STATEMENT OF FAITH

True Holiness Covenant of Peace Assembly of Walnut Hills

We affirm that the Holy Bible is God’s inspired revelation to mankind, and that it is without error [in the original manuscripts], it is an accurate record of the history and future of mankind, and that it depicts the birth, life, death and resurrection of the Savior of all mankind, our Lord Jesus Christ, and is therefore the sole basis for our faith.  We have read the written word concerning salvation, we have tested the written word concerning salvation, and it works!

We regard the scriptures of the Holy Bible as authoritative in all matters of faith, practice, and doctrine.

THE SCRIPTURES

We believe in the divine inspiration of the whole Bible, the infallibility of the original manuscripts, and that the teachings in the Bible are truth without error and are inspired even to the very words and are therefore the in-scripted Word of God, to be practiced under the guidance of the Holy Ghost.  We believe that God has supernaturally preserved His Word for us today.

 SALVATION

Man was created in the image of God, but by exercise of his own will He transgressed the will of God and fell in sin. His only hope of redemption is trust in the vicarious suffering of Jesus Christ, the Word made flesh, the only begotten of the Father.

The Bible standard of deliverance from sin is repentance, immersion in water, which signifies purification or consecration, [Click here for History of Water Baptism] in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the baptism of the indwelling Holy Ghost with the initial sign of speaking with other (unlearned) tongues as the Spirit gives utterance. (Acts Chapter Two)

 THERE IS ONE GOD

We believe in one eternal God, infinite in power, holy in essence, attributes and purpose, and possessing absolute indivisible deity. This one true God has revealed Himself in these last days as Father in creation, through the only begotten Son in redemption, and through the indwelling Holy Ghost in the church. (1 Corinthians. 8:6, Ephesians. 4:6, 2 Corinthians. 5:19, Joel 2:28)

He is ONE God and His name is ONE!

“And the LORD shall be king over all the earth: in that day shall there be one LORD, and his name one.” (Zechariah 14:9)

“Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD: (Deuteronomy. 6:4; Mark 12:29) “Thou shalt have no other gods before me.” (Exodus 20:3)

“Is there a God beside me? Yea, there is no God: I know not any” (Isaiah 44:8). “Hath not one God created us?” (Malachi 2:10)

“Now a mediator is not a mediator of one, but God is one” (Galatians 3:20).

“Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble” (James 2:19)

 THE WORD IS GOD IN TIME.

“That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life.” (1 John 1:1).

“For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham.”  (Hebrews 2:16) Jesus became flesh. To deny this is to project the spirit of Anti-Christ! (See II John 1:7)

“Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me:”  (Hebrews 10:5)

When God revealed Himself to this world, he did not take on himself the nature of angels, but the seed of Abraham as so stated.  Hebrews 10:5 outlines clearly that ‘a body hast thou prepared me.’ The flesh and blood of Jesus was a body prepared to house a God (Eternal Spirit) that had always been. Now we have God in the flesh, a permanent manifestation for all time!

 THE SON OF GOD

The one true God, the LORD of the Old Testament, took upon Himself the form of man, as the Son of man, was born of the virgin Mary. As Paul says, “and without controversy great is the mystery of godliness:  God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.” (1 Timothy 3:16)

 THE NAME

“His name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace.” (Isaiah 9:6). “And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call His name Jesus: for He shall save His people from their sins.” (Matthew 2:1)

 THE BAPTISM IN THE HOLY GHOST

All believers are entitled to and should expect and earnestly seek the promise of the Father to those that believe on him, the baptism in the Holy Spirit and fire, according to the command of our Lord Jesus Christ. This was the normal experience of all in the early  church. With it comes the endowment of power for holy living and effective service, the giving of the spiritual gifts and their uses in the work of the ministry (Luke 24:49; Acts 1:4,8; 1 Corinthians 12:1-31). With the baptism in the Holy Spirit come such experiences as an overflowing fullness of the Spirit (John 7:37-39; Acts 4:8), a deepened reverence for God  (Acts 2:43; Hebrews 12:28), a consecration to God and dedication to His work (Acts 2:42), and a more active love for Christ, for His Word, and for the lost (Mark 16:20).  [Click here to read about Holy Ghost baptism]

 THE INITIAL PHYSICAL EVIDENCE OF THE BAPTISM IN THE HOLY SPIRIT

Speaking in other tongues mean speaking miraculously in a language unknown to the speaker, as the Spirit gives utterance. Tongues are classified in two ways, in the Bible.  First, speaking in other tongues as the initial evidence of the baptism of the Holy Ghost and secondly, the gift of tongues as mentioned in I Corinthians 12th chapter. Speaking in other tongues as the spirit of God gives utterance is an audible manifestation God has given as a witness or sign of the baptism of the Holy Ghost (Acts 10:46).  It was prophesied by the prophet Isaiah as the rest and the refreshing (Isaiah 28:11-12), foretold by Jesus as a sign that would follow believers of the gospel (Mark 16:17), and experienced by Jews and Gentiles alike.  [Click here to read about Speaking in Tongues]

Second, the gift of divers kinds of tongues, mentioned by Paul in  I Corinthians 12:1-10. Paul stated forbid not speaking in tongues (I Corinthian 14:39).

 HEALING

We have learned through study of the Scriptures that the vicarious suffering of the Lord Jesus Christ paid for the healing of our bodies, as well as for the salvation of our souls.   Matthew 8:17 states that “Himself took our infirmities and bare our sicknesses.” We, in True Holiness, have also experienced the same.

Jesus said of believers – “they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.” (Mark 16:18)  “Is any sick among you?  Let him call for the elders of the church and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord and the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up.” (James 5:14-16)

 HOLINESS

We are commanded to live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world (Titus 2:12) and Apostle Paul used the Old Testament scriptures to teach that “without holiness no man shall see the Lord” (Hebrews 12:14). We must present our bodies as “a living sacrifice holy and acceptable to God which is our reasonable service and be not conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewing up your mind” (Romans 12:1).  It is quite impossible to live a holy life without the Holy Ghost. “Ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost has come upon you” (Acts 1:8).

Therefore, we approve of every public and private activity, which  esteems holiness and a godly living. The Scriptures plainly teach the church to put a difference between holy and unholy, clean and unclean.

 MARRIAGE AND THE FAMILY

We believe God ordained marriage and the family as the foundational institution of the human  society, and that marriage is a sacred and permanent covenant  relationship between one man and one woman, symbolizing the union of Christ and his Church. (Ephesians 5:20-33) The husband is to be the servant leader in the home and is to love his wife as Christ loves the church, and the wife is to submit herself to the scriptural leadership of her husband as the church submits to the headship of Christ (Genesis 2:18-25; Matthew 19:4-6; Ephesians 5:22-25).”

 BAPTISMAL CEREMONY

We believe that water baptism by immersion should be administered in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ for the remission of sins only to persons who have reached the age of understanding, and under no condition do we practice the water baptism of infants. This is the ceremony that the apostles used (Acts 8:16; Acts 19:5; Colossians 3:17). According to our tradition, the baptizer says, “According to your faith, I now baptize you in the name of the Lord Jesus for the remission of your sins.”

THE LORD’S SUPPER

 Christ did not give this ordinance to divide saints in his churches. It was merely given in remembrance of His death.  If anyone observes this ordinance with an arrogant spirit, he or she is not conveying the message of love and peace. For God is not the author of confusion, but of love, and a sound mind.

Paul taught the Corinthian church that the observance of this ordinance should bring unity and love among the saints, and not division and strife (I Corinthians 10:16-17; 11:16-30)

There are other groups who might not agree with our teachings. Because of the complexity of this subject for some, Let every man be persuaded in his own mind (Romans 14: 5b). We are not to shun fellowship with any congregation outside of True Holiness based on this doctrine.

Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth (I Timothy 2:15) However, Let us not therefore judge (condemn) one another anymore: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumbling block or an occasion to fall in his brother’s way (Romans 14:13).  When observing the Lord’s Supper, diligently investigate the reasons for your methods, for it might cause weak one to fall to sin:

 LAYING HANDS ON THE SICK [READ JAMES 5:14-16]

Laying on of hands is a practice of transferring the anointing, or power of God from one person to another.  In the Old Testament, priests, prophets, and kings were anointed with oil and laying on of hands.

Laying hands on the sick, while praying in faith, was a common practice in the early church. Jesus often laid hands on people before healing them (Mark 6:5; Luke 4:40; 13:13). Paul laid hands on a sick person and he was healed (Acts 28:8).  Jesus said concerning His followers, “They shall lay hands on the sick and they shall recover” (Mark 16:18).

When Saul was blinded on the road to Damascus, Ananias was told to go to him, place his hands on him to restore his sight in preparation for his ministry (Acts 9:17).

 ANOINTING THE SICK WITH OIL

Anointing with oil is similar to laying on of hands. The oil has no special property.  It is a symbol of the Holy Ghost.  It is the Spirit’s power that brings healing.  We believe that the application of oil in James 5:14 was a symbolic act invoked in conjunction with supernatural healing.

There is contextual information elsewhere in the New Testament that associates miraculous healing with the anointing of oil.  In Mark 6:13 the record states, “And they [the Lord’s disciples] cast out many demons, and anointed with oil many that were sick, and healed them.”

This may be the key verse that sheds light on James 5:14.  Healing takes place by the power of the Holy Ghost (Acts 10:38), of whom the oil is a symbol (Zechariah 4:4-16). [Click here to read the History of Anointing with Oil]

 PRAYING IN FAITH IN JESUS’ NAME

Jesus charged the disciples to go “In my name.” James instructed the elders to pray over the sick person, and anoint him or her with oil “In the name of the Lord.” We (who have the gift of healing) minister healing, not by our own power or authority, but in the power and authority of the Lord Jesus Christ.

After the day of Pentecost, Peter and John went to the temple to pray.  Upon entering the gate, they encountered a lame a man, who was begging. Peter fixed his eyes on the man, grabbed his arm, and declared “In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.” Peter lifted the man up.  He started walking, leaping, and praising God.

Peter explained that miracle this way: It’s not by our own power or holiness that we made this man walk. It was Jesus. “And his name through faith in his name hath made this man strong” (Acts 3:16).

 THE RESURRECTION

There will be a resurrection of all the dead, both just and unjust. I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God . . . and the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them (Revelation 12:12-13).

 JUDGMENT

It is appointed to men once to die, but after this the judgment (Hebrews 9:27). We must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that everyone may receive the things done in his body, according to that he has done whether it be good or bad (II Corinthians 5:10).

 SECOND COMING OF CHRIST

Jesus Christ is coming back to the earth in bodily form, just as He went away (Acts 1:11). For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with a voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: and we that are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord (I Thessalonians 4:16-17).