The Tenets of the New Testament Church

Lesson Content

To bring the Church to perfection, the Church has to be founded on certain basic tenets called the principles of the doctrines of Christ. They are listed out in Hebrews 6:1,2. They are:

1. Repentance from dead works: A genuine repentance unto salvation by means of confession with godly sorrow for all the works of sin (II Cor.7:10,11; Heb.9:14; Jn.3:3).

2. Faith toward God: Faith in the Triune God and His Name (I Jn.5:7; Isa.48:16).

3. Doctrine of baptisms: (Jn.3:5; Acts 19:2-6).

(a) Baptism in water — at the hand of a Spirit -baptized servant of God by immersion in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit (Rom. 6:2-7; Matt. 28:19).

(b) Baptism of the Holy Ghost — being filled with the Holy Spirit with the outward sign of speaking in tongues (Acts 2:2-4; 10:44-47; 11:15,16) of which it is written “this is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest” (Isa.28:11,12). The Triune God comes to dwell in man (Jn.14:16,20,23).

4. Laying on of hands:

(a) For the dedication of infants (Matt.19:13-15).

(b) For the healing of the sick (Mk.16:18; Jam. 5:14-16).

(c) For separating people for the ministry from the Spirit -baptized, in accordance with the doctrine of the New Testament Ministry (Acts 13:2,3).

5. Resurrection of the dead (Rev.20:4-6,11,12; I Cor.15:20-23).

6. Eternal Judgment — The righteous will inherit New Earth, New Heaven and New Jerusalem comprising Zion (Rev. 21:1-4; 14:1). The wicked will be cast into the Lake of Fire meant for Satan and his angels (Matt.25:41; Rev.20:15). The Church, being founded on these basic doctrines, has to go on unto perfection, following the teachings given by the fully consecrated servants of God who can lead it to entire sanctification and a victorious life. Referring to the consecration of these servants of God, Jesus said that except a man forsake his all and hate all carnal ties, he cannot be His disciple (Lk.14:26,33), and that a man intending to build a tower should therefore sit and count the cost; otherwise, having laid the foundation he will not be able to build to perfection (Lk.14:28-30).

God has also ordained in the Church nine gifts of the Holy Spirit (I Cor.12:8-10), five kinds of offices called the gifts of Christ (Eph.4:11-13) and eight ministries (I Cor.12:28) to bring the Church to perfection.

Moral

We should not be tossed to and fro with every wind of doctrine but continue steadfastly in the apsotles’ doctrine and go on to perfection.