Timothy S. Morton
| Since the first purpose of the inspiration of the Scriptures is that they be profitable for doctrine (2 Tim. 3:16-17), we have listed below a concise doctrinal statement for the benefit of our readers. For more information contact us at the address on our home page or by email. |
I. We believe that the Bible, containing both the Old and New Testaments, is inerrant, infallible, and given by inspiration of God. Furthermore, we believe that God has providentially preserved His word in all its purity in the Authorized King James Version of 1611. It is our absolute and final authority for every matter; all other English versions are inferior. Psa. 12:6-7; 2 Tim. 3:15-16; 2 Pet. 1:19-21.
II. We believe there is only one true God and He is manifest in three persons (the Trinity): the Father, the Word (Son), and the Holy Ghost. These three persons of the Godhead are without division of nature, essence, or being, and each has a distinct ministry in God's relationship with His creation. We believe God is a spiritual, sovereign, and personal being who is omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent by nature. He is the epitome of holiness, righteousness, wisdom, and power and is separate from and superior to His creation. Psa. 83:18, 139:14-15; Matt. 3:16-17, 28:19; 1John 5:7.
III. We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ is the second person of the Trinity, the eternal Word, and the only begotten Son of the Father. He became man through the virgin birth and will continue forever to be both God and man. We believe He gave Himself, as the perfect and sinless Lamb of God, to die upon the cross and shed His blood for the sins of mankind, suffering sin's full penalty of divine wrath in our place. We further insist He bodily arose from the dead never to die again and ascended into Heaven to be the great High Priest, Advocate, and Intercessor for all those who believe on Him. Luke 1:35; John 1:1; 2 Cor. 5:21; 1 Tim. 3:16.
IV. We believe the Holy Spirit is the third person of the Trinity and not an impersonal force or power. We affirm He is the divine agent in God's revelation and redemption; He convicts the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment and regenerates, indwells, baptizes, seals, anoints, and comforts all who receive the Lord Jesus Christ. His will is to empower, guide, teach, and fill all believers who will surrender to Him. John 3:5, 14:16-17, 26, 16:13-14; Rom. 8:9; 1Cor. 12:13.
V. We believe that the eternal triune God, by the word of His mouth, supernaturally and intelligently created everything physical, spiritual, living, and inanimate out of nothing, according to His good pleasure. We affirm, "In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth..." and firmly deny that any form of organic evolution from one species to another ever occurred. Gen 1:1, 2:7; Col. 1:16; Heb. 11:3.
VI. We believe all men are by nature and choice sinful and lost and under the righteous judgment and wrath of God. We insist man has within himself no possible means of salvation and is without hope apart from God's salvation. We affirm God's salvation is by grace through faith, a free gift which cannot be merited in whole or in part by any work or virtue, and can only be received by personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. We believe every true believer in Christ has as a present possession eternal life, perfect righteousness and holiness, sonship in God's family, a new nature, deliverance from eternal condemnation, and every spiritual resource needed for life and godliness. We insist that no true believer can possibly lose his salvation because it is a free gift, he is in Christ and Christ is in him, and God has promised that he shall never perish. Gen. 1:27, 3:6; Psa. 51:5; John 5:24, 10:28-29; Rom. 3:23, 5:12; Eph. 2:1.
VII. We believe in the existence of Satan, a being who was originally created perfect, but who through pride and ambition rebelled against God, thus becoming depraved in character. He is the constant adversary of God and His people, the leader of all wicked and evil spirits, and the god of this evil world. We believe his powers are vast but strictly limited by God and that he was defeated and judged at the cross, making his final doom certain. Believers can overcome him only by the whole armor of God, the blood of the Lamb, and through the power of the Holy Spirit. Isa. 14:12-15; Eph. 6:12; 1 Pet. 5:8; 1 John 3:8; Rev. 12:9-11.
VIII. We believe the second coming of Jesus Christ for believers could occur at any moment, rapturing bodily all those who are in Christ, living and dead, into the air to be forever with Him. After this, we believe, God will send great tribulation upon the earth, pouring out His wrath upon all wickedness, the final blow being the Lord Jesus Christ returning to earth with all his saints to destroy the beast and his armies at the battle of Armageddon. After this Christ will set up an earthly kingdom headed in Jerusalem and will rule and reign with His saints for a thousand years. John 14:3; 1 Cor. 15:51-53; Phil. 3:20; 1 Thes. 4:16-17; Rev. 19:11-16.
IX. We believe that the souls of all believers go directly to be with Christ in Heaven immediately at death and that their works will be judged at the judgment seat of Christ. We also believe that the souls of the lost go directly into Hell at death to be later judged at the great white throne and cast into the lake of fire, from which there is no escape. Luke 16:22-23; 1 Cor. 15:51-52; 2 Cor. 5:10; Rev 20:12-15.
X. We believe in the priesthood of all believers and that every born-again Christian has direct access to God without the need of any human priest. Furthermore, we believe, that Jesus Christ is the head of the church into which true believers are baptized (placed into) by the Holy Spirit at the moment of salvation, making one spiritual body of believers. John 14:6; 1 Cor. 12:13; Heb. 4:16; 1 Pet. 2:5.
XI. We believe it is important that every believer be a member of a local New Testament church which consists of born-again baptized believers who meet together for worship, prayer, teaching, exhortation, fellowship, to keep the two church ordinances (baptism and the Lord's supper), and to engage in carrying out the great commission of preaching the gospel to the lost. We further believe that every local church should be completely independent from all outside interference, religious and political, and also self-governing. The only one it should be accountable to is God. Matt. 28:19-20; Acts 2:41-42, 6:4-5, 15:22-23.
XII. We believe every born-again Christian has a duty and
a responsibility to live a clean, holy, and separated life that is
not conformed to this world; not as a means of salvation, but as
evidence and fruit of salvation. Every believer should deny himself,
take up his cross, and follow his Saviour's example, walking as He
walked. The believer also has a duty to study the scriptures, pray
for guidance and wisdom, and bear the gospel to a lost and dying
world. Luke 9:23-26; Rom. 12:1-2; Eph. 2:10; 2 Tim. 2:15.