Pentecostal Church of God

The Pentecostal Church of God "(PCG)" is a trinitarian Pentecostal Christian denomination. It was formed in Chicago, Illinois, in 1919, by a group of Pentecostal ministers who had chosen not to affiliate with the Assemblies of God (org. 1914). It was first called the "Pentecostal Assemblies of America", then "Pentecostal Church of God of America" was adopted in 1922, and the present name was formed by dropping "of America" in 1979. John C. Sinclair served as the first moderator. The "Pentecostal Church of God" should not be confused with the The Pentecostal Church of God (Detroit), which is a non-trinitarian Pentecostal denomination based in Detroit, Michigan.

at the discretion of local congregations; distinct calls for ministry accompanied with divine evidence; tithing for the support of the ministry; Divine healing provided in the atonement; and the imminent pre-tribulational, premillennial return of Jesus Christ.

International headquarters are located in Joplin, Missouri, where a college and a publishing house are operated. There are 1200 congregations in the United States fellowshipping as the "Pentecostal Church of God". Over 5,200 churches have been established outside the United States. There are over 500,000 members in 52 different countries. 60 churches and missions exist among the American Indians. The church is headed by the General Bishop (previously the General Superintendent). It is divided into a number of districts, including four Hispanic districts in the United States. Each district is served by a District Bishop (previously District Superintendent). A general convention meets biennially. District conventions meet annually. The Pentecostal Church of God is a member of the National Association of Evangelicals, the Pentecostal World Conference and the Pentecostal/Charismatic Churches of North America. The church's official publication is "The Pentecostal Messenger".

In 2002, the general convention of the Pentecostal Church of God came to a consensus to change the title of their overseer from General Superintendent to Bishop. The change was brought on because internationally, the term Bishop is more commonly related to religious leaders than the previous title. Although called bishops, they are not ordained in Apostolic Succession as the Roman Catholic, Anglican, and Orthodox Churches do.

Doctrinal Statement of the Pentecostal Church of God

(from pages 26-30 of the 2004 Pentecostal Church of God Constitution andBylaws)

As a Christian constituency of New Testament believers, we, thePentecostal Church of God, subscribe to the following declaration of thethings which are more surely believed among us (Luke 1:1), praying thatthere be neither harmful nor divisive difference of belief to the injury ofany, nor the disturbance of the peace and harmony of the church, and that wemaybe all of the same mind and same judgment, speaking the same things inlove (1 Corinthians 1:10; Acts 2:42) and with one voice glorifying God, tothe edification of His people, and to give Christian witness to the world.

The Scriptures

The Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments are the inspired Word of God(2 Timothy 3:16) presenting to us the complete revelation of His will forthe salvation of men, and constituting the Divine and only rule of Christianfaith and practice (2 Peter 1:2 1).

The Godhead

We believe there is but one true and living God, who is everlasting,infinite in power, wisdom and goodness; that He is the Creator of allthings, visible and invisible, and Preserver of all things (Romans 1:20;Colossians 1:16). In the unity of this Godhead, there are three persons ofone individual essence, who are co-equal, co-existent and co-eternal;namely, the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost (bibleref|Matthew|3:16, 17; 28:18, 19;2 Corinthians 13:14; John 1:1,2, 18; 10:33; 14:26; 15:26; Philippians 2:6;Hebrews 9:14).

The Son is the eternally begotten of the Father, and accepted earthlylimitations for the purpose of incarnation, being true God and true man;conceived by the Holy Ghost and born of the Virgin Mary. He died upon thecross, the just for the unjust as a substitutionary sacrifice, and all whobelieve in Him are justified on the grounds of His shed blood. He arose fromthe dead according to the Scriptures. He is now at the right hand of theMajesty on High as our great High Priest, and He will return again toestablish His Kingdom of righteousness and justice.

The Holy Spirit is a Divine Person, Executive of the Godhead on earth,the Comforter sent by the Lord Jesus Christ to indwell, to guide and toteach the believer, and to convince the world of sin, of righteousness andof judgment.

Man, His Fall and Redemption

Man is a created being, made in the likeness and the image of God, butthrough Adam’s transgression and fall, sin came into the world (Romans5:12). “All have sinned and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).“As it is written, there is none righteous, no, not one” (Romans 3: 10).Jesus Christ, the Son of God, was manifested to undo the work of the devil,and gave His life and shed His blood to redeem and restore man to God (1John 3:8).

alvation

Salvation is made possible through the meritorious work of Jesus Christon the cross and through Holy Spirit conviction. Godly sorrow worksrepentance and makes possible the experience of the new birth, and Christformed within us is the gift of eternal life (Titus 2:11; Romans 10:13-15;Luke 24:47; Titus 3:5-7).

Salvation is the gift of God to man, separate from works and the Law, andis made operative by grace through faith in Jesus Christ, producing worksacceptable to God (Ephesians 2:8).

Man is a free moral agent and can at any time after the new birth experienceturn away from God and die in a state of sin; with the consequences ofhell to look forward to.

The Church

The true Church, built upon the Foundation of Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians3:11; Ephesians 2:20), is the Body of our Lord (Romans 12:5; 1 Corinthians12:27); Christ being the Head (Ephesians 1:22; Colossians 1:18). Its earthlyconstituents are all true believers, born again of the Spirit (John 3:6) andof the Word (I Peter 1:23), who are living an overcoming Christian life (Ephesians 5:27; Revelation 21:27). To the Church, through its members, is delegated the various gifts and offices of the Holy Ghost (1 Corinthians 12:7-lI, 27, 28) which are necessary for the successful evangelization of the world and the perfecting of the Body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:7; Ephesians 4:11, 12). This universal, invisible, sanctified Church is the chaste virgin Brideof Christ (2 Corinthians 1:1,2; Ephesians 5:26, 27; Revelation 21 :9b, 27).It is this Bride for whom Jesus Christ returns, just prior to the GreatTribulation, to catch her away and take her to heaven (John 14:23; 1Thessalonians 4:13-18).

The Ministry

God, through the Holy Spirit, definitely calls such as He desires toserve as apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers, andspecifically endues the one called with the talents and gifts peculiar tothat office or offices (Ephesians 4:11-13). Under no circumstances shouldanyone be ordained or set apart to any such office unless the calling isdistinct and evident.

The Baptism of the Holy Ghost

The Baptism of the Holy Ghost and fire (bibleref|Matthew|3:11), is agift from God,as promised by the Lord Jesus Christ to all believers in this dispensation,and is received subsequent to the new birth (John 14:16, 17; Acts 1:8; 2:4,38, 39; 10:44-48). The Baptism of the Holy Ghost is accompanied by thespeaking in other tongues as the Holy Spirit Himself gives utterance as theinitial physical sign and evidence (Acts 2:4).

anctification

The Bible teaches that without holiness no man can see the Lord (Hebrews12:14). We believe in the doctrine of sanctification as a definite, yetprogressive, work of grace, commencing at the time of regeneration andcontinuing until the consummation of salvation (Hebrews 13:12; 2Thessalonians 2:13; 1 Peter 12 Ephesians 5:26; 1 Corinthians 6:11; John17:17; 1 Thessalonians 5:23).

Ordinances

Water Baptism

Baptism in water is by immersion, a direct commandment of our Lord(bibleref|Matthew|28:19), and is for believers only. The ordinance is a symbol of theChristian’s identification with Christ in His death, burial and resurrection(Romans 6:4; Colossians 2:12; Acts 8:36-39).

The following recommendation regarding the water baptism formula isadopted, “On the confession of your faith in the Lord Jesus Christ the Sonof God, and by His authority, I baptize you in the name of the Father, andof the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.”

The Lord’s Supper

The ordinance of the Lord’s Supper is a commandment of our Savior; andbeing a memorial to His death and resurrection, is strictly limited toChristian believers (1 Corinthians 11:27). The time and frequency of itsobservance is left to the discretion of each congregation (1 Corinthians11:26).

Only unfermented grape juice, the fruit of the vine, as recommended byour Lord (bibleref|Matthew|26:29; Mark 14:25; Luke 22:18) shall be used in connectiontherewith.

Foot Washing

Foot washing is recognized among many believers as a Christian practice,and the time, manner and frequency of its observance is left to thediscretion of each local congregation (John 13).

Divine Healing

Healing is for the physical ills of the human body and is wrought by thepower of God, through the prayer of faith, and by the laying on of hands(Mark 16:18; James 5:14, 15). It is provided for in the atonement of Christand is available to all who truly believe.

The End Times

The Resurrection of the Just

The Bible promises, “This same Jesus shall so come in like manner” (Acts1:11). His coming is imminent; when He comes, “The dead in Christ shall risefirst: then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together withthem in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air” (1 Thessalonians 4:16, 17).Following the tribulation, He shall return to earth as King of kings andLord of lords, and together with His saints, who shall be kings and priests,He shall reign a thousand years (Revelation 20:6).

etting a Time for the Lord’s Return

It is unwise to teach that the Lord will come at some specified time,thereby setting a date for His appearing. It is also unwise to teach, preachor publish visions of numbers and dates which would tend to fix the time ofthe second coming of the Lord (Mark 13:32, 33).

The Coming of the Lord

We believe the Bible presents the coming of Christ as personal, imminent,pre-tribulational and pre-millennial. We further contend that this positionalone admonishes watchfulness, incites holy living, prevents spiritualdeclension, and provides maximum incentive and motive for urgency and zealin evangelizingthe unsaved. As demonic deception and satanic darkness deepens, we urge ourministers to maintain and proclaim this doctrinal viewpoint as the “blessedhope” of the Church.

Furthermore, we recommend that should any of our preachers hold to themid or post-tribulation doctrine, they refrain from preaching and teachingit. Should they persist in emphasizing this doctrine to the point of makingit an issue, their standing in the fellowship will be seriously affected.

Hell and Eternal Retribution

The one who physically dies in his sins without Christ is hopelessly andeternally lost in the Lake of Fire, and therefore has no further opportunityof hearing the Gospel or for repentance (Hebrews 9:27). The Lake of Fire isliteral (Revelation 19:20). The terms “eternal” and “everlasting” used indescribing the duration of the punishment of the damned (bibleref|Matthew|25:41–46)in the lake of fire, carry the same thought and meaning of endlessexistence, as used in denoting the duration of joy and ecstasy of saints inthe presence of God.

Tithes

We recognize the scriptural duty of all our people, as well as ministers,to pay tithes as unto the Lord (Hebrews 7:8).Tithes should be used for the support of the active ministry and for thepropagation of the Gospel and work of the Lord in general and not given tocharity or used for other purposes (Malachi 3:7-Il; Hebrews 7:2; 1Corinthians 9:7-lI; 16:2).

* [http://www.messengerwc.com Messenger Worship Centre] - Official Web Site
* [http://www.adherents.com/Na/Na_496.html#3065 Adherents.com]
* [http://www.pcg.org/ Pentecostal Church of God] - official Web Site
* [http://www.messengercollege.edu/ Messenger College]
* [http://www.messengerpublishing.com/ Messenger Publishing House]

References

*"Our Story: The History of the Pentecostal Church of God" ISBN 1-882449-36-3