Every Church or Christian ministry has some kind of doctrinal statement or summary to clearly declare what they believe and practice. A doctrinal statement reflects our theology and is very important. Our theology, or our belief system, defines who and what we are. (Proverbs 23:7) I believe it is important for everyone to have a personal doctrinal statement (to possess as their own). Do you really know what you believe? Most Christians would generally identify with the doctrinal position of their local church. Do you know what your church believes? It would be a good undertaking for every Christian to settle this question and write out their personal statement of faith and keep it foremost in their heart as they sojourn through this life. If you want to know what a man is all about look at his theology (his theology of heart). Until I know his theology, and his relationship to his theology, I cannot fully comprehend who he is or what he is like. Show me his personal theology and I will understand the man. The following is a brief summary of my doctrinal position as I prefer to declare it. I post this so that readers may clearly understand the mind-set behind these devotional works.
THE BIBLE
All scripture in the 66 books of the Old and New Testaments is the inspired and inerrant and eternal Word of God (Verbal plenary inspiration). Holy men of God were moved by The Holy Spirit to write the scriptures. 2 Peter 1:19-21 God's word is truth and is the authoritative guide for faith and Christian living. It is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, and for instruction in righteousness. 2 Timothy 3:16 If God can create the entire physical universe then it is a small thing for him to also inspire, record, transmit, and preserve the scriptures through the ages for our enlightenment. If a man would be persuaded of the truth he must first come to see that the Bible is the infallible and inspired word of God and is the objective standard (plumb line) by which all things are measured. To know the truth is to have a sound Biblical world view. John 8:31-32
GOD
There is only one God who is eternally existent in three persons: God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit. All three persons are equal in essence and are infinite, almighty, and holy.
God The Father
Is the first person of The Trinity and is the almighty source and ruler of all things. He is perfectly just, holy, loving, gracious, merciful, and unchangeable. He is the eternal planner; and with all knowledge and perfect wisdom he ordained a plan for his creation which included, in particular, the salvation and redemption of the human race.
God The Son
Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God, is the second person of The Trinity. He is completely equal in essence to God The Father and God The Spirit. He existed uncreated before time (from everlasting to everlasting). He is the express image of the Father and the brightness of his glory. Hebrews 1:3 He is the living Word and in Him dwells the fullness of the Godhead bodily. He was involved in all of the Divine undertakings of the Trinity including the creation of the world, and particularly, the redemption of man. As the most unique person, He is fully God and fully man. He was sent by The Father into the world through the incarnation to execute the plan of salvation. He was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, and lived an impeccable and sinless life. He shed his blood on the cross as a substitutionary atonement for the sins of the world. He died and was buried and he rose again on the third day. He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of The Father where He ever lives to make intercession for his own.
God The Spirit
The third person of The Trinity is Lord and giver of life. He is a person and not merely an influence. He convicts the world of sin, righteousness and judgement. He reveals the Son to man and unites man to Jesus Christ by faith. He personally and permanently indwells and seals all who believe, but he fills and empowers believers only in as much as they are yielded to his influence by faith. It is in this way that the Spirit produces fruit in the life of the believer. As The Comforter, His indwelling makes it possible for all believers to have and enjoy the personal presence of Christ now and forever more.
CREATION
All that exists in the reality of the physical universe was created by God out of nothing (ex nihilo) through the power of the word of God. The Bible clearly proclaims this truth and therefore it must be true. The Biblical account of creation was accomplished in a literal six days.
EXISTENCE
The Purpose of existence is to glorify God. Glorify means to magnify, extol, praise, manifest, bring to light. All that is created exists for God and for his glory. Man exists not primarily for his own sake, to be independent from God, but to bring glory to God. In every age man's purpose (the reason he exists on earth) is to glorify God.
THE DEVIL
The Devil - Satan is a real fallen angel who rebelled against God. He deceived one third of the angels of heaven and drew them into his rebellion. He is the author of evil and the originator of sin and iniquity. He initiated the fall of mankind by tempting the woman in the garden. As the father of all lies, he deceives the whole world. Revelation 12:9 He tempts men to sin and accuses man before God and God before men. God has, for a season, permitted him to be the "god" of this present world order; as such, he blinds the minds of men from the truth. 2 Corinthians 4:4 He steals, kills, and destroys; working continuously, with a powerful supernatural influence, to overthrow humanity and to resist the work of God. He and his angels are destined to eternal punishment in Hell. Revelation 20:10
MAN
Man was created in the image and likeness of God. He was given the gift of free will and chose to disobey God. Man's disobedience resulted in the fall from innocence into physical and spiritual death. Spiritual death means separation from God, as well as, the inability to know God. Every human being is born with a depraved sinful nature and a divine imputation of sin to their account. This means that humanity without Jesus Christ is lost. Because man is helpless and unable to save himself, every man is in need of the salvation that Christ offers. Unless a man is spiritually regenerated by the Holy Spirit through the new birth he cannot see nor inherit the kingdom of God.
SALVATION
Salvation is by grace and is therefore a free gift from God. Salvation was accomplished by the death and shed blood of Jesus Christ on the cross. Christ was sacrificed in our place as our substitute. Man is saved by grace through faith. The only condition for salvation is faith; believing on Jesus Christ and what he has done on our behalf. There is no other name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved. Salvation is only made possible by the finished work of Christ. The Salvation of the believer is eternally secure. John 10:28-29
THE GREAT COMMANDMENT
Preceding and surpassing all other requirements of God is the great commandment to Love. Specifically to love God before all else and to love one another as Christ loved his church and gave his life for it.
THE GREAT COMMISSION
The church, as a whole, has been commissioned by Jesus Christ to proclaim the gospel as witnesses to the world and it's utter most parts. This includes evangelism, teaching, baptism, and discipleship. Christ has called his people to partner with him, as his instruments, in seeking lost souls. Through this means Jesus Christ increases and perpetuates his church.
THE CHURCH
The church is made up of all true Christian believers who are called "out of" the world and baptized (placed) into Jesus Christ during the church age. The church is the body and bride of Christ. The primary purpose of the church is to know Christ and to glorify him. The church is set apart from this world to worship, serve, and glorify God. The mission of the church is to reproduce and edify itself through evangelism, ministry, and the teaching and preaching of the word of God.
HEAVEN
Heaven is a real place. Heaven is above. Heaven is the abode of God and the holy angels. John 8:23 It is also where departed saints presently abide; for to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord. 2 Corinthians 5:8 The redeemed who are now in heaven are there only on an intermediate basis and will one day return with Christ in glory. All of heaven will come to earth. The New Jerusalem, the heavenly city prepared by Christ for his bride, will descend to a new earth and will be the specific eternal abode of the church. The meek shall inherit the earth and, in the heavenly city, God himself will tabernacle with man forever. Revelation 21
HELL
Hell is a real place. Hell is the ultimate maximum security prison prepared by God for the Devil and his fallen angels. Hell is literally located in the lower parts of the earth. Isaiah 14:9 Ephesians 4:9 Psalm 63:9 It is a place of eternal confinement and punishment for evil angels and human beings who reject Christ. Also called the lake of fire, It is a place of torment, pain, darkness, loneliness, unfulfilled desires and eternal separation from God (for whom man was created). Matthew 13:47-50 Man is saved from hell by grace the moment he receives Jesus Christ as savior through believing.
THE END TIMES (Eschatology)
It is very late on the time line of human history. We are living in the last days. The return of Christ is immanent; he may return at any time to rapture his church (take his church out of the world). The rapture will conclude the church age dispensation and the time of the gentiles. The rapture of the church is PRETRIBULATIONAL and marks the beginning of the seven year tribulation period (the 70th week of Daniel). At the end of the seven years of tribulation Christ will return with his own and with all of the holy angels to destroy the anti-Christ and establish his millennial kingdom for one thousand years. At the end of that time, God will condemn and sentence the unsaved at The Great White Throne judgement. Satan, his angels, and the unsaved will be cast into the lake of fire forever. Revelation 20:10-15 Then will begin the eternal age when God shall recreate a new heaven and a new earth. Redemption will be complete. The former things shall pass away and he will make all things new and dwell with his people forever.
EVANGELICAL DISPENSATIONAL PRETRIBULATIONAL PREMILLENNIAL
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