About Us
ARTICLES OF FAITH AND PRACTICES
OF THE
CHURCH OF NEW LIFE IN CHRIST
God
The Scriptures teach that there is only one true and living God (Jeremiah 10:10; I John 5:20), who is a spirit (John 4:24), self-existent (Exodus 3:14; John 5:26), eternal (Psalms 90 and 2; I Timothy 1:17), immutable (Malachi 3:6; James 1:17), omnipresent (Psalm 139:7-10; Acts 17:24), omniscient (Acts 15:18; I Chronicles 28:9), omnipotent (Revelation 19:6; Job 42:2), independent (Daniel 4:35; Romans 11:33-36), good (Psalm 145:9; Matthew 19:17), wise (Daniel 2:20; I Timothy 1:17), holy (Leviticus 19:2; I Peter 1:15-16) just (Deuteronomy 32:4; Romans 3:26) and merciful (Ephesians 2:4; Exodus 34:6); the Creator (Genesis 1:1; Colossians 1:16), Preserver (Nehemiah 9:6; Colossians 1:17), and Governor of the universe (Psalm 47:7; Matthew 2:6), the Redeemer (Isaiah 47:4; Jeremiah 50:34), Saviour (Isaiah 43:3; Isaiah 49:26), Sanctifier (Exodus 31:13; Jude 1), and Judge of men, and the only proper object of divine worship (Exodus 20:4-5; Matthew 4:10).
The mode of His existence, however, is a subject far above the understanding of man (Job 11:7; Job 33:13 finite beings cannot comprehend Him (Romans 11:33; Job 26:14). There is nothing in the universe that can justly represent Him for there is none like Him (Exodus 9:14; I Chronicles 17:20). He is the foundation of all perfection and happiness. He is glorified by the whole inanimate creation and is worthy to be loved and served by all intelligence (Psalm 145: 10; 150:6).
God is the Creator and Ruler of the universe (Genesis 1:1, 26-27). He has eternally existed in three persons: Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit (Psalm 90:2, Matthew 28:19). These three are equal and are one God.
Creation
We believe in the literal account of creation, that the first eleven chapters of Genesis are the literal and historical accounts of God's creation of all things, and that man was created by God in His image and is not the product of some process of evolution.
We believe in the existence of a personal devil who at one time was holy, honored in heaven, but through pride fell from his lofty estate and is now completely evil, unholy, anti-God and is now the prince of the power of the air.
God created the world and all things that it contains for His own pleasure and glory, and for the enjoyment of His creatures (Revelation 4:11; I Timothy 6:17).
The angels were created by God (Colossians 1:16) to glorify Him and obey His commandments (Psalm 103:20).
Those who have kept their first estate He employs in ministering blessing to the heirs of salvation (Hebrews 1:14; Jude vs. 6) and in executing His judgments upon the world (II Samuel 24:16; Revelation 16:1).
Humanity
People are made in the spiritual image of God, to be like Him in character. People are the supreme object of God's creation (Genesis 1:26-27, Psalm 8:3-6).
Although every person has tremendous potential for good, all of us are marred by an attitude of disobedience toward God called "sin". It is this sinful nature that separates people from God and causes many problems in life (Isaiah 53:6a, 59:1-2, Romans 3:23).
Our first parents, Adam and Eve, in their original state in the Garden of Eden, were upright; they naturally preferred and desired, to obey their Creator, and had no preference of desire to transgress His will (Ecclesiastes 7:29; Ephesians 4:24) until they were tempted and persuaded by the serpent (Satan) to disobey God's commands (Genesis 3:1-6).
Previous to this, the only tendency of their nature was to do righteousness. In consequence of the first transgression, the state under which the posterity of Adam came into the world is so far different from that of Adam, that they have not that righteousness and purity which Adam had before the fall; they are not naturally willing to obey God but are inclined to evil (Psalm 51:5; Genesis 8:21; John 3:6).
Hence, none by virtue of any natural goodness and mere work of their own, can become the children of God (John 6:44; I Corinthians 2:14); but all are dependent for salvation upon the redemption effected through the blood of Jesus Christ, and upon being created anew unto obedience through the operation of the Spirit (John 1:13; Colossians 1:14; Titus 3:5), both of which are freely provided for every descendant of Adam.
Death
As a result of sin, all mankind are subject to the death of the body (Psalm 89:48; Ecclesiastes 8:8; Romans 5:12; Hebrews 9:27).
The soul does not die with the body; but immediately after death, it enters into a conscious state of happiness or misery, according to the moral character here possessed (Ecclesiastes 12:7; Matthew 17:3; II Corinthians 5:8; Revelation 6:9).
Heaven and Hell
We believe the Scriptural teaching as written in Matthew 25:46 that Heaven and Hell are literal places where departed souls will spend eternity.
Hell is described throughout Scripture as a fiery, everlasting punishment and is considered the second death. The punishment of the wicked dead in hell is described as "eternal fire" (Matthew 25:41), "unquenchable fire" (Matthew 3:12), "shame and everlasting contempt" (Daniel 12:2), a place where "the fire is not quenched" (Mark 9:44-49), a place of "torment" and "fire" (Luke 16: 23-24), "everlasting destruction" (2 Thessalonians 1:9), a place where "the smoke of torment rises forever and ever" (Revelation 14:10-11), and a "lake of burning sulfur" where the wicked are "tormented day and night forever and ever" (Revelation 20:10).
Heaven is described as blissful life, where those who are saved will dwell eternally in the presence of the Lord.
Jesus Christ
Jesus Christ is the Son of God (Romans 1:3-4). He possesses all Divine perfections, as He and the Father are one. He in His Divine nature filled all the offices and performed the works of God to His creatures that have been the subject of revelation to us.
As man, He performed all the duties toward God that we are required to perform, repentance of sin excepted. His divinity is proved from His titles, His attributes and His works.
The Bible ascribes to Christ the title of Savior (Isaiah 45:15; John 4:42; II Timothy 1:10), Jehovah (Psalm 83:18), Lord of Hosts (Isaiah 8:13, 14; Malachi 2:2) the First and the Last (Revelation 1:11; Isaiah 44:6), God (I Timothy 3:16; Hebrews 1:8), true God (I John 5:20), Great God (Titus 2:13), God over all (Romans 9:5), Mighty God and the everlasting Father (Isaiah 9:6). He is eternal (Colossians 1:17; Micah 5:2), unchangeable (Hebrews 13:8; Hebrews 1:12), omnipresent (John 3:13; Matthew 18:20), omniscient (John 16:30; 21:17), omnipotent (Matthew 28:18; Revelation 1:8), holy (Acts 3:14; Revelation 3:7) and is entitled to Divine Worship (Hebrews 1:6; John 5:23; Matthew 28:9).
Christ created the world (Hebrews 1:8, 10; John 1:3, 10). He preserves (Hebrews 1:3; Colossians 1:17) and governs it (Isaiah 9:6; Ephesians 1:21); He has provided redemption for all men (Hebrews 9:12; Galatians 3:13) and He will be their final judge (II Timothy 4:1; John 5:22).
The Word, which in the beginning was with God, and which was God, by whom all things were made, condescended to a state of humiliation in becoming like us, pollution and sin excepted (John 1:14; II Corinthians 8:9). In this state, as a subject of the law, He was liable to the infirmities of our nature (Hebrews 2:17; John 11:33-35); was tempted as we are (Hebrews 4:15; Matthew 4:1-11); but He lived our example and rendered perfect obedience to the Divine requirements (I Peter 2:21; John 13:14-15).
As Christ was made of the seed of David according to the flesh, He is called the Son of Man, (Matthew 5:17; Galatians 4:4) and as the Divine existence is the foundation from which He proceeded and was the only agency by which He was begotten (Luke 19:10).
He is called the Son of God (John 16:27; Matthew 1:18, 20) being the only begotten of the Father (Luke 1:35; John 1:34 & 20:31) and the only incarnation of the Divine Being (John 3:16; 1:18).
He is co-equal with the Father (John 1:1-4). He was born of a virgin (Isaiah 7:14, Matthew 1:22-23). He lived a sinless human life and offered Himself as the perfect sacrifice for the sins of all people by dying on the Cross at Calvary.
He rose from the dead after three days to demonstrate His power over sin and death (Romans 5:8-9, 1 Corinthians 15:3-4, Hebrews 4:14-15, 1Peter 2:24).
He ascended to Heaven's glory and will return again someday to earth to reign as King of kings and Lord of lords (Acts 1:9-11, 1Timothy 6:14-15).
Jesus Christ - Crucified, Died, Resurrected
As sin cannot be pardoned without a sacrifice, and the blood of beasts could never wash away sin, Christ gave Himself a sacrifice for sins of the world (Isaiah 53:5; I Peter 3:18; Hebrews 9:26), and thus made salvation possible for all men (Isaiah 45:22; Titus 2:11; I Timothy 2:6).
He died for us, suffering in our stead, to make known the righteousness of God, that He might be just in justifying sinners who believe in His Son (Romans 3:25, 26; Ephesians 1:7; I Peter 2:24).
Through the redemption effected by Christ, salvation is actually enjoyed in this world, and will be enjoyed in the next, by all who do not in this life refuse obedience to the known requirements of God (Romans 8:1; Revelation 7:13-14).
The atonement for sin was necessary (Hebrews 9:22; Ephesians 1:7). For present and future obedience can no more blot our past sins than past obedience can remove the guilt of present and future sins. Had God pardoned the sins of men without satisfaction for the violation of His law, it would follow that transgression might go on with impunity, government would be abrogated, and the obligation of obedience to God would be, in effect, removed.
Our Lord not only died for our sins, but He arose for our justification (Romans 4:25; I Corinthians 15:17) and ascended to heaven (Mark 16:19; Acts 1:11), where as Mediator between God and man, He will make intercession for men until the final judgment (Hebrews 7:25; 9:24; Romans 8:34).
The Bible
The Bible is God's Word to us. It was written by human authors under the supernatural guidance of the Holy Spirit (2 Peter 1:20-21). We believe in the verbal and plenary inspiration of the Bible. The Bible is the inerrant Word of God and is the final authority in matters of faith and life. These are the Old and New Testaments. They were written by men divinely inspired and are God's will as revealed to man. They are the supreme standard by which all human conduct, creeds, and opinions should be tried (II Timothy 3:16-17).
The Bible is the supreme source of truth for Christian beliefs and living. Because it is inspired by God, it is the truth without any mixture of error (Psalm 119:105,160, 12:6, Proverbs 30:5, 2 Timothy 3:16).
The Church
The Church is an organized body of believers in Christ, who stately assemble to worship God, and who sustain the ordinances of the Gospel agreeable to His Word (I Corinthians 1:2; Acts 2:41. 47; I Corinthians 16:1-2). In a more general sense, it is the whole body of Christians throughout the world, and none but the regenerates are its real members (I Corinthians 12:27, 28; Colossians 1:18, 24; I Peter 2:5). Believers are admitted to a particular Church on their giving evidence of faith, being baptized, and receiving the hand of fellowship (Acts 2:41; 8:12; Galatians 3:27).
Faith
Saving faith is an assent of the mind to the fundamental truths of revelation (Romans 10:9; Hebrews 11:1) an acceptance of the Gospel through the influence of the Holy Spirit (Romans 10:10; Galatians 5:22) and a firm confidence and trust in Christ (Acts 16:31; Ephesians 3:12). The fruit of faith is obedience to the Gospel (James 2:17; I Timothy 1:5). The power to believe is the gift of God (John 1:12; Philippians 1:29); but believing is an act of the creature, which is required as a condition for pardon, and without which the sinner cannot obtain salvation (John 3:36; Hebrews 11:6). All men are required to believe in Christ; and those who yield obedience to His requirements become the children of God by Faith (John 1:7; 3:15; Romans 5:1).
Repentance
The repentance that the Gospel requires includes a deep conviction, a penitential sorrow, and open confession, a decided hatred, and an entire forsaking of all sin (Psalm 51:3-4, 17; II Corinthians 7:10). This repentance God has enjoined on all men; and without it in this life, the sinner must perish eternally (Luke 13:5; Acts 17:30).
Salvation
Salvation is God's free gift to all mankind, but we must accept it (John 1:12-13).
We can never be saved by self-improvement or good works. Only by trusting in Jesus Christ as God's offer of forgiveness through the shedding of Jesus' blood can anyone be saved from sin's penalty (Romans 3:24-26, 5:1, 6:23, Galatians 2:16, Ephesians 2:4-10).
When this happens a person is
(1) born again
(2) forgiven of sins, and
(3) set free from the power of sin (Romans 6:16-22).
Justification
Personal justification implies that the person justified has been guilty before God; and in consideration of the atonement of Christ, accepted by faith, the sinner is pardoned and absolved from the guilt of sin and restored to the Divine favor (Isaiah 53:11; Romans 5:1, 16). Through Christ's atonement is the foundation of the sinner's redemption, yet without repentance and faith, it can never give him justification and peace with God (Acts 13:38-39; Hebrews 11:6).
Regeneration
As man is a fallen and sinful being, he must be regenerated in order to obtain salvation (Galatians 5:19-21; John 3:3). This change is an instantaneous renewal of the heart by the Holy Spirit (Ezekiel 36:26, 27; Titus 3:5) whereby the penitent sinner receives new life, becomes a child of God (Romans 8:16; II Corinthians 5:17), and is disposed to serve Him (Ezekiel 11:19, 20; I Peter 2:5). This is called in Scripture being "born again", "born of the Spirit" (John 1:13; 3:5, 6-8) "being quickened" (Psalm 119:50; Ephesians 2:1, 5) "passing from death unto life" (I Corinthians 15:54; I Peter 1:23; I John 3:14) and "the partaking of Divine Nature" (II Peter 1:4; Ephesians 3:14).
The moral nature is renewed, and the dominion and power of sin is broken (Ephesians 2:10; II Corinthians 4:6, 5:17; Ephesians 2:1, 5). Regeneration is the beginning of the believer's personal sanctification. The new life principle (John 3:16) imparted in regeneration is a principle of holy love (I John 5:1) and effects initial sanctification. Negatively, the regenerate is sanctified in the sense that he is washed from the acquired guilt and acquired depravity of his sinning (Titus 3:5; I Corinthians 6:11). Positively, he is sanctified in the sense that he is a new creature and by the grace of God lives "soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present" world (Titus 2:12). We call this "washing of regeneration" (Titus 3:5-6) initial sanctification because it is the beginning of sanctification and is partial because it deals with specific sin and does not rid the regenerated of the sin principle.
Adoption
We believe that adoption is that gracious act of God by which the justified and regenerated believer is constituted a Son of God (John 1:12; Romans 8:15-23; Galatians 3:26; Ephesians 1:5 I John 3:2).
Sanctification
Sanctification is the act of God, subsequent to regeneration by which believers are made free from original sin, or moral depravity, and are brought into a state of complete devotion to God and renunciation of self-reliance (I John 1:7; Romans 6:6-7, 11; Galatians 2:20; I Thessalonians 5:23-24).
Sanctification is provided by the blood of Jesus Christ (Hebrews 10:10; 13:12, 20-21) is wrought instantaneously (Romans 6:6, 11; Galatians 2:20, 6:14; Ephesians 4:20-24; Colossians 2:11) is preceded by entire consecration (Romans 6:13, 16, 19; 12:1-2; I Thessalonians 4:3-4) and to this work and state of grace the Holy Spirit bears witness in perfect love (Romans 15:16; I John 4:13-21).
We believe that there is a marked distinction between a pure heart (entirely sanctified) and mature character. The former (the pure heart) is obtained in an instant; the latter is the result of growth in grace. Sanctification includes the impulse to grow in grace, which must be consciously nurtured, and careful attention given to the requisites and processes of spiritual development and improvement in emulating Jesus Christ in the areas of character and personality (II Peter 1:4, 3:18). Without such purposeful endeavor, the sanctified believer's witness may be impaired and the grace itself frustrated and ultimately lost (II Peter 1:9-10; 3:17).
Baptism
We believe water baptism by immersion is an outward testimony to an inward work already accomplished in the heart of the believer. Baptism is administered according to Christ's command, "In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost" (Matthew 28:19-20), in which are represented the burial and resurrection of Christ, the death of Christians to the World, the washing of their souls from the pollution of sin, their rising of newness of life, their engagement to serve God, and their resurrection at the last day (Matthew 28:19; Colossians 2:12; Acts 8:36-39; Romans 6:4; Titus 3:5; Galatians 3:27).
The Holy Spirit
The Scriptures ascribe to the Holy Spirit the acts of an intelligent being. He is said to guide (John 16:13), to know (I Corinthians 2:11), to move (Genesis 1:2; Acts 8:39) to give information (John 14:26; Acts 10:19; 1 Corinthians 2:13), to command (Acts 13:2), to forbid (Acts 16:6), to send forth (Acts 13:4), to strive (Genesis 6:3; Hebrews 3:7-8), to reprove (John 16:8), can be grieved (Isaiah 63:10; Ephesians 4:30) can be sinned against (Mark 3:29; Acts 7:51).
The attributes of God are ascribed to the Holy Spirit such as eternity (Hebrews 9:14), omnipresence (Psalm 139:7), omniscience (I Corinthians 2:10), goodness (Psalm 143:10), and truth (John 14:17).
The works of God are ascribed to the Holy Spirit creation (John 3:34; Psalm 134:3) inspiration (II Peter 1:21) giving of life (I Peter 3:18; Romans 8:11) and sanctification (I Corinthians 6:11).
The same acts, which in one part of the Bible are attributed to the Holy Spirit, are in other parts of the Holy Scriptures attributed to God (Isaiah 6:8, 9; Acts 28:25, 26; John 3:16; Matthew 1:18).
The Apostles assert that the Holy Spirit is Lord and God. (Acts 5:3, 4; II Corinthians 3:17).
From the foregoing the conclusion is, that the Holy Spirit is in reality God, and one with the Father in all-Divine perfections. It has also been shown that Jesus Christ is God, one with the Father. Then these three, the Father, the Son and Holy Spirit, are one God. The truth of this doctrine is also proved from the fact that the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost are united in the authority by which believers are baptized, and in the benedictions pronounced by the Apostles (Matthew 28:19; II Corinthians 13:14; I Peter 1:2), which are acts of the highest religious worship.
The Holy Spirit is co-equal with the Father and the Son of God. He is present in the world to make mankind aware of their need for Jesus Christ. He also lives in every Christian from the moment of salvation. He provides the Christian with power for living, understanding spiritual truth and guidance in doing what is right (John 14:16-17, 16:7-13, Galatians 5:25, 1Corinthians 2:12, Ephesians 1:13).
As Christians, we seek to live under His control daily. We believe the baptism of the Holy Spirit may be obtained by a definite act of appropriating faith on the part of the believer, and that the first evidence of this is the speaking with other tongues as the Holy Spirit gives utterance (Acts 1:4-5,8, 2:1-4).
Baptism of the Holy Spirit
We believe that the baptism of the Holy Spirit may be obtained by a definite act of appropriating faith on the part of the fully cleansed believer. This is not an impossible condition, but an imperative command (Ephesians 5:18) and that the first evidence of the reception of this experience is the speaking with other tongues as the Spirit gives utterance (Acts 1:5; 2:14; 8:17).
Gifts of the Holy Spirit
The Heavenly Father in His wisdom has bestowed a diversity of gifts upon His church for the building up of His Kingdom. We believe that it is the privilege of the Spirit-baptized believers to enjoy the benefits of spiritual gifts: wisdom, knowledge, faith, gifts of healing, working of miracles, prophecy, discerning of spirits, diverse kinds of tongues, and the interpretation of tongues, and that these gifts are fruits ("gifts") of the Holy Ghost. Recognizing the inherent spiritual capacity of men and the work of grace that is shared by all believers, we should cherish these manifold endowments and desire to bring each to full development, that the whole body may be fitly framed together by that which each member supplies (I Corinthians 12:1-11). We believe that these gifts are resident in the Holy Ghost and that He uses them severally as He wills and through whom He wills.
Divine Healing
We believe that the Bible teaches that the healing provided in the name of Jesus Christ, through the power of His blood shed on the Cross, is both spiritual and physical. This is conclusive from the interpretation of Isaiah 53:4-5 and also Matthew 8:16-17. In the Great Commission for the proclamation of the Gospel in the entire world, the healing of the body is promised along with the salvation of the soul.
People were healed in the Old Testament. They were healed in the New Testament, and we believe that people are and can be healed today.
Sickness and suffering are the results of sin. That is, there never would have been any sickness and death if the human race had not fallen into sin. We would not say, however, that all sickness is the direct result of sin, but sin certainly is directly or indirectly responsible for it. But the same Christ who can deliver from sin can, if it pleases Him, deliver from sickness.
While it is God's highest will for His people to anoint, lay hands on and pray for the healing of the sick, we do not believe that the Bible teaches that there is anything morally wrong with taking medicine, or receiving human aid. We believe that healing is God's promise and privilege to those who will receive it, rather than a command that must be obeyed (James 5:14-15).
The Second Coming of Christ
We believe in the imminent, personal, pre-tribulation, premillennial second coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. (Acts 1:11) "The Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: (I Thessalonians 4:16). This indicates more than a mere figure of speech, but an actual sudden, grand historical event, in which Christ assembles to himself his own from among the living and the dead, on a vast and mighty scale. The saints of past ages will be raised, those still in the flesh will be changed, and, as Enoch and Elijah were translated, the whole Church will rise in joyful welcome to the returning Savior, to be with Him forevermore.
There is nothing in Scripture to indicate when it will be (Matthew 24:36). The Scriptures indicate when the Second Coming happens; it will be with unexpected suddenness. "Signs" will precede the Coming, so that patient believers may feel that it is near, while the world generally scoffs at the idea. But even those who are watching are warned lest they be caught off guard. It will be as a "thief in the night." Jesus said that over and over, and with solemn earnestness warned his disciples to "Watch" (Mathew 24:42).
We believe that immediately after Jesus makes this sudden appearance in the sky to "rapture", or catch away, his saints, great tribulation shall prevail on the earth. Matthew writes, "For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be." (Matthew 24:21). When tribulation has consummated and the day of Apostasy is over, and then shall be the second event of the Second Coming of our Lord (Luke 21:27). The particular feature emphasized in this event of His coming is that it will be a day of terror for the disobedient. At this coming the Lord will be accompanied "with his mighty angels, In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ" (II Thessalonians).
The Bible seems to indicate that God designed that each successive generation should live in expectation of the Lord's Second Coming (Matthew 24:42-44).
Resurrection, Final Judgment and Rewards
We believe, according to the Scriptures, that there shall be a resurrection from the dead, both of the just and of the unjust (Acts 24:15) and that God hath appointed a day in which He will judge the world in righteousness, by Jesus Christ whom he hath ordained (Acts 17:31).
The Apostle Paul said, "We must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that everyone may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad" (II Corinthians 5:10).
We sincerely believe, not only a resurrection in Christ from the fallen and sinful state here, but a rising and ascending into glory with Him hereafter; that when He at last appears, we may appear with Him in glory. But that all the wicked, who live in rebellion against the light of His Grace and die finally impenitent, shall come forth to the resurrection of condemnation. And that the soul of every man and woman shall be preserved, in its own distinct and proper being, and shall have its proper body, as God is pleased to give it. It is sown a natural body and it will be raised as a spiritual body (I Corinthians 15:14). The natural body first and afterwards the spirit (which is spiritual).
And though it is said, "this corruptible shall put on incorruption, and this mortal shall put on immortality," (I Corinthians 15:53), the change shall be such as will accord with the declaration that "flesh and blood cannot inherit the Kingdom of God, neither doth corruption inherit incorruption" (I Corinthians 15:50). We shall be raised out of all corruption and corruptibility, out of all mortality, and shall be the children of God, being the children of resurrection (Luke 20:36).
Eternity
We believe that people were created to exist forever. We will either exist eternally separated from God by sin, or eternally with God through forgiveness and salvation. To be eternally separated from God is hell. To be eternally in union with Him is eternal life. Heaven and hell are real places for eternal existence (Matthew 25:31-46, John 3:16, Romans 6:23, 2 Corinthians 5:1-8, 1John 5:11-12, Revelation 20:15)
Observance of the Sabbath
This is one day in seven, which, from creation of the world, God set apart for sacred rest and holy service (Genesis 2:3; Mark 2:27). Under the former dispensation the seventh day of the week, as commemorative of the work of creation, was set apart for the Sabbath (Exodus 20:8- 11). Under the Gospel, the first day of the week, in commemoration of the resurrection of Christ, and by authority of the Apostles, is observed as the Christian Sabbath (Luke 24:1-7; John 20:19; 26; Psalms 118:22-24).
There are Christians who choose to observe the seventh day sabbath and there are Christians who prefer to observe the Sunday Sabbath. That is a choice that every believer must make for themselves according to the dictates of their own conscience. However, regardless of which day that a believer chooses to observe the Sabbath, all Christians should seek to refrain from secular labor on the Sabbath and devote themselves to the service of God (Isaiah 58:13-14).
In these days when the Lord's Day is being desecrated by so many, we as a church feel that it is our duty to take a stand against the practice of buying and selling unnecessarily on the Sabbath. We believe that it is proper to perform only deeds of mercy and acts of necessity on the Lord's Day.
Marriage and Divorce
Marriage is a solemn binding, unconditional covenant, a covenant between man, woman and God. As a religious body of believers that believes in the literal interpretation of the Scriptures and seeks to exemplify a godly lifestyle, we are decidedly opposed to sexual immoralities and perversions of any and all kinds, to include, but not to be limited to, homosexuality, adultery, or perverse sexuality of any nature. We believe the only Biblically approved sexuality is within the confines of a monogamous heterosexual marital relationship.
The marriage covenant has four aspects:
(1) Love
(2) Living together in a single household (Genesis 2:24).
(3) Faithfulness, to the marriage bed (Hebrews 13:4)
(4) Provision for the wife by the husband (Genesis 3:16).
The marriage union is constituted:
(1) When there is mutual affinity
(2) Public consent
(3) When there is a covenant agreement publicly expressed in ceremonial vows
(4) When there is physical union, which consummates the covenant.
The essence of all this is love.
Divorce must be viewed against the background of what is taught in the Bible about marriage. God ordained marriage as a basic human relationship (Genesis 1:27). The relationship is social as well as physical (Genesis 2:18) and one of privilege as well as responsibility (Genesis 2:23). God intended marriage to be a life-long relationship (Genesis 2:24). Jesus recognized that God's ideal in marriage is monogamy (Matthew 19:8).
With a Biblical understanding of marriage, we can understand divorce. God hates divorce (Malachi 2:14-16). The law restricts divorce. The law permitted it, but did not command it. A divorce initiative is permitted a Christian by Jesus when the spouse is guilty of fornication; i.e., habitual sexual immorality (Matthew 5:32; 19:9). Paul permits divorce when there is irreconcilable desertion (I Corinthians 7:10-15).
Where Scripture permits divorce, it presupposes the right to remarry (Deuteronomy 24:1-4; Matthew 5:32; 19:9; Mark 10:11 and Luke 16:18). Jesus forbids remarriage for the guilty party if fornication is involved (Matthew 5:32; 19:9). However, Jesus recognized the divorced could be expected to remarry. The basic purpose in what Jesus says is to prevent divorce in the first place. Persons divorced on Biblical grounds and remarrying commits no sin. Divorce dissolves the first marriage even for the guilty party, so remarriage does not cause the divorced to have two wives - adultery is not a state, but an act.
We believe that divorce for reasons of neglect, abandonment or domestic violence / abuse of any type that poses a danger to anyone in the home is permitted (1 Corinthians 7:15; 1 Corinthians 5:9-13; 2 Corinthians 6:14).
Membership in the Church of New Life in Christ is open to all born-again believers, whatever their marital situation may be.
The Lord's Supper
This is a commemoration of the death of Christ for our sins, in the use of bread, which He made the emblem of His broken body; and the cup, the emblem of His shed blood (I Corinthians 11:23-26; Matthew 26:26-28). And by it, the believer expresses his love for Christ, his faith and hope in Him, and pledges to Him perpetual fidelity (I Corinthians 10:16). It is the privilege and duty of all who have spiritual union with Christ thus to commemorate His death and no man has a right to forbid these tokens to the least of His disciples. (I Corinthians 10:17; Matthew 26:27; Romans 14:1, 10; I Corinthians 12:12-27)
The Bible does not teach how often this ordinance should be observed. It only says, "do this, as oft as ye shall drink it, in remembrance of Me." However, we believe that it should be observed as often as possible.
Moderation
We believe that moderation should be practiced in everything touching the welfare of one's life. Members should not overindulge in eating and drinking. They should avoid immodest styles and fashions of the world. We should heed the Apostles admonition to "abstain from all appearance of evil". We should not indulge in anything that is inconsistent with the teachings of the Holy Scriptures and morally wrong. We should be temperate in all things that are permissible.
Tithing
We believe that all Christians ought to give free-will tithes and offerings for the support of His cause, and that the tithe should be given directly into the church for the support of the work of the Lord. The Old Testament teaches tithing, and Jesus set His approval on the practice (Matthew 23:23) , and according to His promise, He will pour upon us abundant blessings. For other Scriptures on tithing, see Genesis 28:22; Leviticus 27:30; Malachi 3:8-10.
Feet Washing
This is a sacred ordinance of humility, instituted by our Lord Jesus Christ and enjoined upon His Disciples as a duty to be observed by them. In this He set the example (John 13:1-17).
