Welcome to this web page of the family of God in Kenya, East Africa. We love you, Dear One. So do not just peep in and go away. We are some of the only people in the world who will openly welcome you to help us to be what God intends for us to be, as we too will help you to be what God also intends for you to be. We all need each other here on earth. We are just that: humble children of God who love all humanity and each other with a sincere Godly love. “We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error. Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love” (1 John 4:6-8).
The church of God is not an institution to be joined like the worldly denominations are joined. It is THE Family of God. One is born into this family by believing in Jesus Christ (John 1:12-13; 1 Pet.1:23), thereby accepting Him as the ruler (Lord) of his or her life from then onwards. It is a family that does not have any geographical, ethnic, or even color barriers (Eph.3:14-15; Eph. 2:19-22). Once you are born again through Jesus Christ, you are immediately registered in the Family’s book of life in heaven (Heb. 12:23; Luke 10:20;Ps.69:28; Rev.13:8). Wherever you live on earth, that is all that is required of you to be a part of this family. The family has only one creed: The Holy Bible, which is the Word of God written from heaven and used by the Holy Ghost to guide and transform us into all holiness that will qualify us to see and live with God in eternity when our probation on this earth is done (1Thes.4:17; Mat.25:46).
No doubt, there are many websites and web-blogs that are put out by “church of God” congregations and individuals. By setting up this website, we are not trying to compete with the others in this same family. No, no ! We are only obeying the Lord’s command to go to all the world to reach every one with the Gospel (Mat. 28:19-20), and also trying to reach out our right hand of fellowship to those saints within our locality as well as to open ourselves to the international true community of God so that all will know where we are and therefore be able to reach us so that we all may enjoy the blessings that go with obeying Jesus in His will for us to be one (John 17:21-23: “That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me”.
If Jesus is in you, and in me, let us be one as He and the Father are. Come, therefore, Dear One and let us serve God in the love, purity and unity of God. Amen…….?.
Introduction:
We are only giving a mere skeleton of our beliefs. You must study the Scriptures and add to the skeleton yourself. When you diligently and prayerfully study the Bible, the Holy Spirit will lead you to deeper truths in more details as relates to you and your personal spiritual needs. When we meet, please, do not hesitate to share with us what the Lord has revealed to you so that we can also be benefited by that which the Lord has given you. We, all the saved ones, are one body and each part of the body needs to be strengthened by that which the other part has to provide (Eph. 4:15-16; Col. 2:19).
May the Lord bless you as you peruse this statement.
I. We believe in the Eternal God (Ps.90:2, Isa. 57:15).
God is exclusively and incomparably superior.
(a) God is alive and is self existent: John 5:26, Ps. 36:9.
1. He is the owner of all things by the right of creation and Fatherhood:
1 Chron. 29:11; Psalms 50:10; Ezekiel 18:4; Rev. 4:11 Acts 17:24-29.
2. God controls all nature: Jeremiah 31:35; Jeremiah 33:25.
3. God makes the laws which govern all creation: Isa. 33:22; Mat. 4:10; Mat. 22:37.
4. God gives grace as He sees fit: Mark 4:11; Rom. 9:22; 2 Tim 2:25.
5. God is the judge of all: Dan.4:17; Romans 12:19.
(b) God is the only one to be worshipped (Exod.20:3-5; Rev.14:7; Rev.15:4; Rev.22:9).
(c) God is a spirit : John 4:24; 2 Cor. 3:17.
(d) God is triune: 1 John 5:7; Matt. 3:16-17; Rom. 8:9; 1 Cor. 12:3-6; Eph. 4:4-6; 1 Pet. 1:2; Jude 20-21.
(e) There is only One God: Isaiah 45:21.
(f) God has so many attributes that we cannot exhaust them all in our finite mind and space. So we will just mention an additional few for the purpose of this study:
1.Invisible: Jn. 1:18; Jn. 5:37; Col. 1:15; 1 Tim.1:17; 1 Tim.6:16; Job 23:8-9.
2.Immortal: 1 Tim 1:17.
3.Incorruptible: Romans 1:23.
4.Omnipotent:: Gen.17:1; Rev. 19:6.
5.Omnipresent: Psalms 139:7-10; Jeremiah 23:23.
6.Omniscient:: Psalms 139:1-6; Prov.5:21.
7.Immutable: Psalms 102:2,6,27; James 1:17.
8. All wise: Dan.2:20; Rom.11:33.
9. Holy and true: 1 Pet.1:16; Hab. 1:13; Titus.1:2.
10. God is just: Psalms 89:14; Acts 10:35.
11. God is all goodness: Rom. 2:4; Psalms 136:26.
12. God is faithful: 2 Thes. 3:3; Heb.11:11.
As we cannot exhaust this list of the attributes of God, we will stop there and leave you to add to the list.
Conclusion: (Ps. 14:1; Ps. 53:1; Ps. 10:4). Only “the fool hath said in his heart, there is no God”.
II. We believe in the Lord Jesus Christ.
1.(a) Jesus is divine: John 1:1-4,10; John 20:28; 1 Tim. 1:16-17; Col.1:15-20. As such, Jesus Christ is God.
(b) Jesus is truly human: Luke 1:74-75; Luke 2:5-14; John 1:14; Acts 2:30-32; Matt. 1:23. He is the son of God: Heb.13:8; Rom. 1:4; Jn. 1:34; Jn. 11:27.
(c) Jesus has a mission:
(i)To save from sin: (Dan. 9:24; Matt. 1:21; 1 John 3:5; John 1:29).
(ii)To keep from sin: (Luke 1:74-75; 2Thes.3:3; Jude 1: 24).
(iii)To heal the sick (Psalms 103:3; Matt.8:16-17).
(iv) To intercede of us (1 John 2:1; Rom.8:34; Heb.7:25).
(v) To be the venue through which all the heavenly blessings are received by those here on earth prior to the end of the world (Phil.4:19;1 Cor.2:9; John 10:9; Hebrews 4:16).
(vi) To present all the saved in Heaven (1 Cor.15:24; 1 Thes.4:16-17).
(d) Jesus has power (Matt. 28:18):
(i)This power is manifest in His name which we are given at new birth: John 15:16; Luke 10:17; Acts 3:16; Acts 4:7, 10, 12.
(ii)This power is manifested in His word: Psalms 107:20; Matt. 8:8-13; Mark 16:15-16; Rom. 1:16-17.
(iii) This power is vested in His church: Luke 10:19; Acts 4:31-33; Acts 5:11-16.
- Jesus Christ is received in the life of a person who repents and accepts him to be his or her Master:
(a) First, one has to repent, confess and forsake all sins: Acts 3:19-20; Luke 24:4; John 8:11.
(b) Secondly, By faith one has to receive Jesus as the ruler of his or her life all the days of his or her life, thus inviting Him and submitting to Him to be the Master of his or her life: Rev. 3:20; John 14:23.
(c) Finally, one has to lovingly live an obedient life to Jesus who is his or her King: John 12:26; Matt.17:5. Without living this way, we are lying when we say that He is our Lord.
III. We believe in the Holy Ghost.
(A) We teach that one cannot live a successful saved life without the Holy Spirit indwelling the person because the Holy Spirit is the one to give the necessary power to live a holy life. He is the helper Jesus promised to leave to the believers so that they can be helped to live a successful live.
1. The Holy Ghost is God: Acts 5:3-4; 2 Cor. 3:17; 1 Cor. 3:16-19; 2 Cor .6:19. Therefore when we receive Him, we are receiving more of God within us.
2. God dwells in His people through the Holy Spirit: John 14:15-17; 1 Cor. 3:16-17; 1 Cor. 6:19.3.
(i) The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of truth: John 14:16-17; John 14:26
(ii) The Holy Spirit is given to those who are obedient : Acts 2: 38-39; Acts 5:32; John 7:39.
5. The Holy Spirit guides the people of God into all the truth: John 16: 13; John 14:26; 1 John 2:27.
6. He gives the spiritual gifts to the Church of God: 1 Cor. 12:8-11.
7. The fruit of the Spirit that He imparts into a believer show His presence in the life of the believer: Galatians 5: 22-24; Colossians 3:12-17.
8. It is a necessity to be filled with the Holy Spirit :John 16:13; Rom. 8:9.
(a) He mortifies carnality from the life of a believer : Matt. 3:11; Acts 15: 8-9; Romans 8:13; Romans 15:16.
(b). He sheds the love of God into the hearts of believers: Romans 5:1-5.
(c). He gives the power to believers to be effective witnesses of Christ: Acts 1:8.
(d). He is the seal of God in the believers : Rom. 8:14; Eph. 1:13; Eph. 4:30.
(e). He perfects the unity of the believers: Acts 4:31-33; Galatians 3:28.
(f). He leads the believers according to the will of God: Romans 8:14; Gal.5:16-18.
(B) Baptism with the Holy Spirit: Matt. 3:11; Acts 1:5; Acts 19:1-6.
(a) What is it?
It is being so immersed in God that His power is experienced within and without the saint. In other words, Godliness is experienced, seen and heard in one’s life at all times: Galatians 5:22-24; Ephesians 5:18-21.
(b) It was commanded by God : Rom. 8: 9; Acts 1:5,8; John 20:22; Jon. 16:13.
(c) It was promised: Matt. 3:11; John 14:16-17, 26; Luke 24:49.
(d) It is received after the forgiveness of sins:
(i) The Holy Spirit is only given to those who have spiritual life : Acts 19:1-2; Eph. 1:13; Acts 8:5-17.
(ii) He only dwells in those who are holy:1 Cor. 3:16-17.
(iii) He dwells only in those who are obedient: Acts 5:32
(e). God has shown us the evidence of Holy Spirit baptism: 2 Cor. 4:6-7;
2 Cor. 13:5, whereas the devil has made up his own evidence to deceive men.
(i) The Holy Spirit Himself is the witness: Heb. 10:14-16; Rom. 8:15-16.
(ii) When received and humbly followed, He gives power to live a holy life at all times in one’s life: Acts 1:8; Acts 10:37-38; Rom. 8:11-14. This is not the power to jibber-jabber in a jargon unknown by the listeners or to roll on the floor exposing one’s nakedness, dancing and doing all unseemly things.
(iii) Overflowing of the fruit of the Spirit is a very good evidence that one is filled with the Holy Spirit: Gal. 5:22-25; Col. 3:12-17;
Rom. 14:17; Rom. 15:13.
(iv) Spiritual gifts from the Holy Spirit to do a work for the glory of God and for the edification of the Church of God: Mat. 28:19-20; Mark 17:17-18; Rom. 12:6-8; 1 Cor. 12:4-11, 28-31; Gal. 1:11-16.
IV. We believe that the Bible is the written Word of God:
All our doctrinal truth is based on the fact that the Holy Scriptures are divinely inspired. As such, the Bible becomes the court of final appeal for all our moral issues. We therefore teach all we do based on the Holy Scriptures as the will of God.
1. The Holy Scriptures are given by God: 2 Tim.3:16; Acts 1:16; 2 Peter 1:21.
2. Jesus Christ sanctioned the scriptures in a number of ways:
(a) He appealed to them: Mat.4:4; Mark 12:10; John 7:42.
(b) He taught the Scriptures to the people: Luke 24:27.
(c) He delivered the Scriptures to the people: Heb. 1:1-2.
3. The Holy Scriptures are the Word and law of God;
(a) Scriptures as the Word of God: Luke 11:28; Col. 3:16; Heb. 4:12; 1Peter 2:2; 1 Peter 4:11; James 1:21-23.
(b) Scriptures as the Law of God: Psalms 1:2; Isaiah 30:9.
4. The Holy Scriptures are :
(a) Unerring guide to us: Psalms 119:105
(b) An instrument of salvation: 2 Tim. 3:15
(c) Beneficial for doctrine and life giving: 2 Tim. 3:16-17; 1 Peter 1:22-23.
5. The Scriptures were given to all the people: Romans 16:26.
(a) For instruction: Romans 15:4
(b) To produce faith: John 20:31; Acts 20:32; Romans 10:17.
(c) To produce hope in people: Romans 15:4.
(d) To give life: James 1:18; 1 Peter 1:23; Psalms 119:50, 93.
(e) To convert the soul: Psalms 19:7.
(f) To cleanse the soul: Ephesians 5:26; John 15:3; Psalms 119:9.
(g) To keep from destructive practices: Psalms 17:4
(h) To keep the saved spiritually alive: Deut. 8:3; Mat. 4:4.
(i) To comfort and rejoice the heart: 1 Cor. 10:11; Romans 15:4; Psalms 19:8; Psalms 119:111.
6. We are commanded by God:
(a) To use the scriptures as the standard of teaching: 1 Peter 4:11; Isa. 8:20.
(b) To read the Scriptures daily and also publicly:
Acts 17:11; John 5:39; Deut. 17:19; Isaiah 34:16; Acts 13:15; Jer. 36:6.
(c) To believe the scriptures and obey them: John 2:22; Mat. 28:19-20.
(d) To receive the Scriptures and apply them in our lives:
i. As the Word of God: 1 Thes. 2:13
ii. With meekness: James 1:21
iii. Commit them to heart: Deut. 6:6; 11:18.
(e) To teach the scriptures:(i) To children: Deut. 6:7; Deut. 11:19.(ii) To every body: Mark 16:15-16.
(f) Not to use the Scriptures deceitfully and not to add or deduct from them: 2 Cor. 4:2; Rev. 22:18-19.
What is holiness?
Holiness is living and serving God without sin all the days of our life from the time one gets saved: Luke 1:74-75; Romans 6:1-2; Ephesians 4:23-24; Romans 6:11-13.
1. The source of holiness:
Holiness comes from God: Luke 1:74-75; Romans 8:30; Ephes. 1:4; 1 Peter 1:2.
2. God has commanded us to be holy: Mat. 5:48; John 5:14; John 8:11; Heb. 12:14-16; 1 Peter 1:15-16.
3. How is holiness acquired?
(a) Justification removes all our guilt in the eyes of God and occurs in the courts of heaven: (Acts 13:38-39; Romans 8: 33; Isaiah 50:8-9; Rev. 12:10). We must personally repent, confess to God asking for forgiveness and get converted: 1 John 1:9; Proverbs 28:13; Acts 3:19; 2 Cor. 7:10.
(i) Examples of repentance:
——Mat. 26:75—Peter wept bitterly for sinning against the Lord; He himself saw his sin against the Lord and prayed to be forgiven. He did not say a prayer after some body or mimic a prayer by someone else or confess to a priest: Luke 18:13.
——the publican smote his breast in repentance and called upon the Lord directly to forgive him. He did not also pray after some one else or confess to a priest.—- Luke 23:42-23:
——The thief on the cross addressed Jesus directly and not through any one else and was forgiven by Jesus and promised a place in paradise (Luke 23:42-43).
(ii) Then we must believe that God forgives our sins through Jesus Christ: Romans 3:23-26; Romans 8:3; 2 Cor. 5:21. Through this forgiveness, the death that we should have died because of our offence towards God was cancelled. Jesus died in our stead.
(iii) One must obey God after repentance and faith (in Jesus Christ), have taken effect. The greatest failure in many people’s lives has been their lack in obeying God unconditionally. Repentance and faith are in themselves not enough without a firm resolution–(shall we call it a vow)– never to sin any more and obedience to the command never to sin again even though we have to die : John 5:14; John 8:11. We have to resolutely and lovingly obey, submit to, Jesus as God requires of us: Mat. 9:9; Luke 9:35; Acts 3:22; James 1:22-23.
(iv) The three conditions mentioned above are fulfilled simultaneously and result in a momentary forgiveness of sins : Mat.9:2,6; Rom. 5:9-11; Rom. 10: 9-11.
(v) Once your sins are forgiven, your heart is clean in the eyes of God and the Holy Spirit witnesses to your heart that you are a child of God: Rom. 8:16-17 and your guilt is completely removed: Romans 8:1; Romans 5:1; Acts 24:16.
(vi)Then your life is completely changed due to obedience to the Word of God: Mat.3: 8,10; Mat.12:36-37; Luke 10:27-28. Hallelujah ! You are a new creature in Jesus Christ.
If your life is not changed so that you hate sin and never any more desire to have any part in sin , you never got saved. Pray God until He saves you to the extent that you live a sinless life and only desire to live a holy life, hating sin, never having a part in it any more in all your life. Salvation is the experience of a sinless life continuously as we live like Jesus whose Life is in us and continues to thrive in us.
(b) Sanctification:
This term is used in this statement synonymously with “the baptism of the Holy Spirit”. This is because the term sanctify is used in the bible to mean, among other things, “ to make holy” or “to set aside as holy”. It is true the Holy Spirit sets believers aside as holy or in short, the Holy Spirit purifies the heart of a believer once He has taken His bode in the body of the believer. In the heart of man are the evils planted by the devil (Mark 7:20-23; 1 John 3:8-10). The Holy Ghost removes these roots of all those evils, which are the cause of sin in man’s life. In fact, He “burns the chaff” in our hearts and life (Mat. 3:12). This chaff is the corrupt nature that is the root of all committed sin in all the human race (Romans 5:19; Romans 7:17-20). Forgiveness of sins which have been committed only removes our guilt before God. But unless the Holy Ghost comes in to sit in the seat of our emotions and be the one who prompts all our actions, words and thoughts, the devil will move in and sit there to be our director (Math. 12:43-45). But when the Holy Ghost sits on the seat of our emotions, and we daily humble ourselves to Him, He will always lead us to victory over sin and the devil. Please, see the topic: “Baptism with the Holy Spirit” as detailed else where above. However, we need to add a number of things here.
In order to be baptized with the Holy Spirit ( to be filled with the Holy Spirit) one needs to fulfill a number of conditions:
(i) Having obtained justification, one needs to proceed on and pray, consecrating to God totally, giving Him all—body, soul, mind, strength wealth and all else— for His use to glorify Himself. There are many who differ with this point, but it is still true. Before justification, one had been enslaved by the devil: Romans 6:16; Ephesians 2:1-3. As a slave, one had neither freedom nor power to offer oneself willingly as a living sacrifice to God. Justification sets one free to willingly and lovingly offer one’s body a living sacrifice to God (Romans 12:1-2). One does this out of love, which was not possible when in bondage to the devil.
(ii) Coupled with this consecration is the prayer to God to fill you with His Holy Spirit : Luke 11:13; John 16:23. If this is not done, then one would quickly backslide back into sin : Mat. 12:43-45.
(iii) The Holy Spirit is received by the believer by faith, just as justification or healing of the body is: Mat. 21:22; Mark 11:24;Heb.725; Heb.10:19-22; Heb.11:6; Eph. 3:20.
One does not need to seek for a sign that one has received the Holy Spirit other than the new heart one receives after being filled with the Holy spirit: Ezekiel 36:27. This newness of heart backed by the power to live a holy life (Acts 1:8; Luke 10:19) should be enough of the evidence to the believer that He has received the Holy Spirit, who Himself is the witness in our hearts.
(iv) As God commanded the Israelites (Numbers 28:24), once the Holy Ghost is come to indwell us, we need to daily offer ourselves to Him in way of daily sacrifice.
4. The Holiness we acquire:
(a) The holiness within the heart: Mat.5:8; 1 Kings 8:61; Col. 3:15-17.
(b) The external holiness which results from what has been done in the heart and is evidenced by the way one lives and behaves:
(i) In the way we dress —Modesty is the standard : 2 Tim. 2:9; 1 Pet. 3:3; Isaiah 3:21; Deut.22:5.
(ii) In the way we speak: 1 Pet. 1:15; Eph.4:29; 1 Pet.4:11.
(iii) In the way we live every where: Romans 6:19; 1 Cor.10:31.
(a) In the home: Ephe.5:21-25; Ephe.6:1-9; Col.3:18-25; 1 Tim.5:8.
(b) In the Church: Romans 12: 6-8; 1 Cor. 12:14-30; James 2:14-17; 1 John 3:16-18; Luke 11:42; Malachi 3:10-12.
(c) How we live with our neighbors: Ro. 12:17-21; Mark 12:31; Mat. 25:35-40.
(d) In the way we live as citizens of our country: Ezra 7:26; Mat.22:21; 1 Pet. 2:13-14.
(iv) In the way we love: Ephe.1:4:
(a) Love God with all our heart: Mark 12:30; John 14:23-24.
(b) Love the Brethren: 1 John 3:16-19; John 13:34-35.
(c) Love our neighbor: Mark 12:31
(d) Love our Pastors and Ministers of the gospel:1 The.5:12-13; 2 Cor. 8:7.
(e) In the way we worship: Psalms 29:2; 2 Chron. 20:21.
(i) Worship God only: 1 John 5:21. Some people worship money, prestige, beauty, wealth, fame, leisure, their church groups, etc, etc.
(ii) Worship God in Truth and Spirit: John 4:23-24. —Not in the worldly way we see in many sects of the day as in dancing to the fulfillment of the flesh, etc, etc: 1 John 2:15-17; James 4:4.
Conclusion on holiness: Psalms 93:5. “Thy testimonies are very sure: holiness becometh thine house, O LORD, for ever”.
Vi. We believe in the unity of the Brethren: John 17:21-23.
1. It is the will of God that all the believers be united into one family of God: John 11:51-52; 1 Cor.1:10; Eph. 4:3; Phil. 4:2; Col. 2:2; 2 Cor. 13:11;1 Pet. 3:8.
2. All the saved are inducted into one body, the body of Christ : Rom. 15: 5-6; 1 Cor. 12: 13-14; Gal. 3:28.
3. All the saved are the children of one Father: Eph. 3:14-15; Eph. 2:19; Gal. 6:10; John 1:12-13; 1 John 3:9-10; 1John 3:1-2.
4. Unity of the believers is through Jesus Christ by one Spirit:Phil. 1:27; Eph. 4:4-5,11-16; 1 Cor. 12:13-20; Romans 12:4-5.
5. Unity of the Saints causes the world to believe in Jesus: John 17:21-23.
6. Unity of the Saints results to God’s working wonderfully among his people:
Acts 4:31-33; Acts 5:12-20; Acts 12:5-17; Mat. 18:20.
7. God requires the unity of His children in one faith through the doctrine preached by the Ministry and also through what each member supplies to the whole Church as an integral part : Eph.4:11-13; 1Cor.12:11-14.
8. It is the requirement of God that all the saved be united in one name at birth just as the earthly children get their father’s name at birth: Eph.3:14-15; Eph.4:6; Rev. 3:12.
9. It is sin to be divided: Rom. 16:17-18; 1 Cor.12:25-26. It is disobedience to Jesus whose will is that we all who believe if Him be one (John 17:20-23). Note how He repeats the word “ONE” in those few verses. How strongly He desires the unity of believers !. Due to this, we stand against all divisions of the modern church of God groups, along unbiblical traditions and norms, regardless of who they are. We want to allow the Holy Ghost to rule and to lead, and we will only have that. We desire to fellowship all the Holy Ghost filled saints we meet everywhere. We submit to them to test our spirit and they too submit to us to test their spirit. Once God has put His finger prints on them, just as on us, we reach each other in the right hand of fellowship and continue to worship our heavenly Father in Truth and Spirit. God must be experienced, and not assumed, in us all for fellowship to exist and to continue between us. The measuring rod is not the things you must do or not do, the works of grace you have had or not had, the traditions you have undergone or not, etc, etc. The measuring rod is whether you have put on Christ or not (Rom. 13:14; Gal. 3:27; Gal 5:16; Eph. 4:24; et, etc.).
10. It is sin to refuse to be kept in the Name of the Father (John 17:11; Rev. 3:12).
VI. We believe in divine Healing: James 5:14-16; Mark 16:17-18.
A]. The Bible teaches clearly that God heals our diseases:
(i) God declares that He is our healer: Psa. 103:1-3; Exod. 15:26.
(ii) It is the will of God to heal our diseases: 3 John 2.
(iii) Jesus (God) has the power to heal all the diseases: Mat.28:18; Acts 10:38; Mat. 4:23-24; Mat. 8:17; Luke 8:40-41.
(iv) We, the believers have been given by God the power to heal diseases: 1 Cor. 12:9; Mark 16:16-18; John 14:12.
–That power to heal is vested in the Elders of the Church of God: James 5:14-16.
B]. How we can get the healing from God:
(i) Through faith in the power and ability of God to heal us: Mat. 9:29; Mark 5: 25-36.
(ii) Some are healed through the intercessory faith and prayers of others:
Mat. 8:5,13. It is therefore necessary to lovingly intercede for others through the prayer of faith.
(iii) Those offering prayer for others must have faith: Mat.21:22; Heb.11:6; James 1:6-7; Acts 6:8; James 5:15; Mark 11:24.
(iv) Trusting God for healing is necessary: 1 John 5:14.
(v) Do the works that are required for healing: Jacob 2:17-18
–Confession of sins and /or faults: James 5:13-16
–call for prayer: Mat. 8:5-10.
–Obey and do what you are commanded to do in order to be healed:
Mat. 12:13; Acts 3:4-6; Mark 5:27-28; Luke 17:14; John 9:7; 2 Kings 5:10, 14.
–Fervency in asking for healing is needful: Mark 10:46-52; Mat.15:22-28; Mat.9:27-31.
–Anointing, and laying the hands on, the sick : James 5:14; Mark 6:7,13; Mark 16:15-20.
(vi) We have assurance that God would heal us: 1 John 5:15; 1 John 3:22; Mark 11:23-24; Mat.21:21-22.
C] Healing may be instantaneous or gradual:
–Instantaneous healing: Luke 9:40; Acts 5:16; Mat.9:2; Mat. 8:2,13.
–Gradual healing: Mark 8:23-25; John 4:50-52; 2 Tim.4:20.
D]. Sinners may be healed and saved: James 5:15; Luke 4:41; Mat. 9:2-6.
E]. Jesus has all the power, will and might to heal: Heb. 13:8; Eph. 3:20-21.
To conclude, we encourage everyone to look to God to be given faith to be healed. Until faith has taken hold, we will not dictate to anyone but leave all to the Holy Ghost to be led, if they are willingly docile to Him, to receive the healing benefits of faith in God.
VII. We believe that the only true Church is “The Only One Church of God”, the only church named in the bible.
1. God has His own Church as shown in the Bible:
—Jesus [God] said He would build His Church: Mat. 16:18.
—What Jesus organized [or built] is called the Church of God: Acts 20:28; Gal.1:13; 1 Cor.1:2; 1 Cor.11:22; 1 Cor.15:9; 1 Cor.10:32; 2 Cor.1:1; 1 Tim. 3:5. .
2. Jesus purchased the Only One church of God with His own blood:
Acts 20:28; 1 Peter 1:18-19. All those who are saved become children of God : John 1:12-13.
3. The Church of God is the house of God: Gal. 6:10; Eph. 2:19; 1 Tim. 3:15.
—God dwells in that house: Eph.2:22; 1 Cor. 3:16-17; 2 Cor.6:16.
—It is the only one built with the holy souls as the live stones: 1 Peter 2:5; Gal. 6:1; Heb.3:1,6; 1 Cor.3:9.
—It is the only one built by God: Heb.3:4; Heb.8:2; Heb.11:10.
—It is the only one built on Jesus Christ as its foundation: 1 Cor. 3:11; ph.2:20;
—It is an everlasting house: Proverbs 12:7; Proverbs 14:11.
4.How is membership obtained and retained?
(a) Through salvation: Acts 2:47; John 3:3; John 10:9;1 Cor. 12:13.
(b) By faith: Romans 5:1.
(c) It is retained through holy living: Mat.5: 8-9; Romans 8: 13-14; Heb.12:14; 2 Cor.6:16-18.
5.The Bye Laws of the Church of God are the Word of God as contained in the Bible: De. 4:2; Pro. 30:5-6; Rev. 22:18-19; 2 Tim. 3:16-17; Ps. 119:142; Jo 1:17; Gal. 6:2.
6.The Church of God has a register kept in heaven: Luke 10:20; Heb. 12:22-23.
–It is called the book of life Philippians 4:3;
–It is kept by the Lord Himself: Psalms 87:5-6; Romans 8:35-39.
7.The Church of God is the only religious organization God honors by being a member: Mat.18:20; John 17:23-24.
8.The Church of God is the only one God owns: Daniel 2:34-35, 44.
9.All the members of the Church of God are saved: John 3:8-10; 1 John 5:18; Eph.3:15; Eph.2:19.
10.How we got the name “Church of God”:
(a) The Israelites were God’s chosen people but they sinned and forsook God. As a result, God had to reject them and said He would call His people by another name: Isaiah 62:2b; Isaiah 56:5; Isaiah 65:15;
(b) The New name was given to the Disciples of Jesus by Jesus himself: John 17:6, 12.
–This was the testimony of the Apostle Paul—he persecuted a people who called themselves “Church of God”: Galatians 1:13; 1 Cor. 15:9.
They could not call themselves “Church of God” if Jesus Himself had not given the assembly the name.
(c).The congregations of those Jesus purchased with His own blood (believers in Jesus Christ) were called “The church of God”:
Acts 20:28; 1Cor: 1:2; 1Cor.10:32; 1 Cor.11:32; 2 Cor.1:1; 1 Tim.3:5.
VII. We believe in the Ordinances handed down to us by Jess our Lord:
In this outline, the term “Ordinances”, is used to mean the things Jesus commanded the Church to observe as a Church ceremony or rite. In Matthew 28:20, Jesus told us to teach the believers to observe the things He has “commanded” us. Hence our use of the term “Ordinances”, which means, in this outline “the rites commanded by Jesus Christ to the Church”.
(a) Baptism:
The word “Baptize” in Greek is used to mean to “burry” or to immerse”.
So when we use the term here, we want it to be understood as a burial in water. We do not want it to be understood as a name giving ceremony or a sprinkling with water or as a way of being admitted into the church membership.
(c) Baptism is a command of the Lord: Mark 16:16:
1. God’s ministers are commanded to administer baptism : Mat. 28:19.
2. All who repent and believe are commanded to be baptized: Acts 2:38; Acts 22:16.
(d) for baptism to be acceptable to God, two things must have occurred before it is administered:
1. Repentance and conversion must take place before baptism: Acts 2:38; Acts 3:19.
2. Faith in Jesus Christ must take effect before baptism is administered:
Acts 8:37; Acts 10:43; Romans 5:1; 1 John 5:1.
(e) Why be baptized?
1. To obey the command of the Lord Jesus Christ: Mark 16:16; Mat. 28:19.
2. To testify that we have died to sins and have been given a new life by Jesus Christ: 1 Peter 3:21; Romans 6:4-7; Col.2:11-13.
(d) To testify that it is Christ who dwells His life in us: Gal. 2:20; 2 Cor. 5:15; Rom. 6:13.
(e)What is baptism?
(1). It is a burial after on has died to sins: Romans 6:4; Col. 2:12.
(2). It is symbolic of our unity with Christ in death to sins: Rom. 6:2; Col 3:3;
Gal. 5:24. Just as those who die physically get buried under the soil, so do we get buried in water to signify that we have died to sins just as Christ died to them and was buried.
(f) For Baptism to be honored, it must be a burial in much water:John 3:23; Acts 3:8; Romans 6:4.
(g)Who is to administer baptism?
Only God’s ministers have the commission to do it: Mat. 28:19-20.
(h)Examples of water baptism: Mat. 3:16—Jesus Himself; Acts 8:12-17, 35-:38; Acts 9:18; Acts 16:14-15; Acts 19:1-7.
b) Feet washing:
1. This is one of the things Jesus commanded us to do: John 13:12-17; Mat.28:19-20.
2. Jesus instituted it: John 13:1-5.
3. In this ordinance, Saints wash one another’s feet (each saint washes another’s feet): John 13:14. The Sisters wash sister’s feet for we are commanded to do all things ion order—1 Cor. 14:40.
4. It is a test of fellowship: John 13: 8; 1 Tim. 5:9-10.
5. It proves that:
(i) We are humble and obedient to Christ and His Church: John 14:21-23; 1 Peter 5:5; 1 John 2:4.
(ii) We are equal to each other in the church (Mat. 23:8; Rom. 10:12; Gal. 3:28).
(iii) We are servants to each other: Gal. 5:13; Eph.5:21; 1 Peter 5:5; 1 Cor. 12:25-26; Luke 22:24-27.
(iv) We love each other with a fervent love: 1 John 3:16-18.
c) Lord’s supper (1 Cor. 11:2-26).
1. This ordinance was instituted by the Lord Luke 22:17-20; 1 Cor. 11:26.
2. The purpose of this ordinance is to commemorate the death of Christ for us: Luke 22:19-20.
3. The substances to be used in this ordinance are unfermented wine (juice) and unleavened bread:
(i) we use unleavened bread because leaven stands for hypocrisy (Mat.16:6, 11-12, 1 Cor. 5:6-8) while the body of Christ—the Church—is pure, holy and spotless. The one bread represents the one body of Christ.
(ii) We use the juice (unfermented wine) because the Lord requires us not to be drunk in any measure: Gal. 5:21;1 Cor.6:10; 1 Cor. 5:11.
Juice is “wine” that is not mixed: Prov. 23:30-32; “wine” that is not strong: Prov. 20:1.
4. The time of the day th4e ordinance is to be observed is in the afternoon as it was instituted in the evening: 1 Cor. 11:20-21, 23-26.
5. In this ordinance, we commemorate:
(i) our deliverance from sins: Rom. 5:11; 1 Tim. 2:5; 1 Cor. 11:27.
(ii) Our unity in the Church of God as the only one body of Christ: 1 Cor. 10:16-17.
7. Each one is to examine oneself carefully before partaking of the Lord’s supper:1 Cor. 11:27-31.
8. The Lord’s supper is only for the saved Ones: Acts 20:7; 1 Cor. 11:27-29.
VIII. We believe in Eternal Life
A). Physical Death:
1. God ordained that man must die:
Job 14:5; Luke 12:20; Heb. 9:27; Ecc. 8:8.
2. In the Bible, the natural death is described as:
(i) Sleep: Deut. 31:16; John 11:11
– The body sleeps: Dan.12:2; Ecc.9:5-6; Psalms 144:4.
– The body returns to dust: Gen 3:19; Ecc. 12:7.
(ii) A separation of soul and body: Luke 12:20;
Luke 23:43, 46; Gen 35:18; Ecc. 8:8
(iii) The returning of the spirit to God: Acts 7:55-59;
Phil 1:21-25; 2 Cor. 5:1-9; Ecc.12:7.
3.The spirit of man remains conscious after it has left the body: Rev. 6: 9,10; 1 Thes. 5:10; Luke 16:19-31; Mark 9:2-9; 2 Kings 2:11-12.
B. The State of man before judgment:
Most of the Church of God pastors I have met have not reached a unanimous agreement on this teaching. Therefore, it is considered unwise to outlined it here as the Bible does not teach it in detail. However, it must not be allowed to created division in the Church of God. Each one must be given the right to their own opinion. The points thrown in here are just put in for your own thoughts and opinion. Please, let me know what you think after considering them:
(i) The soul of man does not get annihilated at the natural death of man: 2 Cor. 4:16; Mat. 10:28; Acts 7:59.
(ii) Jesus referred to a place called paradise where the soul of the thief he was crucified with would go: Luke 23:23.
—Do you think this is the upper paradise where the righteous would wait while being comforted until the end of the world when judgment would be delivered: Luke 16:25 ?.
—Do you think there is a lower Paradise where the sinners would wait while in torments until the final judgment when they would be given the deserved punishment: Luke 16:23-31 ?
—There are suggestions in the Bible that provoke the thoughts that man will not receive full reward and punishment until after the resurrection:
Mat. 16:26-27; Mat. 25:31-46; 2 the. 1:7-10; 2 Pet.2:9;
2 Tim. 4:1,8; 2 Cor.5:10; rom.14:10-12; Ecc. 12:14.
— If we all agree with the suggestions, where do you think the souls of men would be while awaiting the resurrection ?
C. Man’s soul: Man’s soul was created to live for ever.
(a)This is seen in the Old Testament:
(i) Job believed that even after he had died, he would see God (Job 19:26-27)
(ii)The spirit shall returns to God who gave it: Eccle.12:7.
(b)The New Testament teaches that the soul of man shall exist for ever: John 11:25-26.
1.People cannot kill the soul: Mat. 10:28;Luke 12:4-5.
2. Abraham, Jacob and Isaac are alive up to this day: Mat. 22:31-32.
3. The thief who was crucified with Jesus was to be with Jesus after they had died on the cross: Luke 23:43
4. After Lazarus and the rich man died, they were seen alive, one on Abraham’s bosom and the other in hell fire: Luke 16:19-31.
5. Paul said that his spirit would still live with the Lord even after he had died: 2 Cor. 5:6-8; Phil. 1:23-24; 1 Cor. 15:53-54.
D.The resurrection of the body: Luke 24:39.
(i)The Bible teaches that man shall resurrect from death:
1. Daniel said it: Daniel 12:2;
2. Jesus taught it: John 11:23-26; John 5:28-29.
3. Paul taught it: Acts 24:15; 1 Cor.15:23; 1 Thes. 4:13-18; Phil. 3:11; Heb. 11:35.
(ii)All the people shall be resurrected: 1 Thes. 4:16; Daniel 12:2.
(iii) The present body is the one that shall be brought to life on the resurrection day: Luke 24:39-43.
(iv) After resurrection, the body shall be changed to fit the eternal state: 1 Cor. 15:51-54; 2 Cor. 5:2-11.
–Do you think our resurrected bodies shall have the same status as exists now while we are alive? Consider: The body of Jesus had very different status after His resurrection: Luke 24:36-37; John 20:19-23, 26-29.
–Do you think after resurrection we shall have time to live here on earth again? No, it will not be so as the earth and the heaven will burn up with fervent heat: 2 Peter 3:10; In Mat. 25:34, 41, we see a separation of the evil and the righteous, each group being sent to its rightful place.
–Therefore there will never be a 1000 years millennium here on earth.
E. The return of Jesus Christ:
(i) Jesus will return again: Acts 1:1-11; John 14:1-3; James 5:8; Heb. 9:28.
(ii) Jesus will be seen by all and will be heard by all as He returns: Acts 1:11; Rev. 5:1-7; 1 Thes. 4:13-18.
(iii)All shall be resurrected when the Lord returns:
John 5:28-29; Acts 24:15; John 11: 24.
(iv)The Kingdom –[Church]– shall be handed over to the Father by Christ: 1 Cor. 15:24-26.
F. We shall all be judged: Rom. 2:5-11; 2 Peter 2:9; 2 Peter 3:7; 1 John 4:17; Jude 14-15.
(i) All shall be judged: 2 Cor. 5:10; Mat. 25:31-46.
(ii) Jesus will be the judge: John 5:22; 2 Tim. 4:1.
(iii) The judgment shall be according to the Word of God:
Rom. 2:16; John 12:48. So whatever one does now, while in the body, must be gauged by the Word of God.
(iv) Each one will be judged according to his deeds while in the body: Rom. 2:6.
(v) Each one will be rewarded according to his deeds: Rev. 22:12; Mat. 16:27.
G. After judgment, each one will be assigned an eternal home.
(i) The holy ones will go to heaven and live there eternally with the Lord:Mat. 25:34, 46; 2 Cor. 5:1; 1 Peter 1:4-5; 1 Thes. 4:17.These in heaven shall be in eternal joy.
(ii)The evil ones shall go to hell:
Mat. 25:41; Mark 9:43, 45, 47, 48; Luke 16:23-24; Luke 12:47; Heb. 10:29. Those going to hell shall be in eternal punishment: 2 Thes.1:7-10; Mat. 25:41.
IX. We believe that God has set down the Christian duties.
Traditionally, there hasn’t been a topic under the Church doctrines with this title. But as time has gone on, the many churches have deviated a lot from the Bible, calling for a topic under this title. Hence our including it here in this outline. By “duties”, we mean “what one should hold as an obligation to fulfill”.
(a). Duties to God:
(i) To love Him with our all: Mark 12:30;
(ii) To worship Him: Mat. 4:10; John 4:23-24; Rev. 19:10; 22:9.
(iii) To obey Him: 1 John 5:3; John 14:15, 21, 23.
(b).Duties to the Church:
1.To love all the Brethren: John 13:34; 1 Peter 1:22; 1 Peter 3:8.
2.To help all the Brethren when in need;
1 John 3:16-18; James 2:15-16
3.To pay our tithes and free will offerings: Malachi 3:8-11, Luke 11:42.
4.To fulfill your part and edify the whole Church:1 Cor. 12:7,25-26; Eph. 4:15-16
–Use your spiritual gifts to build the Church.
(5.) To honor and esteem the Ministers: 1 Thes. 5:12-13; 1 Tim. 5:17-18.
(6.) To support the Ministers: Gal. 6:6; Heb. 13:16; 1 Cor. 9:9-14.
(c).Duties at home:
1.To provide for the family: 1 Tim. 5:8;
2.To teach our children the things of God: Eph. 6:4;
3.Husbands must love their wives: Eph.5:25-29.
4.Wives must submit themselves to their husbands: Eph. 5:22-24
5.Servants to be loyal to their masters: Eph.6:5-8.
(d).Duties to the Nation:
(i)To the Officers of the land
(a) Pray for them: 1 Tim. 2:1-3;
(b)To be subject to them: Romans 13:1-8
(ii)Love your country: 2 Samuel 10:12; Nehemiah 2:3; Isaiah 66:10
(iii)Pay your taxes: Mat.17:24-27.
CONCLUSION:
Dear Ones, this outline has not been exhaustive. It was just written to help particularly those who are just coming to the Light as preached by the Church of God. Truth is now going out very fast and there is a need to help those who have not yet been exposed to it for a reasonably long period. However, One must study diligently. You must not be contented with what is given here. Pray God to reveal more to you as you study. That way, you will emerge more satisfied.
Again, we do not claim to know everything. There must be a lot left out either by our own ignorance or by mistake or just an over sight. Please, do forgive us of any of such failures. Then go ahead and correct us. We will humbly listen to the Holy Spirit.
May the Lord bless each one of you dear Ones.
E-mail:churchofgodtruth@yahoo.com
