About the First Church of God
Celebrate Unity
Common Values/Core Beliefs
Disciple Believers
HOW TO BECOME A CHRISTIAN
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Live Out the Love of Christ
Worship the Lord
The Church of God exists to ...
1. Preach, teach, and practice the oneness of the Body of Christ
2. Celebrate the unity and diversity of the Body of Christ
3. Embrace ethnic diversity and unity in practical and visible forms
4. Seek out dialogue and partnerships among congregations, agencies,
para-church organizations, and other church bodies to multiply the effectiveness
of the Church
"We have one Savior and He has one church and He has given us one commission."
The Church of God movement holds the firm conviction that the Bible is the inspired Word
of God. In this context we accept all that is central and enduring in the faith of historic,
orthodox Christianity as these essentials often have been stated in widely accepted faith
affirmation.
In declaring our present understandings of Christian faith, experience, discipline, and
fellowship, we gratefully acknowledge our particular indebtedness at many points to the
Protestant Reformation, to the Anabaptist free-church tradition, to the Puritan-Pietist
movements, to Arminian-Wesleyan evangelicalism, and to the Holiness movement in the
United States.
The Church of God believes in a cluster of biblical teachings which form a vision of the
church. Specifically:
1. God’s church is the community of redeemed persons.
2. God’s church is a community of divine-human partnership with Christ as Head.
3. God’s church is a holy community.
4. God’s church is intended to be a unified community.
The Church of God believes that God calls his people to mission. All Christians are
mandated to bear witness to God’s saving activity in Jesus Christ and to "make disciples
of all nations.
The Church of God believes in the principle of openness to all affirmations of the Christian
faith which are expressions of the biblical revelation. The intended unity among Christians
is not based on the achievement of full agreement on all theological questions. Rather, it is
based on a common membership in the church through the grace of God and is anchored
by a common commitment to the centrality of Christ and the authority of the Word of God.
The Church of God exists to ...
1. Preach, teach, and practice biblical holiness
2. Provide continuing discipleship opportunities for believers of all ages
3. Develop small groups and small group leaders with a focus on discipleship
4. Provide discipleship materials to guide believers into Christian maturity
5. Prepare young people for a life of faith and service through Church of God colleges
6. Provide periodicals, curriculum, and other materials that challenge believers to
Christian growth and biblical holiness
7. Develop discipling programs in the local church
8. Sponsor conferences and workshops that provide spiritual enrichment and in-depth
Bible study
"Discipleship is the fulfillment of the great commission -- making disciples."
THE DECISION TO BELIEVE AND BEGIN
The content and guidelines of the Christian faith are given in the Bible. The faith, however, is
more than knowing what the Bible says and systematically living out its dictums. The faith is
also experience. A Christian not only knows Jesus’ teachings, for instance, but has by a
decision of the will permitted the risen Christ to live in his or her life.
HOW CAN A PERSON JOIN THE CHURCH OF GOD?
If you are not a Christian (that is, not saved, not born anew, not a disciple of Jesus Christ),
then you will want to confess your sins in prayer, ask God to forgive your sinful way of
living, and invite Jesus Christ to come into your life as Savior and Lord. You may be able to
do this alone, but many persons have found that the assistance of a thoughtful and mature
Christian is helpful at this time. (Matthew 11:28.) When you accept Jesus Christ as Savior,
you are born into the church. You are a new creation in Christ (John 3:1-7; 2 Corinthians 5:
17). Through the cross you have become a member.
ORDINANCES ARE RICH EXPERIENCES FOR BELIEVERS
Ordinances are worship and faith disciplines which have specifically been ordained by
Jesus in his instructions to his followers. We believe the ordinances are symbolic of
something that is happening in the believer as a direct act of God’s Spirit. The symbolic act
witnesses to an inner reality. These symbols affirm and remind us of what God has done in
Christ.
Baptism by immersion is a first step for the new believer. The term baptism means to
immerse. Immersion of believers is the only form of baptism that is indicated in the New
Testament. Through baptism the new believer witnesses to a new spiritual dimension in his
or her life. Baptism is also a witness to the church that the new believer is a part of its
fellowship and work and to family and friends that he or she is now an active participant in
the Christian community (Mark 1; Matthew 28; Acts 2:38).
The Lord’s Supper, often called communion, is an affirmation of oneness in Christ. In the
sacramental churches it is often called the Eucharist ("thanksgiving"), a reference to the
thanks offered over the bread and the cup (1 Corinthians 10:16). The Lord’s Supper and
communion are both terms used by Paul in his writings (1 Corinthians 11:20; 1 Corinthians
10:16, KJV). Church of God congregations frequently share the elements of the Lord’s
Supper. Many have communion on the first Sunday of each month (including World
Communion Sunday), on New Year’s Eve, and on Maundy Thursday. The bread and the cup
are symbolic of the grace experienced in the life of the believer.
Foot washing is an ordinance practiced by many churches. It is an act symbolizing the
servant ministry of all Christians to each other and to the world. Usually men assembly in
one room and women in another. In some congregations, young persons assembly
separately so they can be instructed more fully on the meaning and practice of foot
washing. Some congregations now provide opportunity for family groups to participate in
the ordinance of foot washing. Persons wash each other’s feet, sing hymns, and give
personal testimonies of God’s blessing on their lives. Participation is not considered a "test
of faith." Rather, it is a spiritual experience which Christians are encouraged to observe and
join.
The Church of God exists to ...
1. Demonstrate the tangible love of Christ in our communities
2. Nurture, heal, and strengthen families
3. Provide for and enable those who need shelter, food, medicine
4. Care for the "least of these" (children, the poor, the imprisoned,
the physically and mentally ill, the oppressed, etc.)
5. Proclaim and practice prayer for divine healing
6. Seek justice in local, national, and international communities
7. Seek to discover and minister to current needs in our churches and communities
"We believe that Christ’s love compels us to be active in our community and to spread that
love to those we meet."
The Church of God exists to ...
1. Focus on New Testament meanings of corporate and private worship
2. Provide opportunities for persons to worship in varying styles
3. Continue to strive toward renewal in our understanding and practice of worship
4. Prepare clergy and laity of all ages to lead the local church in worship
"Worship is something that we give to God, and so it has to be the very best that we have."