While Glad Tidings Church (GTC) recognises that God cannot be confined to Articles/Statement of Faith or Doctrinal Statements, nevertheless, GTC also realises that strange doctrines of men and demons are abounding today (1 Timothy 4:1). Therefore this Statement of Faith encapsulates what GTC believes as a Local Church to be the Apostles Doctrine (Acts 2:42) as recorded in the Bible. The following Statement of Faith sets out briefly the essential areas of the Biblical Doctrines of GTC.
- GOD
We believe in the Eternal Godhead (Romans 1:20), who has revealed Himself as ONE God, existing in THREE Persons (TRINITY): Father, Son and Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19; 2 Corinthians 13:14; Numbers 6:24-26; Genesis 18:1-2). - CHRIST
a. SAVIOUR
We believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, the Saviour of man (John 3:16-17), conceived of the Holy Spirit (Matthew 1:18b, 20b); born of a virgin (Genesis 3:15; Isaiah 7:14, 9:6; Matthew 1:23), and that Jesus is truly God and truly man (Luke 1:26-35; Philippians 2:6-8; Hebrews 5:8)
b. DEATH, BURIAL AND RESURRECTION
We believe that Christ died for our sins, was buried and rose again the third day according to Scripture (1 Corinthians 15:1-4) and that after His Resurrection, He personally appeared to His disciples (1 Corinthians 15:5-8).
c. END TIMES AND SECOND COMING
We believe in the bodily ascension of Jesus to Heaven (Acts 1:9-11), His Exaltation (Acts 2:34-36), and personal, literal and bodily coming again the Second Time for His Church (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; John 14:2-3). - SCRIPTURE
We believe and uphold the Plenary-Verbal Inspiration of the accepted Canon of Scripture as originally given (2 Timothy 3:16; 1 Corinthians 2:13), for all matters of Faith and Conduct for our leaders and members. - CREATION AND FALL OF MAN
We believe in the Creation, Test and Fall of Adam (Man) as recorded in Genesis Chapters 1 to 3. Due to Adam’s Fall, total spiritual depravity, and subsequent inability to attain Divine Righteousness, came upon the Human Race (Romans 5:12,18; 1 Corinthians 15:22a; 2 Corinthians 5:21). - UNIVERSAL CHURCH AND LOCAL CHURCH
We believe that there is one true Universal Church (Matthew 16:16-19), made up of genuine “born again” believers (John 3:3-8; 1 Peter 1:23; Titus 3:5). However, this Universal Church is made up of many local churches (Matthew 18:15-20), under the Headship of Christ. Each local church is autonomous and will have pastors (Acts 20:29; 1 Peter 5:1-4) and elders (Acts 14:23; 1 Timothy 3:1-7; Titus 1:5-9) who exercise the shepherding and governmental functions under delegated authority of Christ, as well as the propagation of the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ (Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:15-20). - ELDERS/PASTORS
We believe in the Governmental Leadership of the Elders and Pastors (1 Timothy 3:1-7; Titus 1:5-9; 1 Peter 5:1-4 and Acts 20:28) and the Servant Leadership of the Deacons (Acts 6:1-7; 1 Timothy 3:8-13). - BELIEVER
a. REDEMPTION
We believe in the Redemption of sinners by God’s Grace (Ephesians 2:8-9), through repentance and faith (Acts 11:18; 2 Peter 3:9; Romans 4:5), in the perfect and sufficient work of the Cross of Jesus Christ at Calvary (“It is Finished” – John 19:30). We receive remission of sins through His (Christ’s) precious blood (Ephesians 1:7; Colossians 1:14; 1 Peter 1:18-19; Hebrews 9:12, 22b). We are reconciled with God the Father through Christ’s redeeming work at the Cross of Calvary (Romans 5:11; 2 Corinthians 5:21).
b. BORN AGAIN
We believe that an individual sinner needs to be “born again” of God’s Word and God’s Spirit to be a Child of God (John 3:3-8; 1 Peter 1:23; Titus 3:5; John 3:16-18).
c. SALVATION
We believe that a complete Salvation involves Justification (Ephesians 2:8-9), Sanctification (Life of Holiness – “Be ye Holy as I am Holy” – 1 Peter 1:16; Hebrews 10:10,14) and Glorification (The final experience in the Biblical Redemption (Psalm 49:15; Daniel 12:2; John 11:23-24; Romans 8:30; 1 Corinthians 15:20).
d. HOLY SPIRIT BAPTISM
We believe in the Baptism of the Holy Spirit, as an experience at or subsequent to Salvation (born again) with the initial evidence of speaking in other tongues as the Spirit gives utterance (Acts 2:1-4; 8-14; 10:44-46; Galatians 3:14-15).
e. SPIRITUAL GIFTS AND FIVEFOLD MINISTRY
We believe in the Operation of the Gifts of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians Chapters 12 to 14). We also believe in the present-day operation of the Fivefold Ministry (Ephesians 4:11).
f. SPIRIT FILLED LIFE
We believe in living the Spirit Filled Life (Galatians 5:16,18,25; 2:20; Romans 8:14).
g. DIVINE HEALING
We believe in the working of God’s power in the present day or Divine Healing (Acts 4:30; Romans 8:11; 1 Corinthians 12:9; James 5:14).
h. EVANGELISM
We believe in and obey the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:15-20; Acts 1:8). - SACRAMENTS
a. WATER BAPTISM
We believe in the necessity of Water Baptism by immersion in the Name of the Eternal Godhead, the Lord Jesus Christ, in order to fulfill Christ’s command (Matthew 28:19; Acts 2:34- 36; 19:1-6; Romans 6).
b. THE LORD’S SUPPER (HOLY COMMUNION)
We believe in and observe the Table of the Lord Jesus, commonly called the Lord’s Supper or Holy Communion, for all baptised members of GTC or baptised visitors.
c. HOLY MATRIMONY (MARRIAGE)
We believe that marriage is between a man and a woman as ordained and instituted by God in the Garden of Eden between Adam and Eve (Genesis 2:18-25; with God the Father as the witness (Malachi 2:14-16). - SATAN AND DEMONIC SPIRITS
We believe in the reality and personality of Satan, the Antichrist, and demons (fallen angels that rebelled against God at the instigated of Lucifer (Satan) (Isaiah 14:12-15; Ezekiel 28:12-19; Revelations 12:4). - END TIMES
a. ETERNAL LIFE
We believe in Eternal Life for all “born again” believers (John 3:3-8; 1 Peter 1:23; Titus 3:5; John 3:16, 5:24) and Eternal Punishment for Satan and the False Prophet in the Lake of Fire (Revelations 19:20, 20:10) and the Great White Throne Judgment of God on all unbelievers whose names are not written in the Lamb’s Book of Life (Revelations 20:11-15).
b. MILLENIAL REIGN OF CHRIST
We believe in the Millennial Reign of Christ (Revelations 20) of a Thousand Year period of Peace and Righteousness following the Second Coming of Christ, who will reign over the Earth during that time while Satan is bound for 1,000 years in the Bottomless Pit (Revelations 20).
c. NEW HEAVEN AND NEW EARTH
We believe in God’s Promise of a New Heaven and a New Earth, where there will be no death, tears, sorrow, or pain, for all the former things have passed away (Revelations 21:1-4).