Water Baptism
The scriptural mode of baptism is immersion, and is only for those who have fully repented, having turned from their sins. It should be administered by a duly authorized minister of the Gospel, in obedience to the Word of God, and in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, according to Acts of the Apostles 2:38; 8:16; 10:48; 19:5, thus obeying and fulfilling Matthew 28:19.
Baptism of the Holy Ghost
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).
Divine Healing
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 Galileo, 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, for ". With His stripes we are healed" (Isaiah 53:5). Matthew 8:17 reads, "..Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sickness." (See also 1 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, anointed 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 promises are for the church today.
Communion
On The night of our Lord's betrayal, He ate the Passover supper with His Apostles, after which He instituted the sacrament. "And He took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, this is my body which is given for you: This do in remembrance of me. Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, this cup is the New Testament in my blood, which is shed for you." (Luke 22:10-20).
Paul instructed the church how to observe it (1 Cor, 11:23-34). Thus was instituted the use of literal bread and the fruit of the vine, which are partaken of, literally, as emblems of His broken body and shed blood. There is also a. spiritual significance and blessing in partaking of the sacrament.
Foot-Washing
When the Passover supper was ended, we read in John 13:4-5, "He riseth from supper, and laid aside His garments; and took a towel, and girded Himself- After that He poureth water into a bacon, and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith He was girded," Jesus said, "If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet, ye also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you" (John 13:14-15)
This first example was given by our Lord, and it is a divine institution. It is well to follow His example and wash one another's feet; thus manifesting the spirit of humility.
Holiness
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 bath 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 bath 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). We wholeheartedly disapprove of our people indulging in any activities which-are not conducive to good Christianity and Godly living. Entertainment, recreation and deportment should be aligned to these principles. We admonish all of our people to refrain from any practices which are not in the interest of spiritual progress and the soon coming of the Lord for His church.
Tithing
We believe tithing is God's financial plan to provide for His work, and has been since the days of Abraham. Tithing came with faith under Abraham. Moses' law enjoined it, and Israel practiced it when she was right with God. Jesus endorsed it (Matt. 23:23); and Paul said to lay by in store as God has prospered you. Do not rob God of His portion, viz., tithes and offerings. (Read Mal. Ch 3.)
The Grace of God
"For the grace of God that bringeth salvation bath appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and Godly, in this present world" (Thus 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 "favour". When a person transgresses and sin 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 2:20-22.) 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).
The Restitution of all things
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 Rev. 20:10.)
The Second Coming of Jesus
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 Thess. 4:13-17; 1 Cor. 15:51-54; Phil. 3:20-21).
We believe that Jesus is coming again the second time in person. Just as He went away, is clearly set forth by the Lord Jesus Himself, and was preached and taught in the early Christian church by the apostles; hence, the children of God today are earnestly, hopefully, looking forward to the glorious event. (Matt. 24; Acts 1:11; 3:19-21; 1 Cor. 11:26; Phil. 3:20-21,1 Thess. 4:14-17; Titus 2:13, 14)
The Millenium
Moreover, we believe that the distress upon the earth is the "beginning of sorrows" and will become more intense until there "shall be a time of trouble such as there never was since there was a nation even to that same time" (Matt, 24:3-8; Dan. 12:1), and that period of "tribulation" will be followed by the dawn of a better day on earth and that for a thousand years there shall be "peace on earth and good will toward men." (Rev. 20:1-5; Jsa. 65:17-25; Matt. 5:5; Dan. 7:27; Mic. 4:1-2; Heb. 2:14; Rom. 11:25-27.)
Final Judgement
When the thousand years are finished, there shall be a resurrection of all the dead, who will be summoned before the great white throne for their final judgment, and all whose names are not found written in the Book of Life shall be cast into the lake of fire, burning with brimstone, which God bath prepared for the Devil and his angels, Satan himself being cast in first.(Matt.25:41. Rev. 20:7-15; 21:8)