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Theologians
like to use $100 words to say the simplest of things, I don’t. I believe in telling it the way it is, with words everyone
can understand. I
am a man given to a helping people understand their relationship
with a loving and caring God, I am not a legalistic pastor who
demands strict adherence to meaningless human rules that have no
Scriptural support.
What
I See As Essential Doctrines of Our Faith
God
God is the Creator and Ruler of the entire
universe. He has eternally existed in three personalities: the
Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit; they are co-equal and are
one God. Gen.1:1; 26-27; 3:22;
Ps. 90:2; Matt. 28:19; 1Pe. 1:2; 2Cor. 13:14
Jesus
Christ
Jesus
Christ is the Son of God. He is co-equal with the Father; Jesus
lived a sinless human life and offered Himself as the perfect
sacrifice for the sins of all people (past, present and future)
by dying on a cross. He arose from the dead after three days to
prove his power over sin and death. He ascended to Heaven's
glory and will return again someday to earth to reign as King of
Kings, and Lord of Lords. Matt
1:22-23; Isa 9:6; Jn 1:1-5, 14:10-30; Heb 4:14-15; 1Cor 15:3-4;
Rom 1:3-4; Ac 1:9-11; 1Tim 6:14-15; Tit 2:13
The
Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit is co-equal with the
Father and the Son. 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. He gives every believer a spiritual gift
when they are saved. As Christians we seek to live under His
control daily. 2Cor 3:17; Jn
16:7-13, 14:16-17; Ac 1:8; 1Cor 2:12, 3:16; Eph 1:13, 5:18; Gal
5:25
The
Bible
The Bible is God's Word to us. Human
authors, under the supernatural guidance of the Holy Spirit,
wrote it. It is the supreme source of truth for Christian
beliefs and living. Because God inspires it, it is the truth
without any mixture of error. 2Tim
1:13, 3:16; 2Pe 1:20-21; Ps. 12:6, 19:105, 160; Prov. 30:5
Humans
We are made in the spiritual image of God,
to be like Him in character. We are the supreme object of God's
creation. Even though we have a tremendous potential for good,
we don’t. All of
us are marred by an attitude of disobedience toward God called
"sin.” This
attitude separates us from God and causes many problems in life.
Gen. 1:27; Ps. 8:3-6; Isa.
53:6a, 59:1-2; Rom. 3:23
Salvation
Salvation is God's free gift to us, but we
must accept it. We can never make up for our sin by
self-improvement or good works. Only by trusting Jesus Christ as
God's offer of forgiveness can anyone be saved from sin's
penalty. When we turn from our self-ruled life and turn to Jesus
in faith we are saved. Eternal life begins the moment one
receives Jesus Christ into his life by faith. Rom.
5:1, 6:23; Eph. 2:8-9; Jn. 1:12, 14:6; Tit. 3:5; Gal. 3:26
Eternal
Security
Because God gives us eternal life through
Jesus Christ, the true believer is secure in that salvation for
eternity. If you have been genuinely saved, you cannot
"lose" it. Salvation is maintained by the grace and
power of God, not by self-effort of the Christian. It is the
grace and keeping power of God that gives us this security. Jn.
10:28-29; 2Tim. 1:12; Heb. 7:25, 10:10, 14; 2Pe. 1:3-5
Eternity
People were created to exist forever. We
will either exist eternally separated from God by sin, or
eternally with God through forgiveness and salvation. To be
eternally separated from God is Hell. To be eternally in unity
with Him is eternal life. Heaven and Hell are real places of
eternal existence. 1Jn. 2:25,
5:11-13; Jn. 3:16; Rom. 6:23; Rev. 20:15; Matt. 22:44-46
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