What I Believe:

Aquila · #1 03-15-2018, 03:10 PM

In various conversations I tend to play the devil's advocate. I also entertain "possibilities" and "questions" that do not always reflect exactly what I believe during discussions. Sometimes I think many things that I've said down through the years have been misunderstood to be exactly what I believe when they actually are not. So, I felt that it might be of value to clarify what I believe for the record. Here's what I believe:

A. The Infallible Word. The Bible is God’s Word, and He is the author of this message to mankind. (2 Timothy 3:16)

B. Men are Sinners. Through one single act of disobedience, our first parents fell and sin entered into the human family. All have sinned and are in need of the salvation provided only through Jesus Christ. (Romans 5:19)

C. The Blood of the Cross. The only way that sin can be atoned for is by the shedding of the blood of a perfect sacrifice. Jesus was that sacrifice. (Hebrews 9:22; 1 Peter 1:19, 20)

D. Repentance. Repentance is essential to salvation. Pardon and forgiveness of sins is obtained by genuine repentance, a confessing and forsaking of sins. We are justified by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ (Romans 5:1). John the Baptist preached repentance, Jesus proclaimed it, and the Apostles emphasized it to both Jews and Gentiles. (Acts 2:38, 11:18, 17:30).

E. Water Baptism. In water baptism we take part in Christ’s burial. (Romans 6:4; Colossians 2:12) It also represents the washing away of sin. (Acts 22:16) Water baptism is a command of Scripture. Water baptism is to be done in the name of Jesus Christ. (Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; 1 Corinthians 1:13)

F. Holy Spirit Baptism. The baptism of the Holy Ghost is the birth of the Spirit in the life of a believer. The promise of the Spirit is for all. (Acts 2:38, 39)

G. Tongues. The early church Christians could tell right away whether or not someone had received the baptism of the Holy Ghost. (Acts 2:33; 8:15, 16; 10:45, 46; 19:1-6) Speaking in tongues was the initial evidence of receiving the Holy Spirit.

H. Salvation. Salvation is best summed up by Peter in Acts 2:38. "Peter replied, ‘Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.’"

I. Priesthood of All Believers. All believers have direct access to God through Jesus Christ. Moreover, all believers can and should hear directly from God regarding His will for their lives. (Hebrews 10:19, 20; Romans 12:2)

J. Church. The church is the body of believers of which Christ is the head. The church is not a building, nor is it a business. It is a living Spiritual organism where all believers are members in particular and have been placed in the body where it has pleased God. All are needed, all are valuable, and all are gifted. (Ephesians 1:22, 23)

K. Godhead. There is only one God. He is not a being made up of three persons, but a single, indivisible Spirit. (Deuteronomy 6:4; Isaiah 44:24; John 4:24; Mark 12:29; Mark 12:32; Luke 18:19; Galatians 3:20)

L. Name of Jesus. The name of Jesus is the only name given under heaven whereby we must be saved. It is the name we call on in prayer, and the name we are baptized into. Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. The only way to be saved is through Jesus Christ. (Acts 4:12; John 14:6; 15:16)

M. Second Coming of Jesus. The fact that Jesus is coming again the second time in person, was clearly taught by the words of the Lord Jesus himself (Matthew 24:30; Mark 13:26; Luke 21:27; John 14:3), by an angel (Acts 1:11), and in the early Christian church by the apostles and others (I Corinthians 11:26; 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17; II Thessalonians 1:7-8; Titus 2:13). Therefore, the children of God today can earnestly, and hopefully, look forward to this glorious event. At his second coming Jesus will destroy all the armies who have gathered themselves together against Jerusalem with fire (Zechariah 14:1-5; 14:12-15; 2 Thessalonians 1:7-9; 2 Peter 3:10-12; Revelation 20:8-9), he will raise up the righteous dead, on the last day of this present age (John 6:39-40; 6:44; 6:54; 11:24), and those who are alive and remain will be changed (I Corinthians 15:51-52), and caught up to meet him in the clouds (I Thessalonians 4:16-17). This second coming of Jesus will end this present age and begin the eternal state.

N. Judgment. There is coming a day of judgment in which every person will be judged according to the deeds done in his life. This means that there will be a literal resurrection of the dead.

O. Family. The family is God’s plan for nurturing, training, and raising children. To this end, we must strengthen and equip the family to be the main center of Christian education and faith development. (Deuteronomy 6:1-7) God's perfect will concerning marriage is the union of one man and one woman. (Matthew 19:4-6)

P. Body Life. I believe that a healthy church model is found in Acts 2:37-47. If we continue steadfastly in the Apostle’s doctrine, fellowship, breaking of bread, and in prayers, we will do well.

Q. Tithing. The practice of tithing was an Old Testament law which was necessary for supporting the Old Testament priesthood. With the death of Jesus Christ on the cross as a sacrifice for our sins, the veil in the temple was torn in two by the hand of God. This resulted in a new covenant in which the priesthood and its financial support structure was abolished and a new Priesthood of all Believers was established. God’s financial plan for the church today is called "giving," not tithing. (Romans 12:13; I Corinthians 16:1-3; II Corinthians 9:6-7)

R. Holiness. Holiness is essential to salvation. (Hebrews 12:14) A man is made holy by the presence and power of the Holy Spirit in his life. Holy, consecrated, prayerful living should characterize the life and walk of every born-again saint of God. Therefore, God requires that one must forsake the ways of the wicked (2 Corinthians 6:17) and cleanse oneself from filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. (2 Corinthians 7:1) Holiness is not predicated upon adhering to the Law of Moses or church legalisms (Galatians 3:10-13; Romans 7:7-9; Colossians 2:16-17; Galatians 3:24-25; Galatians 2:16; Galatians 3:1-3). A life of true holiness is marked by living a life of divine love towards God and others (Matthew 22:37-40; Romans 13:8-10; Galatians 5:14; James 2:8).

S. Modesty. Biblical standards of modesty, with distinction between male and female, are to be embraced as a practice of Christian grace and discipline. (Deuteronomy 22:5; Proverbs 7:10; I Timothy 2:8-10; Philippians 4:5; I Peter 3:3-5; I John 2:16)

T. Spiritual Gifts. There are nine spiritual gifts which can be manifested through any person who is baptized in the Holy Spirit. They are, the word of wisdom, the word of knowledge, faith, the gifts of healing, the working of miracles, prophecy, discerning of spirits, the gift of tongues, and the interpretation of tongues (I Corinthians 12:8-10). They are to profit everybody (I Corinthians 12:7), and enable the church to prepare itself for the second coming of Jesus (Revelation 19:7). Paul told us, "covet earnestly the best gifts:" (I Corinthians 12:31), so they are to be sought for, and received by faith.

U. The Lord’s Supper. On the night of our Lord's betrayal, he ate the Passover supper with his disciples. After Jesus had washed his disciples’ feet (John 13:2-17), and Judas had left (John 13:27-30), Jesus instituted the ordinance of eating bread and drinking wine (Matthew 26:26-28; Mark 14:22-24; Luke 22:19-20; 1 Corinthians 11:23-25). I keep this ordinance because of the words of Jesus: (Luke 22:19; John 6:53; 1 Corinthians 11:24) Jesus instituted the use of bread, and the fruit of the vine, which are partaken of literally, as emblems of his broken body and shed blood.

V. Government. I recognize the institution of human government as being of divine ordination, and therefore affirm loyalty to our Government and to the laws of our country (Romans 13:1-6; 1 Peter 2:13-14). However, there are exceptions to this, and they are as follows: (1) When the laws of the country forbid preaching in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 4:17-20). (2) In the New Testament the scripture teaches that we should not take up arms against human life, "Do violence to no man," (Luke 3:14), "That you do not resist evil" (Matthew 5:39); "follow peace with all men" (Hebrews 12:14). (See also Matthew 26:52; Romans 12:19; James 5:6; Revelation 13:10.) I believe and interpret these scriptures to mean that Christians should not shed blood, nor take human life. I am therefore against participating in combatant service in war, armed insurrection, property destruction, aiding or abetting in any of these, or in the actual destruction of human life. Therefore, as far as is possible, I encourage all to be law abiding citizens, and to acknowledge our responsibility to pray for our Government (1 Timothy 2:1-4).

Of course, each point can probably be elaborated upon for finer details. But essentially, the above is what I believe.