Beliefs, Tenets & Principles

Lille City Church

Beliefs, Tenets & Principles

As enshrined in the Constitution of The Church of Pentecost (2016)

1THE BIBLE

We believe in the divine inspiration and authority of the Holy Scriptures. That the Bible is infallible in its declaration, final in its authority, comprehensive and all-sufficient in its provisions (2 Tim. 3:16, 17; 2 Pet. 1:20, 21).

2THE ONE TRUE GOD

We believe in the existence of the One True God, Elohim, maker of the whole universe; indefinable but revealed as Triune God – the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit (Gen. 1:1; Gen. 1:26; Mt. 3:16, 17; 28:19; 2 Cor. 13:14); one in nature, essence and attributes – omnipotent (Dt. 6:4; Job 42:2; Isa. 46:9, 10; Rev. 19:6); omnipresent (Ps. 139:7-12; 147:5); omniscient (Job 42:2; Isa. 46:9, 10; Ac. 5:4, 5); etc.

3MAN’S DEPRAVED NATURE

We believe that “all men have sinned and come short of the glory of God” (Gen. 3:1-19; Isa. 53:6; Rom. 3:23), and are subject to eternal punishment (Mt. 13:41, 42; Rom. 6:23), and need Repentance (Ac. 2:38; Mt. 4:17; Ac. 20:21) and Regeneration (Jn. 3:3, 5; Tit. 3:5).

4THE SAVIOUR

We believe man’s need of a Saviour has been met in the person of Jesus Christ (Mt. 1:21; Jn. 4:42; Ac. 2:36; Eph. 5:23; Php. 2:6-11), because of His Deity (Isa. 9:6; Jn. 1:1; 20:28; Rom. 9:5; Tit. 2:13, 14), Virgin Birth (Isa. 7:14; Mt. 1:18; Lk. 1:25-26), Sinless Life (Jn. 8:46; Heb. 4:15; 2 Cor. 5:21), Atoning death (Rom. 3:25; Heb. 9:22; 1 Jn. 2:2), Resurrection (Mt. 28:5-7; Ac. 2:24; Ac. 2:36; 10:39, 40; 1 Cor. 15:3, 4) and Ascension (Ac. 1:9-11; 2:33-36), His Abiding Intercession (Rom. 8:34; Heb. 7:25) and His second coming to judge the living and the dead (Ac. 1:11; 10:42; 1 Th. 4:16-18; 2 Tim. 4:1; Rev. 22:12, 20).

5REPENTANCE, JUSTIFICATION AND SANCTIFICATION

We believe all men have to repent and confess their sins before God (Lk. 15:7; Ac. 2:38; 3:19; 17:30), and believe in the vicarious death of Jesus Christ before they can be justified before God (Rom. 4:25; 5:1). We believe in the sanctification of the believer through the working of the Holy Spirit (1 Cor. 1:30; 6:11) and God’s gift of eternal life to the believer (Jn. 17:2, 3; 10:27, 28; Rom. 6:23b; 1 Jn. 5:11-13).

6THE SACRAMENTS OF BAPTISM AND THE LORD’S SUPPER

We believe in the sacrament of Baptism by immersion as a testimony of a convert who has attained a responsible age of 13 years (Mt. 3:16; Mt. 28:19; Mk. 1:9, 10; 16:16; Ac. 2:38). Infants and children are not baptized, but are dedicated to the Lord (Mk. 10:13-16; Lk. 2:22-24, 34). We believe in the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper or Holy Communion, which should be partaken by all members who are in full fellowship (Lk. 22:19, 20; Ac. 20:7; 1 Cor. 11:23-33).

7BAPTISM, 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; Ac. 2:3, 4, 38, 39; 10:44-46; 19:16), and in the operation of the gifts and fruit of the Holy Spirit (Rom. 12:6-8; Gal. 5:22, 23 and 1 Cor. 12:8-11; 28-30).

8DIVINE HEALING

We believe that the healing of sicknesses and diseases is provided for God’s people in the atonement (Isa. 53:4, 5; Mt. 8:17-13; 16, 17; Mk. 16:17, 18; Lk. 13:10-16; Ac. 10:38; Jas. 5:14-16). However, the Church is not opposed to medication by qualified medical practitioners.

9TITHES AND OFFERINGS

We believe in tithing and in the giving of freewill offerings towards the cause of carrying forward the Kingdom of God. We believe that God blesses a cheerful giver (Gen. 14:18-20; Mal. 3:6-10; Mt. 23:23; Ac. 20:35; Heb. 7:1-4; 1 Cor. 16:1, 2; 2 Cor. 9:1-9).

10THE 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 (Dan. 12:2; Mk. 13:26; Jn. 5:28, 29; Ac. 1:11; 10:42; Rom. 2:7-11; 6:23).

11MARRIAGE AND FAMILY LIFE

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 honourable procreation of children, and their training in love, obedience to the Lord and responsible citizenship (Gen. 2:18, 21-25; Mt. 19:4-6; 1 Cor. 7:1-2).