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What we believe
McGintytown Church of God
Greenbrier, Arkansas
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.
