This doctrinal statement was presented before an ordination counsel on May 3, 2014.
Bibliology
The Bible, the canon consisting of sixty-six books in two Testaments, was verbally and plenarily inspired, God-breathed, and without error in the original autographs, written by men moved by the Holy Spirit (Numbers 12:6-7; John 16:13; Acts 1:16; Titus 1:2; Hebrews 1:1; II Peter 1:20-21).
The Bible is therefore the only necessary and sufficient source, supreme standard and authoritative for any and all true Christian doctrine, godly living, conviction, and reproof (II Samuel 7:28; Romans 10:17; I Corinthians 14:37; II Timothy 3:16-17).
The Scripture must be interpreted in a literal, grammatical, historical and contextual manner, comparing Scripture with Scripture. The Holy Spirit's ministry is essential to the believer properly believing the written Word (I Corinthians 2:12-14).
Theology Proper
There is only one God, the One who has revealed Himself to us in Scripture (Deuteronomy 32:39; John 1:1; I Corinthians 8:6). He is the uncaused causer (Genesis 1:1), eternal without beginning or end (Psalm 9:7; 90:2; Revelation 1:8), omnipotent (Psalm 19:6; 135:6), omniscient (Psalm 139:1-2, 4; Hebrews 4:13), omnipresent (Psalm 139:7; Jeremiah 23:23-24), transcendent from His creation and immutable in character (Malachi 3:6; James 1:17). He posses character qualities of holiness (Isaiah 6:3), righteousness, justice (Deuteronomy 32:4; Psalm 145:17; Nahum 1:3; Romans 9:14), love (Psalm 33:5; Jeremiah 31:3), sovereignty (Psalm 103:19; Isaiah 46:10) and truth (John 1:14; 14:6; Titus 1:2).
God exists in one entity and in three persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, known as the Trinity. All three members of the trinity are distinct and differing in ministries but all are co-equal, eternal and perfect in Deity (Deuteronomy 6:4; Matthew 28:19; John 14:7-11, 16-17, 26).
God created the heavens and earth and all that is in them in six literal days ex nihilo (Psalm 33:5); in which all members of the Trinity took part (Genesis 1; Colossians 1:16). This creation was without any sin (Genesis 1:31).
Christology
The Jesus that is described in the New Testament is the Christ that was prophesied in the Old Testament (Genesis 22:18; Deuteronomy 18:15; Psalm 16:10-11; 110; Isaiah 53; Matthew 16:16-17; 26:63-64; John 5:39; 11:27; Acts 2:36).
Jesus Christ, the second person of the Trinity, took on flesh by means of birth by a virgin, conceived by the Holy Spirit (Matthew 1:18-25; Luke 1:26-35; Philippians 2:5-7). While Jesus was on earth He lived a sinless life (Hebrews 4:15; I John 3:5; I Peter 1:18-19; 2:22), proclaimed Himself to be the Messiah and God (Matthew 16:13-20; John 10:24-25), performed many signs and wonders (John 9:32-39; Acts 2:22; Hebrews 2:4) and prophesied about Himself (Matthew 16:21) and things yet to come (Matthew 24:1-31; 25:31-46).
Jesus Christ is the Son of God (Matthew 27:54; Mark 3:11; John 1:34). Jesus Christ is fully God (Colossians 1:15-18) as demonstrated by the facts that He existed before the incarnation (John 8:56-58), He accepted worship as God (Matthew 14:33), He was recognized by God the Father (Matthew 3:17; 17:5), He displayed His glory (Matthew 17:2), He forgives people of sin (Mark 2:5-10), He resurrected from the grave (Luke 24:6-7; I Corinthians 15:4-8) and also made claims of Deity (John 10:30-33). Jesus Christ is also fully man as demonstrated in that He grew in wisdom and in strength in a physical body (Luke 2:40, 52), and He was subjected to physical characteristics of a human body (hunger: Matthew 4:2; thirst: John 19:28; exhaustion: John 4:6; pain: Luke 24:26; death: Luke 23:46).
Jesus Christ was sentenced to death despite being found without fault (Luke 23:13-15). Jesus experienced both a physical death (John 19:30, 33) and a spiritual death (Matthew 27:46). He was buried and was physically resurrected from the dead three days later (Matthew 28:6-7; Mark 16:6; Luke 24:6-7; Acts 2:24; I Corinthians 15:4). After His resurrection from the dead, He appeared to many people and commanded the disciples to preach everywhere the good news (Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:14-15; John 21:1, 14-19; Acts 1:2-3). Forty days after His resurrection He ascended into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God (Mark 16:19; Acts 1:9-10; Hebrews 1:3-4).
Pneumatology
The Holy Spirit or the Holy Ghost is one of the three Persons of the Godhead (Matthew 28:19). The Holy Spirit is co-equal in Deity and power with the other members of the Trinity (I Samuel 10:6, 9; Acts 5:3-4). He is omnipresent (Psalm 139:7), omnipotent, omniscient (Isaiah 40:12-14) and He can be blasphemed against (Matthew 12:31; Mark 3:29).
The Holy Spirit was involved in the creation of the world (Genesis 1:2, 26). He moved men to write the Scriptures (Matthew 22:43; II Peter 1:21). He spoke through prophets (2 Samuel 23:2; Micah 3:8). He was involved in the miraculous birth of Christ (Matthew 1:18; Luke 1:35). He was involved in the ministry of Jesus Christ (Matthew 4:1, 12:28; Mark 1:8; Luke 4:1, 18). He also came upon the apostles so that they could teach the truth (John 14:16-17, 26, 15:26-27, 16:13-15, 20:22).
The Holy Spirit convicts people of their sin (John 16:7-11). The Holy Spirit regenerates people for salvation (Titus 3:5). The Holy Spirt indwells (Acts 2:38-39, 11:17; Romans 8:9-11; I Corinthians 6:19), seals (II Corinthians 1:22; Ephesians 1:13, 4:30), sanctifies (Galatians 5:16-25) and baptizes believers (Acts 11:15-16; I Corinthians 12:13).
The Holy Spirit also gives gifts unto believers according to His will (I Corinthians 12:1-11). Such sign gifts as the working of healing, prophesy, speaking in tongues and interpretation of tongues were given to the Church while it waited for the τέλειος and are not used today (Acts 10:45-48, 11:16-18; I Corinthians 13:8-11, 14:21-22). The Holy Spirit also gives such gifts as teaching, service, administration and mercy for the edification of the Church (Romans 12:6-8).
Anthropology
Adam, the first man, was formed from the dust of the earth on the sixth day of creation which was a direct act of God not a natural occurrence in nature. Man was created in the Image and likeness of God and knew no sin (Genesis 1:26-27, 31; 2:7; 9:6; James 3:9). Man was created by God to glorify God (I Corinthians 10:31; Colossians 3:17; I Peter 4:11).
Ever since the Fall, every person is born with a sin nature and perpetually, willfully and eagerly commits acts of sin. Every person is dead in their sins bearing no desire to seek God and is incapable of having any affect on his spiritual state (Psalm 14:1-3; 51:5; Romans 1:21-32; 3:10-12; 5:12; Ephesians 2:1-3; Colossians 2:13).
God created marriage consisting of the union only between one man and one women for as long as they both shall live (Genesis 2:23-24; Mark 10:2-12; Romans 7:2-3; I Corinthians 7; I Peter 3:1-7). God’s commandments do not allow for homosexuality (Leviticus 18:22; 20:13 Romans 1:24, 26-27).
Hamartiology
Sin is any thought (Matthew 5:27-28) or deed that is contrary to God's nature (Romans 3:23) or His commandments (I John 3:4) even if the thought or deed is done unintentionally (Leviticus 4:2-3). Sin is also a failure to act upon an opportunity for righteousness (James 4:17).
Sin entered into the created order when Satan prided himself against God by his own free will (Isaiah 14:12-14; Ezekiel 28:15). Sin entered into the world when Adam and Eve disobeyed God by eating of the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil (Genesis 2:17; 3:6). God is not the author of sin nor is He capable of sin (Isaiah 6:3; James 1:13-14).
All men are guilty of sin because they commit acts of sin and are sinful by nature from birth because of Adam's sin (Psalm 51:5; 53:1-3; Jeremiah 17:9; Mark 7:20-23; Romans 3:23; 5:12; Ephesians 2:1-3; I John 1:8). Every man will stand before God and be held accountable for his actions (II Corinthians 5:10; Hebrews 9:27; Revelation 20:11-13). Every man that has not been justified by Christ will be condemned to death which is eternal torment in the lake of fire that was created for the devil and his angels (Matthew 25:31-46; Mark 9:47-48; Luke 16:19-31; Revelation 20:14-15).
Angelology
Angels are powerful incorporeal ministering spirit beings. They serve God by delivering messages, executing judgement and guarding people (Genesis 19:15; Matthew 4:11; 13:41, 49; 18:10; Luke 1:19; Hebrews 1:14). They have been alive since they were created by God originally without sin (Genesis 1:1; 1:31; Job 38:7; Colossians 1:15-16). The number of angels is unknown, perhaps greater in number than can be known (Revelation 5:11). There are different classes of angels (Isaiah 6:2; Ezekiel 10; I Thessalonians 4:16). Angels do not marry or are given in marriage; neither do they experience a physical death (Mark 12:25; Luke 20:35-36).
Satan, our adversary, also known as the Devil, is an angel that prided himself against God, thereby becoming the author of sin and was cast out of heaven (Isaiah 14:12-15; Ezekiel 28:12-19). His work is to bring God's elect trouble and temptation to sin as far as he is allowed and to blind unbelievers of the truth (Job 1:6-12; 2:1-6; Luke 22:31; II Corinthians 4:4; I Thessalonians 3:5; I Peter 5:8; Revelation 12:10). He was the serpent in the Garden of Eden that tempted Eve to eat of the fruit from the tree of knowledge of good and evil (Ezekiel 28:13; II Corinthians 11:3).
Demons are angels that followed Satan in his disobedience and were cast out of heaven (II Peter 2:4; Revelation 12:4, 7-9). Their work is to aid Satan by deceiving the world of the truth (Deuteronomy 32:17; I Timothy 4:1). Both Satan and demons will ultimately be punished for their disobedience to God by being cast into the eternal lake of fire after they receive their judgment (Matthew 8:29; 25:41; I Corinthians 6:3; Jude 6; Revelation 20:10).
Soteriology
Jesus Christ's death and resurrection provides the only means possible for a person to receive salvation (John 14:6; Acts 4:12; Hebrews 4:15; 10:12-14; I Peter 2:22). Christ's death on the cross was a propitiation in that God's righteous wrath against sin was satisfied by placing the punishment of sin of the world upon Christ allowing God's elect to be redeemed, justified and reconciled unto Himself (Isaiah 53; Matthew 8:17; John 3:16-17; Romans 3:21-26; 5; I Corinthians 15:3; Ephesians 1:7-8; I Timothy 4:10; I John 2:2; I Peter 2:24). Christ's resurrection from the grave was a demonstration of His Deity and power over death which will allow God's elect to be resurrected to receive an incorruptible body (Acts 2:22-32; Romans 8:29-30; I Corinthians 15; Colossians 1:18; I Thessalonians 4:14-17).
Those who will receive the inheritance of salvation and the adoption as sons, which is eternal life with Christ our Lord in heaven, were elected by God before the foundation of the world according to His foreknowledge and sovereign will (John 3:14-16; Acts 13:48; Romans 8:15-17; Ephesians 1:3-14; II Thessalonians 2:13; Titus 3:7; I John 2:25; I Peter 1:1-2). This election is given freely only by God's grace and cannot be earned or purchased (Romans 9:11-18; I Corinthians 1:26-31; Ephesians 2:8-9; II Timothy 1:9).
A person becomes a Christian the moment when he believes that Christ died for for his sins which is caused by the regeneration of the Holy Spirit after hearing the preaching of the gospel from the Word of God and the new believer immediately confesses his sin and repents (John 16:7-11; Acts 2:36-37; Romans 2:4; 10:8-18; Titus 3:5; I John 1:9). At that moment of salvation the believer begins an eternal personal relationship with his Savior, Jesus Christ, becomes filled with the Holy Spirit and is promised eternal life in heaven (John 3:16; Romans 8:9-11; I John 4:15-16).
God's desire for His children is that they live a life of holiness (Leviticus 19:2; Ephesians 2:1-10; I Peter 1:14-16). This means that every Christian should be setting himself apart from sin to walk in righteousness by the working of God's grace (Romans 6; I Thessalonians 4:3-8); this is known as sanctification and happens in a threefold manner. Sanctification starts when a person comes to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ's death by being justified by faith (Acts 20:32; Romans 5:1-2; II Corinthians 5:17-19). Sanctification then continues through the rest of the saint's life as the Holy Spirit conforms him to the Image of Christ (Romans 12:1-2; II Corinthians 3:18; Galatians 5:16-25; Philippians 1:6). Sanctification becomes a finished work when the saint meets Christ, either in death or in the air, completely removing sin from the saint (I Corinthians 15:42-57; I Thessalonians 5:23; I John 3:2-3).
The salvation of every believer is secured for all eternity (Romans 8:28-30). God will not allow for the loss of any one of His children (John 10:26-29). A believer could never do anything to bring about his own salvation neither can he do anything to rid of his own salvation (Romans 8:35-39; Ephesians 4:30).
Ecclesiology
The Church was founded by Jesus Christ and was built by the prophets and apostles (Luke 24:44-49; Acts 1:1-8; Ephesians 2:19-22). The Church was started on the day of Pentecost that followed Christ's resurrection indicated by all of the disciples that were present being filled with the Holy Spirit which makes the Church a separate entity from the nation of Israel (Acts 1:5, 8; 2; I Corinthians 10:32). Church is used in two senses in the New Testament, the universal Church and the local church. The universal Church consists of every believer from Pentecost to the Rapture in every location, also known as the Bride of Christ (Ephesians 5:25-32; I Thessalonians 4:13-17; Revelation 19:7-9). The local church is an organized body of believers in a single location that have assembled themselves together for worship and to regularly observe the ordinances and practices (Acts 13:1; I Corinthians 1:2; Hebrews 10:23-25).
The purpose of the Church is threefold: to glorify God, to edify believers and to evangelize to the lost (Matthew 28:19-20; Acts 1:8; 8:4; Ephesians 1:12; 4:11-16).
There are two ordinances that were instituted by Christ that the church observes. These two ordinances are the baptism of a believer by immersion (Matthew 28:19; Acts 2:38; 8:36, 38; 10:47-48; 18:8; 19:5) and communion (Matthew 26:26-29; Mark 14:22-25; Luke 22:14-23; Acts 2:42, 46; I Corinthians 11:23-34).
The local church is autonomous, not submissive to any hierarchy, honors the civil authority yet while remaining separate, but only submissive to Jesus Christ who is the Head of the Church (Acts 5:29; Romans 13:1; Ephesians 1:20-23; 4:15; I Peter 2:13-17). Each local church is governed by its members which consists of believers who have been baptized (Acts 2:41, 47; 6:2-6; I Corinthians 6:1-6).
There are two offices within the church. One of them being the office of a pastor which is also called an elder or bishop; one must meet the qualifications that are listed in order to attain this office (Acts 15:4; 20:17; I Timothy 3:1-7; Titus 1:5-9; I Peter 5:1-5). The other office is that of a deacon, one must also meet the qualifications listed to acquire this office (Acts 6:1-6; I Timothy 3:8-13).
The church is to keep itself pure in its doctrine and in its walk. If a person is found to be teaching false doctrine that dishonors the person and work of God and Christ and continues to perpetuate heresy, refusing to be corrected, he should be removed from the church (I Corinthians 11:2; 15:3; Galatians 1:6-9; Colossians 2:8; I Timothy 4:1-5; Titus 1:10-16). If a person is found to be caught in a trespass and refuses to repent, he should be removed from the church in hopes that he may be reconciled with the church and Christ (Matthew 18:15-22; I Corinthians 5; II Corinthians 7:8-13; Galatians 6:1).
Eschatology
The first event to occur is known as the Rapture. The Rapture is an event in which the Lord will personally descend from heaven, the dead in Christ that have passed away will be resurrected and the saints that are still alive will be caught up together to meet the Lord in the air (I Thessalonians 4:13-18; I Corinthians 15:50-55). We will then appear before the judgement seat of Christ (II Corinthians 5:10) and then join Him in the Marriage Supper of the Lamb (Revelation 19:7-9). The Rapture can occur at any moment and will precede the Tribulation (I Thessalonians 5:9; Revelation 3:10).
The Tribulation, a seven year period of God pouring out His wrath upon sinful Earth and a calling upon the nation of Israel to repent (Ezekiel 20:33-44), will begin when the Antichrist signs a firm covenant with the nation of Israel. The firm covenant will be signed for seven years but will be broken at three and a half years and the abomination of desolation will set himself up in the holy place to be worshipped marking the start of even greater tribulation (Daniel 9:25-27; 12:1; Matthew 24:1-44; Revelation 6; 8-9; 16). The Tribulation will end with Christ personally coming to Earth to wage war against the Antichrist and the nations in a battle known as Armageddon (Daniel 2:34-35, 44-45; Joel 3:9-16; Zechariah 14:1-15; Revelation 16:16; 17:14; 19:11-19). Christ will also judge all the nations separating the righteous apart from the wicked; the righteous will enter into Christ's kingdom and the wicked will enter into eternal punishment (Joel 3:2; Matthew 25:31-46; Revelation 19:20-21).
Christ will then set up His kingdom on Earth for a thousand years fulfilling the covenants given unto Abraham (Genesis 12:1-3; 15:18; 17:1-8; 22:15-18; Acts 3:25), David (II Samuel 7:8-17; Isaiah 9:6-7; Luke 1:30-33) and the nation of Israel (Jeremiah 31:31-34; Ezekiel 37:21-28) and will resurrect them from the dead (Ezekiel 37:11-14; Daniel 12:2). During the thousand years, Satan will be bound in the abyss and will not be able to deceive the nations allowing for world peace (Isaiah 11:1-11; 65:17-25; Revelation 20:1-6). At the end of the thousand years, Satan will be will released and deceive the nations to try bring about another war but He will be cast into the Lake of Fire (Ezekiel 38; 39:1-20; Revelation 20:7-10). Then there will be the resurrection of the wicked so that they will be judged in the Great White Throne Judgement and everyone whose name is not found in the Book of Life will be cast into the lake of fire (Revelation 20:11-15).
God will then replace the earth with a new heaven and a new earth so that He may personally dwell with His elect in an eternal paradise (II Peter 3:10-13; Revelation 21; 22:1-5).
Amen.
Glossary
Adoption. A legal term used in Scripture to demonstrate the transaction in salvation that changes an unbeliever who is at enmity with God to a believer receiving a right to a promised inheritance (John 1:12; Romans 8:14-17; Ephesians 1:11-14).
Autograph. In reference to the doctrine of Bibliology, the manuscript which the original author of Scripture wrote upon and were the only words that were inspired by God (II Peter 1:20-21). The autographs have been lost but we can still know what the autographs must had written on them because of the extensive number of copies that were produced and circulated.
Baptism. An ordinance of the church instituted by Christ, that an individual who believes in the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ is to be immersed in water as an act of obedience to Christ and choosing to associate with the church (Acts 2:38, 41).
Christ. A title given to Jesus meaning Savior, Deliverer or Messiah (Acts 2:36). A transliteration of the Greek word xριστός.
Death. Simply means separation. Death is commonly used in two senses in Scripture, physical and spiritual. Physical death is separation of the spirit from the body (Luke 23:46; Acts 7:59-60). Spiritual death is separation between man and God (Mark 15:34; Revelation 20:14).
Ex nihilo. Latin, meaning from nothing. This is applied to the doctrine of creation stating that there was no pre-existing material used to create the world. God spoke and the world became (Genesis 1; Psalm 33:6).
Foreknowledge. To know a person previously based upon a relationship. In reference to God, this was before the creation the world (Acts 2:32; Romans 8:29; I Peter 1:1-2, 20).
Justification. A legal term meaning to be declared and considered righteous. This is used to refer to God declaring His saints righteous (Romans 3:24, 26).
Ordinance. An observance mandated by Jesus Christ for the church to follow on a regular basis. They signify fellowship and the forgiveness of sin. They are not a sacrament in that they do not bestow any grace unto the participant (Matthew 28:19-20; I Corinthians 11:23-34).
Plenary. Meaning every or all. When used in reference to the doctrine of inspiration it stresses that every word and tense was inspired by God (Mark 12:26-27; II Timothy 3:16).
Propitiation. The act of satisfactorily turning away punishment or wrath by offering a pleasing gift or act of service to the offended. In salvation, Christ's death satisfied God's wrath against sin by bearing the condemnation of sin (Romans 3:25; II Corinthians 5:21; I John 2:2).
Reconciliation. A change in relationship with another party from hostility to harmony. In the transaction of salvation, God reconciled His elect unto Himself. God did not change his hostility toward sin, it was satisfied by Christ's death (Romans 5:10-11; II Corinthians 5:18-20).
Τέλειος. A Greek word that is normally translated as “perfect” in the New Testament. The word can also be translated as “mature" or “complete”. Example: τέλειος is translated “perfect" in I Corinthians 13:10 and is used again in 14:20 but translated “mature".
