Church Services Online Kenosha WI
The Church of God in Kenosha WI invites you to come as you are and experience the love and grace of Jesus of Nazareth. The Church has a several fold reason for existing in the world today. These important purposes are divinely originated and are found in the New Testament.
The Bible declares that Christ came to “…gather together in one the children of God that were scattered abroad” (John 11:52); see also Ephesians 1:10. Jesus set His Church in order as that “one fold” (John 10:14-16) in which is embodied and will be manifested all of His fulness (Ephesians 1:22, 23). Therefore, it is imperative that the world know about The Church of God, “…the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth” (1 Timothy 3:15).
Church Services Online Kenosha WI
The faith of the gospel has been committed solely into the hands of the Church and thus the responsibility for keeping and guarding the faith rests upon the Church’s shoulders.
It is The Church of God’s duty to keep the faith pure and unadulterated and to defend it against all enemies. One phase of keeping and guarding the faith is the searching out and putting into operation God’s laws for the Church, the full restoration of the New Testament doctrine and governing principles.
These teachings are all based on the Scripture; they were taught and practiced by the early Church; and they have been searched out in these last days by godly men and women not concerned with their own opinions. However, the Church does not make a “hobby horse” of any one teaching or group of teachings, but accepts the whole Bible rightly divided with the New Testament as the only rule for government and discipline. These teachings of the Church do not constitute a creed or statement of beliefs, for The Church of God accepts the whole Bible as the inspired Word of God.
All those who become members of the Church assume the following obligation:
“Will you sincerely promise in the presence of God and these witnesses that you will accept this Bible as the Word of God—believe and practice its teachings rightly divided—the New Testament as your rule of faith and practice, government and discipline, and walk in the light to the best of your knowledge and ability?” This is a “perpetual covenant that shall not be forgotten.”
To be born again is to become a new creature in Christ and a child of God. His new birth is the result of repentance, justification and regeneration. It is a definite and instantaneous experience wrought in the heart accompanied by a definite inner witness. There is no other way to enter the kingdom of God. (However, the new birth does not make one a member of The Church of God.) “Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again” (John 3:7). Read John 3:3-8; 1 Peter 1:23; 1 John 3:9; Romans 8:16; 1 John 3:14. The new birth is a prerequisite for the experience of sanctification.
The gifts of the Spirit were set in the Church to be operated by the Spirit according to the will of God. They are manifested through individual members but individuals do not personally possess the gifts. Therefore, since the gifts are given to the Church and not to individuals, a spiritual gift cannot be taken away by one who leaves the Church. These gifts were all operating in the Church before it went into the dark ages, and were all restored to the Church when it arose out of darkness. Fist Corinthians 12:28, “And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healing helps, governments, diversities of tongues.” Read 1 Corinthians 12:1; 4-11; 14:1.
Feet washing was instituted by Jesus on the night of the Last Supper and is a New Testament ordinance we are enjoined to observe in addition to communion. Its observance was taught by the apostles and practiced by the early Church. Charity and good works do not fulfill this obligation. “If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another’s feet” (John 13:14). Read John 13:4-17; 1 Timothy 5:10.
Restitution is the act of restoring something wrongfully taken or the satisfying of one who has been wronged. God requires those who become converted to perform such tasks if at all possible. “And Zacchaeus stood, and said unto the Lord; Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold. And Jesus said unto him, This day is salvation come to this house, forsomuch as he also is a son of Abraham” (Luke 19: 8, 9). Read Matthew 3:8; Romans 13:8.
Our life in this present world determines our eternal reward. The unconverted and the wicked are doomed to eternal punishment, from which there is no escape—no liberation but annihilation. “And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal” (Matthew 25:46). Read Mark 3:29, 2 Thessalonians 1:8, 9; Revelation 20:10-15; 21:8.
Divorce and remarriage constitute the sin of adultery. Matthew 5:32, “But I say unto you, That whosever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced comitteth adultery.” The only allowable causes for remarriage are fornication and death. However, fornication is not unfaithfulness or simple adultery, but is a state of being married to another’s wife or husband. 1 Corinthians 7:2, “Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife.” Read Matthew 5:32; 19:3-9; Mark 10:12; Romans 7:2, 3; 1 Corinthians 5:1-5, 13; 1 Corinthians 6:16-18; 7:10, 11; Revelation 2:22.