WHAT WE BELIEVE
See how we view God, Jesus, the Bible, man, and many significant aspects of our faith. Firmly rooted in Scripture, the beliefs
of Impact Tirana guide our decisions as a church.
THE BIBLE
We believe that the Scriptures of both the Old and New Testaments are verbally inspired of God, error-free in the original writings and the supreme authority of faith and practice for the believer in Jesus Christ. We further believe in the historical-grammatical interpretation of Scripture. By this, we mean that we seek to use grammar, literature, history, and culture to unlock and understand the meaning God super-intended the original human writer to communicate to the original readers.
We hold that meaning to be the correct understanding of any particular passage.
2 Ti 3:16-17, 2 Pe 1:20-21, Heb 4:12.
GOD
We believe in one true and living God, who is the creator of all things. One in essence, He is infinitely perfect and eternally exists in three distinct persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Though each person of the Godhead possesses the same nature, each functions differently in respect to God’s dealings with man.
Dt 6:4, Ge 1:1, Jn 1:1-3.
GOD THE SON
The second person of the Trinity, Jesus Christ, is both the eternal Son of God and the virgin- born Son of Man. Fully God and fully man, He led a sinless life and He satisfied the Father’s justice concerning sin through His death. We believe in His bodily resurrection, His physical ascension, and His visible imminent return to this earth to establish His Kingdom.
Jm 1:14-18, 1 Co 15, Heb 2:17-18, Ro 3:24-26, Rev 20:11-15,Col 2:9.
GOD THE FATHER
The first person of the Trinity orders and directs all things according to His own purpose, pleasure and grace. He created the universe by His spoken word, apart from any pre-existing materials and without any means other than pure power. He has decreed all things that come to pass for His own Glory. He graciously involves Himself in the affairs of men, hears and answers prayer, and saves from sin and death all who come to Him through Jesus Christ.
Mt 6:9, Jn5:19-24, Eph 1:3-6, Ge 1.
GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT
The third person of the Trinity executes the will of God in our world. It is the Holy Spirit who applies the salvation Jesus Christ secured through his death on the cross. It is the Holy Spirit who convicts the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment.
It is the Holy Spirit who empowers the church to live a lifestyle pleasing to God. He endows each believer with special gifts that equip them to accomplish distinct ministries, planned beforehand by God the Father.
1 Co 12, Eph 2:10, Jn 3:1-8, Jn 15:16, 16:4-15, Eph 1:13-14, Gal 5:1 6-2.
THE NATURE OF MAN
We believe that God created man in His image to enjoy His fellowship and to fulfill His will on this earth. Man fell into sin by a voluntary act of personal disobedience, and all people became spiritually dead. All are subject to the certainty of both physical and spiritual death apart from Jesus Christ. The fall of man was a once-for-all historical fact. Its spiritually deadening effect is passed on to each person. As a result, all are born with a sinful nature and sin habitually in thought, word and deed.
Ge 1:26-27, 2:7; Ro 1:18-24, Ro 3:10-23, Ro 5:12, Eph 2:1-3.
SALVATION
We believe that Jesus Christ died for our sins as the only sufficient sacrifice. All who believe in Him are declared justified by the Father on the grounds of Jesus’ death and resurrection. All who receive the Lord Jesus Christ by grace through faith have been regenerated by the Holy Spirit and baptized by Him into the Body of Christ. They are thereby the children of God forever and members in the one true church. This salvation results in righteous living and good works as the believer submits his behavior to the Word of God and the direction of the Holy Spirit.
Jn 1:12; 3:16, Jn 5:24; 14:6, Tis 3:4-7, Ac 4:12, Ro 3:21-26, 1 Co 15:1-4, Eph 1:7, 2:8-9, Heb 10:10-12, 1 Jn 5:11-13, Gal 3:26.
SATAN
We acknowledge the existence of the Devil, Satan. Although created by God, he rebelled against Him and is now the archenemy of our Lord and all His creation, especially man. Satan and his demons can masquerade as angels of light, seek to deceive God’s people and distort God’s truths. However, the day will come when he and all those he has deceived will be eternally punished and cast into the lake of fire.
Ge 3:1-15, Isa 14:12-17, Eze 28:12-15, 1 Jn 3:8, Eph 6:10-18, Rev 12:10-11, Rev 20:10.
THE CHURCH
We believe that all those who have been regenerated by the Holy Spirit belong to the one true church, the Body of Christ. Regenerated believers are directed by Scripture to associate in local churches, which are the only visible representation of Christ’s invisible church. The local church is autonomous in its relationship and selects its own members to the Biblical offices of Elder and Deacon. The Lord’s Supper and baptism are the two ordinances of the church, instituted by Christ as symbolic acts of faith and obedience. The church glorifies God by leading people to Christ, discipling them to maturity, and sending them out to make disciples of all the nations.
Heb 10:24-25, Ac 2:41-47; 4:1-16, 1 Co 12-14, Mt 16:13-28; Mt 28:18-20, Eph 2:19-24.
THE FUTURE
We believe that the next great event of human history is the visible, imminent, personal return of Jesus Christ. This is the “blessed hope,” which all those who love Jesus Christ yearn for. The exact time of Christ’s return remains a mystery, known only to the Father Himself. We believe that it could happen at any time and is as certain as His first coming.
Mt 24:36, 1 Th4:15-16, Jn 14:1-3, Ac 2:9-11.
THE ORDINANCES
The ordinances of the church (sometimes called sacraments) are a vital part of the worship and life of Impact Tirana Church. The word “ordinance” signifies that Christ instituted Baptism and the Lord’s Supper as symbolic acts of faith and obedience.
BAPTISM
Impact Tirana Church upholds baptism as a sacred injunction of the Scriptures. It is an essential first step demonstrating a new order has come. By baptism we reveal that a coup has taken place in the secret recesses of our soul.
The government of self has been overthrown; a new authority now reigns and rules – Christ, the living Lord!
Every believer who is serious about his or her faith should be serious about baptism. Baptism pictures Christ’s death and resurrection and serves public notice to the world of one’s death to sin and new life in Christ. Our preferred method of baptism is immersion. It was clearly the practice of the early church and followed the Jewish tradition of baptizing new proselytes. Baptism is a perfect expression of our salvation and a vibrant symbol of how it was accomplished.
1 Co 15:1-4, Mt 10:32, Ro 6:3-7, 10-11.
THE LORD’S SUPPER
The Lord’s Supper, or Communion, is the second ordinance we practice at Impact Tirana Church. The meaning of the Lord’s Supper is primarily summed up in the command of Christ: “This do in remembrance of Me.”
The Lord’s Supper is first and foremost a memorial of Christ and His redemptive death. It also expresses our fellowship with one another and looks forward to His return. We do not believe that the “elements” actually become the body and blood of Christ (physically or spiritually) or that they themselves impart any benefit to the partaker. However, the act of taking communion may strengthen our walk with Christ and fortify our faith.
We practice “closed communion.” The Lord’s Supper is available to all who know Jesus Christ personally as their Lord and Savior and are seeking to live a pure life. We share the Lord’s Supper in the Sunday Worship service approximately every one to two months. We also highly encourage its celebration in our Community Groups.
Mt 26:26-30, Mk 14:12-26, Lk 22:7-20, 1 Co 11:24-25, Ps 24:3-4, 1 Co 11:17-34