- First and foremost, I follow no creed books or any other book as authority, just the Bible (2 Peter 1:3).
- The Bible is its best commentary.
- Jesus is Lord and Christ (Acts 2:36).
- God loves the world because it is His creation from the beginning (Genesis 1:1).
- God loves all mankind because He sent his Son to die for us (John 3:16) and that He is longsuffering that all mankind will come to repent of their sins and have them wash away by the blood of Christ (2 Peter 3:9; Acts 2:38; Romans 6:3-4).
- One cannot be saved before baptism (Mark 16:16; Luke 2:47; Acts 2:38; Romans 6:3-4).
- The Holy Spirit never works separate and apart from the Word of God (John 16:13).
- There are three that comprise the Godhead: the Father, the Son (Jesus Christ) and the Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19; Romans 1:20; Colossians 2:9)
- Instrumental music in worship is not authorized by God (Ephesians 5:19; Colossians 3:16).
- There are no more miracles that happen today (including: divine healing, prophecy and speaking in tongues) because miracles were to confirm the Word of God and the Word has already been confirmed (1 Corinthians 13:8-10; Hebrews 2:1-4)
- Women cannot take any lead of the worship service (no leading singing, no preaching, no leading in prayer, no serving at the Lord's table) (1 Timothy 2:12-13).
- Fornication, from the Greek word Porneia meaning, sexual intercourse, is the only reason that Jesus Christ used for divorcing another (Matthew 19:9). Now along these lines, 1 Corinthians 7:1-17 does state that a couple can seperate. But they still cannot be divorced other than fornication. Paul does not contradict Jesus.
- The organization of the church is comprised of Christians. Christ is the head of the church (Ephesians 5:23), Elders shepherd the flock which are also called pastors (Acts 14:23; 20:28), Deacons are the helpers for the elders and the church (Philippians 1:1) and Preachers are proclaimers of the Good News (Romans 10:15; 2 Timothy 4:2).
- There is no governmental system within the church. Each congregation is shown in the Bible to be autonomous, yet a collection which forms the one body (Ephesians 4).
- The plan of salvation is as follows: Hear the word of God (Romans 10:17), Believe the Word (Mark 16:16), repent of your sins (Acts 2:38), confess that Jesus Christ is the Son of God (Matthew 10:32-33), and be baptized (immersed) for the remission of your sins (Acts 22:16; 1 Peter 3:21; Galatians 3:27), then remain faithful till the end of your life (Revelation 2:10).
- Smoking is wrong as well as drinking alcohol beacause they cannot be done for the glory of God nor can it be done in the name of the Lord (1 Corinthians 6:12; Colossians 3:17).
- Abortion is the murdering of a child. I say child because God shows us numerous times that one is called a child or babe while in the womb (Luke 1:44; Jeremiah 1:5; Psalms 139:13-16).
- The Lord's supper is to be examined upon the first day of each week as set forth in the Word of God (Acts 20:7; 1 Corinthians 11:23-32).
- The acts of homosexuality is condemned in the Bible (Romans 1:26-32). While God loves all mankind and wants them to come to Him, He wants it to be on His terms. Therefore, one must leave sinful behaviors. God made man and woman to be compatible and natural (Genesis 2:23-24). Homosexuality is the opposite of compatibility and therefore, no one is born in this lustful way. Furthermore, once cannot enter Heaven who practices such things because they have not been obedient to God.
- One can sin and lose his eternal reward with God (Matthew 7:21-23). Otherwise, what would be the point of ever repenting after baptism or being asked to remain faithful till death (Revelation 2:10), or buffeting our bodies (1 Corinthians 9:27) if one cannot fall?
- One cannot be saved outside of the church that our Lord built and gave His blood for. And so, Christ gave the Church numerous identifying marks so that we would know which one is His. From the name, to the organization, to what is done in worship, to the lives the members of that body lead, all of this is pointed out in the New Testament (Romans 6:17). And, those who are part of this body in Christ (Romans 6:3-4; Romans 12:5) are those who belong to the Lord and who will be saved (Acts 2:47).
Back
