“Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.” (1 Timothy 4: 16)
1. The Scriptures Inspired
The Bible is the inspired Word of God, a revelation from God to man, the infallible rule of faith and conduct, and is superior to conscience and reason, but not contrary to reason (II Timothy 3:15-17, I Peter 1:23-25, Hebrews 4:12).
2. The One True God
The one true God has revealed Himself as the eternally self-existent, self-revealed “I AM, and has further revealed Himself as embodying the principles of relationship and association, i.e., as Father, Son, and Holy Ghost (Deuteronomy 6:4, Mark 12:29, Isaiah 43:10, Matthew 28:10).
3. Man, His Fall, and Redemption
The man was created good and upright, for God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, after Our likeness. But man, by voluntary transgression, fell, and his only hope of redemption is in Jesus Christ, the Son of God (Genesis 1:26-31, 3:1-7, Romans 5:12-21).
4. The Salvation of Man
(a) Conditions to Salvation — The grace of God, which brings salvation, has appeared to all men, through the preaching of repentance toward God and faith toward the Lord Jesus Christ; man is saved by the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost, and, being justified by grace through faith, he becomes an heir of God according to the hope of eternal life (Titus 2:11, Romans 10: 13-15, Luke 24:47, Titus 3:5-7).
(b) The Evidences of Salvation — The inward evidence to the believer of his 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.
5. Baptism in Water
The ordinance of Baptism by a burial with Christ should be observed as commanded in the Scriptures by all who have really repented and in their hearts have truly believed in Christ as Savior and Lord. In so doing, they declare to the world that they have died with Jesus and that they have also been raised with Him to walk in the newness of life (Matthew 28:19, Acts 10:47,48, Romans 6:4).
6. The Lord’s Supper
The Lords 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 a prophecy of His second coming, and is enjoined on all believers “Until He comes” (John 6:48,51,53-57, Luke 22: 19,20, II Peter 1:4, I Corinthians 11:26).
7. The Promise of the Father
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, the bestowment of the gifts, and their uses in the work of the ministry (Luke 24:49, Acts 1:4-8, I Corinthians 12:1-31). This wonderful experience is distinct from and subsequent to the experience of the new birth (Acts 2:38, 10:44-46, 11:14-16, 15:7-9).
8. The Evidence of the Baptism in the Holy Ghost
The full consummation of the Baptism of believers in the Holy Ghost is evidenced by the initial physical sign of speaking with other tongues as the Spirit gives utterance, and by the subsequent manifestation of spiritual power in public testimony and service (Acts 2:4, 10:44-46, 19:2-6, 1:8, 2:42-43).
9. Entire Sanctification
The Scriptures teach a life of holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord. By the power of the Holy Ghost, we are able to obey the command, “Be ye holy, for I am holy.” Entire sanctification is the will of God for all believers and should be earnestly pursued by walking in obedience to God’s Word (Hebrews 12:14,1 Peter 1:15,16,1 Thessalonians 5:23,24,1 John 2:6, Romans 8:3,4).
10. 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. Each believer, born of the Spirit, is an integral part of the General Assembly and Church of the Firstborn, which are written in heaven (Ephesians 1:22, 2:19-22, Hebrews 12:23).
11. The Ministry and Evangelism
The divinely called and scripturally ordained ministry has been provided by our Lord for a twofold purpose: (1) the evangelization of the world, and (2) the edifying of the body of Christ (Mark 16:14,20, Ephesians 4:11-13).
12. Divine Healing
Deliverance from sickness is provided for in the atonement, and it is the privilege of all believers (Isaiah 53:4, Matthew 8:16,17. Mark 16:18, John5:14).
13. The 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 imminent and is the blessed hope of the church (I Thessalonians 4: 16-18, Romans 8:23, Titus 2:13, I Corinthians 15:51,52).
14. The Millennial Reign of Jesus
The revelation of the Lord Jesus Christ from heaven, the salvation of national Israel, and the millennial reign of Christ on the earth is the Scriptural promise and the world’s hope (II Thessalonians 1:7, Revelation 19:11-16, Romans 11:25-27, Revelation 20:1-7).
15. The Final Judgment
The devil and his angels, the beast and the false prophet, and whosoever is not found written in the Book of Life shall be consigned to everlasting punishment in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone, which is the second death (Revelation 19:20, 20:10-15).
16. The New Heavens and the New Earth
In keeping with his promise, we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells. (II Peter 3:13, Revelation 21:1).