Church of God, Sabbath Day
FUNDAMENTAL BELIEFS
PREAMBLE
The independent Churches of God share a common foundation of belief in Jesus Christ as our Savior, Lord and Master, and fellowship with believers who keep both weekly and annual Sabbaths, and who believe in keeping the Commandments of God as magnified by Jesus Christ.
Brethren are maturing dynamically and growth
often leads to new understanding of doctrines. It is hoped that Brethren will edify
each other with sound Biblical principles. While differences in maturity,
background, and administration are likely to be encountered in local congregations,
Brethren are encouraged to be respectful of these differences according to Scriptures.
(Psalms 133:1, Ephesians 4:1-8;11-13)
1. GOD/JESUS
We believe in ONE GOD (John 17:11), a family of eternally existing spirit Beings, The Father, and the Son, with supreme intelligence, love, justice, power, and authority. They created the heavens, the earth and all life upon it.
Jesus of Nazareth is the Messiah, the Christ, the divine Son of God, the Word who became flesh (John 1: 1-2, 14) begotten of the Holy Spirit and born in the human flesh of a virgin named; Mary (Isa. 7:14, Matt. 1:18-23).
God created man and all things by Jesus Christ (Ephesians 3:9, Colossians 1:16).
The sacrifice of Christ our Passover, as our creator, paid the ransom for our repented of sins, thereby agree reconciling us to God (Corinthians 15: 3-4, Romans 5:10)
Jesus Christ was raised from the dead after his body reposed "... three days and three nights in the heart of the earth" (Matthew 12:40).
Jesus Christ is "... the firstborn within a large family" (Romans 8:29 NRSV).
The resurrected Christ now sits at the right hand of the Father and by His life as our advocate (1 John 2), Apostle and High Priest, we are being saved (Hebrews 3:1 Romans 5:10)
The Holy Spirit is the power of God, which emanates from the Father and from Christ Jesus. This is the power which all things were created and made and that through the Holy Spirit, God is everywhere present (Psalms 139: 7-10)
2. The Church
We believe that The Church of God, is a spiritual organism, a body of believers (Colossians 1:18) consisting of many congregations and individuals:
headed only by the Christ (Matthew 16:18, Ephesians 5:23, 1 Corinthians 11:3).
drawn to Christ by the Father (John 6:44)
repented and baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins (Acts 2:38).
having, and led by, the Spirit of Christ (Romans 8:9).
keeping the commandments (1 John 2: 2-4, Revelation 22:14) as a
precondition to receive the gift of eternal life
(Romans 6:23).
3. The Bible
We believe the Scriptures of the Old and New Testament are God's revelation and complete expressed will to man, inspired in thought and word (2 Peter 1:20-21), and infallible in the original writings; that they are the final authority in faith and in life, the source of truth. We believe that all things taught contrary to the Holy Bible are FALSE
4. Angelic Realm
We believe that intelligent beings, created and composed of spirit, were prehistoric as well as current but invisible, inhabitants of the earth (Job 38: 6-7, Jude 6).
They were led into rebellion against the Creator causing great
destruction upon the face of the earth.
(Isa. 14: 12-14, Ezekiel 28: 11-19).
Their fallen leader, Lucifer, is now known as Satan the devil (Luke 10: 17-18).
Fallen angels, or devils, are called unclean spirits (Mark 5).
Repairing the destruction, renewing (Psalms 104: 30) and creating an
environment hospitable to man is the "creation" process
that is described in the first chapters of the book of Genesis.
5. Mankind
We believe that man was created in God's own image in temporal, material form, God is a spirit; but to ultimately be changed in the future to become like God.
1 John 3:2 Beloved, now are we that sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when He shall appear, we shall be like Him: for we shall see Him as He is.
Grace is the favor that God bestows upon those created in His image.
We believe that eternal life, salvation, is a free gift of God (Romans
6:23), but to qualify to receive this gift we must strive, with God's help, to obey
Gods Laws and Commandments.
6. The Ten Commandments
We believe that the eternal law, codified by the Ten Commandments, is still applicable to all those who claim to follow Jesus Christ:
Matt. 19: 17-19 ...but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.
Matt. 5:17-19 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the
prophets; I am not come to destroy but to fulfil
(fully preach - see Romans 15:19). 18 For verily I say unto you, till
heaven and earth pass one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all
be fulfilled (comes to pass - see Luke 12:55). 19 Whosoever therefore shall
break one of these least commandments, and shall tech men so, he shall be called least in
the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall doand teach them, the same shall be
called great in the kingdom of heaven
We believe that breaking any of the commandments is sin (1 John 3:4)
7. Baptism/Laying on of hands
We believe in the ordinance of water baptism by immersion following repentance. Through the laying on of hands, with prayer, the believer receives the Holy Spirit and becomes a part of the spiritual body of Jesus Christ.
Acts 2:38 Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Mark 16:16 He that believeth and is baptized SHALL be saved; but he that believed not shall be damned.
Acts 8:17 Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.
Tim. 4:14 neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of hands by the presbytery (elders).
8. The PASSOVER "The Lord's Supper"
We believe that the church should observe the LORD'S Passover (Lev. 23:5) at the beginning of Nisan 14, with Christ as our Passover sacrifice (1 Cor. 5:7)
9. Annual Holy Days
We believe that all "... the feasts of the LORD...", list in Lev. 23, are to be kept as "... a statue forever in all your dwellings throughout your generations."
10. The Sabbath Day
We believe that the weekly Sabbath is to be observed on the seventh day of the week.
Gen. 2:3 And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it.
Exod. 16:26 Six days ye shall gather it; but on the seventh day, which is the Sabbath..
Luke 4:16... as His custom was, he went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day...
Mark 2:27-28... the Son of man is Lord also of the Sabbath.
Acts 13:42-44... the Gentiles besought that these words might be
preached to them the next Sabbath.. And the next Sabbath day came almost the whole city
together.
11. The Kingdom of God
We believe that Jesus Christ will return to this earth and establish the kingdom of God.
Luke 19:12 He said therefore, a certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom and to return (KJV)
Acts 1:11 which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen Him go into heaven.
Matt. 24:30 And then shall appear the sign of the Son of Man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of Man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.
Rev. 1:7 Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see Him,...
Zech. 14: 3-4.. And His feet shall stand in that day upon the Mount of Olives,....
Matt. 5:5 Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.
12. Resurrection
We believe in the resurrection of the just, to eternal life. At the return of Christ to this earth.
1 Cor. 15:52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
1 Thess 4:16 For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpof God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
Matt. 24:31 And He shall send His angels with a great sound of trumpet, and they shall gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
Rev. 2:11 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto
the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.
13. Tithing
We believe in "voluntary" tithing and giving of freewill offerings as a way of honoring God with our substance (Prov 3:9), and as a means of serving Him in the preaching of the gospel, the care of the church, attending the Festivals, and helping the needy.
(Deuteronomy 16:16-17; Malachi 3:8-10; Matthew 6:21; IICorinthians 9:7; Hebrews 7:4-14; Leviticus 27:30)
14. Reward of the Saved
We believe that those who receive eternal life at the first resurrection will reign on earth with Christ.
Rev. 22:12 And, behold I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.
Rev. 5:10 And hast made us unto our God, Kings and Priests; and we shall reign on the earth.
Matt. 5:5 Blessed are the meek; for they shall inherit the earth.
Luke 19:17 And He said unto them, Well, thou good servant: because thou hast been faithful in a very little, have thou authority over ten cities.
Rev. 3:21 To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne...
Rev. 20:6 Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be Priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years.
15. Final Testing
We believe that all people will be given the opportunity for salvation to
eternal life after a period of education and testing
(1 Tim. 2: 3-4).
Through history those in the church are the first to be tested (1 Peter 4:12-17).
The bulk of humanity, after a physical resurrection from the dead (Rev.
20:12-13), will be taught the truths of the books of the Bible and then tested for a
period of years.