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THE ONE TRUE GOD             We believe in the one ever-living, eternal God: infinite in power, holy in nature, attributes and purpose; and possessing absolute, indivisible deity. This one true God has revealed Himself as Father; through His Son, in redemption; and as the Holy Spirit, by emanation (I Corinthians 8:6; Ephesians 4:6; II Corinthians 5:19; Joel 2:28). The Scripture does more than attempt to prove the existence of God; it asserts, assumes and declares that the knowledge of God is universal (Romans 1:19,21,28, 32; 2:15). God is invisible, incorporeal, without parts, without body, and therefore free from all limitations. He is Spirit (John 4:24), and "a spirit hath not flesh and bones"(Luke 24:39). "The first of all the commandments is, Hear, 0 Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord" (Mark 12:29; Deuteronomy 6:4). "One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all" (Ephesians 4:6). Before the incarnation, this one true God manifested Himself in divers ways. In the incarnation, He manifests Himself in the Son, who walked among men. As He works in the lives of believers, He manifests Himself as the Holy Spirit.

THE NAME             God used different titles, such as "God Elohim," "God Almighty," "El Shaddai," "Jehovah," and especially "Jehovah Lord," the redemptive name in the Old Testament. "Unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: . . . and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace" (Isaiah 9:6). This prophecy of Isaiah was fulfilled when the Son of God was named. "And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call His name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins" (Matthew 1:21). "Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved" (Acts 4 :12).

REPENTANCE           Pardon and forgiveness of sins is obtained by genuine repentance, a confessing and forsaking of sins. We are justified by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ (Romans 5:1). John the Baptist preached repentance, Jesus proclaimed it, and the apostles emphasized it to both Jews and Gentiles (Acts 2:38, 11:18, 17:30). The word "repentance" means a change of views and purpose, change of heart, change of mind, change of life, transformation, etc. Jesus said, "Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish" (Luke 13:3).  Luke 24:47 says, "And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem."

WATER BAPTISM             The scriptural mode of baptism is immersion, and is only for those who have fully repented, having turned from their sins and a love of the world. It should be administered by a duly authorized minister of the gospel, in obedience to the Word of God, and in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, according to the Acts of the Apostles 2:38, 8:16, 10:48, 19:5; thus obeying and fulfilling Matthew 28:19.

THE BAPTISM OF THE HOLY SPIRIT             John the Baptist, in Matthew 3:11, said, "He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire." Jesus, in Acts 1:5, said, "Ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence." Luke tells us in Acts 2:4, "They were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues [languages], as the Spirit gave them utterance." The terms "baptize with the Holy Ghost and fire," "filled with the Holy Spirit," and the "gift of the Holy Ghost" are synonymous terms used interchangeably in the Bible. It is scriptural to expect all who receive the gift, filling, or baptism of the Holy Spirit to receive the same physical, initial sign of speaking with other tongues. The speaking with other tongues, as recorded in Acts 2:4, 10:46, and 19:6, and the gift of tongues, as explained in I Corinthians, chapters 12 and 14, are the same in essence, but different in use and purpose. The Lord, through the Prophet Joel, said, "I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh"(Joel 2:28). Peter, in explaining this phenomenal experience, said, "Having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he [Jesus] hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear" (Acts 2:33). Further, "the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call" (Acts 2:39)