Monday, May 5, 2008

The Bible is clear about the way of salvation. It’s not in Baptism, it’s not based on the fact that you have been in church all your life, and it doesn’t have anything to do with whether you are good morally or not. We too often say, “Well, I believe…” when it simply doesn’t matter what we believe as individuals, we must believe what the Bible says. If what we believe contradicts the Bible, then we better ask ourselves if we believe the Bible to be the final authority; WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY? We must believe what the bible says. And by the way, the Bible does not contradict itself, it may seem so at times, but we must compare scripture with scripture. Take the whole council of God’s Word. We can’t take one verse or passage and form a Theology from that. We have Genesis to Revelation, it’s all inspired and God Breathed. I for one am guilty of making the statement “I believe…..”,but we must get past this mentality and get to what God’s Word has to say about it, for God’s Word is the final authority of life.

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Well, we are approaching the end of another semester. I am ready for a break. I really took on a lot this semester. With 12 hours of classes and now working 35 hours a week at FedEx, it has really been a challenge. I am ashamed to say that my grades have not been so hot. Nevertheless, I am the only one to blame. Next semester I am going to go back to 9 hours, and no early classes. It has really been a rush to get to class at 1:00 on Tues and Thurs. So I will try to finish out the semester strong and prepare for the next.

So far this year has been great. We have had a few storms brew amongst us. Christa has faced some really big challenges at work. Not only being faced with people of cultic faiths (Jehovah's Witnesses), but with the challenge of possibly losing her job. The job issue has somewhat blown over. Thank you to all of you who diligently prayed for us during that time. Whether she lost her job or not, God is still in control, He knows what's best, we don't.

Thanks be to the Lord Jesus Christ who gives us the strength to get through each day. There is a challenge that we face every day, and without Christ we would never make it.
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The Gospel by John Piper

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WHAT WE BELIEVE

1 - The Word of GOD - we believe both the Old and New Testament scriptures as preserved are the inerrant, infallible, inspired Word of God. All complete and sufficient, and are authoritative for faith and practice in the believers relationship with God. ( Ps. 119:160; Ps. 12:6-7; Pro. 30:5a; II Tim. 3:16; II Pet. 1:19-21)

2 - The One True God - the Bible teaches in the one Triune God, eternally existing in three persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Three distinct persons but without division of nature, essence or being. Co-equal in power and glory and having a distinct ministry in God’s relation to His creation and people. (Gen. 1:1 Exo. 15:11; Deut. 6:4; Ps. 83:18; 139:7-9; Matt. 28:19; Jn 10:30; 15:26; Acts 5:3-4; II Corin 13:14)

3 - The Lord Jesus Christ - the Bible teaches that Jesus Christ is the second person of the Triune God. Jesus is God in flesh, the “God Man”, begotten of the Holy Spirit, was born of the virgin Mary, was tempted as we are, yet without sin. Being the perfect “Lamb of God” he freely gave His life to redeem the sins of man. He gave himself in death on the cross, bearing the sins of the world, arose from the grave conquering death and ascended into Heaven as the intercessor and the advocate before the Father for all those that will receive Him as Saviour. (Isa 7:14; Matt 1:18 - 25; Jn 1:1, 14; 3:16; Gal 4:4, 5; Col 2:9; Phil 2:6-10; I Corin 15:3-7; Heb 4:14 - 17; I Jn 2:1, 2)

4 - The Holy Spirit - we believe the Holy Spirit is the third divine person of the Trinity that instantaneously and supernaturally indwells the hearts of those that receive the Lord Jesus as Saviour. He regenerates, seals, anoints, guides, teaches and baptizes all believers into the Body of Christ. The Holy Spirit convicts the world of sin, of righteousness, and of judgement. ( Jn 3:5; 14:16, 17, 26; Jn 16:7-14; Rom 8:9; I Corin 12: 12 - 14; II Corin 3:6, 18; Eph 1:13, 14; 5:18; Matt 28:19; I Peter 1:2)

5 - Mankind - man was created in the image and likeness of God. By choice man chose to sin and disobey God and is by inherited nature, born in sin, and sinful. Being born in sin man is alienated from a relationship with God, and is under the condemnation of God with no means of salvation within himself. ( Gen 1:27; 2:17; 3:6; Psm 51:5; 58:3; Rom 3:23; 5:12-21; I Corin 2:14; Gal 3:11 )

6 - Salvation by Grace Through Faith - God loves man enough, “ in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us”. Mans salvation / redemption was purchased by the Blood of the Lord Jesus Christ on the cross of Calvary. Christ paid the sin debt for man by his vicarious death. Mans only obligation is to admit his helplessness in his sin nature, repent of his sins, and by faith trust solely in the finished work of the cross and the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. Salvation cannot be earned, it is the “gift of God” to all those that will freely accept it. ( Eph 2:8, 9; Titus 3:5; Jn 1:12; 3:14, 10:28, 29; Rom 8:1; Phil 1:6; II Pet 3:9; I Jn 2:2; I Corin 15: 1 - 4; Rev 22:17 )

7 - Eternal Security - those that trust in the Death, Burial, and Resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ are “sealed unto the day of redemption” and eternally saved. ( Jn 3:8; Gal 3:24 - 26; I Jn 5: 11-13; Jn 3:16; Jn 6:36-40)

8 - Satan - is literal and personal, was created holy but through pride and wicked ambition rebelled against God, cast from Heaven and given limited reign of the earth with evil spirits. Defeated at Calvary, but God allows his devices to be used, but only to bring glory to the Lord Jesus. The Christian has the power of resistance and victory through the Blood of Christ. His doom is certain ( Isa. 14:14 - 21, Jn. 16:11; Eph. 2: 1 - 4; Rev. 20: 10)

9 - Heaven and Hell - the Bible teaches there is a literal Heaven being prepared for the saints of God and a literal Hell for those that reject the Lord Jesus. ( Jn. 14:1-6, Matt 31 - 34; Rev. 20:11 - 15; Matt 25:41, 45, 46; Luke 16:19-31 )

10 - The Local Church, Baptism, Communion - the Bible teaches the assembling together of Baptized, immersed, believers that worship the Lord in Spirit and truth, in unity and harmony, and without confusion. Each Church is to carry out the “Great Commission” and observe Baptism by immersion, and the taking the of Lord’s Supper. ( Acts 2:38, Acts 16: 30-33 1st Corin. 11:23 - 32 I Corin 12:13; Eph 1:22, 23; 4:11-15; Gal 1:22 )

11 - Missions - The Local Church is to actively support the Gospel Message that is carried to the nations abroad, thus having a part in fulfilling the great commission given by the Lord. ( Matt. 28: 19 & 20)

12 - Second Coming - The Bible teaches the pretribulational, premillennial and imminent return of the Lord Jesus Christ. First is the “catching away” of the saints, then a seven year period of tribulation, then the Second Coming of the Lord to rule and to reign the earth for the millennium. ( Matt. 24:44, John 14:1 - 3, 1st Corin. 15: 51 - 57, 1st Thess. 4:13 - 18 )