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DOCTRINES,
OTHER CHURCHES
BASIC DOCTRINES OF THE CHURCH OF GOD
A well-loved Gospel song, written by an early reformer in the Church
of God says, "The Bible is our rule of faith and Christ alone is Lord."
An honest attempt is made in the Church of God to simply teach the Bible
as it is written. While the preaching and teaching of Bible truths are
emphasized, no creed, rule of faith, or dogma is required to become a
part of God's family. As already explained, Jesus taught that we become
members of the Church by the New Birth. However, we do believe that the
cardinal truths of the Bible are clear, and we teach, preach and write
about these with deep conviction. Some of the teachings that characterize
the Church are as follows:
1) The Bible as the inspired Word of God and the
standard and final authority for all Christians (II Timothy 3:16-17).
2) Jesus Christ, God's Son, had a virgin birth,
lived a sinless life, was crucified for our sins, arose the third day,
and is seated at the right hand of God to make intercession for the saints
(Matthew 1:18; Hebrews 7:25; John 14:6; Acts 4:12).
3) Every person is in need of salvation (Romans
3:10, 23)
4) Salvation by faith in Christ and repentance of
sin (John 3:16; Acts 2:37-39).
5) Being saved or born again places us into the
Church, which places us in the Kingdom of God (Acts 2:47; Colossians 1:13).
6) The Kingdom of God is spiritual in nature and
a present day reality (John 18:36; Luke 17:20, 21; Matthew 10:7; Mark
1:14, 15; Luke 16:16).
7) Sanctification by submitting one's self to the
Word and the Holy Spirit, in faith, for cleansing to live a holy life,
and to be set apart for service by the infilling of the Holy Spirit (John
17:13-21; I Thessalonians 5:14-24; Romans 12:1-2; Luke 11:9-13).
8) Divine Healing of the body by faith and obedience
to God's Word (James 5:14-15).
9) The return of Christ on the final day to receive
His people, for reward, for judgment, and the end of the world (John 5:28,
29; Acts 17:30-31; I Corinthians 15:22-24).
10) The unity of God's people (John 17; Acts 2:44;
I Corinthians 1:10; Acts 4:32; Philippians 1:27; Ephesians 4:4-6).
11) The ordinances: baptism by immersion (Matthew
28:19; Mark 16:15-16); communion (Luke 22:19, 20; I Corinthians 11:23-29);
feet washing (John 13:1-17).
IS THE CHURCH OF GOD "PENTECOSTAL?"
If the word "Pentecostal" is properly understood, the
answer is yes. The Holy Spirit came in fullness on the day of Pentecost.
We definitely believe in the presence of the Holy Spirit in the life of
the believers. However, as the term "Pentecostal" is usually applied to
mean, those who believe in the necessity of speaking in "unknown" tongues,
the answer is no. We believe the gift of tongues is the intelligible (known
language of man), useful gift of language given by the Holy Spirit to
reach the unbelievers. It is not the evidence of the fullness of the Holy
Spirit (I Corinthians 12:27-31). The gift of tongues or language is either
the ability to speak miraculously a language not native to the speaker
or to understand miraculously a language not native to the listener (Acts
2:1-13). No gift is given for one's personal indulgence, and no gift is
meant to cause confusion or division; but the gifts are given to edify
and build up the Church (I Corinthians 12, 13, 14).
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WHAT
ABOUT OTHER CHURCHES?
We believe that all "born again" Christians are members
of God's family, and thus members of the Church of God. We accept all
Christians as brothers and sisters, and no manmade rules are placed upon
them by our congregations. Any true child of God is welcome into the local
fellowship of the Church. The "new birth" makes a person a member of the
Universal Church of God, and one becomes a member of a local Church of
God simply by uniting himself with it. There is no Biblical basis for
church "joining." Any child of God who unites himself with the local church
is eligible to share in the ordinances or other privileges of the Christian
fellowship.
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