Pentecostals came out of the Evangelicals; thus, our theology is similar to theirs. However, there are a few significant divergent views, especially when it comes to the gifts of the Spirit and healing. Over the years, The Church of Pentecost, coming from the Apostolic Church has held on to the beliefs of the Pentecostal churches, which began in the early twentieth century, often referred to as classical Pentecostals. However, there are also some minor differences among these Pentecostal churches. As new churches are established, almost daily, and new doctrines keep emerging, it is not uncommon for old churches to lose or adulterate their core doctrines.
The Church of Pentecost deems our tenets or beliefs as one of the most critical aspects of our worship because it forms the basics of the Christian doctrine. Once you get it right, you will be able to grow in the Christian faith.
For this reason, the founding fathers and other leaders of the church have prayerfully and thoughtfully selected 11 doctrinal beliefs of The Church of Pentecost with accompanying Scriptures to facilitate study and understanding. These basic doctrines of The Church of Pentecost, which we jealously guard, are as follows:
1. THE BIBLE
We believe in the divine inspiration and authority of the Holy Scriptures. We believe that the Bible is infallible in its declaration, final in its authority, all-sufficient in its provisions and comprehensive in its sufficiency (2Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:21).
2. THE ONE TRUE GOD
We believe in the existence of the One True God, Elohim, Maker of the whole universe; indefinable, but revealed as Triune Godhead; Father, Son and Holy Spirit-One in nature, essence and attributes; Omniscient, Omnipotent and Omnipresent (Genesis 1:1; Mathew 3:16-17; 28:19; 2 Corinthians 13:14).
3. THE DEPRAVED NATURE OF HUMANITY
We believe that “all have sinned and come short of the glory of God” (Genesis 3:1-19; Isaiah 53:6; Romans 3:23), and are subject to eternal punishment (Matthew 13:41, 42; Romans 6:23), and need Repentance (Acts 2:38; Matthew 4:17; Acts 20:21) and Regeneration (John 3:3, 5; Titus 3:5).
4. THE SAVIOUR
We believe humanity’s need of a Saviour has been met in the person of Jesus Christ (Matthew 1:21; John 4:42; Acts 2:36; Ephesians 5:23; Philippians 2:6-11), because of His Deity (Isaiah 9:6, John 1:1; John 20:28; Romans 9:5; Titus 2:13-14), Virgin Birth (Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:18; Luke 1:25-26), Atoning death (Romans 3:25; Hebrews 9:22; 1 John 2:2), Resurrection (Matthew 28:5-7; Acts 2:24; Acts 2:36; Acts 10:39-40; 1 Corinthians 15:3-4) and Ascension (Acts 1:9-11; Acts 2:33-36), His Abiding Intercession (Romans 8:34; Hebrews 7:25) and His second coming to judge the living and the dead (Acts 1:11; Acts 10:42; 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18, 2 Timothy 4:1; Revelation 22:12, 20)
5. REPENTANCE, REGENERATION, JUSTIFICATION AND SANCTIFICATION
We believe all humans have to repent and confess their sins before God (Luke 15:7; Acts 2:38; Acts 3:19; Acts 17:30), and believe in the vicarious death of Jesus Christ before they can be justified before God (Romans 4:25; 5:1). We believe in the sanctification of the believer through the working of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 1:30; 6:11) and God’s gift of eternal life to the believer (John 17:2, 3; John 10:27, 28; Romans 6:23b; 1John 5:11-13).
6. THE ORDINANCES OF BAPTISM AND THE LORD’S SUPPER
We believe in the ordinance of Baptism by immersion as a testimony of a convert who has attained a responsible age of 13 years. (Matthew 3:16; Matthew 28:19; Mark 1:9,10; Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38). Infants and children are not baptised but are dedicated to the Lord (Mark 10:13-16; Luke 2:22-24, 34). We believe in the ordinance of the Lord’s Supper or Holy Communion, which should be partaken by all members who are in full fellowship (Luke 22:19, 20; Acts 20:7; 1 Corinthians 11:23-33).
7. BAPTISM, GIFTS AND FRUIT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
We believe in the Baptism of the Holy Spirit for all believers with the initial evidence of speaking in tongues (Joel 2:28, 29; Acts 2:3,4,38,39; Acts 10:44-46; Acts 19:16), and in the operation of the gifts and fruit of the Holy Spirit (Romans 12:6-8; Galatians 5:22,23 and 1 Corinthians 12:8-11; 28-30).
8. DIVINE HEALING
We believe that the healing of sicknesses and diseases is provided for God’s people in the atonement (Isaiah 53:4,5; Matthew 8:7-13; 16,17; Mark 16:17,18; Luke 13:10-16; Acts 10:38; James 5:14-16). However, the Church is not opposed to medication by qualified medical practitioners.
9. TITHES AND OFFERING
We believe in tithing and in the giving of freewill offerings towards the furtherance of the cause of the Kingdom of God. We believe that God blesses a cheerful giver (Genesis 14:18-20; Malachi 3:6-10; Matthew 23:23; Acts 20:35; Hebrews 7:1-4; I Corinthians 16:1, 2; 2 Corinthians 9:1-9).
10. THE SECOND COMING AND THE NEXT LIFE
We believe in the second coming of Christ and the resurrection of the dead, both the saved and the unsaved. They that are saved to the resurrection of life and the unsaved to the resurrection of damnation (Daniel 12:2; Mark 13:26; John 5:28, 29; Acts 1:11; Acts 10:42; Romans 2:7-11; Romans 6:23).
11. MARRIAGE AND FAMILY
We believe in the institution of marriage as a union established and ordained by God for the lifelong, intimate relationship between a man as husband and a woman as wife as biologically defined at birth. We believe that God instituted marriage primarily for mutual help, fellowship and comfort that one ought to have for the other and for the honourable procreation of children, and their training in love, obedience to the Lord and responsible citizenship. (Genesis 2:18, Genesis 21-25; Matthew 19:4-6; 1 Corinthians 7:1-2).
