We believe that the Bible is the means of written communication from God to man. It gives the will, plan, and purpose for the human family the words written were inspired by Him. Therefore we must act and live according to what has been laid down in the Holy Scriptures. From this we have obtained the basis of our doctrine and beliefs.
And they continued steadfast in the apostle’s doctrine….
The Holy Bible
The Holy Bible is the word of God. It records the creation of the world and explains where the earth and humans came from (Genesis 1:1 & 27). Man (the human race) was created in the image and likeness of God to obey Him and keep his commandments, according to the outline of the scriptures (Ecclesiastes 12:13, 2 Timothy 3:16).
Sin
The first time man disobeyed God was in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 2:17 – “the day you eatest thereof thou shalt surely die”). From the sin of Adam the whole world has been guilty of sin until now (Romans 3:23). But as we have become accustom to death, the loss of natural life there is a greater death to take note of and that it the eternal damnation which is the true penalty of sin (Romans 6:23).
Apostles' Doctrine
God throughout the ages has spoken to his people in general through mouthpieces known as prophets (Hebrews 1:1). They would relay and enforce the plans and actions of God regardless of how the people felt. The prophets’ objective was to please God not man. Jesus Christ came to redeem the whole world and not just a nation. Therefore He instructed the Apostles in all things concerning his laws, the people, and conduct. Our doctrine, which is that of the Apostles, reflects this experience. "And they continued steadfastly in the Apostles' Doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayer" (Acts 2:42).
God's Standard of Salvation
Since the fall of man God has had a plan of deliverance for the human family. It is because of his plan that we earnestly contend for the faith. Throughout the scriptures God has given the people a clear and precise path to follow. This is still demanded from God today if we are to receive true Salvation. For to just have a bit of Christ in our life now and still hear “Depart from me” (St Matthew 7:21-23) is not true salvation.
The act of salvation must be done inline with the method stated in the scriptures. This must be obtained through the blood of our Lord Jesus Christ. He became the sacrifice to redeem man from sin. His blood has removed all sin. Therefore we must repent, be baptised and receive the Holy Ghost and walk in the statutes of God: St. Mark 16:15-17; Acts 1:18; 9:17-18; 10:44-48; 19:1-6, l Peter 1:15-16.
Baptism
There has been much controversy about baptising in the name of Jesus Christ. People talk and dispute against baptizing in the name. They say and do many things contrary to that name, not having had an explanation given them why we baptize in the name of Jesus Christ only, and not in the formula Father, Son and Holy Ghost, as is commonly done by other ministers throughout the religious world. We propose in this section to show, three reasons, why we baptize in the name of Jesus Christ.
1st Reason – This is what the apostles did. Acts 2:38; Acts 19:1-6. Jesus Christ taught and instructed His apostles. Therefore the apostles’ teachings and doctrines are the fundamental principles upon which the church is built. Jesus in the days of his flesh taught His disciples the plan of salvation, opening their understanding and making them to know the mysteries of the Kingdom. In Luke 24:46-47 Jesus Christ said to his disciples, “Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day. And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached IN HIS NAME among all nations beginning at Jerusalem.” Thus the apostles, in obedience to the command of Jesus, became the originators of baptizing in the name of Jesus Christ. Baptizing in the name of Jesus Christ is obeying the Word of God. When we search the scriptures we will see that no one was physically baptised in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost. The apostles administered baptism in the name of Jesus Christ only.
2nd Reason – We do not believe that the three commissions contradict each other, Matthew 28:19; Luke 24:45-48; Mark 16:15-19. We hold that there is no discrepancy in God’s word, therefore we believe that the three commissions all mean the same thing and all meet their fulfilment in Acts 2:38 where Peter said “Repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins”.
3rd Reason – To put on Christ we must be baptized in his death and burial Romans 6:3-6; John 3:5. We identified ourselves with Christ in His death (conversion), burial (baptism of water) and resurrection (baptism of the Holy Ghost). Romans 6:3-6 reads, “Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection”. The mode of sprinkling people for baptism was never the practice of the apostles and has no foundation in the Holy Scriptures. Jesus said, “Except a man be born of water and of spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God” John 3:5. Now to be born of things you must first be conceived, and that which is conceived is covered or hidden. Then to be born of water one must be conceived of water which cannot be unless one is immersed and then born from.