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Statement of Faith
We the members of the United Churches of God in Christ, Inc., hold the Holy Scriptures as contained in the Old and New Testaments of the Bible to be our rule of Faith and Practice. We believe that Governments are God-given institutions for the benefit of mankind. We admonish and exhort our members to honor magistrates and civil authorities, and to obey civil laws. The following Statement of Faith is the encapsulation our Biblical position.
We Believe:
We believe the Bible to be the inspired and only infallible written Word of God. (2Peter 1:19-21)
We believe that there is one God, eternally existent and manifested in three persons: (1) God, The Father, (2) God, The Son, and (3) God, The Holy Ghost. (1John 5:7)
We believe in the blessed hope, which is the rapture of the Church of God, which is in Christ Jesus, at His return. (1Thessalonians 4:16-18)
We believe that the only means of being cleansed from sin is through repentance and faith in the precious blood of Jesus Christ our Lord. (St. John 3:16)
We believe that regeneration by the Holy Ghost is absolutely essential for personal salvation. (Acts 19:2)
We believe that the redemptive work of Christ on the cross provides for the propitiation for our transgressions and iniquities. It also provides healing for the human body in answer to believing prayer. (Isaiah 53:5)
We believe that the Baptism with the Holy Ghost is given to believers who ask for it. (St. Luke 11:13)
We believe in the supernatural ministry of the Holy Ghost, who bestows spiritual gifts to born-again believers. (1Corinthians 12:4)
We believe in the sanctifying power of the Holy Ghost, by whose indwelling, the Christian is enabled to live a holy and separated life in this present world. AMEN. (1Corinthians 6:9-11)
Doctrines of the United Churches of God in Christ, Inc.
Bible
We believe that the Bible is the Word of God and contains one harmonious and sufficiently complete system of doctrine. We believe in the full inspiration of the Word of God. We hold the Word of God to be the only authority in all matters and assert that no doctrine can be true or essential, if it does not find a place in the Word. (II Timothy 3:16-17)
The Father
We believe in God, the Father Almighty, the Author and Creator of all things. The Old Testament reveals God in diverse manners, by manifesting his nature, character, and dominions. The Gospels in the New Testament give us knowledge of God the “Father” or “My Father” showing the relationship of God to Jesus as Father, or representing Him as the Father in the Godhead, and Jesus himself that Son (St. John 15:8; 14:20). Jesus also gives God the distinction of “Fatherhood” to all believers when he explains God in the light of “Your Father” or “Your Father in Heaven” (St. Matthew 11:25; 6:8).
The Son
We believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, the Second person in the Godhead of the Trinity or Triune Godhead. We believe that Jesus was and is eternal in His person and nature as the Son of God who was with God in the beginning of creation (St. John 1:1). We believe that Jesus Christ was born of a virgin called Mary according to the scripture (St. Matthew 1:18), thus giving rise to our fundamental belief in the Virgin Birth and to all of the miraculous events surrounding this Phenomenon (St. Matthew 1: 18-25). We believe that Jesus Christ became the “suffering servant” to man; this suffering servant came seeking to redeem man from sin and to reconcile him back to God, the Father (Romans 5:10). We believe that Jesus Christ is standing now as mediator between God and man (I Timothy 2:5).
The Holy Ghost
We believe the Holy Ghost or Holy Spirit is the third person of the Trinity, proceeds from the Father and the Son, is of the same substance, equal to in power and glory, and is, together with the Father and the Son, to be believed in, obeyed, and worshipped. The Holy Ghost is a gift bestowed upon the believer for the purpose of equipping and empowering the believer, making him a more effective witness for service in the world. He teaches and guides one in all truth. (John 16:13, Acts 1:8, 8:39).
The Baptism of the Holy Ghost
We believe that the Baptism in the Holy Ghost is an experience subsequent to conversion and sanctification and that tongue-speaking is the consequent of the baptism in the Holy Ghost with the manifestations of the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23; Acts 10:46; 19:1-6). We believe that we are not baptized with the Holy Ghost in order to be saved, but that we are baptized with the Holy Ghost because we are saved (Acts 19:1-6; John 3:5). When one receives a baptismal Holy Ghost experience, we believe one will speak with a tongue unknown to oneself according to the sovereign will of Christ. To be filled with the Spirit means to be Spirit-controlled as expressed by Paul in Ephesians 5:18-19. Since the charismatic demonstrations were necessary to help the early church to be successful in implementing the command of Christ, we therefore believe that a Holy Ghost experience is mandatory for all men today.
Demons
Demons denote unclean or evil spirits; they are sometimes called devils or demonic beings. They are evil spirits, belonging to the unseen or spiritual realm embodied in human beings. The Old Testament refers to the prince of demons sometimes called Satan (Adversary) or Devil as having power and wisdom, taking the habitation of other forms such as the serpent (Gen. 3:1). The New Testament speaks of the Devil as Tempter (St. Matthew 4:3) and it goes on to tell the works of Satan, the Devil, and Demons as combating righteousness and good in any form, proving to be an adversary to the saints. Their chief power is exercised to destroy the mission of Jesus Christ. It can well be said that the Christian Church believes in Demons, Satan, and Devils. We believe in their power and purpose. We believe they can be subdued and conquered as in the commandment to the believer by Jesus. (St. Mark 16:17) “In My Name they shall cast out Satan and the works of the Devil and to resist him and then he will flee (Withdraw) from you.
The Second Coming of Christ
We believe in the Second Coming of Christ; that He shall come from heaven to earth—personally, bodily, visibly (Acts 1:11; Titus 2:13; Matthew 16:27; 24:30; Luke 21:27; John 1:14, 17: Titus 2:11), and that the Church, the bride, will be caught up to meet Him in the air (I Thessalonians 4:16-17). We admonish all who have this hope to purify themselves as He is pure.
Divine Healing
The United Churches of God in Christ believe in and do practice Divine Healing. It is a commandment of Jesus to the Apostles (St. Mark 16:18). Jesus affirms His teaching on healing by explaining to His disciples, who were to be apostles, that healing the afflicted is by faith (St. Luke 9:40-41). Therefore, we believe that healing by faith in God has scriptural support and ordained authority. St. James writings in his epistle encourage elders to pray for the sick, lay hands upon them and to anoint them with oil, and that prayers with faith shall heal the sick and the Lord shall raise them up. Healing is practiced widely and frequently in the United Churches of God in Christ, and testimonies to healing in our church testify to this fact.
Miracles
United Churches of God in Christ believe that miracles occur to convince men that the Bible is God’s World. A miracle can be defined as an extraordinary visible act of Divine Power, wrought by the efficient agency of the will of God, which has as its final cause the vindication of the righteousness of God’s Word. We believe that the works of God, which were performed during the beginnings of Christianity do and will occur even today where God is preached, faith in Christ is exercised, the Holy Ghost is active, and the Gospel is promulgated in the truth. (Acts 5:15; 6:8; 9:40; Luke 4:36; 5:5-6; 7:14-15; St. Mark 14:15)
The Church
The church forms a spiritual unity of which Christ is the divine head. From this reflection of unity and from 1Thessalonians 2:14 we derived the name: “United Churches of God in Christ”. The word “Church” of “Ekklesia” was first applied to the Christian society by Jesus Christ in St Matthew 16:18, the occasion being that of His benediction of Peter at Caesarea Philippi. In the Pauline epistles, the Church is the Body of which Christ is the head (Ephesians 1:22; Colossians 1:28). It is the medium through which God’s eternal purpose is made known to all men (Ephesians 3:9).
Man
We believe that man was created holy by God, composed of body and soul. We believe that man, by nature, is sinful and unholy. Being born in sin he needs to be born again, sanctified and cleansed from all sins by the blood for Jesus. We believe that man is saved by confessing and forsaking his sins, and believing on the Lord Jesus Christ, and that having become a child of God, he may, and should, claim the inheritance of the sons of God, namely the baptism of the Holy Ghost.
Sin
Sin, the Bible teaches, began in the angelic world (Ezekiel 28:11-19; Isaiah 14:12-20) and is transmitted into the blood of the human race through disobedience and deception motivated by unbelief (I Timothy 2:14). Adam’s sin, committed by eating of the forbidden fruit from the tree of knowledge of good and evil, carried with it a permanent pollution or depraved human nature to all his descendants. This is called “original sin”. Sin can now be defined as a volitional transgression against God and a lack of conformity to the will of God. We, therefore conclude that man by nature, is sinful and that he hath fallen from a glorious and righteous state from which he was created, and has become unrighteous and unholy. Man, therefore, must be restored to his state of holiness from which he has fallen by being born again (St. John 3:7).
Salvation
Salvation sanctions the application of the work of redemption to the sinner with his restoration to divine favor and communion with God. This redemptive operation of the Holy Ghost upon sinners is brought about by repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ which brings about conversion, faith, justification, regeneration, sanctification, and the baptism of the Holy Ghost. Repentance is the work of God which results in a change of mind in respect to man’s relationship to God (St. Matthew 3:1,2: 4:17; Acts 20:21). Faith is a certain conviction wrought in the heart by the Holy Spirit, as to the truth of the Gospel and a heart trust in the promises of God in Christ (Romans 1:17; 3:28;St. Matthew 9:22; Acts 26:18). Conversion is that act of God whereby He causes the regenerated sinner, in his conscious life, to run to Him in repentance and faith (II Kings 5:15; II Chronicles 33:12-13; St. Luke 19:8,9; Acts 8:30). Regeneration is that act of God by which the principle of the new life is implanted in man, and the governing disposition of the soul is made holy and the first holy exercise of this new disposition is secured. Sanctification is that gracious and continuous operation of the Holy Ghost, by which He delivers the justified sinner from the pollution of sin, renews his whole nature in the image of God and enables him to perform good works (Romans 6:4, 5:6, Col. 2:12; 3:1).
Angels
The Bible uses the term “angel” (a heavenly body) clearly and primarily to denote messengers or ambassadors of God with such scripture references as Revelations 4:5, which indicates their duty in heaven to praise God; (Psalms 103:20) to do God’s will; (St. Matthew 18:10) to behold His face. But since heaven must come down to earth, they also have a mission to earth. The Bible indicates that they accompanied God in the creation, and also that they will accompany Christ in His return in Glory.
Ordinances of the Church
It is generally admitted that for an ordinance to be valid, it must have been instituted by Christ. When we speak of ordinances of the Church, we are speaking of those instituted by Christ, in which by sensible signs the grace of God in Christ, and the benefits of the covenant of grace are represented, sealed, and applied to believers, and these in turn give expression to their faith and allegiance to God. The United Churches of God in Christ then recognize only three ordinances as having been instituted by Christ Himself and therefore, binding upon the Church practice. The three ordinances that are recognized and practiced by the United Churches of God in Christ are: (1) The Lord’s Supper / Holy Communion, (2) Water Baptism and (3) Feet Washing.
The Lord's Supper (Holy Communion)
The Lord’s Supper symbolizes the Lord’s death and suffering for the benefit and in the place of His people. It also symbolizes the believers participation in the crucified Christ. It represents the death of Christ as the object of faith which unites the believers to Christ, but also the effect of this act as giving life, strength, and joy to the soul. The communicant by faith enters into a special spiritual union of his soul with the glorified Christ.
Feet Washing
Feet washing is practiced and recognized as an ordinance in our church because Christ, by His example, showed that humility characterized greatness in the Kingdom of God, and that service rendered to others gave evidence that humility, motivated by love exists. These services are held subsequent to the Lord’s Supper, however, its regularity is left to the discretion of the pastor in charge.
Water Baptism
We believe that baptism is necessary by Christ in St. John 3:5 “Unless man be born again of water and of the spirit…” However, we do not believe that water baptism alone is a means of salvation, but as an outward demonstration that one has already had a conversion experience and has accepted Christ as his personal Saviour. As Pentecostals, we practice immersion in preference to “Sprinkling,” because immersion corresponds more closely to the Death, Burial, and Resurrection of our Lord (Col. 2:12). It also symbolizes regeneration and purification more than any other mode. Therefore, we practice immersion as our mode of baptism. Baptism Formula- “…in the Name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost…” (St. Matthew 28:19)