THE BIBLE IS THE WORD OF GOD:
- free from error in the originals and completely accurate in every way.
- the 39 books of the Old Testament and the 27 books of the New Testament have been inspired by the Holy Spirit and are the one and only standard of faith and practice (Psalm 119:128 2 Timothy 3:14-16 2 Peter 1:21)
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THE DOCTRINE OF GOD (THEOLOGY), THE TRUINE GOD:
- He is One God, eternally existing as three Persons- Who are equally Unchangeable, Omnipotent, Infinite, Holy, Just, Good, True and All Wise.
- the same in essence and glory, the Three Persons are The Father, The Son and The Holy Spirit. (Deuteronomy 6:4 Psalm 90:1-2 Isaiah 48:16 Matthew 28:19 2 Corinthians 13:14 Ephesians 1:3-14 Hebrews 1:1-4)
- God created all things from nothing.- the LORD formed all things in six days and declared them very good.- Living things on earth procreate according to kind. (Genesis 1:1- 2:3 Exodus 20:11 Hebrews 11:3)
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THE DOCTINE OF JESUS CHRIST (CHRISTOLOGY):
- the absolute deity of the Lord Jesus Christ
- the Second Person of The Holy Trinity.- He came to earth in flesh, born miraculously of Mary while still a virgin, so while on earth, He was fully man while still being fully God.
- Jesus lived a perfectly sinless life and then became the substitutionary and redemptive sacrifice for the sin of the world, "The Lamb of God".
- Christ literally died, was buried, arose bodily from the dead and ascended into heaven. (Isaiah 7:14 9:6 Matthew 1:23 John 1:1-14 Colossians 2:9 Hebrews 1:1-4 1 Corinthians 15:1-57)
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THE DOCTRINE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT (PNEUMOTOLOGY):
- the Third Person of the Holy Trinity.
- He convicts of sin, righteousness and judgement.
- He bears witness to the truth of the Gospel
- is the Agent of the New Birth (regeneration)
- He seals, baptizes, empowers, guides, teaches, sanctifies and helps the Believer. (John 16:8-15 1 Corinthians 12:13 Ephesians 1:13-14 1 Peter 1:2).
- The Holy Spirit distributes gifts to the Believer as He chooses. (1 Corinthians 13:8-10 Acts 1:21-22 & 1 Corinthians 15:5-8 Acts 5:12 & 2 Corinthians 12:12)
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THE DOCTRINE OF MAN (ANTHROPOLOGY):
- God created man in His own Image.
- Although created in innocence, Adam- the first man, by free choice, transgressed the specific directions given to him by the Lord, resulting in death (both spiritual and physical).
- Each of Adam's descendants has inherited a sinful and depraved nature, causing all men to be afflicted with both spiritual and physical death. Due to the original sin of Adam and the actual sin in thought, word and deed enacted by every human being, all people are without excuse under the just condemnation and wrath of God. (Genesis 1:27-31 Genesis 3:1-19 Romans 3:9-23 Romans 5:12-21 Ephesians 2:1-3 James 2:10)
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THE DOCTRINE OF SALVATION (SOTERIOLOGY):
- forgiveness of sin is only possible through faith in the gracious provision of God on the basis of the atoning death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, Who is God, The Son.- There is no hope of salvation outside of personal faith in Jesus Christ
- Salvation is a free gift for which humans can add no meritorious works.
- The blood of Jesus Christ was spilled on the cross in order to satisfy the justice of God with regard to human sinfulness.
- The Spirit of God effectually calls sinners to repentant faith, allowing no room for Believers to boast.
- The gift of eternal life through our Lord Jesus is irrevocable, each Believer being kept securely by the power of God. (John 10:27-30 Romans 8:28-39 1 Peter 1:3-5 Ephesians 2:8-9 Titus 3:5-6 John 1:10-13 Romans 6:23 Leviticus 17:11 with Ephesians 1:7 and Hebrews 9:22)
- Believers in Jesus Christ are justified. Justification involves the imputation of the Believer's transgressions to the record of Christ and the imputation of Christ's righteousness to the record of the Believer.- Believers are sanctified in Christ. Sanctification involves(a) authorization to enter the Holy presence of the Lord in worship and(b) the lifelong process of being conformed to the image of God's Son. (Romans 4:1- 5:11 1 Corinthians 1:2 6:11 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24 2 Corinthians 5:21)
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THE DOCTRINE OF THE CHURCH (ECCLESIOLOGY):
- the Church of Jesus Christ, universal and invisible as well as local and visible.
- Jesus is building His Church. He is The Head of His Body and the Believers are the various members of His Body.
- Local churches are autonomous in governmental structure and consist of a regenerated, water baptized membership.
- The members of the local church willingly submit to the authority of the Biblically established leadership of elders/bishops/pastors and deacons. (Matthew 16:18 Romans 1:7 1 Corinthians 1 1 Corinthians 12:1-28 2 Corinthians 1:1 Philippians 1:1 Colossians 1:18 1Timothy 3:1-15)
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- Two ordinances are to be observed by local churches: Baptism and The Lord's Supper. The ordinances, having been
(a) commanded by the Lord Jesus
(b) taught and administered by the Apostles
(c) enacted by the churches described in the New Testament- are symbolic in nature.
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1. Baptism (immersion in water)
- is a one-time act of obedience by a Believer which communicates his/her new birth in Christ and personal identification with His Church.
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2. The Lord's Supper is a repeated act of obedience by the Believer which symbolizes his faith in and thanksgiving for the sacrifice lovingly made by Jesus Christ.
- The Bread represents the body and
- the Cup represents the blood of the Lord Jesus. (Matthew 28:19 Luke 22:14-20 Acts 2:41-42 Acts 10:47-48 Acts 20:7 Romans 6:1-6 1 Corinthians 11:17-34 Colossians 2:12)
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THE DOCTRINE OF LAST THINGS (ESCHATOLOGY):
- the imminent, personal, bodily return of the Lord Jesus Christ, is the blessed hope of the church. The Believers who are alive at the moment of His coming will be "caught up" (raptured) to be with Him while those who have died in Christ will be raised up to meet Him in the air. All regenerated individuals will be changed to dwell in an incorruptible body at His Coming. They will have an imperishable body
- like Christ's glorious Body- for eternity. (1 Corinthians 15:20-57 Philippians 3:20-21 1 Thessalonians 4:13-5:11)
- The unregenerate will be raised to face the judgement and subsequent damnation in the Lake Fire, which is conscious torment forever. (John 5:28-29 Revelation 20:11-15)
- God will replace the heavens and the earth with a New Heaven and a New Earth, containing the Holy City- the New Jerusalem. Believers of all human history will dwell in this City forever with God. It will be a perfect existence in which no evil or remnants of the curse will ever enter. The first heaven and earth will have passed away. (Mark 13:31 2 Peter 3:10-13 Revelation chapters 21-22)
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