What do I believe?


1.The Bible is the very Word of God and is the absolute authority in determining the faith and practice of God’s people. 
 
  • All 66 books of the Bible are inerrant, divinely and uniquely inspired, and preserved in the King James Bible for English speaking people. Any nation or language group can have the preserved word of God in their language if their Bible is translated from the Hebrew Masoretic manuscripts (Old Testament) and the Greek Textus Receptus manuscripts (New Testament) as the King James is translated from. 
  • These Scriptures are divinely intended for personal study and interpretation under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

2 Samuel 23:2; Psalm 12:6-7; Proverbs 30:5-6; Matthew 5:18; 24:35; John 17:17; Acts 1:16; 3:21; 1 Corinthians 2:7-16; 2 Timothy 3:15- 17; 2 Peter 1:19-21; Revelation 22:18-19


 
2. There is one true God, eternally co-equal and co-existent in three persons, God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.

 Genesis 1:1; Exodus 3:14; Psalm 115:3; Luke 1:37; Psalm 139:1-16: 145:17; 1 Peter 1:16; Malachi 3:6; John 3:16; Psalm 103:8; John 4:24; 5:26; 1 Thessalonians 1:19; Deuteronomy 6:4; Genesis 1:26; Matthew 3:16-17; 28:19-20; John 14:16; 1 Corinthians 12:4-6; 2 Corinthians 13:14; 1 John 5:7; 1 John 3:16


 
  • God the Father – reigns with providential care over His universe, His creatures, and the events of human history according to the purposes of His grace.  He is unchangeable in holiness, love and truth; He is Father in truth to those who are the children of God through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, and fatherly in His attitude toward all men, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance and receive His gift of eternal life through Jesus Christ

     
Genesis 1:1; 17:1; Exodus 6:3; Deuteronomy 4:35; Psalm 90:2; 139:7-10; Isaiah 40:28; John 4:24; 1 John 1:5


 
  • God the Son:  The Lord Jesus Christ – is both perfect God and perfect man.  He was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of a virgin, lived a sinless life, offered himself as a vicarious and atoning sacrifice in order to shed His blood for sinful man.  He died, was buried, and He arose three days later proving He is God, and He ascended to the Father’s right hand in heaven where He is our advocate, mediator, intercessor, and high priest.

     
Isaiah 53:4-5; Matthew 18:11; 20:28; John 1:1,14; 3:16; 8:58; Romans 3:25-26; 1 Corinthians 15:3; 2 Corinthians 5:14-21; Philippians 2:6-11; Hebrews 2:9-15; 1 Peter 1:19


 
  • God the Holy Spirit – is the present representative of the Godhead on this earth; He moved holy men of God to write the Bible; He convicts men of sin, righteousness, and judgement; He testifies only of Jesus Christ and not Himself; He is the agent of the new birth; He seals, indwells, guides, teaches believers all truth, comforts, calls to service, sanctifies, baptizes believers into the body of Christ, and bestows spiritual gifts upon the believer (the “sign” gifts {i.e. tongues, miracles, healing, special knowledge,} having passed away around 100 A.D. with the completion of the New Testament canon and ); and the fullness of the Holy Spirit in the life of the believer is best shown in boldness to witness for our Lord Jesus Christ, for he is being progressively sanctified through the working of the indwelling Spirit, and that he will be completely sanctified at resurrection; that there is no complete eradication of the old nature in progressive sanctification during this present life; that speaking in tongues was not a sign of either regeneration or sanctification.

     
Matt. 28:20; 1 Jn. 5:7; Heb. 9:14)Gen. 1:2; Job 33:4,Jud 3:10; 6:34; 11:29; 1 Sam. 16:13; Jn. 14:26; 1 Cor. 2:11-13; 1 Pet. 1:10-12; 2 Pet. 1:19-21; Gen. 6:3; Jn. 16:7-11; Acts 1:8; Eph. 1:13-141; Pet. 1:2Acts 1:8; 1 Cor. 12; Acts 13:1-4; John 17:17; Romans 1:17; 6:1-18; 1 Corinthians 1:30; 6:11; 1 Corinthians 13:8-13; 14:20-22; Ephesians 4:15; 5:26-27; Philippians 1:9-11; 1 Thessalonians 4:3-7; Hebrews 10:10; 1 Pet. 1:15-16


 
3.  All mankind is totally depraved, a sinner in both nature and practice; therefore, man is totally separated from God, totally lost, and in need of the convicting and regenerating ministry of the Holy Ghost in order to be saved.
 
                             Genesis 2:16-17; 3:1-24; Psalm 51:5; Ecclesiastes 7:29; Isaiah 53:6; Jeremiah 17:9; Mark 7:20-23; Romans 3:9-20; 5:12; Ephesians 2:1-3


 
4.  Salvation is a free gift from God and offered to all mankind totally “by grace” and must be received “through faith”, apart from any works, plus nothing and minus nothing. The gift of God’s grace was purchased by Jesus Christ alone, by His blood and death on Calvary. The sinner receives God’s salvation by repentance toward God and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.
Though salvation is by God’s grace alone through faith, it results in a changed life; salvation is not by works but it is unto works. The faith for salvation comes by hearing God’s Word. People must hear the gospel in order to be saved.

The Gospel is defined in 1 Corinthians 15:1-4.

John 1:11-13; 3:16-18, 36; 5:24; 14:6; Acts 4:12; 15:11; 20:21; Romans 10:9-10,13, 17; Ephesians 1:7; 1:12-14; 2:8-10; Titus 3:3-8; Hebrews 1:3; 1 Peter 1:18-19; 1 John 4:10



5.  There will be a future bodily resurrection of the saved unto “LIFE” and the unsaved unto “JUDGMENT’ and everlasting damnation.
 
  • Heaven is a real-literal place in which the saved will go upon death until we dwell for eternity in the New Jerusalem. 

    Mk. 9:4; 2 Cor. 5:8; Phil. 1:23; 2 Tim. 4:6; Rev. 6:9-11

  • Hell is a real-literal place in which the lost will go upon death until the Great White Throne judgment, and they will then be cast alive into the lake of fire, where they will spend eternity in conscious torment and suffering.

    Mk. 9:43-49; Lk. 16:22-31, Revelation 21:8



6.  Jesus Christ will one day come for his church  in the air (the rapture) before the Tribulation Period; this event (the rapture) is imminent and could happen at any moment.  He will later return to this earth at the end of the Tribulation Period; at which time, every eye will see Him, He will speak, and all of His earthly enemies will be destroyed.  He will then rule and reign on this earth for 1,000 years.

Mk. 9:4; 2 Cor. 5:8; Phil. 1:23; 2 Tim. 4:6; Rev. 6:9-11; 1 Cor. 15:51-57; 1 Thess. 1:9-10; 4:13-18; 5:1-9; Titus 2:13; Mat. 24:42-44; 25:13; 1 Thess. 5:2-4; Dan. 12 :Mat. 16:27; 24:30-31; 26:64; Rev. 1:7; 2 Thess. 1:7; Rev. 19:11-21; 20:1; Isaiah 2:2-5; 60; 66:20-24; Joel 3:1-2; 18-21; Zech. 14; Rom. 11:25-29; Rev. 21-22; 2 Pet. 3:10-13


 
7.  The local New Testament church is a body of saved-baptized believers,  who come together in obedience to Christ to carry out the dictates of the Word of God. I also believe in the autonomy of the local church.
The church’s sole authority is the Bible. Its Great Commission is the work of world evangelism and discipleship.  The church is to be missionary and evangelistic in spreading the Gospel into all the world. It is not the mission of the church to "bring in the Kingdom," work for political or economic justice, major on social improvement, or "Christianize" society. It is to strive together for the faith of the Gospel, proclaim and maintain purity of doctrine and practice, and worship and serve the Lord in "spirit and truth."
 
Mat. 16:18; 1Tim. 3:15; 1Tim. 3; 2 Tim. 3:16-17; Mat. 28:18-20; Acts 1:8; 13:1-4;Mat. 22:21; Rom. 13:1-7; Titus 3:1; 1 Pet. 2:13-14 Acts 2:41-47; 20:17-32; Matthew 28:16-20; Ephesians 4:11-16; 1 Corinthians 11:23-34.


 
8. The Bride of Christ consists of all saved believers from all ages regardless of church membership, affiliation and whether or not they were water baptized, as long as they trusted the gospel and the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation.

Matthew 3:11; Matthew 20:22-23; Mark 1:4; Luke 3:3; Acts 13:24; 19:4; Mat. 3:1-6; John 1:31; Acts 8-9; I Cor. 1:17; 15:1-4; II Cor. 5:18-20


 
9.  There are two ordinances of the local church; baptism and the Lord’s Supper.
 
  • Baptism is the symbolic act of the saved believer being immersed in water.  It shows our identification with our crucified, buried, and risen Savior, Jesus Christ.  It symbolizes the death and burial of the “old man”, and then the “new man” is raised to walk in newness of life.  Baptism plays no part in our salvation; rather, it is an act of obedience to Jesus’ command.

    Rom. 6:1-4Acts 8:36-39; 16:30-33; 18:8; 1 Cor. 1:17; 15:1-4

  • The Lord’s Supper is observed by the saved believer by the taking of unleavened bread and grape juice in remembrance of the Lord’s death and in expectation of His return.

    Acts 2:41-42; 1 Cor. 11:23-24



     
10.  When a person accepts the Lord Jesus Christ as his personal Saviour, he can never be lost again, because he is kept by the power of God. I bellieve in the eternal security of all believers in our Lord Jesus Christ. Once a lost sinner has be come a "new creature in Christ," he can never lose that new relationship in the family of God which is based upon Christ's imputed righteousness and not his own.
         Sin in the life of the believer affects his fellowship with the Father not sonship. All who are truly born of the Spirit and who continue in sin will be dealt with by the chastening hand of God. ; All who are in Christ are sealed unto the day of redemption and will be glorified. We are to "work out" our salvation not "work for" our salvation; Texts used to supposedly teach one can lose his salvation are speaking of loss of reward, not the loss of salvation or the right to be called a child of God.
          We believe that all followers of the Lord Jesus Christ should maintain good works, a "good work" being that which is done in obedience to the will of God as revealed in the Word of God. Works will determine the reward or loss of reward at the Judgment Seat of Christ before which every Christian will stand. Every believer must realize his responsibility before God to "maintain good works," i.e., walk in the light of the Word of God. The Bible is the believer's absolute Standard of faith and practice, his perfect Counsel. The Word provides him with "all things that pertain unto life and godliness". The Bible, not any form of psychological counseling or therapy, is the answer.
 
Isaiah 53:11-12; John 10:27-30; Acts 10:43; 13:39; 15:11; Romans 3:21-25; 5:1-2, 9; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Titus 3:7; 1 Peter 1:2-5; 1 John 5:10-13,  2 Peter 1:3-4 Ephesians 2:8-10; Titus 2:11-14; 3:1-11; 2 Thessalonians 5:23; 1 Corinthians 1:18-29; 3:8-15; 2 Corinthians 5:9-11. Hebrews 12:6-13 ,Philippians 2:12; 1 Corinthians 3:8-15; 2 John 8; Revelation 3:11; Romans 8:29-30; 1 Timothy 1:12; Ephesians 1:13-14; 4:30.



 
11. The saints should be separate from the world in it's way of life and conversation, that the world is evil in its nature and that Satan is its primary god and governor.
                 a) Separated from worldly and sinful practices. They are to be holy, even as He is holy, and this desired behavior will always be diametrically opposed to the course of this present age.

                b) Separated from apostasy and unbelief. A believer must not be "unequally yoked together with unbelievers," thereby being identified with unbelief by association, whether in ministry, worship, or by joint religious activities.
 
                c) Separated from disobedient christian brethren and doctrinal compromise with respect to all ministry and service. A believer is identified with the doctrinal positions and practices of those he is in fellowship with, both before God and man. Separation from those who are not walking according to truth deters the leavening effect of compromise, and gives a faithful warning to the erring brother.

Mat. 6:24; Rom. 12:2; 2 Cor. 6:3; Eph. 5:11; 1 Thess. 5:22; Titus 2:11-14; James 1:27; 4:4; 4:8; 1 John 2:15-17; 5:19  1 Peter 1: 13-16; 1 Corinthians 6:19-20; Romans 12:1-2; 1 John 2:15-17.
 2 Corinthians 6:14-18; 1 Timothy 6:3-5; 2 Timothy 2:19-22; 3:1-5; Amos 3:3.
Romans 16: 17; 2 Thessalonians 3:6,14-15; 2 John 10-11; Galatians 2:9-11; 1 Corinthians 15:33.
 
 



12.  All angelic beings are created beings.  The holy angels are sent forth to minister to the saints and are not to be worshiped.
  • Satan "that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world", is actively opposing the cause of Christ on every hand and is the arch enemy of every true believer. His warfare incorporates the deception of mixing error and truth as well as that which is flagrantly vile and evil.  He marshals a host of fallen angels that can also serve to deceive the unsuspecting by "transforming themselves into...apostles of Christ [and] ministers of righteousness..." (2 Corinthians 11:315). These false spirits can influence the unfaithful servant to say helpful and even true things and can also themselves energize ones to do the miraculous. Therefore, every experience and teaching must be examined in light of the Word of God to determine its true source. Isaiah 8:20; 1 John 4:1.  (once known as Lucifer) was once a holy angel who chose to sin and fell through pride; he has power and is the current ruler of this world. He uses his wiles to blind the lost, hinder the Christian, and oppose God.  His judgment was sealed at the cross, and he will one day be cast into the lake of fire where he will spend eternity.  Satan has a host of fallen angels (devils or demons) who chose to follow his rebellion against God; thereby, siding with Satan in his opposition to God.

    Col. 1:16 Job 38:4-7 Ps. 104:4 Mat. 22:30 Isa. 14:12-17; Ezek. 28:11-19 Mat. 25:41; Rev. 12:92 Pet. 2:4; Jude 6 Mat. 9:341 Tim. 5:21 Rev. 14:10 Heb. 12:22 Heb. 1:14 Eph. 2:22 Cor. 4:4; Eph. 6:12 Deut. 32:17; 1 Cor. 10:20; Rev. 9:202 Cor. 11:14-15; 1 Tim. 4:1 Heb. 2:14 Job 1; 1 Jn. 4:4 Jam. 4:71 Jn. 2:13; Rev. 12:11; Rev. 20:1-3 Matthew 4:2-11;  John 8:24 Rev.20:7-10.Isaiah 11:6-9; Rev. 20:1-4
     

 
13.  Evolution (including Theistic Evolution) is rejected. 
  • The Genesis account of Creation is historical fact.  God created everything +/- 6,000 years ago in six literal 24-hour days. 
  • The Genesis account of the flood in Noah’s day is historical fact; it was a world-wide catastrophic event and destroyed every living land animal and all of mankind except for Noah’s family and the animals that were brought onto the ark.  The flood is the agent that accounts for fossils and strata layering that are falsely attributed to evolution and the “Geologic Column”.
     
Genesis 1; Nehemiah 9:6; Job 38:4-41; Ps. 104:24-30; Jn. 1:1-3; Acts 14:15; 17:24-26; Rom. 1:18-21; Col. 1:15-17; Hebrews 1:1-3; 11:3

14.  Though there are too many teachings to list which are not biblical in my view; the following teachings/doctrines in particular are rejected:
 
  • The Ecumenical movement,
  • The “Prosperity Gospel” (health and wealth teachings),
  • Charismatic teachings,
  • Emergent Church teachings,
  • The Seeker Sensitive movement,
  • Preterism,
  • Calvinism,
  • Arminianism,
  • Catholicism,
  • Baptismal Regeneration,
  • Oneness Theology,
  • and “Purpose Driven” teachings.
     
Rom. 16:17; 2 Cor. 6:14-18; 1 Thess. 3:6; 1 Tim. 6:3-5; 2 Tim. 3:5; Titus 3:10-11; 2 John 10-11; Rev. 18:42; Timothy 3:1 - 4:6

 

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