Our Creeds
Our Theological Understanding
The theological foundation of Nehemiah Tabernacle is based on three principles: the unity of Christ's body, the faith of the gospel, and service to humankind.
The Unity of Christ's Body
Nehemiah Tabernacle’s strong conviction in the belief that every person, regardless of race, class or sexual orientation have worth in the eyes of God and this congregation. The church theme is "A Worship Community for All People." Every person that worships with this congregation is welcome to the Lord's table. Paul wrote in Romans 16:7, "Wherefore receive ye one another as Christ received us to the glory of God."
The Faith of the Gospel
Nehemiah Tabernacle is a worship community that focuses on the study and application of the Holy Scriptures. The church believes that the scriptures are God's mouthpiece from the prophets and the preachers of ancient times. The church's faith in scriptures builds the spiritual development of the parishioners' spiritual direction. With this in mind, God gave our pastor the church's main scriptural theme which states, "...that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel" (Philippians 1:27).
Service to Humankind
At the center of Nehemiah's theology is serving others. The church has to assist any individual in a bad situation. In Matthew 25:31-46, Jesus encourages the church to help any individual who is hungry, thirsty, naked, sick, or a stranger. In the heart of Christianity, is the ministry of giving to others. Nehemiah Tabernacle's service to humankind is wrapped around the attitude of love, thankfulness, faithfulness, willingness, and eagerness.
The Apostolic Creed
We believe there is ONE Lord,
ONE Faith, ONE Baptism,
One God and Father of all
Who is above all and through all
And in us all.
We believe in the Water Baptism
in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ
for the remission of sins.
We believe in the Baptism of the Holy Ghost
with the evidence of speaking
in tongues as the Spirit gives us utterance.
We will follow Peace with all men, and Holiness
without which no man shall see the Lord.
Nehemiah Tabernacle Statement of Doctrine
We believe that the bible is the inspired, infallible Word of God, written by holy men of old as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.
We believe in one God who is infinite in power, holy in nature, attributes and purposes, as well as omniscient and omnipresent.
We believe that Jesus was revealed to us as Father in Creation, as Son in Redemption, and Holy Spirit in His comforting grace that never leaves those who trust in Him.
We believe in the Virgin Birth; Jesus was both human and divine. He was God manifested in the flesh.
We believe in death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
We believe in baptism in water by immersion in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and in the baptism of the Holy Ghost, speaking in other tongues as the Spirit gives utterance.
We believe in sanctification and holiness.
We believe in Holy Communion, foot washing and divine healing.
We believe in serving others, especially individuals who can not help themselves.
Our chief aim is to glorify our Savior, who is Jesus the Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from all iniquity and purify unto Himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.
Brief Review of the Apostolic Pentecostal Doctrine
Oneness Christology
The Oneness Christology was established from St. Matthew 28:19 which use the titles of God. Matthew only confirms that there are three modes of God that relates to Himself and to humankind. One scripture that introduced the Church to the Oneness doctrine is St. John 10:30 states, “I and my Father are one.” Isaiah 45:5 expressed how God feel about the Oneness doctrine; He asked a question can anyone be equal to Him? And He answer that there is no one can compare to Him. Isaiah continues to support the Oneness doctrine by affirming who Jesus is in the 45th chapter and the 6th verse. Isaiah in this text refers to Jesus as “the mighty God,” and “the everlasting Father.” These phases clearly states who Jesus is, God. The meaning of Matthew 1:23 breakdown the Oneness Christology a little better by interpreting one of Jesus’ names, Emmanuel. Matthew says Emmanuel means “God with us.”
James 2:19 tells how Satan believes in one God and the devils also believe and are fearful (frightened) of God. I Timothy 2:5 talks about God being manifested in the flesh, with this in mind Timothy is implying that Jesus is God. Jesus confessed His oneness by saying, “All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth” (St. Matthew 28:18). A man name Philip asked Jesus to show him the Father (God) and Jesus answer Philip by saying, “he that hath seen me hath seen the Father” (St. John 14:9). I John 5:7 gave the Church a deeper understanding of the Oneness Christology which states, “For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.”
The Apostolic Pentecostal tradition traces the Oneness Christology back to the great revival in Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost, AD 33. Oneness Christology was founded by the apostles in Acts 2:42. The Apostolic Pentecostal tradition draws the ideas from the following movements: the days of Tertulian (A.D. 207), Chryostom (4th Century), Christians of the 13th Century, the early Quakers, Wesley, Whitefield, and Irving. Through these great influences the manifestation of the Apostolic Pentecostal Church grew around the world since 1913.
Oneness Christology practices the Jewish-Christian view of biblical monotheism according to Deuteronomy 6:4, and adheres to baptismal formula as described in Acts 2:38. This Christology celebrates the fact that God is one and His name is one (Zechariah 14:9). And the name is Jesus, with this in mind the name of Jesus is above every name that is given and the time will come where every knee will bow and every tongue will confess His name (Philippians 2:9-10). The Apostolic Pentecostal tradition firmly believes that everyone should be baptized in water by immersion in the name of Jesus Christ.
Oneness Christology fully believes in the mystery of the Godhead. It continue to teach that there is but one God who has historically manifested Himself into three modes, namely Father in creation, Son in redemption and Holy Spirit indwelling and sanctifying the believer. The Christology teaches that Jesus was both human and divine, and furthermore, that the Godhead be understood to mean the fullness of God (Col 1:19, 2:9). The Christology teaches that Jesus was Mary’s son and Mary’s God and Creator. God manifested in the flesh; that the flesh of Jesus was the same as ours with the exception that He had no sin. This Christology affirms that Jesus was the Eternal Father made visible to men, apart from whom there is no God. The Oneness Christology teaches that the final consummation of all things there will be only one God and that is our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (I Timothy 3:16; St. John 10:30; Colossians 1:16-17; Isaiah 6:6; St. Luke 2:11; Revelation 1:8).
Oneness Christology rejects the Trinity Theology in the Godhead and declares that the Trinity Theology has no biblical connection. And the Oneness Christology concluded that there are no records of the apostles teaching the Trinity doctrine. This Christology declares that the theory of the Trinity was developed by the vain philosophy of Plato’s mathematics, Timaeus. Apostolic-Pentecostal Theologians sum up the Trinity Theology that evolved out of the polytheistic views of individuals who were neither Spirit filled or Spirit led and who felt a need to explain some scriptures with which they had some difficulties.
Neither the word “Trinity” nor the explicit doctrine as such appears at any one place in the Bible, the ecclesiastical dogma is an effort to unite in one confession all the several strains of the biblical description of God. Fundamental to that description in both the Old Testament and the New is the monotheistic credo summarized in the Shema of Deuteronomy 6:4: “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord.” Neither Jesus nor his early followers intended anything they said about their new revelation to contradict that credo. …Thus, although it is something of an anachronism of the Trinity, “most Christian theologians have found it impossible to say what the Bible says about the nature of God without resorting to something like the orthodox dogma of the Trinity.
The consequences for teaching the Oneness Christology may leave God out of the life of the church. The Apostolic Pentecostal church adopted several names for its theology like, “Jesus Only” and “Jesus Name Message.” The Church do express the Oneness Christology and the Apostolic Pentecostal theology in a holistic approach in term of exegesis and hermeneutics.
The way an individual can apply the Oneness Christology by obeying Acts 2:38. The focus on this Christology is to take on the name of Jesus through baptism. “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved,” (Acts 4:12). Matthew 28:19 encourages believers to be baptized in the “name”, but not the titles of Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. The name Jesus covers all of the titles in Matthew 28:19. Another important scripture that support this Christology is Colossians 3:17. And it states, “And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by Him.” In the Apostolic Pentecostal tradition believes in praying, preaching, singing and dancing all in the name of Jesus.
Oneness Christology stresses the importance of first work repentance and baptism of the Holy Spirit. Before an individual take the name of Jesus, he/she should repent of all sin (turn away from sin). The process of repentance is to recognized one’s sin, confess one sin, and feel remorseful of one’s sin. The power of Jesus cleansing a person cannot happen until the person repent. To come fully into this Christology, a person must submit to the infilling of the Holy Ghost. “But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man has not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his” (Romans 8:9). So Christ calls everyone to have the power of the Holy Ghost. The baptism of the Holy Ghost is another way to become one with him. Oneness Christology is a great influence in this Church, because it use the name of Jesus in the life of this community of faith.
A WORSHIP COMMUNITY FOR ALL PEOPLE
