Statement of Faith
1. Inerrancy and Authority of the Bible. The Bible is the verbally and plenarily inspired Word of God. The Bible is without error and is the final authority for all matters of faith and practice. II Timothy 3:16; II Peter 1:20,21; Matthew 5:18 & 24:35; Psalms 119:160; I Thessalonians 2:13 God's Word is unchanging. Psalms 119:89 We must be doers of the Word James 1:22
2. Trinity. There is only one God Who exists and reveals Himself in three persons, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Each are distinct persons, yet exist together as one. Genesis 1:26 In the original text, "God said" (God is used in the singular form) "let us make man in our image." (plural used); I John 5:4-8; Matthew 28:19; II Corinthians 13:14; Matthew 3:16 At Jesus baptism, Jesus was in the water, the Holy Spirit "descended like a dove" and God the Father spoke from heaven. Isaiah 6:3 "Holy, Holy, Holy" God is thrice Holy, because He is three in one.
3. Deity of Jesus Christ. Jesus is the Son of God and is both God and man incarnate in one flesh. Jesus was born of the virgin Mary, impregnated by the Holy Spirit. Luke 1:26-56 Jesus is the Messiah who was promised in the Old Testament. Jesus was born in Bethlehem. He was "tempted in all points even as we are, yet with out sin." He is the Spotless Lamb of God. Jesus died on the cross for our sins, paying the penalty in our place. Luke 23:33-46 He was buried. Luke 23:50-54 He rose again bodily. Luke 24:1-8,30,31,36-48; John 20:20,24-31 He ascended bodily into heaven. Luke 24:49-51; Acts 1:9-11 Now He lives to make intercession for us. Hebrews 7:25; His death, burial, and resurrection purchased our eternal redemption. Hebrews 9:11-12; John 3:16,17 He is coming again to rapture the church. His return is imminent. John 14:1-4; I Corinthians 15:35-57
4. Deity of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is the third member of the trinity and as such is totally God, yet has a distinct personage. The Holy Spirit participated in creation as did God the Father and God the Son. Genesis 1:2 The Holy Spirit descended "like a dove" at the Baptism of Jesus. Matthew 3:16; Mark 1:10; John 1:32,33 The church began when the Holy Spirit was given on the Day of Pentecost. Acts 2:1-6 The Holy Spirit was promised by our Lord Jesus Christ. John 14:16,26;15:26;16:7 When we are saved the Holy Spirit indwells us and seals us in Christ. Luke 11:13; Romans 8:9; Ephesians 1:13,14 The indwelling of the Holy Spirit is a sign that we are saved. The Holy Spirit will produce fruit in our lives. Galatians 5:22,23 We are under grace not under the Law, because of His indwelling. Galatians 5:18 The Holy Spirit, God the Father, and God the Son all work together in our salvation. The Blood of Christ redeems us and the Holy Spirit indwells us and seals us.
5. Deity of God the Father. God the Father is totally God, yet has a distinct personage. Genesis 1,2 God the Father participated in creation. Matthew 3:16; Mark 1:10; John 1:32,33 God the Father spoke from heaven. God the Father possesses the will. Matthew 6:10; John 4:34; 5:30; 6:39,40; Ephesians 1:1; I Corinthians 1:1; Hebrews 10:7 God the Father is distinct. Matthew 10:29-33 God the Father is part of the trinity John 10:30
6. Limited Redemption only through Jesus Christ's Blood Atonement. When Jesus Christ died on the cross for our sins, His Blood was sufficient for all, but is only efficient for those who believe on Him. John 3:16,17 Even though Jesus died for the sins of the whole world, not everyone is saved. Luke 16:23 The rich man wouldn't have been burning in hell if everyone were saved. In order to be saved, we must accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior prior to death. In hell, everyone believes that Jesus Christ is the Lord, but they believed too late. Jesus is the only way to be saved. John 14:6; Acts 14:12 When Jesus died on the cross He secured our salvation. I Timothy 1:15 Jesus entire purpose for coming to earth from heaven was to save us sinners. He came out of love for you and I. Galatians 1:3,4 Jesus gave Himself to pay for our sins! His death on the cross secured our salvation! Isaiah 53:4,5, I Peter 3:18, Romans 5:8,9 "While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us" That is love! Hebrews 9:12 The purpose of Jesus death on the cross was to secure salvation from sin, so that He could bring us to God. Titus 2:14, Hebrews 13:12, Galatians 3:13, I Peter 2:24. The Blood of Christ is only effective for those who believe prior to death. Acts 16: 30, 31, Ephesians 2:8,9 Salvation is a gift that cannot be earned. Even as we do earn our salvation by works, we do not keep our salvation through works. Faith produces works, but works never produces faith. We are kept saved by the Blood of Jesus Christ and the sealing of the Holy Spirit. Ephesians 1:13,14 Salvation means to be delivered from the bondage of sin and its penalty.
Repentance from sin is an integral part of salvation. Luke 13:3,5; 24:37; Acts 3:19; 26:20; Romans 6 Just because we are not under the Law, but under grace we are not to continue in sin. Repentance is a complete change from serving sin to serving God. We are totally converted. We have been redeemed! We are bought with a price and we are not our own. The Holy Spirit convicts us of sin. I John 1:9 is a remedy for sin, not a license to sin. We are new creatures in Christ Jesus. II Corinthians 5:17
7. Total Depravity. Adam was the first to sin. Genesis 3. Death passed to us all, because we all have sinned. Romans 5:12 Before we are saved we are totally dead in our trespasses and sins. All men are sinners by nature and by choice under the condemnation of God. Romans 3:10,11,23;6:20; I Corinthians 15:22 Dead people cannot do anything, because they are dead. There is nothing they can do to raise themselves to life. The same is true of the unbeliever, there is nothing he can do to save himself. Only the Jesus Christ who was perfect was able to raise Himself to life, and it was because of His perfection and deity that He was able to do so. He alone is able to raise anyone to spiritual life. Without Christ no one can raise themselves to life. John 3:16; Romans 6:23 Sin separates us from God and earns us an eternity in hell. God out of love sent Jesus Christ to save us. Since, we are unable to do anything to save ourselves, our entire salvation hinges on the work of our Lord Jesus Christ.
8. The Imminent Return of Jesus Christ. All prophetic events have been fulfilled that must be prior to the return of Jesus Christ. Jesus can come at any time to rapture the Church. In a moment in a twinkling of an eye the dead in Christ will rise first, then we who are alive and remaining will be caught up together with them and meet the Lord in the air.
9. Evangelize the World. As only God knows whom the elect are and we don't, we must fulfill the great commission. Just because they are elect in no way eliminates our responsibility to share Jesus Christ with this lost and dying world. Matthew 28:18-20
I, also, hold to the Baptist Distinctives and the Infralapsarian view of Calvinism.
For a more in depth Bible Study on salvation follow this link Salvation Series
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