We believe the Bible to be the direct and absolute Word of God (2 Timothy 3:16), given to us by the inspiration of the Holy Ghost as it is moved upon the tongues and pens of men who had received special anointing of God for this express purpose: “For the prophesy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved of the Holy Ghost.” ( 2 Peter 1:21) We believe the Bible to be God’s means of doctrine, instruction, and comfort to the Church today, infallible in its authority, singular in interpretation, and man’s only avenue of access to God.
We believe in One ever-living, eternal God; infinite in power, Holy in Nature, attributes and purpose, and possessing absolute, indivisible Deity. This one true God as Father in creation; through the Son in redemption; and as the Holy Spirit by emanation (1 Corinthians 8:6; Ephesians 4:6; 2 Corinthians 5:19; Joel 2:28).
The scripture does more than attempt to prove the existence of God: it asserts, assumes and declares that the knowledge of God is universal…(Romans 1:19, 21,28,32; 2:15).
God is invisible, incorporeal, without parts, without body and therefore free from all limitations. He is Spirit (John 4:24), and “a Spirit hath not flesh and bones” (Luke24: 39).
“The first of all commandments is, Hear, O Israel; the LORD our God is one LORD” (Mark12:29; Deuteronomy 6:4). “One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all” (Ephesians 4:6).
This one True God manifested Himself in the Old Testament in divers ways; in the Son while He walked among men; as the Holy Ghost after the ascension.
The one True God, the Yahweh of the Old Testament, took upon Himself the form of a man and as the Son of man, was born of the Virgin Mary. As the apostle Paul says: “And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness; God was manifest in the flesh, Justified in the spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory” (1Timothy 3:16; John 1:10).
“He came unto His own, and His own received Him not,” (John 1:11). This one true God was manifested in the flesh, that is, in His Son Jesus Christ.
“…God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto Himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them…” (2 Corinthians 5:19).
We believe that “…in Him (Jesus) dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily.” (Colossians 2:9).
“…unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given…and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.” (Isaiah 9:6) This prophesy of Isaiah was fulfilled when the Son of God was named, “And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus: For He shall save His people from their sins,” (Matthew 1:21).
“Neither is there salvation in any other; for there is none other name under Heaven given among men whereby we must be saved,” (Acts 4:12).
God created man in His own image (Genesis 1:26,27), innocent, pure and holy (Romans 5:11, Ephesians 2:3). Man needed a redeemer which has been supplied in the seed of a woman, which seed bruised the serpent’s head (Genesis 3:15; Luke 2:10,11); that is, our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ in whom we have redemption through His blood, even the forgiveness of sins, (Ephesians 1:7; Revelation 1:5).
“For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, teaching us that denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world.” (Titus 1:11,12).
“For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.” (John 1:17).
A Christian, to keep saved, must walk with God and keep himself in the love of God (Jude 21), and in the grace of God. The word ‘grace’ means ‘favour’. When a person transgresses and sins against God, he/she loses favour. If they continue to sin and do not repent, they will eventually be lost and cast into the lake of fire. (See John 15:1,6: 2 Peter 20: 20-22). Jude speaks of the backsliders of his day.and of their reward. (See also Hebrews 6: 4-6).
“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God” (Ephesians 2:8).
Melchizedek, the priest of the Most High God, gave the first communion to our father Abraham consisting of bread and wine. (Genesis 14:18). Christ, being “made a high priest forever, after the order of Melchezidek,” evidently administered the same (Hebrews 7:21; Matthew 26:26-29; 1 Corinthians 11:23-32).
On the night of our Lord’s betrayal, He ate the Passover supper with His apostles, after which He instituted the communion service. ” And He took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it and gave it unto them, saying,This is my body which is given for you: This do in remembrance of me. Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, this cup is the New Testament in My blood, which is shed for you” (Luke 22:19,20).
Paul instructed the Church how to observe it. (1 Corinthians 11:23-24).
This ordinance is as much as a divine command as any other New Testament ordinance. Jesus gave us an example that we do even as He had done. He said that we ought to wash one another’s feet. And again, “If ye know these things, happy are ye if you do them” (John 13: 4-17). There is scriptural evidence that this was practiced by the Church in the days of the apostle Paul (1 Timothy 5:10).
The Physical suffering of the Lord Jesus Christ purchases healing for our bodies,as His death, burial and resurrection provided for the salvation of our souls, for “…with His stripes we are healed,” (Isaiah 53:5) Matthew 8:17 reads: “…Himself took our infirmities, and bore our sicknesses.” (See also 1 Peter 2:24).
We see from this that healing for the body is in the atonement. That being true, then it is for all who believe. Jesus said of the believer:…” they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.” Later James wrote in his epistle to all the church: ” Is any sick among you: Let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: and the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up: and if he has committed sins, they shall be forgiven him. Confess your faults one to another, and pray for one another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much” (James 5: 14-16).
The only grounds upon which God will accept a sinner are repentance, from the heart, for the sins that he has committed. A broken and contrite heart, He will not despise (Psalm 51:17). John preached repentance, Jesus proclaimed it, and before His ascension, commanded that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name, beginning at Jerusalem (Luke 24:47). Peter fulfilled this command on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:38).
The scriptural mode of baptism is immersion, and is only for those who have fully repented, having turned from their sins and a love of the world. It should be administered by a duly authorized minister of the Gospel in obedience to the Word of God, and in the Name of Jesus Christ, according to the Acts of the Apostles 2:38; 8:16; 10:48; 19:5, thus obeying and fulfilling Matthew 28:19.
John the Baptist, in Matthew 3:11, said “…He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost.”
Jesus, in Acts 1:5, said: “…ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.”
Luke tells us in Acts 2:4, “…they were all filled with the Holy Ghost and began to speak with other tongues (languages) as the Spirit gave them utterance.”
The terms “Baptize with the Holy Ghost,” “Filled with the Holy Ghost,” and “gift of the Holy Ghost” are synonymous terms used interchangeably in the Bible.
The basic fundamental doctrine of this Organization shall be the Bible standard of full salvation, which is Repentance, Baptism in water by immersion in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and the baptism of the Holy Ghost, with the evidence of speaking with other tongues as the Spirit gives utterance, (Acts 2:4,38: John 3:5).
We believe that the period of “Tribulation” will be followed by the dawn of a better day on earth, and that for one thousand years there shall be “peace on earth and good will toward men,” (Revelation 20:1-5 Isaiah 65:17-25; Matthew 5:5; Daniel 7:27; Micah 4:1; Habakkuk 2:14; Roman 11: 25-27).
When the thousand years are finished, there shall be a resurrection of the dead, who shall be summoned before the Great White Throne for their final judgement; and all whose names are not found written in the Book of Life, shall be cast into the lake of fire, burning with brimstone, which God has prepared for the devil and his angels, (Revelation 20: 5-15; Matthew 24:41-46; Revelation 21:8).
All civil magistrates are ordained of God for peace, safety and the welfare of all people (Romans 13:1-10; Titus 3:1-2; 1 Peter 2:13-14) therefore, it is our duty to be in obedience to all requirements of the law that are not contrary to the Word of God, and that do not force one to the violation of the sixth commandment, by bearing arms. It is our duty to honour without murmuring (Matthew 17:24-27; 22:17-21), and show respect to them in all lawful requirements of the civil government.
We believe that godly living should characterize the life and walk of all saints according to the sign and example found in 1 Peter 2:21; Titus 2:11; Galatians 2:20; Hebrews 12:14; 1 Peter1: 15-17.
We believe we are to cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit perfecting holiness in the fear of God (2Corinthians 7:1), and to abstain from all appearance of evil (1 Thessalonians 5:22), and to turn away from those who have a form of godliness but deny the power thereof, (2 Timothy 3:5; 1 Corinthians 11:6; 1 Timothy 2:9,10; 1 Peter2: 3,4).
We see from the New Testament writings, that the Church is now free of the Law of Moses, and that we, as the apostle Paul states: “…are under the perfect law of liberty”, in which there is a wonderful freedom in the Church.
The Lord’s financial plan was first revealed with regard to Abram and as a freewill offering found favour with Melchizedek, and so even the New Testament Church has a duty of care as shown in 2 Corinthians 9:5-15.
The Freewill offering is indeed a measure of one’s heart, “…freely ye have received, freely give.” (Matthew 10:8). The work of the Lord must not be constrained, and we as brothers and sisters need to love with that pure (agape) love that brings with it a responsibility of care for the Church and the varied activities we engage in as the Body of Christ on earth.
“Honour the Lord with all thy substance and with the firstfruits of all thine increase, so shall thy barns be filled with plenty and thy presses shall burst out with new wine” (Proverbs 3:9-10).
You bless the Lord and He will bless you – overflowing, pressed down and shaken together. Amen.
“Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, commiteth adultery”. (Matthew 5:32; 19:9).
That the Lord Jesus Christ is to come to earth in person is a doctrine clearly set forth in apostolic times.
James taught it; the Apostles preached it; the saints expect it. (See Matthew 24:1ff; Acts 1:11; 3:19-21 1 Corinthians 1:7,8; 11:26; Philippians 3:20,21; Titus 2:13).
We believe the catching away of the church draweth nigh and at the time all the dead in Christ shall rise from their graves, and we that are alive and remain shall be translated or “caught up” to meet the Lord in the air. (Matthew 24:36-42; Luke 17:20-37; 1Corinthians 15:51; Philippians 3:20-21; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17).
Whereas, the Word of God teaches the imminent second coming of our Lord Jesus Christ; and that there will be first an appearing or catching away of the Church, (1 Thessalonians 4:13) preceding His second coming back to earth; and said first appearing we believe to be at hand and likely to occur at any moment.
Moreover, we believe that the distress upon the earth is the “beginning of sorrows” and will become more intense until there ” shall be a time of trouble such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time.” (Matthew 24:21; Daniel 12:1 Romans 11:25-27).
