Our Beliefs
The Apostle's Creed
I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth; and in Jesus Christ His only Son, our Lord; which was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; He descended into hell [that is, the place of the departed righteous]; the third day He rose again from the dead; He ascended into heaven; and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence He shall come to judge the quick and the dead. I believe in the Holy Ghost; the holy catholic [universal] church; the communion of saints; the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body; and life everlasting. Amen.
Covenant
We, having been called out of the world by the blessed Spirit of God, and having become acquainted with the Articles of Faith and policy of the Pentecostal Holiness Church, and believing it to be of God, and having given our names and thereby become members of the same, do solemnly, but cheerfully, and with joy and gladness enter into this covenant; We will watch over one another with brotherly love and kindness, not that we may have whereof to accuse our brother, but that we may with meekness correct each other's faults.
We will abstain from frivolous conversations, such as foolish talking and jesting, and from backbiting and tattling, or taking up a reproach against anyone, especially our brother. We will heed the injunction of the apostle (Ephesians 4:1-3), who exhorts us to walk worthy of the vocation wherewith we are called, with all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. We will bear one another's burdens and so fulfill the law of Christ. We will also heed the exhortation recorded in 1 Thessalonians 5:12-15:
"We beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you; And to esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake. And be at peace among yourselves. Now we exhort you brethren, warn them that are unruly [disorderly], comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men. See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men."
And we will "recompense to no man evil for evil," but will "provide things honest in the sight of all men," and, "if it be possible, as much as lieth in [us], [we will] live peaceably with all men" (Romans 12:17-18). And we will be "kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven [us]" (Ephesians 4:32). As opportunity affords we will be engaged in works of mercy; such as visiting the sick and imprisoned and the distressed, and all who may need and will accept our ministrations. We will have no fellowship with unfruitful works of darkness (Ephesians 5:11), but keep ourselves by the grace of God (1 Peter 1:5) unspotted from the world (James 1:27). All this will we do, God being our Helper.
Response
We accept the obligations of this covenant in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.
Articles of Faith
Article One
We believe there is but one living and true God everlasting, of infinite power, wisdom and goodness; Maker and Preserver of all things, both visible and invisible. And in the unity of this Godhead there are three Persons of one substance of eternal being, and equal in holiness, justice, wisdom, power, and dignity; the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost.
Article Two
We believe that the Son, who is the Word of the Father, the very and eternal God, of one substance with the Father, took man's nature in the womb of the blessed virgin; so that two whole and perfect natures, that is to say, the Godhead and the manhood were joined together in one Person, never to be divided, whereof is one Christ, very God and perfect man, who actually suffered, was crucified, dead, and buried, to reconcile the Father to us, and to make atonement, not only for our actual guilt, but also for original sin.
Article Three
We believe that Christ did truly rise again from the dead, and took again His body, with all things appertaining to the perfections of man's nature, and ascended into heaven and there sits until He shall return to judge all men at the last day.
Article Four
We believe the Holy Ghost, proceeding from the Father and the Son, is of one substance, majesty and glory with the Father and the Son, very and eternal God.
Article Five
We believe in the verbal and plenary inspiration of the Holy Scriptures, known as the Bible, composed of sixty-six books and divided into two departments, Old and New Testaments. We believe the Bible is the Word of God, the full and complete revelation of the plan and history of redemption.
Article Six
We believe that eternal life with God in heaven is a portion of the reward of the finally righteous; and that everlasting banishment from the presence of the Lord and unending torture in hell are the wages of the persistently wicked (Matthew 25:46; Psalm 9:17; Revelation 21:7-8).
Article Seven
We believe that Jesus Christ shed His blood for the remission of sins that are past, for the regeneration of penitent sinners, and for salvation from sin and from sinning (Romans 3:25; 1 John 3:5-10; Ephesians 2:1-10).
Article Eight
We believe, teach, and firmly maintain the scriptural doctrine of justification by faith alone (Romans 5:1).
Article Nine
We believe that Jesus Christ shed His blood for the complete cleansing of the justified believer from all indwelling sin and from its pollution, subsequent to regeneration (1 John 1:7-9).
Article Ten
We believe in sanctification. While sanctification is initiated in regeneration and consummated in glorification, we believe that it includes a definite, instantaneous work of grace achieved by faith subsequent to regeneration (Acts 26:18; 1 John 1:9). Sanctification delivers from the power and dominion of sin. It is followed by life-long growth in grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 4:16; 2 Peter 3:18).
Article Eleven
We believe that the pentecostal baptism of the Holy Ghost and fire is obtainable by a definite act of appropriating faith on the part of the fully cleansed believer, and the initial evidence of the reception of this experience is speaking with other tongues as the Spirit gives utterance (Luke 11:13; Acts 1:5; 2:14, 8-17; 10:44-46; 19:6).
Article Twelve
We believe in divine healing as in the atonement (Isaiah 53:4-5; Matthew 8:16-17; Mark 16:14-18; James 5:14-16; Exodus 15:26).
Article Thirteen
We believe in the imminent, personal, premillennial second coming of our Lord Jesus Christ (1 Thessalonians 4:15-17; Titus 2:13; 2 Peter 3:1-4; Matthew 24:29-44), and love and wait for His appearing (2 Timothy 4:8).
Article Fourteen
We believe it is the responsibility of every believer to dedicate his life to carrying out the work of the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:15-20; Acts 1:8
ORDINANCES
A. WATER BAPTISM
1. All who unite with any local church on profession of faith in Christ shall further confess Christ by receiv-ing water baptism as early as possible.
2. Baptism shall be administered according to the divine command of our blessed Lord, “In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost (Spirit).”
B. HOLY COMMUNION
Holy communion commemorates our redemption by Christ’s death. It points to Calvary, and to the return of Jesus, whose blood cleanses us from all sin and prepares us for His
blessed return (Matthew 26:17-30; 1 Corinthians 11:23-30).
1. The bread and the wine should be administered to all Christians (only unfermented wine should be used).
2. The Lord’s table should be open to all who love Him, and all of the Lord’s children should be invited to His table to commemorate together the death of their common Lord.
3. This shall be administered at least once each quarter.