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ARTICLES OF OUR FAITH

 

  1. The HOLY  BIBLE,  consisting  of  39  books  of  the  Old Testament and 27books  of  the  New  Testament,  is  the inspired word of God. It is the final   authority   in   all   matters concerning Christian conduct and work. (2Tim.3: 16,17; Prov. 30:5-6; Rev. 22:18-19).
  2. The GODHEAD consists of three separate, distinct, and recognizable personalities and qualities, perfectly united in one. The Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost are different Persons in the Godhead, and not merely three names for one Person. (Matt. 3:16, 17, 2 Cp. 13:14; Matt. 28:19, 20).
  3. JESUS CHRIST, the only begotten Son of God was born of the Virgin Mary. He was crucified and He died, was buried, but rose bodily the third day. (Isa.7: 14; Matt. 1:18, 25; Rom. 1:4; 1Cor. 15:3, 4).
  4. ALL MEN ARE TOTALLY DEPRAVED, SINFUL AND GUILTY since the fall, rendering them subject to God’s wrath and condemnation. (Ps.51: 5; Job 14:4; Rom. 3:23; 5:12-17; Mk. 7:21-23; Eph. 2:1-3).
  5. REPENTANCE is a complete turning away from all sins and their deceitful pleasures and required for every sinner before he can truly and effectively believe in Jesus with saving faith (Prov.28: 13; Isa.55: 7; Ezek. 18:21-23; Mk.1: 15; Lk.24: 46,47; Acts.2: 38; 3:19; 20:21; 2Cor.7: 10; Heb6: 13).
  6. RESTITUTION is making amends for wrongs done against our fellowmen, restoring stolen things to their rightful owners, paying debts, giving back where one has defrauded, making confessions to the offended and apologizing to those slandered. It is necessary, so as to have a conscience void of offence toward God and man (Gen. 20:1-8; Exo. 22:1-7; Lev. 6:1-7; Num. 6:6-8; 2 Sam 12:1-6; Prov. 6:31; Ezk. 33:14-16; Matt. 5:23,24; Lk. 19:8,9; Acts 23:1-5; 24:16; Jam 4:17, 5:6).
  7. JUSTIFICATION is the act of God’s grace by which one receives forgiveness and remission of sins and is counted righteous, standing before God as though one had never sinned. It is received through faith in the atoning blood of Jesus. At the time of justification, the justified is also REGENERATED. By regeneration is meant the act of God’s grace, whereby a spiritual change is wrought in the heart of man, making him a new creature and enabling him to live righteously, soberly and godly in this present evil world (Ps. 32:1, 2; Isa. 1:18; Mic. 7:19; 2 Cor. 5:17-21; Gal. 2:16; Eph. 2:8, 9; Tit. 3:5; I Pet. 1:23; Tit. 2:11-12; Eph. 2:1, 5).
  8. WATER BAPTISM is essential to our obedience after reconciliation with God. Water Baptism is one immersion (not three) “in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost” as Jesus commanded. (Matt. 3:13-17; Mk.16:15, 16; Acts 2:38; 8:38, 39; Rom. 6:4,6).
  9. THE LORD’S SUPER was instituted by Jesus Christ so that all believers (all members of the family of God) might partake thereof regularly to “shew the Lord’s death till He come”. The emblems used are “unleavened bread” and the juice of “fruit of the vine”. Any who eats and drinks unworthily brings “damnation”, punishment and chastisement upon himself. (Matt. 26:26; Lk. 2:17-20; I Cor. 11:23-30).
  10. SANCTIFICATION is a definite act of God’s grace subsequent to the new birth regeneration), by which the believer’s heart is purified and made holy. It is an instantaneous experience (distinct form gradual maturity of some believers) and is obtained through faith in the sanctifying blood of Jesus Christ. Purity of heart and holiness of life are central to Christian living (Lk. 1:74,75; Jn. 17:15-17; 1Thess. 4:3,7,8, 5:22-24; Eph. 5:25-27; Heb. 2:11,10:10,14; 13:11,12; Tit. 2:11-14; 1Jn. 1:7; Heb. 12:14; 1Pet. 1:14-16).
  11. BAPTISM IN THE HOLY GHOST is the infilling of the heart of the sanctified with the Holy spirit at baptismal measure and the endowment with power from on high. It is usually accompanied with the speaking of language unlearned previously, referred to as “speaking in tongues “. Speaking in tongues is not taught people, since it is “as the Holy Spirit gives utterance” to the baptized (Matt. 3:11; 1:8; Lk. 3.16; 24:49; Jn. 1:30 33; 7:3-39; 14:16, 17, 26; 15:26, 16:12 – 15; Acts 1:5-8; 10:44-46; 19:1-6). The gifts of the Holy Spirit are for today (1Cor. 12:1-31, 14:1-40). Also the rule is “purity before power” (cp. Heb. 1:9).
  12. REDEMPTION FORM THE CURSE OF LAW, HEALING OF SICKNESS AND DISEASE, as well as continued health are provided for all people through the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ (Ex. 15:26; Dut. 7:15; Ps. 103:1-5; Prov. 4:20-22; Isa. 53:4,5; Matt. 8:16-17; I Jn. 3:8; 3 Jn. 2; Gal. 3:13-14).
  13. PERSONAL EVANGELISM is a God-given and God-ordained ministry for every believer. Jesus commanded and God requires every believer to be a compassionate and fruitful soul winner, bringing others to Christ (Matt. 28:19, 20; Mk. 16:15; Lk. 24:46-49; Jn 17:18; Act. 1:8, 8:1-4; Ps. 126:5,6; Prov. 11:30; Dan. 12:3; Ezk. 3:17-21).
  14. MARRIAGE is binding for life. Monogamy is the uniform teaching of the Bible. Polygamy is contrary to God’s perfect will and institution. The Bible forbids a believer from marrying an unbeliever. Also, under the New Testament dispensation, no one has a right to divorce and re-marry while the first companion lives. When a person becomes converted, necessary restitution, on this line, must be done without delay if one had married wrongly (Gen. 2:24; Deut. 7:1-4; Jos. 23:11-13; 2Cor. 6:14-18; Prov. 31:10-31; Mal. 2:14,15; Rom. 7:2,3; Eph. 5:31-33; Matt. 5:31-32, 19:3-9; Mk. 10:2-12; Lk. 16:18; Jn. 4:15-19; Gen. 20:3-7).
  15. THE RAPTURE (commonly referred to as the first phase or stage of THE SECOND COMING OF CHRIST) is the catching away from the earth of all living saints and all who died in the Lord. The rapture will take place before the great tribulation and can happen at any time from now “in a twinkling of an eye” with a moment’s warning, “the trumpet should sound” and the dead in Christ shall rise first: then we which are alive remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the lord air: and so shall we ever be with the lord”. (Jn. 14:1-3; Lk. 21:34-36; 1Cor. 15:51-58; 1Thess. 4:13-18, 2Thess. 2: 5-7; Phil. 3: 11,20, 21; Jn. 3:1-3).
  16. RESURRECTION OF THE DEAD is taught in the Bible as clearly as the immortality of the soul. Every individual who has ever lived will be resurrected, some to honour and glory and others to everlasting shame and contempt. (Job 19; 25-27; Ps 71:20; Isa. 26:19; Dan 12:2; Jn. 5:28-28; 1Cor 15:12-57; I Thes. 4:13-16; Heb. 6:1-2; Phil. 3:8-11; Rev. 20:4-6,12,13).
  17. THE GREAT TRIBULATION will come after the rapture and will be a time of terrible suffering on earth. It is also referred to as “the time of Jacob’s trouble” (Jer. 30:7; Matt. 24:21, 22,29; Rev. 9:16; 2Thess. 2:3-12; Rev. 130. During this time, the Anti-Christ will take possession of this world for a reign of terror. He will not be a system or organization but a person … a supernatural, diabolic being, in the form of a man who will blaspheme and then proclaim himself to be God (Dan. 8:23-25; 2Thess. 2:7-12; Rev. 19:1-10).
  18. THE MARRIAGE SUPPER OF THE LAMB will take place above, while the Tribulation continues on earth. (Rev. 19:1-10).
  19. THE SECOND COMING OF JESUS CHRIST will be just as literal and visible as His going away, and He is coming to execute judgment upon the ungodly. He will also, then, set up His Kingdom and reign on this present earth for a thousand years (Zech. 14:3,4; Matt. 25:31-46, 26:64; Mk. 13:24-27; 2Thess. 1:7-10, 2:8; Jude 14,15).
  20. CHRIST’S MILLENNIAL REIGN is the 1,000 years’ literal reign of Jesus Christ on earth, which will be ushered in by the coming of Jesus back to earth with ten thousand of His saints. At this time, He will judge the nations that dwell upon the face of the earth (Jude 14, 15; 2 Thess. 1:7-10). During this time the devil will be bound (Rev. 20:2,3). It will be a reign of peace and blessing (Isa. 11:6-9, 65:25; Hos. 2:18; Zech. 14:9-20; Isa. 2:2-4).
  21. THE GREAT WHITE THRONE JUDGMENT is when God finally judges all (the living and the dead, small and great) who have ever lived on the face of the earth, according to their works. This is after the Millennium. At this time the final judgment known as the “White Throne Judgment” will be held. All those, form all ages, who have not yet been judged (believers’ judgment, as sinners before, was accomplished by Christ on the cross (Jn. 5:24, 3:17-19) will stand before God at this time. The devil and his angels are judged at this time also and sent to the lake of fire forever (Dan. 12:2,3; Matt. 10:15, 11:21-24, 12:41,42; Jn. 5:28,29; Rom. 2:15,16, 14:12 2 Peter 2:9; Jude 6:1;1Cor. 6:1-4; Acts 10:42; Rev. 20:11-15).
  22. THE NEW HEAVEN AND THE NEW EARTHwherein dwelleth righteousness will be made by God and the redeemed shall dwell with God forever. This present earth, which has been polluted by sin, will pass away after the Great White Throne Judgment (Ps. 102:25,26 65:17; Matt. 5:18, 35; 2 Pet. 3:10-13; Rev. 21:1). No unclean thing will be there. We shall know each other, our knowledge having been perfected. There will be no more curse upon anything. There will be no more night. The glory of the Lord will be the light thereof (Isa. 66:22; 2 Pet 1:2,13; 1Cor. 13:2; 1Jn. 3:2,3; Rev. 21:1-7, 22:1-5).
  23. HELLFIRE if a place of everlasting punishment where sinners (all who do not have their names written in the book of life) will suffer torments for ever and ever. It was prepared for the devil and his angels, (Matt. 25:41) but God has decreed that the wicked and those who forget Him and reject Christ shall also be cast there because of their sins and neglect of His salvation (Ps. 9:17; Matt. 25; 46; Lk. 12; 4,5, 16:19-31; Matt. 5:22,30; Mk. 9:43-47; Rev. 14:10,11, 20:10, 12 – 15).