Beliefs

Far to often there are folks who subscribe to a tenet of faith – and while we think they are on the same page as us… they may not be.  It is for this reason I believe it is important to write about what I believe here:

  1. I believe in one God, self-existent in three Persons, co-equal and co-eternal; Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
  2. I believe in the Bible as God’s infallible Word, fully inspired by the Holy Spirit, the supreme authority for faith and practice.  I do not believe that one version of the Bible is the exact translation – but tend to follow the King James Version more often than others.
  3. I believe in the deity of Jesus Christ, who became man, being conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of a virgin.
  4. I believe Jesus lived a sinless life and died a horrible unjust death as a complete sacrifice for the sins of all mankind, including mine.
  5. I believe that Jesus arose bodily from the dead, walked and taught both his disciples and other followers and ascended to the right hand of the Father where He is now our interceding High Priest.
  6. I believe that the Holy Spirit is a Divine Person who reveals Christ to the world – restrains evil and provides conviction of sin.
  7. I believe that the Holy Spirit reveals Christ to the Church by indwelling, empowering, guiding, and teaching all Christians.  I have not had a personal experience with the spiritual gift of tongues – but also Do not believe the Bible to be clear on its cessation or continuation.
  8. I believe that man was made in the image and likeness of God and by the sins of Adam and Eve incurred guilt before God, depravity of soul, and spiritual death.
  9. I believe in the universal atonement Christ provided for all mankind provided that they who do repent and believe on Him are justified and regenerated from the guilt and practice of sin. The regeneration is an act of Grace by God and not of works.
  10. I believe in entire sanctification (set apart) as a definite crisis experience subsequent to regeneration. It is wrought on the basis of faith and consecration through the infilling of the Holy Spirit by which the believer is cleansed from all sin and to which the Spirit testifies – It is not of works.
  11. I believe in the progressive growth in grace toward Christian maturity through a consistent Christian life of good works which springs from faith in God and obedience to His Word. This growth I believe to be a necessary complement to the above mentioned crisis experience.
  12. I believe in the true universal Church as the Body of Christ and Temple of the Holy Spirit. It is composed of all true believers in Christ and is not of a particular denomination. It was created by Him for worship and fellowship and is commissioned by Him to publish the Gospel to all the world.
  13. I believe in the personal return of Christ who shall come with power and great glory to gather the Church to Himself, to establish His millennial kingdom, and to judge the quick and the dead.
  14. I believe in the resurrection of the just, who shall enter into an actual eternal heaven, and the resurrection of the unjust, who shall go away into an actual and eternal hell.
  15. I believe humans are naturally unable to make any effort towards salvation.  I believe in prevenient grace.