Preamble
The Holy Scriptures, known as the Bible, are the inspired Word of God and
our all-sufficient rule for faith and practice.
The Eternal Godhead
We believe in the unity of the true and living God who is the eternal, self-existent
one, who has revealed himself as one being in three persons - Father, Son
and Holy Spirit and who is
the Creator and preserver of things visible and invisible - Deuteronomy
6:4; Mark 12:29; Matthew 28:19; Genesis 1:1; Psalm 86:9-10; Isaiah 43:10-11;
John 1:1-3.
The Lord Jesus Christ
We believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, the second person of the triune Godhead,
who was and is the eternal Son of God - that he became incarnate by the
Holy Spirit and was born of the Virgin Mary. We believe in his sinless life,
miraculous ministry, substitutionary atoning death, bodily resurrection,
glorious ascension and abiding intercession - Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:23;
Hebrews 7:26; 1 Peter 2:22; Acts 2:22; 10:38; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Hebrews
9:12; Luke 24:39; 1 Corinthians 15:4; Acts 1:9; Ephesians 4:8-10; Romans
8:34; Hebrews 7:25.
The Holy Spirit
We believe in the Holy Spirit, the third person of the triune Godhead, who
proceeds from the Father and the Son and is ever-present and active in the
work of convicting and regenerating the sinner and sanctifying and guiding
the believer into all truth – John 14:26; John 16:8-11; 1 Peter 1:2;
Romans 8:14.
The Holy Scriptures
We believe in the verbal, plenary inspiration of the Holy Scriptures, namely
the Old and New Testaments in their original writings. All Scripture is
given by inspiration of God and is infallible, inerrantly revealing the
will of God concerning us all in all things necessary to our salvation and
is absolutely supreme and sufficient in authority in all matters of faith
and conduct. The Bible does not simply contain the Word of God, but is,
in reality, the complete revelation and very Word of God, inspired by the
Holy Spirit, so that whatever is not contained therein is not to be enjoined
as an article of faith - Matthew 5:17,18; 24:35; John 5:39; 2 Timothy 3:16,17;
2 Peter 1:19-21.
The Devil
We believe in the personality of the devil, who by his influence, brought
about the downfall of man, and now seeks to destroy the faith of every believer
in the Lord Jesus Christ - Genesis 3:1-15; Matthew 4:1-11; Luke 4:1-13;
James 4:7; 1 Peter 5:8; John 13:2.
The Fall of Man
We believe that man was created by God by specific immediate act and in
his image and likeness, morally upright and perfect, but fell by voluntary
transgression. Consequently, all men are separated from original righteousness,
being depraved and without spiritual life – Genesis 1:26-31, 3:1-7;
Romans 5:12-21.
The Atonement
We believe that God’s answer to man’s sinful state is in the
death of his Son, the Lord Jesus Christ upon the cross, whose sufferings
and shed blood have made full atonement for the sins of the whole world,
both original and actual and that there is no other ground for salvation
- 2 Corinthians 5:18-21; Galatians 1:4; Ephesians 1:7; Colossians 1:14;
Hebrews 9:25, 26; 1 Peter 1:19, 20.
Salvation of Man
We believe salvation is received through repentance toward God and faith
in the Lord Jesus Christ. This experience is also known as the new birth
and is an instantaneous and complete operation of the Holy Spirit whereupon
the believing sinner is regenerated, justified and adopted into the family
of God and becomes a new creation in Christ Jesus and heir of eternal life
- Titus 2:11, 3:5-7; 1 Peter 1:23; 1 John 5:1.
The Church
The Church is the body of Christ, the habitation of God through the Spirit,
with divine appointments for the fulfillment of her great commission. Each
believer, born of the Spirit, is an integral part of the general assembly
and church of the first-born which are written in heaven - Ephesians 1:22-23,
2:22; Hebrews 12:23.
Water Baptism
We believe that Baptism, by single immersion, in the name of the Father
and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, is enjoined upon all who have repented
and have believed in Christ as Saviour and Lord and that it is symbolic
of our identification with Christ in his death, burial and resurrection
- Matthew 28:19-20; Acts 10:47-48; 2:38-39; Romans 6:4-5; Colossians 2:12;
Mark 16:16.
The Lord’s Supper
We believe the Lord’s Supper, consisting of the elements of bread
and the fruit of the vine, is the symbol expressing our sharing the divine
nature of our Lord Jesus Christ (2 Peter 1:4); a memorial of his sufferings
and death (1 Corinthians 11:26); and a prophecy of his second coming (1
Corinthians 11:26) and is enjoined upon all believers "until He comes"
- Luke 22:15-20; Matthew 26:26-28; Acts 20:7.
Sanctification
Sanctification is an act of separation from that which is evil and of dedication
unto God. We believe it is the glorious provision for every believer in
Christ to be made pure in heart and wholly sanctified through the operation
of the Holy Spirit, by the blood of Jesus and the Word of God - John 17:15-19;
Acts 15:8-9; 1 Thessalonians 4:3-4; Hebrews 2:11; 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24;
Hebrews 10:16-19; Romans 12:1-2.
The Baptism in the Holy Ghost
We believe that the Baptism in the Holy Ghost is the bestowing of the believer
with power to be an effective witness for Christ. This experience is distinct
from, and subsequent to, the new birth; is received by faith, and is accompanied
by the manifestation of speaking in tongues as the Spirit gives utterance,
as the initial evidence - Luke 24:49; Acts 1:4,5,8; 2:1-4; 8:15-19; 11:14-17;
19:1-7.
The Experience of the Holy Ghost
We believe that the Baptism in the Spirit is also a starting point in entering
into the unseen world of the Holy Spirit. The experience of the Holy Spirit
can be accompanied by Signs & Wonders, expressions of Joy, Peace, Weeping,
Celebration and Pleasure.
Acts 2; Acts 19.
Gifts
We believe in the present-day operation of the nine supernatural gifts of
the Holy Spirit, as recorded in 1 Corinthians 12. We also believe in the
ministry gifts of Christ, as recorded in Ephesians 4:11-13.
Divine Healing
In accordance with the teachings of the Scriptures, we trust our heavenly
Father to protect and heal our bodies from sickness and disease. We believe
that divine healing for the body, as with all redemptive blessings of God,
has been provided for us by the atoning death and victorious resurrection
of our Lord Jesus Christ; it is the privilege of all believers and it is
appropriated by faith in our heavenly Father’s unfailing promises
- Exodus 15:26; Isaiah 53:4; Matthew 8:16,17; 1 Peter 2:24; Psalms 103:3;
James 5:14-15; Mark 16:17-18.
The Second Coming of Christ
We believe in the pre-millennial, imminent and personal return of our Lord
Jesus Christ to gather his people unto himself. Having this glorious hope
and earnest expectation, we purify ourselves, even as he is pure, so that
we may be ready to meet him when he comes –John 14:1-3; James 5:7-8;
Titus 2:13; 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17; 2 Thessalonians 2:1; 1 John 2:28; 3:2,
3.
The Millennium
We believe in the return of the Lord Jesus Christ to set up his millennial
reign on this earth - Zechariah 14:5; Daniel 7:22; Revelation 5:9-10; Psalms
96:10-13; Psalms11; Revelation 20:1-10.
The Punishment of the Wicked
We believe in the everlasting punishment of the wicked (in the sense of
eternal torment) who willfully reject and despise the love of God manifested
in the great sacrifice of his only Son upon the cross for their salvation
- Matthew 25:46; 13:49-50; Luke 12:47-48; 2 Thessalonians 1:8-9; Romans
6:23; Revelation 20:11-15. We believe that the devil and his angels and
whosoever is not found written in the book of life shall be consigned to
everlasting punishment in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone,
which is the second death - Revelation 19:20; Revelation 20:10-15.
The New Heavens and the New Earth
We, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth wherein
dwelleth righteousness - 2 Peter 3:13; Revelation Chapters 21 and 22.
Creation
We believe that the heavens and earth and all original life-forms, including
man, were made by the specific immediate creative acts of God as described
in the account of origins presented in Genesis and that all biological changes
which have occurred since creation are limited to variation within each
species.
[AOG National Ministers Manual, Third Edition (2000) pp12-14]
