Christ Assemblies Doctrine:
•The infallibility and inerrant of the Bible:
The sole basis of our beliefs is the Bible, God's infallible written Word, the 66 books of the Old and New Testaments. We believe that it was uniquely, verbally and fully inspired by the Holy Spirit and that it was written without error (inerrant) in the original manuscripts. It is the supreme and final authority in all matters on which it speaks. 2 Timothy 3:15-17, 1 Thessalonians 2:13 and 2 Peter 1:21.
•The Authority of Scripture: The Bible claims for itself that all the words in Scripture are God’s words: ( Tim 3:16; 2 Pet 1:21; Num 22:38; Deut 18:18-20; Jer 1:9; 23:16-22)
•Self- attesting and Final authority: means the words of Scripture cannot be proved to be God’s words by appeal to any higher authority (2 Tim 3:16; 1 Cor 14:37; 2 Pet 3:16)
The truthfulness of Scripture: Titus 1:2; Num 23:19; Heb 6:18; 2 Sam 7:28
•The Inerrancy of Scripture: All words of Scripture are true and without error: (Ps 12:6, 119:89; Num 23:19; Proverbs 30:5,
•God’s words are the ultimate Standard of truth: (John 17:17
•Necessity of Scripture: Scripture is necessary for Knowledge of the Gospel (Rom 10:13-17; Acts 4:12; 1 Tim 2:5-6;
Scripture is necessary for certain knowledge of God’s will: Deut 29:29; PSS 119:1; 1 John 5:3
The sufficiency of Scripture: ‘means that Scripture contain all the words of God he intended his people to have at each stage of redemption, salvation’ and everyday life (2 Tim 3:15-17; James 1:18; 1 Pet 1:23 ; Pss 119; Deut 4:2, 12:32; Rev 22:18-19.
•The eternal existence of God:
•Humanity’s Inner sense of God: (Rom 1:19-25, 8:15-16; Eph 3:17; Phil 3:8; John 14:23; Col 1:27; Pss 14:1.
Believing the Evidence in Scripture and Nature: (Rom 1:20; Acts 14:17; Ps 19:1-2).
-The Trinity:
•There is one true God, eternally existing in three persons – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit – each of whom possesses equally all the attributes of Deity and the characteristics of personality. Deuteronomy 6:4, Isaiah 43:10&11, Matthew 28:19 .
•Revealed in Scripture: (Gen 1:26, 3:22, 11:7; Mtt 3:16-17, 28:19; 2 Cor 13:14
•There is one God: Exod 15:11; 1 Kings 8:60; Isa 45:5-6; 45:21-22; 1 Tim 2:5; Rom 3:30; James 2:19.
•Each Person is fully God (Father): Gen 1:1; John 1:1-5; Phil 2:5-11; Eph 1:3-4
•Son: John 1:1-18; 17:24; 1 John 2:1; Heb 7:25
Holy Spirit: Luke 4:14; Acts 10:38; Rom 8:27, 15:13; 1 Cor 2:4; John 16:7; 14:26
Salvation: The salvation of man is wholly a work of God's free grace and is not the work, in whole or in part, of human works or goodness or religious ceremony. God imputes His righteousness to those who put their faith in Christ alone for their salvation, and thereby justified them in His sight. It is the privilege of all who are born again of the Spirit to be assured of their salvation from the very moment in which they trust Christ as their Saviour. This assurance is not based upon any kind of human merit, but is produced by the witness of the Holy Spirit, who confirms in the believer the testimony of God in His written word. Luke 24:47, John 3:3, Romans 10:13-15, Ephesians 2:8, Titus 2:1, and 1 Titus 3:5-7
•Regeneration: Man's nature is corrupted, and he is thus totally unable to please God. Every man is in need of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit. Every believer is called to live so in the power of the indwelling Spirit that he will not fulfil the lust of the flesh but will bear fruit to the glory of God. Titus 3:5, Ezekiel 36:26, 1John 3:9.
Grudem defines Regeneration as ‘a secret act of God in which he imparts new spiritual life to us’ also known as ‘being born again.’ This is a total work of God with man playing no active role at all. (Jn 1:13; James 1:18; 1 Peter 1:3, Ezek 36:26-27
•Sanctification: Sanctification is an act of separation from that which is evil, and of dedication unto God. [Romans 12:1&2, 1 Thessalonians 5:23, Hebrews 13:12
•The Scriptures teach a life of "holiness without which no man shall see the Lord." [Hebrews 12:14].
By the power of the Holy Spirit we are able to obey the command: "Be ye holy, for I am holy."[1 Peter 1:15,16].
•Repentance/ Conversion: (John 1:12; Acts 2:37-38, 20:21; 2 Cor 7:9) ‘Conversion is our willing response to the gospel call, in which we sincerely repent of sins and place our trust in Christ for salvation.’
Repentance is a heartfelt sorrow for sin, a renouncing of it, and a sincere commitment to forsake it and walk in obedience to Christ.’
•Water Baptism: We believe in water baptism through immersion: that is dipping a person’s body in water in the name of the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit. Baptism is administered to those who believe, repent and confess their sins as per scripture. Matthew 28:19, Mark 16:16, Acts 10:47,48 and Romans 6:4
We do not believe in infant baptism, but we believe children need to be dedicated in the hands of the Lord as the Scriptures say.
•Baptism in the Holy Spirit: We believe in Baptism in the Holy Spirit, with the Speaking in tongues as initial evidence [Acts 2:2-4, Acts 10:44-46 and Acts 19:4-6].
•Second encounter with God in which Christians receive supernatural power of the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:8, 2:4
•Promised by Jesus: Luke 24:29; John 16:7; Acts 1:4
Old Testament reference: Baptism in the Holy Spirit prophesied before Pentecost (Isa 28:11, 44:3; Joel 2:28-29;
Reasons why it is important to be baptised in the Holy Spirit:
•To be empowered: 1 Cor 2:4; Mtt 10:1; Jn 14:12; 1 Jn 3:8
•Edification: 1 Cor 14:4
Outward Evidence of Baptism in the Holy Spirit: (Acts 2:4, 8:14-17, 10:44-46, 19:6.
Incarnation: Jesus Christ is the Son of God incarnate, the living Word, who became flesh through His miraculous conception by the Holy Spirit and His virgin birth. · Matthew 1:23 · Luke 1:31&35 Hence, He is perfect Deity and true humanity united in one person forever.
•Resurrection: We believe that Jesus Christ died and on the third day, resurrected: Matt 28:1-20; Mk 16:1; Lk 24;1-53; Jn 20:1-21
•Christ’s Resurrection ensures our Regeneration: (1 Peter 1:3; Eph 1:19-20, 2:5-6; Col 3:1;
•Christ’s Resurrection ensures our Justification: Rom 4:25; Phil 2:8-9; Eph 2:6
Ensures that we will receive perfect resurrection bodies as well: (1 Cor 6:14; 2 Cor 4:14.
The second coming of Jesus Christ: We Believe in the second coming of Jesus Christ to the earth – personally, visibly and bodily – to consummate history and the eternal plan of God. Zechariah 14:5 Matthew 24:27 Matthew 24:30 Revelation 1:7 Revelation 19:11-14 Revelation 20:1-6 .
•Final Judgement: We believe that there is going to be a final judgement for believers and non-believers (Rev 20:11-15, Rom 2:5; Matt 10:15; 11:22; 1 Cor 4:5; Heb 6:2; 2 Pet 2:4
Jesus Christ will be the judge: ( 2 Tim 4:1; Acts 10:42; John 5:26-27)