INTRODUCTION

The scriptures inspired

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We understand inspiration to mean that special act of the Holy Spirit by which He guided the writers of the Scriptures (2Timothy 3:16-17).  We conceive the Bible to be in actuality the very Word of God.  The divine Author prompted the original thought in the mind of the writers.  He then guided their choice of words to express such thoughts (Exodus 4:12,15) and lastly, He illumines the mind of the reader of such words in a way that the reader potentially may comprehend the same truth as was originally in the mind of the writer (1Corinthians 2:12; Ephesians 1:17-18).  Thus, both thoughts and language are revelatory and inspired.

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The one true God

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The one True God has revealed Himself as 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 of Father, Son and Holy Ghost.  (Deuteronomy 6:4, Isaiah 43:10-11, Matthew 28:19, John 17:11)

The deity of the lord Jesus Christ

The Lord Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God.  The Scriptures declare:

1.  His virgin birth (Matthew 1:23, Luke 1:31-35)

2. His sinless life (Hebrew 7:26, 1 Peter 2:22)

3. His miracles (Acts 2:22, 10:38)

4. His substitutionary work on the cross (1 Corinthians 15:3)

5. His bodily resurrection from the dead (Matthew 28:6, Luke 24:39, 1 Corinthians 15:4)

6. His exaltation to the right hand of God (Acts 2:33, Philippians 2:9-11, Hebrews 1:3)

7. His personal return in power and glory (Matthew 24:27-30)

 

The Holy Spirit

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The Holy Spirit is God being the third person in the Godhead; Himself equal in power, glory eternity, knowledge, wisdom, substance with the Father and with the Son.  (Ps 139:7-10; Lk 1:35; 1 Cor 2:10; Gen 1:2; Job 33:4; John 3:5-8; Rom 8:11; 1 Cor 12:4-6; Matthew 28:19; Rev 1:4; Rom 8:27; Eph 4:30; 2 Pet 1:21; John 14:26; Gal 4:6, Rev 2:7, Rom 8:26; John 15:26; Mat 12:31-32).

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The fall of man

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Man was created good and upright; for God said, “Let us make man in Our image, after Our likeness.”  However, man by voluntary transgression, fell and thereby incurred not only physical death but also spiritual death, which is separation from God.  Genesis 1:26-27; 2:17; Romans 5:12-18

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The salvation of man

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The salvation of man
Man’s hope of redemption is through the shed blood of Jesus Christ the Son of God.

a.     Condition of salvation:

Salvation is received through repentance toward God and faith toward the Lord Jesus Christ.  By the washing of regeneration and renewing of the HOLY GHOST, being justified by grace through faith, a man becomes an heir of God according to the Hope of Eternal Life. (John 3:3; Romans 10:13-15; Ephesians 2:8; Titus 2:11; 3:5-7)

b.     The evidence of salvation

The inward evidence of salvation is the direct witness of the Spirit (Romans 8:16).  The outward evidence to all men is a life of righteousness and true holiness. (Ephesians 4:24; Titus 2:12)

c.     Confession of faith

The experience of salvation is realized and effected by confessing Jesus as Lord.  This confession is a continuing outward and vocal profession involving fellowship and communication with other believers having the same confession.  To this end, all believers, of necessity, maintain and continue fellowship through faithful and consistent attendance at meetings of the Church. (Romans 10:6-10; Hebrews 10:25)

 

The ordinances of the church

a.    Baptism in water
The ordinance of Baptism by Immersion is commended by the Scriptures.  All who repent and believe in Jesus Christ as Saviour and Lord are to be Baptized.  Thus, they declare to the world that they have died with Christ and that they also have been raised with Him to walk in newness of life (Matthew 3:16; Mark 16:16; Acts 10:47; Romans 6:4)

b.    The Lord’s supper

The Lord’s supper consisting of the elements-bread and the fruit of the vine – is the symbol expressing our sharing the Divine nature of our Lord Jesus Christ; a memorial of His suffering and death and is enjoined on all believers “till He comes” (1 Corinthians 11:26; Luke 22:19-20).

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Practices of the church

 

a.    Child dedication

The act of presenting infants to God with the laying on of hands and prayer for blessing and in dedicating a child is an act of faith by the parents which God honours and to which God responds.  This act of dedication must be followed by the discipline and training of the child which is enjoined upon parents in the Scriptures (Luke 2:22).

b.    Marriage

We declare our commitment to the ordinance and institution of marriage according to God’s plan as revealed in His Word.  That is the original intent and plan of God that a man shall be joined to ONE wife and that this relationship shall be permanent until the death of one partner.  Any departures from this original plan and will of God shall only be sanctioned in accordance with the understanding of Bible principles and teachings by the elders of the church.

The baptism of the Holy Spirit

All believers are entitled to and should ardently expect and earnestly 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 of all in the early Christian Church.  With it comes the endowment of power for life and service and the bestowal of the Gifts.  (Acts 1:4-8, 1 Corinthians 12:1-31)  This experience is distinct from and subsequent in the overflowing fullness of the Spirit (John 7:37-39; Acts 4:8), a deepened reverence for God (Acts 2:43; Hebrews 12:28), and an intensified consecration to God and dedication to His work (Acts 2:42) and a more active love for Christ, for His Word and for the lost. (Mark 1:20)

The 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.  All believers who are indeed baptized by the Spirit into the Body of Christ are an integral part of the General Assembly and Church of First-born, which are written in Heaven. (Ephesians 1:22-23; 2:22; Hebrews 12:23; 1 Corinthians 12:13).

Sanctification

Sanctification is an act of separating from that which is evil, and of dedication unto God (Romans 12:1; 1 Thessalonians 5:23; Hebrews 13:12).  The scriptures teach a life of “Holiness without which NO man shall see the Lord” (Hebrews 12:14; Matthew 5:48,).  By power of the Holy Ghost we are able to obey the command; “Be ye Holy, for I am Holy” (1 Peter 1:15-16).  Sanctification is realized in the believer by recognizing this identification with Christ in His death and resurrection, and by faith reckoning daily upon the fact of that union, and by offering every faculty continually to the dominion of the Holy Spirit (Romans 6:1-11, 13; 8:1,2,12; Galatians 2:20; Philippians 2:12,13; 1 Peter 1:5).

The ministry

God has given believers in the Body of Christ spiritual gifts and ministry gifts as listed in Romans 12; 1 Cor 12; Eph 4;7-16; 1 Peter 4:8-11 for service.  He has also given the Fruit of the Spirit as listed in Galatians 5:22-23 for character.   A divinely called and scripturally ordained ministry has been provided by our Lord for (a) The evangelization of the World (b) The edifying of the Body of Christ. (Mark 16:15; Ephesians 4:11-13), (c) The oversight and rulership of the Church, in accordance with scriptural church government (1 Corinthians 12:28; Hebrews 13:7,17).

Divine healing

Divine healing is an integral part of the gospel.  Deliverance from sickness is provided for in the atonement, and is the privilege of all believers (Isaiah 53:4-5; Matthew 8:16-17; James 5:14-16).  We recognize Christ’s command to lay hands on the sick in His Name for their recovery in connection with the preaching of the gospel (Mark 16:17)

Prayer and Praise

A primary function of the Church is to afford God’s people opportunity and means of approaching God our father through prayer and worship.  Continued prayer and praise is a fundamental condition of God’s presence in the Church.  God’s house is a house of prayer for all people.  The sacrifice of praise is enjoined upon all believers.  The Father is seeking true worshippers who worship God in Spirit and in Truth.  Prayer and praise should conform to the Word, as revealed in both Old and New Testaments, audible, joyful, spiritual and in one accord. (Isaiah 56:7; Hebrews 13:15; Psalms 100)

The laying of hands

The Doctrine of laying on of hands describes a means by which spiritual blessing is imparted to one upon whom hands are laid in Christ’s name.  In particular, we refer here to the impartation and confirmation of gifts and ministries by the laying on of hands or the presbytery with prophesy. (1 Timothy 4:14; 2 Timothy 1:6; Hebrews 6:2)

Restoration

The Restoration of all things that were spoken by the Holy prophets is a prerequisite in the coming of the Lord.  We recognize that God is restoring lost truth to the church and we therefore place no limit on further illumination of the Word.  However, further truth must be in full harmony and agreement with the written Word of God, the Bible.  (Joel 2:25; Acts 3:20-21)

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Blessed hope

The resurrection of those who have fallen asleep in Christ and their translation together with those who are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord is the imminent and blessed hope of the Church (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17; Romans 8:23; 1 Corinthians 15:51-52)

The millennial reign of Christ

The second coming of Christ includes the rapture of the saints, which is our blessed hope, followed by the visible return of Christ with  His Saints to reign on the earth for one thousand years (Zechariah 14:5; Revelation 1:7; 20:1-6).  This Millennial reign will bring the establishment of universal peace (Isaiah 11:6-9; Psalms 72:3-8; Micah 4:4)

The final judgment

There will be a final judgment in which the wicked dead will be raised and judged according to their works.  “Whosoever is not found written in the Book of Life” together with the devil and his angles, the beast and the false prophet, will be consigned to everlasting punishment in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone which is the second death (Matthew 25:46; Mark 9:43-48; Revelation 19:20; 21:8)

The new heaven and the new earth

“We, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth wherein dwelleth righteousness.”  (2 Peter 3:13)  All the saved whose names are written in the Book of Life, will inherit the eternal blessedness of our Heavenly Father’s home (John 14:1-6).

 
MINISTERIAL REQUIREMENTS

There are a number of requirements that any minister/servant of The Church of Gospel Messengers of Holiness and Righteousness must have.  Hence, every minister should be:
•    A prayer warrior
James 5:15-16 “…..Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed.  The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.”

•    A watchman
Luke 12:37 “Blessed are those servants whom the master when He comes will find watching…….”

•    A student
2Timothy 2:15 “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”

•    An example
1Peter 5:3 “……..nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being an example to the flock.”

•    Compassionate
Ezekiel 34:16 “…. bind up the broken and strengthen what was sick…”

•    Good counselor/advisor
Proverbs 24:6  “For by wise counsel you will wage your own war, and in a multitude of counselors there is safety.”

•    Hard worker
Ecclesiastes 9:10  “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might…”

•    Willing to bear burden
Exodus 18:22  “….so it will be easier for you, for they will bear the burden with you.”

•    Team player
1 Corinthians 3:8-9  “…now he who waters and he who plants are one…”

•    Disciplined
Proverbs 12:1  “Whoever loves instruction loves knowledge but he who hates reproof is stupid.”

•    Transparent
Ephesians 5:8  “For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord.  Walk as children of light.”

•    A tither and liberal giver
2 Corinthians 9:6:  “But this I say…he who saws sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who saws bountifully will also reap bountifully.”
Malachi 3:10:  “Bring all the tithes into the store house, that there may be food in my house, and try me now in this, says the Lord of host, if I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you such blessings that there will not be room enough to receive it.”

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•    Submissive
1 Peter 2:18:  “Servants, be submissive to your masters with all fear…”

•    A worshiper
John 4:23-24:  “…..For the Father is seeking such to worship Him….”

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•    Willing to protect the flock

Acts 20:28-31:  “….therefore take heed to yourself and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers…”

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DISCIPLINARY ACTIONS

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If any person fails to abide with the above statement of faith and requirements, he/she shall:
1.    Be summoned before the church elders with a view of determining the dispute/issue.
2.    If that individual fails to take heed to the counsel given to him/her by the church elders, he/she shall be suspended from ministry for a period not less than one month.
3.    Upon failing to reform, that individual shall be indefinitely suspended from further ministry with The Church of Gospel Messengers of Holiness and Righteousness.