As a member of the International Pentecostal Holiness Church,
Refuge affirms the historic Christian faith and the following
Articles of Faith.
1. God
We believe there is but one living and true God, everlasting,
of infinite power, wisdom and goodness; Maker and Preserver of
all things, both visible and invisible. And in the unity of this
Godhead, there are three Persons of one substance of eternal
being, and equal in holiness, justice, wisdom, power, and
dignity: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost.
2. Jesus Christ
We believe that the Son, who is the Word of the Father, the very
and eternal God, of one substance with the Father, took man’s
nature in the womb of the blessed virgin; so that two whole and
perfect natures, that is to say, the Godhead and the manhood were
joined together in one Person, never to be divided, whereof is
one Christ, very God and perfect man, who actually suffered, was
crucified, dead, and buried, to reconcile the Father to us, and
to make atonement, not only for our actual guilt, but also for
original sin.
3. The Resurrection and Return of Christ
We believe that Christ did truly rise again from the dead, and
took again His body, with all things appertaining to the
perfections of man’s nature, and ascended into heaven and there
sits until He shall return to judge all men at the last day.
4. The Holy Ghost
We believe the Holy Ghost, proceeding from the Father and the
Son, is of one substance, majesty and glory with the Father and
the Son, very and eternal God.
5. Holy Scripture
We believe in the verbal and plenary inspiration of the Holy
Scriptures, known as the Bible, composed of sixty-six books and
divided into two departments, Old and New Testaments. We believe
the Bible is the Word of God, the full and complete revelation
of the plan and history of redemption.
6. Eternal Life and Judgment
We believe that eternal life with God in heaven is a portion of
the reward of the finally righteous; and that everlasting
banishment from the presence of the Lord and unending torture
in hell are the wages of the persistently wicked
(Matthew 25:46; Psalm 9:17; Revelation 21:7).
7. Salvation Through Christ
We believe that Jesus Christ shed His blood for the remission of
sins that are past, for the regeneration of penitent sinners,
and for salvation from sin and from sinning
(Romans 3:25; 1 John 3:5-10; Ephesians 2:1-10).
8. Justification by Faith
We believe, teach and firmly maintain the scriptural doctrine
of justification by faith alone (Romans 5:1).
9. Cleansing from Sin
We believe that Jesus Christ shed His blood for the complete
cleansing of the justified believer from all indwelling sin and
from its pollution, subsequent to regeneration
(1 John 1:7-9).
10. Sanctification
We believe in sanctification. While sanctification is initiated
in regeneration and consummated in glorification, we believe it
includes a definite, instantaneous work of grace achieved by
faith subsequent to regeneration (Acts 26:18; 1 John 1:9).
Sanctification delivers from the power and dominion of sin.
It is followed by lifelong growth in grace and knowledge of our
Lord and Savior Jesus Christ
(2 Corinthians 4:16; 2 Peter 3:18).
11. The Baptism of the Holy Ghost
We believe that the Pentecostal baptism of the Holy Ghost and
fire is obtainable by a definite act of appropriating faith on
the part of the fully cleansed believer, and the initial
evidence of the reception of this experience is speaking with
other tongues as the Spirit gives utterance
(Luke 11:13; Acts 1:5; 2:1-4; 8:17; 10:44-46; 19:6).
12. Divine Healing
We believe in divine healing as in the atonement
(Isaiah 53:4, 5; Matthew 8:16, 17; Mark 16:14-18;
James 5:14-16; Exodus 15:26).
13. The Second Coming of Christ
We believe in the imminent, personal, premillennial second
coming of our Lord Jesus Christ
(1 Thessalonians 4:15-17; Titus 2:13; 2 Peter 3:10-14;
Matthew 24:29-44), and love and wait for His appearing
(2 Timothy 4:8).
14. The Great Commission
We believe it is the responsibility of every believer to
dedicate his life to carrying out the work of the Great
Commission
(Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:15-20; Acts 1:8).
