The Scriptures inspired
The Scriptures, both the Old and New Testaments, are verbally inspired of God and are the revelation of God to man, the infallible, authoritative rule of faith and conduct (2 Tim. 3:15-17; 1 Thess. 2:13; 2 Peter 1:21).
The One True God
The one true God has revealed Himself as the embodying the principles of relationship and association as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (Deuteronomy 6:4; Is. 43:10-11; Matthew 28:19; Luke 3:22).
The Adorable Godhead
Terms defined
The terms “Trinity” and “Persons”, as related to the Godhead, while not found in the Scriptures, are words in harmony with Scripture, whereby we may convey to others our immediate understanding of the doctrine of Christ respecting the Being of God, as distinguished from ‘gods many and lords many”. We therefore may speak with propriety of the Lord our God, who is One Lord, as a Trinity or as the Being or three persons, and still be absolutely Scriptural (examples: Matt. 19; 2 Cor. 13:14; John 14:16,17).
Distinction and Relationship in the Godhead taught a distinction of Persons in the Godhead which he expressed in specific terms of relationship, as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, but that his distinction and relationship, as to its mode is inscrutable and incomprehensive, because it is unexplained. Luke 1:35; 1 Cor.1:24; Matt, 11:25-27; Matt. 28:19; 2 Cor. 13:14; 1 John 1:3,4.
Unity of One Being of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit
Accordingly, therefore, there is that in the Son which constitutes Him the Son and not the Father, and there is that in the Holy Spirit which constitutes Him the Holy Spirit and not either the Father or the son. Wherefore the Father is Begetter, the Son is the Begotten, and the Holy Spirit is the one proceeding from the Father and the Son. Therefore, because these three persons in the Godhead are in a state of unity, there is but on Lord God Al mighty and His name is one. John1:18; John 15:16; John 17:11,21; Zech. 14:9.
Identity and Co-Operation in the Godhead
The Father, the Son, and the Hoy Spirit are never identical as to Person; nor confused as to relationship; nor divided in respect to the Godhead; nor opposed as to co-operation. The Son is in the Father and the Father is in the Son as to relationship. The Son is with the Father and the Father is with the Son, as to fellowship. The Father is not from the Son, but the Son is from the Father, as to authority. The Holy Spirit is from the Father and the Son proceeding, as to nature, relationship, co-operation and authority. Hence, neither Person in the Godhead either exists or works separately or independently of the others. John 5:17-30, 32, 37; John 8:17, 18.
The Title, “Lord Jesus Christ”
The appellation, “Lord Jesus Christ’, is a proper name. It is never applied, in the New Testament, either to the Father or to the Holy Spirit. It therefore belongs exclusively to the Son of God. Rom. 1:3, 7; 2 John 3.
The Lord Jesus Christ, God With Us
The Lord Jesus Christ, as to His Divine and eternal nature, is the proper and only Begotten of the Father, but as to His human nature, He is the proper son of Man, who because He is God and Man, is “Emmanuel” God with us. Matt. 1:23; 1 John 4:2, 10, 14; Rev. 1:13, 17.
The Title, Son of God
Since the name “Emmanuel” embraces both God and Man in the one Person, our Lord Jesus Christ, it follows that the title, Son of God, describes His proper deity, and the title, Son of Man, his power humanity. Therefore, the title, Son f God, belongs to the order of eternity, and the title, Son of Man, of the order of time Matt. 1:21-23; 2 John 3:8; Heb. 1:1-13.
Transgression of the Doctrine of Christ
Wherefore, it is a transgression of the Doctrine of Christ to say that Jesus Christ derived the title, Son of God, solely from the fact of the incarnation, or because of His relationship to the economy of redemption. Therefore, to deny that the Father is a real an eternal Son, is a denial of the distinction and relationship in the being of God; a denial of the Father and the Son; and a displacement of the truth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. 2 John 9; John 1:1,2,29,49; 1 John 2:22,23; 1 John 4:1-5; Heb. 12:2.
Exaltation of Jesus Christ as Lord
The Son of God, our Lord Jesus Christ, having by Himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high; angels and principalities and powers having been made subject unto Him. And having been made both Lord and Christ, He sent the Holy Spirit that we, in the Name of Jesus, might bow our knees and confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father until the end, when the Son shall become subject to the Father, that God may be all in all. Heb. 2:32-36; Rom. 14:11; 1 Cor. 15:24-28.
Equal Honor to the Father and to the Son
Wherefore, since the Father has delivered all judgment unto the sin, it is not only the express duty of all in heaven and on earth to bow the knee, but it is an unspeakable joy7 in the Holy Spirit to ascribe unto the Son all the attributes of Deity, and to give Him all the Honor and the glory contained in all names and titles of the Godhead (except those which express relationship. See paragraphs b, c, d) and thus honor the Son even as we honor the Father. John 5:22,23; 1 Peter 1:8; Rev. 5:6-14; Phil. 2:8,9; Rev. 7:9, 10; Rev. 4:8-11.
THE DEITY OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST
The Lord Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God. The Scriptures declare:
- His virgin birth (Matt. 1:23; Luke 1:31, 35).
- His sinless life (Heb. 7:26; 1 Peter 2:22).
- His miracles (Acts 2:22, 10:38).
- His substitutionary work on the cross (1 Cor. 15:3; 2 Cor. 5:21).
- His bodily resurrection from the dead (Matt. 28:6; Luke 24:39; 1 Cor. 15:4).
- His exaltation to the right hand of God (Acts 1:9, 11; Acts 2:33; Phil. 2:9-11; Heb. 1-3).
THE FALL OF MAN
Man was created good and upright; for God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness”. However, man by voluntary transgression fess and thereby incurred not only physical death but also spiritual death, which is separation from God (Gen. 1:26, 27; 2:17; 3-6; Rom. 5:12-19).
THE SALVATION OF MAN
Man’s only hope of redemption is through the shed blood of Jesus Christ the Son of God.
Conditions to Salvation
Salvation is received through repentance toward God and faith toward the Lord Jesus Christ. By the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, being justified by grace through faith, man becomes an heir of God according to the hope of eternal life (Luke 24:27; John 3:3; Rom. 10:13-15; Eph. 2:8; Titus 2:11; 3:5-7).
The Evidence of Salvation
The inward evidence of salvation is the direct witness of the Spirit (Rom. 8:16). The outward evidence to all men is a life of righteousness and true holiness (Eph. 4:24; Titus 2:12).
THE ORDINANCES OF THE CHURCH
Baptism in Water
The ordinance of baptism by immersion is commanded in the Scriptures. All who repent and believe on Christ as savior and Lord are to be baptized. Thus they declare to the world that they have died with Christ and that they also have been raised with Him in newness of life (Matt. 28:19; Mark 16:16; Acts 10:47, 48; Rom. 6:4).
Holy Communion
The Lord’s Supper, consisting of the elements-bread and the fruit of the vine-is the symbol expressing our sharing the diving nature of our Lord Jesus Christ (2 Peter 1:4); a memorial of his suffering and death (1 Cor. 11:26); and a prophecy of His second coming (1 Cor. 11:26); and is enjoining on all believers “till He comes!”
THE BAPTISM IN THE HOLY SPIRIT
All believers are entitled to and should ardently expect and earnestly seek the promise of the Father, the baptism in the Holy Spirit and fire, according to the command of our Lord Jesus Christ. This was the normal experience of all in the early Christian Church. With it comes the endowment of power for life and service, the bestowment of the gifts and their uses in the work of the ministry (Luke 24:49; Acts 1:4-8; 1 Cor. 12:31). This experience is distinct from and subsequent to the experience of the new birth (Acts 8:12-17; 10:44-46; 11:14-16; 15:7-9). With the baptism in the Holy Spirit come such experiences as an overflowing fullness of the Spirit (John 7:37-39; Acts 4:8), a deepened reverence for God (Acts 2:43; Heb. 12:28), an intensified consecration to God and dedication to His work (Acts 2:42), and a more active love for Christ, for His Word and for the lost (Mark 16:20).
THE EVIDENCE FOR THE BAPTISM IN THE HOLY SPIRIT
The Baptism of believers in the Holy Spirit is witnessed by the initial physical sign of speaking with other tongues as the Spirit gives them utterance (Acts 2:4). The speaking in tongues in this instance is the same in essence as he gift of tongues (1 Cor. 12:4-10, 28), but different in purpose and use.
SANCTIFICATION
Sanctification is an act of separation from that which is evil, and of dedication unto God (Rom. 12:1, 2; 1 Thess. 5:23; Heb. 13:12). The scriptures teach a life of “holiness without which no man shall see the Lord” (Heb. 12:14). By the power of the Holy Spirit we are able to obey the command: “Be ye holy, for I am holy” (1 Peter 1:15, 16).
Sanctification is realized in the believer by recognizing his identification with Christ in His death and resurrection, and by faith reckoning daily upon the fact of that union, and by offering every faculty continually to the dominion of the Holy Spirit, (Rom. 6:1-11; Rom. 8:1,2, 13; Gal. 2:0; Phil. 2:12, 13; 1Peter 1:5).
THE CHURCH
The Church is the Body of Christ, the habitation of God through the Spirit, with divine appointments for the fulfillment of her great commission. Each believer, born of Spirit, is an integral part of the general Assembly and Church of the First-born, which are written in heaven (Eph. 1:22, 23; 2:22; Heb. 12:23).
THE MINISTRY
A divinely called and scripturally-ordained ministry has been provided by our Lord for twofold purpose:
- The evangelization of the world, and
- The edifying of the Body of Christ (Mark 16:15-20; Eph. 4:11-13).
DIVINE HEALING
Divine healing is an integral part of the gospel Deliverance from sickness is provided for in the atonement, and is the privilege of all believers (Is. 53:4,5; Matt. 8:16,17; James 5:14-16).
THE BLESSED HOPE
The resurrection of those who have fallen asleep in Christ and their translation together with those who are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord is the imminent and blessed hope of the Church (1 Thess. 4:16,17; Rom. 8:23; Titus 2:13, 1 Cor. 15:51, 52).
THE MILLENIUM REIGN OF CHRIST
The second coming of Christ includes the rapture of the saints, which is our blessed hope, followed by the visible return of Christ with His saints to reign on the earth for one thousand yearn (Zech. 14:5; Matt. 24:27, 30; Rev. 1:7, 19:11-14; 20:1-6). This millennium reign will bring the salvation of national Israel (Ex. 37:21, 22; Zeph. 3:19, 20; Rom. 11:26, 27) and the establishment of universal peace (Is. 11:6-9; Ps. 72:3-8; Micah 4:3,4).
THE FINAL JUDGEMENT
There will be a final judgment in which the wicked dead will be raised and judged according to their works. Whosoever is not found written in the Book of Life, together with the devil and his angels, the beast and the false prophet, will be consigned to everlasting punishment in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death (Matt. 25:46; Mark 9:43-48; Rev. 19:20; 20:11-15; 21:8).
THE NEW HEAVENS AND THE NEW EARTH
“We, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwells righteousness” (2 Peter 3:13; Rev. 21:22).
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