Inspiration
I
believe that the Bible, comprised of the sixty-six books of the Old and
New Testament canon, is the Word of God. Every word of Scripture is
inspired (verbal - 1 Cor 2:13, Matt 5:18), and all Scripture is equally
inspired (plenary - 2 Tim 3:16). Inspiration is that supernatural
influence of the Holy Spirit whereby the writers were supervised in
their writing of Scripture, being prevented from error and governed in
their choice of words while remaining consistent with the different
personalities and expressive individuality of the Biblical authors. God
prepared the writers (Jer 1:5), communicated facts and ideas to them
through basic channels (Heb 1:1-2; 2 Sam 1:17), resulting in agreeing
truth consistent throughout the writings.
Inerrant
Since
the Bible is God-breathed, it is both inerrant (without error) and
infallible (incapable of error) (2 Tim 3:16; 2 Pet 1:21). The
Bible is true in everything it affirms, whether in doctrine, Christian
living, history, geography, or science. Only the original manuscripts
were inspired (cf. 1 Cor 14:37 with 1 Cor 2:13); however, all accurate
copies and translations of the autographs can be said to be inspired in
a derivative sense (i.e., inasmuch as they reflect the original). God
has providentially preserved His Word through the Hebrew, Greek, and
Aramaic extant manuscripts resulting in reliable, trustworthy
translations in various human languages which are faithful to the
original text of Scripture. While we do not have the original codex of
the Bible, we do have the original text among all the manuscript
evidence (John 10:35; Rev 22:18-19; 2 Tim 2:15).
Canonicity
Only our present sixty-six books are part of the canon. Canonicity is the historical process by which the Spirit of God led the church to recognize those writings which were genuinely inspired. It is not the canonizing process that makes the books inspired; they were inspired the moment they came from the hands of the authors. Inspiration indicates how the Bible received its authority; canonization tells how the Bible received its acceptance. By virtue of the internal testimony of the Holy Spirit, a systematic study of all the sixty-six books leads us to the conclusion that they are a unified and complete, systematic whole (Matt 23:35; Luke 24:44; 1 Cor 2:14; John 15:20; 16:13a; 1 Cor 12:28).
The Father
I believe in the one true eternal God. God exists wholly and indivisibly, simultaneously and eternally in three persons: Father (Eph 4:6), Son (Heb 1:1-2; 4:14), and Holy Spirit (John 14:26; Matt 28:19). The Trinity is equal in divine attributes, yet distinct in personality (Deut 6:4; Jer 10:10; 2 Cor 13:14; John 4:21-23; Gen 1:2; John 5:23). There is a general revelation of God available to all men through creation (Rom 1:20; Psa 19:1-6) and conscience (Rom 2:14-15). Therefore, all men know that they are dependent on God (Acts 17:25-28), responsible to God (Rom 1:32), and need acceptance by this God.
Attributes associated with His greatness include: Self-existence (Ex 3:14), Infinity (1 Kings 8:27; Gen 21:33), Perfection (Matt 5:48), Omnipotence (Gen 17:1), Omniscience (Ps 139:1-4), Omnipresence (Ps 139:7-12), Immutability (Mal 3:6), and Incomprehensibility (Rom 11:33). Attributes associated with His goodness include: Holiness (Lev 11:44-45; Ps 99:4-9), Truth (Ps 31:5; 1 Thess 1:9), Love (1 John 4:8), Righteousness (Deut 32:4; Ps 145:17), Faithfulness (Ps 36:5), Mercy (2 Cor 1:3; Eph 2:4), and Grace (Eph 1:7; 1 Pet 5:10).
God's holiness governs all His attributes (Isa 6:1-3; Isa 57:15). God supernaturally and instantaneously created the universe including all impassable "kinds" (Gen 1:11, 12) out of nothing in six, normal, twenty-four-hour days (Gen 1:3, 6, 9; Ex 20:11). God's creation was perfect and complete at the end of the creative week (Gen 1:31; Gen 1:12, 20-25, 30).
The Son (Christology)
I believe that Jesus Christ of Nazareth, the eternal Son of God (Luke 20:13; John 3:16; Gal 4:4; John 8:58; Psa 2; Heb 13:8; Rom 1:3-4), is the second person of the Triune Godhead (John 17:5; Phil 2:5-7). As God the Son He exists eternally (Isa 9:6; John 1:1; Col 1:17; Rev 1:17) and was the instrument of creation (John 1:3; Col 1:16; Eph 2:18). Jesus Christ was conceived and born of a virgin through the supernatural work of the Holy Spirit (Isa 7:14; Matt 1:18-25; Luke 1:34-35). Though truly God, Christ became incarnate in human flesh/blood (John 2:21; Matt 26:26, 28), human form (Matt 16:13-14).
The Lord Jesus Christ gave Himself freely on the cross, bore the sin of the world, suffered the complete wrath of God against sin (1 John 2:2; Rom 1:32; Heb 2:2) and provided an infinite, unlimited atonement (John 1:29; 1 John 2:2) for the sins of the whole world which applies to only those who accept Christ through faith (Rom 3:25-26; Heb 9:22, 26; Lev 17:11). His death was substitutionary (Rom 3:25-26; 2 Cor 5:21; Gal 3:13) in that He died in the place of sinners and redeemed man from bondage (Matt 20:28) as well as reconciled man to God (2 Cor 5:18-19). His death sufficiently paid once for all the penalty for the sin of all men (1 Tim 2:6; Heb 2:9), makes salvation available to all men (John 3:16; Titus 2:11).
Christ bodily rose again from the dead the third day (Luke 24:36-43; 1 Cor 15:3-4). Jesus ascended into heaven (Acts 1:11) and is now exalted at the right hand of the Father as the head of the church (Col 1:18), and as advocate and intercessor for the saints as our great High Priest (Heb 7:25). Christ will return to rapture His saints (1 Thess 4:13-18) and later establish His millennial kingdom (Rev 19:11ff; 20:3-6).
The Holy Spirit (Pneumatology)
I believe that the Holy Spirit is the third person of the Triune God (Matt 28:19; Acts 5:3-4; 2 Cor 13:14). The Holy Spirit was the active agent in creation (Gen 1:2; Job 26:13; Eph 2:18), inspiration (2 Pet 1:20-21), and conception of the human character of Christ in the virgin birth (Matt 1:18; Luke 1:35). He is present in the world to make men aware of their need for Jesus Christ. He also lives in every Christian from the moment of salvation. He provides the Christian with power for living, understanding of spiritual truth, and guidance in doing what is right.
The Holy Spirit sovereignly bestows spiritual gifts upon believers for service within the ministry of the local church (1 Cor 12:28; Eph 4:12; 1 Pet 4:10; Rom 12:6). God will sovereignly bring each believer's gift to light as he seeks to obey God's command to exercise it.
The Devil
I believe in the existence of Satan as a distinct personality, who was originally created perfect and holy. Satan, because of pride and ambition (1 Tim 3:7), fell through an act of rebellion after the end of creation (Gen 1:31). He is now the "god" of this present age (2 Cor 4:4), the prince this world (Eph 2:2), the archenemy of God and believers who endeavors to frustrate the divine plan (Gen 3:4-5; Job 1-2, Matt 4:1-11), oppose believers (Rev 2:10; 12:10), and tempts believers to sin (1 Cor 7:5). When he fell, other angels (now called demons or evil angels) fell with him and were cast out of heaven (Matt 25:41; 2 Pet 2:4; Jude 6). Satan will be cast down to earth during the Tribulation (Rev 12:7-9), cast into the abyss during the Millennium (Rev 20:1-3), and finally reside forever along with his fallen angels to the lake of fire as the execution of his sentence at Calvary (John 16:11; Rev 20:10).
The Angels
I believe that God created the whole company of angels (Gen 1:1; cf. Job 38:6-7). Angels are spirit beings (Isa 6:3; Heb 1:6, 14; Luke 8:2) possessing all the qualities of personality (1 Pet 1:2; Luke 15:10; Job 1:6; 38:7; Isa 6:3). Their powers greatly exceed that of human beings (2 Pet 2:11). Angels appeared similar to human form (Gen 18:2-3) or as in the case of fallen angels inhabited a person's body, but are not embodied creatures in any permanent sense.
Angels fall into two general categories: elect (Matt 25:31; 1 Tim 5:21) and evil (2 Pet 2:4). The good angels are practically innumerable (Heb 12:22) and are classified as archangels (Michael [Dan 10:13; Jude 9] and Gabriel [Dan 9:21; Luke 1:11]), Cherubim who proclaim and protect the presence and sovereignty of God (Gen 3:24; Ex 25:17ff; Ezek 41:18), and Seraphim who proclaim the holiness of God and man's need for cleansing (Isa 6:1-7). Good angels praise, worship, and serve God (Psa 148:1-2; 29:1; 103:20) and Jesus Christ, His Son (Matt 2:13; Luke 22:43; Matt 25:31). In addition, they watch over the affairs of nations (Dan 4:17; Dan 10:21) and minister to the saints. (Heb 1:14)
The Creation of Man
I believe that God on the sixth, twenty-four hour day of creation, created man's body from inorganic material and inbreathed man's spirit into Adam by a direct act of the creative breath of God (Gen 1:26-27; 2:7; 2:22; Job 33:4; Matt 19:4) resulting in a living soul from the union of body and spirit (Gen 2:7). The entire human race descended from Adam and Eve by procreation with the exception of Christ (Gen 3:20; Acts 17:26; 1 Cor 15:47).
The first man, Adam, was created in the image of God in holiness (Gen 1:26-27, 31; Eccl 7:29).
Adam's disobedience in the garden (the fall) brought spiritual, physical, and subsequently eternal death upon himself and the entire human race (Gen 2:17; Rom 5:12-19; Rev 20:15). Originally man was able not to sin (Gen 1:31). As a result of Adam's fall, man is not able not to sin. All men are sinners by state, disposition, and choice (Ps 51:5; Jer 17:9; 1 John 1:8; Eph 2:1-3). Therefore, men are alienated from God, spiritually dead, and under the penalty of eternal condemnation (John 3:18; Rev 20:15; and Rom 5:18).
The Fall of Man
I believe that sin is any lack of conformity to the moral law and character of God, [Rom 5:13-14; 7:22; James 4:11-12]. Sin entered the universe as a result of the fall of Satan (1 John 3:8), and sin entered the human race as a result of the fall of Adam (Rom 5:12). Personal, individual sin originates from the human heart (Mark 7:21-23; James 1:14) and is rooted in selfishness (Isa 14:12-14; 2 Th 2:3-4; Deu 6:4-5). God permitted sin to enter the universe through the free, willful, act of Satan and subsequently of Adam (Judges 18:25; Deut 29:29; Prov 25:2. I believe that Adam's first sin, the one sin of the one man, comprehended the whole human race. Adam acted as the representative of the race, and his sin is immediately imputed to the entire race (original sin - Rom 5:12-19).
I believe that mankind is spiritually dead (Eph 2:1) and stands justly condemned before God (John 3:18). Man is lost (Luke 19:10), and he is blind to his lost condition (2 Cor 4:3-4). Man is unable to respond of himself (apart from the grace of God) to God in anyway (Rom 3:11-12). God made provision for the salvation of all men through the cross-work of the Lord Jesus Christ (Rom 5:8, 1 John 2:2, 2 Peter 3:9). Salvation is wholly of grace, a gift of God (Eph 2:8-9), and cannot be merited by any virtue or work of man. The gift of salvation must be personally appropriated through repentant faith, which is also a gift from God (Eph 2:8; Acts 11:18; 2 Tim 2:25).
Regeneration
It is the instantaneous, supernatural impartation of spiritual life to the spiritually dead (Eph 2:4-5; Titus 3:5; 1 Pet 1:3). This is a work of God through the means of proclamation and hearing of God's Word together with the effectual working of the Spirit (Rom 10:17; Tit 3:5). This gift of spiritual life engenders man's immediate response in repentance and faith (Deut 5:29; John 1:13; 3:8, 19-21; 5:44; 6:44; 8:45-47; 1 John 5:1 cf. 3:9; 4:7; 5:4; 5:18). Regeneration must be evidenced by belief (1 John 5:1), the witness of the Spirit (Rom 8:16), an increasing pattern of righteous living (1 John 2:29), a decreasing pattern of sin (1 John 3:9; 5:18), love for the brethren (1 John 2:10; 3:14), and obedience to the commandments of God (1 John 2:3).
Repentance
It is a Spirit-given realization of the sinfulness of sin and taking sides with God against one's self, accompanied by a genuine godly sorrow and determination to turn from self-autonomy and rebellion to serve the one and true living God (Joel 2:12-14; Ezek 18:30-32; Matt 21:30-32). Repentance is absolutely necessary for salvation (Matt 3:2; Acts 3:19; 17:11; Rev 2; Rom 2:4; Luke 24:47) and involves one's mind (Psa 51:3), emotions (Zech 12:10; Matt 11:21; 2 Cor 7:8-10), and will (Luke 3:8; Matt 3:8; Acts 26:20) with respect toward God, sin, and the sinner himself. It entails a disposition and desire to seek pardon and forgiveness (Acts 20:21; Acts 26:20; Heb 6:1) and continues in the believer's life as a God-ordained means of sanctification (1 John 1:9; Psa 51). Repentance and faith are inseparable and have a synecdochal (not synonymous) relationship whereby one can represent the other (Acts 3:19; 20:21; Mark 1:15; 2 Pet 3:9).
Faith
Saving faith is an exclusive, unreserved trust by the sinner in the Person and cross-work of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ (John 6:29; John 20:28-31). Faith includes the knowledge of (mind) [1 Cor 15:1-4; 1 John 5:9-13], assent to (emotion) [Matt 13:23], and unreserved trust (volitional) [John 3:36; 2 Tim 1:12; Heb 3:18-19; 5:9] in the accomplished redemption of Christ as revealed in the Scriptures (John 6:47; Acts 16:31; Rom 10:8-9, 17; Eph 2:8). Faith is the act of the sinner, but is ultimately a gift from God (Phil 1:29; 2 Pet 1:3; Mark 9:24; John 5:44; Eph 2:8-9; Acts 14:27; 1 Cor 12:3). Faith in all that God is, all that God has done, and in all that God has said continues in the believer's life as the God-ordained means of sanctification (Rom 1:17; John 17:17; 1 Pet 1:1-5). Without sanctifying faith there is no biblical basis to assume that saving faith ever existed.
Eternal Security (Perseverance)
It is the work of God which secures and guarantees the final salvation of all true believers and will cause them to persevere in grace until that time (John 6:37-39; John 10:27-30; 1 Pet 1:5; Heb 7:24-25; 1 John 2:3; 1 Cor 9:27). Perseverance is the result of the preservation of God, not the condition for it (Col 1:23; Heb 3:14; 12:14).
The Universal Church
I believe that the Church is the body of Christ [Body Church] (Col 1:18, 24; Eph 1:22-23; Eph 3:21; Heb 12:23) sometimes known as the universal or invisible church (Matt 16:18). The Body of Christ is composed of the total number of Spirit-baptized believers (1 Cor 12:13) from the Day of Pentecost (Acts 1:5; 11:15-16) to the rapture (1 Thess 4:13-18), whether they be in heaven or on earth. The Church is God's vehicle for service in this dispensation (Eph 3:8-10) and is distinct from Israel (1 Cor 10:32). The Church has been given a priority position in the family of saints and is destined to be co-regent with Christ in His Kingdom (Heb 12:23; 2 Tim 2:12; Rev 3:21).
The Local Church
The local church is the earthly, visible representative of the body of Christ in a particular time and place (1 Cor 1:2; Rev 2-3). It is comprised of a group of believers (Acts 2:47) who have been water baptized by immersion (Acts 2:41; Acts 8:38-39), organized with scriptural officers (Phil 1:1; 1 Tim 3:1-13), share the common faith once delivered to the saints (Jude 3; Acts 2:42), observe the two ordinances (baptism and the Lord's Supper - Acts 2:41-42), carry out the Great Commission (Matt 28:18-20), and meet on the first day of the week at regularly stated times (John 20:1, 19; Acts 20:7; 1 Cor 16:2; Heb 10:25; Rev 1:10). The local church is God's ordained instrument for His work and witness in this age (1 Tim 3:15).
In light of the doctrine of God's holiness (Isa 6:1-3), the church militant has the responsibility to expose, separate from, and refute false teachers (2 John 9-11; 1 Tim 1:19-20). The local church must be ecclesiastically separate by withdrawing fellowship from and refusing to collaborate or make common cause with an ecclesiastical organization/religious leader that deviates from the standards of Scripture or does not believe and obey the word of God in doctrine and practice (Matt 7:15;1 Tim 6:3-5; 2 Tim 2:16-20; 2 Cor 6:14-18; 1 Jn 4:1-3; Rom 16:17-18; Gal 1:8-10). This doctrine includes separation from Christian individuals or organizations that affiliate with those who deny the faith or are content to walk with those who compromise the doctrine and practice of Scripture (2 Thess 3:6; 1 Cor 5:1-11; 1 Tim 1:18-20; Matt 18:15-17).
The church is to be separate from the world (organized system of evil ordered against God) by refusing to nurture an affection for or an attachment to some aspect of the present arrangement of things such as the world's thought patterns, amusements, fads, habits, philosophies, goals, practices, and lifestyles (1 Jn 2:15-17; Rom 12:1-2; James 4:4; Eph 5:11; 1 Cor 1:21). The church must maintain the pivotal balance between being in the world but not being of the world (John 17:13-14; 1 John 2:15-17). The church is responsible to maintain her purity and testimony and must, therefore, exercise discipline over disobedient brothers (Matt 18:16-17; Rom 16:17; 1 Cor 5; 2 Thess 3:8-15).
The Ordinances
Baptism is a memorial of the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ (Mk 1:5, 9; John 8:38-39; Rom 6:3-4), a symbol of the Christian's union with Christ (Gal 3:27), and a prophecy of the believer's bodily resurrection (Col 2:12). Baptism precedes church membership (Acts 2:41) and admits one into membership upon congregational assent.
The Lord's Supper is a memorial of Christ's broken body and shed blood (Matt 26:26-28), a symbol of the believer's participation in the benefits of Christ's atonement (1 Cor 10:26; 11:26), and a prophecy of the final gathering of the saints with Christ in His Kingdom (1 Cor 11:26). Regeneration, baptism, church membership, and an orderly walk are all required for communion (Acts 2:41-42; 1 Cor 11:28). Close communion appears to be the normal practice in the early church (Acts 20:7; 1 Cor 11).
The Rapture
I believe that the next event of God's prophetic calendar is the imminent rapture of the church (1 Thess 4:13-18). The rapture will be visible, personal, premillennial (2 Tim 4:1; Rom 11:25-27), and pretribulational (1 Thess 1:10; 5:9; 2 Pet 2:7, 9; John 14:1-3; Rev 3:10; 4:4; 13:6; Jer 30:7; Dan 9:24-27). Following the rapture, God will turn again to Israel (Rom 11:25-27). The events of the tribulation are not part of God's program for the church but for Israel (Jacob's trouble Jer 30:7; Dan 9:24-27). The church will be in heaven during the tribulation at which time the Judgment Seat of Christ (2 Cor 5:8-10; Rom 14:10-12) and the Marriage of the Lamb (Rev 19:1-10) will take place.
The Tribulation
Following the rapture of the church the antichrist will be revealed (2 Thess 2:7-8). He will become the leader of the revived Roman Empire (Dan 7:20, 24) and will sign a treaty with Israel (Dan 9:26-27). The signing of the treaty will begin the seven year period known as the tribulation. At the midpoint of the tribulation, the antichrist will break his treaty with Israel (Dan 9:27; Matt 24:15), Satan will be cast down to earth (Dan 12:1; Rev 12:7-12), and the world will experience a time of unprecedented wrath and judgment (The Great Day of the Lord Zeph 1:14-18; Great Tribulation, Matt 24:21). The Great Tribulation will culminate with the return of Christ. The Lord will return, with the church believers, to defeat Satan and his armies (Dan 7:13-22; Zech 14:3-9; Rev 19:11-19).
The Millennium
I believe that the beast and the false prophet will be cast into the lake of fire (Rev 19:20), and Satan will be bound for 1,000 years (Rev 20:1-2). Preparation will then be made for the Millennial reign of Christ. The Old Testament saints and tribulation martyrs will be resurrected (Dan 12:2-3; Rev 20:4); Israel will repent (Zech 12:9-13:2); there will be a mass conversion of Gentiles (Zeph 3:8-10); both Israel and the nations shall be judged (Ezek 20:33-38; Joel 3:1-3); and the Millennial Temple will be constructed (Ezek 40-48). The Millennial Kingdom will be inaugurated, and Christ will rule and reign for 1000 years.
At the end of the Millennium, Satan will be loosed to deceive the nations and lead them in a final revolt (Rev 20:7-9). God will destroy them with fire and cast Satan into the lake of fire (Rev 20:9-10). Then the unsaved of all ages will be resurrected and judged at the Great White Throne. They will be eternally consigned to conscious torment in the lake of fire (Rev 20:11-15). The present heavens and earth will be destroyed, and a new heaven and earth will be made in which the redeemed of all ages will dwell eternally with God (2 Pet 3:10; Rev 21:1-22:5).