THE ONE TRUE GOD

We believe in the one ever-living, eternal God: infinite in power, holy in nature, attributes and purpose; and possessing absolute, indivisible deity. This one true God has revealed Himself as Father; through His Son, in redemption; and as the Holy Spirit, by emanation (I Corinthians 8:6; Ephesians 4:6; II Corinthians 5:19; Joel 2:28).

JESUS CHRIST

The one true God, the Jehovah of the Old Testament, took upon Himself the form of man, and as the Son of God, and the son of man, being 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” (I Timothy 3:16).

“He came unto his own, and his own received him not” (John 1:11). This one true God was manifest in the flesh, that is, in His Son Jesus Christ. “God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them” (II Corinthians 5:19).

The Bible is the infallible, inerrant, divinely inspired Word of God ("God-breathed") and the authority for salvation and Christian living. (See II Timothy 3:15-17). We believe that Scripture is not for private or individualized interpretation to form beliefs that go against the whole counsel of God's word.

Everyone has sinned and needs salvation. Salvation comes by grace through faith in the atoning sacrifice and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. (See Romans 3:23-25; 6:23; Ephesians 2:8-9.)

Sin is rebellion, disobedience to God's law, or lawlessness. It comes from the inside of our hearts as our natural desire to sin (Mark 7:20-23). Everyone has sinned, and is considered a sinner (Romans 3:10-12, 23). This makes them enemies with God (Colossians 1:21-23) The only person who lived a sinless life was Jesus (Hebrews 4:15). The Bible says the payment, or reward of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus (Romans 6:23).

The Scriptures mention that a person who has been born of God (being born again) cannot continue sinning because God's seed remains in them (1 John 3:9) Being born of God to be free from sin is dependent on our response to the Gospel.

The saving gospel is the good news that Jesus was born, lived and died for our sins; was buried, and rose from the dead so that by faith, we could be born again and reconciled (reunited in right relationship and standing with God) and inherit eternal life through Christ.

We obey the gospel (II Thessalonians 1:8; I Peter 4:17), first and foremost by believing that same truth which is faith, dying to our sins by repentance, and being baptized by immersion in water in the name of Jesus Christ, and experiencing the baptism of the Holy Spirit evidenced by the signs given in scripture manifestation of the gifts, and most importantly, having the fruit of the Holy Spirit (See Mark 16:17-18, I Corinthians 15:1-4; Acts 2:4, 37-39; Romans 6:3-4.)

REDEMPTION

Redemption is Christ purchasing us when we were slaves to sin. He paid the price for us with His own blood instead of money, so that we may belong to him and be free from death, which is the result of sin. (Romans 6:17-19, Galatians 4:3-7, Ephesians 1:7)

EXPIATION (ATONEMENT)

The Old Testament shadowed this fulfilled work in Christ with the sacrifices of animals by the people of Israel to remove their guilt of sin. Jesus became the atoning sacrifice that was offered once and for all to remove the guilt of any sinner who would believe in Him. (Leviticus 16, Hebrews 10)

PROPITIATION

The act of appeasing or calming the wrath of God, affecting his anger toward us for sin, redirecting the divine and eternal punishment that was meant for us. Christ accomplished this, taking upon himself the divine wrath meant for sinful individuals during the crucifixion, ending in his own death. (Isaiah 53:4-5; Romans 3:23 - 25, 5:6-8; 2 Corinthians 5:21; 1 John 2:2,4:10)

RECONCILIATION

Christ, through the cross, reconciles us unto God and restores us to a relationship with Him. (Colossians 1:19-22, 1 Timothy 1:3-6)

IMPUTATION AND REMISSION

At Calvary there was an exchange between Christ and humanity. Christ exchanges His righteousness for the sin of humanity. This righteousness is received by faith in Jesus Christ (Isaiah 53:5, 2 Corinthians 5:21, Titus 3:6-7, James 2:23.

JUSTIFICATION

Christ justifies the sinner through his shed blood on the cross. The sinner who repents and obeys the gospel is justified by the grace of God and counted as innocent (Romans 3:21-25; Romans 5:8-9, 19).

GRACE AND FAITH

Grace and Faith are what make the accomplishments of the cross effective in the heart of the believer. It is by grace, the undeserved favor of God that we are afforded the blessing to be saved. It is by sincere, transforming faith that we can receive all that Christ alone accomplished for us (Luke 18:7-8, Acts 4:12, Galatians 5:3-5, Ephesians 2:4-9, Hebrews 11:1-3)

That Jesus is coming again the second time in person, just as He went away, is clearly set forth by the Lord Jesus Himself, and was preached and taught in the early Christian church by the apostles; hence, the children of God today are earnestly, hopefully, looking forward to the glorious event (Matthew 24; Acts 1:11, 3:19-21; I Corinthians 11:26; Philippians 3:20-21; I Thessalonians 4:14-17; Titus 2:13-14).

We believe that the time is drawing near when our Lord shall appear; then the dead in Christ shall arise, and we who are alive and remain shall be caught up with them to meet our Lord in the air (I Thessalonians 4:13-17; I Corinthians 15:51-54; Philippians 3:20-21).

THE MILENIAL REIGN OF CHRIST

We believe that the distress upon the earth is the “beginning of sorrows” and will become more intense until there “shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time” (Daniel 12:1). (See also Matthew 24:3-8.) and that period of “tribulation” will be followed by the dawn of a better day on earth and that for a thousand years there shall be “peace on earth and good will toward men.” (See Revelation 20:1-5; Isaiah 65:17-25; Matthew 5:5; Daniel 7:27; Micah 4:1-2; Hebrews 2:14; Romans 11:25-27.)

FINAL JUDGEMENT

When the thousand years are finished, there shall be a resurrection of all the dead, who will be summoned before the great white throne for their final judgment, and all whose names are not found written in the Book of Life shall be cast into the lake of fire, burning with brimstone, which God hath prepared for the devil and his angels, Satan himself being cast in first (Matthew 25:41; Revelation 20:7, 15; 21:8).

COMMUNION - THE LORD'S SUPPER

On the night of our Lord’s betrayal, He ate the Passover supper with His apostles, after which He instituted the sacrament. “And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me. Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is shed for you” (Luke 22:19-20). Paul instructed the church how to observe it (I Corinthians 11:23-34). Thus was instituted the use of literal bread and the fruit of the vine, which are partaken of literally, as emblems of His broken body and shed blood. There is also a spiritual significance and blessing in partaking of the sacrament.

FOOT WASHING

When the Passover supper was ended, we read in John 13:4-5, “He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself. After that he poureth water into a bason, and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded.” Jesus said, “If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you” (John 13:14-15). This first example was given by our Lord, and it is a divine institution. It is well to follow His example and wash one another’s feet; thus demonstrating a spirit of humility.

Our church does not endorse any political candidate, regardless of their possible coinciding beliefs with the church. We cannot and will not make campaign contributions; or influence church members to do so.

We believe that the church body should contribute positively to the community and society in ways that are aligned with biblical principles. Our congregation will not support or endorse activities, ceremonies, events, initiatives, or programs whose objectives or purposes are contrary to the counsel of Scripture.

We believe that the local church is composed of people who have been born again and follow the teaching and example of the Lord Jesus.

Since modern society has eroded the biblical ideal of the family and its practical existence, and since homosexual couples, unmarried heterosexual couples, or couples in which either party identifies as anything other than their biological sex at birth, even groups of persons simply maintaining a common household are seeking to gain legal and social status as families, with all due rights and privileges given to families, including but not limited to social benefits or rights such as child rearing and custody, spousal or dependent insurance, inheritance rights, and tax exemptions, and since a growing number of states, with the support of certain national leaders, have attempted to change the legal definition of marriage to include same-sex couples.

Be it resolved that the Old Path Pentecostal Church Casa Grande uphold the biblical ideal of the basic family as one man and one woman (Genesis 2:24; Matthew 19:4-9; Ephesians 5:22-25, 28), married by law in accordance with all biblical injunctions; and all offspring of such a couple, biological or adopted (Psalm 127:3; Leviticus 14:29; James 1:27); with the extended family being comprised of the various relatives of blood and marriage resulting from the lawful union of a man and woman (Leviticus 25:25, 47-49; Numbers 27:6-11; Judges 18:19; Acts 10:2, 11-14; 16:31-32).

Be it further resolved that the Old Path Pentecostal Church Casa Grande and its constituent ministers uphold the biblical ideal of the family in doctrine and example, publicly defending the family as the most critical social institution ordained by God, while making all reasonable, practical efforts to resist legal recognition of persons or groups as families when such persons or groups contradict biblical teaching on morality and the family.

Be it also further resolved that the Old Path Pentecostal Church Casa Grande go on record as actively opposing any attempt to change the definition of marriage that broadens this sacred institution from the union of one man and one woman.

And be it further resolved that the Old Path Pentecostal Church Casa Grande, its pastor(s) or any of its ministers shall not preside over, officiate, or oversee any ceremony or occassion that joins persons in a marriage or any other union that is not between one man and one woman as taught in the Bible.