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Grace Romanian Pentecostal Church Springfield, Missouri

CONFESSION OF FAITH

This Confession of Faith, whose foundation is the word of God, underlies the Pentecostal faith.

1. We believe that the , or the Holy Scripture, is the word of God without error and our only standard in the life of faith. a. The Bible, or the Holy Scripture, composed of the and , is breathed out by God (2 Timothy 3:16, 2 Peter 1:20-21). b. The Bible is a Godly revelation made to man. It was written in different periods of time, up to its completion through the Book of Revelation. No one has the right to add, to take away, or change anything from it (Proverbs 30:6, Galatians 1:8-9, Revelation 22:18-19). The Bible is the word of God, which is alive and still working, sharper than a sword with two edges (:12). c. The Old Testament shows us how God prepared the coming of the Messiah to earth, which is Christ (:6, Galatians 3:24, Colossians 2:14-17, Ephesians 2:14-16, :13). d. The New Testament shows us the life and teachings of Jesus Christ which are the foundation of the Church of God. The New Testament also includes the teachings of the apostles (Romans 10:4 and 3:24, 1 Corinthians 15:12, :13; Romans 1:16, 2 Thessalonians 1:8-9). 2. We believe in God in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. a. God the Father i. He made known to his ancient servants that his is a God who does not depend on anyone, “I am who I am” (Exodus 3:14). ii. God is a spirit (John 4:24), life (:13-16, Acts 17:25-28), light (1 John 1:5), love (1 John 4:8), wisdom (Jeremiah 10:12), righteousness, and holiness (Revelation 15:3 and 4:8).

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iii. God is alive and eternal (Psalm 84:2, Deuteronomy 33:27, Isaiah 40:28). He is good (Mark 10:18), perfect (Mathew 5:48), merciful (Deuteronomy 4:31, James 5:11), faithful (2 Timothy 2:13), and patient (Romans 2:4). He cannot be seen, nor fathomed by the human mind (1 John 4:12, Job 11:7-9). He can be known though Jesus Christ, through the Holy Spirit, through the Holy Scriptures (1 John 5:20, 1 Corinthians 2:10-11), through creation (Romans 1:19-20, Isaiah 40:26), and his concern for us (1 Peter 5:7). b. God the son i. Our Lord Jesus Christ is eternal (:8). He exists from eternity (John 17:5) and is the single son born from the Father, “The first born from all creation,” before any other creature (Colossians 1:15-17, John 1:2-3). ii. He is the true Messiah (Savior) which was promised, the upholder of the law and the prophecies of the Old Testament (Luke 2:26-27). iii. He is the Son of God (Luke 1:32), and the Son of man (Mathew 9:6, Mark 2:28). Through the Holy Spirit he became flesh and was born to the Virgin Mary (Luke 1:34-35), and came to earth as a man. He revealed God to us as the Father (Mathew 5:16, John 4:23). “The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil” (1 John 3:8). iv. He came to earth to raise the sins of those who believe in him (John 1:29); to suffer (Isaiah 53:3-10, Mathew 16:21); to die for us (Romans 5:8); to reconcile us with God (Colossians 1:20); and to save us (John 12:47). His blood cleans us of all sins (1 John 1:7).He rose from the dead on the third day as it says in the scriptures (1 Corinthians 15:4). He ascended into heaven and sat at the right hand of God (Mark 16:19). He mediates for believers, preparing for them a place in heaven (John 14:3). He is the first to rise from among the dead (Colossians 1:18). Through resurrection he received a body of glory (John 12:12-20, :21). He will return a second time to raise his church from the earth and to judge the world (Mathew 25:31-33). v. He is the judge of the living and of the dead (Acts 10:42; John 5:22). c. God the Holy Spirit i. The Holy Spirit, also called the Spirit of God, the Comforter, and the Spirit of Truth (John 14:26), is the third person of the Holy Trinity (1 Corinthians 12:3- 6, 2 Corinthians 13:14). He was from the beginning, and worked with the Father and the Son in the creation (Genesis 1:2). ii. His work and nature are absolutely unfathomable to the human mind, just as God is also unfathomable. Through the Spirit of God and his breath, all men are made. Through him and creatures receive life (Job 33: 4). iii. The people of God from the old times spoke and wrote the word of God, being "moved by the Holy Spirit" (2 Peter 1:21). iv. At the Pentecost, the Holy Spirit came upon the believers, after Jesus Christ finished his mission on earth and ascended to heaven (Acts 2:1-4). The disciples were filled with the Holy Spirit and from that day were accompanied with supernatural works: signs, miracles, healings, and other

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gifts (:4, Mark 16:17-18). He is the guide of God’s New Testament Church, from the day of Pentecost until it is raptured (John 16:13). v. Today the Holy Spirit choses (Acts 13:2 and 20:28), teaches (John 14:26), fills (Acts 2:4 and 4:31), clothes (Luke 24:29) and sends God’s servants to work (Acts 10:19-20 and 8:29). vi. Through the Holy Spirit, man receives a new birth (John 3:5-8, Titus 3:5), receives eternal life (:8), is able to live according to the will of God (Romans 8:6-10), and understands the Holy Scripture and the works of God (1 Corinthians 2:9-14). vii. God gives the gift of the Holy Spirit to those who repent, listen to him, and accept Jesus Christ as their personal savior (Acts 2:38 and 5:32, John 7:37- 39). viii. The Holy Spirit has taken the form of a dove (Mathew 3:16). The filling of the Holy Spirit was associated with the physical manifestations of tongues as of fire (Acts 2:1-4), wind (Acts 2:2), and shaking of the earth (Acts 4:31). 3. We believe that in the beginning God created the heavens and the earth (Genesis 1:1) a. The Heavens. The throne of God is in there (Psalm 103:19, Mathew 5:34), and the location of the (Mathew 18:10). The word of God shows us that the third heaven is the heaven of God (:1-4). Jesus Christ ascended into heaven and is preparing a place for his believers (John 14:2, Luke 24:50-51). The names of the saved are found in heaven (Luke 10:20, John 17:24). b. The Earth. In the beginning God created the heavens and earth (Genesis 1:1). The earth was without form and void (Genesis 1:2). God through his power and his word, over the duration of six days, made the earth to be a good and gave the first dominion to man to fill, subdue, and care for the world (Genesis 1:26-28, 31). c. Once sin entered the world, God cursed the earth (Genesis 3:17-18). man God brought judgment and punishment on earth because of the wickedness of, like the desolation of the flood (Genesis 6:11-13), the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 19:12-14, 2 Peter 2:6), and others. Since then, there have been various cataclysms, according to those predicted by Jesus (Mathew 24:7). At the end, the existing earth shall give way to a new earth, where righteousness dwells (2 Peter 3:7, Revelation 21:1-4). 4. We believe that God created angels. a. Angels i. Angels are spiritual creatures, created by God without sin, put to work for him (Genesis 19:15, Revelation 19:9-10). They perform various jobs “for those who will inherit salvation” (:14, Luke 15:10, Acts 10:4-7 and 23:24, etc.). ii. Angels are also those who carry out God's will exercising His wrath in the judgment and punishment of the wicked (Mathew 13:39-41 and 49). iii. There are many types of angels which carry different names, like the Archangel Michael, the Archangel Gabriel, Seraphim, and Cherubim. Each

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category with its own commissions (Genesis 3:24, Isaiah 6:6-7, Jude v. 9, Luke 1:26, 5:13-15). b. The fall of Lucifer and other angels i. The devil was once a bright star, but boasting he fell. Today he is the prince of evil angels which did not keep their place and fell (Isaiah 14:12-14; Jude 6:2; 2 Peter 2:4). ii. His name means slanderer and divider. He is named the devil and Satan. He deceives the all the nations of the world (Revelation 12:9), and all unbelievers lie under his power (Acts 26:18, Revelation 12:7-8, 2 Peter 2:4). He is the master and god of this age (2 Corinthians 4:3-4, John 14:30, Acts 26:17-18), murderer of people (Genesis 3:4-5), father of lies (John 8:44), the tempter (Mathew 4:3, 1 Thessalonians 3:5) and schemer against the children of God (Job 1:9-11, Ephesians 2:16). iii. He was conquered through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ (John 14:30-31, Ephesians 2:16). iv. His fate will be thrown in the lake of fire along with his angels (Mathew 25:41, Revelation 20:10). 5. We believe that God created man first out of dust. a. Man was created after the likeness and image of God, body, soul, and spirit (Genesis 1:26 and 2:27, 1 Thessalonians 5:23). Man is a trinity. b. Man was created pure and innocent and was placed in the Garden of Eden to work it and care for it (Genesis 2:15). He was endowed with all the attributes of beings made in the image and likeness of God, feeling, reason and will. 6. We believe that sin entered the world because of the disobedience of man to the commandment of God. a. “And the Lord commanded the man, saying, ‘Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die’” (Genesis 2:16-17). b. Letting himself to be tempted by the devil, the old serpent, through the woman, caused man to transgress the commandment which he received from God, and thus by his free will became a slave of sin, enemy of God, the reason for being thrown out of the Garden of Eden and subjected to suffering, toil, and death (Genesis 3). With his fall, Adam pulled all men, his descendants, into sin. All have sinned (Romans 5:10-12, Ephesians 2:1-2). For this reason no one can save themselves or a brother save his brother (Psalm 49:7-8). By the grace of God, which is shown to us through Jesus Christ, man can be saved from his slavery to sin (Romans 5:19-21), but sorrows, toil, and death can work together for his own good (Romans 8:28-30 and 5:3-4, Acts 14:22). c. Sin came into the world through the disobedience of the first people and therefore affected the entire human population (Romans 5:19). d. Sin is any violation of the Word, will, or commandment of God (Romans 3:23, Galatians 5:19-21). Man sins by the omission of the fulfillment of good asked for God or committing things against his will.

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e. Sin is any act that defiles body, soul, and spirit: fornication and adultery, intemperance, laziness, gluttony, burdening with worldly thoughts, bad thoughts, suicide, abortion, gossiping, hatred, lying, hypocrisy, theft, deceit, not helping saints in times of need, and abuse of animal (Genesis 38:2-10, Proverbs 12:10, Romans 12:13, Galatians 5:19-21, Revelation 21:8). f. These are also sins: unfaithfulness, carelessness, disregard of the grace that came through Jesus Christ, lack of the foundation of God, taking the Lord’s name in vain, idolatry, superstitions, magic, etc. g. Sin, once committed, is followed by consequences (Galatians 6:8). He is the sting of death and brings God’s eternal punishment (Revelation 22:15 and 21:8). The payment of sin is death (Romans 6:23). 7. We believe that the grace of God made possible and continues to make possible the salvation of man through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. a. Grace is the infinite goodness and love of God, shown through Jesus Christ towards us sinners (John 1:17, Ephesians 2:4-7). No one can save himself through his own deeds or good works, and neither through acts of the Old Testament laws, but only through Jesus Christ (Galatians 2:27, Ephesians 2:5-9). Grace works together with faith. Through grace one gains access to God (1 Corinthians 15:9-10). Grace is the source of blessings (Ephesians 4:7-8, 1 Corinthians 15:10, 2 Corinthians 1:15, 1 Peter 4:10). b. Through grace, God teaches us how to live in this age in moderation, righteousness, and piousness (Titus 2:11-12). c. Grace is above the multitude of sins, passing them in size and number (Romans 5:20). He can multiply in us in the measure of the knowledge of God (2 Peter 1:2). He strengthens the heart (Hebrews 13:9), grows us spiritually (2 Peter 3:18), and restores our speech (Colossians 4:6). d. “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life (John 3:16). 8. We believe that salvation is conditional to faith, repentance, and a new birth. a. Faith i. “Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” (:1, 2 Corinthians 4:18). ii. Faith comes by hearing the Word of God (Romans 10:17). True faith starts from the heart (Romans 10:9). With faith from the heart, one receives righteousness (Romans 10:10), salvation (Ephesians 2:8), cleaning of the heart (Acts 15:9), forgiveness (Galatians 2:16 and 3:22, Ephesians 2:8), inheritance, and right to be called a child of God (Galatians 3:26). iii. Without faith, no one can please God (Hebrews 11:6). Faith is true and active only when accompanied by acts (James 2:14-22). Everyone must keep the faith that was given to the saints forever (Jude v. 3). iv. In the end times, many will abandon the true faith (:1-4). To those who refuse to believe the truth, God will leave a work of delusion, that they should believe the lie and be doomed (2 Thessalonians 2:11-12).

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v. For those who believe, everything is possible: forgiveness, healing of disease, etc. (Mathew 8:13, John 14:12). b. Repentance i. Repentance is one of Jesus Christ’s commandments (:14-15). It represents a change of man to God from his lost paths of sin (Isaiah 55:7), total change from an old life to a new life, according to the word of God (Romans 2:4), and change of the mind of man. Repentance means remorse for the life lived in ignorance of God and cease from sin (Titus 2:11-13, Lamentations 3:39-40). "He who covers his sins will not prosper, but whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy” (Proverbs 28:13). ii. God calls all people to repentance that not one may perish (2 Peter 3:9), but to reach salvation (Timothy 2:4). When a believer sins, he is urged to repent from the sins committed (Revelation 2:5, Galatians 6:1). Repentance is true only when it is done with a clean and sincere heart, which seeks to correct the injury and mistakes made to our neighbors (Luke 19:8, Acts 20:20-21). c. New birth i. No one can become a child of God if he is not first born again (John 3:5-8). No matter how good a person is, if he is not born again he cannot inherit the Kingdom of God (John 3:3-5). Man is made of body, soul, and spirit. ii. As long as a person lives in sin, the body does what it wants dragging the soul and spirit through lusts, passions, and sins. Like this, man is dead in front of God (1 Thessalonians 5:23, Ephesians 2:1-3). iii. After hearing the word of God, a saving faith comes (Romans 10:17), followed by repentance (Acts 2:37-38), and a new birth through the word of God and the Holy Spirit (John 3:5, :18, 1 Peter 1:23. Titus 3:5). iv. He who is born again does not do what he wants but walks and is led by the Spirit (Galatians 5:25), and has in his body the lead of the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:1 and 8:14). v. Without the new birth, faith, wisdom, and the baptism in water have no value (James 2:19, Romans 1:32, Acts 8:13-24). Those who are born in God do not sin (1 John 3:9 and 5:18), but those who sin are not born again (1 John 3:6- 10). 9. We believe that we have the forgiveness of God upon the receipt of Jesus Christ as our Savior. a. Forgiveness is an attribute of God which proves kindness toward sinners, in that they remove all their past after they returned to Him (Acts 10:43, 1 John 1:9). b. Once forgiven, a sinner becomes relieved of the whole burden pressing on his conscience and feels truly happy (Psalm 32:1-2). Confession of sins is followed by spiritual relief and forgiveness from God (Psalm 32:5, 1 John 1:9). c. Once forgiveness is received, the sinner must witness Jesus Christ to other sinners (Luke 24:47, Acts 4:17-20). 10. We believe the justification of the believer is in the sacrifice of Jesus Christ and is received by faith, from God, with salvation.

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a. Justification comes directly and only from God through Jesus Christ. No one can justify themselves before God through his acts or the acts of the Old Testament Laws. The only medium of justification is the sacrifice of Jesus Christ at Calvary (Philippians 3:9, John 1:12, Romans 8:1). b. Justification is received through faith in the Name of Jesus Christ (John 3:16). Through justification, one receives a status according to the will of God. Once one is in this status, he has peace with God (Romans 5:1). c. God sent Jesus Christ to suffer and to die for us, paying for our sins through his sacrifice on the cross, he himself carrying the punishment which the sinner deserves (2 Corinthians 5:21). Justification is not done through our good deeds, but through his divine grace. 11. We believe that the fruit of believers delivered from sin is sanctification (Romans 6:22). a. Sanctification means parting with all sin and setting aside for God. Any person turned to God, born again, forgiven, and justified is considered holy (1 Corinthians 6:10-11, Colossians 3:12, Ephesians 5:6-7). b. Sanctification is realized in the life of the believer through the blood of Jesus Christ (Hebrews 13:12), through the Word of God (John 15:3 and 17:17, 1 Timothy 4:5), and through the Holy Spirit (Romans 5:5, 14:17, and 15:13, Titus 3:4). Sanctification must contain our whole body, spirit, and soul (Romans 6:13 and 19:1, 1 Thessalonians 5:23). c. The sanctification process excludes dependence on drugs, smoking, and drinking alcoholic drinks (Isaiah 55:2, Proverbs 20:1 and 23:31-33, Ephesians 5:18), as well as homosexuality, suicide, euthanasia, and promises not upheld. 12. We believe in the direct relationship between the believer and God, with prayer and fasting being two of the most efficient methods of approaching divinity. a. Prayer i. Prayer must be addressed to the heavenly Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ (John 16:23-24), through the Holy Spirit and according to his will (1 John 5:14, Ephesians 6:18, Jude 20). True prayer begins in a clean heart, not by other memorized rituals, and coming from a spring-like spiritual need from the inner person (Mathew 6:7, :6). True servants should pray in spirit and in truth (John 4:24). Children of God maintain a connection with Him through prayer, without interruption (1 Thessalonians 5:17, Ephesians 6:18). Prayer can be individual (Daniel 6:10) or together with others (Acts 4:24). Prayer together (with everyone at the same time) is an inheritance from the ways of the apostles (Acts 4:24). Many kinds of prayers are allowed to be used in Church. For example, one person can pray, or two or three in a row, while the others support by saying “Amen” during the prayer (1 Corinthians 14:16). Also, praying together can be done where all believers pray at the same time, with everyone praying on their own. Prayer together performed in an orderly way produces a heaven harmony, like the hum of thousands of bees in a beehive (1 Corinthians 14:33 and 14:30). For

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the spiritual growth of all, it is better when two or three persons pray, one after another (Philippians 2:4). ii. God listens to the prayers of the righteous done with faith (James 5:15-16, Mark 11:24, Mathew 18:19). Baptism with the Holy Spirit and healing of diseases are answers to our prayers (Luke 11:13, Acts 8:14-15). iii. Prayers can be impeded by a life not lived according to the word of God or through hidden and unconfessed sins (1 Peter 3:7, James 5:16, 1 John 1:9, Joshua 7:10-26, Proverbs 28:13). iv. The ends prayers towards saints and angels (Revelation 19:10, Colossians 2:18, Acts 10:26-27). Saints can only serve as a model of their way of life (Hebrews 13:7, and 6:11-12). The mediator in believers prayers are Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit (John 14:16, :5, :25, Romans 8:25 and 27). b. Fasting i. Fasting is abstaining from the consumption of food or water in any way (Mathew 4:2), for a time set by the individual according to his needs and power (Isaiah 58:5, Acts 9:9). ii. The intent of fasting is to obtain spiritual victories by withholding fleshly needs (2 Corinthians 6:5 and 11:27, Acts 13:2-3 and 14:23, Mark 9:29, 1 Corinthians 7:5). iii. The time set for fasting is tied to prayer. To fast without persistence in prayer and without resolving the differences of those among us is a form of piety, where power is missing (Mark 9:28-29, Acts 13:2-3, Isaiah 58:6-7). iv. No one can be obligated to fast. 13. We believe that the baptism in water, which is granted to persons who believe and who have turned to God, is performed through a single immersion in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. a. Baptism in water was appointed by our Lord Jesus Christ (Mathew 28:19). He is a symbol of death to sin and the resurrection to a new life in Christ (Romans 6:1-4). Those who believe are able to accept him and witness their faith (Mark 16:16, Acts 8:36) b. Through the baptism in water, a believer is added to the membership of God’s Church (Acts 2:38-47 and 10:47-48, 1 Peter 3:21). c. A believer that has been baptized should always live a clean and holy life, living according to the teachings of the Gospel (Mathew 28:20, Acts 2:42, :14). The baptism is received once through immersion in water, except in the case when this was not performed according to the word of the Holy Scriptures in which it can be performed a second time (Acts 19:2-6). d. The baptism in water can be performed before or after the baptism with the Holy Spirit (Acts 8:12-24 and 10:44-48). Those who are baptized in water before being baptized with the Holy Spirit are urged according to the Word of God to persist for the baptism of the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:4).

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e. Baptism in the water is to be performed only by Pastors and ordained church officials to conform to the ways of the New Testament Church. f. The children of believers and other people cannot be baptized until they are convinced that Lord Jesus Christ is their personal savior (Acts 8:37). 14. We believe in the institution of the Lord’s Communion for the Church. Participation in the Lord's Communion is a proclamation of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. a. The Lord’s Communion is the second act of the church after the baptism as an outward form in God’s Church. It was appointed by Lord Jesus Christ through the founding of the (Mathew 26:28, :19-20). The Lord’s Communion is composed of unleavened bread and unfermented fruit of the vine, which symbolizes the sacrifice of the body of Christ and the spilling of his blood for our sins (1 Corinthians 11:24-25). b. The Lord’s Communion is appointed for the remembrance of the death of Jesus Christ and not for the forgiveness of sins, but one who takes the Lord’s Communion in an unworthy state is now guilty of the disregard of the flesh and blood of Christ, and is therefore taking the judgement on himself (1 Corinthians 11:27-29). c. It is a symbol that expresses our fellowship with the divine nature of our Lord Jesus Christ, that is, with His body and blood (1 Corinthians 10:16, 2 Peter 1:4), a reminder of His suffering and death (1 Corinthians 11:26), the prophecy about His coming a second time. Saved believers form a single body through participation in the breaking of the bread (1 Corinthians 10:17). d. The breaking of bread has, in committing and keeping them, two moments. The first symbolizes the suffering of the Lord and the second, opposite the first, a moment of introspection (1 Corinthians 11:23-29). Only active members of the Church, baptized in water or the Holy Spirit, and only after they have examined themselves, may participate in the Lord’s Communion. Communion is celebrated whenever possible, regardless of day or time. It is advised to carry out at least once a month. 15. We believe that Jesus Christ established the act of feet washing. a. Our Lord Jesus Christ washed the feet of the disciples and told them, “If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet” (John 13:14). b. It is a reminder and a condition of true piety in the life of faith (:10). 16. We believe in the promise of the baptism with the Holy Spirit for all believers. a. The Holy Spirit is promised by God even through the Prophet Joel (Joel 2:28-29). The Prophet Joel speaks of two floods: the early rain and the late rain (Joel 2:23). The early rain overflowed in the early centuries, from the day of Pentecost in (Acts 2: 2-4), and the latter rain pours today. b. The Holy Spirit proceeds from the Father through the Son (John15:26). The baptism with the Holy Spirit is a seal for the day of redemption (Ephesians 4:30), a pledge of inheritance (Ephesians 1:13-14), and power from above for the work of witnessing the Gospel fully (Acts 1:8). He differs from the new birth. He is received by faith after being born again and cannot be held in any case before it (Acts 19:1-6, Ephesians 1:13-14). Listening to Philip's preaching, the Samaritans received the Word and

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were baptized in water; when they came to them Peter and John prayed, putting their hands over them to receive the Holy Spirit (Acts 8:12-17). c. Baptism with the Holy Spirit can be received without the laying of hands (Acts 8:17, 19:6, 10:44-46, and 2:12-17). Baptism in the Holy Spirit should be asked for (Luke 11:13). d. Baptism with the Holy Spirit means to be filled with the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:4), while the baptism of fire (Matthew 3:11) is the test by which God passes those sealed (1 Peter 4:12-14, 6-19; and 1:6-7). e. Baptism with the Holy Spirit is accompanied by the sign of speaking in other languages (Acts 2:4, 10:46, and 19:6). f. Through the baptism with the Holy Spirit comes new powers and a holy life in divine service. This baptism can also be followed by other gifts (Luke 24:49, Acts 1:4-8, 1 Corinthians 12:1-31). The baptism with the Holy Spirit is a unique experience, but the refilling can be repeated (Acts 4:3). g. According to the Holy Scriptures, it is necessary for those called by God to the proclamation of the full gospel before persistence, so that they may be filled with powers from above, so that signs, miracles, and gifts may accompany them (Mark 16:17-18, Luke 22:49, 1 Corinthians 2:1-5, Hebrews 2:4). 17. We believe that the work of the Holy Spirit is manifested through the nine gifts. a. Following the baptism with the Holy Spirit, the Holy Spirit shares how He wills different spiritual gifts. The Holy Scripture speaks about new gifts, which are: the word of wisdom, word of knowledge, faith, gifts of healing, miracles, prophecy, discerning of spirits, speaking in various tongues, and interpreting the tongues (1 Corinthians 12:1-10). All believers must have a certain measure of wisdom, knowledge, and faith, through God's Word (Romans 12:2, John 5:39, Mathew 22:29, Romans 10:17). The gifts of the Holy Spirit are supernatural and perfected in their work. Examples include Acts 8:20, 2 Peter 3:16, and Mark 16:17-18. Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ who is part of the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22) must be had by all the faithful, but not all receive the gift of faith (Acts 3:16). Likewise, upon receiving the baptism with the Holy Spirit the faithful speak in new tongues, but not all have the gift to speak in various tongues (1 Corinthians 12:29-30). The gift of tongues is used according to what is written in 1 Corinthians 14:27-28. There should exist gifts in the church, because they are ordained by God and made to spiritually grow the church (1 Corinthians 12:28). Not all believers receive gifts, but each receives as the Holy Spirit wills to share (1 Corinthians 12:29-39). b. The word of God requires us to pursue love and to desire passionately the spiritual gifts (1 Corinthians 14:1). 18. We believe that both the new birth and baptism of the Holy Spirit must be followed by the fruit of the Spirit. a. The fruit of the Holy Spirit is the harvest of a holy life, after we become children of God, born again, and guided by the Holy Spirit in all respects (Galatians 5:22-23). b. With the new birth, the fruit of the spirit is beginning to stand out in the believer's life (1 John 5:18; Titus 3:8). Every born-again believer baptized with the Holy Spirit

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must have a surplus in his life from the fruit of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23, Matthew 7:16-20). 19. We believe in divine healing. a. Divine Healing (supernatural) enters the plan of salvation accomplished by the atoning sacrifice on Calvary of our Lord Jesus Christ (Matthew 8:16-17). b. Healing can be achieved through personal faith (Luke 8:48), through the gift of healing (1 Corinthians 12:9, Acts 3:6), and by the prayer uttered with faith following the anointing with the oil of the sick, as it is written in James 5:14-16. c. The Holy Scripture shows us that diseases follow sin even though it would not be welcomed by the sick, yet are a result of the fall of the first man (Genesis 3:13, Deuteronomy 28:15-68, John 5:14). d. Because diseases and sufferings are the consequences of the fall into sin, healing comes for those who believe in the same plan of salvation as the forgiveness of sins. Jesus Christ was crucified on Calvary for our sins and transgressions, as well as for sufferings and diseases (Isaiah 53:4-5, Matthew 8:16-17). e. Anointing with oil is ordained only for believers. It is made by elders ordained, when the sick requires it (James 5:14-16). After the anointment with oil is done, the elders pray with the laying of hands (mark 16:17-18, 6:12-13). f. The Bible does not stop anybody to consult a medical professional and to follow their indications in case of illness (Mark 2:17). 20. We believe in the existence of God's Church founded by Jesus Christ as a live, unitary body. a. The word "Church" is the equivalent to “Eklesia” in Greek, which means “gathering of the called.” In the interest of the Holy Scriptures, it is universal, includes believers all past and present, who upon hearing the voice of Jesus have decided to return to the Lord with repentance, following the teachings of our Lord Jesus Christ and his Apostles (1 Corinthians 1:2-2; 2 Corinthians. 6:14-18). b. The head of the Church is our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and with the church forming his body (Ephesians 1:22-23, Colossians 1:18). It is built upon the foundation of the Apostles and prophets, whose cornerstone is Christ (Ephesians 2:20). The Church is depicted in the New Testament as the Temple of God (2 Corinthians 6:16), the city of God through the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 2:22) and the body of Christ. c. Every believer, regardless of race and nationality, born again through the word of God and the Holy Spirit, who has full faith given to the Saints once and forever, with the same price as the apostles (John 3:5-6, Titus 3:5-6, Ephesians 2:19-22, Jude v. 3, 2 Peter 1:1), belongs to the Church, called in the word of God "Church of God" (:15, Acts 20:28, Mathew 18:20), the Church of the first born, written in Heaven by God (:23). d. Its mission is to proclaim the word of God and the teaching of the Gospel (1 Corinthians 15:1-6, Mark 16:15-20). e. At the same time it represents Jesus the bride and the Kingdom of God (2 Corinthians 11:2, Ephesians 5:25-27).

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f. All local churches form an indestructible unity of the Apostolic Pentecostal Church of God from Romania and the United States of America. 21. We believe that the priesthood of the Old Settlement has been replaced in the New Settlement through the spiritual works ordained by the Church. a. “And he gave the Apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds, and the teachers” (Ephesians 4:11). b. The Apostles are messengers of the Lord, with the special mission of cultivating a new field for the Gospel (Mark 16:15-18, 20). So were the twelve apostles, Paul as an apostle of the Gentiles and others (Matthew 10:1-4, Mark 6:30, Romans 1:1 and11:13). c. The work of a prophet differs from the gift of prophecy. The Prophet has at least two gifts: the gift of speaking about wisdom and the gift of speaking about knowledge. d. The Evangelist is called to preach the Gospel of Jesus and is accompanied by signs and outstanding results in his work by turning sinners to God. e. The Pastor is charged with pastoring the faithful who compose a local church after the indication given to Peter by Jesus Christ (John 21:15-17). f. All servants represent a single spiritual step. The terms bishop, elder and pastor hold the same job (1 Peter 5:1-2; Acts 20:17 and 20:28, Philippians 1:1). g. From the administrative point of view, one can distinguish the service the pastor from the elder. h. The Deacon came into being as a job with a household character (Acts 6:1-6). He then became, for some of the deacons who stood out, a spiritual nature (Acts 6:8- 15, 1 Timothy 3:8-12). "For those who serve well as deacons gain a good standing for themselves and also great confidence in the faith that is the mystery of godliness” (1 Timothy 3:13). 22. We believe that workers of the Gospel are ordained by the laying of hands and prayer by God’s servants who are entitled to do so (Acts 6:5-6, 13:2-4, and 14:23, Tit 1:5). a. Ordination can be made directly to the service of a deacon or an elder, and after trial period they may be ordained for the job of assistant pastor or pastor. Ordination is made after an examination for those who have not passed and following a written confession in front of the ordained committee, for loyalty to the Church of God. b. Deacons are ordained by two pastors, presbyters and elders by at least three pastors. If someone ordained as a deacon, changing to a presbyter or pastor is done through an ordination. c. The Deacon is responsible for the administration of aid to the church. He may officiate the Lord's Supper, blessing children, and funerals, if the pastor requests. d. Elders may officiate all acts of the church, at the recommendation of the pastor. e. The Pastor officiates all acts of the church and is in charge of the pastoral care of a local church.

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f. The job entrusted to it under the ordination is for life and can be revoked only if the ordained has committed serious deviations, proven by the testimony of two or three witnesses (1 Timothy 5:19). g. The ordainment is made on the recommendation of a local church and the duration depends on the decision of local churches. 23. We believe that all members of the Church of God have duties and rights. a. One can become a member of the Apostolic Pentecostal Church of God only when he mastered the principles of faith. The Church may receive members for a trial period. During this time, the candidate is being investigated over his spiritual condition and after the candidate puts an end to his sins and proves that he knows the principles of the church, he can be baptized in water and received as a member (2 Peter 1:1, John 17:20-23, 1 Thessalonians. 4:3-8). b. Members call themselves brothers (Acts 5:29). They are responsible for respecting those who serve (Hebrews 13:17; 1 Thessalonians 5:12-13), according to the Word of God (Ephesians 5:21). c. Members are responsible to persist in righteousness, brotherly unity, in the teachings of the Gospel, and in acts of love (Acts 2:42). d. The word of God requires that everything done in the church: prayer, preaching the Gospel, exhortations, teachings, learning about the use of spiritual gifts, hymns of praise in spirit, ordinary and extraordinary meetings, etc. "All should be done decently and with standing" (1 Corinthians 14:40). Each Member is obliged to participate regularly in church services. Each Member is obliged to have a clean and neat appearance. Discipline in the Church is a biblical settlement imposed by the Word of God. Each Member is obliged to comply and proceed according to those written in Matthew 18:15-18. e. When someone falls at once into a mistake, those who are spiritual, especially brothers made to oversee the smooth running of the Church, must raise the person with meekness (Galatians 6:1). f. When one sins and the sin becomes know by many and is does not cease with the sin, this person must be reprimanded before all so that the others do not follow (1 Timothy 5:20). g. Every believer in the Word of God, receives the discipline and even being put under discipline, especially when deviating from the healthy teachings of the full gospel. Discipline has one purpose to uplift the fallen souls and to maintain the Church's moral authority, good order, love, and fellowship (1 Thessalonians 5:14, : 14-15, Jude 22). h. Exclusions — The Church has the right, even the duty, in accordance with the principles of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the teachings of the Holy Apostles, to exclude those members who after having been called upon several times to repent for their misbehavior, seek further into committing those acts. They lose their status as a member (Mathew 18:15-18, Romans 16:17-18, 1 Corinthians 5:2 and 11:13; 2 Thessalonians 3:6, Titus 3:10).

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i. Reacceptance - He who repents wholeheartedly for his misbehavior and the Church has evidence that his life has been turned, that obeys all good ordinances and, asked to be taken back, can be taken back (Luke 17:4, James 5:19). 24. We believe that the family, through marriage of a man and woman, is a divine institution ordained by God. a. The family is a divine and biblical institution. It was created by God and the first people, Adam and Eve (Genesis 2:18-24). b. Through marriage, God creates an intimate, holy covenant between husband and wife, forming from both of them a single body (Mathew 19:5). Whoever decides in his heart to remain single is able to do so (1 Corinthians 7:7-8, 34, and 40). c. The husband is obliged to care for, to love, and to honor his wife, as his body (Peter 3:7, Colossians 3:19). He is head of the woman and family (1 Corinthians 11:13). The wife was created and ordained by God to help her husband (Genesis 2:18). She is obligated to love and obey her husband (Titus 2:4-5, Colossians 3:18). d. Marriage is first officiated with the civil office followed by the religious blessing from God in Church. e. God's Word does not allow a believer to marry an unbeliever, or vice versa (Deuteronomy 7:3, 1 Corinthians 7:39, 2 Corinthians 6:14) f. DIVORCE - is not allowed by the word of God, unless adultery is proven (Matthew 19:6-9). g. Cohabitation and abortion are not allowed by God (Hebrews 13:4, 1 Corinthians 6:18-20, Galatians 5:19, Exodus 20:13). h. REMARRIAGE – is allowed by the word of God only when one of the two spouses has passed away (Romans 7:1-3). i. Remarriage is not permitted when the separation was made apart from biblical reasons. God's Word will not accept this, but accepts reconciliation (1 Corinthians 7:10). 25. We believe in the tradition of the Church concerning the blessing of children. a. Believer’s children are holy (1 Corinthians 7:14). They should be brought to a blessing, guided by the example set by Jesus Christ (Mathew 19:13-15, Mark 10:13- 16). Pastors hold young children in their arms while placing their hands on the heads of older children reciting the scripture of blessing found in Numbers 6:24-27, including the child’s name. A short prayer then follows for the child and the parents. 26. We believe that giving is a sacred duty for every believer. a. Giving is set by the apostles in the early Christian churches (1 Corinthians 16:1-2, 2 Corinthians 8:1-15). First, giving strengthens the spread of the gospel. God have his son to save us (John 3:16). Also, in order for the Gospel to reach other sinners, we are obligated to do “God’s part” and to give a portion of our goods that teach us and preach the Gospel (Galatians 6:6, 1 Timothy 5:17-18, Hebrews 7:8). Second, we must help there servants of God who have given all to spreading the Gospel (1 Timothy 5:17-18, Galatians 6:6). Third, the poor and those in need must be helped through giving (Mathew 25:34-36, Romans 12:13, Proverbs 14:31).

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b. Members of the Church of God are obligated, according to the Word, to help any work to which they are with their gifts voluntarily, especially in the regular meetings every Sunday in church (1 Corinthians 16:1-2). 27. We believe the duty of believer to follow simplicity in clothing oneself. a. The Holy Scripture teaches us to be modest in dress, as well as submissive and temperance. Believers should follow in their modest dress their adornments to be hidden in their heart; a meek, peaceful, and Spirit-filled spirit, all which are precious to God (1 Timothy 2:9-10, 1 Peter 3:1-6). Believers baptized with the Holy Spirit form a holy nation, distinguished from the world. They must not be similar to the principles of the world and not love their habits which are always leaning towards sin. Befriending the world creates enmity with God (Romans 12:2, James 4:4, Mathew 9:24, 1 Corinthians 3:15). 28. We believe that Sunday is the day of the Lord. a. We celebrate Sunday as a day of prayer and rest. We rest and participate in the church’s regular divine services, for our spiritual growth. b. We celebrate this day in remembrance of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ, according to the Christian model of the first church (1 Corinthians 16:2, Acts 20:7 and 2:1, John 20:19-20). c. Besides Sundays, divine services are officiated for other celebrations, which are stabilized by the Church (Ephesians 6:18, 1 Timothy 2:1-4). 29. We believe that the will of God is for believers to be loyal to each other and to the authorities of the state. a. The Word of God requires recognition and respect of all authorities and orders of the state (1 Peter 2:13-17, Titus 3:1-2). This is also a duty as a citizen. Authorities of the state are chosen by God for keep the public order, to lead the nation, and to lead the people (Romans 13:1-5). We are obliged to submit to the laws of our country, according to the Word of God. We are obliged to pay our dues to the state and to fulfill our duties that will return to us (Romans 13:6-7). b. We are responsible to pray for our authorities and leadership (1 Timothy 2:1-3). 30. We believe that we have a duty to love all people, indifferent of race, nationality, or religious belief (Mark 9:38-39, Philippians 3:16). a. Criticism and blasphemy against other religions creates antagonism and strife. No true believer from the Church of God does not slander other religions (Mark 9:38- 39, Philippians 3:16). 31. We believe in the second coming of the Jesus Christ and the eschatological events that will follow. a. Rapture of the Church i. We believe in the rapture of the Church before Jesus Christ is shown on the clouds of heaven and before the great tribulation (Isaiah 26:20-21, Luke 21:40-44, Luke 17:34-36, 1 Corinthians 15:40-44, 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18). “But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father” (Mathew 24:36).

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ii. The judgment of the reward for the faithful will occur in heaven after the rapture (Romans 14:10, 2 Corinthians 5:10), followed by the wedding of the Lamb (Revelation 19:7-9). b. The great tribulation and the appearance of the antichrist. i. After the rapture of the Church and the lifting of the Holy Spirit, which prevent the appearance of the antichrist today (2 Thessalonians 2:7-8), will come a great trouble through the appearance of the antichrist like there was never before on earth and will never be again (Mathew 24:21, Revelation 6). ii. The spirit of the Antichrist is already working today in the world through his disciples (1 John 2:18) and his target is to deny its father, son, and Holy Spirit, to devour faith in God, and thus to be able to present himself as God through signs and wonders which he will do (2 Thessalonians 2:4 and 9:12, Revelation 13:13 and 16:4). Jesus Christ came as God in flesh as man, and after he gave up his life as a sacrifice of Atonement, forgiveness of sins, he sent his disciples preach the Gospel. The Antichrist is the fake Messiah, namely Satan in flesh a man and in his name (John 5:43). He already has many disciples in the world who preach false teachings, either to open the way to the world (1 John 2:18, Luke 18:8). iii. Once the sons of Israel will recognize their delusion, they were attracted by the antichrist, they will return to the true Messiah, who is Jesus Christ our Lord (Romans 9:27-29 and 11:26, Jeremiah 30:7). c. The coming of Lord Jesus Christ in glory. i. “Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then will appear in heaven the sign of the Son of Man, and then tall the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory” (Mathew 24:29-30, Mark 13:24-26). ii. The Lord will be accompanied by ten thousands of his saints, who will sit at the right hand of his power (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17, Jude v. 14-15). iii. The Antichrist will then be destroyed with the breath of his mouth: the beast and the false prophet are cast into the Lake of fire (Revelation 19:20, 2 Thessalonians 2:3, Jeremiah 23:33, Malachi 4:3, Revelation 19:21). The devil will be thrown into the deep fountain, where he will be kept bound for a thousand years (Revelation 20:1-31). d. The Kingdom of God on Earth, or the Millennium i. The Kingdom of God in our day is spiritual (Luke 17:21). It is not based on customs or forms, but lies in the sanctification of life, peace, and joy that come from the Holy Spirit (Romans. 14:17). ii. The Kingdom of God enters all who are born again (John 3:3-6). iii. We wait for God's Kingdom to come on Earth in a visible way, which will last for a thousand years, according to his word (Matthew 6:10, Revelation 20:4). The Lord will establish his Kingdom on the foundations of Justice and

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Holiness, mastering the whole earth, Him being Lord of Lords and King of Kings (Revelation 11:15, 1 Corinthians 15:24, Revelation 5:10 and 19:16). iv. During the Kingdom of a thousand years will be complete peace on Earth, because the devil is bound and will not have to deceive the Nations any more, and there will be harmony right between beasts; cruelty will no longer occur (Isaiah 11:1-10). People’s days will be many, like the days of the trees (Isaiah 65:9-25). Then God's Kingdom be will on the whole earth (Revelation 11:15). e. The universal resurrection and judgment. i. Death is the passage of this life to eternal life, in other words, the separation of the soul and the spirit from the body. Body returns to dust, from which it was taken (Genesis 3:19), but the soul is alive, conscious, and lives in the world on the other side along with spirit, which is inseparable. ii. All people, without distinction, must die, because all have sinned (Romans 5:12). iii. For believers, death is a sleep in which awaits the resurrection (1 Thessalonians 4:13-16), a separation from the earthy body, to be clothed with our Heavenly body (2 Corinthians 5:1-8), leaving world to be with the Lord, into a place of peace, happiness and rest (Luke 23:43, Philippians 1:23, Revelation 14:12). iv. Believers will be present at the appointed time, at the judgment seat of Christ, so that each to receive the Lord's Heavenly reward for all the acts and labors which they deposited on Earth in his work (2 Corinthians 5:10, Romans 10-12). v. The death of the unbelievers is an act accompanied by horror, terror and excruciating remorse. Their soul goes to a place of torment, waiting for the last day of judgement (Jude 7). After the Kingdom of a thousand years, Satan will be loose again for a short time, during which he will deceive the nations (Gog and Magog), to make war against the Saints. "...a fire came from heaven and devoured them" (Revelation 20:7-10). vi. After this all will rise, without distinction, those who have not had the first resurrection (Revelation 20:5). The sea will give back the dead who were in it, likewise death and hell will give them back their dead (Revelation 20:13-14). All will move on to the White Throne for judgment (Revelation 20:11-12). Each will be judged according to his works and to the degree of knowledge which he had (Revelations 20:12, Romans 2:12). Those who have not found written in the book of life will be cast into the Lake of fire (Mathew 25:31-46, Revelation 20:15). f. New heaven and Earth. Eternal life. i. Eternal life is of divine origins and a gift of God (Romans 6:23, Hebrews 7:17). It is promised to believers (1 John 2:25, 2 Timothy 1:1). It is from God through faith in Jesus Christ (1 John 5:11, John 3:15), because He himself is eternal life (1 John 5:20).

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ii. To gain eternal life must we fight with perseverance in good works (Romans 2:7), because we are called to it (1 Timothy 6:12). It is a right of inheritance for the next age (Mark 10:30), is called the life to come (1 Timothy 4:8) and will enter into it only the righteous who faithfully fought on Earth, enduring temptations. They will receive, at the appointed time, the Crown of eternal life (1 Timothy 6:12). iii. Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place1 of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away” (Revelation 21:1-3).

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