1. The Scriptures Inspired
The Scriptures (the Holy Bible), both the Old and New Testaments, are supernaturally and verbally inspired in totality of God through the guidance of the Holy Spirit and the revelation of God to man, the infallible, inerrant Word, authoritative rule of faith and conduct. (1 Thessalonians 2:13; 2 Timothy 3:15-17; 2 Peter 1:21).
2. The One True God
The One true God has revealed Himself as the eternally self-existent “I AM”, the Creator and Supreme Ruler of heaven and earth; perfectly holy, who is the Upholder, Redeemer and Saviour of mankind. He has further revealed Himself as embodying the principles of relationship and association as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, equal in every Divine perfection and executing distinct but harmonious offices in the great work of redemption. (Deuteronomy 6:4; Isaiah 43:10-11; Matthew 28;19; Luke 3:22; 1 Peter 1:2; 2 Corinthians 13:14).
3. The Deity of the Lord Jesus Christ
The Lord Jesus Christ is the second person of the Godhead the eternal Son of God.
The Scriptures declare:
a. His virgin birth (Matt. 1:23; Luke 1:31-35).
b. His sinless life (Heb. 7:26; 1 Pet. 2:22).
c. His miracles (Acts 2:22; 10:38).
d. His substitutionary work on the cross (1 Cor. 15:3; 2 Cor. 5:21).
e. His bodily resurrection from the dead (Matt. 28:6; Luke 24:39; 1Cor 15:4).
f. His exaltation to the right hand of God (Acts 1:19-11; 2:33; Phil. 2:9-11; Heb. 1:3).
4. Fall of Man
Man was created good and upright; for God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness” (Gen. 1:26, KJV). However, man by voluntary transgression fell from his sinless and happy state and thereby incurred not only physical death but also spiritual death, which is separation from God (Gen. 1:26-27; 2:17; 3:6). The consequence of which, all mankind are now sinners (Rom. 5:12-19) by nature and by choice, therefore being under just condemnation without defence or excuse (Rom 1:18-20).
5. The Salvation of Man
Man’s only hope of redemption is through the shed blood of Jesus Christ the Son of God.
a. Conditions to Salvation
Salvation is received through repentance toward God and faith toward the Lord Jesus Christ. By the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, being justified by grace through faith, man becomes an heir of God, according to the hope of eternal life. (Luke 24:47; John 3:3; Rom. 10:13-15; Eph. 2:8; Titus 2:11; 3:5-7).
b. The Evidences of Salvation
The inward evidence of salvation is the direct witness of the Spirit (Rom. 8:16). The outward evidence to all men is a life of righteousness and true holiness (Eph. 4:24; Titus 2:12).
6. The Ordinances of the Church
a. Baptism in Water
The ordinance of baptism by immersion is commanded in the Scriptures. All who repent and believe in Christ as Saviour and Lord are to be baptised. Thus they declare to the world that they have died with Christ and they also have been raised with Him to walk in newness of life. (Matt. 28:19; Mark 6:16; Acts 10:47-48; Rom. 6:4).
b. Holy Communion
The Lord’s Supper, consisting of the elements–bread and the fruit of the vine–is the symbol expressing our sharing the divine nature of our Lord Jesus Christ (2 Pet. 1:4); a memorial of His suffering and death (1 Cor. 11:26); and a prophecy of His second coming (1 Cor. 11:26); and is enjoined on all believers “till He come”!
7. The Baptism in the Holy Spirit
All believers are entitled to and should ardently expect and earnestly seek the promise of the Father, 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 Christian church. With it comes the believer is endue with power for life and service, the bestowment of the gifts and their uses in the work of the ministry (Luke 24:49; Acts 1:4-8; 1 Cor. 12:1-31). This experience is distinct from and subsequent to the experience of the new birth. (Acts 8:12-17; 10:44-46; 11:14-16; 15:7-9).
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; Heb. 12:28), an intensified 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).
8. The Initial Physical Evidence of the Baptism in the Holy Spirit
The baptism of believers 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). The speaking in tongues in this instance is the same in essence as the gift of tongues (1 Cor. 12:4-10, 28), but different in purpose and use.
9. Sanctification
Sanctification is an act of separation from that which is evil, and of dedication unto God (Rom. 12:1-2; 1 Thess. 5:23; Heb. 13:12). Scriptures teach a life of “holiness without which no man shall see the Lord” (Heb. 12:14, [KJV]). By the power of the Holy Spirit we are able to obey the command: “Be ye holy, for I Am holy” (1 Peter 1:15-16).
Sanctification is realised in the believer by recognising 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; 1:13; 8:1-2,13; Gal. 2:20; Phil. 2:12-13; 1 Peter 1:5).
10. The Church and its Mission
The Church is the Body of Christ, the habitation of God through the Spirit, with divine appointments for the fulfilment of her Great Commission. Each believer, born of the Spirit, is an integral part of the General Assembly and Church of the Firstborn, which are written in heaven (Eph. 1:22-23; 2:22; Heb. 12:23).
Since God’s purpose concerning man is to seek and to save that which is lost, to be worshipped by man, and to build a body of believers in the image of His Son, the priority reason-for-being in the New Life Believers Fellowship (NLBF) as part of the Church is:
a. To be an agency of God for evangelising the world (Matt. 28:19-20; Mark 16:15-16; Acts 1:8).
b. To be a corporate body in which man may worship God (1 Cor. 12:13).
c. To be a channel for God’s purpose to build a body of saints being perfected in the image of His Son (1 Cor. 12:28; 1 Cor. 14:12; Eph 4:11-16).
New Life Believers Fellowship Inc. exists expressly to give continuing emphasis to this reason-for-being in the New Testament apostolic pattern by teaching and encouraging believers to be baptised in the Holy Spirit. This experience:
a. Enables them to evangelise in the power of the Spirit with accompanying supernatural signs (Mark 16:15-20; Acts 4:29-31; Heb. 2:3-4).
b. Adds a necessary dimension to a worshipful relationship with God (1 Cor. 2:10-16; 12-14).
c. Enables them to respond to the full working of the Holy Spirit in expression of fruit and gifts and ministries as in New Testament times for the edifying of the body of Christ (1 Cor. 12:28; 14:12; Gal. 5:22-26; Eph 4:11-12; Col. 1:29).
11. The Ministry
A divinely called and scripturally ordained ministry has been provided by our Lord for the threefold purpose of leading the Church in:
a. Evangelisation of the world (Mark 16:15-20),
b. Worship of God (John 4:23-24), and
c. Building a body of saints being perfected in the image of His Son (Eph. 4:11-16).
12. Divine Healing
Divine healing is an integral part of the gospel. Deliverance from sickness is provided for in the atonement, and is the privilege of all believers (Isa. 53:4-5; Matt. 8:16-17; James. 5:14-16)
13. The Blessed Hope
The resurrection of those who have fallen asleep in Christ and their translation together with those who are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord is the imminent and blessed hope of the Church. (Rom. 8:23; 1 Cor. 15:51-52; 1 Thess. 4:16-17; Titus 2:13).
14. The Millennial Reign of Jesus 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 the earth for one thousand years (Zech. 14:5; Matt. 24:27-30; Rev. 1:7; 19:11-14; 20:1-6). This millennial reign will bring the salvation of national Israel (Ezek. 37:21-22; Zeph 3:19-20; Rom. 11:26-27) and the establishment of universal peace (Ps. 72:3-8; Isa. 11:6-9; Mic. 4:3-4).
15. The Final Judgement
There will be a final judgement in which the wicked dead will be raised and judged according to their works. Whosoever is not found written in the Book of Life, together with the devil and his angels, the beast and the false prophet, will be consigned to everlasting punishment in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death (Matt. 25:46; Mark 9:43-48; Rev. 19:20; 20:11-15; 21:18).
16. The New Heavens and the New Earth
“We according to His promise, look for new heavens and new earth wherein dwells righteousness” (2 Peter 3:13 [KJV]; Rev. 21:22).}