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ARTICLES
OF FAITH THE ONE TRUE GOD
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We believe in the one ever-living, eternal
God: infinite in power, Holy in nature, attributes and
purpose; and possessing absolute, indivisible deity.
This one true God has revealed Himself as Father, through
His Son, in redemption; and as the Holy Spirit, by emanation.
(1 Cor. 8:6; Eph. 4:6; 2 Cor. 5:19; Joel 2:28).
The Scripture does more than attempt
to prove the existence of God; it asserts, assumes and
declares that the knowledge of God is universal.
(Romans
1:19, 21, 28, 32; 2:15). God is invisible, incorporeal,
without parts, without body, and therefore free from
all limitations. He is Spirit (John 4:24), and a spirit
hath not flesh and bones. (Luke 24:39).
The first of all the commandments is,
"Hear, 0 Israel; the Lord our God is one Lord"
(Mark 12:29; Deut. 6:4).
"One God and Father of
all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all"
(Eph. 4:6).
This one true God manifested Himself
in the Old Testament in divers ways; in the Son while
He walked among men; as the Holy Spirit after the ascension.
THE
SON OF GOD (Back
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The
one true God, the Jehovah of the Old Testament, took
upon Himself the form of man, and as the Son of man,
was born of the virgin Mary. As Paul says
"and
without controversy great is the mystery of Godliness:
God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit,
seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed
on in the world, received up into glory"
(1 Timothy
3:16).
"He
came unto His own, and His own received Him not"
(John 1:11). This one true God was manifest in the flesh,
that is, in His Son Jesus Christ.
". . God was
in Christ, reconciling the world unto Himself, not imputing
their trespasses unto them... (2 Cor. 5:19)
We
believe that, ". . in Him (Jesus) dwelleth all
the fullness of the Godhead bodily"
(Col. 2:9).
"For it pleased the Father that in Him should all
fullness dwell"
(Col. 1:19). Therefore, Jesus in
His humanity was man; in His deity was and is God. His
flesh was the lamb, or the sacrifice of God. He is the
only mediator between God and man.
"For there is
one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man
Christ Jesus"
(1 Timothy 2:5).
Jesus
on His Father's side was divine, on His mother's side,
human; Thus, He was known as the Son of God and also
the son of man, or the God-man.
"For
He hath put all things under His feet. But when He saith
all things are put under Him, it is manifest that He
is excepted, which did put all things under Him"
(1 Cor. 15:27).
"And when all things shall be subdued
unto Him, then shall the Son also Himself be subject
unto Him that put all things under Him, that God may
be all in all" (1 Cor. 15:28).
"I
am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith
the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come,
the Almighty" (Rev. 1:8).
THE
NAME (Back
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God
used different titles, such as
"God Elohim,"
"El Shaddai," "Jehovah,"
and especially
"Jehovah Lord," the redemptive name in the
Old Testament.
"For
unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: ...
and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, the
Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace"
(Isaiah 9:6). This prophecy of Isaiah was fulfilled
when the Son of God was named, "And she shall bring
forth a son, and thou shalt call His name Jesus: for
He shall save His People from their sins"
(Matt.
1:21).
"Neither
is there salvation in any other: for there is none other
name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be
saved" (Acts 4:12).
CREATION
OF MAN AND HIS FALL
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In
the beginning God created man innocent, pure and holy;
but through the sin of disobedience, Adam and Eve, the
first of the human race, fell from their holy state,
and God banished them from Eden.
"Therefore by
one man's disobedience, sin entered into the world."
(Gen. 1:27; Rom. 3:23, 5:12).
REPENTANCE
AND CONVERSION
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Pardon
and forgiveness of sins is obtained by genuine repentance,
a confessing and forsaking of sins.
"We are justified
by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ"
(Romans 5:1).
John the Baptist preached repentance, Jesus proclaimed
it, and the Apostles emphasized it to both Jews and
Gentiles. (Acts 2:38, 11:18, 17:30).
The word "repentance" comes from several Greek
words which mean, change of views and purpose, change
of heart, change of mind, change of life, to transform,
etc.
Jesus
said, "Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise
perish" (Luke 13:3).
Luke
24:47 says, "And that repentance and remission
of sins should be preached in His name among all nations,
beginning at Jerusalem."
WATER
BAPTISM (Back
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The
scriptural mode of baptism is immersion, and is only
for those who have fully repented, having turned from
their sins and a love of the world. It should be administered
by a duly authorized minister of the Gospel, in obedience
to the Word of God, and in the name of our Lord Jesus
Christ, according to the
Acts of the Apostles 2:38, 8:16, 10:48, 19:5; thus obeying and fulfilling
Matthew 28:19.
THE
BAPTISM OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
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John
the Baptist, in Matthew 3:11, said,
"...He shall
baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire."
Jesus,
in Acts 1:5, said,
"...ye shall be baptized with
the Holy Ghost not many days hence."
Luke
tells us in Acts 2:4,
"...they were all filled
with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues
(languages), as the Spirit gave them utterance."
The
terms "baptize with the Holy Ghost and fire,"
"filled with the Holy Spirit," and the
"gift
of the Holy Ghost" are synonymous terms used interchangeably
in the Bible.
It
is scriptural to expect all who receive the gift, filling,
or baptism of the Holy Spirit to receive the same physical,
initial sign of speaking with other tongues.
The
speaking with other tongues, as recorded in
Acts 2:4,
10:46, and 19:6, and the gift of tongues, as explained
in 1 Corinthians, chapters 12 and 14, are the same in
essence, but different in use and purpose.
The
Lord, through the Prophet Joel, said,
"I will pour
out my Spirit upon all flesh; ..."
(Joel 2:28).
Peter,
in explaining this phenomenal experience, said,
"Having
received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost,
He (Jesus) hath shed forth this which ye now see and
hear." (Acts 2:33). Further, "...The promise
is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are
afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call."
(Acts 2:39).
FUNDAMENTAL
DOCTRINE (Back
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The
basic and fundamental doctrine of this local assembly
shall be the Bible standard of full salvation, which
is Repentance, Baptism in water
by immersion in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ for
the remission of sins, and the Baptism of the Holy Ghost
with the initial sign of speaking with other tongues as
the Spirit gives utterance.
We
shall endeavor to keep the unity of the Spirit until
we all come into the unity of the faith, at the same
time admonishing all brethren that they shall not contend
for their different views to the disunity of the body.
HOLINESS
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Godly
living should characterize the life of every child of
the Lord, and we should live according to the pattern
and example given in the Word of God.
"For the
grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to
all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly
lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and Godly
in this present world"
(Titus 2:11,12).
"For
even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered
for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow
His steps: who did no sin, neither was 'guile found
in His mouth: who, when He was reviled, reviled not
again; when He suffered, He threatened not; but committed
himself to Him that judgeth righteously"
(1 Peter
2:21-23).
"Follow
peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man
shall see the Lord"
(Heb. 12:14).
"But
as He which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in
all manner of conversation; because it is written, be
ye holy; for I am holy. And if ye call on the Father,
who without respect of persons judgeth according to
every man's work, pass the time of your sojourning here
in fear: forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed
with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your
vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers;
but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb
without blemish and without spot"
(1 Peter 1:15-19).
Apostolic
Faith Center
wholeheartedly disapproves of any of its
membership indulging in any activities which are not
conducive to good Christianity and Godly living, such
as theaters, dances, mixed bathing, women cutting their
hair, make-up, any apparel that immodestly exposes the
body, all worldly unwholesome television and radio programs
and music. Furthermore. We admonish all of our members
to refrain from any of these practices in the interest
of spiritual progress and the soon coming of the Lord
for His church.
THE
GRACE OF GOD (Back
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"For
the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared
to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and
worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously,
and Godly, in this present world"
(Titus 2:11,12).
"For
the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came
by Jesus Christ"
(John 1:17).
A
Christian, to keep saved, must walk with God and keep
himself in the love of God (Jude 21) and in the grace
of God. The word "grace"
means "favor."
When a person transgresses and sins against God, he
loses his favor. If he continues to commit sin and does
not repent, he will eventually be lost and cast into
the lake of fire. (Read John 15:2, 6; 2 Peter 2:20-21).
Jude speaks of the backsliders of his day, and their
reward. (Also, read Hebrews 6:4-6).
"For
by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of
yourselves; it is the gift of God"
(Eph. 2:8).
DIVINE
HEALING
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The
first covenant that the Lord (Jehovah) made with the
children of Israel after they were brought out of Egypt
was a covenant of healing. The Lord said,
"...
if thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the
Lord (Jehovah-Rapha, the Lord that healeth) thy God,
and wilt do that which is right in His sight, and wilt
give ear to His commandments, and keep all His statutes,
I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I
have brought upon the Egyptians; for I am the Lord that
healeth thee." (Exodus 15:26).
Some
translations read: "For I am Jehovah, thy physician,"
He being our physician or doctor, we have the most capable
in the whole world. Our Lord Jesus Christ went about
Galilee, preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom, and healing
all manner of sickness and disease among the people. "
(Matthew 4:23, 24).
"Jesus
Christ the same yesterday, and today, and forever"
(Hebrews 13:8).
The
vicarious suffering of the Lord Jesus Christ paid for
the healing of our bodies, the same as for the salvation
of our souls, "and with His stripes we are healed"
(Isaiah 53:5).
Matthew 8:17 reads,
"Himself took
our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses"
(See
also I Peter 2:24).
We
see from this that divine healing for the body is in
the atonement. That being true, then it is for all who
believe. Jesus said of believers,
"... they shall
lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover."
Later, James wrote in his Epistle to all the churches:
"Is any sick among you? Let him call for the elders
of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing
him with oil in the name of the Lord: and the prayer
of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise
him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be
forgiven him. Confess your faults one to another, and
pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual
fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much."
(James 5:14-16).
All
of these are promises for the church today!
RESTITUTION
OF ALL THINGS
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We
understand the scripture to teach the restitution of
all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all
His holy prophets since the world began
(Acts 3:21).
But we cannot find where the devil, his angels, and
all sinners are included. (See Revelation 20:10).
TRANSLATION
OF SAINTS (Back
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We
believe that the time is drawing near when
"...our
Lord shall appear; then the dead in Christ shall arise,
and we who are alive and remain shall be caught up with
them to meet our Lord in the air".
(1 Thes. 4:13-17;
1 Cor. 15:51-54; Phil. 3:20-21).
IF YOU WOULD
LIKE MORE INFORMATION, OR ARE INTERESTED IN HOME BIBLE
STUDIES, PLEASE E-MAIL US OR CONTACT US @:
AFCPSTR@AOL.COM OR
623-847-3228.
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