Articles of Faith
We accept the Scriptures as the revealed Will of God, the infallible Word of God. “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness” (II Timothy 3: 16).
The Bible is the only God-given authority which man possesses; therefore, the administration, teaching, preaching, and conduct of the membership of the church, must be based upon and harmonize with, the Bible.
The Holy Bible is the only God-given instructional manual given to man; therefore the administration, teaching, preaching, and conduct of the church must be rooted in and directed by the Bible. God has also sent us His Holy Spirit to anoint and give clear understanding as we read and study the scriptures.
The Church
The church is the body of Christ, the habitation of God through the Spirit, with divine appointments for the fulfillment of her great commission. Each believer, born of the Spirit, is an integral part of the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in Heaven (Ephesians 1:22; 2:19-22; Hebrews 12:23).
The Name
God used different titles, such as “I AM”, “the Almighty God”, “El Shaddai”, JEHOVAH,” and especially “JEHOVAH Lord,” the redemptive name in the Old Testament.
“Unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given… and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6). This prophecy of Isaiah was in the eternal omnipotent, omniscient God: holy in nature, attributes and purpose. This one true God has revealed Himself as Father in creation; Son, in redemption; and as the Holy Spirit, by emanation. (I Corinthians 8:6; Ephesians 4:6; II Corinthians 5:19; Joel 2:28).
“The first of all commandments is, Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord” (Mark 12:29; Deuteronomy 6:4). “One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.” (Ephesians 4:6).
The Son of God
In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God, and the word was God. And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us (John 1: 1&14). The one true God, the Jehovah of the Old Testament, took upon Himself the form of man, and as the Son of man, was born of the virgin Mary. Jesus Christ is God manifested in the flesh (I Tim. 3: 16).
We believe that “In him (JESUS) dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily” (Colossians 2:9). Therefore, Jesus in His humanity was man… in His deity was and is God. The flesh was the lamb or the sacrifice of God.(John 1:29) He is the only mediator between God and man. “For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus” (I Timothy 2:5). “I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty” (Rev. 1: 8).
Man, His Fall, and Redemption
Man was created good and upright, pure and holy (Genesis 1:26-31). As a result of the disobedience of Adam and Eve, man fell from their holy state, lost fellowship with God, and was driven from the Garden of Eden. Sin entered into this world by one man’s disobedience (Genesis 3:1-7; Romans 5:12-21).
The Salvation of Man
Man’s only hope of redemption is through the shed blood of Jesus Christ.( Hebrews 9:22) On the cross Jesus Christ became sin and sickness, providing both salvation and divine healing for all mankind (Psalm 103:3) Being justified freely by His Grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.(Ephesians 2:8) Except a man be born of water and of the spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. (John 3:5)
Repentance
The only ground upon which God will accept a sinner is repentance from the heart, for the sins that he has committed. (Luke 13:3) “A broken and a contrite heart, … thou wilt not despise” (Psalms 51:17). John the Baptist preached repentance ( Matthew 3:2) , Jesus proclaimed it, and the apostles emphasized it to both Jews and Gentiles (Acts 2:28, 11:18, and 17:30). The word “repentance” means a change of views and purpose, a change of heart, and a change of mind. Jesus said, “Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish”, “And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.” (Luke 13:3 & Luke 24:47)
Water Baptism
Baptism is an essential part of New Testament Salvation and it is not as some teach, just an outward form of inward cleansing. To enter into the Kingdom of God, God’s True Church(the Bride of Christ), must be in obedience to scripture and fulfill all the requirements of the new birth experience.
Water Baptism was administered in the name of Jesus Christ, for this was the name given to our Saviour before His birth, for the purpose of saving His people from their sins (Matthew1:21). “Neither is there salvation in any other name: for there is none other name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). There is no biblical record of one person ever being baptized, (as some believers are today), by repeating “In the name of the Father and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost” (Matt. 28:19). Evidence that the apostles in obedience to Matthew 28:19 knew the NAME of the Father, the NAME of the Son, and the NAME of the Holy Ghost is demonstrated by their actions in Acts 8:16 with the Samaritans, Acts 9:15&16 with Saul of Tarsus, Acts 10:43& 48 with Cornelius and his household, Acts 19: 1-7 with the Ephesians, and I Corinthians 1:13 and with the Corinthians.
The scriptural mode of baptism is by immersion in water, and is only for those who have really repented of their sins, and in their hearts have truly believed on Christ as Saviour and Lord. In so doing, they declare to the world that they have died with Jesus and that they have also been raised with Him to walk in newness of life (Acts 2:38; Romans 6:4).
Holy Spirit Baptism
We believe that all who obey receive the gift of the Holy Ghost, as promised by our Lord(Acts 5:32), as a witness to their scriptural based faith in Jesus (John 7:37-39). We further believe that the new birth of the Spirit (John 3:5) is necessary to place the believer in the Kingdom of God.( Romans 8:9) It is clear that the outpouring of the Spirit on the day of Pentecost as in Acts chapter 2,marked a “new era” in the Spirit’s dealing with mankind as prophesied by Joel 2:28 & 29 and Isaiah 28:11.
” For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence” (Acts 1:5)
This was the normal experience of all in the early Christian church. “Then Peter said unto them, Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call” (Acts 2:38 &39). The full consummation of the Baptism of believers in the Holy Spirit, is evidenced by the initial physical sign of speaking with other tongues as the Spirit gives utterance,( and by the subsequent manifestation of spiritual power in public testimony and service) (Acts 1:8, 2:4; 10:44-46; 19:2 & 6). The Holy Ghost bears witness that “we are the children of God” (Romans 8:16).