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God is the supreme creator and sustainer of the entire universe who is eternal, all present, and all
powerful. God is a single spirit family presently consisting of God the Father and Jesus Christ the Son.
God is a loving, kind, and merciful being who is sharing His magnificent and eternal existence by
reproducing Himself through mankind.
Psalm 19:1; 50:, 6-7; Isaiah 44:6; Nehemiah 9:6,16-17; John 1:12-13; 3:16; I John 4:8; Romans 1:20;
Colossians 1:16; Hebrews 1:1-2; I John 3:1-2
2. BIBLE
The entire Bible is the divinely inspired Word of God which contains His plan of salvation, and the record
of His participation in history. The Bible is God's method of revealing knowledge that man cannot
discover for himself; the foundation of knowledge and the guidebook of life. God's written Word, is
revealed in two parts, the Old and New Testaments. Together, they form the basis of Christianity as
taught by the church and as practiced by the true Christian.
Deuteronomy 8:3; Matthew 4:4; Luke 4:4; John 17:17; Romans 8:16; I Corinthians 2:7-11; II Timothy
3:16-17; II Peter 1:20
3. JESUS CHRIST
Jesus of Nazareth is the Christ, the Son of God and the Son of man. He is the Messiah who was
prophesied in the Old Testament and described in the New Testament as being fully human and fully
divine. He has existed throughout eternity as the "Word" and is the second member of the God family.
He divested Himself of His power and His majesty, to become a human being in order to live a perfect
life, thereby re-qualifying for eternal life, but then died anyway as a sacrifice for the sins of all mankind
as our loving and merciful Savior. He was then resurrected and ascended to heaven to become our Lord
and High Priest. Jesus Christ will return to earth to establish the Kingdom of God where He will rule as
King of kings with His saints as co-rulers forever.
Deuteronomy 18:15; Matthew 16:15-17; John 1:1-14; 3:16; Acts 2:32-33; Romans 5:8; Philippians 2:7;
Hebrews 4:14-15; Revelation 1:13-16
4. THE HOLY SPIRIT
The Holy Spirit is the spiritual extension of God, containing the essence, power and mind of God. God
uses His Holy Spirit to beget Christians as His sons and daughters. The Holy Spirit spiritually
strengthens Christians, converting their minds to be more like God's mind. The Holy Spirit also serves
as an earnest or guarantee of future eternal life.
Acts 1:8; 2:38; Romans 8:9, 14; I Corinthians 2:16; Ephesians 1:13-14
5. MANKIND
Humans have no inherent immortality as flesh and blood physical beings; however, they can receive
eternal life as a free gift from our loving and merciful creator God. Although mankind was created by
God as flesh and blood, He did so in His own image. He added a spiritual component to mankind's brain
to create the human mind.
Genesis 1:26-2;, Job 32:8; I Corinthians 2:11; I John 5:11-13
6. ANGELIC REALM
The angels were created by God as powerful spirit beings then used by God as His agents and
messengers. These spirit beings also function as ministering spirits, helping mankind attain salvation
and have done so since man's creation. Like mankind, angels also have free moral agency. Although
angels were created to help God, some of them, led by Satan the devil, rebelled against God and His
government. Their rebellious acts caused them to be transformed into demons.
Psalm 91:11-12; Ephesians 6:12; Hebrews 1:7
7. SALVATION
The penalty for sin is death, but salvation is the means by which God saves mankind from the penalty of
sin so that he may be given eternal life. Working through His Son, Jesus Christ, the salvation process
includes one's calling, repentance, baptism, justification, receiving of the Holy Spirit, then living a life of
faith and obedience, and finally, birth into God's Kingdom as a spirit being. Salvation is a gift freely
given through grace by God, with our ultimate reward given according to our works.
Matthew 16:27; John 3:16-17; Romans 6:23; Ephesians 2:8-9; Hebrews 6:1-2
8. FAITH
Faith is the absolute knowledge that God exists and that He can and will fulfill His promises. Faith is
necessary for salvation, of which, the basic elements are courage, action, and risk.
Romans 1:17; 10:17; Ephesians 3:17; Hebrews 11:1-2; James 2:22-24
9. REPENTANCE
Repentance is the act of acknowledging one's sins, and then resolving to fully obey God and then is
manifested by positive change. It begins when God opens a person's mind to see himself in comparison
with God and His law. True repentance is the first step toward reconciliation with God, and therefore
ultimate salvation.
Acts 2:38; 3:19-21; 8:22; I John 3:4
10. BAPTISM
Baptism is a ceremony, symbolizing the renunciation of the past sinful way of life, the burial of the old
man in a watery grave, and the emergence of a new, Spirit-led person living with Christ's mind and
following in His footsteps. The ceremony can only take place after true repentance and acceptance of
Christ's sacrifice, then by full immersion in the symbolic watery grave. After this ceremony, and as a
result of all these actions, one receives the baptism of the Holy Spirit through the laying on of hands.
Matthew 3:13-16; Acts 2:38; Romans 6:1-8; Colossians 2:12
11. LAYING ON OF HANDS
The laying on of hands is an act performed for the receiving of God's Holy Spirit after baptism, at
ordinations, anointing of the sick, or for other special purposes.
Matthew 19:13-15; Acts,6.5-6, 8:17-18; 13:3; I Timothy 4:I 4; Hebrews 6:2
12. KINGDOM OF GOD
The Kingdom of God is the government of God ruled by the family of God. It will be the world ruling
government set up by Jesus Christ upon His return. Jesus Christ will be the King of Kings and will rule
for all eternity with the resurrected spirit-composed saints ruling with Him. In the New Testament, the
Kingdom of God is referred to as a "mystery". It was first preached and explained by Christ, then by His
church. The Kingdom of God will be established on earth for a thousand years following Christ's return.
It shall be complete when New Jerusalem and God the Father come down out of heaven to dwell on the
New Earth.
Mark 4:11; Revelation 5:10; 20:4; 21:1-3, 7, 10
13. GOSPEL
The gospel is the message preached by Jesus Christ and His church about the history of Jesus Christ and
the future coming Kingdom of God to be established by Jesus Christ, the restoration of God's
government on earth, and how mankind can enter that Kingdom and government. It includes the
message of what Jesus Christ has done in the past, is doing now, and shall do. Ultimately, it is the
message of the entire Old and New Testaments. The primary purpose and commission of God's church is
to "Go ye therefore, and teach [make disciples of] all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father,
and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. "
Matthew 3:2; 24:14; 28:19-20; Mark 1:15; Luke 24:47
14. RESURRECTIONS
The hope of all mankind and the promise to the Christian is that they will be resurrected from the dead.
The Bible refers to four resurrections. (1) the resurrection of Jesus Christ, the firstborn of God and man
from the dead to become the pioneer of our salvation; (2) the resurrection of the saints at the return of
Jesus Christ when the true believers shall become spirit-composed members of God's family. This is
called the "first resurrection" (3) the resurrection of all who have ever died without having understood
God's way, back to physical life for their first opportunity for salvation; (4) the resurrection of those who
have refused to repent and have rejected God's way and are called the incorrigibly wicked, to be
consumed in the lake of fire. This is called the "second death".
John 5:28-29; Acts 2:32; Romans 8:11; I Corinthians 15:20; I Thessalonians 4:13-17; Revelation 20:4-6,
13-14
15. JUDGMENT
The time of a person's judgment is the time of his opportunity for salvation. That begins from when a
person is called by God until his death changed into spirits upon Jesus Christ's return. The
overwhelming majority shall qualify for God's Kingdom and will inherit eternal life, but and those who
deliberately reject God's way shall suffer the second death and be consumed in the lake of fire.
Matthew 13:49-50; 25:34; I Peter 4:17; Revelation 20:15; 21:8
16. LAW OF GOD
The law of God is a perfect expression of God's love toward man. It is a good, right, and perfect system of
eternal directives and principles that reflects God's character and love. God's law teaches mankind how
to properly worship God, how to love his fellowman, how to live an abundant life, and how to prepare for
an eternal spiritual life as a full member of the family of God. The law of God is taught in both the Old
and the New Testaments. It requires both physical actions and spiritual convictions.
John 14:15, 21; Romans 7:12; I John 5:2-3
17. BIBLICAL COVENANTS
Both the Old and New Testaments record that God made certain specific "contracts" or promises called
"covenants" with mankind. These covenants define the terms of God's relationship with individuals and
groups in various circumstances and eras throughout mankind's history. The best known covenants were
made with the physical nation of Israel. That covenant was re-established as the New Covenant with
"better promises" and will be fully confirmed with spiritual Israel after the return of Jesus Christ. The
New Covenant makes God's law even more relevant by expanding it to include one's mental attitude and
spiritual intent. It also applies to the New Testament church from the time of the original apostles.
Matthew 5:21-22; II Timothy 3:15-16; Hebrews 8:6-13
18. TEN COMMANDMENTS
The Ten Commandments were revealed by God to Moses who then codified them. They were then
ratified and magnified by Christ, are the perfect expression of God's love. They are the foundation of all
biblical teaching and much of man's law. They show mankind how to express love toward God and his
fellowman, and are consequently the focal point of Christian life.
Exodus 20; Deuteronomy 5; Matthew 5:17-19; Romans 13:10; I Corinthians 7:19; Revelation 12:17; 22:14
19. SABBATH
The seventh-day Sabbath was instituted at creation. It is to be taught and kept holy in accordance with
the biblical instruction. The Sabbath was reaffirmed to Israel as a part of the covenant at Sinai, and
taught by Jesus Christ, who is the Messenger of the New Covenant. The keeping of the Sabbath is
fundamental to a Christian's relationship with God.
Genesis 2:2-3; Exodus 16; 20:8-11; 31:12-17; Mark 2:27-28; Luke 4:16
20. ANNUAL HOLY DAYS
The seven annual holy days or "appointed feasts" depict God's plan of salvation for mankind. They are
ordained by God and were kept by the ancient Israelites. Keeping the holy days have been continued by
the early New Testament Christians and are still kept today by modern day Christians.
Leviticus 23; Zechariah 14:16; John 7;8-10; Acts 2:1; 12:3; 20:6, 16; 27:9; 1 Corinthians 5:8; 16.8
21. TITHING
Tithing is a private matter between the individual and God because it is an act of worship. It is not the
job of the church to "enforce" or "police" tithing, but simply teaches the responsibility to tithe. Each
individual has the responsibility to "honor the Lord with his substance and with the firstfruits of all his
increase." Tithing and free will offerings are the method by which the gospel is proclaimed to the world.
Malachi 3:8-10; Matthew 6:21; 23:23; II Corinthians 9:7
22. SIN
Sin is the transgression of God's law. It is failing to meet the standards set by the character of Jesus
Christ. The penalty for sin is death in the lake of fire, but all sin can be completely forgiven by God, who
desires that all men be saved. God forgives sin upon the repentance of the sinner. God therefore accepts
the shed blood and sacrifice of Jesus Christ as payment in full for the penalty of a person's repented of
sins.
Romans 6:23; Ephesians 4:32; Colossians 1:14; I John 3:4
23. THE CHRISTIAN
A true Christian is one who has repented of past sins, was baptized and in whom the Holy Spirit now
dwells.
Romans 8:9; I Corinthians 12:13
24. THE CHRISTIAN FAMILY
The core of a stable society is the family and the marriage relationship is the basis of the family.
Although men and women's roles are clearly defined in the Bible, both have equal spiritual potential
before God. The husband, wife and children form the family that is the primary physical analogy of God's
plan for mankind. Therefore, marriage, child rearing and the family are given a preeminent place in the
teachings of the Bible and the church.
Exodus 20:12; Malachi 4:5-6, Ephesians 5:22-29; 6:1-3; I Peter 3:7
25. HEALING
Divine healing is a miracle and gift of God. He may bestow it in His mercy and love upon those who call
upon Him in time of need, but often, according to their faith. The healings of Jesus Christ described in
the Bible depict and represent His power to express compassion, to forgive sin, and ultimately, to
resurrect the dead and eventually to establish the Kingdom of God here on earth.
Matthew 9:1-7; James 5:14-15
26. THE CHURCH OF GOD
The church is the spiritual body of Christ. Physically, it is group of persons called out by God and
impregnated with His Holy Spirit. As a spiritual body, the church is made up of baptized, Spirit-led people
scattered all over the world.
I Corinthians 12:12-14, 27; Colossians 3:15
The activities of the Garner Ted Armstrong Evangelistic Association and the Intercontinental Church of
God are paid for by tithes, offerings and donations freely given by Christians and co-workers who are
dedicated to preaching the gospel according to Jesus Christ.


Background music, REST IN THE LORD
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Please contact us with any questions or comments.
Mail: Intercontinental Church of God P.O. Box 1117 Tyler, Texas 75710
Phone: (903) 561 - 7070
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Statement Of Beliefs of The Intercontinental Church Of God
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