What We Believe
We believe Jesus Christ Shed his blood for the remission of sins that are past (Romans 3:25; 1John 1:7), for the regenerations of penitent sinners, and for the salvation from sin and from sinning (Ephesians 2:1-10; 1 John 3:5-10).We believe, teach, and firmly maintain the scriptural doctrine of justification b faith alone through the blood (Romans 3:24-25; Romans 5:6-9; Ephesians 1:7; Colossians 1:14).
We
believe that Jesus Christ shed His blood for the complete
cleansing of the justified believer from all indwelling sin and from its
pollution subsequent to regeneration (John 17:17; Acts 26:18: Romans 6:6; 1
Thessalonians 5:23; Hebrews 13:12; 1John 1:7-9).
We believe that sanctification is the second definite instantaneous work of
grace, obtainable by faith on the part of the fully justified believer (Exodus
31:13; Leviticus 11:44-45; Leviticus 20:7-8; Luke 24:50-51; Hebrews
10:9-14).
We believe that the Pentecostal baptism of the Holy Ghost and Fire is obtainable by a definite act of appropriating faith on the part of the wholly sanctified believer, and that the initial evidence of the reception of this experience is speaking with other tongues as the Sprit gives utterance (Acts 1:5; Acts 2:1-4; Acts 8:14-17; Acts 14:44-46; Acts 19:6).
We believe in divine healing as in the atonement (Exodus 15:26; Psalm 103:3; Isaiah 53:4-5; Matthew 8:16-17; Mark 16:14-15; Acts 8:7; James 5:14-15).
We believe in the imminent personal premillennial second coming of our Lord, Jesus Christ (Matthew 24:20-24; 1 Thessalonians 15-18; Titus 2:13; II Peter 3:1-14), and we love and await His appearing (II Timothy 4:8).
The
Doctrines of the Fire Baptized Holiness Church of God of the Americas
THE
BIBLE
We believe that the Bible is the Word of God and contains one harmonious and
sufficiently complete system of doctrine. We believe in the full inspiration of
the Word of God. We hold the Word of God to be the only authority in all matters
and assert that no doctrine can be true or essential, if it does not find a
place in this Word.
THE FATHER
We believe in God, the Father Almighty, the Author and Creator of all things.
The Old Testament reveals God in diverse manners, by manifesting his nature,
character, and dominions. The Gospels in the New Testament give us knowledge of
God the "Father" or "My Father", showing the relationship of
God to Jesus as Father, or representing Him as the Father in the Godhead, and
Jesus himself that Son (St. John 15:8, 14:20). Jesus also gives God the
distinction of "Fatherhood" to all believers when he explains God in
the light of "Your Father in Heaven" (St. Matthew 11:33;6:8).
THE SON
We believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, the Second person in the Godhead
of the Trinity or Triune Godhead. We believe that Jesus was and is eternal in
his person and nature as the Son of God who was with God in the beginning of
creation (St. John 1:1). We believe that Jesus Christ was born of a virgin
called Mary according to the scripture (St. Matthew 1:18), thus giving rise to
our fundamental belief in the Virgin Birth and to all of the miraculous events
surrounding the phenomenon (St. Matthew 1:18-25). We believe that Jesus Christ
became the "suffering servant" to man; this suffering servant came
seeking to redeem man from sin and to reconcile him back to God, his Father
(Romans 5:10). We believe that Jesus Christ is standing now as mediator between
God and man (I Timothy 2:5)
THE HOLY GHOST
We believe the Holy Ghost or Holy Spirit is the third person of the Trinity,
proceeds from the Father and the Son, is of the same substance, equal to power
and glory, and is together with the Father and the Son, to be believed in,
obeyed, and worshipped. The Holy Ghost is a gift bestowed upon the believer for
the purpose of equipping and empowering the believer, making him a more
effective witness for service in the world. He teaches and guides one into all
truth (John 16:13; Acts 1:8, 8:39).
THE BAPTISM OF THE HOLY GHOST
We believe that the Baptism of the Holy Ghost is an experience subsequent to
conversion and sanctification and that tongue-speaking is the consequence of the
baptism in the Holy Ghost with the manifestations of the fruit of the spirit
(Galatians 5:22-23; Acts 10:46, 19:1-6). We believe that we are not baptized
with the Holy Ghost in order to be saved (Acts 19:1-6; John 3:5). When one
receives a baptismal Holy Ghost experience, we believe one will speak with a
tongue unknown to oneself according to the sovereign will of Christ. To be
filled with the Spirit means to be Spirit controlled as expressed by Paul in
Ephesians 5:18-19. Since the charismatic demonstrations were necessary to help
the early church to be successful in implementing the command of Christ, we
therefore, believe that a Holy Ghost experience is mandatory for all men today.
MAN
We believe that man was created holy by God, composed of body and soul. We
believe that man, by nature, is sinful and unholy. Being born in sin, he needs
to be born again, sanctified and cleansed from all sins by the blood of Jesus.
We believe that man is saved by confessing and forsaking his sins, and believing
on the Lord Jesus Christ, and that having become a child of God, by being born
again and adopted into the family of God, he may, and should, claim the
inheritance of the sons of God, namely the baptism of the Holy Ghost.
SIN
Sin, the Bible teaches, began in the angelic world (Ezekiel 28:11-19; Isaiah
14:12-20), and is transmitted into the blood of the human race through
disobedience and deception motivated by unbelief (I Timothy 2:14). Adam's sin,
committed by eating of the forbidden fruit from the tree of knowledge of good
and evil, carried with it permanent pollution or depraved human nature to all
his descendants. This is called "original sin." Sin can now be
defined as a volitional transgression against God and a lack of conformity to
the will of God. We, therefore, conclude that man by nature, is sinful and that
he has fallen from a glorious and righteous state from which he was created, and
has become unrighteous and unholy. Man, therefore, must be restored to his state
of holiness from which he has fallen by being born again (St. John 3:7)
SALVATION
Salvation deals with the application of the work of redemption to the sinner
with his restoration to divine favor and communion with God. This redemptive
operation of the Holy Ghost upon sinners is brought about by repentance toward
God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ which brings conversion, faith,
justification regeneration, sanctification, and the baptism of the Holy Ghost. Repentance
is the work of God, which results in a change of mind in respect to man's
relationship to God. (St. Matthew 3:1-2, 4:17; Acts 20:21). Faith is a
certain conviction wrought in the heart by the Holy Spirit, as to the truth of
the Gospel and a heart trust in the promises of God in Christ (Romans 1:17,
3:28; St. Matthew 9:22; Acts 26:18). Conversion is that act of God
whereby He causes the regenerated sinner, in his conscious life, to turn to Him
in repentance and faith (II Kings 5:15; II Chronicles 33:12-13; St. Luke 19:8,
9; Acts 8:30). Regeneration is that act of God by which the principle of
the new life is implanted in man, and the governing disposition of soul is made
holy and the first holy exercise of this new disposition is secured. Sanctification
is that gracious and continuous operation of the Holy Ghost, by which He
delivers the justified sinner from the pollution of sin, renews his whole nature
in the image of God and enables him to perform good works (Romans 6:4;5:6;
Colossians 2:12; 3:1).
ANGELS
The Bible uses the term "angel" (a heavenly body) clearly and
primarily to denote messengers or ambassadors of God with such scripture
references as Revelations 4:5, which indicates their duty in heaven to praise
God (Psalm 103:20), to do God's will (St. Matthew 18:10) and to behold his face.
But since heaven must come down to earth, they also have a mission to earth. The
Bible indicates that they accompanied God in the Creation, and also that they
will accompany Christ in His return in Glory.
DEMONS
Demons denote unclean or evil spirits; they are sometimes called devils or
demonic beings. They are evil spirits, belonging to the unseen or spiritual
realm, embodied in human beings. The Old Testament refers to the prince of
demons, sometimes called Satan (Adversary) or Devil, as having power and wisdom,
taking the habitation of other forms such as the serpent (Genesis 3:1). The New
Testament speaks of the Devil as Tempter (St. Matthew 4:3) and it goes on to
tell the works of Satan, The Devil, and Demons as combating righteousness and
good in any form, proving to be an adversary to the saints. Their chief power is
exercised to destroy the mission of Jesus Christ. It can well be said that the
Christian Church believes in Demons, Satan, and Devils. We believe in their
power and purpose. We believe they can be subdued and conquered as in the
commandment to the believer by Jesus. "In my name they shall cast out Satan
and the work of the Devil and to resist him and then he will flee (WITHDRAW)
from you." (St. Mark 16:17).
THE SECOND COMING OF CHRIST
We believe in the second coming of Christ; that He shall come from heaven to
earth, personally, bodily, visibly (Acts 1:11; Titus 2:11-13; St. Matthew 16:27;
24:30; 25:30; Luke 21:27; John 1:14, 17; Titus 2:11) and that the Church, the
bride, will be caught up to meet Him in the air (I Thessalonians, 4:16-17). We
admonish all who have this hope to purify themselves as He is pure.
DIVINE HEALING
It is a
commandment of Jesus to the Apostles (St. Mark 16:18). Jesus affirms his
teachings on healing by explaining to His disciples, who were to be Apostles,
that healing the afflicted is by faith (St. Luke 9:40-41). Therefore, we believe
that healing by faith in God has scriptural support and ordained authority. St.
James' writings in his epistle encourage Elders to pray for the sick, lay hands
upon them and to anoint them with oil, and that prayers with faith shall heal
the sick and the Lord shall raise them up.
MIRACLES
A miracle can be defined as an extraordinary visible
act of Divine power, wrought by the efficient agency of the will of God, which
has as its final cause the vindication of the righteousness of God's word. We
believe that the works of God, which were performed during the beginnings of
Christianity, do and will occur even today where God is preached, Faith in
Christ is exercised, The Holy Ghost is active, and the Gospel is promulgated in
the truth (Acts 5:15; 6:8; 9:40; Luke 4:36, 7:14-15; 5:5-6; St. Mark 14:15).
A. THE LORD'S SUPPER (HOLY COMMUNION)
The Lord's Supper symbolizes the Lord's death and suffering for the benefit and
in the place of His people. It also symbolizes the believer's participation in
the crucified Christ. It represents not only the death of Christ as the object
of faith which unites the believers to Christ, but also the effect of this act
as the giving of life, strength, and joy to the soul. The communicant by faith
enters into a special spiritual union of his soul with the glorified Christ.
B. FEET WASHING
Feet Washing is practiced and recognized as an ordinance in our Church because
Christ, by His example, showed that humility characterized greatness in the
Kingdom of God, and that service, rendered to others gave evidence that
humility, motivated by love, exists. These services are held subsequent to the
Lord's Supper; however, its regularity is left to the discretion of the Pastor
in charge.
C. WATER BAPTISM
We believe that Water Baptism is necessary as instructed by Christ in St. John
3:5
"UNLESS MAN BE BORN AGAIN OF WATER AND OF THE SPIRIT…"
However, we do not believe that water baptism alone is a means of salvation,
but is an outward demonstration that one has already had a conversion experience
and has accepted Christ as his personal Savior. We practice
immersion in preference to "SPRINKLING", because immersion
corresponds more closely to the death, burial, and resurrection of our Lord
(Colossians 2:12). It also symbolizes regeneration and purification more than
any other mode. Therefore, we practice immersion as our mode of Baptism. We
believe that we should use the Baptismal Formula given us by Christ for all "…IN
THE NAME OF THE FATHER, AND OF THE SON, AND OF THE HOLY GHOST…"
(St. Matthew 28:19)
