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Basic philosophy
HICC is a multinational and interdenominational
church of some 40 nations, blended in harmony and joined in an
expression of overcoming faith. Acts 2:42-47 is an apt illustration
of the New Testament Church and we, in Harrow, try to live in
a similar expression of unity, fervour and favour.
"And they continued steadfastly in
the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread,
and in prayers. . . . So continuing daily with one accord in the
temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their
food with gladness and simplicity of heart, praising God and having
favour with all the people. And the Lord added
to the church daily those who were being saved (Acts
2:42-47) ."
The day of Pentecost dawned and the Holy Spirit came. He fired
the New Testament Church into life and changed for ever the lives
of the disciples. Within the text is a tenfold expression of the
lives of those first disciples together as the New People of God,
with no thought of denominations, divisiveness or dispute.
"They" - People-centred Christianity
"Continued" - Faithful Life-style Christianity
"Daily"- Every-day-centred Christianity
"One accord" - Heart-centred Christianity
"In the Temple" -Church-centred Christianity
"Breaking bread" - Sacramental-centred Christianity
"House to house" - Home-centred Christianity
"Gladness" - Joy-centred Christianity
"Simplicity of heart" - Honesty-centred Christianity
"Praising God" - Worship-centred Christianity
The result was they had "favour"
with the people and God "added"
to the church those who were being saved - not in the church;
they were the church, but in the marketplace.
We
believe in the Bible
as the inspired word of God, the infallible and all sufficient
rule for faith and conduct; in the unity of the one true living
God revealed in three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit; in
the virgin birth, sinless life, miraculous ministry, substitutionary
atoning death, bodily resurrection, triumphant ascension and abiding
intercession of the Lord Jesus Christ; and His second advent;
in the fall of man; in salvation through faith in Christ; in baptism
by immersion in water; in the baptism in the Holy Spirit and offices
set by God in the Church; in holiness of life and conduct; in
deliverance from sickness by divine healing; in the breaking of
bread; in the everlasting conscious bliss of all believers; and
the everlasting conscious punishment of all whose names are not
written in the Book of Life.
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