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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. |