Doctrine
Our Creed
Our creed is Christian. Christian groups agree that the Bible is unmistakably clear about the following basic truths set forth in this creed:
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The Nicene Creed
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We believe in one God, We believe in one Lord,
Jesus Christ, We believe in the Holy
Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, |
See http://www.creeds.net/ancient/nicene.htm for more details.
The Church
I highlighted the statement about the church, because I wanted to explain it. The word “catholic” appears in lowercase, not as a proper noun, and therefore not referring to the Roman Catholic Church. According to Dictionary.com, one of the meanings of the word catholic is, “Of or relating to the universal Christian church.” Jesus knows who truly loves him, and is following His Gospel. This group of people is referred to as “the Church”. They may attend a variety of types of Christian churches, but the Lord refers to them collectively as “the Church”. This diverse group of people is also referred to as Christ’s mystical body, or “the body of Christ”.
So our creed distinguishes our beliefs from non-Christian beliefs.
Doctrine
Why bother with doctrine?
Our doctrine distinguishes our beliefs from those of other Christians. It goes beyond the obvious truths of our creed. It is more specific than the doctrinal summary found in our creed. It describes how we apply the scriptures to our daily lives. This is important:
1
Timothy 1:3
As I urged you when I went into Macedonia, stay there in Ephesus so that you
may command certain men not to teach false doctrines any longer
(Whole Chapter: 1
Timothy 1 In context: 1
Timothy 1:2-4)
1
Timothy 1:10
for adulterers and perverts, for slave traders and liars and perjurers–and for
whatever else is contrary to the sound doctrine
(Whole Chapter: 1
Timothy 1 In context: 1
Timothy 1:9-11)
1
Timothy 4:16
Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere
in them, because if you do, you will
save both yourself and your hearers.
(Whole Chapter: 1
Timothy 4 In context: 1
Timothy 4:15-17)
1
Timothy 6:3
If anyone teaches false doctrines and does not agree to the sound
instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching,
(Whole Chapter: 1
Timothy 6 In context: 1
Timothy 6:2-4)
2
Timothy 4:3
For the time will come when men will not put up with
sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather
around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to
hear.
(Whole Chapter: 2
Timothy 4 In context: 2
Timothy 4:2-4)
Titus
1:9
He must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that
he can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose
it.
(Whole Chapter: Titus
1 In context: Titus
1:8-10)
Titus
2:1
You must teach what is in accord with sound doctrine.
(Whole Chapter: Titus
2 In context: Titus
2:1-2)
For more advanced information on why doctrine is important, visit http://www.evangelicaloutreach.org/unity.htm.
Our doctrine
While our doctrine comes out in our articles, I have appended a summary of it below. This summary may be useful for the quick reference of a Christian who is looking for like-minded fellowship.
THE BIBLE is the inspired and inerrant Word of the Living God which contains everything we need to know regarding salvation (2 Tim. 3:15) and how to behave in order to please God (1 Thess. 4:1-8). It is final authority and is completely sufficient in itself for all matters dealing with doctrine and practice (2 Tim. 3:16,17). His Word is forever standing (Matt. 24:35). All correction and teaching must, therefore, be backed by the Bible to be valid.
THERE IS ONLY ONE TRUE GOD (1 Cor. 8:6; Jam. 2:19), yet the Father is shown to be God (Jn. 3:17 cf. 5:23; etc.), the Son is shown to be God (Jn. 20:28; Rom. 9:9; Phil. 2:6; Titus 2:13; Heb. 1:8; 2 Pet. 1:1; Col. 2:9; Isa. 40:3 cf. Matt. 3:1-3) and the Holy Spirit is shown to be God (Acts 5:3,4; Ex. 17:2,7 cf. Heb. 3:9; Jer. 31:31-34 cf. Heb. 10:15-17). Furthermore, the Father is NOT the Son (Jn. 8:17,18; 14:23; 17:1; 1 Tim. 2:5; 2 Jn. 9; Rev. 5:9; etc.) or the Holy Spirit (Jn. 14:26) and the Son is NOT the Holy Spirit (Jn. 14:16). They are three separate and distinct persons. So the Trinity is Scripturally verified.
JESUS CHRIST eternally existed before coming to earth as God (Micah 5:2; Jn. 1:1 cf. 1:14; etc.) and became man when born of a virgin (Matt. 1:23; 1 Tim. 2:5). He lived a sinless life (1 Pet. 2:22), shed His blood on the cross for our sins (1 Cor. 15:3; Col. 1:20), died there (Lk. 23:46 cf. Jam. 2:26a) and was bodily raised on the third day (Lk. 24:39; 1 Cor. 15:4). He afterwards ascended into Heaven (Acts 1:11) and will return to earth again (Rev. 19:11-21). The Lord's work on the cross, where He obtained our complete redemption (Jn. 19:30), was both INFINITE and final (Heb. 10:10-12) and was for every single person who ever lived (Rom. 5:6; 1 Jn. 2:2).
MANKIND is sinful (Rom. 3:23) and in desperate need of salvation (Jn. 3:36; Eph. 2:12). Without personal salvation, one is dead in his sins (Eph. 2:1), spiritually blinded (2 Cor. 4:4), under the control of his sinful nature (Rom. 7:5) and on his way to eternal fire (Matt. 25:41) and eternal punishment (Matt. 25:46).
SALVATION is by grace and not by works (Eph. 2:8,9). In other words, we are saved by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone (Acts 4:12; 10:43; etc.). Repentance is necessary for forgiveness and salvation (Lk. 13:3; Acts 3:19; 20:21). Repentance is not just a change of mind, for Jesus equated it to turning from one's evil ways (Matt. 12:41 cf. Jonah 3:10). At the point of instant salvation (Lk. 19:9) one is declared righteous (Rom. 4), given the gift of eternal life (Rom. 6:23) and is made a child of God (1 Jn. 3:2).
"Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires" (Gal. 5:24).
True grace teaches us to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives (Titus 2:12). In contrast, there exists a false and dangerous "grace" message which gives a license for immorality (Jude 4) and breeds arrogance through a false security (Rom. 11:19-23).
THERE WILL BE A BODILY RESURRECTION for all mankind -- one for the saved and one for the wicked.
"Those who have done good will rise to live, and those who have done evil will rise to be condemned" (Jn. 5:29).
See also Rom. 2:6-11. While those who endure to the end will be saved (Matt. 10:22), reign with Him (2 Tim. 2:12) and enter the kingdom of God (Rev. 21:1-7), the wicked (comprising the vast majority of mankind, Matt. 7:13,14) will in the end be cast into the lake of fire (Rev. 20:15) where they will experience conscious torment forever (Rev. 20:10 cf. 21:8).
THE BELIEVER'S SECURITY IS CONDITIONAL (Rom. 2:7; 1 Cor. 6:9,10; 15:2; Col. 1:22,23; Gal. 6:8,9; Rev. 2:10,11). We have come to share in Christ if we hold firmly till the end the confidence we had at first (Heb. 3:14). We have eternal life only if we have Jesus Christ (1 Jn. 5:12). If we disown Jesus, He will likewise disown us before the Father (Matt. 10:33) and the angels (Lk. 12:9). See also 2 Tim. 2:12. We can become an enemy of God again after initial salvation (Jam. 4:4b) and raging fire will consume the enemies of God (Heb. 10:27). We are to keep ourselves pure (1 Tim. 5:22), from the spiritual pollutants of this world (James 1:27) and from idols (1 Jn. 5:21).
"The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers" (Gal. 6:8-10).
Another Gospel
There is a counterfeit grace message (or "another gospel") which must be exposed and refuted with Scripture like any other similar false teaching (Eph. 5:11 cf. Titus 1:9; Jude 3,4).
A true Christian (or righteous person) can die spiritually because of sin (Ezek. 33:18; Rom. 8:13; James 1:14-16; Lk. 15:24; etc.) fall away (Lk. 8:13; Heb. 6:4-6; etc.) and never again return to Jesus, just as the Apostle Judas Iscariot and Solomon didn't return after they turned from the faith.
All sins are not the same in their effect on our souls. Some sins are greater than others (Jn. 19:11). One type is eternal (Mk. 3:29), while others are not. Another type of sin is uniquely against our bodies, while other sins are outside our bodes (1 Cor. 6:18). 1 Jn. 5:16 declares there is a sin that does not lead to death while there is a sin that leads to death. Sins such as worry (Phil. 4:6), unthankfulness (Col. 2:7, 3:15; Lk. 17:11-18) and not being completely humble and gentle (Eph. 4:2) are not included in any of the lists of sins that will send people to the lake of fire, even if they were once saved. However, other sins certainly will send any person to hell if they die unrepentant, even a person who was once saved. (See 1 Cor. 6:9,10; Rev. 21:8; Gal. 5:19-21; Eph. 5:5,6; Jude 7; Rev. 22:15; etc.).
Because of the way [unconditional] eternal security teachers
declare what imputed righteousness is, multitudes have been mislead into
thinking that God does not see one’s sin after getting born again. All he
instead sees is the blood of Jesus and Christ himself. This is very clearly
refuted when one would read and ponder Revelation chapters 2 and 3. Jesus could
see their sins, that they forsook their first love, that they became lukewarm,
and that they were spiritually asleep. Based on the above truths, to say
that a Christian is clothed in Jesus’ righteousness to the point where God can
only see Jesus and not sins, etc. is a dangerous lie. Furthermore, it also
becomes apparent from Revelation chapters 2 and 3 that the Christian’s
future sins are not already forgiven before they are committed and Jesus is not
automatically pleased with a Christian just because he previously had
his moment of true faith when he was regenerated.
Summary
We are saved by grace (Eph. 2:8,9) but we can fall from grace (Gal. 5:2-4). We are justified by faith (Rom. 5:1) but our faith can become shipwrecked (1 Tim. 1:19,20) and cease to exist (Lk. 8:13; Rom. 11:19-23). We are not under the law (Rom. 6:14, 15) but if you live according to the sinful nature you will die (Rom. 8:13). Paul taught against legalism (Gal. 5:3,4) but he also taught that no immoral, impure or greedy person has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God (Eph. 5:5-7). We are not saved by works (Eph. 2:8,9) but to reap eternal life and not destruction you must sow to please the Spirit and not the sinful nature (Gal. 6:8,9). God is faithful to us (1 Jn. 1:9; 1 Cor. 10:13) but we must be faithful to him to the very end of our lives to escape the lake of fire or second death (Rev. 2:10,11). God surely loves us (Jn. 3:16; Mk. 10:21; Rom. 8:35-39) but those who inherit the kingdom of God love God (Jam 2:5; 1 Cor. 2:9) and to love God means to obey his commands (Jn. 14:15; 1 Jn. 5:3). We have freedom in Christ (Gal. 5:1) but this freedom is not to indulge the sinful nature (Gal. 5:13; 1 Pet 2:16).
This statement of doctrine is adapted from http://www.evangelicaloutreach.org/doctrine.htm. Bracketed text is mine.