Doctrine
24 Principles
11. The Second Coming of Jesus - During the ministry of Jesus, He told His followers that He would be leaving to prepare a place for them, but would return again. Upon His return, He will dispense judgment upon the sinners and gather the saints for a life in the earth made new. Jesus warned His followers, however, that they should be prepared to welcome Him back because His coming would be like a thief in the night. There being no certainty as to the time of Jesus' return, it is important that we be ready knowing that He may come at any time (Matthew 24:42).
12. The Thousand Years the New Heaven and New Earth - The Bible teaches that there is a millennium or 1000 year period when the Kingdom of God will be established on earth. This period is preceded by the Great Tribulation (Matthew 24:21) and is concluded with the new heaven and new earth descending from God (Revelations 21:2). This is the beginning of the end-time.
13. Jesus Is God, God Is Jesus - Jesus is God incarnated in flesh. In fact, He was manifested in various forms at various times. He was father, son, word, spirit, Lord, etc. Jesus is the one and only true God.
14. Baptize in the Name of Jesus Christ - The name in which baptism is administered is vitally important. Jesus' last command to His disciples was, "Go ye therefore and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost." (Matthew 28:19). We should notice that He used the singular form "name" not "names." Father, Son and Holy Ghost are not names of separate persons but the titles of positions held by God. In Matthew 1:21, the angel declared "She shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call His name Jesus: for He shall save His people from their sins." It's no small wonder that Peter's methodology for baptism in Acts 2:38 includes the proper name to be used "Jesus Christ." Additionally, we adopt the form of baptism as demonstrated by Christ himself when He was baptized by John. Mark 1:9 says that He came up out of the water, demonstrating that He was immersed.
15. Water Only For Sacrament - At the "last supper" of the New Testament Passover, Jesus changed the implements of Passover. He became the lamb, the unleavened bread no longer represented the suffering of the Israelites while in Egypt but took on the semblance of Jesus' broken body, and the cup also was transformed. The Old Testament cup having been shared in Luke 22:17, Christ introduces the "cup of the New Testament" in Luke 22:20. The contents of the New Testament cup had two distinguishing characteristics; "in Christ blood" and "shed". What was in Christ blood can be found in John 19:34. When the centurion pierced Jesus in the side two things came out, blood and water. So it is, water was in Jesus’ blood and water was also shed. What Jesus presented in the New Testament cup was life giving water.
16. Water Always Has Been Used For Salvation With The Blood - Water and blood have worked together to provide cleansing and salvation throughout the scriptures. Water, because of its purity provided physical cleansing while blood has always been associated with life (Lev 17:11). Whenever one contacted blood even from ritual sacrifices, water was a required remedy for restoration (Lev 16:24). Jesus came and brought salvation to the world. 1 John 5:6-8 declares that Jesus' coming was by water and blood.
17. Sin Not Against The Holy Ghost - The sin of mankind was categorically covered by the shedding of Jesus' blood. This means that all sin can be forgiven upon our acceptance of their wrong and repentance, accept one. The sin of blasphemy against the Holy Ghost was reserved as the one category for which no forgiveness is extended. Extreme caution is issued in several scriptures to remind us to avoid that intractable error.
18. Elect And Election - Election is at once one of the most central and one of the most misunderstood teachings of the Bible. The word "election" means literally, "to choose something for oneself." This does not negate the necessity for human repentance and faith; rather it establishes the possibility of both. We should proclaim the gospel to everyone without exception, knowing that it is only the Holy Spirit who can convict, regenerate, and justify. God has chosen preaching as the means to awaken faith in the elect (1 Corinthians 1:21). Paul says that God chose us "to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit" (2 Thessalonians 2:13). We are then to work out our salvation with fear and trembling, even though to be sure, it is God who is at work within us both to will and do His good pleasure (Phil. 2:12-13).
19. Foreknowledge - In the Bible, God alone has foreknowledge. Nothing is outside of His knowledge past, present, or future. Nothing is hidden from Him, and only fools think they can hide their deeds from God (Psalms 10:11; 11:4-5; Proverbs 15:11; Isaiah 29:15-16). God knows completely the thoughts and doings of human beings (Ps. 139). Jesus taught that He has complete knowledge of human beings (Matt. 10:29-31) and the author of Hebrews wrote that "nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight" (Heb. 4:13a).
20. Pre-Existence of Jesus - When God manifested Himself in flesh, He took on a form that mankind could identify with; a form that fulfilled prophesy and gave credence to the statements of both Paul and John who clearly understood that Jesus was before the beginning.