Doctrinal Statement of Faith

Verbal Plenary Inspiration
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The Scriptures

Every word in the original writings both in the Old and New Testaments are inspired by God and are without error. This is the complete revelation of His will for the salvation of men and the Divine and final authority for Christian faith and life. It  is accurate in all matters to which it speaks, spiritual, historical, and scientific. Thus, the scriptures of the Old and New Testaments are the foundation of faith. ( II Tim. 3:16; II Pet. 1:21)

God

God exists eternally in 3 persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.  The three have distinct personalities and yet are of the same substance, one God. (Gen. 1:1; John 10:30; John 4:24; Deut 6:4; Matt. 28:19; II Cor. 13:14)

Jesus Christ

Jesus Christ is true God and true man, having been conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He died on the cross, a sacrifice for our sins according to the Scriptures. Further, He arose bodily from the dead, ascended into heaven, where, at the right hand of the Majesty on High, He is now our High Priest and Advocate. (John 1:1,14,18; 5:18; Heb. 1:1-9;  5:8; I John 5:20; I Tim. 2:5; I Cor. 15:1-5 )

The Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit is the third person of the Trinity. The ministry of the Holy Spirit is to glorify the Lord Jesus Christ. During this age, He: convicts mankind, regenerates the believing sinner, and then indwells, guides, instructs and empowers the believer for godly living and service. (Matt. 28:19; John 3:3-7; Titus 3:5; I Cor. 6:19; Rom. 8:9; I Cor. 2:12; 12:13;  Eph. 4:30; Col. 3:14)

Man

Man is created in the image and likeness of God. In Adam, all mankind fell into sin with the result that all mankind are lost sinners. All mankind are justly condemned to  eternal judgment and can do nothing to merit salvation. Only through regeneration by the Holy Spirit can salvation and spiritual life be obtained. (Rom. 2:2,3,5; Eph.  2:8,9; Gen. 1:27, 9:6; Rom. 5:12; 3:23; Eph. 2:1)

Salvation

Salvation is given to those persons chosen by God and drawn to Christ by the Holy  Spirit. The only means to their salvation is belief in Christ's substitutionary death and resurrection and only such as receive Jesus Christ are born of the Holy Spirit and, thus become children of God. (Acts 4:12; 13:38,39; I Cor. 15:1-4; Rom. 4:4,5; 5:1; John  3:16; Eph. 2:8,9; Acts 16:31; Eph. 1:4,5; Rom. 8:29,30)

Justification

That the shed blood of Jesus Christ and His Resurrection provide the only ground for justification and salvation for all who believe, and only such as receive Jesus Christ are born of the Holy Spirit and, thus become children of God.

Assurance

All who are born of the Spirit through faith in Christ can have assurance of  salvation and are eternally secure in Christ. (Rom. 5:1; I John 5:13; John  10:27-29; 17:12; II Tim. 1:12; Eph. 4:30. John 6:37)

Sanctification

Every believer is promised positional, progressive, and ultimate sanctification. (Heb. 10:10,14; John 17:15-17; Eph. 5:26-27; I Thess. 4:3,4; I John 3:2; I Cor.  6:11)

The Church

The church is composed of all believers. It is the body and bride of Christ, formed by the baptism of the Holy Spirit and existing in two aspects, universal  and local. The universal church is an elect company of believers, baptized by  the Holy Spirit into one body. Its mission is to witness to its head, Jesus Christ, preaching the gospel among all nations. The local church is a  group of believers voluntarily joined together in love to worship God with  praise and thanksgiving, and to glorify Jesus Christ through an aggressive  effort to disciple others by the preaching of the gospel, and the exercise of  spiritual gifts. (Eph. 1:22,23; 5:24-30;
I Cor. 12:4-13,27)

Since Jesus Christ is the Lord and Head of the Church then every local church has the right, under Christ, to decide and govern its own affairs. The true Church is composed of all such persons who through saving faith in Jesus Christ have been regenerated by the Holy Spirit and are united together in the Body of Christ of which He is the Head. Thus, only those who are members of the true Church shall be eligible for membership in the local church.

Christian Life

Christians are called to a holy life of service and testimony in the power of  the Holy Spirit. This service includes the propagation of the gospel message to  the whole world. All believers are promised rewards for their faithfulness in service. (I Pet. 1:15,16; Acts 1:8; I Cor. 3:12-17; John 14:1-3)

Ordinances

The Bible sets forth two ordinances, the Lord's Supper and water baptism. The Lord's Supper is to be celebrated regularly in remembrance of Christ's death on  the cross, and in expectation of His return. Water baptism is an outward testimony of a person's belief in Christ. Immersion is the ideal means set forth  in Scripture. They are, however, not to be regarded as means of salvation. (Matt. 28:19,20; Mark 16:15,16; Acts 8:12,36-38; 9:18; 10:47; I  Cor. 11:23-26)

Angels

Angels were originally created holy, but now because of Satan's rebellion, there  is also an unholy angelic kingdom. (Col. 1:16; Job 38:6,7; Ps. 148:2-5; Jude 6;  Matt. 25:41; Eph. 6:11,12; I Tim. 5:21; Rev. 12:9)

Dispensations

God has revealed different dispensations or stewardships, each with corresponding  rules of life which characterize the believer's relationship with God. However, salvation has always been on the basis of God's grace through faith in Christ alone. The present dispensation is the stewardship of grace. (Eph. 3:2-6,9-11; Col. 1:25-27; Rom. 6:14; Heb. 7:18,19)

The Second Coming

The blessed hope of the church is the return of Christ. The events of  the return of Christ take place in the following order:

1. The beginning of the Tribulation Period (Daniel's 70th Week which will be a seven year period).
2. The Great Tribulation (which begins half way through the Tribulation week).
During this mid week - the last three and one-half years of the Tribulation week - the Anti-Christ will be revealed. Many will turn from the faith and follow the "beast of old", while others will stand firm in the faith and will be martyred for their faith in Jesus Christ and  their refusal to take the "mark of the beast").
3. The battle of Armageddon, the second coming of Christ with His saints.
5. The establishment of the reign of  Christ on earth for one thousand years with His saints.
6. The Great White Throne Judgement.
7. The eternal state of punishment for the unsaved and the eternal state of blessing for believers. (Titus 2:13; I Thess. 1:10; 4:13-18; 5:4-10; John 14:1-3; Matt. 24:21,29,30;  25:31-46; Rev. 3:10

Some Churches contend that the "Rapture of The Church" is either:
1. Before the Tribulation Period
2. Before the Great Tribulation Period
3. Before the Wrath of God is poured out in the Seven Bowl Judgements
4. Before the battle of Armageddon
5. After the battle of Armageddon
and at that time the Church will appear before the "Judgement Seat of Christ" (2Corinthians 5:10) and receive what is due them.

There has been a lot of controversy about the Doctrine of the Rapture. If you have been taken captive by the Left Behind books and movies then I would suggest that you investigate the scriptures in Revelation concerning Jesus' teaching about the description of Seven Churches in Revelation 2:1 -- 3:22.

Many believe that the Seven Churches represent the Seven Church Ages while others believe that the admonishments and condemnations within each Church represent features that have been in the Church from its inception and will be there until Jesus returns.

I would contend that within the instructions to each Church the word OVERCOME/S is found in each message. The Greek word is nikao (Strongs # 3528) ( Found in Revelation 2:7, 2:11, 2:17, 2:26, 3:5, 3:12, 3:21) which means to conquer, prevail, get the victory. The Greek word nikao comes from nike (Strongs #3528) and is a primary word that means conquest (abstractly), i.e. (figuratively) the means of success.

Thus, it would seem to me that during the time before Jesus returns for his Church, the true believer/s are to contend for the faith and give testimony to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. This may or may not result in death or imprisonment. It is quite possible that God will do a miracle for His children during this time which would be similar to what He did for the nation of Israel during the times of the Great Plagues in Exodus 7:1 - 12:40.

If you will study the 10 Plagues that came upon Egypt and the Trumpet Judgements in Revelation 8:1 - 11:19 you will see many similarities. In many of the Plagues, God protected and provided and thus I believe that He will do the same during the Great Tribulation.

Examples from the Plagues of how God provided for Israel: 

During the Plague of Darkness:
Darkness covered the land of Egypt for three days and the result was --
"The Egyptians could not see one another, nor did anyone rise from their place for three days; but all the Israelites had natural light in their dwellings." Ex 10:23

During the Plague of the Death Angel:
As the believing Israelites applied the "blood of the lamb" to their lintel and the doorposts, the Angel of Death passed over their place of residence. Exodus 11:1 - 12: 21-28

During the Plague of Flies:
But on that day I will set apart the land of Goshen, where My people are living, so that no swarms of flies will be there, in order that you may know that I, the LORD, am in the midst of the land. "I will put a division between My people and your people". Exodus 8:22-23

During the Plague of Hail:
Only in the land of Goshen, where the sons of Israel were, there was no hail. Exodus 9:26

During the Plague on the Beasts:
"But the LORD will make a distinction between the livestock of Israel and the livestock of Egypt, so that nothing will die of all that belongs to the sons of Israel". Exodus 9:3-4

When I write of the second coming of Jesus Christ, it is important to understand "Time" as we know it as compared to God's view of "Time".

We must understand that God is not limited to the same space-time continuum that we are now limited to.

Click Here to view the page that explains God's Extra Dimensionality.

The page above addresses how God can hear each believer's prayer simultaneously no matter how many people are praying at the same time.

Go to The Bridge To Life Page that outlines, illustrates, and
provides 4 Bible Studies about God's Plan of Salvation

Go to The Delicate Issues Page

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