OUR FOUNDATIONS OF FAITH
1. THE INSPIRATION OF THE SCRIPTURES
The Scriptures, both the Old Testament and the New Testament, are verbally inspired by God and are God's revelation to man, and are our infallible rule of faith and conduct (2 Timothy 3:15-17; 1 Thessalonians 2:13; 2 Peter 1:21).
2. THE ONE TRUE GOD
The one true God has revealed Himself as the eternally existent "I AM", the Creator of heaven and earth and Redeemer of mankind. He has also revealed Himself as embodying the principles of relationship and association as the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit (Deuteronomy 6:4; Isaiah 43:10,11; Matthew 28:19; Luke 3:22).
The adorable deity
(a) Definition of terms.
The words trinity and persons, as they relate to the Godhead, though not found in the Bible, are in harmony with it; consequently, we can communicate to others our immediate understanding of the doctrine of Christ concerning the Being of God, as distinguished from "many gods and many lords." We can therefore properly speak of the Lord our God, who is one Lord, as a Trinity or as a three-person Being, without thereby departing from biblical teachings (e.g., Matthew 28:19; 2 Corinthians 13:14; John 14:16,17).
(b) Distinction and relationship in the Godhead.
Christ taught a distinction of persons in the Godhead which he expressed in specific terms of relationship, as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, but that this distinction and relationship, as far as its form is concerned, is inscrutable and incomprehensible, for the Bible does not explain it (Luke 1:35; 1 Corinthians 1:24; Matthew 11:25-27; 28:19; 2 Corinthians 13:14; 1 John 1:3,4).
(c) Unity of the one being of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
Consequently, in the same way, there is that in the Father which constitutes him Father and not Son; there is that in the Son which constitutes him Son and not Father; and there is that in the Holy Spirit which constitutes him Holy Spirit and neither Father nor Son. So the Father is the Begetter; the Son is the Begotten; and the Holy Spirit is the one who proceeds from the Father and the Son. Thus, because these three persons of the Godhead are in a state of unity, there is only one Lord God Almighty and He has only one name (John 1:18; 15:26; 17:11,21; Zechariah 14:9).
(d) Identity and cooperation in the Godhead.
The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are not identical as to person; nor are they confused as to relationship; nor are they divided as to Deity; nor opposed as to cooperation. The Son is in the Father and the Father is in the Son as to relationship. The Son is with the Father and the Father is with the Son, as to communion. The Father does not proceed from the Son, but the Son proceeds from the Father, as to authority. The Holy Spirit proceeds from the Father and the Son, as to nature, relationship, cooperation and authority. Therefore, none of the persons of the Godhead exists or operates separately or independently of the others (John 5:17-30,32,37; 8:17,18).
(e) The title Lord Jesus Christ
The title Lord Jesus Christ is a proper name. In the New Testament it is never applied to the Father nor to the Holy Spirit. Therefore it belongs exclusively to the Son of God (Romans 1:1-3,7; 2 John 3).
(f) The Lord Jesus Christ, God with us
The Lord Jesus Christ, as far as his divine and eternal nature is concerned, is the true and only begotten Son of the Father, but as far as his human nature is concerned, he is the true Son of Man. Consequently, He is recognized as both God and man; who, because He is both God and man, is "Immanuel", God with us (Matthew 1:23; 1 John 4:2,10,14; Revelation 1:13,17).
(g) The title Son of God.
Since the name Immanuel comprises the divine and the human, in one person, our Lord Jesus Christ, the title Son of God describes His due deity, and the title Son of Man His due humanity. Thus the title Son of God belongs to the order of eternity, and the title Son of Man to the order of time (Matthew 1:21-23; 2 John 3; 1 John 3:8; Hebrews 7:3; 1:1-13).
(h) Transgression of the doctrine of Christ.
Therefore, it is a transgression of the doctrine of Christ to say that the Lord Jesus derived the title of Son of God only from the fact of the incarnation, or from his relation to the economy of redemption. So to deny that the Father is a true and eternal Father and that the Son is a true and eternal Son is to deny the distinction and relationship in the Being of God; a denial of the Father and the Son; and a substitution for the truth that Jesus Christ was made flesh (2 John 9; John 1:1,2,14,18,29,49; 1 John 2:22,23; 4:1-5; Hebrews 12:2).
(i) Exaltation of Jesus Christ as Lord
The Son of God, our Lord Jesus Christ, after cleansing us from sin by His blood, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high, angels, principalities, and powers being subject unto Him. After being made Lord and Christ, He sent the Holy Spirit so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow and confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father to the end, when the Son shall be subject to the Father that God may be all in all (Hebrews 1:3; 1 Peter 3:22; Acts 2:32-36; Romans 14:11; 1 Corinthians 15:24-28).
(j) Equal Honor to the Father and the Son
Since the Father has given to the Son all judgment, it is not only the duty of all in heaven and on earth to bow down before Him, but it is an unspeakable joy in the Holy Spirit to ascribe to the Son all the attributes of deity and to render to Him all the honor and glory contained in all the names and titles of the Godhead, except those denoting relationship (see paragraphs b, c, and d), thus honoring the Son as the Father is honored (John 5:22,23; 1 Peter 1:8; Revelation 5:6-14; Philippians 2:8,9;
Revelation 7:9,10; 4:8-11).
3. THE DEITY OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST.
The Lord Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God. The Bible declares:
a. His virgin birth (Matthew 1:23; Luke 1:31,35).
b. His sinless life (Hebrews 7:26; 1 Peter 2:22).
c. His miracles (Acts 2:22; 10:38).
d. His vicarious work on the Cross (1 Corinthians 15:3; 2 Corinthians 5:21).
e. His bodily resurrection from the dead (Matthew 28:6; Luke 24:39; 1 Corinthians 15:4).
f. His exaltation to the right hand of God (Acts 1:9,11; 2:33; Philippians 2:9-11; Hebrews 1:3).
4. THE FALL OF MAN
Man was created good and righteous; for God said: "Let us make man in our image, after our likeness". However, the human being by his own will fell into transgression, thus suffering 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).
5. MAN'S SALVATION
The only hope of redemption for man is through the shed blood of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
a. Conditions for salvation. Salvation is received through repentance toward God and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Man becomes a child and heir of God according to the hope of eternal life by the washing of regeneration, the renewing of the Holy Spirit, and justification by grace through faith (Luke 24:47; John 3:3; Romans 10:13-15; Ephesians 2:8; Titus 2:11; 3:5-7).
b. Evidences of salvation. The internal evidence of salvation is the direct witness of the Spirit (Romans 8:16). The external evidence before all men is a life of righteousness and true holiness (Ephesians 4:24; Titus 2:12).
6. THE ORDINANCES OF THE CHURCH.
a. Water baptism. The Scriptures establish the ordinance of water baptism by immersion. All who repent and believe in Christ as Savior and Lord are to be baptized. In this way they declare before the world that they have died with Christ and 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, which consists of partaking of the Eucharistic elements "the bread and the fruit of the vine," is the symbol expressing our participation in the divine nature of our Lord Jesus Christ (2 Peter 1:4); a reminder of His sufferings and death (1 Corinthians 11:26); a prophecy of His second coming (1 Corinthians 11:26); and a command to all believers "until He comes."
7. BAPTISM IN THE HOLY SPIRIT.
All believers have the right to receive and should earnestly seek the promise of the Father, the baptism in the Holy Spirit and fire, according to the command of the Lord Jesus Christ. This was the normal and common experience of all the early Christian church.
With baptism comes an endowment of power for life and service and the bestowal of spiritual gifts and their use in ministry (Luke 24:49; Acts 1:4,8; 1 Corinthians 12:1-31).
This experience is distinct from and subsequent to the new birth (Acts 8:12-17; 10:44-46; 11:14-16; 15:7-9).
With the baptism in the Holy Spirit the believer participates in experiences such as being filled with the Spirit (John 7:37-39; Acts 4:8); a greater reverence for God (Acts 2:43; Hebrews 12:28); a more intense consecration to God and a greater dedication to His work (Acts 2:42); and a more active love for Christ, His Word and the lost (Mark 16:42).
12:28); a more intense consecration to God and a greater dedication to his work (Acts 2:42); and a more active love for Christ, his Word, and the lost (Mark 16:20).
8. THE INITIAL PHYSICAL EVIDENCE OF THE BAPTISM IN THE HOLY SPIRIT.
The baptism of believers in the Holy Spirit is evidenced by the initial physical sign of speaking in other tongues as the Spirit directs them (Acts 2:4). The speaking in tongues in this case is essentially the same as the gift of tongues (1 Corinthians 12:4-10, 28), but is different in purpose and use.
9. SANCTIFICATION.
Sanctification is an act of separation from all evil and dedication to God (Romans 12:1,2; 1 Thessalonians 5:23; Hebrews 13:12). The Bible prescribes a life of "holiness without which no one will see the Lord" (Hebrews 12:14). By the power of the Holy Spirit we can obey the command that says: "Be ye holy, for I am holy" (1 Peter 1:15,16).
Sanctification takes place in the believer when he recognizes his identity with Christ in his death and resurrection, by faith sets out to live each day in this union with Christ, and submits all his faculties to the dominion of the Holy Spirit (Romans 6:1-11,13; 8:1,2,13; Galatians 2:20; Philippians 2:12,13; 1 Peter 1:5).
10. THE CHURCH AND ITS MISSION.
The Church is the body of Christ, the dwelling place of God through the Holy Spirit, with the divine commission to carry out His great commission. Every believer, born of the Holy Spirit, is an integral part of the church of the firstborn, who are enrolled in heaven (Ephesians 1:22,23; 2:22; Hebrews 12:23).
Since God's purpose in relation to man is to seek and to save that which was lost, to be worshiped by man, to build a body of believers in the image of his Son, and to show his love and compassion to the whole world, the main reason for the church's existence is:
a. To be an agency of God for the evangelization of the world (Acts 1:8; Matthew 28:19,20; Mark 16:15,16).
b. To be a corporate body in which man may worship God (1 Corinthians 12:13).
c. To be a channel for God's purpose to build (Disciple) a body of saints in the process of being perfected in the image of His Son (Ephesians 4:11-16; 1 Corinthians 12:28; 14:12).
d. To be a people who show God's love and compassion to the whole world (Psalm 112:9; Galatians 2:10; 6:10; James 1:27).
Aguilas Christian Family Center teaches and encourages people to be baptized in the Holy Spirit to effectively carry out our specific mission:
"To win souls and make disciples; forming every person into a successful leader in spiritual, family, social and financial life.
The experience of the baptism in the Holy Spirit:
a. It enables them to evangelize in the power of the Spirit with signs and wonders (Mark 16:15-20; Acts 4:29-31; Hebrews 2:3,4).
b. It adds a necessary dimension to worship and relationship with God (1 Corinthians 2:10-16; 1 Corinthians 12-14).
c. It enables them to respond to the full manifestation of the Holy Spirit in the expression of fruits, gifts and ministries as in New Testament times, for the edification of the body of Christ, and the care of the poor and needy of the world (Galatians 5:22-26; Matthew 25:37-40; Galatians 6:10; 1 Corinthians 14:12; Ephesians 4:11,12; 1 Corinthians 12:28; Colossians 1:29).
11. THE MINISTRY.
Our Lord has provided a ministry which constitutes a divine and ordained calling for the fourfold purpose of leading the church in: (1) the evangelization of the world (Mark 16:15-0), (2) the worship of God (John 4:23, 24), (3) the building up of a body of saints to perfect them in the image of his Son (Ephesians 4:11,16), and (4) meeting human needs with ministries of love and compassion (Psalm 112:9; Galatians 2:10; 6:10; James 1:27).
ACFC does ministry through the specific mission entrusted by God to our ministry:
"Winning souls and making disciples; forming every person into a successful leader in spiritual, family social and financial life."
12. DIVINE HEALING.
Divine healing is an integral part of the gospel. Deliverance from sickness has been provided in the atonement and is the privilege of all believers (Isaiah 53:4,5; Matthew 8:16,17; Mark 16:17,18; James 5:14-16).
13. THE BLESSED HOPE.
The resurrection of those who have died in Christ and their rapture together with those who are alive at the Lord's second coming is the imminent and blessed hope of the Church (1 Thessalonians 4:16,17; Romans 8:23; Titus 2:13; 1 Corinthians 15:51,52).
14. THE MILLENNIAL REIGN OF CHRIST.
The second coming of Christ includes the rapture of the saints, which is our blessed hope, followed by the visible return of Christ with his saints to reign on earth for a thousand years (Zechariah 14:5; Matthew 24:27,30; Revelation 1:7; 19:11-14; 20:1-6). This millennial reign will bring the salvation of Israel as a nation (Ezekiel 37:21,22; Zephaniah 3:19,20; Romans 11:26,27) and the establishment of a universal peace (Isaiah 11:6-9; Psalm
72:3-8; Micah 4:3,4).
15. THE FINAL JUDGMENT.
There will be a final judgment in which sinners who have died will be resurrected and judged according to their works. Everyone whose name is not found in the Book of Life will be confined to suffer eternal punishment in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death, along with the devil and his angels, the beast, and the false prophet (Matthew 25:46; Mark 9:43-48; Revelation 19:20; 20:11-15; 21:8).
16. THE NEW HEAVENS AND THE NEW EARTH.
"But we, according to His promises, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness" (2 Peter 3:13; Revelation 21 and 22).
