We believe...
- the Bible, both the Old and New Testaments, came from God through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit and is His Word: "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 & 2 Peter 1:12)
- the Godhead is Trinity; the Father, the Son (Jesus Christ,) and the Holy Spirit: "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost" (Matthew 28:19; 3: 16, 17)
- sin entered the human race through Adam's disobedience. (Also referred to the Fall of Man): "Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned..." (Romans 5:12-14; 3:23)
- salvation comes only through faith in Jesus Christ and His shed blood on the Cross of Calvary: "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God" (Ephesians 2:8; 1:7 & Acts 4: 12 & Romans 10:13-15 & John 3:16)
- the church is made up of the redeemed of all ages and referred to in Scripture as the Body of Christ, Christ Jesus Himself being the Head: "And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all" (Ephesians 1:22, 23; also 19-21) ...It's function is to exalt the Lord (Colossians 1:17-20), disciple believers (Ephesians 4:11) and evangelize the the world (Mark 16:15, 16)
- Christians must live a Holy Life: "Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord" (Hebrews 12:14); the work of sanctification is an ongoing process beginning with salvation (Ephesians 4:11-13)
- Water baptism is a direct command of Jesus and is to be done by immersion in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit: "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost" (Matthew 28:19). This act shows the believers identification with Jesus' death, burial and resurrection: "Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life" (Romans 6:4)
- that those who have been born again can ask for and receive Baptism of the Holy Spirit: "But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you; " (Acts 1:8, 2: 38, 39) The biblical sign that someone has received the Baptism in the Holy Spirit is speaking in other tongues as the Spirit enables him or her. (Acts 2:4)
- that divine healing was provided by Jesus' suffering and death on the Cross and is available to all who believe: "But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised our iniquities" (Isaiah 53:5; 1 Peter 2:24; Mark 16:18; James 5:14,15).
- the second coming of Christ shall take place in 2 stages. 1st, "For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord." This is referred to the Rapture of the Church. After 7 years of tribulation on the earth (Matthew 24:21), Jesus shall return with His saints to establish His Kingdom on the earth, where he shall reign for 1,000 years as King of kings and Lord of Lords (Revelation 20:6; Isaiah 9:7) This is referred to as the Millennial Reign of Christ.
- the wicked will be judged at the Great White Throne Judgement. Those who have not trusted in Christ for salvation will forever in everlasting torment and fire "The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgement to be punished" (2 Peter 2:9; Hebrews 9:27; Revelation 21:8).
- the Tithe (one-tenth of the increase) is holy and belongs to the Lord. "And all the tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land, or of the fruit of the tree, is the LORD's: it is holy unto the LORD." (Leviticus 27:30; Malachi 3:10). According to 1 Corinthians 9:7-14 the tithe is for the support of the ministry, the propagation of the gospel and the work of the Lord in general (see also 1 Corinthians 16:1, 2). Charity and other good works are to be provided for through offerings.
- The Lord's Supper: Pentecostal Churches of God celebrate the Lord's Supper (or Communion) in remembrance of Christ: "After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, this cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me." All born again believers in Christ are invited to participate in this special observance