Gospel Hall Brethren - Beliefs

Beliefs

Gospel Hall brethren would claim to follow the "pattern" of New Testament church doctrine and practice found in the Acts of the Apostles and expounded by the apostle Paul in his epistles, notably 1 Corinthians and 1 Timothy. As such they recognise no central ecclesiastical authority, no formal creed, no prescribed liturgy nor any ordained salaried ministry. Each assembly is an autonomous locally functioning body of baptised believers, recognising the final authority of the Bible and led by a plurality of elders. Though assemblies meeting in Gospel Halls do not usually print an official statement of faith, preferring to reference the Bible alone as their authority, the following basic doctrines would be held very widely among them:

  • The verbal, plenary inspiration of the Bible (all 66 books)
  • The Trinity (One God in three persons - Father, Son and Holy Spirit)
  • The creation of the world and human beings by supernatural acts of God
  • The deity, eternal sonship, virgin birth and impeccability of Christ.
  • The substitutionary death, bodily resurrection and ascension of Christ
  • The ministry of the Holy Spirit in conversion, sanctification and witness
  • The universal condemnation of all humanity as a result of the fall in Eden
  • The need for the new birth for sinners to be made right with God
  • Justification by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone
  • Baptism by immersion in water after personal salvation
  • Two aspects of "the Church" - firstly the "body of Christ" composed of all believers from Pentecost to the return of Christ, and secondly local assemblies composed of baptised believers who have been received into fellowship
  • Gifts of the Spirit such as the evangelist and Bible teacher are ongoing, but the sign gifts of tongues and healing ceased by the close of the first century AD
  • The premillennial, pretribulational return of Christ
  • Eternal bliss in heaven for the believer, and eternal damnation for the unbeliever

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Famous quotes containing the word beliefs:

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