THE CHRISTIAN EXPERIENCE

ASSURANCE Assurance of salvation is the privilege of all who are born again by the Spirit through faith in Christ, resulting in love, gratitude and obedience toward God. (John 10:27-29; Rom. 8:35-39)


SANCTIFICATION Sanctification is dedication to God and separation from evil. In experience it is both instantaneous and progressive. It is produced in the life of the believer by his appropriation of the power of Christ's blood and risen life through the Person of the Holy Spirit. He draws the believer's attention to Christ, teaches him through the Word and produces the character of Christ within him. Believers who sin must repent and seek forgiveness through faith in the cleansing blood of Jesus Christ. (2 Cor. 6:14; 7:1; John 17:17,19; Heb. 10:10,14; 1 Thess. 5:23; 2 Tim. 2:19-22; 1 Pet. 1:14-16; Rom. 6:11,13,14,18; 1 Cor. 13; Gal. 5:22,23; 2 Pet. 1:3-4; 1 John 1:9; 2:1-2)


BAPTISM IN THE HOLY SPIRIT The baptism in the Holy Spirit is an experience in which the believer yields control of himself to the Holy Spirit. Through this he comes to know Christ in a more intimate way, and receives power to witness and grow spiritually. Believers should earnestly seek the baptism in the Holy Spirit according to the command of our Lord Jesus Christ. The initial evidence of the baptism in the Holy Spirit is speaking in other tongues as the Spirit gives utterance. This experience is distinct from, and subsequent to, the experience of the new birth. (Matt. 3:11; Acts 1:5; Eph. 5:18; John 16:13-15; 2 Cor. 3:18; Acts 1:8; Luke 24:49; Acts 1:4,8; 2 Cor. 3:18; Acts 1:8; Acts 8:12-17; 10:44-46)


THE GIFTS OF THE SPIRIT The gifts of the Spirit are supernatural abilities given by God through the exercising of which believers are enabled to minister effectively and directly in particular situations. They serve the dual function of building up the Church, and of demonstrating the presence of God within His Church. (1 Cor. 12:4-11; 1 Cor. 12:7; 14:12,24-25)


DIVINE HEALING Divine healing provided in the atonement of Christ is the privilege of all believers. Prayer for the sick and gifts of healing are encouraged and practised. (Matt. 8:16,17; 1 Cor. 12:28-30; James 5:14)

THE CHURCH

All who are born again believers in Christ Jesus are members of the church universally, which is the Body and Bride of Christ. (1 Cor. 12:13; Eph. 5:25b; Col. 1:18; 1 Tim. 3:15)


THE LOCAL CHURCH

PURPOSE The local church is a body of believers in Christ who have joined together to function as a part of the universal church. The local church is ordained by God and provides a context in which believers corporately worship God, observe the ordinances of the church, are instructed in the faith and are equipped for the evangelization of the world. (Acts 14:23; 1 Cor. 16:19; John 4:23; Acts 20:7; Acts 1:8; 11:19-24; 2 Tim. 2:2; 1 Pet. 5:2)


ORDINANCES

THE LORD'S SUPPER The Lord's Supper is a symbol, memorial and proclamation of the suffering and death of our Lord Jesus Christ. This ordinance of communion is to be participated in by believers until Christ's return. (Matt. 26:26-28; 1 Cor. 10:16-17; 11:23-26)


WATER BAPTISM

Water baptism signifies the believer's identification with Christ in His death, burial and resurrection and is practised by immersion. (Matt. 28:19; Mark 16:15-16; Acts 2:38, 41; 8:36-39; Rom. 6:3-5)


MINISTRY

A divinely called and ordained ministry is the provision of the Lord to give leadership to the church as it fulfils its purposes. (Acts 6:2b-4c; 13:2-4a; 14:23; Eph. 4:8,11-13)


TITHING

Tithing was divinely instituted by God under the old covenant and was compulsory upon the people who worshiped God. Under the new covenant we are not bound by arbitrary laws; but the principles of right and wrong, as expressed by the law, are fulfilled in the believer's life through grace. Grace should produce as much as, or more than, law demanded. Regular systematic giving is clearly taught in the New Testament. It is known as the grace of giving. The gauge or rule of this systematic giving is defined in the Old Testament, known as the law of tithing. All Christians should conscientiously and systematically tithe their income to God. (Lev. 27:30-32; Mal. 3:10; 2 Cor. 9:6-15)