Trinitarian – Evangelical – Classical Pentecostal – Dispensational – Protestant Faith – Apostolic – Conservative Theology – Arminian – Fundamentalist – Creationist – Sound Doctrine – New Testament
Bible
The Christian Bible is God’s holy word. It was written by holy apostles and prophets and inspired by God. It is His word to humankind and in particular His church. Among the English versions we prefer and recommend the King James Version.
Creator
The one true God is the Creator of the universe. He created all things that we see in six days, and according to the Scriptures creation is about six thousand years old. We see the evidence all around us every day for an almighty, intelligent, eternal, benevolent Creator.
The Trinity
God is a divine eternal self-existent being who created all things. He is referred to by male pronouns and consists of Father, Son and Holy Spirit. He is a triune being consisting of three persons. Each person is distinct, yet God is one God and there is total unity/oneness within the Godhead. We are strongly trinitarian.
God the Son
Jesus Christ was in the beginning as the Word, who is also the second person in the Trinity.
He is no less divine than the Father. He was born into this world and was manifested in the flesh. The Son of God became a man and was manifested among us.
Jesus’ Birth, Life & Ministry
Jesus was born of a virgin, brought up under Jewish parents and taught the Jewish religion and way of life. He was sinlessly perfect all His days. He began His ministry at thirty years old, and with the help of a team of disciples ministered throughout Israel for the next three and a half years until the time of His crucifixion. He taught, prophesied, healed the sick, cast out demons, raised the dead and performed many miracles.
Jesus’ Death
Jesus died on the cross for the sins of all humanity. His sacrifice on the cross was an atonement for men’s souls, as well as their minds and bodies etc.
Salvation is only obtained through faith in His cross and precious blood, and forgiveness of sins in his name. He is the Saviour of the world and the Jewish messiah.
Born Again
Men are called to be born again to enter heaven. We are saved by grace (Ephesians 2:8), the Bible says, and “the just shall live by faith” (Galatians 3:11 KJV). Mankind must repent of his sin to be saved.
Water Baptism
Water baptism is by full immersion (not infant baptism) and is a command in Scripture. It is to be obeyed and taken seriously. However, we don’t believe in baptismal regeneration. Regarding the formula we believe you could say “in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit”, or “in the name of Jesus Christ”, or “in the name of the Lord”. Any of the above formulas are valid provided one does not believe in Oneness Pentecostal theology which we believe to be a great error.
Baptism in the Holy Spirit and Gifts of the Spirit
We believe that the baptism in the Holy Spirit is for today. It is separate and subsequent to salvation (but can coincide with salvation), and is accompanied by speaking in tongues and possibly other gifts. The gifts of the Spirit (1 Corinthians 12) are also for today and should be exercised in our churches. Apostles and prophets also exist today. We are not in the least bit ashamed of these doctrines (Pentecostal distinctives) as they are given by Christ and the Holy Spirit, and fully established in the Scriptures.
Communion
Communion is an ordinance given by the Lord to remember His death frequently. It is strictly for believers, and must be taken with the utmost seriousness by believers.
Once Saved Always Saved?
We don’t believe in the “once saved always saved” or eternal security doctrine, but one must continue in the faith and live right to be saved (not salvation by works). We see dozens of scriptures that contradict the eternal security doctrine. It is a misapplication of grace.
Calvinism
We do not accept Reformed theology as biblical truth, as each one of the five points can easily be refuted from Scripture. However, we acknowledge that many Calvinists are brethren, and that there has been many notable preachers and theologians from the Reformed tradition.
Heaven and Hell
Heaven and hell are both literal places, and all humanity will end up in one place or the other.
Pre-Tribulation Rapture
We believe in the rapture of the church which precedes the seven-year period, known as Daniel’s seventieth week, and referred to by Bible prophecy students as the seven-year tribulation period. We are dispensational.
Christ’s Coming
Christ will return after the great tribulation (three-and-a-half-year period) spoken of by Jesus. It will be a literal and physical appearance in which every eye shall see Him. He will set up His millennial kingdom reign on earth.
Resurrection
There will be a resurrection of both the just and unjust. The first resurrection will occur at the time of the rapture while the second death will occur at the end of the millennial reign of Christ. At this time there will be the great white throne judgment where the wicked will be cast into the lake of fire. Then God will set up the new heavens and earth with the New Jerusalem coming down out of heaven.
Women in Ministry
We believe that God can use women to a certain extent, but there are limits imposed upon them by the Scriptures. The church is to be overseen by men.
Abortion/Homosexuality
Abortion is murder and homosexuality an abomination according to the Scriptures.
False Churches
We avoid mainline dead denominations, Oneness Pentecostalism, groups that teach Old Testament law such as Seventh Day Adventists, and all cults and false religions. We do not subscribe to modern, Laodicean, compromised, worldly churches that water down the word to suit themselves. The church is to stay orthodox and not compromise the hard-hitting truths of the Bible. It is to stay pure and not corrupt itself with charlatan preachers or a seeker-friendly Gospel.
The Nation of Israel
We as the church should respect the fact that Jewish people are still God’s chosen people according to the flesh. We do not accept Replacement theology nor British Israelism. The church is NOT Israel.
The Protestant Faith
We are of the Protestant faith (established in the Reformation period), however, we try to steer away from NI orange/green sectarianism, and seek to reach our Roman Catholic neighbour with the Gospel. We believe the Roman Catholic Church as well as many Protestant churches to be apostate.
Orthodoxy
We fully align ourselves with all the orthodox teachings of the New Testament church being faithful to all of the Bible’s fundamental doctrines, and all the main tenets of the Christian faith.
Supplementary Material Below
Early Church Creeds
The church creeds go back to the early church and are regarded as orthodox by Christendom in general.
The Apostles’ Creed dates backs to the first or second century and is widely used and adhered to in many Protestant churches. It is a summary of core Christian beliefs. We adhere to these truths.
Note: when it says that Jesus “descended into hell” it is talking about Hades (NT) or Sheol (OT). Christ did not go to the punishment section of hell.
When it says catholic church it is meaning universal church.
Obviously, creeds are only that, and are never on a par with Scripture itself. They must be scripturally based though. Creeds are a declaration of faith and contain essential doctrines such as the Trinity, the deity of Christ and so on. They were used as safeguards against heresy coming into the church.
Nicene Creed A.D. 325
Confessions, Statements and Articles of Faith
We would find the following confessions, statements and articles of faith generally acceptable (note: we do note subscribe to any Calvinistic confessions of faith).
Disclaimer: we have no official affiliation with any organisation listed below, nor are we wholly endorsing everything they believe, preach and practise (we are only providing links to doctrinal statements/documents).
Martin Luther’s 95 Theses
(Protesting document against Roman Catholic Church corruption and the posting thereof considered to be the beginning of the Protestant Reformation)
The Five Articles of Remonstrance
(Opposition to the five points of Calvinism)
Five-Point Arminianism: The Five Arminian Articles of 1610
An Evangelical Statement of Faith
The National Association of Evangelicals Statement of Faith
A Pentecostal Statement of Faith
Assemblies of God 16 Fundamental Truths
Biblical Inerrancy
Chicago Statement on Biblical Inerrancy
Biblical Manhood and Womanhood
Dispensational Theology Explained
(Note: Dispensational teaching may have been revived through John Darby but originated with Paul the apostle in the New Testament.)
Different Pentecostal Groups Explained
Finished Work Pentecostals Vs Holiness Pentecostals
There are Finished Work Pentecostals and Holiness Pentecostals. Holiness Pentecostals have retained a Wesleyan-Holiness Theology regarding sanctification as part of their doctrine. Finished Work Pentecostals have not. We at Watchman Christian Fellowship are Finished Work Pentecostals.
The only prerequisites for receiving the baptism of the Holy ghost is to be saved, washed in the blood and have your sins repented of through faith in Christ and His cross. This provides the basis for receiving the Holy Ghost.
This is not a case for major concern or controversy. However, we find Finished Work Pentecostalism to be in line with the book of Acts and teaching of the early apostles. We don’t see Holiness theology as being entirely scripturally accurate, although we don’t condemn it as heresy (far from it). We acknowledge John Wesley as a great man of God, and a great movement sprung from this work.
Oneness Pentecostal Error
There is a major split in the Pentecostal church: Trinitarian and Oneness Pentecostals. Oneness Pentecostals teach the doctrine of Modalism as opposed to Trinitarianism
We reject Oneness Pentecostals as they reject the Trinity. We have no fellowship or association with them. Right down through church history, anyone who rejected the doctrine of the Trinity and taught contrary wise was branded a heretic.
Paul the apostle commanded that heretics be rejected.
We outright reject Oneness Pentecostalism including the United Pentecostal Church International and the Apostolic Oneness Church.
We at WCF are apostolic in that we believe, teach and follow the teachings of the early apostolic church as outlined in the New Testament.
We do not however believe in the Apostle’s Doctrine: a doctrinal statement of faith published by the United Pentecostal Church that contains a number of doctrinal errors.
Concluding Remarks
All Christian teaching must be traced back to Christ and the apostles and well established in the New Testament Scriptures. In particular, God used Paul the Apostle to reveal the mystery of the Gospel in the New Testament Scriptures.
“And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel.”
(Ephesians 6:19)
“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)
We don’t need to look to any man or movement for truth.
“Thy word is truth.”
(John 17:17)
