Written 1993 Added John 14:6 5/1/2007
I know there are some who don't like the idea of a
"statement of faith". And I understand that position. I
like the principle of, "No creed but Christ, no book but the
Bible". But for now, this list of statements says some
important things. Please email me with comments or questions. If
one or more of these items represent something other than what
the Bible says, I want to change them.
The Bible
The Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments are the Word of
God, fully inspired without error in the original manuscripts,
and the infallible rule of faith and practice.
God
There is one living and true God, eternally existing in three
persons, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, equal in power
and glory. This triune God created all, upholds all, and governs
all. God the Father is an infinite, personal Spirit, perfect in
holiness, wisdom, power and love. He concerns Himself mercifully
in the affairs of men. He hears and answers prayer. He saves from
sin and death all who come to Him through Jesus Christ. The Holy
Spirit came forth from the Father and the Son to convict the
world of sin, righteousness, and judgment, and to regenerate,
sanctify and empower for ministry all who believe in Jesus
Christ. The Holy Spirit indwells every believer in Jesus Christ
and He is an abiding Helper, Teacher, and Guide. The present
ministry of the Holy Spirit includes all the Biblical gifts of
the Spirit as God sovereignly uses yielded vessels.
Jesus
Jesus Christ is God's only begotten Son, conceived by the Holy
Spirit, fully God and fully man. Jesus was born of a virgin,
lived a sinless life, performed miracles, taught truth, died a
substitutionary atoning death on the cross, rose again bodily,
ascended into heaven, is perpetually interceding for His people,
and will personally and visibly return to the earth.
Man
All humans are sinners by nature and by choice, and,
therefore, under condemnation. The heart of man is evil. All
unregenerate humans are enemies of God. God regenerates, by the
Holy Spirit, those who repent of their sins and confess Jesus
Christ as Lord. Jesus Christ baptizes the believer with the Holy
Spirit to empower for service by His sovereign will and timing.
The believer will be bodily resurrected to eternal blessing. The
unregenerate will face final judgment and endless suffering.
Angels, Satan, and Demons
Angels were created by God to worship and serve Him and to
minister to believers. Satan, an angel, exalted himself in
rebellion against God. Satan (or Lucifer) led a rebellion of a
portion of the angels. These demons, led by Satan, provoke
rebellion among humans against God. Demons may control (i.e.
possess) an unregenerate human. Demons cannot control a true
believer in Jesus. Demons may tempt or attack a true believer,
but only as allowed by God. A demon cannot force a true believer
to sin. A true believer sins when led astray by the lusts of his
own flesh.
Salvation and Perseverance
Salvation for an individual is by grace through faith in
believing in and confessing Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. An
individual must recognize the evil and hopelessness of his own
heart and life. He must recognize that he deserves eternal hell.
He must recognize his need for a savior. He must believe that
Jesus' deity, sinless life, death on the cross, shed blood, and
resurrection from the dead, is sufficient propitiation for his
sins. He must repent of his own self-centered and rebellious
life, ask God for forgiveness, and receive as a gift eternal life
through Jesus Christ. The believer must deny himself, pick up his
cross and follow Jesus. He must abide in the Vine and walk in the
Spirit knowing that his standing with God and perseverance is by
grace from first to last.
"Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh
unto the Father, but by me." John 14:6
The Church
The Church of Jesus Christ is the Body of Christ on earth and
includes all people throughout the world who have believed in the
true Jesus in terms of the true Gospel. The Church exists to
glorify God, to edify believers, and to make disciples of people
from all nations. God has ordained various ministries for the
overseeing and working of the Church. God has provided each
member of the Body of Christ with gifts for the edification of
the Church. The Lord Jesus Christ committed two ordinances to the
Church: water baptism and the Lord's Supper.
World History
World history is a matter of two elements: Mankind rebelling
against God and God reaching out in mercy and reconciliation to
all who would humble themselves. Every event in time relates to
one of these two elements. There is nothing neutral. World
history is the unfolding of God's sovereign purposes and plans in
spite of the evil intentions of men and fallen angels.
The World System
The World System is under the control of the evil one as
allowed by the sovereignty of God. The kings and rulers take
their stand against God and His anointed one. Christians are to
pray for and give honor to the kings and rulers. Christians are
to be subject to the magistrates without disobeying God. The
World System is developing towards the global system of Anti-
Christ.
The "Wisdom of Man"
The "wisdom of man" is foolishness to God.
The Blessed Hope
Our hope is not in this world system but in the "Blessed
Hope" of Jesus' soon return. The Lord Jesus Christ will
visibly return to the earth and establish His earthly Kingdom.
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