| Doctrinal
Principles of the Apostolic Assembly of the Faith in Christ Jesus
1. The
Church
The Church of the Lord Jesus Christ is one and that it is universal
and indivisible, composing of all men regardless of nationality, language,
race or custom who have accepted our Lord Jesus Christ as their Savior
having been baptized into His Body by the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians
12:13).
2. There
Is Only One God
There is only One God who has manifested Himself in the world in various
forms throughout the ages and that He has specially revealed Himself
as Father in the creation of the universe, as Son in the redemption
of humanity, and as the Holy Spirit dwelling in the hearts of the believers.
The first commandment is, "Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is
one Lord" (Mark 12:29, Deut. 6:4). "But to us there is but
one God" (1 Corinthians 8:6).
3. Jesus
Christ
The Lord Jesus Christ was born miraculously of the Virgin Mary through
the work of the Holy Spirit and that at the same time He is the one
and only true God (Romans 9:5; 1 John 5:20). We believe that God took
upon Himself human form (John 1:14; 1 Tim. 3:16). We believe that the
divine attributes and the human nature of God were incorporated in an
incomprehensible yet perfect form in Christ Jesus. We believe, therefore,
that Jesus Christ is God (Colossians 2:9).
4. The
Holy Spirit
The baptism of the Holy Spirit as promised by God in the Old Testament
and as poured forth after the glorification of our Lord Jesus Christ
(Joel 2:28-29; John 7:37-39, 14:16-26; Acts 2:1-4). Furthermore, we
believe that a person demonstrates that they have been baptized with
the Holy Spirit through the evidence of speaking in new tongues or languages
as the Spirit leads them. We also believe that the Holy Spirit helps
us form a Christian character (Galatians 5:22-25). This same Spirit
endows us with gifts for the edification of the Church (Romans 12:6-8;
1 Cor. 12:1-12; Ephesians 4:7-13).
5. Water
Baptism
The Baptism by immersion in the Name of Jesus Christ and that it should
be administered by an Ordained Minister. Baptism should be by immersion
because it represents the death of man unto sin which is like unto the
death of Christ (Romans 6:1-5). And in the name of Jesus Christ, since
this was the practice of the Apostles and Ministers who baptized during
the early period of the Church according to the Holy Scriptures (Acts
2:38, 8:16, 10:48, 19:6, 22:16).
6. Lord's
(Holy) Supper
The Baptism by immersion in the Name of Jesus Christ and that it should
be administered by an Ordained Minister. Baptism should be by immersion
because it represents the death of man unto sin which is like unto the
death of Christ (Romans 6:1-5). And in the name of Jesus Christ, since
this was the practice of the Apostles and Ministers who baptized during
the early period of the Church according to the Holy Scriptures (Acts
2:38, 8:16, 10:48, 19:6, 22:16).
7.
The Resurrection of Jesus Christ
The literal resurrection of Jesus Christ which took place on the third
day after His death as recorded in the Gospels (Matthew 27:60-64; Mark
16:1-20; Luke 25:1-12, 25:36-44; John 20:12-20). This resurrection had
been foretold by the prophets (Isaiah 53:12).
8. The Resurrection
of the Just and Unjust
There will be a literal resurrection of the dead in Christ and that they
will be given a glorified and spiritual body in which they will live forever
in the presence of the Lord (John 5:29; Acts 24:15; 1 Thess. 4:16; 1 Cor.
15:35-54). We believe also that there will be a resurrection of the unjust,
but these will awake from the tombs, only to be judged and hear the hard
sentence that will make them heirs of eternal fire (Matt. 25:26; John
5:29; Rev. 20:12-15; Mark 9:44).
9. The
Rapture of the Church and the Millennium
The Church, composed of the dead in Christ and the faithful living upon
the earth at the time of the Rapture, will be lifted, will meet the
Lord in the air and will take part in the wedding feast of the Lamb
of God. We believe this will take place before the Great Tribulation.
Thereafter, the Church will descend with the Lord to earth to pass judgment
upon the nations and it will reign with Christ for a thousand years.
This period will be preceded by the Battle of Armageddon which the Lord
will end descending upon the Mount of Olives with all His host of angels
(1 Thess. 4:13-17; 1 Cor. 15:51-54; Phil.3:20-21; Isaiah 65:17-25; Dan.7:27;
Romans 11:25-27; Rev.20:1-5).
10. The
Final Judgment
The Lord has prepared a judgment day in which all men who have died
without Christ and those living upon the earth will participate. The
Church will not be judged on this occasion. Upon termination of this
judgment, the present heavens and earth will be renewed by fire and
the faithful will dwell in the New Jerusalem (1 Cor.5:10; 6:2-3; Daniel
7:8-10, 7:14,18; Romans 2:16, 14:10; Rev. 20:5-15, 21:1-6).
11. Divine
Healing
God has the power to heal our physical bodies and is effected through
the combination of the faith of the believer and power in the Name of
Jesus Christ, whose Name is invoked when praying for the sick. The Lord
Jesus Christ promised that those who believed in His Name would lay
hands on the sick and they would recover (Mark 16:18). The sick should
be anointed with oil in the Name of Jesus Christ by Ordained Ministers
to effect the promise of the Lord (John 14:13; Psalm 103:1-4; Luke 9:1-3,
10:9; I Cor.12:9; James 5:14-16). We recommend that all members and
Ministers of our Church abstain from criticizing medical science, since
God has given men and women the ability to continue discovering the
secrets of the human body.
12. Holiness
All members of the Body of Christ should be holy, that is, separated
from sin and consecrated to the service of the Lord (Lev.19:2, 2 Cor.7:1;
Ephesians 5:26-27; 1 Thess.4:3-4; 2 Tim.2:21; Hebrews 12:14; 1 Peter
1:16).
13. Matrimony
Marriage is holy since it was instituted in the beginning (Gen.2:21-24;
Matt.19:1-15; Hebrews 13:4). Couples who have not fulfilled the requirements
of civil law in regards to marriage should do so before being baptized.
We believe that when a couple unites in marriage, they should remain
united until death. Upon the death of one, the other is free to remarry
and does not commit sin if he or she marries in the Lord (Romans 7:1-3;
1 Cor.7:39). We believe, furthermore, that marriages should take place
solely among faithful church members.
14. Church
and State
The separation of the Church and State and that neither should intervene
in the internal affairs of the other since this fulfills a biblical precept
(Mark 12:17). Christians should participate in civil activities insofar
as their own personal inclinations, ideas and opinions permit. They should
obey the civil authorities and all laws and ordinances issued by them
unless these are contradictory to their religious principles or constrain
them to act against their conscience (Romans 13:1-7).
15. Military
Service
We recognize human government as ordained by God (Romans 13:1-2). We
admonish our members to affirm loyalty to our country. According to
the following scriptures, it is believed and interpreted that the followers
of our Lord Jesus Christ should not shed human blood taking lives and
destroying their properties (Matt.5:19, 26:52; Hebrews 12:14, Romans
12:19; James 5:6; Rev.13:10). All members, therefore, are advised to
answer voluntarily to the call of their country, whether in time of
peace or war and serve in any capacity no matter how hard or dangerous
it may be, as long as it is of NONCOMBATANT CHARACTER (1 Tim.2:1-3).
16. The
"Sin unto Death"
There is a sin unto death and that if this sin is committed the right
to salvation is lost (Matt.12:31-32; Romans 6:28; Hebrews 10:26-27;
1 John 5:16-17). Therefore, we recommend that the faithful abstain from
giving ear to doctrines that promise eternal security to the Christian
without regard to their conduct. The Bible teaches that we must remain
faithful unto the end (Romans 2:6-10; 1 Cor.9:26-27).
17. Financial
System of the Church
The system the Bible teaches, for the purpose of obtaining the funds
necessary to carry out the work of the Lord, is that of tithes and offerings
and that this should be practiced by Ministers and believers alike (Gen.28:22;
Malachi 3:10; Matt.23:23; Luke 6:38; Acts 11:27-30; 1 Cor.9:3-14, 16:1-2;
Galatians 6:6-10; Philemon 4:10-12; Hebrews 13:16).
18. The
Ministerial Body
The Ministry is a calling of God and that the Holy Spirit confers upon
each Minister the privilege of serving the Church in distinct capacities
and with distinct gifts, whose manifestations are all towards edification
of the Body of Christ (Romans 12:6-18; 1 Cor.12:5-11; Ephesians 4:11-12).
It is up to the ecclesiastical governments which are only organized
to examine the candidates for the Ministry to determine whether they
should be approved to serve therein and assign them their duty (Acts
1:23-26, 6:1-3; 1 Timothy 3:1-10, 4:14, 5:22; Titus 1:5-9). We also
believe that the Holy Spirit uses its Ministers in various ways according
to the needs of the work of the Lord and the capability and personal
disposition of the Minister. No one can be placed in a higher position
than that of which he is worthy (1 Tim.3:13; Romans 12:3). We believe
that the Bishop is the highest office work in the Ministry and that
special respect and consideration should be given those who occupy it
without giving less consideration to those that occupy positions of
lesser responsibility.
Reference: Apostolic Assembly of the Faith in Christ Jesus, Inc. Constitution.
1998 Edition.
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