|
Copyright © 2003 by Wesleyan Episcopal Assemblies Pentecostal
· The Bible : We believe the Scriptures both the Old and New
Covenants are given by inspiration of God. Which is to say that the
original composer and the scribes who transcribed the orations and
oral tradition, were inspired as to content and therein are
infallible, when reviewed in context. The written canon, composed of
the sixty-six books is the revelation of God to man; the supreme,
infallible, authoritative rule of faith, practice and behavior.
Christian believers today receive spiritual illumination to enable
them to understand the Scriptures, but God does not grant new
revelations, which are contrary to or describe an evolution in
inspired biblical truth.
· God: The one true God has revealed himself as the eternally
self-existent "I AM," the Creator of Heaven and earth and the Redeemer
of mankind. He has further revealed himself as embodying the
principles of relationship and association as Father, Son and Holy
Ghost. These three are one God, having the same nature and attributes
and are worthy of the same homage, faith and obedience.
· Jesus Christ: The Lord Jesus Christ, the eternal and only
begotten Son of God is fully Man and fully God. He was conceived of
the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary and by his sinless life,
miracles and teaching gave full revelation of the Father. He died upon
the cross as a perfect, sinless, substitutionary sacrifice. He rose
from the dead. He is now at the right hand of the majesty on high
serving as our great high Priest and only intermediary. He will come
again to establish his kingdom in righteousness and peace.
· The Father: The Father exists eternally as the Creator of
Heaven and earth, the Giver of the Law, to whom all things will be
subjugated, so that He may be all in all.
· Holy Spirit: The Holy Ghost is also God, performing actions
and possessing the attributes of Deity. His personality is shown by
his role in creation and by relating to individual prophets as a
person.
· Man: Man was originally created good and upright in the image
and likeness of God; for God said, "Let us make man in our own image."
However, he fell through voluntary sin and, as a consequence, incurred
both spiritual and physical death. We recognize that at some arbitrary
point every child comes to recognize the nature of good and evil and
chooses to commit evil in pursuit of selfish desires, repeating a
cycle of spiritual death, which is the legacy of the fall of man.
· Salvation: Salvation has been provided for any person through
the sacrifice of Christ on the cross. It is the only perfect
redemption and substitutionary atonement for all the sins of the
world, both original and actual. His atoning work has been proven by
His resurrection from the dead. Those who repent and believe in Christ
are born again of the Holy Ghost and receive eternal life.
· Ordinances: Following the commands of Christ we administer
the sacerdotal ceremonies which Christ himself participated in and
condoned. The ordinance of
baptism by immersion is commanded so that all who repent and
believe on Christ as Savior and Lord can publicly signify that they
have benefited from His death, burial and resurrection. The
Lord's Supper is the symbol expressing our share in the divine
nature of our Lord Jesus Christ, a memorial of his suffering and
death, and a prophecy of His second coming, and is enjoined on all
believers "till He comes!"
Marriage is a provision of God whereby a man and a woman enter
into a lifelong relationship through the public declaration of intent
and the joining in sexual union and verbal or written contract.
Generally, this union is to be sealed by the consent and recognition
of the parents or guardians of the couple. Marriage establishes a "one
flesh" relationship, which goes beyond a physical union and is more
than either a temporary relationship or a mere contractual obligation.
· Christian Experience: Rebirth brings justification for all
previous sinful behavior, so that the believer can rest assured of
salvation on the basis of faith in the mercy and grace of Jesus
Christ, who is competent to keep him and to protect him from mistakes
and temptation that will take one from the body and Grace of Christ.
All believers are entitled to and should ardently seek the promise of
the Father, the Baptism in the Holy Ghost and fire, according to the
command of our Lord Jesus Christ. This was the normal experience for
the entire early Christian Church and provides the believer with a
more intimate way. With it comes the bodily empowerment for both life
and service, The gifts of the Spirit are supernatural abilities given
by God through the exercising of which believers are enabled to
minister effectively and directly in particular situations. These
gifts are distinct from natural ability and are evaluated on their
usefulness in ministry and not by the ecstasy produced in the gifted.
· Church: The Church is the Body of Christ, the habitation of
God through the spirit, with divine appointments for the fulfillment
of her great commission. Jesus Christ is the founder and only
Head of the church. All who are born again of the Spirit are
members of the universal church, an integral part of the General
Assembly and Church of the Firstborn, which are written in heaven. The
church includes both those believers who have gone to be with the Lord
and those who remain on the earth, having renounced the world, the
flesh, and the devil, and having dedicated themselves to the work,
which Christ committed unto His church until He comes. The church on
the earth is to preach the pure Word of God, properly administer the
sacerdotal functions according to Christ's instructions, and live in
obedience to all that Christ commands.
· Eternity: At death, the souls of the believers pass
immediately into the presence of Christ. And these remain in a state
of awareness of success until the resurrection into a glorified body.
The souls of deceased unbelievers remain conscious of condemnation and
failure until the final resurrection and judgment of the unrighteous
dead. |