Scriptures

Inspiration means that the Holy Spirit moved human authors to document the words of God. I find it important to note that the men themselves were not inspired. The word inspired means God Breathed, therefore the words the men wrote are what the Holy Spirit inspired. All scripture is inspired equally and holds equal authority (2 Tim 3:16-17; Matt 5:18; John 10:35; and Rev 22:18-19). We must submit ourselves to the 66 books of the bible in its entirety as our only authority over our lives (Rev 22:18-19; and 1 John 4:1).



Trinity

There is one essence of the Godhead. All three persons of the God head are co-equal meaning they are in complete unity in all aspects (1 Pet 1:2; John 1:1; Acts 5:3; John 10:30; 1 Cor 3:16; Rom 8:9; and John 14:16; 18, 23). Even though all three persons of the Godhead are co-equal they each have specific roles and responsibilities that they carry out. (John 14:26, 15:26)

Father

God the Father is self-sufficient (Ex 3:14), infinite (Ps 147:5), immutable (Mal 3:6; Js 1:17), all powerful (Jer 32:17),  all knowing (1 John 3:20), all wise (Eph 3:10), holy (Ex 15:11; 1 Pet 1:16), just (2 Thess 1:5-7; Rom 2:6-8), faithful (Rom 11:29), love (John 3:16), and merciful (Ps 103:8-10). 

Son 

Christ, like the father and the Holy Spirit, has existed eternally, with no begging and no end (John 1:30, 5:48) Christ is one person that contains the full deity of God and the full humanity of man. (John 17:23; John 8:18; 16:7) Christ has always been God and when he was conceived in Mary’s womb he added the incarnation of humanity (John 1:14). God finds Christ as worthy substitutionary atonement for the sin of man (2 Cor 5:21). Christ puts his righteousness upon all who believe in Him (2 Cor 5:21; Phil 3:9). Christ’s sacrifice was not limited to the ones that believe but instead was intended for the entire world (1 Tim 4:10; 1 John 2:2; 1 Pet 3:18; 2 Pet 2:1; John 3:16). The sacrificial atonement will only be applied to those who believe on the Lord Jesus Christ (John 6:39; Eph 2:8) the atonement also supplies us with benefits outside of our redemption (Acts 14:17).  Jesus resurrected (John 10:27), ascended (Luke 24:51), advocates (1 John 2:1), intercedes (Rom 8:34), and now Jesus receives the Glory he once had before humbling Himself and coming to earth as a man (John 17:5; Rev 5:12; Ps. 110:1).

Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit is co-equal with God the Father and the son and contains the same attributes (Matt 28:19; 2 Cor 13:14; 1 Pet 1:2). The Holy Spirit is the action piece that gives the Grace of God to the world (Ps 145:9; 2 Thess 2:7). The Holy Spirit convicts of sin, imputes righteousness and caries out judgment (John 16:8) at the start of the Church age the Holy Spirit took on new responsibilities starting with the baptism of the Holy Spirit (1 Cor 12:13; cf. Eph 1:22-23; Rom 6:3-4; Col 2:11-13), regenerating the believers (John 3:3), indwelling the believers (Rom 8:9), sealing the believers (2 Cor 1:21-22; filling, Eph 5:18). Believers are all blessed with gifts from the Holy Spirit, these gifts are intended for believers to use in the edification of other believers and as a tool to reach more people to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ (1 Cor 12:12; cf. 14:12; Eph 4:11-12). The apostles were picked by Jesus Christ to start or found the church with Christ Himself as the cornerstone (Eph 2:20; 1 Cor 3:11). The apostles were the witnesses of Christ (Acts 1:2, 8, 21-26; 1 Cor 15:8-11). The supernatural signs and gifts were given only to the handpicked apostles of Jesus Christ. Since the apostles are not alive today the supernatural gifts and signs have ceased (Heb 2:3-4).


Creation and Fall of Man

God spoke everything into existence in an instant (Gen 1:3, 6, 9) in six literal 24 hour days using the genealogies of the bible we can estimate this to have taken place about 6 to 7 thousand years ago. God’s creation was very good (Gen 1:26-27). Man was created in God’s image (Col 3:9-10). God created man and women with different roles (Gen 2:18; Eph 5:22-33) but they are both equal (Gen 1:26-27). Man was created to glorify God (Is 43:7). Adam and Eves sin caused the fall of man in both a spiritual and a physical sense, in which they lost fellowship with God the creator (Gen 2:17; 3:22-24; cf. Rom 5:12-19). Through Adam sin passed to all men and all men have sinned (Rom 5:12). All men are totally depraved (Rom 3:10-12).


Salvation

Mankind has no hope of salvation in and of itself, but by trusting in the work that the God-man Jesus Christ completed (Rom 3:23-25; 6:23). Salvation has three parts or phases the calling of the Holy Spirit, the regeneration of the called, and the conversion of the called. God calls everyone to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ (Mt 28:19-20). Man has the ability to resist or deny the calling of God (Is 65:12; Mt 23:37). The ones who do not deny the calling will receive salvation (John 6:44; Rom 8:30). Salvation is made through the gospel (2 Thess 2:14). After accepting the calling of God the sinner is regenerated (Eph 2:1; Rom 8:30). After this regeneration the sinner responds with repentant faith (Rom 1:7; Heb 3:1). This calling does not remove the responsibility of man to accept and respond in repentance of faith (John 3:15; Acts 16:14). Sanctification is the process or growing more and more like Christ as we live our daily lives (2 Cor 3:18). Once salvation occurs we now have tow natures that we are fighting against (Rom 7:14-25). Since sin no longer has complete control over the regenerated man, the believer can fight and overcome sin (1 Jn 1: 8, 10; Rom 6:14). All true believer persevere (John 8:31-32; 1 Cor 15:2).


Eternal Security

At the time of salvation the Holy Spirit secures our standing with God as redeemed (John 6:37). At the second advent of Christ the believer will be glorified (Rom 8:30; Phil 1:6; 1 Thess 5:23).

Satan 

God created Angels and there were none that were evil (Matt 25:31). Satan who at one time was a blameless anointed cherub (Ezek 28:15). A time came when Satan was filled with pride and rebelled against God (Ezek 28:14, 17). As a leader of the angels 1/3 of the angels followed Satan in his rebellion (1 John 3:8; cf. Matt 25:31). Satan and his angels will be bound during the 1 thousand years of the millennial reign (Rev 20:1-3; cf. Isa 24:21-22). After which he will be released for a time (Rev 20:7-9). And will end with his eternal placement in hell (Matt 25:41; Rev 20:10).

Future Life

All believers are destined to spend eternity with their creator to worship and serve God (1 Cor 13:12-13; Rev 22:3-4). The wicked (non believers) are judged after the millennial reign at the great white throne judgement and then the new heaven and the new earth are created (2 Pet 3:13; Rev 21:1). Believers will no longer be under the sin curse (1 Cor 15:35-54; Rev 21:3-4). And believers have houses prepared for them in heaven (John 14:1-6).

For unbelievers, after the millennial reign, they will be resurrected and judged and will be sentenced for eternity in torment (Luke 16:23-25; Rev 14:11; 20:10-15).

The Rapture

The Rapture will take place before the tribulation period (Dan 7:25; 12:7; 1 Thess 1:10; 5:9; Rom 5:9; Rev 3:10; Rev 12:6, 14) and is separate from the second coming of Christ (1 Thess 4:16). The judgement seat of Christ will take place after the rapture (2 Tim 4:8; Rev 22:12). And the marriage between Christ and His church will take place during the tribulation period (Rev 19:7). 

The Second Coming of Christ

The second coming of Christ will take place after the tribulation period and will usher in the millennial reign (Ezek 37:24-28; Rom 11:25-27; Rev. 19:11-20:6; Jer 31:31-34; Rev 20:4-7). The millennial reign is the establishment of the Davidic kingdom (Ezek 37:24-28; Rom 11:25-27; Rev. 19:11-20:6; Jer 31:31-34). During the millennium all Israel will be saved and restored (Rom 11:26; Rom 11:12; Rom 11:15; Rom 11:24). The Devil and his angels will be bound during the millennial reign (Rev 20:1-3; Isa 24:21-22). After the millennial reign the new heaven and earth are created (2 Pet 3:13; Rev 21:1). 


Church

The universal church consist of all believers in Christ past, present and future and Christ is the priest or head of the universal church (Eph 1:22-23; 1 Cor 12:13) from the founding of the church till the end of the church the universal church is expressed through many local churches throughout the earth (Acts 2; Eph 3:4-6; Acts 20:28; 1 Thess 4:16-17; 1 Cor 1:2; Rom 12:5). The head of the local church is the pastor which can also be referred to as elders, overseers and shepherds (1 Pet 5:1-2; Acts 20:17, 28).

The second office is the deacon which serves the pastor (1 Tim 3:8). The office of the deacon is governed by the congregation of the church for discipline (Matt 18:17; 2 Thess 3:6), designation of ministers (Acts 6:3; 2 Cor 8:19), unity (Rom 12:16; 1 Cor 1:10) and ordinances (1 Cor 11:2, 23-24).

There are two ordinances of the church. First is the water baptism by immersion (Mark 1:5, 9-10; John 3:23; Acts 8:38-39). Second is the Lords Supper which symbolizes the broken body and spilled blood of Jesus Christ (Luke 22:19-20). Baptism is the first step in obedience to the Lord after salvation, who’s beliefs are evident (2:41, 47; 1 Cor 1:2; 1 Cor 5:11). 

The Church has authority to discipline an unrepentant brother in order to keep a pure and upright church body (1 Tim 5:20). This is used for sin between believers (Mt 18:15-18; John 3:34), disorderliness (2 Thess 3:6), False doctrine (Gal 1:9, 1 Tim 1:19-20) and immorality (1 Cor 5:1-13).

Separation

Believers are to be a light unto the world and to build the kingdom of God (Mt 28:19-20). However we are supposed to be distinguishable, the unbeliever should see a difference in the way a believer lives and carries himself (1 Cor 9:19, 20-23; John 17:11, 13-17). We are to maintain a safe distance from the non-believers in order to keep our redemptive relationship from being compromised (2 Cor 6:14-7:1).

This separation should include separation from churches that teach false doctrines and non-believers alike (2 John 10-11; 2 Cor 6:14-7:1).