Our Statement of Beliefs

The Eternal Church of God

Statement of Beliefs

We believe that God’s word admonishes all believers to be ready always to give an answer of the hope that lies within them. The Eternal Church of God reflects a hope based on God’s inspired word. This hope is expressed in the doctrines taught in scripture and affirmed by His church.
Below is a statement of beliefs that contains the primary doctrines of the Eternal Church of God. It is not the intent of this document to defend these beliefs but rather to express them without ambiguity or uncertainty.

The Bible
We believe the Bible is God’s instruction book for mankind. Further, we believe that all scripture is given by divine inspiration (God-breathed) and is profitable for doctrine, reproof, correction, and instruction in righteousness.
We believe that no scripture is of private interpretation but that the Bible interprets itself. However, we do believe God inspires a greater level of scriptural understanding to those who submit to Him and are led by His spirit and that this understanding will be revealed in God’s time.

See: 2 Timothy 3:16; Daniel 12:8-9; Amos 3:7; 2 Peter 1:20-21

God
    We believe God is the eternal King of the universe. We believe He is the life-giver, the law-giver, the creator, sustainer, and governor of the destiny of that universe. Further, we believe God resides in the highest heaven where His will is performed continually. We believe He is eternal in existence and infinite in power, righteousness and love. We believe God is spirit and those who worship Him must do so in spirit and in truth. We believe God is perfect. Further, we believe God created all things through His Son, Jesus Christ.
    Additionally, we believe that God has an extraordinary plan that will culminate with His children becoming literal members of His family. At that time, His children will have the perfect righteous character of God and be comprised of spirit, just as He is. We believe that this is the destiny of all who yield to Him.
    We in the Eternal Church of God do not embrace the doctrine of the trinity. We believe God is a family currently consisting of God the Father and Jesus Christ, His Son. However, this family will one day include all those who have surrendered their will to the Father.

See: Revelation 4; Psalm 90:2; 99:9; 106:5; Jeremiah 32:17; John 4:24; 1:1-4; 5:26; Acts 17:24-26, 28; Isaiah 40:22-28; Isaiah 46:9-10; 1 John 4:8,16; Eph. 3:15

Jesus
    We believe Jesus is the Son of God and has eternally existed. We believe that through Jesus, God created all things and nothing has been created that was not created by Him. We believe that Jesus is the God of the Old Testament and that all authority has been given to Him by the Father.
    We believe Jesus has many titles that dramatically declare who He is. These titles include Savior, Redeemer, Mediator, the Word of God, High Priest, and Advocate, to name a few. We also acknowledge Jesus as King in our life.
    Further, we believe that Jesus demonstrated the supreme act of love in giving His life as a ransom for the sins of all mankind. We further believe that Jesus is the author and the finisher of our salvation, that He was crucified and buried and on the third day rose again from the dead.
    We believe He sits on the right hand of the Father and will return to this earth as King of kings and Lord of lords. We also believe that Jesus is the active head of His church as well as the head of every individual who will yield to Him.

See: Hebrews 1:2; 7:1-3; Revelation 11:15; 19:13; John 1:1-4; 6:63; Romans 8:14; Galatians 2:20; Ephesians 1:20-22; 3:9; Colossians 1:16; 1 Timothy 2:5

The Holy Spirit
We believe that all Christians are exhorted to have the mind of Christ. We in the Eternal Church of God believe that mind is imparted by the Holy Spirit. We believe the Holy Spirit is God’s power given in measure to His children.
We believe the Spirit empowers God’s children with the strength, courage, wisdom, and knowledge of God’s will. Further, we believe that Jesus promised to make that Spirit available and He fulfilled that promise on the Day of Pentecost which began the original Christian church. We believe God’s Holy Spirit is the dynamic and personal presence of God in the life of those who yield to His will.

See: Exodus 31:2; Daniel 5:13-14; John 3:8; 14:15-20; 16:7,13; 1 Corinthians 2:9-16; Acts 2; 4:31; Philippians 2:5

The Gospel
We believe the gospel is a message of the good news of the Kingdom of God. Further, we believe this gospel was powerfully proclaimed by Jesus Christ, the King of that Kingdom.
We believe that the preaching of the gospel is one of the commissions given to God’s church and that Jesus Christ indicated that His coming was predicated on the gospel being proclaimed as a witness to all nations.

See: Mark 1:14-15; Matthew 24:14; Luke 9:1-2; Luke 10:9; Acts 8:12; 20:25; 28:30-31; Mark 16:15

The Kingdom
We believe the Kingdom of God is a literal kingdom that will be established on earth. This kingdom will be presided over by Jesus Christ and His saints. At that time, God’s word will cover the earth as the waters cover the sea and all will come to know the Eternal.
This Kingdom will reflect a period of great peace and prosperity. God will put a new spirit in the citizens of this kingdom and write His law upon their hearts. We believe the Bible provides a glimpse into that kingdom; it describes its cities, its government, its language, and its economy. The most notable features about this kingdom are that its citizens will be both physically and spiritually whole, that peace will be in abundance, that God’s word will radiate throughout it, and that sorrow and sighing will flee away.

See: Revelation 11:15-19; Micah 4:1-4; Daniel 7:18, 22; Revelation 1:6; Isaiah 2:4; 32:18; 35:5-6, 10, 11:6-9; Zechariah 8:4-5; Jeremiah 33:10-11

Sin
We believe that sin is the transgression of God’s immutable law and that the consequence of sin is eternal death. Furthermore, we believe that God hates sin and that sin actually separates us from Him.
It is our belief, based on God’s word, that all have sinned and come short of God’s glory. However, we believe that God has provided a plan in which the penalty of sin has been paid by Jesus Christ, thus making salvation and entrance into God’s Kingdom available to all who would claim that sacrifice and yield to God’s will in their lives.

See: 1 John 3:4; Romans 3:23; 6:23; Isaiah 59:1-2; Titus 2:14; Hebrews 1:3; Ezekiel 18:4, 20

Born Again
    We believe being born again is a process that begins upon receipt of God’s Holy Spirit (a form of conception) and culminates at the resurrection when God’s children will be literally born as incorruptible spirit beings and members of His family.
    At that time, His children will fully partake of His divine nature and be like Him. We believe this birth takes place at the last trump when the dead in Christ shall be raised incorruptible.
    Furthermore, we believe that it is impossible to enter God’s Kingdom without being born again. We believe that Jesus Christ spoke of this process of being born again and clearly indicated that if a man does not experience this birth, he cannot enter the Kingdom.

See: John 3:1-8; 1 Corinthians 13:12; 15:50-52; 1 John 3: 1-2; Philippians 3:21; Psalms 17:15; 2 Peter 1:3-4; 1 John 3:9

The Sabbath
We believe the Sabbath (Friday evening to Saturday evening) is a gift from God and an identifying sign of His children. Further, we believe the Sabbath was made by God on the seventh day of creation, and at that time, God sanctified it. We believe that the Sabbath was made a formal command on Mount Sinai and that the commandment was written personally by God.
We believe the Sabbath was practiced by God’s people in the Old Testament, by Jesus and His apostles in the New Testament, by Paul and the first century church, and remains in effect to this day. Additionally, we believe that Jesus Christ is the Lord of the Sabbath and that the Sabbath will be kept when He establishes His millennial Kingdom on this earth.

See: Genesis 2:1-3; Exodus 20:8-11; 31:13-18; Mark 2:27; Acts 13:42; 17:2; 18:4; Isaiah 66:23

Holy Days
    We believe that God has created seven annual Holy Days and has instructed His children to assemble on these days as well as on His weekly Sabbath. We believe that these days are prophetic and picture God’s plan of salvation for mankind.
    Additionally, we believe that God has instructed His children to present an offering to Him on the three pilgrimage festivals; the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the Feast of Weeks and the Feast of Tabernacles. We also believe that God’s festivals are a time of great rejoicing and consider them to be a tremendous blessing from Him to His people.
    Additionally, we believe the scriptures clearly demonstrate that the Feasts of the Eternal were kept by the children of Israel, by Jesus and His apostles, by Paul and the New Testament church, and will be kept in God’s Kingdom during the Millennium.

See: Leviticus 23; Colossians 2:16-17; Exodus 34:18-22; Deuteronomy 16:3-17; Ezra 6:22; Acts 18:21; 20:6; 1 Corinthians 5:7; Zechariah 14:16-19

Salvation
    We believe that salvation is a process that begins with repentance and culminates with entrance into God’s Kingdom. Further, we believe salvation is a gift from God and cannot be earned.
    However, we do believe this gift is conditional and that God will not give it to anyone who would hold it in contempt. We believe the gift of salvation will be given to those who turn from sin, accept God’s authority in their lives, and claim the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.
    We further believe that it is God’s will that all would come to repentance and that none would be lost.

See: Ephesians 2:8-9; Hebrews 10:29; Acts 2:37-40, 4:10-12; Romans 6:23; 2 Peter 3:9; 1 Timothy 2:3-4; John 6:40; Titus 2:11; 1 Thessalonians 5:9-10

Repentance
We believe repentance is a foundational doctrine of God’s true church. We believe all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. Furthermore, we believe that sin separates us from God and that the ultimate result of sin is eternal death. However, we also believe that sin can be repented of and forgiven. It is the belief of the Eternal Church of God that repentance is required in order to be forgiven and that repentance involves a change from living our own way of sin to God’s way of righteousness. Further, we believe that an essential step in this change is a change of mind and heart.
Basically, we believe that when one truly repents, he or she does not look backward at sin as much as they look forward to living a righteous life with the help of a loving God.

See: Romans 3:23, 6:23; Isaiah 55:7; 59:2; Acts 2:38; Luke 13:1-9; Jeremiah 3:13-15; Joel 2:13; Ezekiel 14:6, 33:11, 14-16

Tithing
We believe God has a prior claim of ownership on everything we possess. Tithing is a way we acknowledge that fact. We further believe that the practice of tithing was commanded by God in the Old Testament and affirmed by Jesus Christ in the New Testament. Additionally, we believe that failure to honor this command constitutes an act of theft and is warned against in scripture.
We believe it is important to understand that tithing is an expression of faith toward God and a statement of what His children place as most important in their lives. Further, we believe God has promised to bless those who faithfully tithe and that He has even challenged His children to test this promise.

See: Haggai 2:8; Leviticus 27:30-34; Genesis 14:17-20; 28:20-22; 1 Samuel 8:15; Malachi 3:8-10; Matthew 23:23

Laying On of Hands
    We believe the laying on of hands is a foundational doctrine of God’s true church. We believe that the laying on of hands is designed to convey a special blessing from God upon His children.
    Further, we believe the laying on of hands was practiced in the Old Testament by God’s people as well as throughout the New Testament. Additionally, we believe the laying on of hands was a part of baptism which facilitated the conveying of God’s spirit.
    We also believe the laying on of hands is designed to set one apart for special use by God (ordained). Additionally, the laying on of hands is enjoined in scripture to set one apart for God’s healing.

See: Genesis 48:14; Acts 6:6; 8:17; 19:6; 28:8; 1 Timothy 5:22; Mark 5:23; 6:5; 16:18; James 5:14

Resurrection
We believe resurrection is a foundational doctrine of God’s true church. Further, we believe that all who are in the grave will be resurrected to either eternal life or eternal judgment. We of the Eternal Church of God believe the Bible clearly describes three resurrections.

The first resurrection is reserved for those whom God has called in this life and have surrendered to His authority. We believe the scriptures declare that this is a resurrection to which all Christians should attain; it is the culmination of a process that involves true repentance and conversion and an acknowledgment that Jesus Christ is sovereign. This resurrection will take place at the last trump in which the dead shall rise and take on incorruption. At that time, these first fruits shall be a part of God’s family for all eternity.

The second resurrection is for all those who have not been called in this life. This resurrection, which will take place at the conclusion of the Millennium, will enable the billions of people who have never heard God’s word to be taught God’s way and to make a decision concerning it. This is a physical resurrection in which those who are in the graves shall be made mortal comprised of flesh and blood and bone.

The third resurrection is reserved for all of those who are not a part of the first resurrection. This would include those who lived during the Millennium as well as those who lived during the second resurrection. During the third resurrection, these people will appear before Christ for final judgment. Some will inherit eternal life while others will be cast into a lake of fire and experience the second death.

See: Isaiah 26:19; Ezekiel 37; Hebrews 11:35; John 5:28; Luke 14:14; Revelation 20:4-6, 10, 13-15; 1 Corinthians 15:35-56; 1 Thessalonians 4:16

Eternal Judgment
We believe eternal judgment is one of the foundational doctrines of God’s church. We believe that God is a merciful and just Judge and that His judgment is perfectly righteous and unimpeachable, even by those who are found guilty. Additionally, we believe that God is eternal, and his plan for mankind is eternal.
Further, we believe that every work will come into judgment and that ultimately, the end result of God’s judgment on all people is either eternal life with Him or eternal death. Additionally, we believe that God has appointed times of judgment regarding eternal matters. We believe that God’s judgment is now upon those whom He has called but that ultimately, all will be judged.

See: James 2:13; Psalms 116:5; Revelation 20:12-15; John 5:28-29; Hebrews 9:27; Romans 14:10-11; 2 Corinthians 5:10; 1Peter 4:17

Clean and Unclean Meats
    We believe God has an opinion on every part of a Christian’s life, including our diet. Further, we believe God designed certain plants and animals to be consumed by man while others are to be avoided.
    To this end, God created specific laws concerning clean and unclean meats. We believe that although these laws pertain to that which is physical, their purpose is profoundly spiritual. We believe that in these laws God is illustrating that He makes a distinction between the holy and the profane. By doing this, God wants man to know that we are to be holy, even as He is holy.
    We believe the laws concerning clean and unclean meats were given before the flood, were restored to the congregation in the wilderness, were honored by God’s people in the Old Testament, and were kept by Jesus Christ, His apostles and all of the New Testament churches.
    We further believe that these laws serve a very important purpose for God’s people. They are designed to be a daily reminder that God’s children must make a distinction between the clean and the unclean – the holy and the profane – as it pertains to their conduct. The Eternal Church of God honors God’s instruction concerning clean and unclean meats.

See: Genesis 7:1-5; Leviticus 11; Deuteronomy 14; Acts 10:14

Eternal Security
We believe that all Christians are admonished in God’s word to earnestly contend for the faith once delivered. Additionally, we believe complacency is a mortal enemy to faith and that salvation is predicated on God’s people enduring to the end.
We believe the doctrine of "once saved, always saved" is not taught anywhere in scripture. Furthermore, we believe that God’s word instructs us to let no man take our crown and to not look back. We also believe the scriptures warn that the faith can be lost and that names can be removed from God’s Book of Life.

See: Jude 3; 1 Corinthians 9:27; 10:12; Hebrews 6:4-6; Revelation 3:11; 22:19; Luke 9:62

Baptism
    It is the belief of the Eternal Church of God that baptism is a foundational doctrine of God’s Church. We believe that all who wish to be followers of Christ must be baptized, and that their baptism must be preceded by sincere repentance.
    We believe that each person’s baptism is a physical act that is an outward expression of their faith in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. We believe that baptism also pictures the new believer putting to death the works of his or her flesh, rising as a new person, and living a new way of life. At the same time, we believe that this ceremony foreshadows the Christian’s future by portraying the hope of our literal death, burial, and final resurrection to eternal life. Therefore, we teach that baptism must be by total immersion.
    We also believe Jesus Christ Himself was baptized to fulfill all righteousness, and since Christians are to walk as He walked, we must follow both His commandment and example by continuing to observe this practice. We believe baptism was practiced in the early New Testament church, and that it is upon baptism and the laying on of hands that a true Christian receives the gift of the Holy Spirit.

See: Hebrews 6:2; Mark 16:15-16; John 3:22; Matthew 28:19-20; Matthew 3:15 : I John 2:6 : Colossians 2:12; Romans 6:3-6; Acts 2:38; 8:12; 22:16

Works
We believe that although it is impossible for a Christian to be saved by works, works represent a significant role in a believer’s life. We believe that God is very concerned with works and that every work will ultimately come into judgment.
Further, we believe that although a Christian is saved by grace, he or she is rewarded according to works. We of the Eternal Church of God also believe that works and faith are inseparable.

See: Ecclesiastes 12:14; 1 Timothy 5:25; Revelation 2:23; 22:12; Romans 2:6; Matthew 16:27; Hebrews 6:10

The Unpardonable Sin
We believe that although God’s mercy is infinite, He has fixed His perfect will to create a "point of no return" with respect to sin. Further, we believe that the Bible clearly identifies this point. We believe the consequence for the unpardonable sin is eternal death.

See: Matthew 12:31-32; Hebrews 6:4-6; 10:26; Revelation 22:19; Luke 13:1-9; Psalm 37:9-10, 20; Isaiah 66:24; Malachi 4:1-3

Grace
We believe grace is God’s divine favor on His children and is reflected in His plan of salvation. Further, we believe that we are saved by grace and not by works.
We believe that the sacrifice of Jesus Christ was the ultimate expression of divine grace. Additionally, we believe that God’s grace begins when He calls His children to repentance and continues as He works with His children so they can become more like Him.

See: Ephesians 2:8-9; Romans 2:4; 3:23-25; 5:6-8; 11:5-6; Galatians 1:15

Faith
We believe that faith is a foundational doctrine of God’s true church. Further, we believe faith is a gift of God’s spirit and that it is impossible to please God without it. We believe faith is essential to salvation and that faith is made manifest by submitting to God and His will.
We believe God has instructed His children that faith must be exercised and that His children are to "walk by it." We believe faith comes by hearing, and hearing by God’s word. We do not believe faith is expressed by emotion, but rather by action, and apart from obedience to God and yielding to His ways, faith is meaningless.

See: Hebrews 2:4; 11; James 2:15-26; Ephesians 2:8; Galatians 2:16; 5:22; Romans 1:17; 5:1-2; 2 Corinthians 5:7

Healing
    We believe God has created both spiritual laws and physical laws. Further, we believe that the breaking of His physical law (sometimes referred to as physical sin) brings upon us physical consequences, and if severe enough, could ultimately cause our physical death.
    We believe God is a great healer and that the Bible chronicles numerous examples of God’s intervention in man’s physical life. In a very real sense, we believe healing is the process in which God forgives the breaking of His physical laws and removes the consequences associated with it. We believe healing is an event beyond the power of any known physical law to produce and that it is a supernatural occurrence produced by the power of God.
    Further, we believe God has outlined specific instructions for His children when they are sick. This instruction includes asking in faith for God’s intervention, calling on the elders of the church, having them pray over the sick, and anointing the sick with oil.

See: Psalm 107:17; Exodus 15:26; Psalm 103:3; James 5:14-15; Matthew 9:2-7; Luke 8:48; 18:42; Acts 14:8-10; Jeremiah 30:17