What We Believe
Nineteen foundational doctrines that anchor our faith and shape our life together.
Doctrine is not merely academic — it is the spiritual architecture of a life. The 19 tenets below are not opinions or traditions; they are convictions drawn from the whole counsel of God's Word, shared by the global family of the Redeemed Christian Church of God. Click any tenet to read the full statement and scripture references.
“All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:”
— 2 Timothy 3:16 (KJV)
The 19 Doctrines
19 tenetsWe believe that the Holy Bible, comprising the Old and New Testaments, is the inspired and infallible Word of God. It is the complete and final revelation of God's will for humanity — the supreme and authoritative guide for all matters of faith, doctrine, and practice. Every scripture is God-breathed and profitable for teaching, correction, and training in righteousness.
We believe in one eternal, almighty God — the Creator and Sustainer of all things. He is infinite in wisdom, perfect in holiness, and abundant in love and mercy. God eternally exists in three distinct Persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, each fully divine yet united as one Godhead. He is worthy of all worship, honour, and obedience.
We believe in Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, and became fully human while remaining fully God. He lived a sinless life, performed mighty miracles, and offered Himself as the atoning sacrifice for sin through His death on the cross. On the third day He rose bodily from the dead, ascended to heaven, and now intercedes for us at the right hand of the Father. He is the only Saviour and Lord.
We believe in the Holy Spirit, the third Person of the Trinity, who convicts the world of sin, guides believers into all truth, and empowers the church for witness and service. He distributes spiritual gifts as He wills, produces the fruit of righteousness in the lives of believers, and dwells permanently within every born-again Christian.
We believe in the doctrine of the Holy Trinity — that the one God eternally subsists in three distinct Persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. These three are co-equal, co-eternal, and co-substantial, each fully possessing the divine nature. The Trinity is not three gods, but one God revealed in three Persons — a mystery at the very heart of Christian faith.
We believe that God created humanity in His own image and likeness — morally upright and in fellowship with Him. Through willful disobedience, Adam and Eve fell into sin, bringing spiritual death, separation from God, and the corruption of human nature upon all mankind. As a result, every person is born with a sinful nature and stands in need of God's redemption.
We believe that salvation is the free gift of God, received through repentance toward God and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. It is not earned by human effort or merit but is entirely by grace — Christ's atoning death bearing the penalty of our sin and His resurrection securing our justification. Salvation brings forgiveness, new birth, and eternal life to all who believe.
We believe in sanctification — the ongoing work of the Holy Spirit by which believers are progressively set apart and transformed into the image of Christ. Sanctification begins at the moment of salvation and continues throughout the Christian life as we yield to the Spirit, study God's Word, and walk in obedience. It is both a positional reality (we are declared holy in Christ) and a practical pursuit (we are being made holy day by day).
We believe in the baptism of the Holy Spirit as an experience distinct from and subsequent to salvation, enabling believers to be witnesses for Christ with supernatural power. The initial physical sign of the baptism of the Holy Spirit is speaking with other tongues as the Spirit gives utterance. This gift is available to all believers who seek it in faith.
We believe that divine healing of the sick is provided for in Christ's atoning work and is available to all believers through faith and prayer. Jesus healed all who came to Him during His earthly ministry, and He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. We affirm that God heals today — through prayer, the laying on of hands, anointing with oil, and the sovereign will of the Lord.
We believe in the imminent, personal, and bodily return of Jesus Christ for His church — an event known as the Rapture. At that moment, the dead in Christ will rise first, then all living believers will be caught up together to meet the Lord in the air. This blessed hope is a comfort and motivation for holy living, for the day and hour is known only to the Father.
We believe that after the Rapture of the church, a period of Great Tribulation will come upon the earth — seven years of unprecedented judgment and distress. During this time, the Antichrist will rise to world power, and many will face severe persecution. Yet even in this dark hour, God's redemptive purposes will move forward and multitudes will turn to Him.
We believe that following the Great Tribulation, Jesus Christ will return to earth in power and glory to establish His millennial kingdom — a literal 1,000-year reign of peace, righteousness, and justice. Satan will be bound during this period, and Christ will rule from Jerusalem as King of kings and Lord of lords. The redeemed will reign with Him.
We believe in the resurrection and the judgment of all humanity. Believers will appear before the Judgment Seat of Christ to receive rewards for their service and stewardship — not for condemnation, since there is no condemnation for those in Christ. The unbelieving dead will stand before the Great White Throne, where they will be judged according to their works and face eternal separation from God.
We believe in the eternal blessedness of the redeemed in heaven — a literal place of perfect joy, holiness, and unbroken fellowship with God. In the new heaven and new earth, God will dwell with His people forever. There will be no more death, mourning, crying, or pain. The redeemed will worship, serve, and reign with God for all eternity in glorious resurrection bodies.
We believe in the eternal punishment of the unrepentant — a conscious, endless separation from God in the lake of fire. This is the second death, reserved for all who have rejected God's offer of salvation in Christ. It is a solemn truth that compels us to urgency in evangelism and prayer, that all might come to repentance and be saved.
We believe in water baptism by immersion as an outward public declaration of an inward spiritual transformation. It is a believer's act of obedience and testimony — a symbol of dying to the old life of sin, being buried with Christ, and rising to walk in newness of life. Water baptism does not save, but it is the expected first act of obedience for every new believer.
We believe that genuine repentance and salvation produce a desire to make right the wrongs of one's past life wherever this is possible. Restitution — restoring what was wrongfully taken or damaged — is a natural fruit of true conversion and a powerful witness to the transforming grace of God in a believer's life.
We believe in the regular observance of the Lord's Supper (Holy Communion), in which believers partake of bread and the cup in remembrance of Christ's broken body and shed blood. This sacred ordinance proclaims the Lord's death until He comes again and is a means of grace, renewal, and covenant participation for the body of Christ. It is to be received with self-examination, faith, and gratitude.
“Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.”
— Hebrews 13:8 (KJV)
