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?"
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Repentance
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Repentance is the act of turning from and forsaking sin. Read Mark 1:15;
Luke 13:3; Acts 3:19.
Justification
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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
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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
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To be born again is to become a new creature in Christ and a child of God.
This new birth is the result of repentance, 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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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Feet washing 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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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.
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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.
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