SOS Revival
Statement of Faith (Beliefs)
What follows is a summary of my beliefs regarding the major doctrines of the Christian Faith. This statement of faith is not exhaustive but should provide the foundation for anyone who wants to know what it is that I profess and upon which immutable truths I preach and teach. I am not perfect but I know that God is and I trust in the entirety of His Holy Word. Therefore, this statement of faith is reverently founded upon the Bible, which is my final authority.
NOTE: Clicking on the supplementary verse links below each section will pull up a box with those complete verses.
The Scriptures
The Bible, or the Word of God, is historically accurate and true. It is the compiled record of the Scriptures given by God to all mankind. Through divine inspiration, it is the plenary, perfect (infallible/inerrant) and preserved testament of God, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit. It is the foundation and final authority for all things regarding the Christian life. The Bible is comprised of the 39 books of the Old Testament and the 27 books of the New Testament.
(Psalm 12:6–7; Psalm 119:89; 1 Peter 1:25; John 17:17; 2 Peter 1:19-21; 2 Timothy 3:14-17)
NOTE: I believe the King James Bible is the preserved Word of God and the best option for those who speak English. I only preach and teach from the King James Bible while adding insight or clarity from the Greek and Hebrew texts.
God
There is only one omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent Holy God who created all things and who is self-existent, pre-eternal, and infinite. This one true God of the Bible also manifests Himself as a Triune God, existing in the persons of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. Each person is unique in their manifestation and appointed office yet remain co-existent, co-equal and co-eternal, and in no way compromise the singularity of God.
God, the Son
Jesus Christ of Nazareth, being the incarnate Son of God, was fully God and fully man, conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. He lived a sinless life, suffered for the sins of the world, died as the substitutionary Lamb of God on the Cross of Calvary, was buried, rose again from the dead on the third day, and ascended into Heaven. Salvation therefore is found only in the name of Jesus Christ.
(Psalm 2:7; Isaiah 7:14; Isaiah 9:6; Luke 1:30-35; John 1:1-3 & 14; Luke 2:11)
God, the Holy Spirit
God the Holy Spirit, or Holy Ghost, is the third Person of the Trinity. He is the indwelling Comforter for all believers that witnesses to our salvation, empowers us for the ministry, helps us pray, and seals us unto the day of our redemption. His ongoing work is that of reproving the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment.
(John 14:16-17 & 26; John 16:7-8; Acts 1:8; Matthew 28:19; 1 Corinthians 12:13; Romans 8:26)
Mankind (Man & Woman)
God created mankind in His own image and with a twofold desire: one for our Creator and one for another. He created them male (Adam/Man) and female (Eve/Woman) and called their name Adam (mankind) and then joined them together as one flesh (marriage). To fulfill our desire for a help meet, God's design from the beginning is that marriage is only between one man and one woman, with which there is no shame and upon which the marriage bed is undefiled. Any other union or sex outside of marriage is a sin. Marriage was also meant to be for a lifetime and God's desire is that divorce is only allowed because of fornication or the abandonment by an unbeliever.
(Genesis 5:1-2; Mark 10:6-9; Genesis 2:25; Hebrews 13:4; Romans 1:26-27; Matthew 19:9; 1 Corinthians 7:15)
Mankind (Sin & Salvation)
God created Adam and Eve perfect and with both a free will and an eternal soul because God is Love. But when Adam and Eve disobeyed God, sin entered the world which also brings about death. So too death passed upon all mankind for everyone has sinned and falls short of the glory of God. Because God is the Holy and Perfect Judge He must punish sin. As such, we are all destined for a place of eternal punishment for our sin called the lake of fire. However, because God is Love He "sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins." Through Jesus' substitutionary death we now have Salvation from our sin debt if we repent and believe in Jesus Christ.
Salvation
Salvation is a free gift that is provided because of the life, death, resurrection and ascension of Jesus Christ. It is by God's grace alone through faith alone in Jesus Christ alone and not by any works or good deeds that we can do. It was complete and finished at the cross of Calvary. It can not be added to nor diminished and ensures that all who believe in Jesus Christ are saved and will live for eternity in Heaven with God. Salvation can not be lost and all who are saved are held fast by God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit who seals all Believers.
(Romans 10:9-10 & 13; Ephesians 2:4-9; Titus 3:4-7; Romans 8:38-39; John 10:27-29)
The Church
The Church is made up of every single Christian Believer around the world from the day of Pentecost after Christ's ascension until His coming return. The Bible instructs us to not forsake the assembling together of ourselves as fellowship with other believers is vital to the Christian life. I also believe in the local autonomous assembly of a body of believers for the purpose of spiritual growth, ministry, discipleship, outreach, and evangelism. The single greatest picture of Christ's relationship with His Church is the marriage between a man and a woman. This is why marriage is sacred and must be carefully and diligently protected.
(Matthew 16:16-18; 1 Timothy 3:15; Acts 2:41-42 & 46-47; Acts 11:26; Hebrews 10:23-25)
(Acts 20:28; Romans 12:5; Colossians 1:18; Ephesians 1:22-23; Ephesians 5:22-33)
Church Ordinances
I believe that Jesus clearly gave two ordinances for the Church to follow after His ascension. They are baptism (Believer's Baptism) and communion (the Lord's Supper). Both ordinances are strictly symbolic as neither baptism nor communion can save us nor cleanse us from our sins. It must also be stated that although neither ordinance is necessary for Salvation, all who are saved should desire to live in accordance with Christ's commands by keeping these two ordinances.
Baptism: Only a professing believer in Jesus Christ can be baptized and the only mode of baptism in the Word of God is immersion. Therefore, infant baptism and sprinkling is not Biblical. Baptism is symbolic of Christ's death, burial, and resurrection. It is the public declaration or outward expression of our inward faith that identifies us with Christ.
Communion: Communion is to be centered around Christian fellowship and reminds the Church to be unified in Christ's substitutionary atonement while waiting for His return. It is symbolic of Jesus Christ's body that was broken for us at Calvary and His blood that was shed for the forgiveness of our sins. Communion is a solemn time of reflection for Believers and a willfully sinning Christian should not partake of communion until they have sought forgiveness from God.
(Matthew 28:18-20; Romans 6:3-4; Colossians 2:12; 1 Corinthians 11:23-29; 1 Corinthians 10:16-17)
Revelation
The book of Revelation and end times prophesy is a very lengthy subject but one that I believe concludes a foundational Christian doctrine: Jesus Christ will return at a time we least expect. His return is imminent and will be universal, bodily, and will include events such as the rapture of His Church, the setting up of an earthly Millennial Kingdom, and God's final judgement of all mankind prior to the creation of the new Heaven, new earth, and new Jerusalem. Seeing as the return of Jesus is one of the most repeated themes of the New Testament, I believe we need to be even more diligent than ever before in our faith.
(1 Corinthians 15:51-58; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; 1 Thessalonians 5:1-9; Revelation 19-22)
Creation
God (the Father, the Son, the Holy Spirit) created all things in six consecutive and literal 24 hour days in accordance with the Biblical creation account in Genesis 1 & 2. Creation took place about 6000 years ago with no evolutionary process. After declaring everything to be "very good" (perfect) on the sixth day, God rested from His creation work on the seventh day. God's creation was perfect until Lucifer's iniquity and the fall of man through the sin of disobedience.
(Genesis 1 & 2; John 1:1-3; )