What we believe
Here are some of the basic beliefs that we stand for and teach in our church:
Christian Baptism
Many who confess Jesus Christ today as their Saviour and Lord have not been baptized in water at all, supposing that fulfilling this scripture is not required of them in today’s world. Unfortunately this is not true as we see Jesus Christ himself was baptized even when the prophet John the Baptist was objecting to this. Jesus answered him saying It becometh us to fulfill all righteousness. In Matthew 3: 13-17, Jesus Christ himself was baptized as our perfect example. Water baptism has been a part of the Christian Church since John the Baptist came to forerun the first coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
It is quite clear from the Scriptures that baptism is part of the great commission given to the disciples of Jesus Christ. In Mark 16:15-16 the Scripture says "And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned".
Matthew 28:19 says "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit." What is the NAME of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit? Many have been baptized in a denominational church, by sprinkling or immersion according to Matthew 28:19, and yet they do not know that NAME. Others may be considering baptism in water and therefore should know that NAME before they are baptized.
We can see in the Bible how the disciples of Jesus obeyed this great commission as they began to preach Christ to the world. Soon after receiving the Holy Spirit we see how the subject of salvation through faith and believing in Jesus Christ was presented to the listeners. In Acts 2:38 "Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit". We can also see that in Acts 8:16 “… they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus”. In Acts 8:36-38, Philip also baptized the Ethiopian eunuch after he confessed that he believed in Jesus Christ being the Son of God. Acts 10:47-48 Peter answered the brethren “Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we? And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Not only this, but we read in Acts 19 we read of an account where people were rebaptized by Paul having been previously baptized unto repentance by John so that they could receive the Holy Ghost.
Does God Still Use Prophets?
In Malachi 4:5-6, where it talks of the end of the world, God said, “Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD: And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.”
Now, Jesus said John the Baptist was Elijah in Matthew 11:7-14, “For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John. And if ye will receive it, this is Elias, which was for to come.” But now turn to (John 1:19-21): “And this is the record of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, Who art thou? And he confessed, and denied not; but confessed, I am not the Christ. And they asked him, what then? Art thou Elias? And he saith, I am not. Art thou that prophet? And he answered, No.” That’s odd. Jesus said John was Elijah, and John said he wasn’t
Although Jesus had told His disciples plainly that John the Baptist was Elijah (Matthew 11:14), sometime later (Matthew 17) they were still confused. “And his disciples asked him, saying, Why then say the scribes that Elias must first come? And Jesus answered and said unto them, Elias truly shall first come, and restore all things. But I say unto you, That Elias is come already, and they knew him not, but have done unto him whatsoever they listed. Likewise shall also the Son of man suffer of them. Then the disciples understood that he spake unto them of John the Baptist." (Matthew 17:10-13)
We believe that this promise of Elijah coming again was fulfilled in the life of William Marrion Branham (1909 - 1965). You can listen to all his recorded sermons online. We have prepared a tract where you can read more about the Scriptural background of the promise.
Read more...