Fundamental Doctrine
The basic and 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 the Lord Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and the baptism of the Holy Ghost with the initial sign of speaking with other tongues as the Spirit
gives utterance. We shall endeavor to keep the unity of the
Spirit until we all come into the unity of the faith, at the same time admonishing all brethren that they shall not contend for their different views to the disunity of the body. ARTICLES OF FAITH
THE ONE TRUE GOD:
We believe in the one everliving, eternal God: infinite in power,
Holy in nature, attributes and purpose; and possessing absolute, indivisible deity. This one true God has revealed Himself as Father, through His Son, in redemption; and as the Holy Spirit, by emanation. (1 Cor. 8:6; Eph. 4:6; 2 Cor. 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..." (Luke 24:39). "...The first of all the commandments is, hear, O Israel; the Lord
our God is one Lord" (Mark 12:29; Deut. 6:4). "One God and
Father of all, who is above all, and through al" and in you all"
(Eph. 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 Spirit after the ascension. The Son of God
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. As 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" (1 Timothy 3:16). "He came unto His own, and His own received Him not" (John 1:11), This one true God was manifest 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 Cor. 5:19). We believe that, "...in Him (Jesus) dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily" (Col. 2:9). "For it pleased the Father that in Him should all fullness dwell" (Col. 1:19). Therefore, Jesus in His humanity was man; in His deity was and is God. His flesh was the lamb, or the sacrifice of God. 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" (1 Timothy 2:5). Jesus on His Father's side was divine, on His mother's side, human; Thus, He was known as the Son of God and also the Son of man, or the God-man. "For He hath put all things under His feet. But when He saith all
things are put under Him, it is manifest that He is excepted, which did put all things under Him" (1 Cor. 15:27). "And when all things shall be subdued unto Him, then shall the Son also Himself be subject unto Him that put all things under Him, that God may be all in all" (1 Cor. 15:28)."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). The Bible
We believe the Bible to be inspired 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" (2 Timothy 3:16). The Bible is the only God-given authority which man possesses;
therefore, all doctrine, faith, hope, and all instruction for the church must be based upon, and harmonize with, the Bible. It is to be read and studied by all men everywhere, and can only be clearly understood by those who are anointed by the Holy Spirit (1John 2:27). "…no prophecy of the scripture is of any private
interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but Holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost" (2 Peter 1:20-21). Water Baptism::
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 our Lord Jesus Christ, according to the Acts of the Apostles 2:38; 8:16; 10:48; 19:5; thus obeying and fulfilling Matthew 28:19. The Baptism of the Holy Spirit::
John the Baptist, in Matthew 3:11, said, "...He shall baptize you
with the Holy Ghost, and with fire." 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 and fire," "filled with the
Holy Spirit," and the "gift of the Holy Ghost" are synonymous
terms used interchangeably in the Bible. It is scriptural to expect
all who receive the gift, filling, or baptism of the Holy Spirit to
receive the same physical, initial sign of speaking with other
tongues. The speaking with other tongues, as recorded in Acts 2:4; 10:46, and 19:6, and the gift of tongues, as explained in I Corinthians, chapters 12 and 14, are the same in essence, but different in use and purpose. The Lord, through the Prophet Joel, said, "...I will pour out my
Spirit upon all flesh; ..." (Joel 2:28). Peter, in explaining this phenomenal experience, said, "...having
received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, He (Jesus) hath shed forth this which ye now see and hear." (Acts 2:33). Further, "...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." Holiness::
Godly living should characterize the life of every child of the Lord, and we should live according to the pattern and example given in the Word of God. "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 2:11, 12). "For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow His steps: who did no sin, neither was guile found in His mouth: who, when He was reviled, reviled not again; when He suffered, He threatened not; but committed Himself to Him that judgeth righteously" (1 Peter 2:21- 23). "Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man
shall see the Lord" (Heb. 12: 14). "But as He which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all
manner of conversation; because it is written, be ye holy; for I am holy. And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man's work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear: forasmuch as ye know that ye werenot redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot" ( 1 Peter 1: 15-19). We wholeheartedly disapprove of our people indulging in any
activities which are not conducive to good Christianity and Godly living, such as theatres, dances, mixed bathing, women cutting their hair, make-up, any apparel that immodestly exposes the body, all worldly sports and amusements, and unwholesome radio programs and music. We admonish all of our people to refrain from any of these practices in the interest of spiritual progress and the soon coming of the Lord for His church.
