We Hold These Truths... These vital
points of New Testament doctrine are some of the prominent teachings
of The Church of God. Not all Christian Church organizations
teach these points of doctrine the same way. The Church of God accepts the whole Bible rightly divided
and holds these sacred truths as they have been revealed in
the Scriptures by the Holy Ghost. All those who become members
of The Church of God must accept the following covenant in the
affirmative:
"Will you sincerely promise in the presence of God and these
witnesses that you will accept this Bible as the Word of God
believe and practice its teachings rightly divided the New Testament
as your rule of faith and practice, government and discipline,
and walk in the light to the best of your knowledge and ability?
"This is a perpetual covenant that shall not be forgotten."
Repentance
Repentance is the act of turning from and forsaking sin. Read
Mark 1:15; Luke 13:3; Acts 3:19.
Justification
Justification is a state and an act. It is the state of being
void of offense toward God by the act of God's forgiveness of
the transgressions for which one has repented. See Romans 5:1-9;
Titus 3:7.
Regeneration
Regeneration is an act of God performed in the justified heart
whereby new, spiritual life is generated. See Titus 3:5. ...
Regeneration is simultaneous with the new birth. Also see, Matt.
19:28.
Born Again
To be born again is to become a new creature in Christ and a
child of God. This new birth is the result of repentence, justification
and regeneration and is accompanied by a definite inner witness.
See John 3:3; 1 Peter 1:23; 1 John 3:9. ... The new birth is
a prerequisite for the experience of sanctification.
Sanctification
Sanctification is the second definite work of grace, an instantaneous
work wrought in the regenerated heart by the Holy Ghost with
the blood of Christ. In regeneration actual transgressions are
forgiven, but in sanctification the Adamic nature, or inbred
sin, is eradicated. Sanctification restores man to the holy
estate of Adam before the fall, and gives him the grace to live
a life of holiness, thus making him eligible for the indwelling
of the Holy Ghost. Sanctification is subsequent to justification.
See Romans 5:2; 1 Corinthians 1:30; I Thessalonians 4:3; Hebrews
13:12; 1 John 1..9.
Holiness
Holiness is the state of being free from sin, a condition made
possible by the experience of sanctification. God requires man
to live sinless in this present world and provides the means
through the shed blood of Christ. See Luke 1:74, 75; 1 Thessalonians
4:7; Hebrews 12: 14.
Water Baptism
Water baptism is the act of being immersed in water according
to the instructions of Christ. Although this ordinance has no
power to wash away sin, it represents the death, burial and
resurrection of Christ. Only those who have already been born
again are eligible for water baptism. See Matthew 28:19; Mark
1:8-10; John 3:22, 23; Acts 8:12, 36-38; 10:47, 48; 16:33.
Baptism with the Holy Ghost
The baptism with the Holy Ghost which is subsequent to sanctification
is the enduement of power for service. This baptism is always
accompanied by the evidence of speaking in other tongues as
the Spirit gives the utterance. It is the filling of the temple
already made clean by sanctification and is a gift of God in
answer to the prayer of Christ. Read Matthew 3:11; Luke 24:49-53;
Acts 1:4-8.
Speaking in Tongues
Speaking in tongues as the Spirit gives the utterance is the
initial, physical evidence of the baptism of the Holy Ghost.
This is separate and distinct from the gift of tongues, which
is one of the nine gifts of the Spirit. John 1 5:26. Also read,
Acts 2:4; 10:44-46; 19:6.
Full Restoration of the Gifts to
The Church
The gifts of the Spirit were set in the Church to be operated
by the Spirit according to the will of God. They are manifested
through individual members. The gifts are given to the Church
and not to individuals. These gifts were all operated in the
early Church and were restored to the Church in these last days.
See 1 Corinthians 12:1, 7-10, 28, 31; 1 Corinthians 14:1.
Signs Following Believers
Miraculous signs will accompany the work and ministry of true
believers. See Mark 16:17-20; Romans 15:18, 19; Hebrews 2:4.
Fruit of the Spirit
The Spirit-filled life will manifest the fruit of the Spirit
which is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness,
faith, meekness, and temperance. These virtues are divine in
origin and spring from a Spirit-filled heart. See Romans 6:22;
Galatians 5:22, 23; Ephesians 5:9; Philippians 1:11.
Divine Healing
The sacrifice of Christ provided not only for the salvation
of the souls of men but also for the healing of man's physical
ailments. Divine healing is healing accomplished by the power
of God and is available to all who believe. the same as salvation.
Read Psalms 103:3; Isaiah 53:4, 5; Matthew 8:16, 17; James 5:14-16;
1 Peter 2:24.
The Lord's Supper
The Lord's Supper was instituted by Christ and is a sacred ordinance
which we are commanded to observe in commemoration of Christ
and His death. Only sinless and consecrated Christians are eligible
to partake of this Supper. See Luke 22: 17-20; 1 Corinthians
1 1:23-33.
Washing the Saints' Feet
Feet wasiting was instituted by Jesus on the night of the Last
Supper and is a New Testament ordinance we are enjoined to observe.
Its observance was taught by the apostles and practiced by the
early Church. See John 13:4-17; 1 Timothy 5:10.
Tithing and Giving
Tithing is the paying of one tenth of our increase into the
treasury of the Church. It began with Abraham, continued under
the law and received Christ's approval. Giving differs from
and is in addition to tithing. Both are part of God's plan to
finance His work on earth. Read Genesis 14:18-20; 28:20-22;
Malachi 3:10; Matthew 23:23; Luke 1 1:42; 1 Corinthians 1 6:2;
2 Corinthians 9:6-9; Hebrews 7:1-21.
Restitution Where Possible
Restitution is the act of restoring something wrongfully taken
or the satisfying of one who has been wronged. God requires
those who become converted to perform such tasks if at all possible.
See Matthew 3:8; Luke 1 9:8, 9; Romans 13:8.
Pre-Millennial Second Coming of
Jesus
First, to resurrect the dead saints and to catch away the living
saints to meet Him in the air. Read in Matthew 24:27,28; 1 Corinthians
15:51, 52; 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17. ...Second, to reign on earth
a thousand years. Read also, Zechariah l4:4, 5; Luke 1:32; 1
Thessalonians 4:14; 2 Thessalonians 1:7-10; Jade 14, 15; Revelation
5:10; 19:11-21;20:4-6.
Resurrection
All the dead will be resurrected. The righteous dead will be
raised in the first resurrection which is at Christ's appearing.
The resurrection of the wicked dead will occur after the thousand
years reign of Christ on earth. See Isaiah 26: 1 9; Daniel 12:2;
John 5:28, 29; Acts 24:15; Revelation 20:5, 6.
Eternal Life for the Righteous
Those who die in the Lord and those who are serving Him when
He returns will receive a reward of eternal life. Read in Matthew
25:46; Luke 1 8:30; John 10:28; Romans 6:22; 1 John 5:1 1-13.
Eternal Punishment for the Wicked
The unconverted and the wicked are doomed to eternal punishment,
from which there is no escape-no liberation or annihilation.
See Matthew 25:4 1 -46; Mark 3:29; 2 Thessalonians 1:8, 9; Revelation
20:10-15; 21:8.
Total Abstinence from all Liquor
or Strong Drinks
The Bible expressly forbids the use of intoxicating beverages.
Even slight indulgence is not in keeping with the Scriptural
standard of holiness. Read Proverbs 20:1; 23:29-32; Isaiah 28:7;
1 Corinthians 5:1 1; 6:10; Galatians 5:21.
Against the Use of Tobacco in Any
Form, Opium, Morphine, Etc.
The use of tobacco and the habitual use of narcotics are sinful
practices which defile the body, the temple of the Holy Ghost,
and is an outward evidence of an impure heart. Read Isaiah 55:2;
1 Corinthians 10:31, 32; 2 Corinthians 7:1; Ephesians 5:3-8;
James 1:21.
On Meats and Drinks
The New Testament makes no rigid rule concerning what the Christian
shall eat or drink (with the exception of strong drink). We
have no right to judge what our brother eats or what he drinks.
Read in Romans 14:2-3, 17; 1 Corinthians 8:8; 1 Timothy 4:1-5.
On The Sabbath
The observance of the Sabbath was a requirement of Jewish law
and as such was not carried over into the Grace Dispensation.
Sunday is not the Sabbath but is merely a day set aside to give
special attention to the worship of God. Instead of keeping
only the Sabbath day holy, we are required in this dispensation
to keep every day holy. The Jewish Sabbath is a type of Christ,
who is our rest, rather than the day. See Hosea 2:11; Romans
14:5, 6; Colossians 2:16, 17.
Against Wearing Gold for Ornament
Ornaments of precious stones and metals are evidences of a prideful
heart and are unbecoming to a child of God. See 1 Corinthians
3:16, 17; 1 John 2:15-17; Ezekiel 14:3-8; Ephesians 5:5; 1 Timothy
2:9; 1 Peter 3:3, 4.
Against Belonging to Lodges
The Bible is opposed to the people of God being unequally yoked
together with unbelievers; it is opposed to deeds done in secret.
Many secret societies require the taking of an oath, which is
expressly forbidden in Scriptures. Read Matthew 5:34; John 18:20;
2 Corinthians 6:14-17; James 5:12.
Against Swearing
The taking of an oath is a vain thing and condemned by the Scriptures.
An affirmation to the truth of anything is sufficient. Read
Matthew 5:34-37; James 5:12.
Against the Divorce and Remarriage
Evil
Divorce and remarriage constitutes the sin of adultery. The
only allowable causes for remarriage are fornication and death.
However, fornication is not unfaithfulness or simple adultery,
but is a state of being married to another's wife or husband.
See Matthew 5:32; 14:3, 4; 19:3-12; Mark 10:12; Luke 16:18;
Romans 7:2, 3; 1 Corinthians 5:1-5, 13; 6:9, 13, 16-18; 7:2,
10, 11; Acts 15:28, 29; Revelation 2:20-22.