BIBLIOLOGY – The Doctrine of the Scriptures

I believe in the verbal, plenary inspiration of the Scriptures, which consist of the sixty-six books of  the Old and New Testaments. I believe that the original Hebrew and Greek manuscripts were inerrant and infallible.
  • By “INSPIRATION” I mean, that God, through His Holy Spirit, so directed the writers of the Scripture that each word was divinely superintended (God breathed) to produce literature that does not only contain the Word of God, but is entirely the inerrant, authoritative Word of God, while yet retaining the personality of the authors (2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:20,21).
  • By “VERBAL” Inspiration I mean that each word of Scripture is inspired (Mathew 4:4; 1 Corinthians 2:13).
  • By “PLENARY” inspiration I mean that all of the Scripture is equally inspired and sufficient to meet the needs of mankind (Deuteronomy 4:2; 2 Timothy 3:16,17; Revelation 22:18).
I believe that the Bible is our authoritative guide and only rule for faith and practice. The Bible is without error in all matters of science, history, prophesy, morality or any other subject it speaks on (Deuteronomy 32:4; Romans 3:4;  2 Timothy 3:16,17; 1 Peter 1:25).

I believe that the Bible must be interpreted in a literal, historical, grammatical sense, with the help of the Holy Spirit illuminating  (1 Corinthians 2:14; 2 Timothy 2:15). Scripture must be interpreted in light of the context and in accordance to the rest of God’s Word. I believe that in certain passages of Scripture there is the use of figurative language (Proverbs 3:18; John 1:29; Luke 14:26; Matthew 5:13).

I believe that God oversaw the transmission of His Word. Although minor problems do exist, as a result of errors in the transcription, the Bible as we have it is essentially the Word of God and that no doctrines are affected (Matthew 5:18; 1 Peter 1:25).

 

THEOLOGY – The Doctrine of God

The Triune God
I believe in one eternal, personal, Supreme Being, triune God, as revealed in nature and revelation. He exist in three persons (Father, Son, Holy Spirit) yet one in essence and attributes (Deuteronomy 6:4; Isaiah 44:6; John 17:3).
  • Scripture records the existence of God (Genesis 1:1; Psalms 14:1; Psalms 96:5; 1 Timothy 2:5; Hebrews 11:6; Romans 1:19-21; Psalms 19:1-4; Acts 14:15-17).
  • Scripture teaches the existence of the triune God (Genesis 1:26; Matthew 3:16,17, 28:19; 2 Corinthians 13:14; 1 Peter 1:2; 1 John 5:7).
I believe God is the creator and sustainer of all things, having created the universe, visible and invisible, in six solar days (Genesis 1,2; Acts 17:24-29; Psalms 8:3; John 1:1; Colossians 1:16,17; Hebrews 1:2)
  • The visible universe reveals to man that God created it (Psalms 19:1-4; Acts 14:15-17; 17:24-29; Romans 1:19-21).
  • Evolution, Darwinianism, or Theistic Evolution has no place in the Biblical system of cosmology.
I believe that the nature of God is revealed in His attributes.
  • God is Spirit, having His existence in Himself alone (John 4:24, 5:26; Exodus 3:14).
  • God is infinite, knowing no limits or bounds (1 Kings 8:27 Psalms 145:3; Romans 11:33; Job 11:7-9; Isaiah 66:1; Ephesians 4:6).
  • God is immutable (James 1:17; Psalms 102:27; Malachi 3:6; Hebrews 13:8).
  • God is truth (Deuteronomy 32:4; John 14:6; Ephesians 4:21).
  • God is love (John 3:16; 1 John 3:16, 4:8).
  • God is holy (Exodus 15:11; Isaiah 6:3; 1 Peter 1:15).
  • God is eternal (Deuteronomy 32:40; Psalms 90:2, 102:27; 1 Timothy 1:17).
  • God is omnipresent, in that the totality of His essence is present in all places at all times (Psalms 139:7-12; Jeremiah 23:23,24; Acts 17:27,28).
  • God is omnipotent, able to do all things (Genesis 17:1; Matthew 6:26-30, 19:26; Revelation 19:6; Proverbs 21:1; Daniel 4:25, 45).
  • God is omniscient, knowing all things, whether actual or potential (Psalms 33:13-15, 147:4; Matthew 10:29; Romans 11:33).
  • God is faithful, fulfilling all His promises (1 John 1:9; Psalms 77:8,9;          1 Peter 4:19; 2 Corinthians 1:20; Titus 1:2).
  • God is merciful, seeking the salvation of those who alienated themselves from Him (John 3:16, 17; 2 Peter 3:9).
  • God is good (Romans 2:4; Titus 3:4,5).
  • God is just (Romans 2:6; 1 John 1:9; Psalm 7:9-12).
God the Father

I believe that God the Father exist eternally as the first person of the Trinity (John 3:16, 6:44; 1 Peter 1:2; 1 John 5:7).

I believe that God the Father originated all creation (Genesis 1:1; Hebrews 1:1,2).

I believe that God the Father designed and directed the redemption provided by Christ on the cross (Ephesians 3:1-6; Hebrews 10:7-9; 1 John 4:14).

I believe that God the Father originated all Scripture (Hebrews 1:1,2; 2 Timothy 3:16).

God the Son (Christology)

I believe that Jesus Christ exist eternally as the second person of the Trinity, that He has no beginning or end, and is equal in essence and power with God the Father (Matthew 28:19; John 1:1,2,14, John 17:5; Hebrews 1:8; Revelation 1:8).

I believe that Christ was the agent of the creation of the universe (John 1:1-3; Hebrews 1:2).

I believe that Christ manifested Himself visibly in the Old Testament in the form of Christophanies Genesis 16:10-13; Exodus 23:20-25, 32:34; Joshua 5:13-15; Isaiah 63:9).

I believe that Jesus Christ was born of the Virgin Mary through the miraculous conception of the Holy Spirit (Isaiah 7:14; Luke 1:35).
  • Jesus Christ became the God-man, one person possessing both the divine and the human nature each complete with personality undivided (John 8:58; Colossians 2:9; 1 Timothy 2:5; Isaiah 9:6; Micah 5:2).
  • Jesus incarnation preserved Him from the depravity of His human parent. Christ lived a sinless life on earth (2 Corinthians 5:21; Hebrews 4:15).
I believe that God the Son came in the flesh to be the substitutionary sacrifice for all the human race, but only efficient for those who believe (John 3:16; Romans 5:8; 1 Timothy 2:6; Hebrews 9:13,14; 1 Timothy 4:10).

I believe that Jesus Christ rose bodily from the grave three days after His death on the cross (Matthew 28:6; Mark 16:6; Luke 24:3; 1 Corinthians 15:4, 17-19), was seen of men forty days afterward (Matthew 28:9, 16, 17; Acts 1:3), and ascended into heaven where He is seated at the Father’s right hand as our High Priest and intercessor (Hebrews 1:3, 4:14, 15, 7:25; 1 John 2:1).

I believe Jesus Christ may return for His saints, both dead and alive, at any time, to be followed by a seven year tribulation, after which Christ will return to set up His Millennial Kingdom (1 Thessalonians 4:16,17; 2 Thessalonians 2:3-12; Revelation 19:11-16, 20:1-6).

God the Holy Spirit (Pneumatology)

I believe that the Holy Spirit is the third person of the Trinity and is without beginning or end, and is equal in essence and power with God the Father and God the Son. The Holy Spirit is a person and not a force or influence. He possesses all the attributes of God (Acts 5:3, 4; Matthew 28:19; 2 Corinthians 13:14; John 14:16, 17, 16:13, 14).

I believe the Holy Spirit had an active part in the creation of the universe (Genesis 1:2, 26; Job 26:13, 33:4)

I believe the Holy Spirit’s ministry in the Old Testament was directed to certain individuals whom He came upon to empower for a special task but could leave them (1 Samuel 10:6, 16:14; Psalms 51:11).

I believe the Holy Spirit had a special ministry in the Messianic period having a part in the conception of Christ (Luke 1:35), filling and empowering John the Baptist (Luke 1:15-17), anointed, directed, and empowered Jesus (Luke 3:21, 22, 4:1), and had a part in His death and resurrection (Hebrews 9:14; 1 Peter 3:18).

I believe the Holy Spirit has performed and is now carrying out certain ministries in the church age.
  • He has given the Scriptures through men (2 Peter 1:20, 21).
  • He directs the affairs of the church (Acts 1:8).
  • He directs the mission work (Acts 1:8).
  • He works on the hearts of lost men to bring them under conviction of sin (John 16:8-11).
  • He performs special works in the believer.
  • He regenerates (Titus 3:5)
  • He indwells (John 14:16,17)
  • He seals (Ephesians 1:13, 14)
  • He fills those that yield (Ephesians 5:18)
  • He assures of salvation (Romans 8:16)
  • He illuminates the Scriptures (1 Corinthians 2:12, 14)
  • He produces spiritual fruit in the believer (Galatians 5:22, 23)
  • He bestows gifts for the purpose of edifying the church (Romans 12:6-8; 1 Corinthians 12:4-11; Ephesians 4:11)
Some of these gifts were temporal. They were used in the laying of the foundation of the church and the accrediting of the church in the eyes of the world. The following gifts have ceased since the laying of the church’s foundation: The office and function of apostle and prophet (Ephesians 2:20-22), tongues and healing (by means of a specific person in a supernatural manner, not ignoring that God can and does heal miraculously today), knowledge and prophecy (as foretelling of events and special given knowledge). Since the church has been accredited as a valid institution and it’s messengers authenticated, these gifts have passed away (1 Corinthians 13:8-13).

Other gifts given to believers that are still used today are as follows: Prophecy (forth-telling), ministering, teaching, exhortation, giving, ruling, and others (Romans 12:3-8).

 

ANTHROPOLOGY – The Doctrine of Man

I believe man was created in the image and likeness of God on the sixth solar day of Creation without any assistance from evolution  (Genesis 1:26,27); the breath of life was breathed into him and he was placed in the garden of Eden. (Genesis 2:7,8)

I believe man was created to possess three parts consisting of body, soul and spirit (Genesis 2:7; James 2:26; 1 Thessalonians 5:23). God formed Eve from a portion of Adam’s side (Genesis 2:21,22). Mankind as a whole was in Adam seminally at Adam’s creation (Romans 5:12; 1 Corinthians 15:22)

I believe that man had the ability not to sin being created innocent and perfect before God (Genesis 2:16,17).

I believe that man receives his body, soul and spirit from his parents upon conception, and from that point on is a living human being (Genesis 1:27,28; 46:26; Hebrews 7:10)

 

HARMARTIOLOGY – The Doctrine of Sin

I believe that sin is an offense against God, His nature and especially His holiness. The Bible defines sin as:
  • Missing the mark (Romans 3:9)
  • A perversion of right (Romans 1:18)
  • Falling aside (Galatians 6:1)
  • Passing over God’s boundary (Matthew 15:3)
  • Rebelling against God (1 John 3:4)
  • Disobeying God (Hebrews 4:6)
  • Neglecting obligations (Matthew 6:12)
I believe that sin originated with Lucifer when he attempted to become as God (Isaiah 14:12-15; Ezekiel 28:15)

I believe that Adam and Eve were subjected to a moral test (Genesis 2:16,17) which they failed (Genesis 3:6,7)
  • As a result of this original sin, Adam and Eve experienced spiritual death, the  separation of man from God (Genesis 2:17; 2 Thessalonians 1:9), and subsequently physical death, the separation of spirit and body (Romans 5:12; 1 Corinthians 15:22; James 2:26)
  • This sin plunged the entire human race into sin. Mankind became immediately depraved, having no natural desire to please God; the intellect is blinded, the emotions corrupted, and the will placed in bondage to sin (John 5:42; Romans 3:9-18; 7:18; Ephesians 4:18)
  • The ultimate result of this sin is eternal punishment in the Lake of Fire (Revelation 20:12-15).

 

SOTERIOLOGY – The Doctrine of Salvation

I believe that God loved us so much that He provided a way of salvation for mankind through the blood of Jesus Christ that we might not have to pay the penalty of sin (John 3:16; 1 John 3:16)
  • Salvation was made possible through the shed blood of Jesus Christ (Hebrews 9:22; 10:4,5,9-12, 14; 1 Peter 1:18, 19)
  • Salvation is offered freely to all men(1 Timothy 2:6; Titus 2:11; 1 John 2:2)
  • Only those who personally repent from their sin and in faith receive Christ as their Saviour are saved (John 1:12,13; Romans 10:9-13; Ephesians 2:8,9)
  • Salvation is a one-time act which can never be repeated, nor can salvation be lost (John 10:28,29; Romans 8:35-39; Ephesians 1:13,14)
Several things take place before and at the time of Salvation.
  • Repentance – Before a man may be saved, he must recognize sinfulness and change his attitude toward sin (Acts 2:38; 3:19; Romans 2:4; 2 Corinthians 7:10; Hebrews 6:1)
  • Conversion – This is a voluntary change in the mind of the sinner where he turns from sin and turns to God (Acts 3:19; 28:27)
  • Faith – The voluntary change in the mind when a man receives knowledge of the truth, and accepting it, turns to Christ (Ephesians 2:8,9; Romans 10:17; Hebrews 11:1)
  • Regeneration – The Holy Spirit gives the believer a new nature at the moment of salvation (John 3:3-7; 2 Corinthians 5:17)
  • Justification – At salvation, God legally pronounces the believer innocent and free from the penalty of sin (Romans 5)
  • Adoption – Means to place as a son where the believer becomes a legal son and fellow heir (Romans 8:15-17, 23, 9:5; Galatians 4:5; Ephesians 1:5)
  • Sanctification – The believer is delivered from the power of sin by the work of the Holy Spirit, as the believer yields, separates, and dedicates his whole being to Christ. There are three time sequences to sanctification:
Past – All believers are sanctified at salvation in that they are separated from the world and the penalty of sin (1 Corinthians 6:11; Hebrews 10:10; 1 Peter 1:2)

Present – Sanctification continues throughout a believer’s life as he grows in grace (2 Peter 3:18; 2 Corinthians 3:18; 7:1)

Future – Our sanctification will be completed at the time of the Coming of Christ, when we are totally separated from sin and this world (1 John 3:1-3).

 

ECCLESIOLOGY – The Doctrine of the Church

I believe the Church is the body of believers assembled in common faith and fellowship for the purpose of observing the ordinances and carrying out the Great Commission in this dispensation (Matthew 16:18; Ephesians 3:1-19; Colossians 1:24-29)
  • The two ordinances of the Church are:  Baptism and the Lord’s Supper.
Baptism is by immersion into water symbolizing the believer’s union with Christ, the believer’s own death to the old life and resurrection to the new life, and is a picture of Christ’s death, burial and resurrection (Romans 6:4)

The Lord’s Supper is a memorial of Christ’s sacrificial death; the bread representing His broken body and the wine representing His shed blood (1 Corinthians 11:20-34). Both ordinances are works and not a means of grace. Salvation must precede both baptism and participation in the Lord’s Supper (1 Corinthians 11:20-34)
  • The Great Commission directs the Church to win the lost to Christ, to baptize the converts and teach them the Word of God (Matthew 28:18-20).
The Church has two Scriptural offices: Pastor and Deacon. These are to be elected by the Church in accordance with the qualifications laid down in Scripture (1 Timothy 3:1-7; Titus 1:6-9).
  • Concerning the pastor:
The qualifications of the pastor are given in 1 Timothy 3:1-7
  • The duties of the pastor are:
Elder – leader of the assembly (Acts 15:13-27; 1 Timothy 5:17,18)
Bishop – overseer of the working force (Acts 20:28; Titus 1:7-13)
Pastor – shepherd of the flock (Acts 20:28; Ephesians 4:11,12; 1 Peter 5:1-4)
Preacher – (2 Timothy 4:1-5)
Teacher – (Ephesians 4:11,12)
  • Concerning Deacons:
The qualifications of deacons are given in 1 Timothy 3:8-13. The duties of the deacon are given in Acts 6:1-6

I believe there are certain distinctives which are characteristic of churches down through history from the time of Christ to the present that separate them from those churches out of order.
  • The Bible is the only rule for faith and practice (2 Timothy 3:16)
  • Salvation is by God’s grace alone. We are made secure in Christ, for salvation is all of God and not of the works of man (Ephesians 2:8,9; Titus 3:5; 1 John 5:13)
  • All Church members must be born again believers and bear a visible testimony (Acts 2:41; James 2:19, 20)
  • Each church is autonomous, providing its own support, selecting its own officers, and responsible for its own actions (Acts 1:15-26; 6:1-6; 1 Corinthians 5:4,5)
  • Every believer is a priest before God, needing no mediator except Christ (1 Timothy 2:5; 1 Peter 2:9)
  • The only two ordinances are the Lord’s Supper and Baptism (Acts 8:37,38; 1 Corinthians 11:26
  • Church and state should be separate. Obedience to the state is expected until such time as that obedience interferes with Scriptural principles (Matthew 22:21; Acts 5:29)
  • The Christian as an individual and the Church as a whole is to be separated from this world and its error, unbelief and compromise        (2 Corinthians 6:14-17; 1 John 2:15-17))
  • The Church is to separate itself ecclesiastically (2 John 9-11; 1 John 4:1-6; 2 Thessalonians 3:6, 14, 15)

 

ANGELOLOGY – The Doctrine of Angels

I believe that God created a large number of spirit beings (Daniel 7:10; Psalms 68:17; 104:4) having personality, intelligence and power exceeding that of man (2 Peter 2:11), but are not able to procreate (Matthew 22:30)

I believe that Satan, originally known as Lucifer, was given the position closest to the throne of God (Isaiah 14:12-17; Ezekiel 28:12-19). Satan sinned through pride causing other angels to fall (II Peter 2:4; Jude 6).

I believe that fallen angels oppose God’s will and hinder man’s temporal and eternal welfare (Genesis 3:1-4; Matthew 13:39; II Peter 5:8; I Thessalonians 2:18).

I believe that the majority of the angels remained faithful to God and were confirmed in holiness and are now serving as ministering spirits, worshiping God, executing His will on earth (Psalms 103:20; Daniel 6:22, 10:5-21, 12:1; Acts 12:7,23; Revelation 12:7).

 

ESCHATOLOGY – The Doctrine of Last Things

I believe in the pre-tribulation, pre-millennial, return of Jesus Christ. I believe Christ will come in the air to rapture the saints, both living and dead.  The Lord will resurrect the bodies of the saints who have died and reunite them with their spirits. The saints who are living at that time will be translated to be with the Lord (I Thessalonians 4:13-18).

I believe that following the rapture of the church, the saints will appear before the judgment seat of Christ to receive rewards according to their works (1Corinthians 3:13-15; II Corinthians 5:10).
The judgment seat of Christ will then be followed by the marriage supper of the lamb (Revelation 19:7-10).

I believe that after the rapture of the church, the unsaved on the earth will go through a tribulation period lasting seven years, known as Daniel’s seventieth week, when Satan shall unleash a powerful campaign with the anti-Christ, and when God shall pour out His wrath upon the earth (Daniel 7:25-27, 9:24-27; Matthew 24:15-22). During the tribulation, many Jews and Gentiles will be saved (Revelation 7:1-14).

I believe the tribulation will end with the return of Christ at the battle of Armageddon to set up His kingdom on earth (Matthew 24:29-31; Revelation 19:11-19; Daniel 7:13, 14, 27, 9:24; Zechariah 14:9-11). Satan will be bound and righteousness and peace shall reign on the earth (Revelation 20:1-3; Zechariah 14:16-21).
At the end of the Millennium, Satan will be loosed for a short season to deceive the nations and to fight against God for the final time (Revelation 20:7-10). After the battle of Gog and Magog, Satan will be cast into the lake of fire, the spirits of the lost shall be brought out of Hell and reunited with their resurrected bodies, judged at the great white throne, and cast into the lake of fire forever (Revelation 20:7-15).

I believe that the new heaven and new earth will then be created and all the saints will dwell in the presence of God for eternity (Revelation 21, 22).