You Asked For It (Message 1)

The Reason for this Topic —

More than a DOZEN questions about what we really BELIEVE as a church were submitted.

Our church has 7 POINTS of doctrine, developed by a conference over 200 years ago (1815). They considered these to be ESSENTIALS (non-negotiables). Over the years, these have remained UNCHANGED.

If your specific theological question is not COVERED in these seven statements, then it is probably an area considered to be DEBATABLE or negotiable, and therefore an area where there is room for BOTH sides of the debate.

The reason for only SEVEN points of “non-negotiables” is to provide ROOM for those with varying views on OTHER matters of church doctrine. (Freedom)

I. The Triune God

Over the years people have talked about the “TRINITY” but the “TRI-UNITY” is probably a better TERM.

God is a PLURAL noun and has been so from the FIRST verse of the Bible.
Gen. 1:1   In the beginning God (אֱלֹהִים ‘elohiym) created the heavens and the earth.

Our God is three “PERSONS” but is one in “ESSENCE.”
Deut. 6:4 Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one.
Matt. 3:16 As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. 17 And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”
2Cor. 13:14 May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

Why would you believe this?
a. The Bible TEACHES this doctrine. 
b. Christians everywhere have ALWAYS believed it. 
c. No other explanation makes SENSE. 

II. Jesus Christ, The Son

We believe that the WORK of the second person of the Tri-unity (Jesus) is essential. He is fully GOD and MAN.

We also believe that there are SEVEN ASPECTS of the work of Jesus that should be understood:
a. His VIRGIN BIRTH
b. His PERFECT Life
c. His VICARIOUS Death (sacrificial)
d. His RESURRECTION
e. His ASCENSION
f. His INTERCEDING from His Rightful PLACE
g. His FUTURE RETURN

III. The Holy Spirit

We believe that the Holy Spirit, the THIRD person of the Tri-unity, came to the church to INDWELL believers on the Day of Pentecost. (Acts 2)

We believe that ALL believers receive ALL of the Holy Spirit when they turn to Christ in FAITH.

His role is to COMFORT and GUIDE.
John 14:16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate (Comforter) to help you and be with you forever—
John 16:13 when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth.

IV. The Church

We believe that the church was established by CHRIST to be a place for Christians to GROW, fellowship and WORSHIP together, and that all Christians should be a PART of a church!
Matt. 16:18 And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.

V. The Holy Bible and Salvation

We believe that the Scriptures, as they were given, are INERRANT and provide the COMPLETE PLAN of redemption. The Bible is God’s Word and our only perfect TRUTH.
2Tim 3:16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

VI. The Salvation Message

We believe that there is only ONE WAY that anyone can be saved from SIN and have eternal LIFE, and that way is Jesus Christ.
John 14:6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
John 3:16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

VII. The Christian Ordinances

We believe that there are special ways to remember and celebrate aspects of our faith, and we call them ORDINANCES. We do NOT hold to SACRAMENTS.

A sacrament PROVIDES grace.

An ordinance REMEMBERS grace.
— Holy Communion —
— Baptism —

The Confession of Faith

The Triune God— In the name of God, we declare and confess before men that we believe in the only true God, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost; that these three are one–the Father in the Son, the Son in the Father, and the Holy Ghost equal in essence or being with both; that this triune God created the heavens and the earth and all that in them is, visible as well as invisible, and furthermore sustains, governs, protects, and supports the same.

Jesus Christ, the Son— We believe in Jesus Christ; that He is very God and man; that He became incarnate by the power of the Holy Ghost in the Virgin Mary and was born of her; that He is the Savior and Mediator of the whole human race, if they with full faith in Him accept the grace proffered in Jesus; that this Jesus suffered and died on the cross for us, was buried, arose again on the third day, ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God to intercede for us; and that He shall come again at the last day to judge the quick and the dead.

The Holy Spirit, Comforter and Guide — We believe in the Holy Ghost; that He is equal in being with the Father and the Son, and that He comforts the faithful, and guides them into all truth.

The Church — We believe in a holy Christian church, the communion of saints, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting.

The Holy Bible and Salvation — We believe that the Holy Bible, Old and New Testaments, is the Word of God; that it contains the only true way to our salvation; that every true Christian is bound to acknowledge and receive it with the influence of the Spirit of God as the only rule and guide; and that without faith in Jesus Christ, true repentance, forgiveness of sins, and following after Christ, no one can be a true Christian.

The Salvation Message — We also believe that what is contained in the Holy Scriptures, to wit: the fall in Adam and redemption through Jesus Christ, shall be preached throughout the world.

The Christian Ordinances — We believe that the ordinances, viz. baptism and the remembrance of the sufferings and death of our Lord Jesus Christ, are to be in use and practiced by all Christian societies; and that it is incumbent on all the children of God particularly to practice them; but the manner in which ought always to be left to the judgment and understanding of every individual. Also, the example of washing feet is left to the judgment of every one to practice or not; but it is not becoming of any of our preachers or members to traduce any of their brethren whose judgment and understanding in these respects is different from their own, either in public or in private. Whosoever shall make himself guilty in this respect shall be considered a traducer of his brethren, and shall be answerable for the same.