These vital points of New Testament doctrine are some of the prominent teachings of the Word of God which The Church of God believes and practices. 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 of 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."
REPENTANCE...Repentance is an act of turning from and forsaking sin, Read (Mark 1:15; Luke 13:3; Acts 3:19).
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, (Matthew 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 repentance, justification and regeneration and is accompanied by a definite inner witness. See (John 3:3; 1 Peter 1:23; 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 (Roman 5:2; 1 Corinthians 1:30; 1 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 by the experience of sanctification. God requires man to live sinless in this resent 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 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 15:26) 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, long suffering, 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 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 11:23-33).
WASHING THE SAINTS' FEET....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).
TITHES 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 11:42; 1 Corinthians 16:2; 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 19:8, 9; Romans 13:9).
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, (Zehariah 14:4; Luke 1:32; 1 Thessalonians 4:14; 2 Thessalonians 1:7-10; Jude 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 (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 18:30; John 10:28; Romans 6:22; 1 John 5:11-13).
ETERNAL PUNISHMENT FOR THE WICKED....The unconverted and the wicked are doomed to eternal punishment, form which there is no escape--no liberation or annihilation. See (Matthew 25:41-46; 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 5:11; 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. See (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 GOD FOR ORNAMENT or decoration such as finger rings, bracelets, earrings lockets etc Ornaments of gold or other precious metals are evidences of a prideful heart and are unbecoming to a child of God. "Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; but let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price," (1 Peter 3:3, 4; 1 Timothy 2:9; 1 John 2:16).
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 in (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 is sufficient. Read in (Matthew 5:34-37; James 5:12).
AGAINST DIVORCE AND REMARRIAGE EVIL....Divorce and remarriage constitute 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 in (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).
