Bibliology:
The Doctrine of the Bible
The Authority of the Bible
I believe the Bible is the sole standard for faith and practice (Isaiah 8:20, Matthew 4:4) for it is the very Word of God. Scripture provides the authority on which we preach, teach and conduct ourselves and our churches. Traditions of men may prove helpful at times, but must be proven, compared and measured up to God’s standards (Romans 3:4). All doctrine, beliefs and practices must stem from this book (Luke 4:4). Extra-Biblical revelations and visions are no longer ways in which God speaks to man today. God speaks through His Word alone.
The Structure of the Bible
The Bible consists of the 66 canonical books of the Old and New Testaments. These are the 39 books of the Old Testament and the 27 books of the New Testament. The Apocryphal books accepted by the Roman Catholic Church are not part of the recognized canon of Scripture.
The Transmission of the Bible
God’s Word has been forever settled in Heaven (Psalm 119:89). Through the moving of the Holy Spirit, God breathed His word into the 40 human penman of the Bible (I Corinthians 2:9-10). This moving is referred to as inspiration (2 Timothy 3:16). God chose to inspire the totality of Scripture (plenary) (Proverbs 30:5) even extending to every word of Scripture (verbal) (1 Corinthians 2:13, 2 Timothy 3:16), not just mere thoughts. Thus, the Bible is the Word of God, not of men but through men (1 Peter 1:21). This is was a harmonious effort as the Spirit employed the vocabulary, styles and abilities of each human writer.
The Reliability of the Bible
Scripture must be regarded as inerrant, not containing any error, and infallible (Proverbs 30:5), not having the possibility of error (Psalm 119:160). The Bible is correct in all areas in which it speaks, whether historical, scientific or doctrinal.
The Translation and Preservation of the Bible
Since inspiration only extends to the original documents, known as the autographs, God had preserved these documents through faithful copies and translations carefully brought about through the ages. God has promised to preserve His word (Psalm 12:7) and that it will endure forever (1 Peter 1:25). The King James Version is the best translation for English speaking people.
The Interpretation of the Bible
The Bible is to be interpreted literally. When studying Scripture, one should seek to take each passage in context scripturally, grammatically and historically. The aim of such study is to discern the author’s original intent. Once this is accomplished, several applications may proceed from one proper interpretation (2 Peter 1:20).
Theology:
The Doctrine of God
The Existence of God
I believe there is only one God (Deuteronomy 6:4, 1 Corinthians 8:4), the God revealed to man by sacred Scripture. Nature and human conscience testify of God, but are insufficient without the testimony of His Word. God is known through the pages of the Bible.
The Trinity
This one God exists in three persons, a triune Deity (1 John 5:7). The Trinity consists of God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. Each person of the Trinity is completely and co-equally God, yet are distinct in their roles. The Father is not the Son; the Son is not the Spirit, etc… This Trinity is co-eternal.
The Attributes of God
Scripture reveals God as having certain attributes, communicable, and incommunicable. God’s communicable attributes are ones which man may share and emulate on a limited basis. These attributes include:
Love – God’s personal concern for the ultimate best and welfare of His
creation (1 John 4:8)
Holiness – God is completely pure and removed from any form or likeness
of sin (1 Peter 1:16, Isaiah 6:3, Revelation 4:8)
Righteousness – All of God’s actions and thoughts are thoroughly right
and correct (Genesis 18:25)
Mercy – God is compassionate toward those who are undeserving
(Romans 5:8)
Justice – God will perfectly and judiciously perform all laws He has
Instituted both remuneratively (rewarding) and retributively
(punishing) (Psalm 75:7)
Grace – The unmerited favor of God toward those who deserve ultimate
disfavor (Ephesians 2:8-9)
Goodness – God’s acts of blessing and beneficial dealings bestowed upon
man (Psalm 27:13)
Truth – God is the very definition of truth and reality, the standard by which
all is held (John 1:17, 14:6)
God’s incommunicable attributes belong to Him alone and cannot be exerted by any other. These attributes include:
Omnipotence – God is all-powerful (Matthew 19:26, Revelation 19:6)
Omniscience – God perfectly knows all things past, present and
future both actual or possible (Isaiah 48:3)
Omnipresence – God is at all times completely present in all places
(Psalm 139:7-10)
Transcendence – God is above all His creation (Ephesians 4:6)
Infinity – God has no limitations in time, space and knowledge
(1 Kings 8:27)
Eternal – God has no beginning or ending, he is forever existent
(Psalm 90:2)
Immutability – God is never-changing, not subject to variation
(Malachi 3:6)
Sovereignty – God is in control over all the affairs of mankind
(Daniel 4:34-35)
Providence – God actively governs and sustains His creation
(Psalm 103:19)
God the Creator
God is the creator of the world (Genesis 1:1) and of everything that exists in heaven and earth (Colossians 1:17). All thing were created for His glory (Ephesians 1:12).
Christology:The Doctrine of Christ
The Pre-existence of Christ
I believe Jesus Christ existed before His worldly birth, never created, existing eternally (John 8:58). It was Christ who created all things in Genesis and continues to sustain all things today (Colossians 1:16). Jesus appears several times in the Old Testament, playing a vital role in the affairs of men (Daniel 3:25). The Old Testament also serves as a foretelling of His future human life and redemptive role (Isaiah 53:5).
The Humanity of Christ
Through a virgin birth (Isaiah 7:14), Christ fully became a man, while remaining fully God (Matthew 1:23). He was Deity incarnate (John 1:1,14 ). He is God the Son, the second Person of the Triune God (Matthew 16:16). Jesus possesses all the attributes given to God (Colossians 2:9). While being one with God the Father (John 10:30), Jesus retains His own distinct functions and models the role of the servant (Philippians 2:7) being willfully subject to the Father (John 5:30).
His life on earth was sinless and perfect (Hebrews 4:15). Because of this virgin birth, Christ did not obtain a sin nature. He was the spotless lamb necessary for the atonement of the sins of mankind (John 1:29). While on the earth, Christ experienced all facets of life which we face today including temptations and difficulties (Hebrews 4:15) but excluding the possibility of sin.
The Death of Christ
Christ died an atoning death on a cross, thus securing salvation, through His shed blood (Hebrews 9:22), for those who would believe. This was a death for all mankind (Hebrews 2:9) in that it was substitutionary, on their behalf (Romans 5:8). This death was for God in that it fully paid God’s price for the sins of mankind (1 John 2:2). Having been dead and buried, He physically and historically rose again on the third day thus proving God’s acceptance of this sacrifice (Luke 24:7, John 20:27-29). After revealing Himself several times, He ascended up into Heaven (Acts 1:9). Salvation is only through the name of Jesus Christ (Acts 4:12).
The Current Activities of Christ
Jesus now reigns at the right hand of God, acting as the only mediator between God and men (1 Timothy 2:5). Christ currently functions as an advocate before the Father. He actively intercedes for His children (1 John 2:1). Having begun at the resurrection, Christ is now and forever will be, in an exalted state (Philippians 2:9-11).
The Offices of Christ
Jesus Christ holds the office of prophet being One who faithfully taught the Word of God and perfectly foretold future events (Deuteronomy 18:5). He is a priest after the priesthood of Melchisedec, the only Priest who can intercede to God on our behalf (Hebrews 7:24). Christ is King in that He rules and reigns over His creation (1 Timothy 6:14-15).
The Return of Christ
One day Jesus will return in the clouds to rapture away His children (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17). Seven years later, Christ will return to rule upon the earth one thousand years (Revelation 20:1-7). After the final defeat of Satan, Christ will forever sit upon His throne and enjoy the worship of His own for all eternity (Revelation 5:11-14).
Pneumatology:The Doctrine of the Holy Spirit
The Deity of the Spirit
I believe the Holy Spirit to be the third member of the Triune God (Acts 5:3-4), co-equal with the Father and the Son (2 Corinthians 13:14, 1 John 5:7), yet proceeding from the Father and the Son (John 14:16). The Spirit is fully God not just an emanation from Him.
The Personality of the Spirit
The Holy Spirit is a person and not merely a feeling, movement or display of God’s power. He is a person possessing intellect (1 Corinthians 2:10), emotions (Ephesians 4:30), and a will (1 Corinthians 12:11). He is referred to in Scripture as a personality (John 16:13).
The Work of the Spirit
The Holy Spirit is responsible for the inspiration of Scripture. He moved holy men of God to pen the words of the Bible, while using each of their talents, styles and thoughts in the process (2 Peter 1:20-21). The Spirit also gives illumination of Scripture, giving believers an understanding of God’s Word and the application of it (John 14:26, John 16:15).
His ministry in this age began at the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2:1-4), as promised in the Old Testament (Joel 2:28) and Jesus Christ (John 7:37-39). The Spirit convicts the world of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment (John 16:8-11). It is the Spirit that bears witness of Christ (1 John 5:6). Upon salvation, it is He who brings about regeneration by His own washing (John 3:5-7, Titus 3:5).
At the moment of salvation, every believer receives the indwelling of the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:9) and it is his duty to be filled with (controlled by) Him in his daily walk (Ephesians 5:18). Therefore, there is never a need for more of the Spirit nor is there a need for a second blessing of the Spirit. The Spirit may by grieved (Ephesians 4:30) and quenched (1 Thessalonians 5:19) but never lost.
The Gifts of the Spirit
Through the spirit’s work, the believer is baptized into the church, the body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:13). Once in this church, the believer is equipped with spiritual gifts sovereignly selected and given by the Spirit. These gifts include: prophecy, ministry, teaching, exhortation, giving, administration, mercy, and love (Romans 12:6-9). The gift of tongues is no longer given today (1 Corinthians 13:8), for it is no longer needed. Tongues was employed in the early church to lend authorization to Gentile converts and to spread the gospel to unknown lands (Acts 10:45-46). Tongues properly used were always understood by all who heard it and was never used simply as a personal, devotional language (1 Corinthians 14:5). Tongues should not be considered as a necessary sign of salvation as it was never required in the New Testament.
The true evidence of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit is not tongues, but the fruit of the Spirit which consists of: love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance (Galatians 5:22-23).
Each believer also has the sealing of the Holy Spirit, which guarantees his eternal security (Ephesians 4:30). Eternal security thus depends upon the Spirit’s strength and not that of the believer
Blasphemy of the Holy Spirit
The sin of blasphemy against the Holy Spirit is the one unpardonable sin (Mark 3:29). This blasphemy is the ultimate rejection of the Spirit’s work (Hebrews 10:26-28) of enlightening (Ephesians 1:17-18), persuading (Acts 7:51), explaining and opening the sinner’s mind to the Word of God (2 Corinthians 3:15-17). Without this work, it is impossible to be saved. With such a rejection comes a hardening of the heart (Hebrews 3:12-13) and the absence of any repentance (1 John 5:16)
Anthropology:
The Doctrine of Man
The Creation of Man
I believe mankind (Genesis 2:7) and all things that exist were created directly by God in six literal days (Genesis 1). These days were not merely six periods of time or six divisions in time, but literal twenty-four hour days. God created by His own direct action and did not employ forces of nature or evolution to complete what he had done.
The Nature of Man
The nature of man is made into three parts: body, soul, and spirit (I Thessalonians 5:23). The body is the physical part of the human, able to be touched and seen (I Corinthians 15:39). The soul is that part of the human body which is conscience of its own being and existence (Genesis 2:7). The spirit is that part of the human body which is conscious of God’s existence and being (John 4:24, Ephesians 2:1).
The Purpose of Man
Man was created to be for the glory of God (Isaiah 43:7) and to walk in His will while enjoying His fellowship (Psalm 73:25-26). Mankind was formed in the image and likeness of God (Genesis 1:26).
The Fall of Man
However, God’s first created man, Adam, acting as a representative of the human race, exercised his free will in disobeying the command of God (Genesis 3:6) and thus plunging all of mankind into sin and death (Romans 5:12, 1 Corinthians 15:22). The effects of this sin, known as original sin, give each human being born into the world a sin nature (Romans 5:14). Man cannot help but to sin (Romans 3:23). This sin, while the product of original sin, is still committed willing and volitionally. The fall of man effects every part of his being, thoughts and actions (Genesis 6:5). Man is now alienated from God and is absolutely unable to remedy his lost condition (Ephesians 2:1-3). The fall has also corrupted the physical earth as well (Romans 8:22).
The Redemption of Man
The only hope mankind has of redemption is found in Jesus Christ alone (Acts 4:12). Man must personally accept the finished work of Christ and accept this God-given gift of eternal life by grace through faith alone (John 3:16, Ephesians 2:8-9). Once saved, the believer is kept eternally secure by God’s power (Ephesians 1:13-14).
Marriage
As God created man male and female (Genesis 1:27), He willed that marriage take place only between a man and a woman (Genesis 2:24). This marriage is intended to last until death separates the two (Mark 10:9).
Soteriology:The Doctrine of Salvation
Works and Salvation
I believe salvation is work wholly of God (Jonah 2:9). Man, left to himself, cannot do anything to obtain God’s favor, grace or mercy (Romans 11:6). All merit, work and deeds performed by man cannot possibly reach God’s standard of absolute perfection (Romans 3:12, Isaiah 64:6).
The Means of Salvation
Salvation is only obtained by grace through faith alone. Both grace and faith are given to us by God so there is never a reason to boast in the slightest achievement, decision or transaction (Ephesians 2:8-9). Man must place his faith in the finished work of Christ (Romans 10:9-10). Man is not saved by merely a decision, but by the grace of God demonstrated at Calvary. Christ’s shed blood was the perfect atonement for the sin of mankind (1 John 2:2). This death was necessary, for man’s sin carries with it a debt that cannot be paid by any other means (Romans 6:23). Christ was buried proving his actual, physical death – the penalty of that sin. Yet, three days later Christ rose from the grave proving His victory over death and providing the God-approved satisfaction of man’s sin debt (1 Corinthians 15:3-4). Salvation is obtained when a sinner repents of his sin (Acts 3:19), forsakes all meritorious efforts, and accepts this work of God for himself through prayer (Romans 10:13).
The New Life
Once saved, the sinner is declared by God to have the imputed righteousness of Christ, this is known as justification (Romans 8:33). The works of Christ are placed on the sinner’s account (2 Corinthians 5:21). Regeneration is the instantaneous work of the Holy Spirit (Titus 3:5) by which a divine nature and life are given (John 3:3-7). The Christian then is both positionally and progressively sanctified before God. He is positionally sanctified in he is able to stand clean before God robbed in a righteousness not his own (I Corinthians 1:30). He is progressively sanctified in that the Holy Spirit begins to cleanse the inward man in a process ending in ultimate glorification (John 17:17, 19).
The Security of the Believer
Salvation is forever secure, as Christ’s atoning work is forever complete (Hebrews 9:14-15). Assurance of this eternal security, however, is found in the maintenance of a life pleasing to God (2 Peter 1:9, I John 2:3). Yet, the Christian is not to use this security as a license for wicked living (Galatians 5:13). The believer must abstain from presumptuous sin (Psalm 19:13)
The Final Result
The glorification of the believer will take place after death as he receives a new body (1 Corinthians 15:51-54) and a new home in heaven for all eternity (John 14:1-3). This body will not bare the results of sin and will not suffer continuing results of the fall (Revelation 21:4).
Ecclesiology:
The Doctrine of the Church
The Definition of the Church
I believe the church is the Body of Christ, the organism through which Christ works (1 Corinthians 12:12-13). The Church is also the Bride of Christ, the ones for whom Christ died and will come back to rapture away (Ephesians 5:23-32). All saved believers of this current dispensation make up this universal church (Ephesians 2:11-3:6). However, the church is visibly found in local assemblies of baptized brethren (Acts 14:23, 27; 20:17, 28; Galatians 1:2). This body is distinct from the people of Israel (1 Corinthians 10:32) and began at the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2:1-21, 38-47).
The Offices of the Church
Christ is the Head of His church (Ephesians 1:22; 4:15). Each local assembly must have the freedom and autonomy it needs from any outside control, so that it may carry out God’s command as God has given them (Acts 15:19-31; 20:28). However, Christ has given His church two offices, pastor and deacon, to oversee each local assembly. The pastor is God’s appointed leader (1 Timothy 3:1-9) and the deacons are to assist the pastor and serve the people (Acts 6:1-8).
The Responsibility and Ordinances of the Church
The mission of the church is to glorify God (Ephesians 3:21), edify its members (2 Timothy 4:1-5) and to evangelize the unsaved (Mathew 28:18-20). In addition to this, Christ has given two ordinances for the church to carry out: Baptism and the Lord’s Supper. Baptism is to be administered only to saved (Acts 2:41-42) and by immersion in water (Acts 8:38). It is a picture of Christ’s death, burial and resurrection (Romans 6:4). The Lord’s Supper functions as a memorial to Christ’s death and second coming (1 Corinthians 11:26) and is only given to believers (1 Corinthians 10:16). The physical elements of this supper are representative of Christ’s body and blood. Neither of these ordinances are a means of grace or sacrament adding to or necessary for one’s salvation.
The Purity of the Church
As the Body of Christ must be pure (Ephesians 5:25-27), the church must not yoke-up with unbelievers (II Corinthians 6:14) or any person, denomination, or group that teaches and promotes false doctrine and error (Romans 16:17). Each local church must exercise discipline among its unruly and Unchrist-like members (1 Corinthians 5:1-13). The church being an autonomous, spiritual body; must also prevent itself from control of or by secular authorities (1 Corinthians 6:1).
Angelology:
The Doctrine of Angels
The Creation of Angels
I believe angels are created beings in a higher order than mankind (Hebrews 2:6-7, Psalm 8:4-5) However, they are not to be worshipped, prayed to or venerated (Revelation 19:10; 22:9), as their purpose is to serve and worship God (Revelation 5:11-14, Isaiah 6).
The Types of Angels
There are three types of specific angels named in Scripture. The first is the archangel, of which there is only one – Michael (Jude 9). Next there is the cherubim who seem to be used for guardianship of God’s holiness (Genesis 3:24, Exodus 26:1). Third, there are the seraphim whose mention in Scripture seem to indicate their purpose as the worshipping of God around His throne (Isaiah 6:2,6).
The Function of Angels
The main function of angels is that of a messenger. They are used to announce messages from God (Luke 2:9-14), minister to the needs of Christians (Acts 27:23-24, Heb 1:14) and worship the Lord continually (Heb 1:6). Angels may take human form and appear visibly as the Lord desires (Heb 13:2).
Satan as an Angel
Satan is a created angelic being, a cherub (Ezekiel 28:14), who fell from heaven as a result of rebellion against God (Ezekiel 28:11-19). Satan is also the author of all sin as he first introduced it to Adam and Eve (Genesis 3:1-15) and is the sworn enemy of God (Matthew 4:1-11) and man (Revelation 12:9-10). His fate is eternal punishment in the lake of fire. Satan does not posses the same attributes as God, such as omnipotence (Job 1:7-12), omniscience (Luke 22:3,22), and omnipresence (Job 1:7).
Fallen Angels
In his rebellion and ejection from God, Satan took one third of the angels, now known as demons, with him (Revelation 12:4). Those angels remaining in heaven, choosing not to follow Satan are referred to as holy angels (Matthew 25:31). The demons that followed Satan possess the power to indwell unsaved men (Matthew 8:16), but only possess the power to inflict saved men (1 John 4:4).
Eschatology:
The Doctrine of End Times
The Rapture of the Church
I believe the Lord will come again. The next event in God’s prophetic calendar is the rapture of the saints. The term rapture describes the event in which Christ will appear in the clouds and carry the church up out of the world. The dead will rise first, and then those who are alive will be taken (1 Thessalonians 4:17). This rapture is imminent in that no man knows when it will occur, but could occur at any time God desires. God has revealed this taking away will occur before the seven years of tribulation – pretibulational (Titus 2:13, 1 Thessalonians 4:13-5:2) – and before the thousand year reign of Christ – premillennial.
The Tribulation Period
Following this event is a seven-year tribulation period (Daniel 9:24-27) in which God will judge the people of Israel (Jeremiah 30:7). The church will not be apart of this period as they have already been raptured away.
At the culmination of this tribulation, Jesus Christ will physically touch the earth at His second coming (Zechariah 14:4). The battle of Armageddon will take place during this time. Christ, coming with His raptured saints and angels from the sky, will defeat the Antichrist and his allies. Then He will resurrect the Old Testament and tribulation saints (Daniel 12:2-3, Revelation 20:4-6).
The Church during this time of tribulation will be with Christ. They will stand before Him at the Bema seat of Christ (2 Corinthians 5:10), and give account for their works (1 Corinthians 3:11-15). After this the church, as the bride, they will enjoy the marriage supper of the Lamb (Revelation 19:7-10).
The Millennial Kingdom
Preceding Christ’s second coming is a literal thousand-year millennium (Revelation 20:1-2). Christ will visibly reign on the earth with His saints (Revelation 20:6). Satan will be bound up and unable to trouble the earth (Revelation 20:2). This period has yet to have been fulfilled. When these thousand years have ended, Satan, now loosed, will make one more failing attempt to overthrow Christ (Revelation 20:7), which will result in his being cast into an eternal lake of fire (Revelation 20:10, Matthew 25:41).
The Final Judgment
All men will be judged by God (Hebrews 9:27). The unsaved will face the Great White Throne and will face punishment for their sin (Revelation 20:10-13). Both the dead and living will face this terrible judgment from which no man can escape
Eternity
All men will enter into an eternal state. The saved will enjoy God forever in the splendors of heaven (John 14:1-3, Revelation 22:5). The unsaved will suffer eternal damnation and torment in the lake of fire (Revelation 20:13-15).
