Our Beliefs

 The church is a body of baptized believers. To become a member of the church, there must be a spiritual metamorphosis, or transformation, of the mind. The only way that a spiritual transformation can take place is through God's word; taking on the nature of Christ through repentance and the baptism of the Holy Ghost. This is salvation. One must be born again of the water and spirit. St. John 3:5 states: "Jesus answered, Verily, verily I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God." Being born again of the water is simply taking on Christ by being baptized in his name. Being born again of the spirit is receiving the Holy Ghost according to Acts 2:4. [And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance (Acts 2:4)]. God has only one true plan of salvation for the entire human race. And through this plan, we are heirs of God and joint-heirs with Christ.

The first step in being born again is repentance. Acts 2:38 states: "Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized everyone of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost." To repent means to deeply regret, or become deeply sorrowful. This deep sorrowfulness constitutes a sincere desire to change from the old way living to a new and better way. Therefore, godly sorrow brings salvation: " For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death." ( II Corinthians 7:10). A good example of repentance is found in Psalm 51. This is David's prayer of repentance after he had gone in to Bathsheba. 

Let's go back to the baptism in his name. What is His name? [And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins (Matthew 1:21)]. Why the name Jesus? The following scriptures will expound the importance of the name of Jesus: [ And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached "in his name" among all nations beginning at Jerusalem (Luke 24:47)]. [ Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them "in the name of" the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost (Matthew 28:19)]. Jesus Christ is the Father in creation because he created man from the dusk of the earth; he is the Son in redemption because he redeemed us back to himself when he die on the cross for our sins; he is the holy Ghost in the church. I John 5:20 states: "And we know that the son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life." 

[Neither is there salvation in any other: for there s none other "name" under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved (Acts4:12)]. 

[To him gave all the prophets witness, that "through his name" whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins. While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. And they of the circumcism which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost. For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then Peter answered, Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we? And he commanded them to be baptized in the "name of the Lord." Then prayed they him to tarry certain days. (Acts 10:43-48)]. 

[And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples, He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost. And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John's baptism. Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus When they heard this, they were baptized in the "name of the Lord Jesus" (Acts 19:1-5)]. 

[And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, "do all in the name of the Lord Jesus," giving thanks to God and the Father by him (Colossians 3:17)]. 

An individual must take on Christ by being baptized in his name and receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, speaking with other tongues as the spirit gives utterance. This is what it takes to become a part of, or a member of, the church of God.