THE DOCTRINE OF GOD:
A. THE NATURE OF GOD
1) God is Spirit (John 4:24). He is invisible without body or parts and without limitations.
2) God has personality. This includes intelligence (Romans 11:33-34), will (Ephesians 1:11), reason (Isaiah 1:18), self-consciousness (Exodus 3:14), self-determination (Genesis 1:26-27) and emotions (Ephesians 4:30).
3) God is a unity or oneness (Deuteronomy 6:4; I Timothy 2:5).
4) God is a trinity (Genesis 1:1; Matthew 28:19; Luke 3:22; II Corinthians 13:14; I John 5:6-8).
B. THE ATTRIBUTES OF GOD -
The attributes of God are many and include omniscience (Psalm 147:4-5), omnipotence (Job 42:2; Matthew 19:26), omnipresence (Jeremiah 23:23-24), eternal (Psalm 90:1-2), immutable (James 1:17), sovereign (Ephesians 1:8-9), holy (Leviticus 11:44), righteous (Romans 1:18), loving (I John 4:8), grace (I Peter 5:10), just (Acts 17:31) and truth (John 14:6).
C. THE TRINITY -
The Trinity is taught in both the Old and New Testament. In Genesis 1:26 it says, “...Let us make man in our image...” According to Genesis chapter one and John chapter one, God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit were all involved in creation. The New Testament teaches more clearly the doctrine of the Trinity at Christ’s baptism (Luke 3:22), the great commission (Matthew 28:19) and the Apostolic Benediction (II Corinthians 13:14). The Trinity is one God manifested in three persons - Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
D. GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT -
The Holy Spirit has personality. This is seen throughout Scripture as He reproves (John 16:8), teaches (John 14:26; I John 2:20-27), speaks (Galatians 4:6), intercedes (Romans 8:26-27), appoints men to specific services (Acts 13:2), ministers in regeneration (John 3:6), seals (Ephesians 4:30), baptizes (I Corinthians 12:13), fills (Ephesians 5:18) and comforts (John 14:16-17). The Holy Spirit can be sent into the world (John 14:16; 16:7), grieved (Ephesians 4:30), quenched (I Thessalonians 5:19), lied to (Acts 5:3) and disrespected (Hebrews 10:29). All these show the personality of the Spirit of God - Intellect, Emotion, and Will. The Holy Spirit is Deity. He is called God (Acts 5:3-4; I Corinthians 3:16). He has the same attributes of God (Job 33:4; Psalm 139:7-8; Luke 1:35; I Corinthians 2:10-11; Hebrews 9:14).
The Holy Spirit has a work in creation, the Old Testament and during Christ’s earthly life. Genesis 1:2 states that the Holy Spirit participated in the creation of the world and Genesis 2:7 states that He participated in the creation of man (Job 33:4). In the Old Testament the Holy Spirit would indwell men for special tasks (Genesis 41:38; Numbers 27:18; Judges 3:10; I Samuel 10:9), and then would leave (Judges chapters 14 - 17). He also inspired the prophets to write (II Peter 1:20-21). During Christ’s time on earth, men could now receive the indwelling of the Spirit by asking (Luke 11:13). It was not until Christ returned to heaven that He sent the Holy Spirit to indwell believers permanently (John 14:15-26). The Holy Spirit has an active ministry in this present age.
The following is a partial list of the present ministry of the Spirit of God in this age.
1) Salvation -
The Holy Spirit convicts (John 16:7-11), regenerates (Titus 3:5), baptizes (I Corinthians 12:13), seals (Ephesians 1:13-14), indwells (I Corinthians 6:19-20) and fills (Ephesians 5:18).
2) Sanctification -
The Holy Spirit is actively working in the life of believers, conforming them to the image of Christ (Roman 8:28-30). The believer can receive victory over sin by the power of the indwelling Spirit of Christ (Romans 6).
3) Gifts -
Gifts are given to the believer when he is saved, sovereignly as the Holy Spirit wills (I Corinthians 12:11). There are gifts that are still given today and some that have ceased with the completion of Scripture and the death of the apostles. The gifts of the Spirit are listed in (Romans 12; I Corinthians 12; Ephesians 4).
4) Tongues - Languages
Tongues (the gift of languages) was one of the sign gifts given at Pentecost (Acts 2). It was a sign gift given for unbelieving Jews and to confirm the Words spoken by the apostles (Mark 16:16-20). We believe the gift of tongues ceased with the completion of Scripture and passing of the apostles (I Corinthians 13:8).
5) Healing -
Healing was also a sign gift. Although, the Holy Spirit still heals today, it is not a gift given to men, and came to an end with the death of the apostles and completion of Scripture. God’s present method of healing is found in (James 5:13-16).
6) Baptism -
We are baptized by the Holy Spirit at the time of salvation into the body of Christ (I Corinthians 12:13). This is a once for all ministry, not to be repeated (Ephesians 4:5). Water baptism is for believers only and is one of two ordinances given to the Church and is an outward showing of an inward change for believers only. Baptism means to "put under" or "put into". Therefore, we reject infant baptism because infants are not able to understand salvation and cannot understand the process, and we also reject "sprinkling" as a means of baptism as the word "Baptism" does not mean to sprinkle. Every example given in God's Word shows the person going "down into" the water. Therefore, we believe in baptism by submersion after the individual can give a clear testimony of their personal salvation through the grace of Jesus Christ.
A. THE NATURE OF GOD
1) God is Spirit (John 4:24). He is invisible without body or parts and without limitations.
2) God has personality. This includes intelligence (Romans 11:33-34), will (Ephesians 1:11), reason (Isaiah 1:18), self-consciousness (Exodus 3:14), self-determination (Genesis 1:26-27) and emotions (Ephesians 4:30).
3) God is a unity or oneness (Deuteronomy 6:4; I Timothy 2:5).
4) God is a trinity (Genesis 1:1; Matthew 28:19; Luke 3:22; II Corinthians 13:14; I John 5:6-8).
B. THE ATTRIBUTES OF GOD -
The attributes of God are many and include omniscience (Psalm 147:4-5), omnipotence (Job 42:2; Matthew 19:26), omnipresence (Jeremiah 23:23-24), eternal (Psalm 90:1-2), immutable (James 1:17), sovereign (Ephesians 1:8-9), holy (Leviticus 11:44), righteous (Romans 1:18), loving (I John 4:8), grace (I Peter 5:10), just (Acts 17:31) and truth (John 14:6).
C. THE TRINITY -
The Trinity is taught in both the Old and New Testament. In Genesis 1:26 it says, “...Let us make man in our image...” According to Genesis chapter one and John chapter one, God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit were all involved in creation. The New Testament teaches more clearly the doctrine of the Trinity at Christ’s baptism (Luke 3:22), the great commission (Matthew 28:19) and the Apostolic Benediction (II Corinthians 13:14). The Trinity is one God manifested in three persons - Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
D. GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT -
The Holy Spirit has personality. This is seen throughout Scripture as He reproves (John 16:8), teaches (John 14:26; I John 2:20-27), speaks (Galatians 4:6), intercedes (Romans 8:26-27), appoints men to specific services (Acts 13:2), ministers in regeneration (John 3:6), seals (Ephesians 4:30), baptizes (I Corinthians 12:13), fills (Ephesians 5:18) and comforts (John 14:16-17). The Holy Spirit can be sent into the world (John 14:16; 16:7), grieved (Ephesians 4:30), quenched (I Thessalonians 5:19), lied to (Acts 5:3) and disrespected (Hebrews 10:29). All these show the personality of the Spirit of God - Intellect, Emotion, and Will. The Holy Spirit is Deity. He is called God (Acts 5:3-4; I Corinthians 3:16). He has the same attributes of God (Job 33:4; Psalm 139:7-8; Luke 1:35; I Corinthians 2:10-11; Hebrews 9:14).
The Holy Spirit has a work in creation, the Old Testament and during Christ’s earthly life. Genesis 1:2 states that the Holy Spirit participated in the creation of the world and Genesis 2:7 states that He participated in the creation of man (Job 33:4). In the Old Testament the Holy Spirit would indwell men for special tasks (Genesis 41:38; Numbers 27:18; Judges 3:10; I Samuel 10:9), and then would leave (Judges chapters 14 - 17). He also inspired the prophets to write (II Peter 1:20-21). During Christ’s time on earth, men could now receive the indwelling of the Spirit by asking (Luke 11:13). It was not until Christ returned to heaven that He sent the Holy Spirit to indwell believers permanently (John 14:15-26). The Holy Spirit has an active ministry in this present age.
The following is a partial list of the present ministry of the Spirit of God in this age.
1) Salvation -
The Holy Spirit convicts (John 16:7-11), regenerates (Titus 3:5), baptizes (I Corinthians 12:13), seals (Ephesians 1:13-14), indwells (I Corinthians 6:19-20) and fills (Ephesians 5:18).
2) Sanctification -
The Holy Spirit is actively working in the life of believers, conforming them to the image of Christ (Roman 8:28-30). The believer can receive victory over sin by the power of the indwelling Spirit of Christ (Romans 6).
3) Gifts -
Gifts are given to the believer when he is saved, sovereignly as the Holy Spirit wills (I Corinthians 12:11). There are gifts that are still given today and some that have ceased with the completion of Scripture and the death of the apostles. The gifts of the Spirit are listed in (Romans 12; I Corinthians 12; Ephesians 4).
4) Tongues - Languages
Tongues (the gift of languages) was one of the sign gifts given at Pentecost (Acts 2). It was a sign gift given for unbelieving Jews and to confirm the Words spoken by the apostles (Mark 16:16-20). We believe the gift of tongues ceased with the completion of Scripture and passing of the apostles (I Corinthians 13:8).
5) Healing -
Healing was also a sign gift. Although, the Holy Spirit still heals today, it is not a gift given to men, and came to an end with the death of the apostles and completion of Scripture. God’s present method of healing is found in (James 5:13-16).
6) Baptism -
We are baptized by the Holy Spirit at the time of salvation into the body of Christ (I Corinthians 12:13). This is a once for all ministry, not to be repeated (Ephesians 4:5). Water baptism is for believers only and is one of two ordinances given to the Church and is an outward showing of an inward change for believers only. Baptism means to "put under" or "put into". Therefore, we reject infant baptism because infants are not able to understand salvation and cannot understand the process, and we also reject "sprinkling" as a means of baptism as the word "Baptism" does not mean to sprinkle. Every example given in God's Word shows the person going "down into" the water. Therefore, we believe in baptism by submersion after the individual can give a clear testimony of their personal salvation through the grace of Jesus Christ.