We believe in one God, eternally existing and infinite, the Sovereign of the universe. He alone is God, Creator and Sustainer, Holy in nature, attributes, and purposes. As God, He is Triune in His essential being, revealed as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
We believe in Jesus Christ, the Second Person of the Divine Trinity; that He is eternally one with the Father; that He became incarnate by the work of the Holy Spirit and was born of the Virgin Mary, so that two whole and perfect natures, Deity and humanity, were united in one Person—true God and true man, the God-Man. We believe that Jesus Christ died for our sins, truly rose from the dead, took again His body with all that belongs to the perfection of human nature, and ascended into heaven, from where He intercedes for us.
We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Third Person of the Divine Trinity, who is always present and actively working in and with the Church of Christ, convicting the world of sin, regenerating those who repent and believe, sanctifying believers, and guiding into all truth according to Jesus Christ.
We believe in the full inspiration of the Holy Scriptures, meaning the sixty-six books of the Old and New Testaments, given by divine inspiration, infallibly revealing God’s will concerning us in all things necessary for our salvation; therefore, nothing not contained in them should be imposed as an Article of Faith.
We believe that original sin, or depravity, is the corruption of the nature of all Adam’s descendants, by which every human being is far removed from original righteousness and the state of purity of our first parents at creation; that humanity is opposed to God, spiritually lifeless, inclined continually toward evil; and that this depravity continues even in the new life of man until washed by the blood of our Lord Jesus Christ.
We believe that Jesus Christ, through His sufferings, by shedding His precious blood and by His meritorious death on the cross, made full propitiation. This propitiation is the only basis of salvation and is sufficient for every individual of Adam’s race. It is graciously effective for the salvation of those who are irresponsible and for children in their innocence, but for those who reach the age of responsibility, it is effective only when they repent and believe.
We believe that repentance, a sincere and complete change of mind regarding sin, with personal guilt recognized and voluntary separation from sin, is required of all who have become sinners against God. God’s Spirit grants all who will repent the gracious help of heartfelt contrition and hope of mercy, so they may believe in forgiveness and attain spiritual life.
We believe that justification is God’s gracious and judicial act by which He grants full pardon of all guilt, complete remission of the penalty of sins committed, and acceptance as righteous of those who by faith receive Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.
Sanctification is the act of separation from evil and dedication to God (Rom. 12:1–2; 1 Thess. 5:23; Heb. 13:12). Scripture teaches holiness of life without which “no one will see the Lord” (Heb. 12:14). By the power of the Holy Spirit, we are enabled to obey the command: “Be holy, for I am holy” (1 Pet. 1:15–16). Sanctification is accomplished in the believer through identification with Christ in His death and resurrection, daily trust in that union, and continual surrender of all faculties to the Holy Spirit’s dominion (Rom. 6:1–11; Gal. 2:20; Phil. 2:12–13).
BAPTISM IN WATER
The ordinance of baptism by immersion is commanded in Scripture. All who repent and believe in Christ as Savior and Lord must be baptized. Biblical baptism is performed in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit as testimony of the new birth and of having died and risen with Christ (Matt. 28:19; Acts 10:47–48; Rom. 6:4).
THE HOLY COMMUNION
The Lord’s Supper, consisting of bread and the fruit of the vine, symbolizes our participation in Christ’s divine nature and is a prophecy of His Second Coming (1 Cor. 11:26). It is for all believers “until He comes.” Since baptism testifies of new birth and the Lord’s Supper of Christian growth, only believers baptized by immersion may partake.
All believers are entitled to and should ardently expect and earnestly seek the promise of the Father, the baptism in the Holy Spirit and fire, according to the command of our Lord Jesus Christ. This was the normal experience of all in the early Christian Church. With it comes the enduement of power for life and service, the bestowment of the gifts and their uses in the work of the ministry.
This experience is distinct from and subsequent to the experience of the new birth.
With the baptism in the Holy Spirit come such experiences as:
The Church is the Body of Christ, God’s dwelling through the Spirit, appointed to fulfill the Great Commission. Every believer born of the Spirit is part of the General Assembly and Church of the Firstborn whose names are written in heaven (Eph. 1:22–23). The Assembly of Christian Churches, Inc. exists as part of the Church to:
The Assembly of Christian Churches, Inc. exists to emphasize the apostolic New Testament teaching that believers should be baptized in the Holy Spirit. This experience:
We believe in the biblical doctrine of divine healing and encourage prayer of faith for the sick. Divine healing is an integral part of the gospel, provided through Christ’s atoning sacrifice (Isa. 53:4; James 5:14–16). Physicians and providential agencies should not be refused when necessary.
The resurrection of those who sleep in Christ and their rapture together with those who remain alive until the Lord’s coming is the imminent and blessed hope of the Church (1 Cor. 15:51–52). The Second Coming includes the rapture of the saints, followed by Christ’s visible return with His saints to reign on earth for a thousand years (Zech. 14:5; Rev. 19–20). The millennial kingdom will bring Israel’s salvation as a nation and establish universal peace. A final judgment will occur, and all whose names are not found in the Book of Life will be cast into the lake of fire, the second death. According to His promises, we look for new heavens and a new earth where righteousness dwells (2 Pet. 3:13; Rev. 21–22).