Hiawatha
Church of God in Christ
3417 Hiawatha Avenue
Ashtabula, OH 44004
THE 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 this Word.
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 in Heaven” (St. Matthew 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 the 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, his 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
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 into all truth (John 16:13; Acts 1:8, 8:39).
THE BAPTISM OF THE HOLY GHOST
We believe that the Baptism of the Holy Ghost is an experience subsequent to
conversion and sanctification and that tongue-speaking is the consequence 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 (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.
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
of 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, by being born again and adopted into the family 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 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 has 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 deals with 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 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 turn 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 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; Colossians 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 (Psalm
103:20), to do God’s will (St. Matthew 18:10) and 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.
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 (Genesis
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.
“In my name they shall cast out Satan and the work of the Devil and to
resist him and then he will flee (WITHDRAW) from you.” (St. Mark 16:17).
THE CHURCH
The Church forms a spiritual unity of which Christ is the divine head. It is
animated by one Spirit, the Spirit of Christ. It professes one faith, shares
one hope, and serves one King,. It is the citadel of the truth and God’s
agency for communicating to believers all spiritual blessings. The Church
then is the object of our faith rather than of knowledge. The name of our
Church, “CHURCH OF GOD IN CHRIST” is supported by I Thessalonians 2:14 and
other passages in the Pauline Epistles. The word “CHURCH” or “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 Phillippi.
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 2:11-13; St. Matthew
16:27; 24:30; 25:30; 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 Church of God in Christ believes in and practices Divine Healing. It is
a commandment of Jesus to the Apostles (St. Mark 16:18). Jesus affirms his
teachings 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 still practiced widely and frequently in the Church of God in
Christ, and testimonies of healing in our Church testify to this fact.
MIRACLES
The Church of God in Christ believes that miracles occur to convince men
that the Bible is God’s Word. 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,
7:14-15; 5:5-6; St. Mark 14:15).
THE 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 Church Of God In Christ recognizes three
ordinances as having been instituted by Christ himself and therefore,
binding upon the church practice.
A. 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 believer’s
participation in the crucified Christ. It represents not only the death of
Christ as the object of faith which unites the believers to Christ, but also
the effect of this act as the giving of life, strength, and joy to the soul.
The communicant by faith enters into a special spiritual union of his soul
with the glorified Christ.
B. 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.
C. WATER BAPTISM
We believe that Water Baptism is necessary as instructed 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 is an outward demonstration that one has already had a conversion
experience and has accepted Christ as his personal Savior. As Pentecostals,
we practice immersion in preference to “SPRINKLING” , because immersion
corresponds more closely to the death, burial, and resurrection of our Lord
(Colossians 2:12). It also symbolizes regeneration and purification more
than any other mode. Therefore, we practice immersion as our mode of
Baptism. We believe that we should use the Baptismal Formula given us by
Christ for all “…IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER , AND OF THE SON, AND OF THE HOLY
GHOST.” (St. Matthew 28:19)
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