Covenants
Members of Oasis of Truth Church make these covenants to one another in the presence of the local assembly and before God. We agree to live our lives in accordance with these promises that we make to one another.
Each phrase of the covenant is a link can be clicked to toggle the display of further explanation of that phrase. Simply hover over a phrase to see where the phrase begins and ends, then click the phrases you would like to see further explained.
Joining Member Covenant:
Because of the unity we have in Jesus Christ through the working of the Holy Spirit,(Ps. 133:1; Ephesians 4:1-6) One trustworthy mark of a healthy church is the unity that comes from mutual submission to the authority of God. We are not all identical clones, and we will occasionally disagree, but we have in common, a Father, a Savior, a Spirit, and a blessed future. All of these contribute to a harmonious present.
There can never be unity, harmony, or a ministry that is pleasing to God if each church member is fighting for his or her own desires. Jesus said that believers should seek the advancement of His kingdom rather than their own advancement or material gain (Matthew 6:31-33). He also gave the greatest possible example of this type of living by leaving His throne in Heaven to make His kingdom on earth possible. We are commanded to follow Jesus' example (in Philippians 2:3-8) of placing greater importance on others than on ourselves.
No one, no matter how long they have been a Christian, knows everything there is to know about God. However, we are called to be faithful to those truths that we do learn. James 1:22-25 encourages us not only to study God's Word but also to act upon those things that we learn. Furthermore, 2 Corinthians 3:18 tells us that as we study God's Word, it is like looking in a mirror that reflects Jesus. We are to strive to look more like Him every day. Oasis of Truth provides opportunities for you to learn from those who may have been studying God's Word for longer than you have (Sunday services, Tuesday night small groups, and private study as requested), but we also encourage each person faithful to study God's Word on his/her own and apply the truths you learn to your daily life.
Each believer has a different life situation than any other believer. You know people (from work, in your family, in your neighborhood, etc.) that no other believer knows. We cannot afford to have people in our church shying away from their responsibility to share the gospel with those around them (Matthew 28:19-20). You may be the only person who can reach that person. It is a privilege that God has given you to be used to share the news about Jesus.
Believers are supposed to be tuned into the needs of those around them. We take this opportunity for service seriously. Every member of our community is strongly encouraged to be an active part in other’s lives. James 1:27 says that “pure religion” involves not only spiritual issues but also physical issues. We must care for the needy with the resources that God has given us—this includes both physical and spiritual needs.
The Bible makes it clear that Jesus Christ is the head, or leader, of the church (Ephesians 5:23, Colossians 1:18). Until He returns for His people, Jesus has appointed leaders to guide and to teach His church (Ephesians 4:11-14). The Bible refers to these men as elders, shepherds, pastors, teachers, and overseers. Jesus also teaches us that those in the church are to submit themselves to His appointed leaders (Hebrews 13:17). This does not mean blind adherence to any one man, but we are to follow the example of the Berean believers as they tested the teaching of the apostles against the authority of Scripture (Acts 17:11). It is the responsibility of the elders carefully to shepherd God’s flock, and it is the responsibility of God’s people willingly to follow them as they follow Christ (1 Corinthians 4:16; Hebrews 13:7).
As believers, we have been cleansed from our sins and given the righteousness of Jesus Christ as our own (Romans 3:23-26). Because of our position in Christ, we have been made completely pure in God’s sight. It is our constant struggle, however, to practice in our lives the reality of the righteousness that is already ours in Jesus Christ (Philippians 3:12-14). In Romans 7:15-25 the Apostle Paul gives us an inside glimpse into the believer’s conflict between the reality of our new life in Christ and our continued struggle against sin in our flesh. This war is begun in the believer’s mind (Romans 7:23) and is manifest in everything that we do. It is our desire as a body of believers to strive together to kill sin in our lives (Romans 8:13, James 4:8) and seek to honor God with our actions, always realizing that it is Christ that gives us the victory (Romans 7:25).
Romans 8:28-30 says that God is actively working every event in our lives into something good. The passage then explains that the good thing is that we would be just like Jesus. Furthermore, 2 Corinthians 3:18 tells us that as we study God’s Word, it is like looking in a mirror that reflects Jesus. We are to strive to look more like Him every day. This process is called sanctification. This is an ongoing process of change from “who we were” to “who we will be.”
Existing Members Covenant:
Because of the unity we have in Jesus Christ through the working of the Holy Spirit,(Ps. 133:1; Ephesians 4:1-6) One trustworthy mark of a healthy church is the unity that comes from mutual submission to the authority of God. We are not all identical clones, and we will occasionally disagree, but we have in common, a Father, a Savior, a Spirit, and a blessed future. All of these contribute to a harmonious present.
From the beginning of the church, meeting the needs of the members of the body has been one of its very highest priorities. Acts 4:32-37 records the incredible generosity of the early church with regard to the sharing of their physical possessions. Galatians 6:1-10 delivers Paul’s instruction that we strive to meet the spiritual needs of others, especially those “of the household of faith” (ESV). While none of us has the right to demand the spiritual or physical assistance of others, each of us must be cheerfully willing to share all that he has and can do to meet the spiritual and physical needs of other members of the body.
Loving service provided to one another is a hallmark of the church (I Peter 4:8-11). The building up of the members of the body is the express purpose for which God has given spiritual gifts to his children (I Corinthians 12). We promise to serve your loved ones as well as you for several reasons: Meeting the needs of your loved ones will be a blessing to you, and meeting the needs of your loved ones will either build them up as believers in Christ (I Thessalonians 5:11) or demonstrate Christ’s love to those who are not believers (I Corinthians 7:14).
Jesus said that the major identifying mark of His followers would be their love for each other (John 13:35). Also, we are told in 1 John 4:7 that our love for fellow believers is a proof to us that we are children of God. At Oasis of Truth we desire to follow Jesus’ example of giving and receiving love.