(A) The Church
We believe that the Church of Jesus Christ is one, and that it is universal and indivisible, composed of all men regardless of nationality, language, race, or custom, who have accepted Jesus Christ as Savior and who have been baptized in the body by the Holy Spirit (I Corinthians 12:13). The common bonds uniting the members are faith and love.
(B) The Holy Scriptures
We believe the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments to be the inspired Word of God. The Scriptures are the final authority for faith and life. The sixty-six books of the Old and New Testaments are the complete and divine revelation of God to man. The Scriptures shall be interpreted according to their historical meaning. The King James Version shall be the official translation used by the church.
(C) The Unity of God
We believe there is only one God who has manifested Himself to the world in various forms throughout the ages, and that He has especially revealed Himself as Father in the creation of the universe, as Son in the redemption of human kind, and as Holy Spirit dwelling in the hearts of the believers. This God is the creator of all that exists, be it visible or invisible. He is eternal, infinite in His power, holy in His nature, attributes and purpose. He possesses an absolute and indivisible divinity. He is infinite in His greatness, His nature is inconceivable, and His essence is indescribable. He is known completely only to Himself because such an infinite mind can only be understood by itself alone. He has no body or parts, and therefore is free of all limitations.
“The first of all commandments is, Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord” (Mark 12:29, Deuteronomy 6:4).
(D) Jesus Christ
We believe that Jesus Christ was born miraculously of the Virgin Mary, by the work of the Holy Spirit, and that at the same time, He is the one and only true God (Romans 9:5, I John 5:20). The God of the Old Testament took human form (Isaiah 60: 1-3).
“And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us” (John 1:14).
“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” (I Timothy 3:16).
He is the creator of all (Colossians 1:16-17, Isaiah 45:18). He is omnipresent (John 3:13, Deuteronomy 4:39). He performed miracles as the Almighty God (Luke 5:24-26, Psalms 86:10). He is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8, Psalms 102:27).
(E) Holy Spirit
We believe in the baptism of the Holy Spirit promised by God in the Old Testament, and that there was an outpouring of the Holy Spirit after the glorification of Jesus Christ (Joel 2:28-29, John 7:37-39, John 14:16-26, Acts 2:1-4, Acts 1:16-18).
Furthermore, we believe that a person demonstrates baptism of the Holy Spirit by speaking in new tongues or languages, and that this sign is also for our time.
We believe that the Holy Spirit is a power that permits us to testify of Christ (Acts 1:8), and that it helps to form a Christian character that is more acceptable to God (Galatians 5:22-25). That same Spirit endows men with gifts for the edification of the Church (Romans 12:6-8, I Corinthians 12:1-12, Ephesians 4:7-13). We in no way believe that any man can endow others with any such gifts for “one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills” (I Corinthians 12:11). “But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift” (Ephesians 4:7)
All members of Brighter Day Christian Fellowship should seek the Holy Spirit and try to live continually in the Spirit as recommended in Romans 8:5-16, Ephesians 5:18, and Colossians 3:5.
(G) The Lord’s Supper
We believe in the literal practice of the Lord’s Supper as instituted by Jesus Christ (Matthew 26:26-29, Mark 14:22-25, Luke 22:15-20, I Corinthians 11:23-26). Unleavened bread should be used in this sacrament, which represents the sinless body of Jesus Christ. Unfermented wine should also be used, which represents the blood of Jesus Christ shed for the redemption of our sins.
The objective of this ceremony is to commemorate the death of Jesus Christ until His return to earth, and to demonstrate the communion and fellowship existing among the believers. No person should participate in this ceremony if they are not a faithful church member or are not in good standing (I Corinthians 10:15-17, I Corinthians 11:27-28, II Corinthians 13:5).
(F) Water Baptism
We believe in water baptism by immersion in the Name of Jesus Christ, and that it should be administered by an ordained minister. Baptism should be by immersion because it represents the death of man unto sin, which is like unto the death of Jesus Christ (Romans 6:1-5). It should be in the Name of Jesus Christ since this was the practice of the Apostles and ministers who baptized during the early period of the church according to the Holy Scriptures (Acts 2:38, Acts 8:16, Acts 10:48, Acts 19:6, Acts 22:16).
(I) The Resurrection of the Just and the Unjust
We believe that there will be a literal resurrection of the dead in Christ and that they will be given a glorified and spiritual body in which they will live forever in the presence of the Lord (John 5:29, Acts 24:15, I Thessalonians 4:16, Job 19:25-27, Psalms 17:15, I Corinthians 15:35-54). Those Christians who are living when Christ comes to take up His church, will be transformed and in like manner, will live forever in glory in the presence of the Lord ( I Thessalonians 4:18, I Corinthians 15:51-52).
We believe also that there will be a resurrection of the unjust, but they will awaken from the slumber of death, only to be judged and to hear the harsh sentence that will make them heirs of the eternal fire (Matthew 25:26, John 5:29, Revelation 20:12-15, Mark 9:44, Daniel 12:2).
(H) The Resurrection of Jesus Christ
We believe in the literal resurrection of Jesus Christ, which took place on the third day after His death as recorded in the Gospels (Matthew 27:60-64, Mark 16:1-20, Luke 24:1-12, Luke 24:36-44, John 20:12-20).
This resurrection was foretold by the prophets (Isaiah 53:12), and it was necessary for our hope and justification (I Corinthians 15:20, Romans 4:25).
(J) The Rapture of the Church and the Millennium
We believe that the church, which is composed of those who died in Christ and the faithful living upon the earth at the time of the rapture, will be lifted to meet the Lord in the air. They will take part in the Marriage Supper of the Lamb. Thereafter, the Church will descend with the Lord to pass judgment upon the nations and will reign with Christ for a thousand years. This period will be preceded by the Great Tribulation and the battle of Armageddon, which the Lord will bring an end to when He descends upon the Mount of Olives with all His saints to bring judgment upon the nations (I Thessalonians 4:13-17, I Corinthians 15:51-54, Philemon 3:20-21, Isaiah 65:17-25, Daniel 17:27, Micah 4:1-3, Zachariah 14:1-16, Matthew 5:5, Romans 11:25-27, Revelation 20:1-5).
(K) The Final Judgment
We believe that the Lord has prepared a judgment day for all who have died without Christ and those living upon the earth who have not accepted the gospel. This judgment will take place after the millennium and is also know as the Great White Throne Judgment. At the end of this judgment, the heavens and the earth will be renewed by fire, and the faithful will dwell in the New Jerusalem. The Christian dispensation shall have ended, and God will again be all things to all (Daniel 7:8-10, Daniel 14, Daniel 18, I Corinthians 6:2-3, Romans 2:16, Romans 14:10, II Corinthians 5:10, Revelation 20:5-15, Revelation 21:1-6).
(L) Divine Healing
We believe that God has the power to heal our physical bodies if it is His will. The divine healing is a result of the sacrifice of Christ since He has borne our grief and carried our sorrow (Isaiah 53:4). The healing of the body is effected through a combination of the faith of the believer and the power of the Name of Jesus Christ, whose name is invoked when praying for the sick. The Lord Jesus Christ promised that those who believe in His name would lay hands on the sick and they would recover (Mark 16:18). The sick should be anointed with oil in the Name of Jesus Christ by ordained ministers in order for the Lord to fulfill His promise (John 14:13, Psalms 103:1-4, Luke 9:1-3, I Corinthians 12:9, James 5:14-16).
We believe that divine healing is obtained by faith. If a member has need to seek the care and administration of medical science, others should not criticize him, but should consider themselves that they be condemned by that which they themselves approve (Romans 14:22). We recommend that members and ministers of the church refrain from criticizing medical science, inasmuch as advancements in this field cannot be denied. God has given men the ability to continue discovering the secrets pertaining to the functioning of the human organism. At the same time, we exhort them not to oppose the government sponsored programs promoting hygiene, vaccinations and cleanliness, but rather to collaborate with the same wherever and whenever possible.
(M) Holiness
We believe that all members of the body of Christ should be holy. Holiness means separation from sin and consecration to the service of the Lord. For that reason, they should abstain from all worldly practices, diversions, and filthiness of the flesh (Leviticus 19:2, II Corinthians 7:1, Ephesians 5:26-27, I Thessalonians 4:3-4, II Timothy 2:21, Hebrews 12:14, I Peter 1:16).
(N) Marriage
We believe that marriage is sacred as it was established since the beginning of time, and that it is honorable in all (Genesis 2:21-24, Matthew 19:1-5, Hebrews 13:4). Marriages should be performed in accordance with the laws of the country and then solemnized in the church according to the approved practices. Couples who have not legalized their union and who wish to be baptized must first comply with civil law requirements. We believe that marriage is a sacred union, and couples should strive to make their marriages last so long as both the husband and the wife live. Upon death of one, the other is free to remarry and does not sin if it is done in the Lord (Romans 7:1-3, I Corinthians 7:39). We believe also that marriages should take place solely among faithful church members. No minister should perform a marriage ceremony between a member of the church and a non convert. Questionable situations shall be reviewed individually by the pastor according to his wisdom and the Holy Scriptures.