Caretaker
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Christian Doctrine
A. The Scriptures
We believe that the Scriptures, both Old and New Testaments, are the
inspired Word of God and are therefore without error in the original writings.
We further believe that this inspiration is not in different degrees, but extends
equally and fully to all parts of the Bible: historical, poetical, doctrinal and
prophetical. We, therefore, believe in the absolute authority of the Bible in all
matters of faith and practice. John 10:35; II Timothy 3:16, 17; II Peter 1:21.
B. The True God
We believe in one living and true God who is the Creator of heaven and earth;
who is eternal, almighty, unchangeable, infinitely powerful, wise, just and
holy.
We believe that the one God eternally exists in three Persons: the Father, the
Son, and the Holy Spirit; and that these three are one God, co-equal and
co-eternal, having precisely the same nature and attributes, and worthy of
precisely the same worship, confidence, and obedience. Matthew 3:16, 17;
Matthew 28:19, 20; Mark 12:29; John 1:14; Acts 5:3, 4; II Corinthians 13:14.
C. God the Father
We believe in God the Father, Creator and Sustainer of all things, perfect in
holiness, wisdom, power and love. We believe that He concerns Himself
mercifully in the affairs of men; that He hears and answers prayer; that He
sent His Son into the world; that He saves from sin and death all who come
to Him through His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. Genesis 1:1; Psalms 7:9;
Matthew 5:48; John 3:16; Acts 13:17-25; Acts 14:15-17; Acts 17:24-28.
D. The Person and Work of Jesus Christ
We believe in the deity of Jesus Christ, that He was conceived of the Holy
Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, lived a sinless life, and is fully God and fully
Man. We believe that our redemption has been accomplished solely by the
blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, who was made to be sin, and made a curse for
us, dying in our place that we might be forgiven. We believe that He died not
only for our sins, but also for the sins of the entire world. We believe that He
was raised from the dead in bodily form and that He ascended into heaven,
where He sits at the right hand of God the Father interceding for us.
We believe in the personal, bodily, imminent and pre-millennial return of our
Lord Jesus Christ for His Church and His subsequent millennial reign over
restored Israel and the kingdoms of the world. Luke 1:30-35; 2:7; John 1:1-4;
Romans 9-11; Philippians 2:5-11; Colossians 1:13-19; Hebrews 1:1-3; I Peter
3:18; I Corinthians 15:3-7; Hebrews 7:25; Acts 1:11, 15:14-17; I
Thessalonians 4:13-18; I John 2:2.
E. The Holy Spirit
We believe that the Holy Spirit is not merely an influence, but a divine Person;
that He is the source and power of all acceptable worship and service and is
our abiding Counselor and Helper. We believe that the baptism of the Holy
Spirit occurs at the moment of conversion and is that act whereby believers
are united with Christ as part of His body; that the Holy Spirit permanently
indwells all believers in Christ; that He will never depart from the Church nor
from the weakest believer; that by His indwelling the believer is enabled to
live a godly life. John 14:16,17; 16:13-15; Acts 1:8; 5:3,4; Romans 8:9; I
Corinthians 6:19; 12:13; Galatians 5:22,23.
F. The Fall of Man
We believe that man, although created as an innocent being in the image of
God, fell from his high and holy estate through Adam's act of disobedience. As
a result, sin entered the human race, leaving mankind subject to the wrath of
God, spiritually dead, inherently corrupt, and incapable of pleasing God apart
from a work of divine grace. Thus all men are hopelessly lost apart from the
salvation which is in the Lord Jesus Christ. Genesis 1:27; 3:6-24; Romans
5:12, 19; Ephesians 2:13; Romans 3:8-18.
G. The Way of Salvation
We believe that, due to universal death through sin, no one can enter the
kingdom of God unless born again; that salvation is only by grace through
faith in the shed blood of Jesus Christ, and that all who receive the Lord
Jesus Christ through faith are declared righteous by God and thereby become
children of God.
We believe the Scriptures teach that regeneration, or the new birth, is that
act of God by which the Holy Spirit imparts a new nature and a new spiritual
life, not before possessed, and the person becomes a new creation in Christ
Jesus. The mind is given a holy disposition and a new desire to serve God, the
dominion of sin broken, and the heart transformed from a love of sin and self
to a love of holiness and God.
As the believer walks in the power of the Holy Spirit, these new realities
become evident in a life characterized by holiness, compassion and zeal.
Ephesians 2:1-10; John 14:6; Acts 4:12; Hebrews 9:22; John 3:1-18; II
Corinthians 5:17; I Peter 1:18, 19.
H. The Church
We believe the true Church of Jesus Christ had its historical beginning at
Pentecost, that it is composed of all true believers in Jesus Christ, is the body
and bride of our Lord, and is distinct from Israel.
We believe that since there is spiritual unity of all believers in Jesus Christ, it
is our duty to love one another fervently, endeavoring at all times to keep the
unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
We believe that the purpose of the church in the world is to glorify God
through worship, prayer, teaching of the Word, observance of the ordinances,
fellowship, the exercise of our gifts and talents, and the proclamation of the
gospel both in our community and throughout the world. Acts 2:1, 41-47;
Romans 12:5; I Corinthians 12:12, 13; I Corinthians 10:32; Ephesians 1:22,
23; 4:3-6; Colossians 1:18; Colossians 3:14-15.
I. The Ordinances
We believe the ordinances of the Church are two in number and constitute a
scriptural means of public testimony for the church in this age. One is that of
believer’s baptism in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit; and the
other is the Lord’s Supper. Matthew 26:27-30; I Corinthians 11:23-30;
Matthew 28:19; Acts 16:30-33.
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A Servant of Christ,
Drew
1 Tim. 3:
16: And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh..
Posts: 3978 | From: Council Grove, KS USA | Registered: Jun 2002
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