Salvation
Man was originally created by God ( Genesis
1:26-27) without sin yet aware of sin ( Gen
2:17). Man voluntarily sinned ( Gen
3:6) causing not only physical, but spiritual death ( Romans
5:12-19) which is separation from God ( Isaiah
59:2 Romans
6:23). All are sinners ( Romans
3:9, 10 and 23) and responsible for their sins ( Ezekiel
18:20 James
2:10).
God is the God of love (1
John 4:10) who does not want anyone to perish ( Ezekiel
33:11 John
3:16-18). To this effect, the Lord Jesus Christ died on the cross as
our substitute, bearing eternal death and separation from God for everyone,
and thus paid the full penalty for our sin ( Isaiah
53:4-11 Romans
5:6-8, 1 Peter
3:18). Jesus rose from the grave, demonstrating His power over death,
Hell, sin and Satan. This great truth proves the deity of Jesus and that
He alone is the giver of resurrection life and power ( Acts
2:21-24, 1 Thessalonians
1:9-10). Jesus ascended into heaven ( Acts
1:1-11), proving that God the Father was fully satisfied with His substitution
sacrifice for all our sins ( Acts
7:55-56 Isaiah
53:10).
Salvation is by grace through faith in Jesus ( Titus
2:11; 3:5-7). Each person must choose to believe in and receive Jesus
as his or her savior ( Acts
3:19), being born again ( John
3:3), trusting only in the sacrificial death and resurrection of Jesus
for their salvation from sin and judgment ( Matthew
18:1-4, 14 and Luke
5:32-32 Luke
24:47) before their natural death ( Hebrews
9:27). This salvation redeems us from the curse ( Galatians
3:13), and enables us to live holy lives (2
Corinthians 5:21).
I reject the doctrines of double election and universalism.
The Trinity
God is the Eternal ( Deuteronomy
33:27 & Romans
1:20) King ( Psalms
95:3 & Isaiah
43:15). He is an infinite ( Psalms
143:5 & Job
11:7-9), unchangeable ( James
1:17) Spirit ( John
4:24), perfect ( Matthew
5:48) in holiness ( Isaiah
6:3 & 1 Peter
1:15-16), wisdom ( Psalm
104:24 & Proverbs
2:6 & Isaiah
28:29), goodness ( Exodus
33:19 & Psalm
63:2 & Psalm
31:19), justice ( Psalm
33:5 & Psalm
89:14 & Isaiah
30:18), power ( Exodus
15:6) and love (1
John 4:8). From all eternity ( Isaiah
43:13) He exists as the One ( Isaiah
45:5 & 1
Corinthians 8:4) Living ( Psalm
42:2 & Psalm
84:2) and True ( Jeremiah
10:10) God in three persons ( John
1:18 & John
10:30 & John
14:9 & John
14:16-17 & John
14:26 & John
15:26 & 2
Corinthians 3:17-18) of one substance ( John
1:1 & John
1:14 & 2
Corinthians 3:17), the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit ( Matthew
28:19-20 & 2
Corinthians 13:14 & Revelation
1:4), equal in power and glory ( Revelation
5:13 & Ephesians
3:14-21).
I reject polytheism and the doctrine of Oneness Pentecostalism.
Water Baptism
The ordinance of baptism by immersion is commanded in the Scriptures. All
who repent and believe on Christ as Savior and Lord are to be baptized
( Hebrews
6:2). By this baptism, they declare to the world that they have died
with Christ and that they have been raised with Him to walk in the newness
of life ( Matthew
28:19; Mark
16:16; Acts
10:47; Romans
6:4).
While I question the conversion of a person who refuses water baptism, I
reject the doctrines that state baptism is a requirement for salvation as
well as specific wording required for a baptism to be valid. I also do not
believe that those who are unable to be immersed cannot receive the full
benefit of baptism by sprinkling.
Holy Spirit Baptism
The Holy Spirit was poured out on the Church at Pentecost in power ( Acts
1:8 & Acts
2:1-4), baptizing believers into the Body of Christ (1
Corinthians 12:13) and releasing the gifts of the Spirit to them (1
Corinthians 12:4-7). The Spirit brings the indwelling presence of God
to us ( John
14:16-17) for spiritual worship ( Romans
12:1 & Ephesians
5:18-20), personal sanctification ( Romans
8:3-4), building up the Church (1
Corinthians 14:12 & 1
Corinthians 14:26), gifting us for ministry ( Romans
12:4-6), and driving back the kingdom of Satan ( Luke
11:20 & 1
John 3:) by the evangelization of the world through proclaiming the
word of Jesus ( Ephesians
6:10-20) and emulating the works of Jesus ( John
14:12-13 & Romans
15:18-19 & 1
Corinthians 4:20).
While I believe that the Holy Spirit indwells every believer in Jesus Christ
( Romans
8:9-10) and that He is our abiding Helper ( John
16:7), Teacher ( John
14:26), and Guide ( John
16:13-15 & Romans
8:14) I believe the filling or empowering of the Holy Spirit ( Luke
24:49 & Acts
4:31) is a conscious experience after conversion ( Acts
8:18-19 & Acts
19:1-2), for ministry today (1
Corinthians 2:4-5 & 2
Corinthians 4:7 & 2
Corinthians 6:4-7). I believe in the present ministry of the Spirit ( Joel
2:28-29 & Acts
2:15-17) and in the exercise of all of the biblical gifts of the Spirit
(1
Corinthians 12:7-11 & 1
Corinthians 14:1 & 1
Corinthians 14:5 & 1
Thessalonians 5:19-21). I believe in both the laying on of hands for
the empowering of the Spirit ( Acts
8:14-17 & Acts
19:1-2) and the sovereign move ( Acts
10:44-48), for healing ( Mark
1:41 & Luke
6:18-19 & Mark
16:18), and for recognition and empowering of those whom God has ordained
to lead and serve the Church ( Acts
13:1-3 & 1
Timothy 4:14 & 2
Timothy 1:6). If there is any call of God on my life, it is to make this
truth known to the Church and the world.
I reject cessationist teachings as well as New Age doctrines that ascribe
activities to the Holy Ghost which are in conflict with Scripture.
Repentance
Repentance is the work of God, which results in a change of mind in respect
to man's relationship to God ( Matthew
3:1-2, 4:17; Acts
20:21) without which, man will die ( Luke
13:5). Man must choose to repent ( Acts
3:19) in order to be saved ( Ezekiel
33:11). The manifestation of repentance is to turn from wickedness (2
Tim 2:19) and toward Jesus ( Hebrews
12:2) seeking a godly life ( Titus
2:12).
The Eminent Return of Christ
I believe in the eminent (1 Cor.1:7; Phil
3:20; Titus
2:13; Heb.
9:28) premillennial ( Daniel
7:13-27) return of Jesus Christ ( John
14:1-3). This will include the rapture of the saints (1
Thessalonians 4:17) followed by the visible return of Christ ( Matthew
24:27 Matthew
24:30 Revelation
1:7) with His saints ( Zechariah
14:5) to reign on the earth for one thousand years ( Revelation
20:1-6).
I believe in a physical millennial reign on the earth of Jesus and therefore
reject amillennial and postmillennial teachings.
