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Doctrine


The doctrines in the Statement of Beliefs on the Get Bugged page are the only ones of concern regarding this ministry.

The only doctrine that I refer to during a presentation is that Jesus is God, He died for our sins, and everyone will face Him eventually.

Following is a more detailed description of what I believe.

For the record, if I ever find a “perfect” church and start attending, it will no longer be perfect.

Doctrines are divided into three classes: PRIMARY, PERTINENT, and PERIPHERAL. The primary doctrines are “concrete”. They form the basis of being a true Christian. Without these doctrines there can be no Christian fellowship. PERTINENT doctrines are “concerns” and the more of these agreed upon, the sweeter will be the fellowship. “Convictions” are PERIPHERAL doctrines that fall into the category of Romans 14:1, 22, 22.

The PRIMARY doctrines that are necessary to be Christians are:

1. Inspiration, preservation, and authority of the Bible.

2. Deity, virgin birth, and atoning death of Jesus Christ.

3. Necessity of the New Birth by Grace only through Jesus Christ.

4. Bodily resurrection and personal return of Jesus Christ.

5. Obligation to witness to others about the need to be saved.

These PRIMARY doctrines are elaborated upon in the next section. Some (such as “pre-trib rapture”) fall into the PERTINENT category. The last section has a list of PERTINENT and PERIPHERAL doctrines.

Bible

The Holy Bible is verbally inspired and the product of Spirit controlled men, and therefore has truth without any error. The Bible is the center of Christian union. The Bible is infallible, completely authoritative on all matters, and is the supreme standard to guide all human conduct. The Bible consists of the thirty-nine canonical books of the Old Testament and the twenty-seven canonical books of the New Testament. God has preserved His Word (Psalms 12:6-7), therefore God's preserved Word must still be available and, since God is not the author of confusion. He has preserved his Word in the King James Version. 11 Timothy 3:16-17, 11 Peter 1: 19-21

God

There is one, and only one, living and true God, infinite, intelligent Spirit, Maker and Supreme Ruler of heaven and earth; inexpressibly glorious in holiness and worthy of all possible honor, confidence, and love. In the unity of the Godhead there are three persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost equal in every divine perfection, and executing distinct but harmonious offices in the great work of redemption. Exodus 20:2-3, 1 Corinthians 8:6, Revelation 4:11, 1 John 5.7

Jesus Christ

Jesus Christ is the incarnation of God as His only begotten Son. He was begotten of the Holy Ghost in a miraculous manner; born of a virgin, as no other man was ever born or can be born of woman, and He is both the Son of God and God the Son, and was truly divine and truly human, yet without sin.

Jesus Christ provided the atoning sacrifice on the cross: dying in our place, paying the price of sin and defeating evil, so reconciling us with God.

Jesus Christ was bodily resurrected, the firstfruit of our resurrection; he ascended to the Father, and is the only Saviour of the world.

There will be a personal and visible return of Jesus Christ to fulfil the purposes of God, who will raise all people to judgment, bring eternal life to the redeemed and eternal condemnation to the lost, and establish a new heaven and new earth. Genesis 3:15, Isaiah 7:14, Matthew 1:18-25, Luke 1:35, John 1:14

Holy Spirit

The Holy spirit is a divine person, equal with God the Father and God the Son and of the same nature. He was active in the creation. In His relation to the unbelieving world He restrains Satan until God's purpose is fulfilled. He convicts of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment and He bears witness to the truth of the Gospel in preaching and testimony. He is the agent in the New Birth. He seals, baptizes, endues, guides, teaches, witnesses, sanctifies, and helps the believer. John 14:16-17, Luke 1:35, John 3:5-6, Acts 11:16

Satan

Satan is the unholy god of this age, and the author of all the powers of darkness, and is destined to the judgment of an eternal justice in the Lake of Fire. Satan and his angels, rebelled against God after the creation and are attempting to thwart His divine purposes in creation. Matthew 4:1-3, II Corinthians 4:4, Revelation 20:10

Creation

All things in the universe were created and made by God in the six literal 24-hour days of the Creation Week described in Genesis 1:1-2:3, and confirmed in Exodus 20:8-11. The creation record is factual and historical; thus all theories of origins or development which involve evolution in any form are false.

All things which now exist are sustained and ordered by God's providential care.

The first human beings, Adam and Eve, were specially created by God, and all other men and women are their descendants. In Adam, mankind was instructed to exercise "dominion" over all other created organisms, and over the earth.

The biblical record of primeval earth history in Genesis 1-11 is fully historical including the creation and Fall of man, the Curse on the Creation and its subjection to the bondage of decay, the promised Redeemer, the worldwide cataclysmic deluge in the days of Noah, and the origin of nations and languages at the tower of Babel.

The eventual accomplishment of God's eternal purposes in creation, with the removal of His curse and the restoration of all things to divine perfection, will take place at the personal bodily return to Earth of Jesus Christ to judge and purge sin and to establish His eternal kingdom.

The final restoration of creation's perfection is yet future, but individuals can immediately be restored to fellowship with their Creator, on the basis of His redemptive work on their behalf, receiving forgiveness and eternal life solely through personal trust in the Lord Jesus Christ, accepting Him not only as estranged Creator but also as reconciling Redeemer and coming King.

Genesis 1 & 2, John 1:3, Colossians 1:16-17,

Sin

Man was created in innocence under the law of his Maker, but by voluntary transgression fell from his sinless and happy state in consequence of which all mankind are now sinners, not only by constraint, but of choice; and therefore under just condemnation without defense or excuse.

When Adam and Eve yielded to temptation the entrance of sin brought God's curse on that dominion and on mankind, culminating in death and separation from God as the natural and proper consequence.

The alienation of man from God because of sin can only be remedied by God Himself, who became man in the person of the Lord Jesus Christ, through miraculous conception and virgin birth. In Christ we are indissolubly perfect sinless humanity, so that His substitutionary death is the only necessary and sufficient price of man's redemption. The redemption was complete is assured by His bodily resurrection from the dead and ascension into heaven. Christ is thus the focal point of history, assuring the consummation of God's purposes.

Those who reject Him and thereby continue in their state of rebellion and impenitence and unbelief are in His sight wicked, and under the curse and must ultimately be consigned to the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels. Genesis 3:1-6,24, Romans 1:18,32, Romans 3:10-19, Romans 5:19

Salvation

Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ is the only condition of salvation.

Salvation of sinners is wholly of grace, through the mediatorial offices of the Son of God, who by the appointment of the Father, freely took upon Him our nature, yet without sin, honored the divine law by His personal obedience, and by His death made a full atonement for our sins. His atonement consisted not in setting us an example by His death as a martyr, but was a voluntary substitution of Himself in the sinner's place, the just dying for the unjust; Christ, the Lord, bearing our sins in His own body on the tree and having risen from the dead, He is in every way qualified to be a suitable and all-sufficient Savior. God did not predestine some to be saved and some to be lost.

In order to be saved, sinners must be born again. The new birth is a new creation in Christ Jesus and it is instantaneous and not a process. The one dead in trespasses and in sins is made a partaker of the divine nature and receives eternal life, the free gift of God. This new creation is brought about in a miraculous manner above our comprehension, solely by the power of the Holy Spirit in connection with divine truth, so as to secure our voluntary obedience to the gospel. Its proper evidence appears in the holy fruits of repentance and faith in newness of life. Isaiah 53:4.7, Matthew 18:11, John 3:3, 6-8,16, Acts 15:11; 16:30-33, Romans 3:24-25, 6:23, I Corinthians 15:3, II Corinthians 5:17, 21, II Corinthians 5:19, Ephesians 2:8, Philippians 2:7, Colossians 2:13, II Peter 1:4, Hebrews 2:14, I John 4:10, 5:1

Justification

The blessing which Christ secures those who believe in Him is justification.

Justification is solely by the grace of God through faith in Christ and includes the pardon of sin, and the gift of eternal life on principles of righteousness. Justification is bestowed not in consideration of any works of righteousness which we have done; but solely through faith in the Redeemer's blood, His righteousness is imputed to us. Acts 13:39, Zechariah 13:1, Romans 5:9, Isaiah 53:11, Romans 8: 1, Romans 5:1,

There is a radical and essential difference between the righteous and the wicked and only those born again through faith are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and sanctified by the Spirit of our God, are truly righteous in His esteem.

Malachi 3:18, 1 John 5:19, Proverbs 14:32, Genesis 18:23, Romans 7:6, Luke 6:25, Romans 6: 17-18, Romans 6:23, Matthew 25:34-41, John 8:21

Security of the Saints

All who are truly born again are kept by God the Father for Jesus Christ. Philippians 1:6, John 10:28-29, Romans 8:35-39, Philippians 1:6, II Timothy 4:18, Jude 1:1, 24 (For a detailed defense see http://www.soulwinning.info/books/dave_stewart/eternal_security/toc.htm.)

Resurrection

(a) There will be a Pre-Tribulation Rapture. Revelation 3: 10, Revelation 4:1
(b) There will be a bodily Resurrection of the Righteous Dead. I Thessalonians 4:13-18, 1 Corinthians 15:42-44, 1 Corinthians 15:52; Matthew 28:6-7, John 20:27, Mark 16:6, Luke 24:39, 1 Corinthians 15:4, Luke 24:2-6
(c) There will be a Second Coming of Christ. John 14:3, Acts 1:11, I Thessalonians 4:16, James 5:8, Hebrews 9:28
(d) There will be a Millennial Reign of Christ. I Corinthians 15:25, Isaiah 11:4-5, Revelation 14:14 Isaiah 32:1, Psalm 72:8, Revelation 20:6

The Church

The Church is the body of Christ both local and universal. A local church is a congregation of baptized believers, observing the ordinances of Christ; governed by His laws; and exercising the gifts, rights, and privileges invested in them by His Word. Its officers are male elders and deacons, whose qualifications, claims, and duties are clearly defined in the Scriptures.

Baptism

Baptism is the immersion in water of a believer (who is old enough to have made a profession of being born again) to show forth in a solemn and beautiful emblem our faith in the crucified, buried, and risen Savior, with its effect in our death to sin and resurrection to a new life. Water is not the source of salvation.

The Lord’s Supper

The Lord's Supper is the commemoration by born again believers of Christ’s death until He comes, and should be preceded always by solemn self-examination. Matthew 3:16, John 3:23, Acts 8:36-39, Romans 6:3.5, 1 Corinthians 11:23, Colossians 2:12

The Great Commission

The mission of the church is the faithful witnessing of Christ to all men as we have opportunity.

The ministry of God the Holy Spirit, who leads us to repentance, unites us with Christ through new birth, empowers our discipleship and enables our witness.

Each believer should participate in the "ministry of reconciliation," by seeking both to bring individuals back to God in Christ and to "subdue the earth" for God's glory (the Edenic-Noahic Commission).

It is Scriptural for local churches to cooperate with each other in contending for the faith and for the furtherance of the Gospel

Acts 2:41-42, 15:13-18, 20:17-18, I Corinthians 11:2, Ephesians 1:22-23, 4:11, Colossians 1:18, Ephesians 5:23-33, II Timothy 3:17

PERTINENT Doctrines
There are scripture references that apply to each category, but I have not listed them. (Some of these, such as Soul Sleep, may fall under Peripheral Doctrines.)

Abortion
Abortion is murder of a baby.

Church Government
The church should be led by a plurality of male elders and deacons.

Divorce
Marriage is intended to be until the death of a spouse. There are limited scriptural allowances for divorce. Divorced men should not hold the position of elder.

Fasting
Even one meal a week, if done with an attitude toward growing closer to God, is good. Sometimes fasting is needed to accompany prayer.

Female Leaders
Women are very important to the church and are equal to (yet unique) to men; however God has established for a plurality of male leadership in the church. Women should not be pastors nor teach men. Women teaching other women or children should not usurpt the leadership of the elders, husbands or fathers.

Holy Living
Christians should be separate from the world. It is obvious that Christians should not be whoremongers and partake of other obviously sinful activities. Other activities, such as dancing (depending on the type) fall into Peripheral Doctrines.

Homosexuality
The Bible calls it sodomy and clearly calls it sin. Marriage is only for one man and one woman.

Miracles/Healing
God can still intervene in His creation, but He does not make everything perfect for us in this life.

Race
There is only one race—the human race. See “Origin of the Races”.

Sabbath Day
The ideal day for Christians to set aside as a day of rest and worship is the first day of the week--Sunday. However, the God established principal of a rest every seventh day is what matters.

Sanctification
Sanctification is as an inward spiritual process of God bringing holiness and change in the life of a Christian by means of the Holy Spirit.

Soul Sleep
When one dies, the soul goes immediately to be with Jesus or to a place of torment to await the final judgment. Those who believe in “soul sleep” can be Christians and are in for a pleasant surprise when they die.

Tithing/Giving
Ten percent is a goal. Some may give more (or less), but the attitude of the heart (not the amount) is most important.

Tongues
I Cor. 14 (particularly verses 27-28) cover this. Way too much emphasis has been placed on this subject in modern times.

PERIPHERAL Doctrines

Alcohol
It is best to totally abstain.

Amusements
In the old days this was card playing and carnival attendance. There is cause for concern that almost anything can potentially cause spiritual “sickness”.
See “Dance” and “Gambling”.

Civil Government
The three institutions established by the Creator for the implementation of His purposes in this world (home, civil government, church) should be honored and supported as such.

Civil government is of divine appointment, for the interest and good order of human society; and civil officials are to be prayed for, respected, and obeyed; except in things opposed to the will of our Lord Jesus Christ, who is the only Lord of the conscience. Exodus 18:21-22, II Samuel 23:3, Daniel 3:17-18, Matthew 22:21, Acts 4:19-20, Acts 5:20, 23:5, Roman 13:7

Dance (There is a biblical dance of worship.)
Most dancing is sensual and should not be participated in. Some forms (such as square dancing) are probably harmless.

Diet and Exercise
The body is the temple of the Holy Spirit and should be cared for.

Dress
Some principles are:

(1) Maintain the male-female distinction (Deuteronomy 22:5 ). In light of the similarity of men's and women's clothing in Biblical times and the fact that pants were not worn by either sex at that time, it cannot be justified that women are prohibited from wearing pants.

(2) Dress modestly and in good taste (1 Timothy 2:9-10. 1 Peter 3:2-5). Consider the effect our clothing has on our influence. Adorning our bodies with colorful cosmetics, glittering jewelry, and luxurious clothes reveals inner pride and vanity, which are destructive to ourselves and to others. Consider: a man is responsible to guard his mind from impurity and woman is responsible to help prevent the lustful stare.

Education of Children
Christian parents are commanded to place their children under godly and Christian teaching, not neo-pagan or humanistic instruction. Whether we acknowledge it or not, only two choices remain-- obedience or disobedience to God’s commands. Government schools are no place for Christian children.

Foot Washing
This is not on the level of the Lord’s Supper, but can be a spiritually beneficial activity.

Gambling
Where gambling occurs there will be many other vices nearby. “For the love of money is the root of all evil.”

Holidays
It is wrong to allow Santa or the Easter Bunny to be more important than Jesus. Halloween is more satanic than anything.

Images
No one has ever seen Jesus and “pictures” of someone’s imagination of what he looked like do not enhance worship of Him.

Lodges
It is hard to imagine how a person dedicated to Christ can have time to participate in such memberships. No Christian should be tied to the Masonic Lodge. See http://www.ephesians5-11.org/impact.htm.

Military/Weapons
Self-defense and protection of one’s family are biblical.

Music
It’s best to listen only to Gospel music of some type. If the music overrides the message it is wrong.

Politics
Christians should do their best to see that God’s standards are adhered to by civil government. A vote for a candidate that endorses any compromise over abortion (for any reason) or compromise of marriage between one man and one woman is sin.

Praying for Salvation
Salvation is a free choice. It makes no sense that a “praying mother” can cause God to force a child to get saved.

Pre-born Babies
Babies in the womb are human. (Psalm 139:13-16, Isaiah 44:24a, Jeremiah 1:5a, Luke 1:41a, 44.)  They have souls.  (James 2:26)  If they die before birth God will be fair and consistent.   The only way to heaven is to believe on Jesus Christ.  (Romans 10:9-10)  It is possible that they will be given a chance to decide during the Millennial Reign of Christ .

Reverend
No man should have this title. Only God is to be looked upon with reverence.

Tobacco
As an old time preacher said, “Cigarettes won’t send you to hell, but they will make you smell like you have been there.

Yoga (and Astrology)
Strictly prohibited even if it is called “Christian”.

THEY WILL KNOW WE ARE CHRISTIANS BY OUR LOVE.
By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.
(John 13:35)
(This includes folks of all skin shades.)

In the essential beliefs we have unity. "There is one Body and one Spirit… one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all…" (Eph. 4:4-6).

In the non-essential beliefs we have diversity. "Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations.… So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God. (Rom. 14:1, 22).

In all our beliefs we show charity. “And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.” (I Cor. 13:2).

But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. Hebrews 3:13