The Statement of Faith of the International Pentecostal Church of Christ
The Bible is the revealed Word of God to man: The New Testament is our sole rule for discipline and government (II Timothy 3:15-17; II Peter 1:21)
2. The One True God
The triune Godhead consist of one true God the Father, Jesus Christ His Son, and the Holy Ghost
the third person of the Godhead (John 10:36; 14:26; 20:21-22).
3. Lord Jesus Christ
We believe in the deity of our Lord Jesus Christ, in His virgin birth, in His sinless life, in His
miracles, in His vicarious and atoning death through His shed blood, in His bodily resurrection,
in His ascension to the right hand of the Father, and in His personal returning in power and glory
(Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:18,23; Luke 1:34,35).
4. Special Creation
We believe the triune God created the universe apart from pre-existing materials and without any
evolutionary process. We believe in the historicity of the first eleven chapters of Genesis
(Genesis 1:1; Nehemiah 9:6; Psalms 102:25; Acts 14:15).
5. Satan
We believe that Satan was originally created a perfect being. He rebelled against God. As a
result he became depraved, the devil and adversary of God and His people, the leader of a host of
angels who fell with him. Satan has been judged and defeated at the cross and awaits his
ultimate doom at the conclusion of the Millennial Reign which takes place after the Second
Advent of Jesus Christ (Ephesians 2:2; I Thessalonians 3:5; I Peter 5:8; Revelation 12:9; 20:1-3,
7-10).
6. The Fall of Man
Man was created good and upright; for God said, "Let us make man in our image, after our
likeness!" However, man by voluntary transgression fell and thereby incurred not only physical
death but also spiritual death, which is separation from God (Genesis 1:26,27; 2:17; 3:6; Romans
5:12-19).
7. The Salvation of Man
Man's only hope of redemption is through the shed blood of Jesus Christ the Son of God.
a. Conditions to Salvation. Salvation is received through repentance toward God and faith toward the Lord Jesus Christ. By the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost, being justified by grace through faith, man becomes an heir of God according to the hope of eternal life (Luke 24:47; John 3:3; Romans 10:13-15; Ephesians 2:8; Titus 2:11; 3:5-7).
b. The Evidences of Salvation. The inward evidence of salvation is the direct witness of the Spirit
(Romans 8:16). The outward evidence to all men is a life of righteousness and true holiness
(Ephesians 4:24; Titus 2:12).
8. Sanctification
a. Sanctification is an act of separation from that which is evil and of dedication unto God
(Romans 12:1,2; I Thessalonians 5:23; Hebrews 13:12).
b. Sanctification is obtainable as a second definite work of grace, received by faith in the blood
of Christ.
c. Sanctification is realized in the believer by recognizing his identification with Christ in His
death and resurrection, and by faith reckoning daily upon the fact of that union, and by offering
every faculty continually to the dominion of the Holy Spirit (Romans 6:1-11,13; 8:1,2,13;
Galatians 2:20; Philippians 2:12,13; I Peter 1:5).
9. The Baptism in the Holy Ghost
All believers are entitled to, should ardently expect and earnestly seek the promise of the Father,
the baptism in the Holy Ghost and fire, according to the command of our Lord Jesus Christ. The
Bible evidence of the baptism in the Holy Ghost is witnessed by the physical sign of speaking
with other tongues as the Spirit of God gives utterance. (Acts 2:4; 10:46; 19:6). 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 (Luke
24:49; Acts 1:4; I Corinthians 12:1-31). With the baptism in the Holy Ghost comes such
experiences as an overflowing fullness of the Spirit (John 7:37-39; Acts 4:8), a deepened
reverence for God (Acts 2:42-43), and a more active love for Christ, for His Word, and for the
lost (Mark 16:20).
10. The Ordinances of the Church
a. Baptism in Water. The ordinance of baptism by immersion in the name of the Father, and of
the Son and of the Holy Ghost is commanded in the Scriptures. All who repent and believe on
Christ as Saviour and Lord are to be baptized. Thus they declare to the world that they died with
Christ and that they also have been raised with Him to walk in newness of life (Matthew 28:19;
Mark 16:16; Acts 10:47,48; Romans 6:4).
b. Holy Communion. The Lord's Supper, consisting of the elements - bread and fruit of the vine
- is the symbol expressing our sharing the divine nature of our Lord Jesus Christ (II Peter 1:4); a
memorial of His suffering and death (I Corinthians 11:26); and a prophecy of His second coming
(I Corinthians 11:26); and is enjoined on all believers "until He comes!"
c. Foot Washing. The ordinance of washing the saints' feet is scripturally sound, and its practice
in the local assembly is left optional. (John 13:4-17).
d. Child Dedication. Since water baptism is an outward expression of an inward work of grace,
we do not practice infant baptism. However, we do encourage presenting our children to the
Lord in child dedication and blessing until they are old enough to make their own choice and
decision (Luke 2:27; Mark 10:13-16).
11. The Church and Its Mission
a. The Church is the Body of Christ, the habitation of God through the Spirit, with divine
appointment for the fulfillment of her great commission. Each believer, born of the Spirit, is an
integral part of the General Assembly and Church of the Firstborn, which are written in heaven
(Ephesians 1:22,23; 2:22; Hebrews 12:23).
b. Since God's purpose concerning man is to seek and to save that which is lost, to be worshipped
by man, and to build a body of believers in the image of His Son, the priority reason-for-being of
the International Pentecostal Church of Christ as part of the Church is:
(l) To be an agency of God for evangelizing the world (Acts 1:8; Matthew 28:19,20; Mark
16:15,16).
(2) To be a corporate body in which man may worship God (I Corinthians 12:13).
(3) To be a channel of God's purpose to build a body of saints being perfected in the image of
His Son (Ephesians 4:11-16; I Corinthians 12:28; 14:12).
c. The International Pentecostal Church of Christ exists expressly to give continuing emphasis
to this reason-for-being in the New Testament apostolic pattern by teaching and encouraging
believers to be baptized in the Holy Spirit. This experience:
(1) Enables them to evangelize in the power of the Spirit with accompanying supernatural signs
(Mark 16:15-20; Acts 4:29-31; Hebrews 2:3,4).
(2) Adds a necessary dimension to worshipful relationship with God (I Corinthians 2:10-16;12;13; and 14).
(3) Enables them to respond to the full working of the Holy Spirit in expression of fruit and
gifts and ministries as in New Testament times for the edifying of the body of Christ (Galatians
5:22-26; I Corinthians 12:28, 14:12; Ephesians 4:11,12; Colossians 1:29).
12. The Ministry
A divinely called and scripturally ordained ministry has been provided by our Lord for the
threefold purpose of leading the Church in: (1) Evangelization of the world (Mark 16:15-20); (2)
Worship of God (John 4:23,24); (3) Building a body of saints being perfected in the image of His
Son (Ephesians 4:11-16).
13. Divine Healing
Divine healing is an integral part of the gospel. Deliverance from sickness is provided for in the
atonement and is the privilege of all believers (Isaiah 53:4,5; Matthew 8:16,17; James 5:14-16).
14. The Blessed Hope
The resurrection of those who have fallen asleep in Christ and their translation together with
those who are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord is the imminent and blessed hope of
the church (I Thessalonians 4:16,17; Romans 8:23; Titus 2:13; I Corinthians 15:51,52).
15. The Millennial Reign of Christ
The Word of God promises the catching away of the prepared and waiting saints, followed by the
great tribulation, and then the return of our Lord with His saints and holy angels in power and
great glory to reign on earth a thousand years. This millennial reign will bring the salvation of
national Israel (Ezekiel 37:21, 22; Zephaniah 3:19,20; Romans 11:26,27) and the establishment
of universal peace (Isaiah 11:6-9; Psalm 72:3-8; Micah 4:3, 4).
16. The Final Judgment
There will be a final judgment in which the wicked dead will be raised and judged according to
their works. Whosoever is not found written in the Book of Life, together with the devil and his
angels, and the beast and false prophet, will be consigned to everlasting punishment in the lake
which burneth with fire and brimstone, which is the second death (Matthew 25:46; Mark 9:43-48; Revelation 19:20; 20:11-15, 21:8).
17. The New Heaven and the New Earth
"We, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth wherein dwelleth
righteousness" (II Peter 3:13; Revelation 21:1).
18. Tithes and Offerings
The needs of the New Testament Church, its varied ministries along with its God ordained
leadership are to be met by the tithes and offerings of the believers (Matthew 23:23; I Corinthians
16:1, II Corinthians 9:6, 7).