| The
purpose of this doctrinal statement is to summarize the core beliefs of
this assembly so that one may know where we stand and also where our
beliefs may differ from those of other assemblies. It is not meant to be
an all-inclusive list or an exhaustive theological treatise; the content
of our faith is the entire Word of God. Reference verses are given but
some doctrines cannot be summarized fully with a few verses.
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The
Bible
The Bible is the Word of
God. It is not of human origin but was given by inspiration of God, of plenary
authority, inerrant in its original autographs, and preserved accurately
through history. The Bible is our sole authority. All believers are
individually responsible to understand and apply God's Word. To be
properly understood, the Bible must be "rightly divided",
according to the dispensational principles laid out in Scripture.
II Tim
3:16; II Peter 1:21; II Tim 2:15; Phil 1:10
The
Godhead
There is one God,
eternally existent in the triune Godhead - God the Father, God the Son,
and God the Holy Spirit. Jesus Christ is God manifest in the flesh, the
image of the invisible God.
John 1:1-18; II Cor 13:14; Eph 4:4-6; I John
5:7
Christ's
Deity and Humanity
We believe in the
eternal, absolute deity, the virgin birth, spotless humanity and vicarious
death of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Luke 1:35; John 1:1-2; Rom 1:3-4; Phil
2:6-8
Man's
Depravity
All men are sinners by
nature and totally depraved, completely lost and unable to save themselves
from the penalty of sin.
Gen 6:5; Isaiah 64:6; Jer 17:9; Rom 1:18-3:20, 23
Christ's
Payment for Sin - Evidence of God's Love
We believe in Christ's
substitutionary death on the cross as full payment of the wages of man's
sin-the only provision of salvation for the human race. God becoming man
to die in our place so that we can be justified by grace through faith is
the supreme evidence of God's infinite love for us.
Rom 3:24-28; 4:25;
5:8; I Cor 15:1-4
Christ's
Resurrection
God's satisfaction with
Christ's payment for sin is manifested in Christ's literal, bodily
resurrection from the dead.
Matt 28:5-7; Acts 2:31; Rom 4:25; I Cor 15:17
Salvation
God views individuals as
either completely "saved" or totally "lost" without regard to any
category of man's construction. Salvation is by grace alone, through faith
alone in the finished work of Christ on the cross. Salvation is offered to
all, and is freely given to all that believe that Christ died for their
sins. Human works have no place in salvation.
Rom 5:1-2, 8:28-39; Eph
1:13-14
Eternal
Security
All those who trust in
the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation are eternally secure, i.e., they
cannot lose their salvation.
Rom 5:1-2, 8:28-29; Eph 1:13-14
The
Church
The "church" of
this present dispensation, also known as the Body of Christ, is not a human
organization but is a living organism composed of all believers of this present Age of
Grace. It began with the Apostle Paul in Acts 9 and is visibly manifest in
Acts 13. It is not the subject of prophecy and is distinct from the nation
of Israel and not the fulfiller of her promise or covenants.
I Cor 12:12,
27; Eph 3:1-6; Col 1:24-27
The commission of the
church (Body of Christ), and each believer in it, is
to proclaim the message of reconciliation to a lost world, and to preach
"Jesus Christ according to the revelation of the mystery."
Rom
16:25; II Cor 5:18-20
Paul's
Unique Apostleship
Paul is the unique
apostle for the Body of Christ and is not one of the 12 apostles
associated with Israel's program. To Paul alone, Christ revealed "the mystery"
and committed to him stewardship of the Dispensation of Grace. It is only in
Paul's writings that we find the doctrine for and the position and walk of
the Body of Christ.
Rom 11:13; Eph 3:1-9; Gal 2:6-9; I Tim 1:15-16
Baptism
There is one baptism for
the Dispensation of Grace; a dry, spiritual baptism that occurs when the
Holy Spirit places (baptizes) the believer into the Body of Christ,
identifying the believer with Christ in His death, burial and
resurrection.
Rom 6:3-4; I Cor 1:17, 12:12-13; Eph 4:5; Gal 3:27; Col 2:12
Spiritual
Gifts
Spiritual gifts were
given at the beginning of this dispensation because the Word of God was
not yet complete. Since the completion of the Word of God, spiritual gifts
have passed away. All believers possess all spiritual blessings but have differing
talents of ministry.
I Cor 13:8-13; Eph 1:3; II Tim 3:16-17
The
Believer's Walk
It is the privilege and
duty of all believers to walk as children of light, congruent with their
position in Christ.
Rom 12:1-2; Eph 4:1-3, 5:1-2, 8
The
Rapture
This present dispensation
will end with the pre-tribulation rapture or "catching away" of
God's ambassadors from the earth by Christ, to be forever with Him. God
will then resume His prophetic dealings with the Nation of Israel.
I Cor 15:51-54;
II Cor 5:20; I Thess 4:15-18
Return
of Christ
Christ will return to
earth personally to end the Tribulation, to deliver His tribulation
saints, end Gentile world dominion and usher in His Kingdom.
Dan 2:44-45;
Joel 3:16; Matt 24:29-30; Acts 1:11-12
The
Kingdom
We believe in a literal,
physical, eternal kingdom of heaven on earth, where Christ will reign over
and through Israel, and the entire world for 1,000 years. We, the Body of Christ, will
reign with Christ in the heavenlies.
II Sam 7:12-16; Dan 2:44; Matt 3:1-3;
Acts 1:6-7, 3:19-21; Eph 1:3, 2:4-7; Phil 3:20
Great
White Throne Judgment
Christ will judge the
lost at His great white throne judgment, giving them the wages of sin, and
condemning them to everlasting, unremitting, conscious punishment in the
lake of fire.
II Thess 1:7-9; Rev 20:11-15
Eternal
State
Subsequent to the great
white throne judgment, God will gather all things - both in heaven and in
earth - together under the headship of Christ in the Dispensation of the
Fullness of Times.
Eph 1:10; Col 1:18-20; Rev 21:1-2
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