What we believe
We believe in one God, Who is almighty, all knowing and unchanging. He is the Eternal, self-existent One, Who created the world and everything in it from nothing. He has revealed Himself as One being co-existing in three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. God made man in His image but mankind hasbeen corrupted by sin. God is holy and man’s sin separates him from God. We have all sinned and as sinners are subject to God’s righteous anger and judgement but God is love and He showed His love for us by sending His Son to be the Saviour of the World. He was born of a virgin, lived a sinless life, taught with authority, healed the sick and performed miraculous signs, suffered and died on the cross to take the punishment for our sins, was raised bodily from the dead, ascended into Heaven where He is now seated at the right hand of the Father and has been given the name which is above every name: Jesus.
We believe that through Jesus and only through Him we can receive forgiveness of sins and eternal life. This salvation cannot be earned, it is a free gift from God which we receive when in repentance we turn from our sinful life, put our faith in Jesus and follow Him. Through water baptism we make a public confession that we have left our old sinful life behind, our sins have been washed away and we are now walking in newness of life with Christ.
We believe that the day is coming when Jesus will return visibly in power and glory. Those who have received Him will be caught up to meet the Lord in the air and shall always be with Him but those who have rejected Him will be excluded from His presence. Until that day we are called to live holy lives, to break bread with other believers in remembrance of Jesus and to share the Gospel with all mankind. We are commanded to love the Lord with all our heart, soul, mind and strength and to love one another as Christ has loved us. We cannot do this in our own strength but Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to dwell in our hearts. Through Him we are empowered to be witnesses, we are transformed into the likeness of Jesus and we are equipped for service through spiritual gifts which the Holy Spirit distributes to build up the body of Christ, the Church.
We believe that the Bible is the Word of God, written by men but inspired by the Holy Spirit. The Bible is our final authority in all matters of faith and conduct.
About us as an independent Pentecostal Church
Congleton Pentecostal Church is an independent Pentecostal Church.
The word “independent” refers to the fact that we are not part of a national denomination but are locally governed by a Church Council, who are in turn accountable to the Church members.
The word “Pentecostal” refers to the Jewish feast of Pentecost when the first Christian disciples were filled with the Holy Spirit (Acts 2.1-4). As Pentecostal Christians we seek to be filled with the Holy Spirit just as they were.
In the Bible the word “Church” means an assembly of God’s people. The true church is not the building; it’s the people of God who assemble there to worship the Lord.