Statement of Faith

God
There is one God, who is infinite, sovereign, eternal, and the creator of everything. He is holy in His attributes and His nature. He is triune in His essential being and is biblically revealed as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever; the Creator of all things, and in whom all things consist. (Deut. 6:4; Heb 11:3)
Jesus Christ
Jesus Christ is very God and very man. He was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He died upon the cross, the Just for the unjust as a complete and final sacrifice, and all who believe in Him are justified on the merit of His shed blood. He is the Supreme Head of the Church. (Matt 3:16-17, Heb 1, Philippians 2)
Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit is a divine person sent to indwell, guide, teach, and empower the believer, and to convince the world of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment. He is the third person of the Holy Trinity, who is now the representative of the Godhead on earth. (John 14:16, 17, 26; 15:26, Acts 1:8)
Trinity
God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit are three persons, united and inseparable, of one substance and eternal. (Matt 28:19; 2 Cor 13:14)
Scripture
We emphatically affirm the divine inspiration of the Holy Scriptures, both Old and New Testaments, infallibly true as originally inspired, constituting our only divinely authorized rule of faith and practice. ( 2 Tim 3:16; 2 Peter 1:21)
Man
Created by God, man willfully sinned and, as a result, is separated relationally from God and without hope. Man’s only recourse is to turn to God through Jesus Christ seeking forgiveness for his sinfulness, asking for mercy and redemption. (Gen 6:5; Psa 14:2, 3; Matt 15:9; Rom 3:9-23)
Salvation
The forgiveness of sins (which are defined as willful acts of disobedience against a known law of God) comes by grace through faith in the shed blood of Jesus Christ. It is offered to all persons of all races. It is impossible to be saved except by faith in the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ. (John 3:16; Rom 6:23; Acts 3:19; John 1:12; Rev 3:20; Eph 2:8-9)
Christian Lifestyle
The Bible clearly outlines the pattern to follow to receive Christ as Lord: To believe in Christ as God’s Son the Savior of the world, to repent of personal sin, to be converted, and to confess Christ publically. To repent means to turn from the lifestyle of sinful living to follow carefully after Jesus according to the instructions found in God’s Word. To be converted means to change allegiance from that of selfish willfulness and rebellion against God to submission and obedience following Jesus Christ. To confess Him means to openly communicate the reality of your relationship with Jesus Christ to people you know. (1 Thess 4:1-12; Eph 5:1-11; Gal 5:22-25)
Entire Sanctification
The Holy Scriptures clearly affirm the necessity of entire sanctification. This work of divine grace was provided as part of the atonement in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. It includes the deliverance from inbred sin (the inherited continuing affects of the original sin), the complete moral purification from this nature of depravity, the complete renewal of the human nature in holiness (an inner inclination toward godliness), empowerment for Christian service, a perfect love for God and a holy love toward mankind. This gracious act of moral purification is accomplished instantaneously for the believer when he confesses the need, consecrates his all, and with faith in God requests the cleansing of his nature. This work of God’s grace takes place subsequent to, the believer’s regeneration, being preceded by a definite conviction of remaining inbred sin. (Luke 1:73-75; John 17:17; 1 Thess 4:3; 5:23-24; Heb 10:14-15)
Eternal Existence
Death seals the eternal destiny of each person. At dead the sentence of judgment begins whether to life eternal with Christ or complete and final damnation in hell. Formal judgment is given when Christ returns. At this time He will pronounce the eternal fate of each individual, both living and dead. The saved will formally be assigned eternal life; the unsaved will formally suffer eternal separation from God. (Dan 7:13-14; Matt 24:30-31; Acts 1:11; 1 Thess 4:15-17; Rev 22:20)
Ordinances
Two ordinances are taught and observed, namely: Water baptism, and the Lord’s Supper.

7 Responses to Statement of Faith

  1. y2kpastor says:

    Jesus ChristJesus Christ is very God and very man. He was conceived by the Holy
    Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He died upon the cross, the Just for
    the unjust as a complete and final sacrifice, and all who believe in
    Him are justified on the merit of His shed blood. He is the Supreme Head
    of the Church.

    Was Christ’s death (dying on the cross) The end (of His Life and/or existence? I see no mention of a RESURRECTION.

  2. David Leonard says:

    What the ordinance of foot washing as clearly outlines at the Lord’s Supper by Chrisy himself?

  3. Jared Scofield says:

    valid point, not sure why there is no mention of the resurrection

  4. Jared Scofield says:

    I can say rather definitively that the COGH is not a Pentecostal church nor do they believe in the speaking of tongues generally. The New Testament teaches that the speaking of tongues can be used but only with interpretation. Not to say that we don’t believe in the action of the Holy Spirit, but it is safe to say COGH lands on the side of not over-spiritualizing or emotionalizing worship.

  5. Jared Scofield says:

    Some denominations practice this as a definite ordinance because Jesus did set the example. While COGH certainly isn’t against the practice, foot washing was more of a (at the time) culturally relevant lesson in humility toward those around you. A better example today might be shining shoes (although even that is becoming outdated).

  6. y2kpastor says:

    Do you think it might be because Mankind (in general) really do not want to believe that He is still very much in existence and do not want to admit to His influence upon our social (Order and) being?

  7. FayFaith says:

    Yes, if I’m not mistaken they do believe in the Resurrection, it just wasn’t mentioned. Yes, We can still wash the feet of another and yes you can speak in tongues, but you are to have someone there for interpretation. I am not of this denomination, though I have attended the church many times.

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