This statement of fundamental truths is not intended
as a creed for the church, or as a basis of fellowship among Christians.
But only as a basis of unity for the ministry alone (i.e., that we all
speak the same thing. 1 Cor. 1:10; Acts 2:42). The human phraseology
employed in such statement is not inspired nor contended for, but the
truth set forth in such phraseology is held to be essential to a full
gospel ministry. No claim is made that it contains all truth in the
bible, only that it covers our present needs as to these fundamental
matters.
1.
THE SCRIPTURES INSPIRED.
The bible is the inspired word of god, a revelation from god to man, the infallible
rule of faith and conduct, and it superior to conscience and reason,
but not contrary to reason. 2 Tim. 3:15, 16:1 Pet. 2:2.
2. THE
ONE TRUE GOD.
The one true God has revealed himself as the eternally self-existent, self-revealed
“ I Am;” and has further revealed himself as embodying the principles
of relationship and association. i.e. as Father, son and holy Ghost.
Deut. 6:4; Mark 12:29; Isa. 43:10, 11; Matth. 28:19.
3. MAN,
HIS FALL AND REDEMPTION.
Man was created good and upright; for god said. “Let us make man in our image
and in our likeness.” But man, by voluntary transgression, fell, and
his only hope of redemption is in Jesus Christ the Son of God. Gen.
1:26-31; 3; 1-7 Rom. 5:12-21.
4. THE
SALVATION OF MAN
a.
Conditions to Salvation.
The grace of God that brings salvation to all men has appeared through the preaching
of repentance toward god and faith toward the lord Jesus Christ; whereupon
man is saved by the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy
Ghost which is shed upon him richly through Jesus Christ our Savior;
and having been justified by grace though faith, he becomes an heir
of god according to the hope of eternal life. Tit. 2:11; Rom. 10: 13-15;
Luke 24:47; Titus 3:5-7.
b.
The evidences of Salvation.
The inward evidence to the believer of his salvation is the direct witness of
the spirit. Rom. 8:16. The outward evidence to all men is a life or
righteousness and true holiness, Like 1:73-75: Titus 2:12-14; the fruit
of the spirit, Gal. 5:22, and brotherly love. Jno. 13:25; Heb 13:1;1
Jno 3:14.
5. THE
PROMISE OF THE FATHER.
All believers are entitled to, and should ardently expect,
and earnestly seek the promise of the father, the baptism in the Holy
Ghost and fire, according to the command of the lord Jesus Christ. This
was the normal experience of all in the early Christian church. With
it comes the enduement of power for life and service. The bestowment
of the gifts and their uses in the work of the ministry. Luke 24:49;
Acts 1:4 1:8 1 Cor. 12:1-31.
6. THE
FULL CONSUMMATION OF THE BAPTISM IN THE HOLY GHOST.
The full consummation of the baptism of believers in the holy Ghose and fire,
is indicated by the initial sign of speaking in tongues, as the spirit
of God gives utterance. Acts 2:4. This wonderful experience is distinct
form and subsequent to the experience of the new birth. Acts 10:44-46;
15:8,9.
7. ENTIRE
SANCTIFICATION, THE GOAL FOR ALL BELIEVERS.
The scriptures teach a life of holiness without which no man shall see the lord.
By the power of the Holy Ghost we are able to obey the command, “be
ye holy for I am holy.” Entire sanctification is the will of god for
all believers. And should be earnestly pursued by walking in obedience
to God’s word. Heb. 12:14; 1 Pet . 1:15. 16; 1 Thess. 5:23,24; 1 Jno.
2:6
8. THE
CHURCH A LIVING ORGANISM.
The church is a living organism; a living body; yea the body of Christ; a habitation
of God through the spirit, with divine appointments for the fulfillment
of her great commission. Every local assemble is an integral part of
the general assembly and church of the first-born, written in heaven.
Eph. 1:22, 23, 2:22; Hev, 12:23.
9. THE
MINISTRY AND EVANGELISM.
A divinely called and a scriptural ordained ministry for the evangelization
of the world, is the command of the lord, and the chief concern of the
church. Mk. 16:15-20; Eph. 4:11-13.
10. THE
LORD’S SUPPER.
The lord’s supper, consisting of the elements, bread and the fruit of the vine,
is the symbol expressing our sharing the divine nature of our Lord Jesus
Christ, 2 Pet. 1:4; a memorial of his suffering and death, 1 Cor. 11:26;
and a prophecy of his second coming, 1 Cor. 11:26; and is enjoined on
all believers until he comes.”
11. BAPTISM
IN WATER.
The ordinance of Baptism by a burial with Christ should be observed as commanded
in the scriptures, by all who have really repented and in their hearts
have truly believed on Christ as savior and lord. In so doing, they
have the body washed in pure water as an outward symbol of cleansing
while their heart has already been sprinkled with the blood of Christ
as an inner cleansing. Thus been raised with him to walk in newness
of life. Math. 28:19; Acts 10;47-48; Rom. 6:4; Acts 20:21; Heb. 10:22.
12. DIVINE
HEALING.
Deliverance form sickness in provided for in the atonement, and is the privilege
of all believers. Isa. 53:4,5; Matth. 8:16, 17.
13. THE
ESSENTIALS AS TO THE GODHEAD.
- Terms Explained.
The terms “Trinity”
and “Persons,” as related to the godhead, while not found in the Scriptures,
yet are words in harmony with scripture, whereby we many convey to others
our immediate understanding of the doctrine of Christ respecting to
being of god, as distinguished form “gods many and lords many.” We,
therefore, may speak with propriety of the lord our God who is one Lord,
as a trinity or as one being of three persons, and still be absolutely
scriptural. (Examples: Matth. 2:6; 8: 16, 17;
- Distinction and Relationship in the Godhead.
Christ taught a distinct in of persons in
the Godhead which he expressed in specific terms of relationship, as
father, son, Holy Ghost; and that this distinction and relationship,
as to its existence, is an eternal fact, but as to its mode it is inscrutable
and incomprehensible, because unexplained. (That is, it is not explained
as to how there can be three persons in the Godhead.) (Luke 1:35; Matth.
11:25-27; 28:19; 2 Cor. 13:14; 1 Jno. 1:3, 4)
- Unity of the one Being of father, son and Holy
Ghost.
Accordingly, therefore, there is that in the father,
which constitutes him the father and not the son; there is that in the
son which constitutes him the son and not the father; and there is that
in the Holy Ghost which constitutes him the Holy Ghost and not either
the Father or the son. Wherefore, the father is the Begetter; the son
is the Begotten; and the Holy Ghost is the one proceeding form the Father
and the son. Therefore, because these three eternally distinct and related
persons in the godhead are in a state on unity, there is but one lord
God Almighty and his name one. Jno. 1:18; 15:26; 17:11, 21; Zech. 14:9.
- Identity and co-operation in the Godhead.
The father, the son and the Holy Ghost are never identical
as the Person; now confused as to relation; nor divided in respect of
the Godhead; nor opposed as to co-operation. The son is in the father
and the father is in the son as to relationship. The son is with the
father and the father is with the son as to fellowship. The father is
not from the son, but the son is from the father, as to authority. The
Holy Ghost is from the father as to authority. The Holy Ghost is from
the Father and the son proceeding, as to nature, relationship, co-operation
and authority. Hence, neither person in the Godhead either exists or
works separately or independently of the others. Jno. 5:17-30.
- The title, Lord Jesus Christ.
The appellation “Lord Jesus Christ” is a
proper name. it is never applied, in the New Testament, either to the
Father or to the holy ghost. It therefore belongs exclusively to the
Son of God. Rom. 1:1-3, 7:2 2 Jno. 3.
- The Lord Jesus Christ, God with us.
The Lord Jesus Christ, as his divine and eternal nature,
is the proper and only Begotten of the Father; but as to his human nature,
he is the proper son of Man. He is, therefore, acknowledged to be both
God and man; who because he is god and man, is “Immanuel,” god with
us. Matth. 1:23; 1 Jno. 4:2, 10, 14: Rev. 1:13, 14-17.
- The title, Son of God.
Since the name “Immanuel” embraces both god and man
in the one person, our Lord Jesus Christ, it follows that the title,
Son of God, describes his proper deity. And the title, so of Man, his
proper humanity. Therefore, the title, Son of God, belongs to the order
of eternity, and the title, son of man, to the order of time. Matth.
1:23, 21; 2 Jno. 3:1 Jno. 3:3 Heb. 7:3; 1:1-13.
- Transgression of the Doctrine of Christ
Wherefore, it is a transgression of the
Doctrine of Christ to say that Jesus Christ derived the title, Son of
God, either from the fact of the incarnation, or because of his relation
to the economy of redemption. Therefore, to deny that the father is
a real and eternal father, and that the son is a real and eternal son,
is a denial of the distinction and relationship in the Being of the
God; a denial of the father and the Son; and a displacement of the truth
that Jesus Christ is come in flesh. 2 Jno. 9: Jno. 1:1, 2, 14, 18,
29, 49, 8:57, 58, 1 Jno. 2:22, 23, 4:1-5; Heb.12:3,4.
- Exaltation of Jesus as Lord
The son of God, our Lord Jesus Christ, having by himself
purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high:
angels and principalities and powers having been made subject unto him,
and having been made both Lord and Christ, he sent the Holy Ghost that
we, in the name of Jesus, might bow our knees and confess that Jesus
Christ is Lord to the glory of God the father until the end, when the
son shall become subject to the father that god may be all in all. Heb.1:3;
1 Pet. 3:22; Acts 2:32-36; Rom. 14:11; 1 Cor. 15:24-28.
- Equal honor to the Father and the Son.
Wherefore, since the father has delivered all judgment
unto the Son, it is not only the express duty of all things in heaven
and in earth to bow the knee, but it is an unspeakable joy in the Holy
Ghost to ascribe unto the son all the attributes of Deity, and to give
him all the honor and the Glory contained in all the names and titles
of the Godhead. (Except those which express relationship. See paragraphs
b, c and d) and thus honor the son even as we honor the father. Jno.
5:22, 23; 1 Pet. 1:8; Rev. 5:6-14; Phil. 2:9,8; Rev. 7:9, 10; 4:8-11.
14.
THE BLESSED HOPE.
The Resurrection of those who have fallen
asleep in Christ. The rapture of believers, which are alive and remain,
and the translation of the true church, this is the blessed hope set
before all believers. 1 Thess, 4:16,17; Rom. 8:23; Tit. 2:13.
15.
THE IMMINENT COMING
AND MILLENIAL REIGN OF JESUS.
The premillenial and imminent coming of the Lord to
gather his people unto himself, and to judge the world in righteousness
while reigning on the earth for a thousand years is the expectation
of the true church of Christ.
16.
THE LAKE OF FIRE
The devil and
his angels, the beast and false prophet, and whosoever is not found
written in the book of Life, the fearful and unbelieving, and abominable,
and murderers and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolators and all
liars shall be consigned to everlasting punishment in the lake which
burneth with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.
17.
THE NEW HEAVENS
AND NEW EARTH.
We look for new heaven and a new earth wherein dwelleth
righteousness. 2 Pet. 3:13; Rev.1 and 22.