Core Beliefs
The following are the core beliefs of United Pentecostal Church of Great Britain and Ireland based on the foundational truths taught in the bible. All of our teaching and ministry is rooted in and flows out of these biblical doctrines.
God
We believe in the one ever living, eternal God: infinite in power. Holy in nature, attributes and purpose; and possessing absolute, indivisible deity. There is one eternally existing God. He is the creator of all that exists, both visible and invisible, and is therefore worthy of all glory and praise. God is perfect in love, power, holiness, goodness, knowledge, wisdom, justice, and mercy. He is unchangeable and therefore is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow.
This one true God has revealed Himself as Father, through His Son, in redemption; and as the Holy Spirit, by emanation. (1 Cor. 8:6, Eph. 4:6; 2 Cor. 5; 19; Joel 2:28).
God is invisible, incorporeal, without parts, without body, and therefore free from all limitations. He is Spirit (John 4:24), and “a spirit hath not flesh and bones…” (Luke 24:39). “…The first of all the commandments is, hear, O Israel; the Lord our God is one lord” (Mark12:29; Deut- 6:4). “One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all” (Eph, 4:6).
This one true God manifested Himself in the Old Testament in diverse ways; in the Son while He walked among men; as the Holy Spirit after the ascension.
This one true God has revealed Himself as Father, through His Son, in redemption; and as the Holy Spirit, by emanation. (1 Cor. 8:6, Eph. 4:6; 2 Cor. 5; 19; Joel 2:28).
God is invisible, incorporeal, without parts, without body, and therefore free from all limitations. He is Spirit (John 4:24), and “a spirit hath not flesh and bones…” (Luke 24:39). “…The first of all the commandments is, hear, O Israel; the Lord our God is one lord” (Mark12:29; Deut- 6:4). “One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all” (Eph, 4:6).
This one true God manifested Himself in the Old Testament in diverse ways; in the Son while He walked among men; as the Holy Spirit after the ascension.
Revelation
God has revealed himself to us through his son, Jesus Christ, who is the visible image of the invisible God, the holy scriptures, and through all of creation itself.
The one true God, the Jehovah of the Old Testament, took upon himself the form of man, and as the Son of man, was born of the Virgin Mary, As Paul says, “and without controversy great is the mystery of Godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory” (1 Timothy 3:16).
We believe that “…in Him (Jesus) dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily” (Col. 2:9). “For it pleased the Father that in Him should all fullness dwell” (Col. 1:19). Therefore, Jesus in His humanity was man; in His deity was and is God. His flesh was the lamb, or the sacrifice of God, He is the only mediator between God and man. “For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus” (1 Timothy 2:5).
The one true God, the Jehovah of the Old Testament, took upon himself the form of man, and as the Son of man, was born of the Virgin Mary, As Paul says, “and without controversy great is the mystery of Godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory” (1 Timothy 3:16).
We believe that “…in Him (Jesus) dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily” (Col. 2:9). “For it pleased the Father that in Him should all fullness dwell” (Col. 1:19). Therefore, Jesus in His humanity was man; in His deity was and is God. His flesh was the lamb, or the sacrifice of God, He is the only mediator between God and man. “For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus” (1 Timothy 2:5).
The Name
God used different titles, such as “God Elohim,” “God Almighty,” “El Shaddai,” “Jehovah,” and especially “Jehovah Lord,” the redemptive name in the Old Testament. “.. .unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: ,., and His name shall be called Wonderful Counsellor, The mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6).
This prophecy of Isaiah was fulfilled when the Son of God was named, “And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shall call His name Jesus: for He shall save His people from their sins” (Matt. 1:21).”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).
This prophecy of Isaiah was fulfilled when the Son of God was named, “And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shall call His name Jesus: for He shall save His people from their sins” (Matt. 1:21).”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).
Repentance, Conversion & Water Baptism
Pardon and forgiveness of sins is obtained by genuine repentance, a confessing and forsaking of sins. We are justified by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ (Romans 5:1).
John the Baptist preached repentance, Jesus proclaimed it, and the Apostles emphasized it to both Jews and Gentiles. (Acts 2:38, 11:18; 17:30).
The word “repentance” comes from several Greek words which mean, change of views and purpose, change of heart, change of mind, change of life, to transform, etc. Jesus said, “…except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish” (Luke 13:3), Luke 24:47 says, “And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.”
The scriptural mode of baptism is immersion, and is only for those who have fully repented, having turned from their sins and having a love of the world.
It should be administered by a duly authorized minister of the Gospel, in obedience to the Word of God, and in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, according to the Acts of the Apostles 2:38; 8:16; 10:48; 19:5, thus obeying and fulfilling Matthew 28:19.
John the Baptist preached repentance, Jesus proclaimed it, and the Apostles emphasized it to both Jews and Gentiles. (Acts 2:38, 11:18; 17:30).
The word “repentance” comes from several Greek words which mean, change of views and purpose, change of heart, change of mind, change of life, to transform, etc. Jesus said, “…except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish” (Luke 13:3), Luke 24:47 says, “And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.”
The scriptural mode of baptism is immersion, and is only for those who have fully repented, having turned from their sins and having a love of the world.
It should be administered by a duly authorized minister of the Gospel, in obedience to the Word of God, and in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, according to the Acts of the Apostles 2:38; 8:16; 10:48; 19:5, thus obeying and fulfilling Matthew 28:19.
Holy Ghost Baptism
John the Baptist, in Matthew 3:11, said, “…He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire.” Jesus, in Acts 1:5, said, “.,.ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.”
Luke tells us in Acts 2:4, “…they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues (languages), as the Spirit gave them utterance.” The terms “baptize with the Holy Ghost and fire,” “filled with the Holy Spirit,” and the “gift of the Holy Ghost” are synonymous terms used interchangeably in the Bible.
It is scriptural to expect all who receive the gift, filling, or baptism of the Holy Spirit to receive the same physical, initial sign of speaking with other tongues.
The speaking with other tongues, as recorded in Acts 2:4; 10:46 and 19:6, and the gift of tongues, as explained in 1 Corinthians, chapters 12 and 14, are the same in essence, but different in use and purpose.
The Lord, through the Prophet Joel, said “…I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh;..,” (Joel 2:28), Peter, in explaining this phenomenal experience, said,”,,, having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, He (Jesus) hath shed forth this which ye now see and hear.” (Acts 2:33)
Further, “…the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.” (Acts 2:39).
Luke tells us in Acts 2:4, “…they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues (languages), as the Spirit gave them utterance.” The terms “baptize with the Holy Ghost and fire,” “filled with the Holy Spirit,” and the “gift of the Holy Ghost” are synonymous terms used interchangeably in the Bible.
It is scriptural to expect all who receive the gift, filling, or baptism of the Holy Spirit to receive the same physical, initial sign of speaking with other tongues.
The speaking with other tongues, as recorded in Acts 2:4; 10:46 and 19:6, and the gift of tongues, as explained in 1 Corinthians, chapters 12 and 14, are the same in essence, but different in use and purpose.
The Lord, through the Prophet Joel, said “…I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh;..,” (Joel 2:28), Peter, in explaining this phenomenal experience, said,”,,, having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, He (Jesus) hath shed forth this which ye now see and hear.” (Acts 2:33)
Further, “…the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.” (Acts 2:39).