Church Services Online Nearby Kenosha WI 53143
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 Nearby Kenosha WI 53143
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.”
Justification is both a state and an act; it is the state of being void of offense toward God brought about by the act of God in forgiving actual transgressions for which one has repented. It is the result of repentance and faith. “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 5:1). Also, read Romans 5:2-9; Titus 3:7. Justification precedes regeneration.
Holiness is the state of being free from sin, a condition made possible by the experience of sanctification. God requires man to live without sin in this present world and provided the means through the shed blood of Christ. “For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world” (Titus 2:11, 12). “Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord” (Hebrews 12:14). Read Luke 1:74, 75; 1 Thessalonians 4:7; Ephesians 4:24; 1 Peter 1:15, 16. Holiness is a necessity not only for the individual but also for the Church, the body of Christ. Read Ephesians 1:4; 5:27; 2 Corinthians 7:1; Psalm 93:5.
The Lord’s Supper was instituted by Christ and is a sacred ordinance which we are commanded to observe. The Supper consist of unleavened bread, which represents His body broken on the cross for our sins, and the wine (unfermented grape juice), which represent the blood of Christ shed for our sanctification. This ordinance is observed in commemoration of Christ and His death. Only sinless and consecrated Christians are eligible to partake of this Supper. Read Luke 22:17-20; 1 Corinthians 11:23-33.
Tithing is the paying of one tenth of our increase into the treasury of the Church. It began with Abraham, continued under the law and received Christ’s approval. “Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cumin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone” (Matthew 23:23). The obligation of tithing is not fulfilled by giving ten percent to the poor or to some good cause but only by paying it into the Church treasurer. Giving differs from and is in addition to tithing. Both are parts of God’s plan to finance His work on earth. Read Genesis 14:19-20; Malachi 3:10; Luke 11:42; 1 Corinthians 16:2; 2 Corinthians 9:6-9; Hebrews 7:1-21.
The use of tobacco in any form is forbidden as well as the habitual use of narcotics. These sinful practices defile the body, the temple of the Holy Ghost, and are outward evidence of an impure heart. “Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God” (2 Corinthians 7:1). Read Isaiah 55:2; 1 Corinthians 10:31, 32; Ephesians 5:3-8; James 1:21.
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.