Our Doctrine
The Bible
Inerrancy: The Bible is the Word of God, and its original manuscripts
are free from errors and contradictions. It is the one and only infallible,
authoritative, and trustworthy rule for faith and life.
Inspiration: The entire Bible is inspired or “breathed out” by God.
[II Tim 3:16] It is not the men but the product that is inspired by God. The
men were born along or “carried by God” as they wrote the words but the
final work is the product of God the Holy Spirit. [II Pet. 1:21]
Inscripturation: The Holy Spirit took the “thoughts of God” and
expressed “spiritual truths in spiritual words”. This process is described
in I Cor. 2:10-13
Illumination: Is the work of the Holy Spirit by which He reveals the
truth of Scripture to us. This process is described in I Cor. 2:14-16.
Translations: The first English translations appeared about 625 years
ago.
1384: John Wycliffe produced the first handwritten copy of the English
Bible.
1525: William Tyndale New Testament was the first printed in English.
1525-1611: Seven more English versions appeared.
1611 to 1982: Eleven more English versions appeared.
There have been numerous translations of the Scripture into hundreds of
languages over the centuries. We believe that it is essential to use
translations that are faithful to the original manuscripts so that the Word
of God can be accurately known and taught.
Practical Application of this doctrine: An understanding of the Bible
in this way will give great assurance of faith. Knowing that the Bible is
without error, is a major comfort in times of distress. Knowing that God
superintended over it’s writing gives conviction that we do have exactly
what God knows we need for a successful Christian life. Finally, to know
that The Holy Spirit is able to make the Scripture known to any of God’s
children gives strong incentive to “study to show yourself approved of God”.
God
God the Father: God is the only Supreme Being. He is Holy [Rev. 4:8];
Eternal [Isaiah 57:15]; Omnipotent [Jer. 32:17,27]; Omnipresent [Psalm
139:7-12]; Omniscient [I John 1:20]: He is Love [I John 4:8, 16], Light [I
John 1:5], Spirit [John 4:24], Truth [Psalm 117:2] and Creator [Isaiah
40:12,22,26] He is to be worshiped [Gen. 24:26; Ex. 4:31; II Chr. 29:28; I
Cor. 14:25; Rev. 7:11]. He is to be served [Matt. 4:10; I Cor. 6:19; Phil.
3:7; I Thess. 1:9; Heb. 9:14]. He is to be proclaimed [Matt. 28:19; John
14:15; Acts 1:8]
Practical Application of this doctrine: To know the character and
attributes of God leads us into a deeper worship. We are more able to assign
the “worth” to God that He merits. To know God’s character is to deepen our
relationship with him. When we know the most intimate character qualities of
a person we anticipate their reaction before we actually experience it. To
know God in an intimate way is the highest goal of the Christian Life.
Jesus
God the Son: Jesus Christ is fully God and fully man. He added human
nature to His divine nature. He is both human and divine, and, therefore,
has two natures. Yet, He is one person, not two. He is not part God and part
man. He is wholly God and wholly man. (Phil 2:5-11; Col. 2:9; 1 Tim 3:16;
Heb 1:5-13; John 1:1-3,14) We further believe in His:
Virgin Birth: Jesus Christ was miraculously conceived and born of the
Virgin Mary. (Luke 1:42)
Resurrection: Jesus Christ rose again bodily on the third day after
His death. He ascended into heaven, and sits at the right hand of the
Father. (John 2:19; 1 Cor. 15; Luke 24:39)
Substitutionary Atonement: Jesus Christ so loved us, that He took
upon Himself the suffering, punishment, and death that man deserved. As a
result, God's justice was satisfied, and Christian believers are released
from punishment. (Isaiah 53:4-12; 1 Pet. 3:18; Matt 1:21; Rom. 5; 1 Pet.
2:24; 1 John 2:2)
Trinity: There is one God in whom there are three persons -- the
Father, the Son (Jesus Christ), and Holy Spirit. All three are God, yet
there is only one God. (Isaiah 44:6,8; 45:5; Gen. 1:26-27; 3:22; Matt. 3:17;
28:18; Luke 10:35; 2 Cor 13:14)
Practical Application of this doctrine: To know the character and
attributes of Jesus Christ is to more fully appreciate His great love for
us. When we consider that Jesus would leave the side of His dear Father in
order to suffer a cruel death for us we are moved to give Him our worship
and our love. To realize how God orchestrated these events in order to
provide a Savior, is one of the greatest concepts of the human mind.
Man
Man was created directly by God on the sixth literal day. God created Male
and Female without sin and in a state of innocence. Man was created in
perfect fellowship with God and given everything necessary to sustain his
life forever. The account of this creation is found in the first and second
chapters of the book of Genesis.
Practical Application of this doctrine: It is not possible to profess
belief in the Bible unless we know and embrace what the Scripture has to say
about the origin of man on the earth. To understand how God created man and
what His original intent was gives meaning to life and a sense of direction.
We are important to God because we are made in His image.
Sin
Total Depravity: Man, in his natural state, is so pervasively corrupt
and wicked, that he is unable to believe in Jesus Christ or understand the
spiritual things of God by himself. No man can win salvation by his attempt
at good works or any religious ritual because we are all spiritually dead
and unable to respond to God. Eph. 2:1-4 Eternal punishment in hell and
separation from God are the consequences of the natural man's sinfulness but
God Himself "made us alive" because of "His great love for us.". (John 6:44;
15:5; Rom. 8:7; 1 Cor. 2:14; 2 Cor. 3:5; Phil 2:13)
Practical Application of this doctrine: How the world arrived at its
present state of despair is important. The sin and misery in this world is
not the result of a God who does not care for His creature but the result of
a deliberate rebellion against all that God offers to mankind. To know that
death is not God’s original plan but the results of mankind’s sin and that
God Himself has intervened to take away our deserved punishment gives great
hope and assurance for eternity.
Salvation
Justification by Grace through Faith Alone: We are saved from
damnation by the undeserved and unearned mercy and kindness of God and not
because of our good works. This justification is received by faith alone in
the finished work of the living Lord Jesus. (Eph. 1:1-11; 2:8, Rom 3:28;
Gal. 2:21; Titus 3:5)
Sanctification: Sanctification is the process by which the Holy
Spirit sets us apart to be separate from the world and then to make us over
in the image of Christ. It is accomplished fully at the time of salvation in
that we are "set apart" and belong wholly to God at that time. It is also
"ongoing" as the Holy Spirit does His work to restore in God's children the
"image of God" that was lost in the fall. The process cannot be fully
completed in this life [I John 3:1-4] but is ongoing until we are in His
presence. (1 Thess. 4:7; Eph. 2:10; 1 Tim. 4:4; 1 Pet. 3:15).
Divine Election: Jesus stated that “we did not choose Him but He
chose us and ordained that we should go forth and produce fruit that would
last” It is through the convicting work of the Holy Spirit that people
believe in Jesus Christ, and become children of God. Man cannot choose God
because he is spiritually dead in trespasses and sin. There are no men who
seek God, none! [Romans 3:23] We were chosen even before the creation of
the world. (John 1:12-13; John 6:28-29; Acts 13:48; Phil. 1:29; Eph. 1:3-14;
Rom 8:28-30)
Practical Application of this doctrine: The understanding of how God
saves us will keep us from the pride of self-righteousness. It will also
encourage us to witness even when we feel inadequate because we know that
salvation depends on the Lord and not on our ability to persuade men. To
know that God sets us apart and then works Himself to perfect our character
gives credible meaning to the trials we often face in this life.
The Holy Spirit
God the Spirit: The Holy Spirit is fully God. He is “another
comforter”. [like Jesus in nature] He exhibits all the attributes of God. He
convicts the world of sin. [John 16:7-11] He glorifies Jesus. [John 16:14]
He inspired the written Word of God. [II Tim. 3:16] He illumines believers
by teaching them His Word. [I Cor. 2:6-16] He indwells the believer. [I Cor.
3:16] He seals the believer until the day of redemption. [Eph. 4:30]
Spiritual Gifts: God gives special abilities [literally “graces” to
believers. These originally included leadership, mercy, giving,
administration, tongues, word of wisdom, word of knowledge, prophecy and
teaching). Certain sign gifts ceased with the completion of the Canon of
Scripture. The gifts that remain are to be used in the church to build each
other up and serve each other. All Christians have received a “grace” to
serve the church and have the privilege of using their gifts to the glory of
God. (1 Cor 1:7; 12:27-31; 13:8-13; Eph 4:11-13)
Practical Application of this doctrine: Because Jesus sent the Holy
Spirit we have a source of comfort and power in this world. We are not
alone. What is more, the Spirit even enables us to serve the Church by
giving supernatural spiritual abilities. Christians who do not possess this
knowledge are often discouraged by the obstacles of life and feel unable to
serve in the Church even though they desire to.
Angels
God created all spirit beings. The Bible identifies them as follows:
Cherubim: Associated with the presence of God. Lucifer was a Cherubim
who was lifted up with pride and rebelled against God.
Seraphim: Associated with the worship of God [Is. 6]
Angels: These are messengers of God. There are two Archangels
mentioned in Scripture. Michael and Gabriel. These appear to be special
messengers.
Practical Application of this doctrine: Understanding the origin and
nature of spirit beings helps the believer not to be naïve about the power
such beings possess in this world. The spirit realm is a real and present
help but those fallen demons and Satan himself are not to be taken lightly.
They are to be exposed and dealt with according to the Holy Scripture.
The Church
Christian Church: Consists of all humans both living and dead who
have received Jesus Christ as their Savior. The Church started with the
coming of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost and will be complete at
the rapture when Christ appears to meet us in the air. [I Thess. 4:17-20]
God calls Christians to gather themselves together [Heb. 10:24,25], where
the Word of God is preached, where baptism and the Lord's Supper (communion)
are administered, where believers are discipled and disciplined, and where
believers serve each another for the purpose of building one another up in
the Lord. (Matt 16:18)
Church Officers: God appoints qualified Christians to serve Jesus
Christ by serving His church in special leadership capacities [Evangelists,
Pastor/Teachers, Elders, Deacons, and Teachers of the Word. The Scripture
describes a Council of Elders, who lead and direct Christ's church. That
Council is limited to qualified males (1 Tim 2:11-15; 3:11-13) and will be
held accountable to Christ in the judgment for the care of His flock. [I
Pet. 5]
Practical Application of this doctrine: If the church is what the
Bible says it is then the believer needs to enter into a proper relationship
with our fellow Christians. We are the body of Christ and God has set
leadership in place for us. Certain ordinances have importance and are not
to be shunned, neglected or abused. Christians can and must know that they
are not to live apart from the church but in "community" with it.
End Times
Rapture: All Christians who have ever lived will be resurrected at
the trumpet call of God and will be caught up to be with Him. Then we who
are alive and have not died in the faith, will be physically caught up in
clouds to meet the Lord Jesus in the air. We will then forever be with the
Lord. This is an imminent event. (1 Thess. 4:16-5:2)
Tribulation: With the departure of the Church from the world God will
then begin the fulfillment of Daniel’s 70th week. Also known as “The Great
Tribulation” this will be 7 years of judgment on an unbelieving world and
the final chapter of the age of law.
Second Coming: Jesus Christ will come bodily and visibly from heaven,
with great glory and majesty, to destroy the world’s armies that are
gathered against Jerusalem. [Rev. 19].
After these enemies are defeated Satan will be bound along with the Beast
and the False Prophet.
Millennium: Christ then takes His place on the throne of David in
Jerusalem and will rule and reign for a literal 1000 year period. At the end
of the 1000 years Satan will be loosed to form a final rebellion against the
rule of Christ. He will ultimately be defeated.
Final Judgment: All human beings who have lived from the beginning
until the end of the world will appear in person before Him to be judged.
The evil will receive everlasting torment. The faithful, everlasting life.
Satan too, will receive his final judgment at this time.
Eternity: God will then recreate the heavens and the earth and we
will enjoy eternity with God just as He planned in the Garden of Eden before
sin entered the world. So we look forward to that great day with longing in
order to enjoy fully the promises of God in Christ Jesus, our Lord. (Matt.
24, Rev. 19-21)
Practical Application of this doctrine: Unrest in the middle east,
inflation, war and the destruction of the family all leave untrained
Christians in a state of anxiety about the future. While God does not intend
for us to know our individual destiny [fortune telling, astrology, etc.] He
has revealed His plan for the end times. He has done this in the same way as
He revealed other truth…by telling us plainly. The instructed believer can
know that God revealed His plan for the end time in clear and literal
teaching. The knowledge that God is not only in control but also
orchestrating the affairs of men brings unspeakable comfort in times of
world distress.
EVEN SO.. COME QUICKLY LORD JESUS!