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This
simplified Statement of Faith is included in
the Constitution and by-laws of the Church of
God General Conference. While it is not a
creed, it is a summary of the truths commonly
believed and taught in the Church of God.
GOD
We
believe that only one person is God, and that
He is a literal being -- almighty, eternal,
immortal, and the Creator of all things. --
Deut. 6:4; Isa. 45:18; 1 Tim. 2:5.
JESUS
CHRIST
We
believe that Jesus Christ, born of the virgin
Mary, is the sinless and only begotten Son of
God. He existed only from His birth. -- Lk. 1:
32, 33, 35; 3:22; 1 Pet. 1:18-20.
THE
HOLY SPIRIT
We
believe that the Holy Spirit is God's divine
power and influence manifest in God's mighty
works and in the lives of His people. It is
not a person. -- Gen. 1:2; Rom. 8:11.
THE
BIBLE
We
believe that the Bible is the Word of God,
given by divine inspiration. It is the only
authoritative source of doctrine and practice
for Christians. -- 2 Tim. 2:15; Heb. 4:12; 2
Pet. 1:20, 21.
MAN
We
believe that man was created innocent, but
through disobedience to God fell under
condemnation of death -- the cessation of all
life and consciousness. All persons, being
both sinful and mortal, are in need of
salvation. -- Gen. 2:7, 17; 3:4, 19; 5:5;
Eccl. 9:4, 10; Rom. 3:9-11; 6:23.
SALVATION
We
believe that salvation is by the grace of God,
through the atoning blood of Christ. It
consists of God's forgiveness of sin, the
imparting of His Spirit to the believer, and
finally the gift of immortality at the
resurrection when Christ returns. The steps in
the gospel plan of salvation are:
1.
Belief of the things concerning Jesus Christ
and the gospel of the Kingdom. -- Acts 8:12;
Rom. 1:16.
2.
Sincere repentance and confession of sins. --
Acts 2:38.
3.
Baptism -- which is immersion -- in the name
of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins. --
Mark 16:15, 16; Rom. 6:1-6; Acts 22:16.
4.
Indwelling of the believer by Christ through
God's Spirit. -- Gal. 4:6; Eph. 3:16, 17.
5.
Growth in grace and in the knowledge of our
Lord Jesus Christ. -- 1 Pet. 2:1-3.
THE
CHURCH OF GOD
We
believe that the Church of God is the
scriptural name for that body of people who
have been called out from among all nations
through obedience to the gospel plan of
salvation. Christ is the Head of the church;
and the nature, work, and government of the
church are set forth in the New Testament. --
2 Cor. 1:1; Eph. 5:23-25.
THE
CHRISTIAN LIFE
We
believe that the Christian life is primarily a
life of consecrated discipleship to Jesus
Christ as Lord, Savior, and Teacher. It will
be exemplified by love, prayerful dependence
on the fruit of the Spirit, stewardship, and
tithing. The church will recognize those
members who, because of their religious
conviction, claim exemption from military
service. -- 1 Tim. 4:11-16; Titus 2:11-14; and
Mal. 3:10.
ISRAEL
We
believe that "Israel" is the name of
the literal descendants of Abraham through
Jacob. As God's chosen nation, Israel was
given the land of Palestine, but because of
disobedience they were scattered throughout
the world. In accordance with God's covenant
with them, they will be restored to Palestine
as the head of the nations in the Kingdom of
God. -- Ezek. 36:21-32.
THE
RETURN OF CHRIST AND THE KINGDOM OF GOD
We
believe that the Kingdom of God will be
established on earth when Christ returns
personally and visibly to reign as King in
Jerusalem over the whole earth, with the
church as joint-heirs with Him. His millennial
reign will be followed by the final judgment
and destruction of the wicked, after which
will be established "new heavens and a
new earth" wherein there will be no more
death and God will be all in all. -- Acts 1:
11; I Thess. 4:16, 17; Rev. 5-10; 20:4, 5;
21:1-4, 7, 8; 2 Pet. 3:12-14.
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"Nevertheless
we, according to His promise, look for new
heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth
righteousness." -- 2 Pet. 3:13, KJV.
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