Doctrinal
Statement Of Faith
I. Doctrine of the Scriptures (Bibliology)
1. We believe that the Bible, sixty- six books in the Old and New Testaments, is without; error in its original writing; that its author is God, using Spirit-guided men being thereby verbally and plenarily inspired. It is, therefore, the sole authority for faith and practice and is not to be added to nor taken from, being a complete unit in itself. We hold that the Texus Receptus is the correct Greek manuscripts to be used, (N.T.). Thus believing this, we reject all versions of the Bible except those translated from the Texus Receptus. We believe God has preserved every Word of the original, in the majority of the Texus Receptus manuscripts only. (Psm. 119:140). Thus We believe that the Texus Receptus is our final authority (N.T.), and never any version, including the King James Version. Since we believe the T.R. is are final authority, we believe when using English, only a version from the T.R., should be used, like the King James Version.
A. The Old Testament- "For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man, but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost " (II Peter 1:21). Note: The Holy Spirit guided in the choice of words used by human authors. Thus the dictation theory is contrary to the Word of God.
B. The New Testament- "Howbeit, when he, the Spirit of truth, is come. He will guide you into all truth; for He shall not speak of himself, but whatsoever He shall hear, that shall He speak: and He will shew you things to come. (John 16:13)
C. Verbal-"For verily I say unto you. Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled" (Matthew 5:18).
D. Plenary and Sole Authority-"And
that from a child thou hast known the Holy Scriptures, which
are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which
is in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is given by inspiration of
God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction,
for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be
perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.
(II Timothy
3:15-17) see also (Matthew 4:4; John 10:35)
E. Process - We believe that the process
of inspiration has ceased. No person, apart from the authors
of the sixty-six books of the Bible has ever been or shall
ever be inspired by God to write Scripture.
(I Corinthians
13:9,10)
F. Inerrant - We believe the Bible is Inerrant in all matters including science, history, morality, prophecy and the quotation and interpretation of other Scripture portions. Any seeming error is either a product of faulty transcription or incomplete understanding on the part of the reader (II Samuel 7:28; Psalm 33:4; 146:6; Matthew 5:18; Romans 3:4; Hebrews 6:18; Job 32:8).
2. We believe the interpretation of the Bible is guided by the Holy Spirit through yielded believers. God directed one interpretation of the Bible, based upon the grammatical, historical, theological method (Isaiah 28:9-11; I Corinthians 2:10-13; II Timothy 2:15).
3. We believe that Progressive Revelation Theology is the true Biblical method of interpretation. God who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by His Son, whom He hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also He made the worlds; (Hebrews 1:1-2). We further believe, that the method of Salvation has always been the same in all ages. That is, salvation is by Grace through a Repentant Faith. (Isa 45:22; Eph 2:8-9; Jonah 2:9; I Tim 2:4; Heb 1:1-3; and Psm 27:1)
4. We believe the Sabbath is still the day of worship for New Testament Christians. The Sabbath was established in the garden (Genesis 2:1-3), kept by Jesus (Luke 4:16), made for all men, not just the Jews (Mark 2:27-28), part of the moral law of God (Exodus 20:8-11), reaffirmed by Paul in the book of Hebrews (4:4, 9-11) and will be the only day of worship after the second coming (Isaiah 66:23).
We accept different dispensations, but only some deal with mankind, Israel and the Church being distinct.
A. Eternity Past (God creates angels and plans for man) John 1:1-2.
B. Creation (God creates the earth and all things living) Genesis I. Adam and Eve, being the only people. God ever created.
C. Innocence (Man rules the earth and fails. Satan falls in heaven just before man does) Genesis 1:26- Genesis 3:6.
D. Conscience (Man destroys himself) Genesis 3:7- Genesis 8:17.
E. Human Government (Man fails again; self worship) Genesis 8:20- Genesis 11:9.
F.- Promise (Man sees hope in Christ) Genesis 11:10-Exodus 19:2.
G. Law (Man is condemned) Exodus 19:3- Luke 23 (the cross), see also Luke 16:16.
H. CHURCH AGE (Man finds hope in Christ) John 20:19-23 (the Church)- Revelation 4:1 (the Rapture). Divided in two parts- The age of The Spirit, followed by The Age of The Word of God. The age of the Word, started at the completion of the Bible (I Cor 13:10)
I. The Tribulation ( God judges lost mankind for seven years) Revelation 4:2- Revelation 19:21.
J. The Millennial Kingdom (God blesses His children) Revelation Chapter 20.
K. The New Heaven and Earth (God's eternal perfect state) Revelation 21-22. Note- Salvation has always been the same in all ages. It has always been by Grace through a Repentant Faith. Either FAITH in the coming Christ,(OT) the present Christ, (The Gospels) or the Returning Christ (The NT era and beyond). Eph. 2:8-9; Isa 45:22; Jonah 2:9; 1Tim 2:4; Heb 1:1-3; and Psm 27:1.
II. Doctrine of God (Theology Proper)
1. We believe that there is one, and only one, living and true God, an infinite, eternal, self-existing, perfect Spirit; He is a personal being, the Creator and upholder of the universe. In the unity of the Godhead there are three persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Each are equal in essence and in every Divine perfection, but have a distinct work. (Genesis 1:1).
A. Unity of the Godhead- "But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in Him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by Him." (I Cor.8:6)
B. Equality of the Godhead- " If ye had known Me, ye should have known My Father also: and from henceforth ye know Him, and have seen Him. ... But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name. He shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you." John 14:7,26. (Matthew 3:16-17 - the Trinity revealed).
C. Holiness of the Godhead- "Once have I sworn by My holiness that I will not lie unto David." Psalm 89:35. The fundamental attribute of God is holiness and all other attributes which are moral ( Love, righteousness, justice, mercy, and loving kindness ) rather than natural ( omniscience, omnipotence, omnipresence, eternity, and immutability ) are based upon His holiness (Isa. 6:3; I Peter 1:16).
D. God is One - "Hear, 0 Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord:(Deut. 6:4).
E. God is a Spirit - "God is a Spirit: and they that worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth." (John 4:24).
F. God is a person having intellect, emotions and will - "And God said unto Moses, "I AM That I AM;" And He said, "Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you." Exodus 3:14.
1) Intellect - Acts 15:8
2) Emotions -John 11:35.
3) Will - Psalm 115:3.
G. The only True and Living God - "But the Lord is the true God, he is the living God, and an everlasting King; at His wrath the earth shall tremble, and the nations shall not be able to abide His indignation." - Jer. 10:10.
H. Work of the Godhead -
1) The Father planned Salvation (Eph.1:3-6)
2) The Son provided - (Eph. 1:7-12)
3) The Holy Spirit applied - (Eph. 1:13-14).
2. We believe that God instantaneously created the heavens and the earth out of nothing in six literal, twenty-four hour days, and upholds all things by the word of His power.
We further reject the gap theory of creation. There was no death until Adam sinned Romans 5:12.
A. Created the universe - "In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth" Genesis 1:1.
B. Sustains the universe - "Who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high" Hebrews 1:3.
C. In six days - "Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work... For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: Wherefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it." Exodus 20:9,11.
III. Doctrine of Christ (Christology)
1. We believe in the absolute diety of the Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. He is divine as no other man can be, being very God, existing in all eternity, and is co-equal with the Father and the Holy Spirit. We believe that He was true man and never ceased to be God for one instant, and that His humiliation did not consist of laying aside His Diety; just privileges. We believe that Jesus Christ was begotten by the Holy Spirit and was born of the Virgin Mary and is true God and true man.
A. His pre-existence - "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God." (John 1:1-2)
B. His eternal being- "But unto the Son He saith. Thy throne, 0 God, is For Ever and Ever; a Scepter of Righteousness is the Scepter of Thy Kingdom." (Hebrews 1:8)
C. His virgin birth- "Behold, a Virgin shall be with Child, and bring forth a Son, and they shall call His Name Immanuel, which being interpreted is. God with us." (Matthew 1:23)
D. His humanity- We believe that Jesus Christ was truely man, as well as God. Thus, believing this, we believe that while on earth before glorification, Christ had the ability to sin, but not the possibility, (the foreknowledge of God) but He chose not to. We also believe Adam could have chose not to sin. We believe if Jesus didn't have the ability to sin, then the temptation of Jesus was a hoax, and we have no example. (Hebrews 4:15 and 1 John 4:3).
E. His theanthropic person- "Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God, But made Himself of no reputation, (emptying himself) and took upon Him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:" (Philippians 2:6-7, Hebrews 4:15). Thus laying aside His Privileges, but never His Diety.
F. His sinless life- "For He hath made Him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that I might be made the righteousness of God in Him." (II Corinthians 5:21)
G. His subordination in office- "I have glorified thee on the earth. I have finished the work which thou gavest Me to do. And now, 0 Father, glorify Thou Me with Thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was". (John 17:4-5, Luke 22:42).
2. We believe the death of Christ was a substitutionary sacrifice--the just for the unjust--taking upon Himself the sins of the whole world and thereby becoming the Savior of the lost by satisfying the righteous demands of God. He justifies all who personally receive Him, as Lord and Savior.
A. Substitutionary sacrifice- "And that He died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto Him who died for them, and rose again.(2 Cor. 5:15)
B. As sacrifice for all- "And He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for our's only, but also for the sins of the whole world." (I John 2:2).
3. We believe that the crucified body of our Lord Jesus Christ was resurrected from the grave; that He ascended into Heaven; that He is now high priest and intercessor in Heaven; and that he will imminently, bodily, and visibly return for all of the Saved, prior to the Tribulation period and Millennial period.
The bride being all of the saved from this Dispensation. We further believe that Jonah's death and resurrection is the Old Testament prefigure of Christ's death, burial and resurrection. The difference being Christ was resurrected to eternal life, whereas Jonah died again a natural death. (Eph. 3:15, Revelation 22;17).
A. His resurrection- "And that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures" (I Corinthians 15;4). Prefigure- "For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly, (dead; Jonah 1:17- Jonah 2:6) so shall the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth." (Matt. 12:40)- (Based on Hebrew time figuring).
B. His ascension- "Now when He had spoken these things, while they beheld. He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight." (Acts 1:9)
C. His ministry in Heaven- "Wherefore He is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him, seeing He ever liveth to make intercession for them. For such an High Priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens'* (Hebrews 7:25-26).
D. His return- "Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;" (Titus 2:13).
4. We believe in the doctrine of Incarnational Sonship (Luke 1:35; Psalm 2:7; Acts 13:33-34; John 1:14; Phil. 2:5-15; and Hebrews 1:5-6). Sonship refers to humanity, not Deity. A Son is subordinate to a Father, and Christ was never subordinate to the Father until the incarnation. Christ has always been co-equal with the Father and the Holy Spirit. Any Old Testament references to Christ as the Son of God are purely prophetic. Christ from eternity was always 100% God, but only became 100% man, at conception. Therefore, we reject the doctrine of the eternal Sonship of Christ.IV. Doctrine of the Holy Spirit (Neumatology)
1. We believe that the Holy Spirit is God, the third person of the trinity. He is not a force of influence, but possesses all the characteristics of personality. The Deity of the Holy Spirit is revealed through His names, attributes, and works.
A. His personality
1. Intellect- "For what man knoweth the things of a man save the spirit of the man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God." (I Cor. 2:11).
2. Emotions- "And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption." (Ephesians 4:30).
3. Will- "But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will. (I Cor. 12:11)
B. His Deity
1. Names- "And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the waters. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters." (Genesis 1:2)
2. Attributes- "Whither shall I go from Thy Spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence? (Psalm 139:7) "If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask Him?" (Luke 11:13)
3. Works- "That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit." (John 3:6)
2. We believe that the ministry of the Holy Spirit is to convict the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment, until the 70th week of Daniel, which is the Rapture, and to restrain evil.
A. Convicting the world- "And when He is come. He will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: Of sin, because they believe not on Me; Of righteousness, because I go to My Father and ye see Me no more; of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged." (John 16:8-11).
B. Restraining evil- "For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only He who now letteth will let, until He is taken out of the way." (II Thessalonians 2:7).
3. We believe that at the moment of conversion, the Holy Spirit regenerates (John 3:1-21; Titus 3:5), indwells (Acts 10:44-48), seals (Ephesians 1:13), and permanently indwells the believer (John 14:16-17). The Holy Spirit's ministry includes filling (Ephesians 5:18), teaching (John 16:12-15), and leading (Romans 8:4,14). Note- All fillings are external, and for power. This happens the more a person yields to the Lord Jesus, normally. In Acts 4:29-31, the saved prayed for power, and were filled. However, God has and does, for His purpose, sometimes bring upon a lost person the Holy Spirit. (Examples being, John the Baptist, in his mothers womb - Luke 1:15; Judas - Matthew 10:1 and 20; King Saul - 1 Samuel 16:14). However, no lost person has ever received the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. We further believe that the majority of Old Testament saints never had the Holy Spirit, and those who did get the Holy Spirit (OT writers and Leaders), did not get the Holy Spirit permanently (Psm 51:11). The indwelling Holy Spirit in all saints permanently, is clearly a New Testament promise (John 14:26; Eph 4:30).
A. The agent of regeneration- "Not by works of righteousness which I have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost" (Titus 3:5)
B. The indwelling of the believer- "What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, whom ye have of God, and ye are not your own?" (I Corinthians 6:19)
4. We believe that the Holy Spirit gives gifts unto the Church for the purpose of edifying (I Cor.14:26) we believe that the nine gifts of the Spirit found in I Cor. 12:8-10 were temporary to establish the gospel and accredit its witness, but that now most have ceased. The necessity for the gift of prophecy ceased at the completion of the Bible. The temporary gift of tongues was given for a sign to unbelieving Israel during the childhood of the Church, and both prophecy and tongues have ceased.
A. Gives gifts- "And He gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ." (Ephesians 4:11-12).
B. Some temporary gifts and extinction of tongues- "Charity never faileth, but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it will vanish away. For I know in part and I prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect is come, (the completed Bible) then that which is in part shall be done away." (I Cor. 13:8-10)
C. The purpose of tongues- "In the law it is written; With Men Of Other Tongues And Other Lips Will I Speak Unto This People; And Yet For All That Will They Not Hear Me, saith the Lord. Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to them who believe, but to them that believe not; but prophesying serveth not for them that believe not, but for them which believe." I Corinthians 14:21-22. Note- A gift that is no more!
V. Doctrine of Angels (Angelology)
1. We believe that angels, an innumerable company of beings created by God, were immortal, sinless, spiritual, and were possessed with personality. They are their own kind, and have never reproduced with humans. (Genesis 1:25)
A. Created- "Praise ye Him, all His angels; Praise ye Him, all His hosts. ... Let them praise the name of the Lord, for He commanded, and they were created." (Psalm 148:2,5)
B. Immortal - "Neither can they die any more: for they are equal unto the angels; and are the children of God, being the children of the resurrection. " (Luke 20:36)
C. Holy- "God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the saints, (holy ones), and to be had in reverence of all them that are around Him." (Psalm 89:7)
2. We believe that Lucifer, the originator of sin, was the highest ranking created being, until the sin of pride was found in him. He then led many other angels to follow him in his fall, some of whom became workers of increasing ungodliness on this earth, while others are reserved in chains of darkness awaiting judgment. The future of Satan is predicted in the book of Revelation: cast out of heaven (12:9); cast into the bottomless pit (20:2,3); cast into the lake of fire (20:10); tormented forever.
A. Sin of Satan- "I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the Most High." (Isaiah 14:14)
B. Present position of Satan- "In Whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them." (II Corinthians 4:4)
C. Christian's attitude toward Satan-"Be sober, be vilgilant; because your adversary the devil as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world." (I Peter 5:8-9)
3. We believe that demons are fallen angels (Matthew 8:28-31; Revelation 12:4). Demon possession is a reality for the lost only, for a demonic spirit cannot co-exist in the same body with the indwelling Holy Spirit (Mark 5: 1-20; I Corinthians 6:19, 20; II Corinthians 6: 14-16).
4. We believe that a great company of angels who did not fall are confirmed in holiness, being sent forth from God to minister to all believers.
A. Confirmed in holiness- "I charge thee before God,
and the Lord Jesus Christ, and the elect angels,
that thou observe these things without preferring one before another, doing nothing
by partiality."
I Timothy 5:21
B. Ministering to believers- "Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?" Hebrews 1:14
VI. Doctrine of Man (Anthropology)
1. We believe the creation of man was the direct act of God on the sixth day of creation and is not to be construed as theistic evolution or any other similar theory. We believe that Adam was the first man, that he was created by God from the dust of the ground, being fashioned in the image and likeness of God (Genesis 1:26-31). Eve, his wife, was the first woman created by God out of a rib taken from the side of Adam (Genesis 2:21,22).
2. We believe Adam was a free moral agent as yet untested in holiness, but capable of choosing between right and wrong (Genesis 2:16,17) and in Adam constituted the entire human race (Romans 5:12).
3. We believe Adam and Eve were influenced by Satan (Genesis 3 :1-24) and failed a mortal test (Genesis 2:16-17; I Timothy 2:14), thus committed the original sin of man (Romans 5:12). Eve through the deception of Satan sinned (I Timothy 2:14) and Adam, willfully and knowingly, chose to disobey God (Genesis 3:6-24)
4. We believe that as a result of the sin of Adam he lost his fellowship with God and became "dead in trespasses and sins." This death, because of the unity of the human race, has been passed upon all men since all men were in the loins of Adam actively participating in the first sin.
A. The physical and spiritual death of Adam- "But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shall surely die." Genesis 2:17
B. All men sinned in Adam - "Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned. Romans 5:12
"For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive". I Corinthians 15:22
5. Therefore, we believe that all men are born totally depraved in their entire being, totally unable to meet God's requirements (without Christ), as well as being guilty before a righteous and Holy God. There is good in man (Acts 10:2) but it isn't spiritual goodness (Romans 3:10) unless guided by God. We further believe that when man comes to Christ, he comes by an enlightened will. His depraved will being enlightened by God.
It is never a free will, because of a sin sick will. (John 12:32; Rom 1:19-20; Phil 2:13; Jer 17:9; Rom 3:10-18; Psm 5:9; Psm 10:2-11; Psm 14:1-4; Eph 4:18; and Rom 7:5).
A. Totally astray and depraved - "Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others." Ephesians 2:2-3
B. Total dependence upon Christ- "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God; Not of works, lest any man should boast." Ephesians 2:8-9. (Note - We believe whosoever will may come, John 3:16)
C. Guilty- "The soul that sinneth it shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son: the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him." Ezekiel 18:20
D. Soul of man created by physical union of man and woman-"Behold, I was shapen in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceived me." Psalm 51:5 We believe further, that at no time Angels commingled with people, but everything produces after its own kind. (Gen 1:25; Matt 22:30).
VII. Doctrine of Salvation (Soteriology)
1. We believe that because of His love. God provided a way of salvation for all men (John 3:16 & John 12:32-33). This salvation was made available through the shed blood of Jesus Christ, having died for the sin of the whole world (Jn 4:42 & 1 Tim. 4:10). We believe that if one truly repents of his sin, under conviction, and receives Christ as his Lord and personal Saviour, apart from any human merit, he is saved (Acts 3:19), and eternally secure, and can never lose his salvation (Romans 8:38-39). The sinner must admit he is a sinner, to be saved (Matthew 9:12-13), give his life to God, as his Lord and Master, to be saved (Romans 10:13), and do all, by the power of the Holy Spirit (1 Cor 12:3). He must be drawn by God to Salvation (John 12:32), realizing he cannot be saved without the drawing conviction of God, (Luke 13:24; Gen 6:3; and Deut 4:29). The lost sinner must be under conviction to be saved (Acts 9:5-6). The person will know that a change did take place, and his life has been changed. (Rom 8:16) Jesus stated that to be saved, a person must admit being a sinner while under conviction, surrender to His Lordship (true repentance) and have saving faith. This does not mean that he will fully understand everything at once. (Mark 8: 34-38).
A. Salvation through Christ- "But God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him." Romans 5:8-9. A person needs to repent (turn from sin to Christ) Luke 13:3 and receive Christ, (as Lord and Savior) to be saved (Romans 10:13).
B. Salvation offered free- "But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God." John 1:12-13. Thus we believe that an invitation ought to be given (if they are old enough) after most services. All can be saved now, if Conviction, there is no waiting period. (2 Cor. 6:2).
C. Salvation secure- "And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand." John 10:28; see also Ephesians 4:30 John 4:14.
2. We believe all who will be saved will choose to come to Christ to receive that salvation. We believe a person can reject the conviction of the Holy Spirit and remain lost, if they want to. It is simply that God enables lost mankind the ability to make the choose for Salvation. It is through the power of the Holy Spirit, that anyone ever does respond to God. (John 6:44; 63; & 65) There is no such thing as free will, for the will of man is born sinful (Psm 51:5).
A. The effectual working of salvation- "All that the Father giveth Me shall (will have - Greek, Future Perfect tense!) come to Me; and him that cometh to Me; I will in no wise cast out." John 6:37. God wants all to be saved (1 Tim 2:4). However, all the heathen world will go to hell without a new birth experience. ( Romans 1:17-22)
B. The ability and possibility to reject the Gospel "Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded; But ye have set at nought all my counsel, and would none of my reproof:" Proverbs 1:24-25.
3. The fact of Salvation of The Old Testament Saints- We believe that the Old Testament saints were saved by putting their faith and commitment in a coming Messiah, as their Lord and Saviour. This was the Lord and God, Jesus Christ. This salvation was different from New Testament Salvation, in that the Old Testament Saints were not Baptized with the Holy Spirit. Some Old Testament saints were however, filled for a while, with the Holy Spirit (Gen 15:6; Proverbs 11:30; Isa 59:1; Isa 45:22; Psm 1:6; Psm 2:12; Psm 9:14; Psm 13:5; Psm 18:2; Psm 51:11).
4. We believe that at the moment of salvation a sinner is regenerated by the Holy Spirit (John 3:5), declared righteous upon the merit of Christ's substitutionary death (Romans 3:24-26), redeemed by the blood of Christ (I Peter 1:18-19), and sanctified.
5. We believe when an unregenerate person exercises repentance and saving faith in Christ, that immediately he passes out of spiritual death into life, from the old creation into the new, from rejection before the Father, into adoption through Christ, producing union with God, from lack of any spiritual blessing, into possession of all spiritual blessings, and completeness in Jesus Christ (John 5:24; II Corinthians 5:17; Ephesians 1:3,6; Titus 3:5).
6. We believe that those who reject the gospel in this age, have no chance to be saved once the believers rapture has taken place.(Gen 6:3, II Thess. 1:6-12). We further believe that all who get saved after the believers Rapture will be from all nations, composed of people, who have not rejected the gospel. Revelation 7:9-10
7. We believe in the past, present, and future santification of every saved believer; the past by the act through the blood of Christ; the present by the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit; and the future by the glorification of the believer when he goes to be with the Lord Jesus Christ (John 17:17; Hebrews 10:10,14; II Corinthians 3:18; Philippians 3:21).
8. Explanation of some Soteriological terms;
A. Salvation -- denotes deliverance, and as studying this theological term systematically, salvation denotes the whole process by which man is delivered from all that would prevent his attaining to the highest good that God has prepared for him, it denotes the actual enjoyment of that good. Salvation is prepared by Christ and we receive it by repentance and by grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8-9; Luke 13:3; Romans 10:13).
B. Regeneration -- is an instantaneous work of God (John 5:24). It is also a work of the Holy Spirit and the Word of God; it is impartation of eternal life to a sinner when he yields to Christ as Lord and his personal Savior (John 3:3-7; 2 Cor. 5:17; Ezek 36:26).
C. Justification - is the act of God in declaring the saved believer righteous on the basis of Christ's righteousness and what He did for us (Romans 8:33-34).
D. Redemption -- is the payment of the price of sin by the sacrifice of Christ. He redeemed us by His suffering and death (Galations 3:13; I Peter 1:18-19). Note - A literal Blood Sacrifice was necessary (Heb. 9:11-23).
E. Faith -- is the belief and dependence upon Christ based on the truth written in God's Word for salvation (Romans 10:14-17). "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." Hebrews 11:1.
F. Repentance -- is a sincere and thorough changing of the mind (intellect), heart (emotions), and will regarding sin, and it is accompanied by a abandonment of sin and a commitment to Christ. It is reversing one's outlook and purpose in life. When a person repents, the mind says, "I accept the Lord Jesus Christ", the heart says, "I love Christ", and the will says, "I will follow the Lord Jesus Christ". A changed life and attitude is evidence of true repentance. (Acts 3:19; 17:30; Luke 13:5;).
G. Grace -- is the unmerited gift of God of our salvation. Grace means everything for nothing. Grace came by Jesus Christ (John 1:17) and it is by a loving grace, that we are saved (Ephesians 2:8-9; Colossians 1:6).