Our Beliefs:
Lives centered on the Gospel of Jesus Christ
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What Is the Apostolic Message?
In Matthew 16:18, Jesus prophetically stated "...I will build my church..."
The many types and shadows of the Old Testament Tabernacle and Temple worship were pointing toward the New Testament period and the establishment of the Church of Jesus Christ on this earth.
After the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, Jesus showed Himself alive to many of His disciples for forty days. He left them with the promise of the Spirit returning to indwell them. (Luke 24:49; Acts 1:5-8)
On the Jewish Feast day of Pentecost, 30 A.D., a group of one hundred and twenty faithful followers of Jesus were gathered in Jerusalem in an upper room. Suddenly they were overwhelmed with this promised Spirit. They began to speak with other languages as the Spirit gave them utterance. Thus, the church was born!
As the Apostle Peter spoke to the gathered people, 3,000 others were likewise added to the original group of one hundred twenty. Since this beginning in Jerusalem, the Church spread as the apostles carried the Gospel forth into the world.
At the death of the apostles and the conclusion of their writings, which we recognize as the New Testament Epistles, those whom they had ordained continued their message with signs following.
The Church of Jesus Christ has known much tribulation and persecution at the hand of those who oppose her message. Yet in every century the Lord has had a witness and the Church has had a voice.
At the beginning of the twentieth century, God chose the United States to pour out the Latter Rain of His Spirit. Revival fires began to spread as people began to seek a deeper experience with God. Soon thousands were filled with the Holy Spirit and were baptized in the Name of Jesus of Christ here in the United States. Then, missionaries were sent out into other countries carrying the Gospel. Thus, America became a great fortress for Apostolic truth in the twentieth century.
In every state the Apostolic message spread and churches were founded. From these churches, groups began to form and men of God united their efforts to do more for God. Through the efforts of these faithful witnesses, the Commission of Jesus Christ to "...preach the gospel to every creature" (Mark 16:15), is being fulfilled even today.
The basic and fundamental doctrine of City of Light is the Bible standard of full salvation, which is repentance, baptism in water by
immersion in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and the baptism of the Holy Ghost with evidence of speaking with other tongues as the Spirit gives them utterance (Acts 2:4, 38; John 3:5).
The One True God
We believe there is only one God (Deuteronomy 6:4). He is the Creator of heaven and earth, and of all living things. He has revealed Himself to humanity as the Father (Creator), as the Son (Savior), and as the Holy Ghost (indwelling Spirit in the church today).
We believe in the One ever-living, eternal God; infinite in power, holy in nature, attributes, and purpose, and possessing absolute, indivisible Deity. This one true God has revealed Himself as Father in creation, through the Son in redemption, and as the Holy Ghost by emanation (1 Corinthians 8:6, Ephesians 4:6, 2 Corinthians 5:19, Joel 2:28).
The Scripture does more than attempt to prove the existence of God; it asserts, assures, and declares that the knowledge of God is
universal (Romans 1:19, 21, 28, 32; 2:15). 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 commandments is, "Hear, O Israel: the LORD our God is one LORD:" (Mark 12:29, Deuteronomy 6:4). "One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all:" (Ephesians 4:6).
This one True God manifested Himself in the Old Testament in divers ways, in the Son while He walked among men; as the Holy
Ghost after the ascension.
The Bible
We believe the Bible to be the direct and absolute Word of God (2 Timothy 3:16), given to us by inspiration of the Holy Ghost as it moved upon the tongues and pens of men who had received the special anointing of God for this express purpose. (2 Peter 1:21 "For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.") We believe the Bible to be God's means of doctrine, instruction, and comfort to the Church today, infallible in its authority, singular in interpretation, and man's avenue of access to God.
Baptism in Jesus' Name
We believe in water baptism by immersion in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ for remission of sin. Through baptism we identify with the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ (Romans 6:3-6, Colossians 2:11-14, Acts 2:38).
The Holy Spirit
We believe in the manifestation of the gifts of the Holy Spirit. He ministers to His people through tongues, interpretation of tongues, prophecy, words of knowledge and wisdom, discerning of spirits, faith, working of miracles, healing, helps, and government (Mark 16:15-18, Acts 5:16, 2 Corinthians 12:1-11).
The Son of God
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; John 1:10).
"He came unto his own, and his own received him not." (John 1:11). This one true God was manifested in the flesh, that is, in His
Son Jesus Christ.
"...God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them..." (2 Corinthians 5:19).
We believe that, "...in Him (Jesus) dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily." (Colossians 2:9)
The Name
"unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given, ... and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, the everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace" (Isaiah 9:6). This prophecy in Isaiah was fulfilled when the Son of God was named, "And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: For he shall save his people from their sins" (Matthew 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).