Holy Spirit. Every Christian is to be a disciple developing relational environments in which they share their faith with those around them by word and by action.

COMMUNION

Communion at Real Life is defined as Scripture defines it. “For I received from the Lord what I also passed it on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, and when He had given thanks He broke it and said, ‘This is my body which is for you; do this in remembrance of Me.’ In the same way, after supper He took the cup, saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant in My blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of Me.’”

1 Corinthians 11:23-25

Communion is a memorial, a new covenant and a proclamation. It is a sacred event for those who have a committed relationship with Jesus. “For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes. We take communion every week in our services.

1 Corinthians 11:26

STEWARDSHIP

We practice tithing to support the Church, the body of Christ, as God’s Word commands. We recognize that giving 10% of our income is the Biblical standard of giving to the local Church. Anything over 10% is an “offering of gratitude” for the great things God does for us every day. A tithe of everything a person produces belongs to the Lord; it is holy to the Lord. Leviticus 27:30; Malachi 3:7-12 The offering is a privilege to give and is in addition to the tithe. We also recognize that we must be good stewards of our time, talents, and resources as the Lord has blessed us with these things as well.