© The Church of God, Alabama
Basic Bible Beliefs
These vital points of New Testament doctrine are some of the prominent teachings
of The Church of God. 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 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?" This is a perpetual covenant that shall not be forgotten.
Repentance
Repentance
is the act of turning from and forsaking sin. Read Mark 1:15; Luke 13:3; Acts 3:19.
Justification
Justification
is a state and an act. It is the state of being void of offense toward God by the
act of God's forgiveness of the transgressions for which one has repented. See Romans
5:1-9; Titus 3:7.
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, Matt. 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; 1 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 Romans 5:2; 1 Corinthians 1:30; I 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 experience of sanctification. God requires man to
live sinless in this present 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 the 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, longsuffering, 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
is 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 1 1:23-33.
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.
Tithing 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 1 1:42;
1 Corinthians 1 6:2; 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 1 9:8, 9; Romans 13:8.
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, Zechariah l4:4,
5; Luke 1:32; 1 Thessalonians 4:14; 2 Thessalonians 1:7-10; Jade 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 Isaiah 26: 1 9; 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 1 8:30; John 10:28; Romans 6:22; 1 John 5:1 1-13.
Eternal Punishment for
the Wicked
The unconverted and the wicked are doomed to eternal punishment, from which
there is no escape-no liberation or annihilation. See Matthew 25:41-46; Mark 3:29;
2nd 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 5:1 1; 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. Read 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 Gold for
Ornament
Against wearing gold for ornament or decorations such as finger rings, bracelets,
earrings, lockets, etc. Ornaments of precious stones and 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. Read 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 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 of anything is
sufficient. Read Matthew 5:34-37; James 5:12.
Against Divorce and Remarriage Evil
Divorce
and remarriage constitutes 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 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.