Section 1: Priorities
1.1. The scientific aspects of creation
are important, but are secondary in importance to the proclamation of the
gospel of Jesus Christ as Sovereign, Creator, Redeemer, and Judge.
1.2. The doctrines of Creator and Creation
cannot ultimately be divorced from the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Section 2: Foundations
2.1. The books of the Bible are the
written Word of God. The Bible is divinely inspired and inerrant throughout. It is the
supreme authority in everything it teaches. Its authority is not limited to
spiritual, religious, or redemptive themes but includes its assertions in such
fields as history and science.
2.2. The final guide to the interpretation
of Scripture is Scripture itself. The account of origins presented in Genesis
is a simple but factual presentation of actual events and therefore provides a
reliable framework for scientific research into the question of the origin and
history of life, mankind, the earth and the universe.
2.3. The various original life forms
(kinds), including mankind, were made by direct creative acts of God. The
living descendants of any of the original kinds (apart from man) may represent
more than one species today, reflecting the genetic potential within the
original kind (variations within kind). Only limited biological changes (including mutational
deterioration) have occurred naturally within each kind since creation.
2.4. The great Flood of Genesis was an
actual historic event, worldwide (global) in its extent and effect.
2.5. The special creation of Adam (the
first man) and Eve (the first woman), and their subsequent fall into sin, is
the basis for the necessity of salvation for mankind.
2.6. Death (both physical and spiritual)
and bloodshed entered into this world subsequent to and as a direct consequence
of man’s sin.
Section 3: Theology
3.1. There is one God, the Godhead is God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.
3.2. All mankind are sinners, inherently
from Adam and individually (by choice), and are therefore subject to God’s
wrath and condemnation.
3.3. Freedom from the penalty and power of
sin is available to man only through the sacrificial death and shed blood of
Jesus Christ and His complete and bodily resurrection from the dead.
3.4. The Holy Spirit draws the sinner to
repent and believe in Jesus Christ.
3.5. The Holy Spirit lives and works in
each believer to produce the fruits of righteousness.
3.6. Salvation is a gift received by faith
alone in Christ alone and expressed in the individual’s repentance, recognition
of the death of Christ as full payment for sin, and acceptance of the risen
Christ as Savior, Lord, and God.
3.7. All things necessary for our
salvation are expressly set down in Scripture.
3.8. Jesus Christ was conceived by the
Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary.
3.9. Jesus Christ rose bodily from the
dead, ascended to heaven, and is currently seated at the right hand of God the
Father, and shall return in person to this earth as Judge of the living and the
dead.
3.10. Satan is the personal spiritual
adversary of both God and mankind.
3.11. Those who do not believe in Christ
are subject to everlasting conscious punishment, but believers enjoy eternal
life with God.
3.12. The only legitimate marriage is the
joining of one man and one woman. Any forms of homosexuality, lesbianism,
bisexuality, incest, fornication, adultery, pornography, polyamory, etc., are sinful
perversions of God’s gift of sex in the context of marriage.
3.13. It is the duty of Christians to
share the Gospel with the lost and fellowship with other believers, as
portrayed in the New Testament.
Section 4: General
4.1. Scripture teaches a recent origin for
man and the whole creation, spanning approximately 4,000 years from creation to
Christ.
4.2. The days in Genesis do not correspond
to geologic ages, but are six [6] consecutive twenty-four [24] hour days of
creation.
4.3. The Noachian Flood was a significant
geological event and much (but not all) fossiliferous sediment originated at
that time. The gap theory has no basis in Scripture.
4.4. The view, commonly used to evade the
implications or the authority of biblical teaching, that knowledge and/or truth
may be divided into secular and religious, is rejected.
4.5. By definition, no apparent, perceived
or claimed evidence in any field, including history and chronology, can be
valid if it contradicts the scriptural record. Of primary importance is the
fact that evidence is always subject to interpretation by fallible people who
do not possess all information.
Controversial Topics
1. Scripture - God's word is so simple to
understand, you have to have help to misunderstand it... (1Cor 1:27)
2. Baptism
of the Holy Spirit
(a) The Holy Spirit indwells believers
when the believer is born again in Jesus Messiah. However, the Holy Spirit is a
"gentleman" and does not impose anything on the believer that they do
not accept, trust, and/or understand. The "Baptism of the Holy
Spirit" is the point, after salvation, where a believer understands and
receives who the Holy Spirit is, that the same power that raised Messiah from
the dead now dwells in them, and what gifts, ministries, and fruits can now
work in their lives due to the empowerment and influence of the Holy Spirit.
(b) The Baptism of the Holy Spirit, according to Acts 2:4, is given to believers who ask for it. The Holy Spirit in a person’s life is evidenced by changes in his life, including a renewed love for God, and people, a commitment to the scriptures and holy living. All believers are entitled to, and
should ardently expect and earnestly seek, the promise of the Father, the
Baptism of the Holy Spirit, according to the command of Jesus Messiah. With
this comes the endowment of power for life and service, the bestowal of gifts
and their uses in the work of the ministry: This experience is distinct from
and subsequent to the experience of the new birth (Lk. 24:49; Acts 1:4-8,
2:38-39, 10:44-46, 11:14-16, 15:7-9; I Cor. 12:1-31).
(c) The Holy Spirit is continuing the work
He started at Pentecost, empowering believers to live a godly life and continue
in all the works of Jesus. The full consummation of the Baptism of believers in
the Holy Spirit is evidenced by the subsequent manifestation of spiritual power
in public testimony and service. Can be and often is accompanied by speaking
with other tongues as the Spirit gives utterance (Acts 1:8, 2:4, 10:44-46,
19:2,6). The spirit filled believer has the capability of speaking with new tongues whether or not he or she chooses to exercise this gifting. However tongues or emotional experiences should not be construed as
"proof" of the Holy Spirit. Instead we know the Holy Spirit indwells
us the same way we know we are saved, because scripture says so and we can
recognize the source from its fruit (Matt 7:16)
(d) The Holy Spirit will not contradict
Himself. Supposed "new" revelations or prophecies that contradict,
add to, or "reinterpret" scripture are doctrines of demons or
traditions of men and are NOT from the Holy Spirit.
(e) Everything is to be done
"decently and in order", to the glory of God, to bring attention to
Jesus and NOT to bring attention to self.
(f) The gifts, ministries, and fruits of
the Holy Spirit are spiritual and supernatural. While the gifts may at times
complement and cooperate with your natural talents, interests, and abilities;
the gifts of the Holy Spirit should not be confused with natural talents. Which
gift is exercised and when it is to be exercised is directed by the Holy Spirit
for the purpose glorifying God and edification of fellow believers (the
church). It is not for our convenience or to bring attention to ourselves.
(Note that really the "gift" is for the one who benefits from the
gift, not the one through whom the Holy Spirit works through to
"deliver" the gift).
3. Israel - Israel is still God's chosen people.
Neither the church, America, or any other nation replaces the children of
Israel as recipients of God's covenant with Abraham. Gentile believers are
spiritually reborn, grafted, and adopted into sharing the inheritance of
Abraham. The best and highest way to show your love for Jews is to let
them know that their Messiah has come and is coming again.
4. Body,
Soul, Spirit - The Bible
clearly teaches that man is a unified being. However, this unity is divisible
into at least two aspects, material and immaterial. In the Bible these aspects
are variously termed, body and soul (Matt 10:28), body and mind (Rom 12:1-2),
body and spirit (1 Cor 7:34; James 2:26), flesh and spirit (1 Cor 5:5; 2 Cor
7:1), flesh and heart (Rom 2:28-29), and the outer man and inner
man (2 Cor 4:16). Human beings, though they were created to live in the
physical world, are also capable of existing in the spiritual realm as a
soul/spirit without the physical body (Heb. 12:23; Rev. 6:9-11). While at times
the bible uses spirit and soul interchangeably (when referring to the human
spirit, not the Holy Spirit), the bible also makes a distinction between the
soul and spirit (Heb. 4:12; 1 Cor. 14:14). The doctrine of body,
soul, spirit is known as "Trichotomy" or "Tripartite" and can be substantiated -- however, conclusions about the
distinctions between soul and spirit and what it signifies cannot go any
farther what is actually in Scripture.
5. Healing - The bible instructs us to pray
for and anoint the sick and expect them to get well (James 5:14). Healing is
part of the Atonement. Jesus bore the curse of sin, sickness, and death
on the cross (Isa 53:5; 1 Peter 2:24). Does this mean we don't go to the
doctor or don't take medication? No, we should pray before, during, and after going to the doctor
and/or taking medication. If I'm not healed, is that because I don't have
enough faith? It is NOT the "power of faith" that heals you, it
is the power of God and you put your trust in God. God heals for His
glory and purposes (which ultimately is in your best interest) and not for your
immediate convenience. The work on the cross was complete and eternal,
however any healing we experience currently in this body is still incomplete
and temporary as this body was born under the curse and still grows old and
dies. In the future we will have a new body that is created free of the curse,
this new body was purchased as part of the atonement as well. We will
finally have the manifestation of complete and eternal regenerative healing in
the resurrection body being prepared for us.
6. Free
Will - God reveals in
scripture that, in His Sovereignty and according to His Design, He gave man
free will to choose who he would serve. The gift of free will does not
limit God, in fact it demonstrates that God is so Great that His Sovereignty is
not challenged or compromised by our having free will.
7. "Once
saved, always saved" -
No, you don't have to get re-saved again after every sin you commit and live in
worry about dying suddenly with an unconfessed sin and loosing your salvation.
Jesus died once for your sin and you cannot re-crucify Him. (1Peter 3:18; Heb
6:4-6)
This, however, is not a license to
sin. The Bible does speak of "falling away" and "he that endureth to the end shall be saved". While God
will not reject one of His children and nothing can take you out of His hands,
you can walk away from Him. If someone is
habitually living in blatant sin and never comes under conviction to change
their ways, then that is a sign that they either have willfully and knowingly
rejected the Gospel or never really received salvation to begin with.
Probably the most pervasive problem among
so-called Christians is false-conversion. There are "false
converts" who may mentally ascend (agree with in their mind) to the
gospel, but do not truly receive it (Mat 7:21-23). For a time or in some areas
of life they may appear to be christian in their works, but their secret sins
will eventually bear fruit and be brought out into the light. It is also
possible for someone to knowingly and willfully reject the Holy Spirit
(reprobate). You cannot accidentally "lose" your salvation, but you can reject your salvation. This article actually says it better than I can: http://www.crivoice.org/security.html
How do you know if you are reprobate or
have committed the unforgivable sin? If it concerns you, then you can
still be saved. A reprobate is no longer concerned about salvation
because their hearts have been seared and can no longer respond to the Holy
Spirit.
Believers cannot preserve themselves in their own strength. It is God who preserves the believer. The part for the believer is to continue in the faith (act of will) and God does the preserving.
Who is preserved? Those who endure to the end.
Believers cannot preserve themselves in their own strength. It is God who preserves the believer. The part for the believer is to continue in the faith (act of will) and God does the preserving.
Who is preserved? Those who endure to the end.
8. Dispensationalism - God is the same yesterday, today, and forever. While He has not changed, He has dealt with individuals, families, nations, and
mankind in differing ways over time as appropriate to the generation. This should
not be seen as dividing lines where one replaces the other, but more of
building of one off the other. It is similar to the way a parent treats a child
differently as he/she matures: a six month old baby is treated different than a
toddler, a six year old, a teen, young adult, older adult, etc. The nature of
the parent does not change, but the way the parent treats the child changes as
the child matures. From cover to cover, scripture is a consistent and
unveiling revelation of God's nature and Jesus.
All scripture if profitable. Rightfully dividing does not mean chopping up the Bible into pieces and picking and choosing which pieces you want to follow.
Salvation has always been and continues to be salvation by faith through grace. The law never saved anyone. Before the cross it was about looking forward to Messiah's coming (old testament). After the cross, it is about looking to Jesus's completed work on the cross and Resurrection (new testament).
All scripture if profitable. Rightfully dividing does not mean chopping up the Bible into pieces and picking and choosing which pieces you want to follow.
Salvation has always been and continues to be salvation by faith through grace. The law never saved anyone. Before the cross it was about looking forward to Messiah's coming (old testament). After the cross, it is about looking to Jesus's completed work on the cross and Resurrection (new testament).
9. Laying
of Hands - Biblically based
"laying on of hands" is still valid today. However, Satan
is a deceiver and seeks to pervert everything of God. Keep in mind that Satan
has a false, perverted version of most every work of the Holy Spirit.
False religions such as Reiki also use laying of hands to impart a demon
spirit that imparts a form of "healing". This does not mean that all
healing or laying of hands is "of the devil" -- it is just doubly
important that you know and follow the Bible when it comes to these things and
not get duped into a false practice.
10. Canon
and Bible Versions - If
we are to be held accountable to a standard, it is imperative that we have that
standard available to test against. God promised to preserve His
Word through the ages for this purpose. I spent over two
years researching before I came to the conclusion that the canon of 66
books in what we call the Bible can be reliably trusted as scripture. I then spend another two years learning about bible versions before coming to the conclusion that the 1611 Authorized Version (aka King James) is God's preserved word in English.
As far as material not considered cannon, here are three categories:
a) Gnostic books - there are hundreds of
these "so-called" books written by other apostles, but they all
appeared well after the first century church, these are clearly heretical as
many of the epistles directly warn against gnosticism
b) Apocrypha - the apocrypha has some historical background information for the 400 silent years of the
inter-testamental period between the time of the prophet Malachi and John the
Baptist. These were not preserved with the same rigor and
reliability of the canon.
c) Extra-Biblical Texts - the books of Enoch, Jubilees, and Jasher are referenced
and quoted in the Bible. Their trace-ability and text has not been preserved
with the same rigor and reliability as with the canon, so one must be careful about
anything in these books that is not mentioned in the Bible or seems to go
contrary to something in the Bible. These books may give
additional information relevant to events described in the Bible; however, doctrine should not be based on them.
11. Ordinances -vs- Sacraments
There are many who confuse the meanings of
the terms ordinance and sacrament. When I use the terms I differentiate
between them as follows:
a) A sacrament is a work that contributes to
or necessary for salvation. If an institution portrays a religious
activity as a requirement for salvation, then it is a sacrament regardless of
what they call it otherwise.
b) An ordinance is merely an outward
expression of something that has already taken place internally and
spiritually. The two ordinances identified in scripture as continued practices of believers include immersion
(baptizo) and the "Lord's supper".
Jesus was immersed to fulfill all
righteousness and believers throughout the gospels, the book of Acts and the
first century church were immersed as an outward testimony of their belief.
They weren't saved by immersion, but immersion was an expression and
testimony to others of their salvation.
The same with perceiving the body and
blood of Messiah represented by the unleavened bread and wine used in the
Passover meal. Jesus instructed "As often as you do this,
this do in remembrance of me" and Paul goes on to say that we should not
partake of it unless we understand this representation (1 Cor 11:23-27)
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