Philadelphia Church of God Doctrines

Church Doctrines
Here is a brief summary of the main doctrines of the Philadelphia Church of God, along with the key scriptures on which each is founded.

Each doctrine maintained by the Church is provable from the Holy Bible.

We believe in one God, eternally existing, Creator of the heavens and Earth and all that is in them (Genesis 1:1). The Godhead is actually composed of two personages: the God who became the Father of Jesus Christ, and the Word who was made flesh and became God’s Son (John 1:1-14).

We believe Jesus of Nazareth was the Messiah, the Christ, the divine Son of the living God, begotten of the Holy Spirit, born in the human flesh of the virgin Mary. Christ came to Earth the first time to qualify to replace Satan on the throne of the Earth (Matthew 4). He also came to establish and build His Church (Matthew 16:18) and to train those who would rule under Him in the Kingdom of God. He proclaimed the gospel: the good news of the future establishment of the Kingdom of God on Earth (Mark 1:14-15), which will be made up of the family of God, administering the government of God, based upon God’s law. We believe the Holy Spirit is the Spirit of God and of Christ Jesus--the power of God (Acts 1:8; Romans 15:19) by which all things were created and made.

We believe the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments are God’s revelation and complete expressed will to man, inspired in thought and word, and infallible in the original writings; that they are of supreme and final authority, and the source of truth (2 Timothy 3:16). We believe all teachings contrary to the Holy Bible are false.

We believe Satan is a spirit being and, as the devil, is the adversary of God and the children of God (I Peter 5:8). God has allowed Satan dominion over the world for 6,000 years, leading the children of Adam into rejection of God’s law and rebellion against God. Satan’s power is merely to influence and lead, not to force humans arbitrarily against their will. He has ruled by deception (Revelation 12:9) with the aid of a host of demons which are rebellious angels, spirit beings, who have followed Satan in his rebellion.

We believe man was created in the image of God (Genesis 1:27), and is wholly mortal, subject to corruption and decay, without eternal life inherent in himself, except as the gift of God under God’s terms and conditions as expressed in the Bible. Adam and Eve sinned, thereby incurring the death penalty without having received eternal life. God then allowed Satan to sway all their children, influencing mankind to sin, thus bringing upon themselves the penalty of death (Romans 6:23).

We believe sin is the transgression of God’s law (I John 3:4); that the law is spiritual, perfect, holy, just and good (Romans 7:12), summed up in the word love (I John 5:3); that it involves the two great principles of love to God and love to neighbor, and that the Ten Commandments compose the ten points of that law (Matthew 22:37-40). We believe this fundamental spiritual law reveals to us the only right and true way to life-the only possible way of happiness, peace and joy; that it is immutable and binding throughout eternity; and that all unhappiness, misery, poverty, anguish, and woe has come from its transgression.

We believe God so loved this world of helpless sinners that He gave His only begotten Son (John 3:16), who, though in all points tempted as we are, lived without sin in the human flesh (Hebrews 4:15) and died for us as a substitutionary sacrifice (Hebrews 10:12). This made it legally possible for man’s sins to be forgiven and for God to release him from their penalty, since Jesus, whose life was of greater value than the sum total of all other human lives (because it was He who brought them into being), has paid the penalty in man’s stead.

We believe Christ was raised from the dead after His body reposed three days and three nights in the grave (I Corinthians 15:3-4), thus making immortality possible for mortal man; that He thereafter ascended into heaven where He now sits at the right hand of God the Father as our High Priest and Advocate (Hebrews 8:1; I John 2:1-2).

We believe that all who truly repent of their sins in full surrender and willing obedience to God, faithfully accepting Jesus Christ as personal Savior, are forgiven their sins by an act of divine GRACE (Ephesians 1:7). They are justified, pardoned from the penalty of past sins, reconciled to God (Romans 5:9-10) and given the gift of the Holy Spirit upon baptism (Acts 2:38) into the body of Christ, which is the true CHURCH OF GOD. The Holy Spirit abides within such a person, effecting a true change in life and attitude, supplying the divine LOVE which alone can fulfill the law and produce righteousness. At baptism a Christian is begotten of God and will be born into the family of God at the resurrection (John 3:6; I Corinthians 15:52). We believe God’s greatest purpose is to expand His family.

We believe that from Friday sunset to Saturday sunset, the seventh day of the week, is God’s Sabbath (Exodus 20:8-11). On this day we must rest from our labors, following the commands and example of the Apostle Paul, the New Testament Church and Jesus. The Sabbath is a sign between God and His people (Exodus 31:13).

We believe the seven annual holy days, as given to ancient Israel by God through Moses (Leviticus 23)--kept by Christ, the Apostle Paul and the New Testament Church--are to be kept today. These festivals picture God’s plan and purpose for mankind. The Passover and Days of Unleavened Bread occur every spring; Pentecost is observed in early summer. In the fall, we observe Trumpets, Atonement, the Feast of Tabernacles and the Last Great Day. The sacrifices, which were added and later superceded by Christ’s sacrifice (Hebrews 9:22-10:10), are no longer to be kept on those days nor at any other time.

We believe Christians are forbidden to kill (Exodus 20:13) or in any manner directly or indirectly take human life. We believe bearing arms is contrary to this doctrine; we therefore conscientiously refuse to bear arms or to come under military authority. Christians are, in fact, citizens of another government (John 18:36; Hebrews 11:13-16).

We believe the PROMISES were made to Abraham and his “seed,” Christ (Galatians 3:16), and that the covenants (including the New Covenant) and the promises pertain to ISRAEL. The national phases of the promises--MATERIAL blessings--have been given to the modern physical descendants of the Israelites (Genesis 22:15-18), but the SPIRITUAL phase of the promises-salvation-is through Christ alone, and is freely open to Gentiles also who, through Christ, become Abraham’s spiritual children and heirs according to the promises (Galatians 3:7-9, 29).

We believe the Church is that body of believers who are being led by the Holy Spirit; that the true Church of God is not a denomination; that the inspired name for this spiritual organism is “THE CHURCH OF GOD” (Acts 20:28); that the mission of the Church today is to preach the gospel of the coming KINGDOM OF GOD to all nations as a witness (Matthew 24:14), with emphasis on the warning to America and Britain of the prophecies pertaining to them (Ezekiel 33:7); to reconcile to God, and to save, through Christ, such people as are now called (John 6:44); and to minister to the Church of God. Members of the Church are being specially trained in this life to rule with Christ in the Millennium (Revelation 20:6).

We believe the only hope of eternal life for mortal man lies in the resurrection. At the end of the Millennium, ALL who have lived not knowing God will be raised to physical life and given the opportunity for salvation (I Corinthians 15:22; Revelation 20:5). We believe that there shall be a resurrection of the just and unjust (Acts 24:15; Daniel 12:2)-the just to eternal life as spirit beings upon Earth, the unjust to the second death in hell (Gehenna) fire in which they shall perish in eternal punishment (Revelation 20:13-15).

We believe in the imminent return of Jesus Christ to rule the Earth as King of kings and Lord of lords (Revelation 19:16); that at that time He will sit upon the throne of David, restoring all things during a thousand-year reign upon Earth and establishing the Kingdom of God, forever to be headquartered on Earth.

Philadelphia Church of God Beliefs

Statement of Beliefs
The Philadelphia Church of God believes and teaches the Bible is the full Word of God, inspired by God, and thereby available for instruction.

Each doctrine maintained by the Church is provable from the Holy Bible.

Only God can cause a person to become a member of the Church; therefore we do not proselytize for members by any means.

The Church’s responsibility is to teach the laws of God to whomever may desire to learn at absolutely no cost.

The Church does not seek financing from the public at large, but depends solely upon the tithes and freewill gifts from its members and co-workers; therefore we do not solicit funds from the public by any means.

The Church teaches its members that the integrity of the family is critical to the health of the nation.

Ministers are to be true servants to the membership and therefore must avoid extremes in lifestyle and lavishness.

All members are to subject themselves to the laws and regulations of the government of the land while following the example and instructions of Jesus Christ.

The Holy Spirit is a gift received from God, upon true repentance, which leads to salvation.

Jesus Christ is the Head of the Church, not any man.

All men will ultimately be resurrected and those who are worthy will fellowship with God and Christ forever.

Sin, unrepented of, separates an individual from God and Christ.

Christ died to pay the penalty for our sins so that we may live an immortal life.

We should rejoice in our trials because God is using our trials to build His character in us.

The Church is responsible to inform the public at large of the soon-coming, glorious Kingdom of God.Additional Information

The spiritual purpose for the physical Temple

I understand the temple of God to be within, when the Father & Christ make their abode inside each adopted member of the family of God, through their Holy Spirit. - Bernard

Didn't Moses have the Holy Spirit when he oversaw the construction of the holy Tabernacle? How about David when he prepared for the Temple? Or Ezra and Nehemiah? Did that stop them from their holy physical work for the Tabernacle and Temple? Did they feel they were better than that and didn't need to do as God led them to do because they had the Holy Spirit? No.

Clearly the physical building of the holy Temple of God serves as a physical place to physically gather to worship God, as commanded, on the NATIONAL and INTERNATIONAL level. The spiritual Temple, that has always been composed of those filled with God's Holy Spirit (and the Prophets had God's Holy Spirit before Shavuot/Pentecost, long before the Church of God was established in Jerusalem), doesn't compete or rule out the physical/national purposes God has ordained for the literal, physical Temple He commands Israel to build. Furthermore, this ought to be evident since the spiritual Temple (the early Jewish Church of God) continued to gladly meet, worship and fellowship at the physical Temple of God until they were warned to flee (to Pella - not stay in their homes) before the destruction, and as Paul proves, even offer sacrifices (with a deeper understanding of their meaning).

The Temple of God in Holy Jerusalem

Third Temple Coming Soon to Jerusalem!

A House of Prayer For All Peoples?

Where's the Temple On the Temple Mount?

Obama is a hypocrite!

The Miami Herald:
President Obama should do what he says about secrecy

OUR OPINION: President Obama promised transparency but often sides with secrecy
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"WHERE'S THE BIRTH CERTIFICATE?"
Why did Obama originally say on his website that he was "governed" by the British Nationality Act? Why does he pay lawyers to work hard to keep America in the dark? Why does he refuse to open up? What's he hiding?Demand your representatives get long overdue, honest answers to these serious questions. America can't afford to wait!
www.davidbenariel.org

THE COVENANT

The Covenant: God's relationship with Jews, Israelites and Gentiles

Art Braidic (a minister of the Sabbath keeping Church of God) and I have enjoyed a biblical discussion about whether or not God's covenant with Judah is still active. I trust others may glean something profitable from our fellowship. I start with his intial response and add my comments:

My conclusion is that God brought the Jews back to fulfill prophecy, not to re-establish them as a nation permanently.

Thank you, Art, for prayerfully considering all this about Judah's return under Ezra and Nehemiah and taking the time to respond. May God bless our fellowship and inspire us all to a better understanding of this holy subject. Such discussions prove true that "iron sharpens iron."

God did indeed bring Judah back (but not all were willing to return just like today) to fulfill prophecy, but I must question if that was the only reason why did God not only send a scion of David (Zerubbabel), and a governor (Nehemiah), but a PRIEST to instruct the People in the Torah? Ezra had his Work cut out for him and did a marvelous job (Ezra 7:10).

His NATIONAL CONGREGATION repented of their Sabbath breaking (Nehemiah 13:17-22) and mixed marriages and entered into a COVENANT WITH GOD. We have no record of the Gentilized Israelites ever repenting, even in part, or returning and submitting to any biblical instruction (Ezra 10:1-3).

Judah had sinned worse than Israel originally, but THEY REPENTED and were brought back. Israel never repented and was never brought back. Some of Judah remained repentant from THE RETURN to the time of Yeshua, the New Testament bearing them record:

The priestly parents of John the Baptist (Luke 1:6), Simon and Anna - two holy and elderly witnesses and the Torah-observant Yosef and Miriam (Luke 2:25, 36-39).

And Yeshua said of the Gentiles and testified about the Jews:

John 4:22
22 You [Gentiles] worship what you do not know; we [Jews] know what we worship, for salvation is of the Jews.

He couldn't say that about the Gentilized Israelites who had lost it all!

The Old Testament was to have seven eras.

I know the Church of God teaches this and I have shared it with others, but the Church of God isn't consistent when they reject the God-given authority of the scribes and the Pharisees that Christ acknowledged on the matters of the sacred calendar and responsibility to properly proclaim the holy days.

Christ was to come from Judah. All this was fulfilled and then, God destroyed the nation and scattered them exactly like He did their sister Israel.

God had already destroyed the former Judah and Jerusalem and scattered the Jews, but many of them repented and returned (part of true national repentance is to return to the Land, not just the Law). Those faithful Jews, the parents of John, the parents of Yeshua, Simon, Anna, and others like them remained faithful and accepted the Light that God had sent Judah and when the others rejected Him they were rejected.

But the physical and spiritual foundation of converted Jews continued without fail! The early Church of God was entirely Jewish, as you know. That Jewish/biblical foundation was most instrumental in the construction of the spiritual Temple that includes Gentile converts into that holy Branch. Most of Judah were temporarily cut off, just like the Gentilized Israelites, but SOME of them never were and continued right on as pioneers of faith towards the "New Jerusalem!"

Antiocus went through the land devastating it it and putting the abomination in the temple. I submit that if these people were God's people, in a covenant with them, then they would have not suffered so.

Isn't that a gospel of peace and prosperity? Don't true believers suffer persecution? If God wasn't in covenant with Judah, why did Yeshua call the defiled and CLEANSED Temple "My Father's House?" God sent Judah - still His covenant people at that point - the Macabbees as in the days of the Judges, just as the Church also teaches that Daniel prophesied of them as the "people who know their God and do (military) exploits," and they formed part of the seven eras of the Old Testament. Another traditional inconsistency!

To me, after Christ's death, any relationship was completely over.

Yes, I agree that after the unwarranted hatred Yeshua experienced at the hands of His brethren, like our father Joseph did earlier as a type, the Anointed One who came to purify Judah's religion and correct their misunderstandings and rebuke idolatrous traditions (which is why He spent so much time with the God-ordained Pharisees). He warned Judah of the Temple's imminent destruction and their dispersion and they rejected Him and His warning message and many of them paid for it with their lives, God was through - for the most part - with collective Judah. However, as stated above, God kept His Word to be the God of our fathers and our God to a remnant, folks like the righteous I've mentioned whose kind made up the early Church.

As Paul writes... Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God.

I do know your point, but to be technical, it's speaking of US being dead to sin (and its penalty) and resurrected in Christ, able to now marry Righteousness - it doesn't state that about Christ.

So, in the marriage to Israel, God was married to Judah. Once He died, He was able to remarry. He now is espoused to those He has called, and He will marry them at His return.

I know and have also shared this Church of God teaching, but the Scriptures reveal God saying to physical Israelites in these last days, God pleading with us to return to Him as our Husband, that He never divorced us! Judah and Israel are still married to God even if we've broken our part of the covenant relationship and God has "SEPARATED" us from Him due to our unrepentant sins. But He wants us back! (Isaiah 50:1, Jeremiah 3:14).

The Church of God, like the Prophets, ought to call our people back to the Law and the Covenant that God made with our Fathers Abraham, Isaac and Jacob (and confirmed with our fathers at Mount Sinai) and wants to RENEW with us and improve upon it by writing His Torah upon the tablets of our converted hearts and minds, so help us God!

I actually do not know what replacement theology is.

It is denying the spiritual importance of physical Israel to God forever, regardless of our present sins that will soon be history.

Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel, Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called. That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed.

All this is saying is that race alone isn't sufficient. That a physical Israelite must also have a spiritual Israelite identity or they're nothing more than physically circumcised spiritual Gentiles! And that physical Gentiles can be spiritual Israelites and join the Body of converted Israelite believers: the remnant of physical Israel who isn't blinded!

Rom 11:1
I say then, Hath God cast away his people? God forbid.

Replacement theology would say it doesn't matter because spiritual Israel has replaced any need for physical Israelites to be in a covenant relationship with God and such a damnable heresy is dead wrong! Paul then stresses his PHYSICAL TRIBAL IDENTITY - he didn't dismiss it as unimportant. God must always have at least a chosen few physical Israelites to keep His Promise to our Fathers to be their God and the God of their literal descendants.

But what saith the answer of God unto him? I have reserved to myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to the image of Baal. Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace.

So, there is a remnant according to grace, not race. Who is that remnant comprised of?

Not so! The very example Paul used were ALL ISRAELITE. Why speak of a remnant except to refer to the relatively chosen few ISRAELITES who have not gone astray or been blinded? The remnant pertains to physical Israelites who are converted Israelites!

What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded

The election or remnant of physical ISRAELITES! Just like the vast majority of Jews rejected Jesus but a remnant of physical Jews remained faithful and formed the foundational Church of God in Jerusalem!

Rom 11:16
For if the firstfruit be holy, the lump is also holy: and if the root be holy, so are the branches. And if some of the branches be broken off, and thou, being a wild olive tree, wert graffed in among them, and with them partakest of the root and fatness of the olive tree

While not the firstfruits, they are still holy because they are God's people.

It is converted physical Israelites who are the firstfruits, converted physical Israelites who are the roots, a converted physical Israelite olive tree that converted Gentiles can be grafted into! We are the Israelite Church of God, as Herbert W. Armstrong taught, and it is counterfeit Christianity that is a Gentile Church that seeks to replace physical Israelites in every way, physically and spiritually.

For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.

Blindness IN PART, a partial blindness among Jews and Israelites. I really don't understand why God had to blind any of our people, maybe you know? Why couldn't He just work with Gentiles and Israelites at the same time like He does in the Church? Ancient Israel always accepted Gentile converts and they weren't at the expense of any Israelites. I really don't understand this part of the mystery and pray to grasp it better!

And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob: For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins.

Back to physical Israel, showing their physical descent from Jacob-Israel remains important to God despite "spiritual Israel." Again, it's because of the covenant that God made with our Fathers. That's why the "Time of Jacob's Trouble" will be cut short - mainly for the ethnic election, the physical Israelites' sakes! not the spiritual Church of God alone.

Matthew 24:22
22 And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect's sake those days will be shortened.

Isaiah 1:9
9 Unless the LORD of hosts
Had left to us a very small remnant,
We would have become like Sodom,
We would have been made like Gomorrah.

Leviticus 26:44-45
44 Yet for all that, when they are in the land of their enemies, I will not cast them away, nor shall I abhor them, to utterly destroy them and break My covenant with them; for I am the LORD their God.
45 But for their sake I will remember the covenant of their ancestors, whom I brought out of the land of Egypt in the sight of the nations, that I might be their God: I am the LORD.'"

This GOOD NEWS is why the first chapter of Beyond Babylon: Europe's Rise and Fall is gladly called "Survival Guaranteed!"

Rom 11:28
As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the fathers' sakes.

Just like Elijah was opposed by most of his nation of Gentilized Israelites, and the 7,000 were the chosen few (COG - Cave of God), all physical Israelites, so most of the nation of Judah rejected My God Yah in the flesh except for the chosen few physical Israelites who became converted and were the Church of God in Judea! The election, the ethnic elect, the Chosen People, will finally respond to our calling to become a Kingdom of Priests, a Light to all Nations, so help us God! Hosanna in the Highest!

Rom 11: 30
For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all.

This is the mystery I wrote of above that I would like to understand better.

As you stated, their time will come again, but I believe it is not now.

I agree that the vast majority of Joes and Jews are presently blinded, but I believe there are individuals with whom God is working, His Holy Spirit is WITH THEM (not yet in them, like with His disciples originally), as part of the process of national redemption, laying the groundwork, preparing the way, for when God chooses to call us all again into a COVENANT RELATIONSHIP with Him, like Gershon Salomon of the Temple Mount Faithful and other faithful Jews, exceptions, just like Simon and Anna.

Even as Herbert W. Armstrong taught the children of Worldwide Church of God members are SANCTIFIED (I Corinthians 7:14), so too are the children of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob (Ezra 9:2). I believe this revelation needs to be better understood and taught in the congregations.

I love the Jewish people. I find them among the most bright, professional, and talented people in the world.

I know you do. I never doubted it. I also know that Judah offers the best and the worst in this world! We can either become "stars" (as the descendants of Abraham) or so much "dirt" (grains of sand).

May God bless klal Yisrael (all Israel/12 Tribes) to fulfill our incredible NATIONAL potential! (Isaiah 62:1-2, 6-7).

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Performance Report for David Ben-Ariel (June)

June 2009 EzineArticles.com Performance Reports for David Ben-Ariel

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The New South Africa blog

Hierdie blog poog om 'n kroniek te wees van die ekstreme geweld en geheime volksmoord wat gepleeg word teen die blanke minderheidsgroep van Suid-Afrika. Tien duisende blankes is alreeds vermoor sedert 1994. Brutale marteling en verkragting is volop en nie eers jonk of oud word gespaar nie.

The New South Africa blog attempts to chronicle the extreme violence and secret genocide being committed against the white minority of South Africa. Tens of thousands of whites have been murdered since 1994. Brutal torture and rape is common and not even the young or elderly are spared.

http://www.dienuwesuidafrika.com

http://www.farmmurders.com

http://www.plaasmoorde.com