Teachings of the Church of God

________________________________________

Bible: The divinely, inspired word of God. The Church of God has no other creed or theology other than that which is taught in the Word of God in its entirety. (II Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:21).

Relationship of Love: There is no greater doctrine of the Bible than that of love. Jesus confirmed that an individual is to love the Lord God with all of his heart, soul, mind, body, and strength. God created mankind for the purpose of having a relationship with him. Love is the foundation to the relationship with God that He seeks in humanity. Without a supreme love of God, all other doctrine and religious life will miss the mark. Love is the motivation and key to living acceptably to God. This love for God is than manifest in loving our neighbor as ourselves. (Matthew 22:37-39, Mark 12:30-31)

Church of God: The body of Christ is composed of every blood-washed one. Salvation makes you a member of this divine institution of God that stands above the religious confusion of humanly- organized religion (Acts 2:47; I John 3:8-10). Jesus Christ is the true, active head of the church on earth and in Heaven (Eph 1:22-23; Col 1:18). Christ is the foundation of the Church (I Cor 3:11); he governs the Church (Isaiah 9:6), and God places the members in the body--not a board or committee (I Cor 12:18,27-28).

Unity of God's People: God has only one church (I Cor 12:12-13,20; Eph 4:4-6) and Christ desires that there be unity and fellowship amongst His children (John 17:20-23, Gal 3:28, Phil 1:27). For unity to be attained, there must be a coming out of Babylon (Rev 18:2,4).

Salvation from Sin: While all have sinned, Jesus Christ died on the cross that the power of sin might be broken in the hearts and lives of mankind. There is power through redemption to enable us to live free from sin on a daily basis. "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold all things are become new." II Cor. 5:17. To live acceptably before God and to make Heaven our home, we must live without sin. There is a definite experience of salvation that all can have when they believe in Christ, repent of committed sin, and walk in newness of life. (Matt 1:21; Rom 6; I John 3:3-10; I John 5:18a; John 5:14b; John 8:11b).

Infilling of the Holy Ghost: As it was on the day of Pentecost, there is a second work subsequent to justification (Acts 19:2) that every child of God must experience. The Holy Spirit wants to come into every justified individual and take up His abode. The Holy Ghost brings power to the lives of Christians to enable them to be the separate, called-out, holy people that God desires. The Holy Spirit is a sanctifier, comforter, purifier, and enabler. (Acts 2; Acts 15:8-9; Acts 1:8; I Cor 6:19-20; John 14:16-20, 25-28).

Kingdom of God: The kingdom of God is not an earthly kingdom but a spiritual kingdom that has been in existence ever since the coming of Jesus Christ. We look not for another kingdom on this earth but are experiencing the joy, blessings, and power in this life as kings and priests in the kingdom of God (Luke 17:20-21; Romans 14:17; John 18:36).

End Times: At a time we know not, Christ will return to this earth as a thief in the night (Acts 1:9-11, II Peter 3:10-12). All people, the living and the dead, will stand before the judgment seat of God (II Tim 4:1,8; John 5:28-29; I Thess 4:16-17; II Cor 5:10). The righteous shall live in Heaven while the unrighteous shall live in Hell for eternity (Matt 25:31-46). The earth will be destroyed (2 Peter 3:7; Rev 20:11-15).

Faith: The life and experience of a Christian should be based on faith and trust in God with regard to every aspect of living. Spiritual, financial, physical, and temporal dependency is to be on God and not man (Heb 11:6; Romans 5:1; John 20:31). This is one of the reasons that ministers are not salaried, but rely on free-will offerings as the Lord provides (I Peter 5:2-3; John 10:11,13).

Divine Physical Healing: Provision was made for divine physical healing when Christ shed his blood on the cross. Divine healing is not something of the past but it is still available for those who put their faith and trust in God. God still works miracles in the body as well as the soul. (James 5:13-16; Isaiah 53:4-5).

3 Ordinances: Full Immersion Baptism (Matthew 28:19-20; Acts 8:36-39); The Lord's Supper (Matthew 26:26-30; I Cor. 11:23-27); Feet Washing (John 13:14-17).

Holiness: The Word of God teaches that we must be holy in all manner of conversation -- our attitudes, meditations, motivations, actions, where we go, what we do, what we wear. Holiness must encompass our lives inwardly and outwardly. Without holiness, no man shall see God. This holiness does not come from man's work but it is the work of God within man. Therefore, there is no place for 'self-righteousness'. Part of holiness is living humbly before God and man. (Hebrews 12:14; I Peter 1:15; I Thess 4:7; Eph. 4:24; Rom. 6:22; Titus 2:11-12).

Modesty of Dress: A child of God must not be conformed to this world but rather be a reflection of humility, purity, and simplicity (I Timothy 2:9-10; I Corinthians 11:14-15; Deuteronomy 22:5).

Sanctity of Marriage: The scripture teaches that a man and woman, when married, are joined for life in the eyes of God. Remarriage while a first companion is still living constitutes adultery (Luke 16:18; I Cor 7:10-11,39).

Worship: True worshipers will worship God in Spirit and in Truth (John 4:23-24). Worship services of God's people are not programmed but are led and ordered by the Spirit of the Lord. As was the practice of the early morning church and as the reformers also taught, musical instruments are not used in active worship service. Ministers are not formally trained but are called by God to preach the gospel under the anointing of the Holy Spirit (Eph 3:7; I Cor 2:1-5).

Great Commission: The burden of Christ remains with His true children to 'go into all the world and preach the gospel.' (Mark 16:15) The purpose of the Church is not to settle down and enjoy the wealth of this world but to be the light of the world, to spread the good news of true salvation, and to show lost souls the love of God by good works.