Senior Statement of Faith Eugene Farley Douglass Spring 1989 M. Div., Bethel Theological Seminary West Campus, San Diego, CA Integrating Motif My statement of faith will use as the integrating motif "The Grace of God". I chose this motif because it is the grace of God which has saved me, and the grace of God which has been forming my doctrine and transforming my mind. The grace of God is vital for all that I believe, because only with that grace am I capable of believing it. That may sound silly or trite, but it is very important for me. For without the grace of God, I would not be finishing seminary, but in jail, in a mental hospital or dead. Who knows how bad things would have gotten, if I was able to resist the call of God in my life on March 11, 1973. The grace of God has been revealed to man, in God's creation (general revelation), and in His Word (contained in the Old and New Testaments, this is special revelation). By God's grace all God's elect (The Church) are saved. And by His grace we can live our new life with Him. It is God's grace that enables me to believe and say for myself "I have been crucified with Christ, it is no longer I who live but Christ who lives in me, and the life which I now live, I live in the faith of the son of God, who loved me and gave His Life for me". (Galatians 2:20) a Statement of Faith Outline Pages God's Grace Revealed - The Revelation of God to Man 1 1. Special Revelation a. The Bible b. The Nature of God and the Trinity 2 1. The Father 3 2. The Son 3. The Holy Spirit c. God's Decree 2. General Revelation 4 3. God's provision for Man 5 a. Divine Providence b. Fall of Man c. God's Covenant 6 God's Graceful Provision - Christ and Salvation 8 4. Christ the Mediator 5. Free Will 9 6. Salvation, Sanctification and Glorification a. Effectual Calling b. Justification 10 c. Adoption 11 d. Sanctification e. Saving Faith 12 f. Repentance g. Good Works 13 h. Perseverance of the Saints c Pages i. Assurance 14 j. The Gospel and the Extent of Grace Thereof 15 The Grace of God in His Church and His Return 16 7. Christian Liberty 8. Christian Marriage 9. The Nature of the Church 17 a. What is the Church? b. Church Government 18 c. Communion of Saints 20 10. The Ordinances 21 a. Baptism b. The Lord's Supper 22 11. The State of Man after death/resurrection 23 12. The Second Coming, Tribulation/Millennium 13. The Last Judgment 25 14. The New Heavens and New Earth 26 Bibliography 27 c God's Grace Revealed to Man 1. Special Revelation a. The Bible I believe the Holy Bible to be the only sufficient, certain and infallible rule of all saving faith. I believe the Holy Bible was inerrant in the original autographs (originally written in Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek), and so is faithful regarding the historical record, and any other things it presents as factual. I believe in things scientific it is accurate and without error, but it is not a scientific textbook with much detail, but only what is important for the readers to know. The Bible contains the totality of what we are to believe concerning God, and gives us guidance on what He expects of us. (2 Tim. 3:15-17, Isa. 8:20, Romans 15:4) I believe the Bible consists of the Old and New Testaments in 66 books. Those commonly called "The Apocrypha" are not part of the canon and are not of divine inspiration, with no authority to the church of God. (Luke 24:27,44) The authority comes from God the Author, and depends not on the testimony of any man or church, but stands on its own because it is the Word of God. (1 Thess. 2:13, 1 John 5:9) 1 My full persuasion and assurance of the infallible truth and the divine authority thereof, is from the inward work of the Holy Spirit bearing witness to and with the Word in my heart. (1 Cor. 2:10-12) I believe it contains the whole counsel of God concerning all things necessary for his own glory, man's salvation, faith and life in Him, is either clearly written down, or contained in the Bible, unto which nothing at any time is to be added, whether by "new" revelation of the Spirit, or traditions of men. The Holy Spirit illuminates my heart so I can understand the diverse portions of scripture and apply them to life, and my life in particular. (Gal. 1:8,9, John 6:45) I believe the most important rule of interpretation of scripture is the scripture itself, so when any question is not evident about the true and full sense of the passage, the Bible must be searched for places that speak more clearly, and by that clea meaning can the unclear passage be understood. (2 Peter 1:20,21, Acts 28:23) b. The Nature of God and The Trinity I believe the Lord Our God is one living and true God, He created all things visible and invisible, and is himself not created, but without beginning or end. He is spirit, without body, immortal, true light, immutable, immense, eternal, incomprehensible, almighty, infinite, holy, wise, free, absolute, works all things as He wishes for His Own 2 glory, loving, gracious, merciful, long-suffering, good and true, forgiving, just, wrathful against the ungodly, hating all sin and He will judge the guilty. He has dominion over all His Creation, and can do as He pleases with all of it. (Deut. 6:4, Jer. 10:10, Ex. 3:14, John 4:24, I Tim. 1:17, Mal. 3:6, I Kings 8:27, Jer. 23:23, Ps. 90:2, 95:3, Prov. 16:4, Rom. 11:36, Ex. 34:6,7, Heb. 11:6, Neh. 9:32,33, Nah. 1:2,3, Rev. 5:12-14) I believe in God there are three persons, The Father, The Son (or The Word), and The Holy Spirit, all of one substance, power and eternity, each having the whole divine essence, yet the essence undivided. 1. The Father - The Father is not created, nor does He have a beginning, nor is He proceeding, and He directs the Son and The Holy Spirit to do His will. 2. The Son - Eternally Begotten of the Father to do His will, and to give His Life as a ransom for many. 3. The Holy Spirit - The Holy Spirit proceeding from the Father and The Son to do their will, to the Glory of God. c. God's decree. I believe that God has decreed all things that will or have come to pass; yet is not the author of sin, and allows His creation varying degrees of free will, according to His pleasure so all are accountable to Him for their actions. I believe by this decree that some men and angels 3 are predestined or foreordained to eternal life, through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, who died to save the world from the penalty of sin, and the others are left to act in their sin, to receive their just condemnation to show His justice before His elect. The number of His elect cannot be increased nor diminished, and those are predestined from before the foundations of the World. (Isa. 46:10, Eph. 1:11, James 1:13,17, John 19:11, Eph. 1:3-5, Rom. 8:30, 9:11-18, 22,23, 2 Tim. 2:19, John 6:44, 2 Peter 1:10). 2. General Revelation God's general revelation is in His creation, that man can observe and study. It pleased the Triune God to create all things for His Glory alone, and so He reveals Himself through all of it. He created all things in six time periods, and on the seventh he rested and all He created is very good. God created man, male and female in His image for His glory, with reasonable and immortal souls enabling them to live their lives as God had designed for them, the Law of God written on their hearts, and yet able to do or go contrary to the Father's will (this free will existed only in Adam and Eve before the fall). After the fall, the general revelation of God is still evident, and acts enough so none are without excuse, and yet is easily misunderstood by those who have not received the special revelation from God. (Jon 1:1,5, Heb. 1:2, Romans 1:20, Col. 1:16, Gen. 1:26-28, 2:1,2,7, Rom. 2:14,15) 4 3. God's Provision for Man a. Divine Providence I believe God upholds, directs, orders, all creatures and things, from the least to the greatest, to the end for which they were created. God provides the first cause, and so all things happen according to His will, so there is nothing that happens by chance or due to luck. Yet, He has things occur, as second causes. God is not the primary cause of many events, but does have them happen using others as agents, to have His Will be done. In the fall, the sinfulness of their acts proceeds only from them, and not from God who neither is or can be the author of Sin. Often in God's providence we may be left to experience the consequences of our sin, to teach us, or humble us, so that we may become more dependent on God and His provision to conquer sin in our lives, and to teach us to be careful lest we fall again. Whatever comes upon His elect is by His desire that we might learn from it and grow in our walk with Him. And whatever comes upon the unbeliever is due to His own sinfulness, and whom he serves, as the devil destroys his own. (Heb. 1:3, Isa. 46:10,11, Ps. 13:5,6, Matt. 10:26-33, Eph. 1:11, 2 Cor. 12:7-9, Romans 8:28, 1:24-32, 2 Thess. 2:10-12) b. The Fall of Man I believe God created man sinless, and perfect, 5 without blemish or stain, and gave him a righteous law which would have resulted in eternal life, had he kept it, and yet man did not abide long in this honor, Satan using the subtle serpent to seduce Eve to disobey God's law, and then she seduced Adam, who, without any compulsion chose to disobey the clear edict of God by eating of the forbidden fruit. These our first parents fell from their elevated state, and death came upon them and all their descendants, all becoming spiritually dead in their sins. The guilt of Adam's sin was imputed to all his offspring, the corrupted nature taking a greater toll with each succeeding generation, unless the pattern is broken by one becoming a Christian. From this original corruption we are rendered unable to please God, and wholly inclined to do evil, and as such all transgressions proceed from this original corruption. We can only be freed from this corruption by the imputed righteousness of Jesus Christ upon those who believe. (Gen. 2:16,17, 3:12,13, Rom. 3:23, 5:12-19, Titus 1:15, Jer. 17:9, Rom. 3:10-19, 6:12,20, 7:18,23-25, 8:7, James 1:14,15, Gal. 5:17) c. God's covenant I believe God, knowing the state into which man had fallen, provided a way out through which man might be saved from his deserved condemnation, and this way out is through Jesus Christ alone. He covenanted with His people, that by the shedding of blood, man could be saved. The shedding of 6 animal's blood covered (temporarily) their sin, and pointed to the once for all sacrifice of Jesus Christ to truly cleanse from all sin. This covenant is a covenant of Grace and Mercy, where He freely offers all mankind eternal life and forgiveness of sins by Jesus Christ. He, then requires faith in Him so that they might be savd. He, then provides for all who believe, the Holy Spirit so they can now have the power to live their lives to glorify God in every way. This covenant was revealed first to Adam, with its fulfillment in the gospels, in the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross to save the elect from their deserved condemnation. (Luke 17:10, Gen. 3:17, Rom. 8:3, John 3:16, John 6:44,45, Gen. 3:15, Heb. 1:1, 2 Tim. 1:9, Titus 1:2, Heb.11:6,13, Acts 4:12) 7 God's Graceful Provision - Christ and Salvation 4. Christ the Mediator I believe that God chose and ordained the Lord Jesus Christ, His Only Son, to be the only mediator between God and man. He is prophet, priest, and king, head and savior of his church, the heir of all things, and judge of the world. God gave Him a people to be His seed, and to be by Him redeemed, called, justified, sanctified and glorified. (Is. 42:1, Acts 3:22, Hebrews 5:5,6, Luke 1:33, Eph. 1:23, Acts 17:31, Is. 53:10) I believe the Son of God became man, conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, with two whole, perfect and distinct natures, which were inseparably joined together in one person; which person is God and Man, the only mediator between God and Man. He lived a life of total obedience to the Father's will. He underwent the punishment due to us with his stripes and sacrifice on the cross. He died for the sins of His elect, saw no corruption, and on the third day rose again from the dead. He appeared to His disciples, and then ascended into heaven. He is now sitting at the right hand of the Father making intercession for us before Him, and shall return at the end of the age, to judge men and angels. (John 1:14, Rom. 8:3, Heb. 2:14-17, 4:15, Luke 1:27-35, 1 Tim. 2:5, Acts 10:38, Heb. 7:26, John 5:22,27, Heb. 10:5-10, Gal. 8 3:13, 2 Cor. 5:21, Matt. 27:46, 1 Cor. 15:3,4, John 20:25,27, Acts 1:9-11, Rom. 8:34, 14:9,10, 3:25,26, Heb. 9:15, John 16:8) 5. Free Will I believe that man was originally created with the freedom to choose good or evil, in his state of innocence. He was capable of choosing good or evil, but with his fall from this state of innocence lost any ability to choose any spiritual good. So, man as being unregenerate is unable to convert himself or prepare himself for fellowship with God by his own strength. When God converts a sinner, the man is freed from his bondage to sin and again is enabled to do that which is pleasing to God, and yet man is unable to be flawless in doing good until glorification. (James 1:14, Ecc. 7:29, Gen. 3:6, Rom. 5:6, Eph. 2:1,5, Titus 3:3-5, John 6:44, 8:36, Philipians 2:13, Rom. 7:15-23, Eph. 4:13) 6. Salvation, Sanctification and Glorification a. Effectual Calling I believe those whom God has predestined to eternal life, will in His time be called by His Word and Spirit, out of a state of sin and death to Grace and Salvation through Jesus Christ. Their minds are enlightened to understand the things of God, their wills renewed, and by His Power determining them to be drawn to Jesus Christ, willingly and freely responding to His Grace. This calling 9 is by God's own choice, and is not due to any merit or power in the man who responds. By this calling the man is enabled to respond, by his new free will, to the free gift of God, of eternal life. I believe this calling includes elect infants, imbeciles, and others who are incapable of being outwardly called by the Word of God, according to God's good pleasure. I believe that all those who die in infancy, or before the age of accountability are subject to the will of God, whether they are elect or not. I believe there is biblical precedent to say that the children of an elect parent is also elect. I believe those not elected, cannot respond to the gospel, and so are lost forever. (Rom. 8:30, 11:7, Eph. 2:1-6, Acts 26:18, Eph. 1:19, 2 Tim. 1:9, Eph. 2:8, 1 Cor. 2:14, John 3:3-6, 6:44,45,65, Acts 4:12) b. Justification I believe for those God effectually calls, He also justifies by pardoning their sins, and accepts them as righteous. This is not because of what they did, but for Christ's sake alone. Jesus Christ's obedience to the whole law fulfilled the requirements of the Law, and so we can receive His righteousness by Faith as a gift from God. Faith in the sacrifice Christ made for me, taking my sins upon Himself, and dying in my place, is what justifies me. I believe that it is Faith in the sacrifice to come that saves the Old Testament saints, believing in the promises 10 given in God's word to them for a future redeemer. (Rom. 3:24,28, 4:5-8, 1 Cor. 1:30,31, Rom. 5:17-19, Eph. 2:8-10, John 1:12, Isa. 53:5,6, Gal. 3:8, Titus 3:4-7, Rom. 4:22-24, Gen. 3:15, 22:1-14, Ex. 12:1-30) c. Adoption I believe that with all who are justified, God makes them joint heirs with Jesus Christ. They have become true children of God, and as such are cared for, and inherit the promises, one of which is eternal life. We become His children, and can claim the name "Children of God", whereas before we were children of satan, and God did not know us. (Eph. 1:5, Gal. 4:4,5, John 1:12, Rom. 8:15-17, 2 Cor. 6:18, 1 Peter 5:7, Heb. 12:6) d. Sanctification I believe for those God has adopted, He starts the process of sanctification, which molds us, and transforms us into the image of Jesus Christ. Sinful areas of life are conquered, and brought under the power of The Holy Spirit, and the mind is transformed, so we can walk more and more in patient obedience to God's will for our lives. The unregenerate portion of man diminishes, and the regenerate increases, and this process continues until glorification, when we are removed from this prison of our earthly bodies, and take on the new one God has designed for us. (Acts 20:32, Rom. 6:5,6, Eph. 3:16-19, Rom. 6:14, 11 2 Cor. 7:1) e. Saving Faith I believe that saving faith for the elect, is the work of the Holy Spirit in their hearts, through the Word of God preached to them. This faith is increased and strengthened through baptism, the lord's supper, prayer and various other means. By this faith, we believe that the Word of God is true and trustworthy, and that it tells us what we are to believe, and what God expects of us. By this saving faith we receive all the promises of God to us, as new creatures in Christ Jesus. (2 Cor. 4:13, Rom. 10:14,17, Luke 17:5, Acts 24:14, Ps. 19:7-10, 2 Tim. 1:12, Heb. 11:13, Gal. 2:20, Heb. 5:13,14) f. Repentance I believe that for those who are saved, they have repented unto life. They have turned from their life of sin, and asked God to transform them to live their lives to glorify God. This repentance unto life can come at any time in a man's life, either as a child, or when he is old, the turning is still real, and shows its effect in the man's life. This repentance involves humbling, godly sorrow, detestation of the sin, praying for pardon and strength, with a new purpose to live one's life to please God. It is all men's duty to repent of known particular sins, as God reveals them to him, and so cooperate in their 12 sanctification. This repentance continues throughout life, and plays a great part in sanctification of the believer. (Titus 3:2-5, Acts 11:18, Ez. 36:31, 1 Tim. 1:13-15, Isa. 1:16-18) g. Good Works I believe that truly good works are only those which God has commanded in His word, these good works done in obedience to God's Word are the fruits and evidence of a true and lively faith, and by them believers thank God for what He has done for them. These good works do NOT save us, or help us earn eternal life, as that is a free gift of God in response to our faith. The good works of unbelievers, that on the surface may seem to be what God commands, and have "good" results apparent to all are sinful and cannot please God, because they proceed from a heart still tainted with sin. (Micah 6:8, Heb. 13:21, James 2:18-22, 1 John 2:3-5, 2 Peter 1:5-11. Matt. 5:16, Eph. 2:8-10, John 15:4,5, Matt. 25:21-23, Heb. 11:4-6, Titus 3:5, Matt. 25:41-43) h. Perseverance of the Saints I believe that those saved, will NOT lose their salvation, and this perseverance does not depend on their own free will, but upon the immutability of their election. One who is truly saved, will evidence that saving faith, by his perseverance. Those who appear to be saved, and then 13 fall away, have been revealed as not truly having saving faith to begin with. I believe that some may have the hand of God on their lives, and not truly respond until later, but may appear to repent and fall, repent and fall, until they receive the true power to live their lives to glorify God. I believe a true Christian is not capable of (or will not continue in) grievious sin (such as adultery, homosexuality, drunkenness, moral terpitude) as a lifestyle as 1 Cor. 6:9-10 clearly states they will NOT inherit the kingdom of God. Verse 11 clearly states that new life in Christ transforms people so they will not do such anymore. (John 10:28,29, Philipians 1:6, 1 John 2:19, Rom. 8:30, Heb. 6:17,18, 1 John 3:9, Jer. 32:40, 1 John 2:3-6, 1 Cor. 6:9-11) i. Assurance I believe through the doctrine of perseverance of the believer, that the true Christian can have, by the believing of the above promises from God's word, true and total assurance that God has saved him, made him new, and is in process of transforming him to the image of Chris Jesus. This assurance is infallible, as it is based on the sacrifice Christ paid for us, by giving up His life in our place, the inward evidences of God's working in our hearts, and the testimony of the Holy Spirit that we have been made children of God for good! New and weak Christians may suffer from doubts, but that is due to a heart of unbelief, 14 that will not believe the clear teaching of scripture. Some may doubt, because of persons that teach that one can lose their salvation, and that doubt is man-made. (1 John 2:3-6, 3:14-24, 5:13, Rom. 5:1-5, Heb. 6:17,18, 2 Peter 1:4,5,10,11, Rom. 8:15,16, 1 John 3:1-3) j. The Gospel and the Extent of Grace Thereof I believe the Gospel of Jesus Christ, which is special revelation, is the only means by which man can be saved. General Revelation is not enough to lead one to the knowledge of the truth. The revelation of the gospel to sinners, has been under the sovereign will of God, to go, and reach peoples as He alone ordains. The Holy Spirit works through the Word of God and its proclamation to save the man whom God has predestined to be saved. And it can happen no other way. Plainly those in nations not reached by the gospel, cannot be saved, as they are under the curse of God, as all are without excuse, being offspring of Adam, the first sinner. (Rom. 10:14-17, Isa. 60:2,3, Acts 16:7, Rom. 1:18, 1 Cor. 2:14, John 6:44, 2 Cor. 4:4-6) 15 The Grace of God in His Church and in His Return 7. Christian Liberty I believe the liberty that we have as Christians consists in the freedom from the guilt of sin, the wrath of God, and the curse of the Law, and in deliverance from the forces of darkness that run rampant in this world. We have free access to God, and decide to obey our Lord, because it pleases Him. We have also been freed from the ceremonial law which bound the Jews, as Jesus Christ fulfilled it. (Gal. 3:13, 1:4, Acts 26:18, Rom. 8:3,28, 1 Cor. 15:54-57, 1 John 4:18, Heb. 10:19-21) I believe that God alone is Lord of the conscience, and so Laws of man that are contrary to His Word, do not bind me, likewise any that are not contained in it. (Rom. 14:4, Matt. 15:9, Col. 2:20-23) And this liberty is not a liberty to go on sinning, but a liberty to freely choose what is right and honorable. (Rom. 14:4, Matt. 15:19, Col. 2:20-23, Rom. 6:1,2) 8. Christian Marriage I believe marriage is an institution designed by God to illustrate the union between Christ and His Bride the Church, it is to be between one man and one woman, with no bigamy or adultery on either's part. It was designed for the mutual help of husband and wife, for the bearing of 16 children, and for prevention of immorality. I believe Christians must marry only Christians, as marrying with an unbeliever is becoming unequally yoked with the world, and those that do it, will reap much more than that they sowed. I believe Christian marriage must not be incestuous, nor have any basis in immorality on the part of either one. (Eph. 5:22-33, Gen. 2:24, Matt. 19:5,6, Gen. 2:18, I Cor. 7:2,9, Neh. 13:25-27, 1 Cor. 5:1) 9.The Nature of the Church a. What is the Church? I believe in one catholic or universal church, which by the work of The Holy Spirit may be called invisible, and consists of the whole number of the elect, that have been, are or will be gathered into one, under Christ, the True Head, and is the bride of Christ, the body, and the fullness of Him that makes us all one in Him. (Hebrews 12:23, Col. 1:18, Eph. 1:10,22,23, Eph. 5:23,27,32) I believe that all persons throughout the world professing the faith of the gospel of Jesus Christ, and obedience unto God by their life in Christ, are and may be called the visible saints (I Cor. 1:2, Acts 11:26); and of these people all particular congregations are constituted (Romans 1:7, Eph. 1:20-22) I believe that the purest churches in this world are subject to mixture and error (I Cor. 5, Rev. 2&3); and some have so degenerated as to become churches not of Christ 17 (Rev. 18:2, 2 Thess.. 2:11,12), but gatherings of the people of Satan, but in spite of all this, Christ always has had, and ever shall have a kingdom in this world (Matt. 16:18, Ps. 72:17, 102:28, Rev. 12:17), to the end of this world, of such as believe in Him, and make a profession of His name. I believe that The Lord Jesus Christ is the one True Head of His church, and there can be none other. There is no one representative of Him on earth. (Col. 1:18, Matt. 28:18-20, Eph. 4:11,12, 2 Thess. 2:2-9) I believe in that God has instituted local churches for the preaching and teaching of the Word, the edification of believers, the propagation of the gospel, and the fellowship of the believers. (John 10:16, 12:32, Matt. 18:15-20, 28:20) I believe the members of these churches are saints (Rom. 1:7, I Cor. 1:2), visible to all in the world, showing people with their lives, what they confess is true. (Acts 2:41,42, 5:13,14, I Cor. 4:13). b. Church Government I believe in a particular church so gathered, and completely organized according to the Will of God, consists of officers and members: and the officers appointed by Christ, to be chosen and set apart by the church, so called and gathered, for the specific administration of ordinances, and the execution of power or duty, which He 18 calls them to or trusts them with, are bishops or elders and deacons. (Acts 20:17,28, Philipians. 1:1, Titus 1, I Tim. 3) I believe the way appointed by Christ for the calling of any man, fitted and gifted by the Holy Spirit, unto the office of elder or deacon in a church is chosen by the members of the church itself (Acts 14:23) and solemnly set apart by fasting and prayer, with the laying on of hands by the eldership of the church. (I Tim. 4:14, Acts 6:3,5,6) I believe the deacons and elders of the church are to be men, above reproach, only once married (if married, I Cor. 7 indicates that Paul may not have been married), not divorced and who manage their family well, and no woman is to preach, teach or have spiritual authority over men, but content themselves with the God given extremely important roles of ministering to other women and children. (1 Tim 2:10-16, Titus 1, I Tim. 3, I Pet. 3:1-7) I believe the work of pastors is to teach, preach, counsel, equip and confront the people of God, and the world with the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and with the Word of God, with what God expects of us, as Christians, and challenging the unsaved elect, with the good news of Jesus Christ, that can save man from his sin. (Acts 6:4, Heb. 13:17, Ez. 3) It is the responsibility of the churches to whom they minister, not only to give them all due respect, but also to pay them responsibly, according to their ability, so the minister will live comfortably, 19 without themselves being caught up in secular affairs. (I Tim. 5:17-18, Gal. 6:6-7, 2 Tim. 2:4, 1 Tim. 3:2, I Cor.9:6,14) I believe however it the responsibility of all believers to share their faith with their neighbors both in their words and actions. And so we are all ministers and priests to those who need help. (Acts 11:19-21, I Pet. 4:10,11) c. Communion of Saints I believe it is the responsibility of all believers to unite themselves with a local body of believers, when and where they have opportunity to do so, for nurture, fellowship, and correction; so all are admitted unto the privileges, censures, and government of a church according to the rule of Christ. (I Thess. 5:14, II Thess. 3:6,14,15) I believe in cases of difficulty or differences, either in point of doctrine or administration; wherein either the churches in general are concerned or any one church, or any member or members of the churches are affected in censures not agreeable to truth and order, it is appropriate for messengers of like churches to meet and consider and give their advice in this matter, and report the result to all the churches concerned that the matter might be resolved. These messengers however do not have the authority or power to exact discipline or impose their determination on any involved. As this is the 20 responsibility of the local church. (Acts 15:2,4,6,22,23,25, 2 Cor. 1:24, I John 1:4) 10. The Ordinances a. Baptism I believe Baptism is an ordinance of the New Testament, ordained by Jesus Christ, to be done to the new believer, as a sign of his new fellowship with him in his death and resurrection (Rom. 6:3-5, Col. 2:12, Gal. 3:27); of his being united with Christ; of forgiveness of sins (Mark 1:4, Acts 26:16); and of his giving up unto God, through Jesus Christ, to live and walk in newness of life. (Rom. 6:4) I believe the only ones who actually profess repentance towards God, faith in and obedience to our Lord Jesus Christ, are the proper subjects for Christian baptism. I believe if practiced on an infant, it only can serve as an infant dedication to the Lord for His service, and does not save, nor is it a new circumcision replacing the old act of circumcision. I believe the fluid to be used in baptism is water, in the name of The Father, The Son and The Holy Spirit (Matt. 28:19,20, Acts 8:38). I believe the proper way to baptize is to immerse or dip the person in water (Matt. 3:16, John 3:23). 21 b. The Lord's Supper I believe the supper of the ord Jesus, was instituted by Him, on the same night that He was betrayed, to be observed in His churches unto the end of the world, for the perpetual remembrance and showing forth the sacrifice of Himself in His death, and serves as confirmation of the faith of believers in all the benefits thereof (I Cor. 11:23-26), their spiritual nourishment and growth in Him, their further obedience to Him, and to be a pledge of their communion with Him, and with each other (I Cor. 10:16,17,21). I believe the Lord's supper is only a memorial to the sacrifice Christ offered on the cross for us once for all, and is not a repeated sacrifice of the body and blood of Christ. (Heb. 9:25,26,28, I Cor. 11:24, Matt. 26:26,27). I believe the Lord Jesus has in this ordinance appointed His ministers to pray, and bless the elements of bread and wine (or grape juice), and by this sets them apart for a holy use, and to take and break the bread and to take the cup and give both to the communicants (I Cor. 11:23-26). I believe that the elements remain in substance both bread and wine, and they remain as they were before (I Cor. 11:26-28). I believe that worthy receivers outwardly partaking of the visible elements of bread and wine, do then also inwardly, by faith, spiritually and to a unknown degree 22 physically receive and feed upon Christ crucified and all the benefits of his death (I Cor. 10:16, 11:23-26): the body and blood of Christ, under, with and in and spiritually present in the elements. I believe because of the above that anyone who partakes of communion with unrepentant sin brings judgement upon himself that can lead to sickness or even death. (I Cor. 11:29) I believe that if there was no real presence physically or spiritually, and it was just a memory, this scripture would be effectively disarmed. 11. The State of Man after death/resurrection I believe that the bodies of men after death return to dust from which they were made (Gen. 3:19); but their souls, which neither die nor sleep, are immortal, and immediately enter into the presence of God if they are Christians, or into Hades if they are not Christians as they wait for the Last Judgement, and the resurrection of the body. The godly are comforted in this state (Ecc. 12:7, Luke 16:19-31, Luke 16:25). 12. The Second Coming, Tribulation/Millennium I believe the second coming of the Lord is both imminent and impending, and will occur when we least expect it. Whatever the millennial view we have, the return of Christ is not dependent on what we believe, but what God makes clear in His word. (Mark 13:35-37, Luke 12:35,36, 23 Rev. 22:20) I believe the second coming to be post-tribulational, and if there is a millennium, pre-millennial. (Matt. 24:22) This verse does not promise removal from the tribulation, but shortening for the sake of the elect. I believe the scripture describing the rapture, describes the dead in Christ rising and those still alive will be transformed, and meet Christ in the air. I believe the second coming describes both a coming with His people, and a coming for His people. (1 Thess. 4:11-17) I believe that there will no be a millennium as the only direct evidence for a millennium found in Rev. 20, is symbolic, using 1000 years to describe our eternal reign with Jesus Christ, because it is a perfect number 10x10x10. However, if I there is a millennium, I don't know what the situation will be like. There seems to be some inherent contradictions in this concept. "Why would we have incorruptible bodies on a corrupted earth?" is just one example. I believe at the Last day, those of the saints who are alive on the earth shall not die or sleep but be changed (I Cor.15:51,52, I Thess. 4:17) and the dead shall be raised up with incorruptible physical bodies, and shall be united with their souls forever. (Job 19:26,27, I Cor. 15:42,43) I believe the bodies of the ungodly shall be raised again to dishonor; the bodies of the godly raised to honor and made conformable to Christ's body, by His power and 24 might (Acts 24:15, John 5:28,29, Philip. 3:21) 13. The Last Judgement I believe that God has appointed a day where He will judge the world in righteousness by Jesus Christ, in that day all angels, and all people shall appear before Jesus Christ to give account of their thoughts, words and deeds, and to receive according to what they have done in the body, whether good or evil (Acts 17:31, John 5:22,27, I Cor. 6:3, Jude 6, 2 Cor. 5:10, Ecc. 12:14, Matt. 12:36, 25:32, Romans 14:10,12). I believe at the end of this judgement day, there will be the manifestation of His glory of His Mercy, in the eternal salvation of the elect; and of His justice, in the eternal damnation of the non-elect (Rom. 9:22,23). The righteous shall go into eternal life, and receive their reward, in the presence of the Lord, but the wicked shall be cast into eternal torments and punished with everlasting destruction, away from the presence of the Lord. (Matt. 25:21,23,34,46, 2 Tim. 5:8, Mark 9:48, 2 Thess. 1:7-11) I believe that the ungodly will be sent to a place of eternal torment, with no chance of it ending. It is described in many different ways, unquenchable fire (Matt. 5:22, 18:8-9), destruction (Matt. 10:28), everlasting torment (Matt. 13:41-42), wrath (John 3:36), lake of fire and sulfur (Rev. 20:10,14,15, 21:8). Each man will suffer in hell what He deserves (Luke 12:47-48). 25 14. The New Heavens and the New Earth I believe that on the day of judgement God will destroy and remake or renew the heavens and the earth to be incorruptible, without blemish and pure. Heaven and Earth will no longer be separated but be in the presence of each other (Rev. 21:1-3). I believe that finally man will be able to fulfill his calling described in Gen. 1:28, to fill and subdue the earth without sin. There will be a new heaven and a new earth this is clear (Is. 65:17, Rev. 21:1), but whether it is renewed or remade is really unimportant. It will be new, we will dwell there, and in the presence of the Lord Jesus (Rev. 21:1-4), and the peoples of the earth will dwell together in unity, with no tears or hurts (Rev. 22:1-5) 26 Bibliography dapted and personalized from The Philadelphia Confession of Faith of 1742 Copyright 1981 Grace Abounding Ministries, Sterling, VA pgs. 1-147. A wonderful Baptist statement of faith, originally adapted from The London Confession of Faith of 1689, and the Westminster Confession of Faith of 1644 Hoekema, Anthony A. The Bible and The Future Eerdmans, Grand Rapids, MI Copyright 1979 The whole book. 27 CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC