India Gospel Church

STATEMENT OF FAITH

The Bible is only and all-sufficient rule for faith and practice for the believer in the Lord Jesus Christ and for his Church. This statement of faith, however has been made to serve two purposes:

• It is intended as a reaffirmation of those fundamental truths of the Bible which have been most frequently contradicted by cults and sects which operate in the name of Christianity.
• It is intended as a basis of fellowship among us (i.e., that we may speak the same thing, I Cor. 1:10, Acts 2:42)

ARTICLE – I : THE HOLY SCRIPTURES

A. Inspiration

• The 66 books of the Bible which constitute the Holy Scriptures were inspired in the sense that holy men of God were moved by the Holy Spirit to write the very words therein (II Tim. 3:16; II Peter 1:21; I Cor. 2:13; 10:11)
• This divine inspiration extends equally and fully to all parts of the writings – historical, poetical, doctrinal and prophetical – and hence the Bible is absolutely free from error as it appeared in the original manuscripts (Mark 12:26, 36; 13:11; Luke 24:27,44; John 5:39; Acts 1:16; 17:2-3; 18:28; 26:22-23; 28:23; Romans 15:4)




B. Authority

• The Bible is the supreme standard by which all human conduct, creeds and opinions should be tried (I John 4:1-6; Acts 17:11; Jude 3; Eph. 6:17; Ps. 119:59,60; Phil. 1:9-11).
• The Bible reveals the principles by which God will judge us (Rom. 2:12; I Cor. 4:3,4; Luke 10:10-16; 12:47,48).
• The Bible is the center of Christian union (Phil. 2:1,2; 3:16; Eph. 4:3-6; I Cor. 1:10; I Peter 4:11).

C. Interpretation

Any given passage of Scripture has only one true meaning, though there may be many applications of it. This true meaning is to be found by the diligent application of the grammatical, historical method of interpretation under the enlightenment of the Holy Spirit. The fundamental principle of this procedure is to gather from the Scriptures themselves the precise meaning which the writers intend to convey. This procedure gives due consideration to the various literacy forms, such as history, poetry, figures of speech, etc. (John 7:17; 16:12-13; I Cor. 2:14-15; I John 2:20).




ARTICLE – II : GOD

A. The Triune God

• 1. There is one and only one living and true God, an infinite, intelligent, perfect Spirit and personal Being, the Creator, Preserver and Supreme Ruler of the Universe (I John 4:24; Heb. 3:4; Rom. 1:20; Jer. 10:10).
• 2. God is inexpressibly glorious in holiness and all other perfections and worthy of all possible honor, confidence and love (Ex. 15:11; Isa. 6:3; I Peter 1:15,16; Rev. 4:6-8; Mark 12:30; Matt. 10:37; Jer. 2:12,13).
• 3. God is one in essence, but eternally exists in Three Persons – the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit – having precisely the same nature, attributes and perfections and worthy of precisely the same homage, confidence, love and obedience, and executing harmonious but distinct offices in the great work of redemption (Matt. 28:19; 3:13-17; I Cor. 12:4-6; 2:10-11; I John 5:7; Acts 5:3,4; John 5:17; 10:30; 14:23; 17:5,10; 1:32,33; Phil. 2:5,6 Eph. 2:18; Rev. 1:4,5; 2:7; Mark 1:9-11; Luke 3:21-22).
• 4. The Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit are never identical as to Person, nor confused as to relation, nor divided in respect to the Godhead, nor opposed as to co-operation (John 8:17,18; 5:17-30,32,37).




B. God the Father

• 1. God the Father, the first Person of the Trinity, orders and disposes all things according to His own purpose and grace (Ps. 145:8,9; Matt. 28:19).
• 2. He is sovereign in Creation, Providence and Redemption (I Chron. 29:11; Romans 11:13).
• 3. He has decreed for His own glory all things that come to pass and continually upholds, directs and governs all creatures and events. This He does so as in no way to be the author or approver of sin, nor to abridge the accountability of morally intelligent creatures (I Chron. 29:11; Psa. 103:19; John 11:18; Romans 1:13).
• 4. He has graciously chosen from all eternity those whom He would have as His own; He saves from sin all who come to Him through Jesus Christ; and relates Himself to His own as their Father (John 1:12; I Cor. 8:16; Eph. 1:3-7; I Peter 1:17).




C. God the Son

• 1. The Lord Jesus Christ is the second Person of the Triune God, the eternal Word and only-begotten Son, our great God and Saviour (John 1:1; Romans 9:5; John 3:16; Titus 2:13).
• 2. Without any essential change in His Divine Person, He became man by the miracle of the virgin birth, thus to continue for ever as both true God and true man, one Person with two natures (Heb. 13:8; John 1:14; Matt. 1:23; Luke 1:31,35; Col. 2:9; Rev. 22:16).
• 3. As Man, He was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin (Heb. 4:15; 7:26; John 4:46; I Peter 2:22).
• 4. As the Perfect Lamb of god, He gave Himself in death upon the Cross, bearing there the sin of the world and suffering its full penalty of divine wrath in our stead (Isa. 53:5-6; Matt. 20:28; Gal. 3:13; John 1:29; I Cor. 15:3; II Cor. 5:21).
• 5. He rose again from the dead and was glorified in the same body in which He suffered and died (Luke 24:36-43; John 20:25-28; Matt.28:6; I Cor. 15:4).
• 6. He ascended into heaven as our great High Priest, there to appear before the face of God as our Advocate and intercessor (Heb. 1:3; 4:14; 9:24; I John 2:1; Acts 1:9,11; 2:33; Phil. 2:9-11).




D. God the Holy Spirit

• 1. The Holy Spirit is the third Person of the Triune God (Matt. 28:19; Acts 5:3-4).
• 2. He is the Divine Agent in Creation, revelation and redemption (Gen. 1:2; Ps. 104:30; I Cor. 2:10; II Cor. 3:18).
• 3. He convicts the world of sin, righteousness and Judgment (John 16:8-11).
• 4. He regenerates those who believe (John 3:5).
• 5. He indwells, baptizes, empowers, guides, teaches and sanctifies believers who yield to Him (I Cor. 6:19; 12:13; Eph. 4:30; 3:16; Rom. 8:14; John 14:28; I Cor. 6:11).




ARTICLE – III : ANGELS

The angels are an innumerable company of sinless, spiritual, personal beings simultaneously created by God (Ps. 148:25; Col. 1:16; Neh. 9:6).

The Fallen Angels

1. Satan :



a. His Past History

• 1. His Fall : Lucifer, Son of the morning, the highest in rank among the angels, sinned through pride and thereby became Satan (Isa. 14:12-14; Ezek. 28:11-19).
• 2. His Part in Man’s Fall : Through subtlety, Satan led our first parents into transgression, thereby accomplishing their moral fall and subjecting them and their posterity to his own power (Gen. 3:1-19; Rom. 5:12-14).
• 3. His Judgment : Satan was judged and defeated at the Cross, though the sentence was not then executed (Gen. 3:15; Isa. 14:12; Matt. 25:41; Luke 10:18; John 12:31; 16:11; Hebrews 2:14).




b. His Present Activities

• 1. Satan, as the enemy of God and of the people of God, in his warfare appears as an angel of light, even counterfeiting the works of God by fostering religious movements and systems of doctrine contrary to the Scriptures (Eph. 6:10-12; II Thess. 2:4; I Tim. 4:1-3).
• 2. Christians are able to resist and overcome Satan only in the armor of God and by the Blood of the Lamb (Eph. 6:12-18; Rev. 12:11).




c. His Future Doom

Satan will be finally consigned to the Lake of Fire at the end of the millennium (Rev. 12:9; 20:10).



d. The Holy Angels

• 1. The angels who did not follow Satan, in sharing revolt, were confirmed in holiness and presently worship God and serve His purposes (Ps. 148:2-5; Mark 26:53; Col. 1:16; Hebrews 1:14).
• 2. The believer is forbidden to worship the angels (Rev. 22:8,9; Col. 2:18).




ARTICLE – IV : MAN

His Origin
Man was the direct creation of God, not in any sense the product of an animal ancestry, but made in the image, and after the likeness of God (Gen. 1:26-28; 2:7; 2:18-24; Matt. 19:4; I Thess. 5:23).

His Fall
By personal disobedience to the revealed will of God, man became a sinful creature and thus incurred spiritual as well as physical death (Gen. 3:1-24; Rom. 5:12-19).

Present Condition
• 1. This spiritual death or separation from God has been transmitted to each and every member of the human race, the Man Christ Jesus being the only exception (Gen. 1:26; 2:17; 6:5; Ps. 14:1-3; 51:5; Jer. 17:9; John 3:6; 5:40; 6:53; Romans 3:10-19; 8:6-7; Eph. 2:1-3; I Tim. 5:6; I John 3:8).
• 2. The human race are universally sinful in both nature and practice, alienated from the life and family of God, under the righteous judgment and wrath of God and have within themselves no possible means of recovery or salvation (Eph. 2:3; 4:18; John 8:42-44; Matt. 19:26; Mark 7:21-23; Romans 1:18; 3:19,23; 5:12; 7:18).




ARTICLE – V : SALVATION

Its Elements The salvation of man consists in the satisfaction of divine justice, the forgiveness of sins through the blood of Christ and reconciliation with God, the imputation of the righteousness of Jesus Christ, the gift of eternal life and every spiritual resource needed for life and godliness (Jonah 2:9; Isa. 53:6,10; John 10:27-29; Romans 3:24; 5:8-9; 8:38-39; II Cor. 5:18,19,21; Gal. 2:16; Eph. 2:7; II Peter 1:3; I John 4:10).

Its Attainment Salvation is received by repentance toward God and faith toward the Lord Jesus Christ (Luke 24:47; John 3:3; Romans 10:13-15; Eph. 2:8; Titus 2:12).

Its Evidence

• 1. The inward evidence of salvation is the direct witness of Holy Spirit (Rom. 8:16).
• 2. The outward evidence of salvation to all men is a life of righteousness and true holiness (Eph. 4:24; Titus 2:12).
Its Security

• 1. The salvation of the believer who abides in Christ is eternally secure (Romans 8; John 10:27-30; 15:1-10; I Cor. 1:4-9; I Peter 1:3-5).
• 2. But as far as human experience is concerned, salvation once attained can be lost through apostasy (John 15:6; Heb. 6:4-8; I Cor. 9:23,27; Rev. 22:19; Acts 1:25; Matt. 7:22,23).




ARTICLE – VI : BAPTISM IN THE HOLY SPIRIT

• 1. All believers are entitled to and should ardently expect and earnestly seek the promise of the Father, the Baptism in the Holy Spirit according to the command of our Lord Jesus Christ (Luke 11:10-13; Acts 1:4,5,8; I Cor. 12:1-31).
• 2. The Baptism in the Holy Spirit is a definite spiritual experience, distinct from and subsequent to the experience of the new birth (Acts 8:12-17; 10:44-46; 11:14-16; 15:7-9; 19:1-6).
• 3. The Baptism in the Holy Spirit is witnessed by the initial physical sign of speaking with other tongues as the Spirit of God gives them utterance (Acts 2:4; 10:44-46; 19:6; 8:14-18; 4:31; 9:17; I Cor. 14:18; 11:15-17; Isa. 28:11,12; I Cor. 14:21; 1:5&8; Mark 16:17).




From God’s Point of View

God’s part in the believer’s sanctification has 3 phases:

• 1. Believers have been made partakers of Christ’s holiness (Heb. 10:10; I Cor. 6:11; 1:30).
• 2. Believers are being progressively sanctified (John 17:17; Phil. 1:9-11; Eph. 5:26,27; I Thess. 4:3; Romans 1:7; II Cor. 3:18).
• 3. Believers will be completely sanctified at the Rapture (Col. 3:4; Phil. 3:21; Prov. 4:18; Phil. 2:13; Eph. 1:4; I John 3:2; Romans 8:29).

From Man’s Point of View

• 1. Sanctification is an act of separation from this present evil world and of dedication unto God (Rom. 12:1,2; I Thess. 4:3; 5:23; Heb. 13:12; John 15:3; Phil. 2:12; II Peter 1:5-8).
• 2. Sanctification is realized in the believer by recognizing his identification with Christ in His death and resurrection and by faith reckoning daily upon the fact of that union and by offering every faculty continually to the dominion of the Holy Spirit (Rom. 6:1-11,13; 8:1,2,13; Gal. 2:20; Phl. 2:12,13; I Peter 1:5; Heb. 10:14; Eph. 4:15).




ARTICLE – VIII : DIVINE HEALING

• Provision is made in the Atonement for the healing of the body as well as for the salvation of the soul (Isa. 53:4,5; Matt. 8:16,17; Mark 16:17; I Peter 2:24; I Cor. 11:29-32).
• Divine Healing is the privilege of all believers (James 5:14-16; Matt. 1:21-31).




ARTICLE – IX : THE GIFT OF THE SPIRIT

There are nine gifts of the Spirit which God has set in the Church for its edification and should never be neglected or forbidden (I Cor. 12:8-10,28,31; 14:5,12-13,18,26-27,39; I Thess. 5:19).

The Gift of Tongues, as well as all the other gifts of Spirit, is meant to be in operation in the Church till the Rapture and not to be relegated to a future dispensation (Isa. 28:11-12; Mark 16:17; Acts 2:1-4; 38-39; Rom. 8:26-27; I Cor. 12:1ff; 14:1-5,27-28,39; Eph. 6:18; Jude 20).



The Christian has a 3-fold ministry in tongues

1. Personal ministry for oneself

• (a) Self-edification (I Cor. 14:2,4, 14-15,18; Jude 20).
• (b) Spiritual rest (I Cor. 14:21-22; Isa. 28:11-12; John 14:12-26; Acts 1:4-8; 2:1-4; Mark 16:16-18; I Cor. 12:14).
• (c) Personal intercession (Rom. 8:26).

2. Devotional ministry to God (I Cor. 14:2; Acts 2:11; 10:46).

3. Ministry on behalf of others

• (a) Spiritual intercession (Eph. 6:18).
• (b) Edification of the body of Christ (I Cor. 14:12-13,26,27).
• (c) Supernatural sign to unbelievers (I Cor. 14:21-22; Acts 2:6-11; 2:19).




1. There is a distinction between speaking in an unknown tongue as the evidence of the baptism in the Holy Spirit and the gift of tongues which is one of the nine gifts of the Spirit.

2. The evidence of the Baptism in the Holy Spirit will usually be but one language or tongue and every Spirit-filled person should have it for the purpose of worshiping and praising God, as well as for personal edification and intercession (Acts 2:4; 10:44-46; 19:1-6; Mark 16:17; I Cor. 14:5a; Romans 8:26-27; Jude 20; Eph. 6:18).

2. The gift of tongues consists of many tongues or languages (“diverse kinds of tongues”) (I Cor. 12:8-13).

• (a) All Spirit-filled persons do not have this gift (I Cor. 12:30)
• (b) The purpose of this gift is to minister to the body of Christ (I Cor. 14:5b).
• (c) This gift is to be exercised in the Church only in connection with the gift of interpretation of tongues (I Cor. 14:5,27,28).
• (d) This gift as well as the gift of prophecy is not to be exercised by more than 3 persons in any one public Church Service (I Cor. 14:28,29).




ARTICLE – X : SEPARATION

From the World

• 1. Christians should walk in separation from this present world, having no fellowship with its evil ways (Phil. 3:20; II Cor. 6:14-18; Romans 12:2; Eph. 5:11).
• 2. Christians should abstain from all worldly amusements and unclean habits which defile mind and body (Luke 8:14; I Thess. 5:22; I Tim. 5:6; I Pet. 2:11; Eph. 5:3-11, 18; Col. 3:17; I Cor. 6:19-20).
• 3. Christians should obtain from the sin of divorce and remarriage as forbidden by our Lord and His Apostle Paul (Matt. 5:31,32; 19:2-9; Mark 6:17,18; 10:2-12; Luke 16:18; Romans 7:1; I Cor. 7:39).
• 4. Christians should abstain from the swearing of any oath (Matt. 5:33-37; 23:16-22; James 5:12).
• 5. Christians should abstain from the use of any unbelieving courts for the settlement of any disputes between Christians (I Cor. 6:1-9).
• 6. Christians should abstain from the taking of personal vengeance in carnal strife (Rom. 12:18-21; I Cor. 10:3-4).

From hereby and Apostasy

Christians should maintain total and complete separation from all forms of hereby and ecclesiastic apostasy (I John 4:1; Rom. 16:17, Titus 1:13; Eph. 5:11; II Thess. 3:6; II John 10:11; II Thess. 3:14; Titus 3:10; II Cor. 6:17).



ARTICLE – XI : THE CHURCH

Its Nature
• 1. The Church which is the body and bride of Christ is a spiritual organism made up of all born-again Christians of the present age (Col. 1:18; Eph. 1:22-23; 5:25-27; I Cor. 12:12-14).
• 2. The Body of Christ is visibly functional through autonomous organizations called local churches (I Cor. 1:1-2; Phil. 1:1).
• 3. Individual members of this body and these local churches are priests before God having the privilege and responsibility of offering intercessory prayer and spiritual sacrifice to Him (Matt. 22:15-22; Rom. 12:4-21; I Peter 2:5-9; Rev. 1:6; Rom. 13:1-7; I Peter 2:13-17).


Its Mission The Mission of the Church is to glorify God by building itself up in the faith by instruction of the Word, to fellowship and observe the ordinances and to communicate the Gospel to the entire world (Matt. 28:19; Acts 2:41-42; Romans 15:6,9; Eph. 3:10; Eph. 4:11-16; Hebrews 10:25).

Its Ordinances The ordinances of the Church are Baptism and the Lord’s Supper


• 1. Baptism is the immersion of believer in water in the name of the triune God (Matt. 28:16-20; Luke 22:19-20; Acts 2:41; 10:47-48)
• 2. The Lord’s Supper was instituted by Christ for commemoration of His atoning Death (I Cor. 11:23-29).




ARTICLE – XII : THINGS TO COME

The Intermediate State
• 1. The souls of the redeemed at death pass immediately into the presence of Christ and there remain in joyful fellowship until their first resurrection, that is, their bodily resurrection unto life (Luke 16:22; 23:43; II Cor. 5:8; Phil. 1:23).
• 2. The souls of the unsaved at death descend immediately into Hades, where they are kept under punishment unto the second resurrection, that is their bodily resurrection unto damnation (Luke 16:22-25; Rev. 20:5a).




The Rapture of the Church

The next great event in the fulfillment of prophecy is the personal, bodily return of the Lord to remove from the earth His waiting Church and to reward them according to their works (John 14:2-3; Rom. I Thess. 1:10; 4:15-17; Titus 2:11-13; Rev. 3:10).



The Tribulation

After this removal from the earth, the righteous judgments of God will be poured out upon the unbelieving world for a period of seven years (Dan. 9:27; 12:1; Jer. 30:7; Matt. 24:15-31; 25:31-46; II Thess. 2:7-12; Rev. 6:19).



The Second Coming

The Tribulation judgments will be climaxed by the return of our Lord Jesus Christ in glory to the earth, at which time the Old Testament and Tribulation saints will also be raised and the living will be judged and Satan will be bound (Zach. 14:4; Matt. 24:29-31; Luke 21:25-28; Rev. 17:14; 19:11-16; 20:1-5; Isa. 26:19; Dan. 12:2-3).



The Millennium

After this judgment Christ will establish His Messianic Kingdom in which the resurrection saints will reign with Him over Israel and all the nations of the earth for a thousand years (Deut. 30:1-10; Ezek. 37:21-28; Isa. 11:1-16; 65:17-25; Rev. 19:11,14; 20:1-6).



The White Throne Judgment

At the close of the millennial reign, the unsaved dead will be raised and judged according to their works and committed to everlasting punishment and the saved will enter the eternal state of glory with God (Matt. 25:33-46; Mark 9:43-48; Rev. 19:20; 20:11-15; 21:8; I Cor. 15:24-28; II Thess. 1:9).



The Eternal State

Having fulfilled His redemptive and kingdom missions as the Son of Abraham and the Son of David, Christ will deliver up the kingdom to God the Father, that the triune God may reign forever in all spheres (Rev. 20:11-15; 21:1-4; 22:5,11).

1. New Jerusalem (Rev. 21:1-22:5).