Statement of Belief
A short statement of belief can foster unity and enable brothers and sisters in Christ of various backgrounds to work together in the humble and accepting spirit of Romans 14. The statement of belief below is therefore adapted from Church Of God (7th Day's) web-site at https://cog7.org/about-us/ as our statement of belief in New Zealand.
We respect the famous maxim: "in essentials, unity; in doubtful matters, liberty; in all things, charity."
Church of God’s Love (COG7) Tauranga, NZ believes:
The Bible is the dependable and authoritative Word of God. No other writing is of such divine origin or is necessary for Christian faith and practice.
God the Father is the almighty Creator and loving Provider, eternal King and Judge of the universe.
Jesus Christ, the pre-existent Son of God (also Creator, Judge & King of Kings), is the Saviour, Lord, and eternal Redeemer of all who truly believe.
The Holy Spirit is the personal presence of God in believers—convicting, converting, teaching truth, prompting obedience, bearing fruit, distributing gifts, and empowering witness.
Because Adam and Eve, our first parents disobeyed, sin and death affect all of us. All of us have sinned in thought, word, deed, and in omission.
Salvation consists of the forgiveness of sins and the gift of eternal life. It originates in God’s grace, is achieved by the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, and is personally received by faith.
Saving faith includes repentance, which activates obedience and good works through love—all produced by the Holy Spirit within. The regenerate Christian is obedient to the terms of the gospel, to the words of Christ, and to the enduring moral law of God summarized in the Ten Commandments and written on the hearts of believers. We believe in practicing the seventh-day (Saturday) Sabbath, one of the Ten Commandments. It was the only day of the week ever specially blessed by God and set apart as a weekly holy day (Genesis 2:1-3).
All people who have trusted Christ and repented are members of the spiritual body, the church of God. The mission of the church is to proclaim the gospel, introduce others to the Lord, teach them to obey His Word, and nurture spiritual growth in all believers.
Jesus Christ instituted two ordinances for the church that confirm faith in Him: baptism by immersion and the Lord’s Supper.
Jesus Christ shall return visibly from heaven at the end of this age. The dead in Christ shall be raised to immortality. Our main concern regarding Christ’s final coming is being spiritually ready.
*A note for those who have had previous experience of churches meeting on Sabbath:
There are various churches meeting on the seventh day Sabbath each having their own unique character, special doctrines or prophets.
If you are looking for a grace-orientated, Christ & gospel focused church meeting on Sabbath and focused on the most important things Christians should be focused on, then this is the church you’ve been looking for! Please come and join us!
We have no founding prophet whose writings we honour - just Jesus Christ and the Bible.
What is given special attention in our church is the good news of Jesus Christ.
We believe many mistakes are made concerning prophecy and are very cautious in this area emphasizing above all being spiritually prepared for the day we will meet our Maker.
Over the years we’ve enjoyed good fellowship (and pray it will continue), with some people who have attended our church who like to remember or celebrate special feast days still celebrated by Jews, Messianic and Hebrew roots Christians today. Whilst our theology differs from theirs regarding the obligation to observe such feasts, according to 2 Timothy 3:16 all scripture is profitable. We will therefore, make an effort at the appropriate seasons of the year to benefit or profit from the scriptures these feasts are derived from. We will also support efforts to reach Jews/Israelites with the gospel.
We are not the one and only true church denomination and are careful to avoid a judgmental spirit toward other denominations.
We aim to major on the majors, minor on the minors and to be a group where you will feel safe attending and which you will be happy to introduce others to.
Scriptures expressing core values of the Church of God (7th day) New Zealand
For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship [MASTERPIECE], created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. Ephesians 2:8-10
Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails. 1 Corinthians 13:4-8
By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another. John 13:35
Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one. Colossians 4:6
Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another. Romans 14:19
And this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments and His commandments are not burdensome. 1 John 5:3
And let our people also learn to maintain good works, to meet urgent needs, that they may not be unfruitful. Titus 3:14
Therefore, since we receive a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us show gratitude, by which we may offer to God an acceptable service with reverence and awe. Hebrews 12:28
ALWAYS “looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God” Hebrews 12:2
Photo taken from Mount Maunganui on the peaceful Tauranga harbour side.