An Atheist Professor of Philosophy was speaking to his Class on the Problem Science has with GOD, the ALMIGHTY. He asked one of his New Christian Students to stand and . . .
Professor : You are a Christian, aren't you, son ?
Student : Yes, sir. Professor : So, you Believe in GOD ?
Student : Absolutely, sir.
Professor : Is GOD Good ?
Student : Sure.
Professor : Is GOD ALL - POWERFUL ?
Student : Yes.
Professor : My Brother died of Cancer even though he Prayed to GOD to Heal him. Most of us would attempt to help others who are ill. But GOD didn't. How is this GOD good then? Hmm?
(Student was silent )
Professor : You can't answer, can you ? Let's start again, Young Fella. Is GOD Good?
Student : Yes.
Professor : Is Satan good ?
Student : No.
Professor : Where does Satan come from ?
Student : From . . . GOD . .. .
Professor : That's right. Tell me son, is there evil in this World?
Student : Yes.
Professor : Evil is everywhere, isn't it ? And GOD did make everything. Correct?
Student : Yes.
Professor : So who created evil ?
(Student did not answer)
Professor : Is there Sickness? Immorality? Hatred? Ugliness? All these terrible things exist in the World, don't they?
Student : Yes, sir.
Professor : So, who Created them ? (Student had no answer)
Professor : Science says you have 5 Senses you use to Identify and Observe the World around you.. Tell me, son . . . Have you ever Seen GOD?
Student : No, sir.
Professor : Tell us if you have ever Heard your GOD?
Student : No , sir.
Professor : Have you ever Felt your GOD, Tasted your GOD, Smelt your GOD? Have you ever had any Sensory Perception of GOD for that matter?
Student : No, sir. I'm afraid I haven't.
Professor : Yet you still Believe in HIM?
Student : Yes.
Professor : According to Empirical, Testable, Demonstrable Protocol, Science says your GOD doesn't exist. What do you say to that, son?
Student : Nothing. I only have my Faith.
Professor : Yes,Faith. And that is the Problem Science has.
Student : Professor, is there such a thing as Heat?
Professor : Yes.
Student : And is there such a thing as Cold?
Professor : Yes. Student : No, sir. There isn't.
(The Lecture Theatre became very quiet with this turn of events )
Student : Sir, you can have Lots of Heat, even More Heat, Superheat, Mega Heat, White Heat, a Little Heat or No Heat. But we don't have anything called Cold. We can hit 458 Degrees below Zero which is No Heat, but we can't go any further after that. There is no such thing as Cold. Cold is only a Word we use to describe the Absence of Heat. We cannot Measure Cold. Heat is Energy. Cold is Not the Opposite of Heat, sir, just the Absence of it.
(There was Pin-Drop Silence in the Lecture Theatre )
Student : What about Darkness, Professor? Is there such a thing as Darkness?
Professor : Yes. What is Night if there isn't Darkness?
Student : You're wrong again, sir. Darkness is the Absence of Something You can have Low Light, Normal Light, Bright Light, Flashing Light . . . But if you have No Light constantly, you have nothing and its called Darkness, isn't it? In reality, Darkness isn't. If it is, were you would be able to make Darkness Darker, wouldn't you?
Professor : So what is the point you are making, Young Man ?
Student : Sir, my point is your Philosophical Premise is flawed.
Professor : Flawed ? Can you explain how?
Student : Sir, you are working on the Premise of Duality. You argue there is Life and then there is Death, a Good GOD and a Bad GOD. You are viewing the Concept of GOD as something finite, something we can measure. Sir, Science can't even explain a Thought. It uses Electricity and Magnetism, but has never seen, much less fully understood either one. To view Death as the Opposite of Life is to be ignorant of the fact that Death cannot exist as a Substantive Thing. Death is Not the Opposite of Life: just the Absence of it. Now tell me, Professor, do you teach your Students that they evolved from a Monkey?
Professor : If you are referring to the Natural Evolutionary Process, yes, of course, I do. Student : Have you ever observed Evolution with your own eyes, sir?
(The Professor shook his head with a Smile, beginning to realize where the Argument was going )
Student : Since no one has ever observed the Process of Evolution at work and Cannot even prove that this Process is an On-Going Endeavor, Are you not teaching your Opinion, sir? Are you not a Scientist but a Preacher?
(The Class was in Uproar )
Student : Is there anyone in the Class who has ever seen the Professor's Brain?
(The Class broke out into Laughter )
Student : Is there anyone here who has ever heard the Professor's Brain, Felt it, touched or Smelt it? . . . No one appears to have done so. So, according to the Established Rules of Empirical, Stable, Demonstrable Protocol, Science says that You have No Brain, sir. With all due respect, sir, how do we then Trust your Lectures, sir?
(The Room was Silent. The Professor stared at the Student, his face unfathomable)
Professor : I guess you'll have to take them on Faith, son.
Student : That is it sir . . . Exactly ! The Link between Man & GOD is FAITH. That is all that Keeps Things Alive and Moving.
Concentrate on this sentence
'To get something you never had, you have to do something you never did'. When God takes something from your grasp, He's not punishing you, but merely opening your hands to receive something better. Concentrate on this sentence..... 'The will of God will never take you where the Grace of God will not protect you.'
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
Friday, November 20, 2009
Sharing Songs For God
Hear I am Lord
I the Lord of sea and sky, I have heard the people cry;
He who dwell in deepest sin, My hand will save.
I who made the stars of night, I will make their darkness bright;
Who will bear my light to them? Whom shall I send?”
Chorus:
Here I am Lord, is it I Lord?
I have heard, You calling in the night.
I will go Lord, if you lead me,
I will hold your people in my heart.”
I the Lord of wind and flower,
I will tend the poor and lame,
I will set a feast for them, my hand will save;
Finest bread I will provide, till their hearts be satisfied,
I will give my life to them, whom shall I send?”
Chorus:
Here I am Lord, is it I Lord?
I have heard, You calling in the night,
I will go Lord, if you lead me,
I will hold your people in my heart.”
I the Lord of snow and rain, I have borne my peoples pain,
I have wept for the love for them, they turn away;
I will break their hearts of stone, give them hearts for love alone;
I will speak my word to them, whom shall I send?”
Chorus:
Here I am Lord, is it I Lord?
I have heard, You calling in the night,
I will go Lord, if you lead me,
I will hold your people in my heart.”
……
I will hold your people in my heart.”
May the Lord find us Faithful
I.
God has not given us the spirit of fear,
But has given us the strength to obey;
With power and sound mind, with love the unfailing kind;
Oh: be not ashamed of his way.”
II
May the Lord find us faithful,
May His words be our banner held high;
May the Lord find us faithful,
Everyday tho we live, tho we die.”
III
No man that seeketh after things of this life,
As a soldiers who passes the test;
Be faithful, be working, be running, be serving, be searching,
His words, for His best.”
IV
Be strong, be strong, be strong in the Lord,
And be a good courage, for he is your guide;
Be strong, be strong, be strong in the Lord,
And rejoice for the victory is yours.”
V
Living or dying may honor thine,
From this wretched life you loved and forgave;
A life that is an fire be only our heart desire,
Be faithful from now to the grave.”
(Repeat II stanza and IV stanza )
The Family of GOD
Chorus:
I’m so glad, I’m a part of the family of GOD,
I’ve been washed in the fountain, cleansed by His blood!
Joint heirs with Jesus, as we travel this sod;
For I’m part of the family, the family of GOD”
I
You will notice, we say brother and sister round here,
It’s because we’re a family and this folks are so near;
When one has a heartache, we can share the tears,
And rejoice in each victory, In this family so dear.”
Chorus:
I’m so glad, I’m a part of the family of GOD,
I’ve been washed in the fountain, cleansed by His blood!
Joint heirs with Jesus, as we travel this sod;
For I’m part of the family, the family of GOD”
II
From the door of the orphanage, to the house of the King,
No longer an outcast, a new song to sing;
From rags unto riches, from the weak to the strong,
I’m not worthy to be here, but praise GOD I belong.”
Chorus:
I’m so glad, I’m a part of the family of GOD,
I’ve been washed in the fountain, cleansed by His blood!
Joint heirs with Jesus, as we travel this sod;
For I’m part of the family, the family of GOD”
Lord Let Me Serve
I
People are longing to hear at the Savior,
Children are not growing not knowing He cares;
Lord, let me tell them about your compassion,
Lord, where can I be used?
Chorus:
Lord, let me serve, Lord, let me follow,’
Give me a place and a purpose to fill;
Teach me to serve, teach me to follow,
Use me to do your will.”
II
Lord, let me serve wherever you need me,
Make me a vessel through which you can flow;
Give me a passion to work for your glory,
Lord, where I can be used?
Chorus:
Lord, let me serve, Lord, let me follow,
Give me a place and purpose to fill;
Teach me to serve, teach me to follow,
Use me to do your will.”
If That Isn’t Love
I
He left the splendor in heaven,
Knowing His destiny;
Was the lonely hill of Golgotha,
There to lay down His life for me.
Chorus:
If that isn’t love, The ocean is dry,
There’s no star in the sky,
And the sparrow can’t fly;
If that isn’t love, Then heaven’s a myth,
There’s no feeling like this, If that isn’t love.”
II
Even in death He remembered,
The thief hanging by His side;
There he spoke with love and compassion,
Then He took Him to paradise.”
Chorus:
If that isn’t love, The ocean is dry,
There’s no star in the sky,
And the sparrow can’t fly;
If that isn’t love, Then heaven’s a myth,
There’s no feeling like this, If that isn’t Love.”
All Around The World
I
We have a story, to tell to the nations,
That shall turn them from darkest of night;
A story of justice, a story of mercy,
A story of peace and light.
II
We have a message to give to the nations,
That the Lord, GOD who reigns up above;
Has sent us a savior, His only son Jesus,
To show us that GOD is love.
Chorus:
All around the world, there are people who need to know the Lord,
All around the world, there are children who long to feel His Love;
All around the world there’s a hunger to hear the voice of GOD,
We must take the gospel all around the world;
YES, we must take the gospel all around the world.
III
We have a savior to show to the nations,
Who the pathway of sorrow has trod;
That all the world’s people, yes all the world’s people,
May come to the truth of GOD.”
Chorus:
All around the world, there are people who need to know the Lord,
All around the world, there are children who long to feel His Love;
All around the world there’s a hunger to hear the voice of GOD,
We must take the gospel all around the world;
YES, we must take the gospel all around the world.”
Kay Naako Na si JESUS
May dakong pagkabalhin sa akong kalag ,
Kay naako na si Jesus;
May kahayag nga akong hingkit-an karon,
Kay naako na si Jesus.”
Coro:
Kay naako na si Jesus,
Nia niining dughan ko;
Nagbaha ang kalipay sa akong kalag;
Kay naako na si Jesus.”
II
Sa pagkahisalaag mingbiya ako,
Kay naako na si Jesus;
Ang tanan kung sala nahinloan gayud,
Kay naako na si Jesus.”
Coro:
Kay naako na si Jesus,
Nia niining dughan ko;
Nagbaha ang kalipay sa akong kalag;
Kay naako na si Jesus.”
III
Ang malig-on paglaum naangkon ko na,
Kay naako na si Jesus;
Ganghaan nga langitnon makit-an ko na,
Kay naako na si Jesus.”
Coro:
Kay naako na si Jesus,
Nia niining dughan ko;
Nagbaha ang kalipay sa akong kalag,
Kay naako na si Jesus.”
Me and My House
Danao Fellowship, November 01, 2009
1
We stand here together, as a family,
We join hands together,
Lifting praises to the Father above,
For sending His son.
2
We’ve chosen together as a family,
To serve Him forever,
Knowing nothing else will matter in time,
We’ve made up our minds.
3
Choose you this day; tell me who will you serve,
Let nothing stand in your way,
To give the praise, He deserves;
As for me and my house, We will serve the Lord.
4
Thru the heat of the day,
We will join in the fight, till He takes us away,
Till our faith becomes sight,
As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.
5
We will serve Him, We will serve Him,
We’ll serve Him, for He is worthy,
Serve Him, we’ll serve Him, We’ll serve Him,
For He is worthy.
6
Choose you this day, tell me who you will serve,
Let nothing stand in your way,
Give the praise He deserves;
As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.
As for me and my house, we will serve the lord.
7
We will serve Him, We will serve Him,
We’ll serve Him, for He is worthy,
Serve Him, we’ll serve Him, We’ll serve Him,
For He is worthy.
8
Choose you this day, tell me who you will serve,
Let nothing stand in your way,
Give the praise He deserves;
As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.
As for me and my house, we will serve the lord.
Family camp 2009- One Day He’s Coming
The best gift in life is having a family. It is God’s given gift to everyone. Either you are believer or pagan, He is so kind that He provided loving people for you and for me. However, if you believer in Him you are always better than anyone else, because you have two families; your family in blood lines and your belonging to the family of God. You will always secure, knowing that God is you Father.
Some people think that being a Christian is a boring life. They are thinking that having a routine like work, home, reading the Bible, praying, and or going to church is a lousy lifestyle. Yet, in God’s people there is nothing in this world, which is sweeter, b
ut to please God, and always be with His peopl
e, called the family of God. Anyhow, if only those who called Christian life, a boring one can just join the ministry, they can surely experience the moment of joy, especially during a family camp.
Yes, our annual family camp held at Socorro Beach,
w
as summer with a great joy, and overwhelming glad
ness that I met my other brothers and sisters in Christ from different churches such as Danao, Lapu-Lapu, pasil, Bogo and
“One day He’s coming.” Was the quote that really inspires everyone, an awakening phrase for every Christian, to be strong even on the midst of life pressures, crisis and even to temptation. One day He’s coming, so let’s remain in peace with Him.
During the camp, campers were divided into groups. There were Enoch group, Abraham and Elijah. I was with the Elijah team where mostly members are teenagers. I know I should belong (smile). It was with so much fun that it always lingered into my memory.
As you see in some photos here, you could see joy in every smile. There is definitely no boring in Christian life beca
use God’s love is always gives us joy in our heart.
One day He is coming, and soon there will be another exciting family camp again. I am looking forward on that event again, and I would no longer say, Hello, am Nila, rather I would say, “Glad to see you again, Brothers and Sisters.” Are you not excited about it?
Then, see you around soon for the Family Camp 2010.
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
How Samson Defeated? A Call For All Christians
The story about Samson and Delilah is very well known. Almost everyone especially the Bible readers are familiar with the story. We knew Samson’s power over lions and enemies. But we wonder why he was simply defeated with just a woman. A great man, anointed by God and undefeated by any other harmful situations lost his life by just a decision. Maybe, this story is just a story for other people, specifically the Christians but for me, Samson’s experience is a wake-up call to everyone who sometimes forgetting the truly will of God.We all knew the origin of Samson (Judges 16). We also aware how his love over Delilah was started and especially we knew that Samson was killed after he decided to stay with an enemy. Everything about Samson is clear that his parents and God do not agree with the situation.
In our modern world, Samson is still existed in the person of many believers, who also been defeated by their own feelings. It is not literally happened the same with Samson but losing their faith and leaving the presence of God, while trying to satisfy their own heart desire is also a way that they are following Samson wrong decision. And sometimes in my life, I was also among the victim. If only I can bring back the time. I should be wise; anyhow that was a long life experience. 
In the Bible, one should not walk with unbeliever, should not set among them how much more if we indeed live with them?, because bad company corrupts good characters(1 Corinthians 15:33). Like Samson, disobeying God’s word means suffering and even means of dying, can be physical or spiritual because you can compromise your faith with your feelings, through pre-marital sex and other immoralities in the face of Christian life.
But why Samson really in-love with Delilah? Delilah was a pretty woman, adorned with jewelries, lipstick and any other accessories that made her look desirable over Samson. This is also the trick with our spiritual enemies. Sometimes, he create relationship gap within the family so that siblings can crave love and comfort that in reality outside Christian community offered with open arms. But remember it was only good in the beginning. After you will be trapped by that person whom “perse” comforting you, he will leave you broken and helpless, in the same way that Samson’s power was gone when he was enjoyed Delilah’s caress and confess his power. We knew it.
There are many Christian men who also falling in-love with sexy women, but unbeliever to God. Better if they can bring the girls into God’s feet, but what if they will be the one to be carried outside? Can they gamble their faith? And be killed like Samson? However, we knew that Samson repented and he able to bring back his power through his grief prayer, asking God to restore his strength. At least, Samson able to revenge his enemies after all, to what the evil men have done against him. We already knew how.
In our lives, we do not want like Samson also. And this is what anyone should be aware about. We should always remember that a heart is deceitful. You will be tricked by your own feelings and fail God. And these can only be possible when we just focus our eyes to Jesus. Of course, temptation can’t be avoided, but with God’s help through our intend prayer, God will shield us from the wiles of our enemies.
Keep praying and without ceasing, so that we can surpass all the temptations, and most importantly we will not be defeated like Samson. Let’s be discerning enough about how Samson defeated in just a blink of an eye.
Monday, October 12, 2009
Doctrinal Stand
I. The Inspiration of the Bible
We believe the Holy Scriptures, composed of the thirty-nine books of the Old Testament and the twenty-seven books of the New Testament, to be verbally inspired Word of God, the final authority for faith and life, inerrant in the original writings, infallible and God-breathed Psalm 19:7-11; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:16-21; Luke 24:13-28; John 16:12-16; Psalm 12:6-7; Isaiah 40:8; Psalm 138:2.
II. The Trinity
We believe in the Triune God-God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit-coequal and coeternal. Each has His individual identity and separate responsibilities for the purposes of redemption, yet perfectly united as three Persons in One. 1 John 5:1-8; John 16:7-18; Matthew 28:19; Genesis 1:26.
III. The Deity and Virgin Birth of Christ
We believe in Deity of Jesus Christ. He is the only begotten, virgin born Son of God, the second Person in the Blessed Trinity, God the Son, God manifest in the flesh. 1 Timothy 3:16; John 1:1-14; John 14:9; Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:18-25; John 10:36.
IV. The Blood Atonement
We believe in the substitutionary atonement of the Lord Jesus Christ. He, by the grace of God, tasted death for every man, and all must be born again or be forever lost. Hebrews 2:9; John 6:44-69; John 3: 118; Romans 3:25; Revelation 1:5; Hebrews 9:22; 1 Peter 1:18-19. The Lord's atonement was not limited with respect to whom God's salvation is offered, i.e., His shed blood is sufficient for all sin and, therefore, "who so ever will" may believe and be saved to the uttermost. 1 John 2:2; Hebrews 7:22-25; Revelation 22:17. Also, the text "with His stripes we are healed" speaks of God's remedy for the sin-sick soul through the suffering and substitutionary sacrifice of the Lamb of God, and is not referring to the healing of the body as proposed by false charismatic teaching. Isaiah 53:4-6.
V. The Resurrection
We believe in the physical resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. He ascended bodily into the heavens and is now at the right hand of God as our Mediator, Priest, and Advocate. Acts 3:12-26; John 20; Hebrews 9:24; 1 Corinthians 15:12-28; 1 John 2:1.
VI. The Second Coming
We believe in the Rapture-the personal, premillennial, pretribulational and imminent return of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ "in the air." This has been the "Blessed Hope" of every born-again believer in the Church Age. At that time He will receive to Himself the resurrected bodies of those who have "died in Christ" and also all those who are presently alive and "in Christ." 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; 5:6-10; 1 Corinthians 15:50-55; Acts 1:11; Titus 2:13. He will then come "with His saints" seven years thereafter to execute judgment upon the ungodly nations before the inauguration of His earthly millennial reign at His second coming to the earth. Jude 14,15; Matthew 25:31-46. The Lord will cast the anti-christ and the false prophet into the lake of fire, send Satan into the abyss and establish His earthly kingdom. The Lord Jesus Christ will reign one thousand years, thus literally fulfilling the covenant promises made to a believing remnant of Israel through the Patriarchs of the Old Testament. Isaiah 11:1-16; Revelation 19:19-20; 20:1-6. After the earthly reign of one thousand years, He will bring all the unsaved dead to the judgment of the Great White Throne and all who stand before that Throne will be cast into the lake of fire forever. Revelation 20:11-15; Matthew 7:21-23. Satan will also be cast into the lake of fire. Revelation 20:10.
VII. The Personality of Satan
We believe in the personality of Satan, "that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world." He is actively opposing the cause of Christ on every hand and is the arch enemy of every true believer. His warfare incorporates the deception of mixing error and truth as well as that which is flagrantly vile and evil. 2 Corinthians 11:1-15; 2 Peter 5:8-9; Revelation 12:9-10; Matthew 4:2-11; Isaiah 14:12-17; John 8:24. He marshals a host of fallen angels that can also serve to deceive the unsuspecting by "transforming themselves into...apostles of Christ [and] ministers of righteousness..." (2 Corinthians 11:315). These false spirits can influence the unfaithful servant to say helpful and even true things and can also themselves energize ones to do the miraculous. Therefore, every experience and teaching must be examined in light of the Word of God to determine its true source. Isaiah 8:20; 1 John 4:1.
VIII. Heaven and Hell
We believe that Heaven is a real place of eternal blessedness prepared by God for those whose garments have been "made white" through faith in the shed "blood of the Lamb." Hell is a real place of eternal suffering for those whose names are not written in the "book of life." There is no intermediate state in which the unsaved can atone for his own sins. John 14:1-6; Revelation 7:13-17; 20:11-15; 21:22-27; 2 Corinthians 5:1-10; Luke 16:19-31.
IX. Creation and Man's Fall
We believe God created all things in a time frame of six literal, twenty-four hour days. We believe evolution in any form, and this necessarily includes so called "theistic evolution" and the "gap theory" to be contradictory to the clear teaching of Scripture. We believe in the universality and exceeding sinfulness of sin. In Adam all have sinned and, therefore, are guilty before God by nature as well as by deed. Man was created by a direct act of God and subsequently fell into sin in the Garden of Eden. Romans 5:12-21 Ezekiel 18:4; Romans 3:10-26; 6:23; Psalm 51:5 Genesis 1-3.
X. Justification by Faith
We believe that man is justified on the single ground of faith in the shed blood and bodily resurrection of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Romans 5:1 Ephesians 2:8-9. The all-sufficient and completed work of Redemption accomplished through His death and resurrection is fully appropriated at the moment in time by those who receive by faith the free gift of salvation offered in the one true Gospel. The adding of works, baptism, sacraments, or any other condition placed upon man in order to obtain God's gift of salvation by faith alone in the finished work of Christ results in "another gospel" that is under God's curse. Galatians 1:6-10; Romans 1:16 1 Corinthians 15:1-4; John 5:24; Ephesians 5:8.
XI. Eternal Security
We believe in the eternal security of all believers in our Lord Jesus Christ. Once a lost sinner has be come a "new creature in Christ," he can never lose that new relationship in the family of God which is based upon Christ's imputed righteousness and not his own. The life that God imparts to the believing sinner is not "eternal life" if it can be terminated. 2 Corinthians 5:14-21; John 10:25-29. Sin in the life of the believer affects his fellowship with the Father not sonship. All who are truly born of the Spirit and who continue in sin will be dealt with by the chastening hand of God. 1 John 1:5-10; Hebrews 12:6-13 1 Corinthians 3:11-15. All who are in Christ are sealed unto the day of redemption and will be glorified. We are to "work out" our salvation not "work for" our salvation; Philippians 2:12. Texts used to supposedly teach one can lose his salvation are speaking of loss of reward, not the loss of salvation or the right to be called a child of God. 1 Corinthians 3:8-15; 2 John 8; Revelation 3:11; Romans 8:29-30; 1 Timothy 1:12; Ephesians 1:13-14; 4:30.
XII. The Holy Spirit and Body of Christ
We believe all regenerated people are baptized into the Body of Christ by the Holy Spirit the moment they receive Christ as their Saviour. 1 Corinthians 12:13; 1Corinthians 10:32; Ephesians 2:13-18. The Holy Spirit indwells all who have been born again from above. Also, the baptism of the Spirit is not a separate event apart from the reception of the gift of the Holy Spirit upon believing on Christ unto salvation. Acts 15:6-11; Galatians 3:2,14; Romans 10:1317; Romans 8:9. The Church which is Christ's Body consists of all those who, in the present dispensation, truly believe and accept Jesus Christ as Saviour and Lord. Romans 8:14-27; James 1:18; John 1:12; 1 Corinthians 1:2; Matthew 16:16-16.
XIII. Separation
We believe that all Christians are first to be separated wholly unto the Lord, and as a necessary result, they must be: 1) Separated from worldly and sinful practices. They are to be holy, even as He is holy, and this desired behavior will always be diametrically opposed to the course of this present age. 1 Peter 1: 13-16; 1 Corinthians 6:19-20; Romans 12:1-2; 1 John 2:15-17. 2) Separated from apostasy and unbelief. A believer must not be "unequally yoked together with unbelievers," thereby being identified with unbelief by association, whether in ministry, worship, or by joint religious activities. 2 Corinthians 6:14-18; 1 Timothy 6:3-5; 2 Timothy 2:19-22; 3:1-5; Amos 3:3. 3) Separated from disobedient brethren and doctrinal compromise with respect to all ministry and service. A believer is identified with the doctrinal positions and practices of those he is in fellowship with, both before God and man. Separation from those who are not walking according to truth deters the leavening effect of compromise, and gives a faithful warning to the erring brother. Romans 16: 17; 2 Thessalonians 3:6,14-15; 2 John 10-11; Galatians 2:9-11; 1 Corinthians 15:33.
XIV. The Local Church and Its Mission
We believe God has ordained the ministry of local, independent, indigenous assemblies of believers to accomplish His work in this dispensation extending from Pentecost to the Translation of Christ's Body at His appearing. The church's membership is to be composed of regenerated, baptized believers. The two ordinances of the local church are believer's baptism by immersion, and the memorial of the Lord's supper until He returns. The church is to be missionary and evangelistic in spreading the Gospel into all the world. It is not the mission of the church to "bring in the Kingdom," work for political or economic justice, major on social improvement, or "Christianize" society. It is to strive together for the faith of the Gospel, proclaim and maintain purity of doctrine and practice, and worship and serve the Lord in "spirit and truth." Acts 2:41-47; 20:17-32; Matthew 28:16-20; Ephesians 4:11-16; 1 Corinthians 11:23-34.
XV. Good Works
We believe that all followers of the Lord Jesus Christ should maintain good works, a "good work" being that which is done in obedience to the will of God as revealed in the Word of God. Works will determine the reward or loss of reward at the Judgment Seat of Christ before which every Christian will stand. Every believer must realize his responsibility before God to "maintain good works," i.e., walk in the light of the Word of God. The Bible is the believer's absolute Standard of faith and practice, his perfect Counsel. The Word provides him with "all things that pertain unto life and godliness" (2 Peter 1:3-4). The Bible, not any form of psychological counseling or therapy, is the answer. Ephesians 2:8-10; Titus 2:11-14; 3:1-11; 2 Thessalonians 5:23; 1 Corinthians 1:18-29; 3:8-15; 2 Corinthians 5:9-11
We believe the Holy Scriptures, composed of the thirty-nine books of the Old Testament and the twenty-seven books of the New Testament, to be verbally inspired Word of God, the final authority for faith and life, inerrant in the original writings, infallible and God-breathed Psalm 19:7-11; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:16-21; Luke 24:13-28; John 16:12-16; Psalm 12:6-7; Isaiah 40:8; Psalm 138:2.
II. The Trinity
We believe in the Triune God-God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit-coequal and coeternal. Each has His individual identity and separate responsibilities for the purposes of redemption, yet perfectly united as three Persons in One. 1 John 5:1-8; John 16:7-18; Matthew 28:19; Genesis 1:26.
III. The Deity and Virgin Birth of Christ
We believe in Deity of Jesus Christ. He is the only begotten, virgin born Son of God, the second Person in the Blessed Trinity, God the Son, God manifest in the flesh. 1 Timothy 3:16; John 1:1-14; John 14:9; Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:18-25; John 10:36.
IV. The Blood Atonement
We believe in the substitutionary atonement of the Lord Jesus Christ. He, by the grace of God, tasted death for every man, and all must be born again or be forever lost. Hebrews 2:9; John 6:44-69; John 3: 118; Romans 3:25; Revelation 1:5; Hebrews 9:22; 1 Peter 1:18-19. The Lord's atonement was not limited with respect to whom God's salvation is offered, i.e., His shed blood is sufficient for all sin and, therefore, "who so ever will" may believe and be saved to the uttermost. 1 John 2:2; Hebrews 7:22-25; Revelation 22:17. Also, the text "with His stripes we are healed" speaks of God's remedy for the sin-sick soul through the suffering and substitutionary sacrifice of the Lamb of God, and is not referring to the healing of the body as proposed by false charismatic teaching. Isaiah 53:4-6.
V. The Resurrection
We believe in the physical resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. He ascended bodily into the heavens and is now at the right hand of God as our Mediator, Priest, and Advocate. Acts 3:12-26; John 20; Hebrews 9:24; 1 Corinthians 15:12-28; 1 John 2:1.
VI. The Second Coming
We believe in the Rapture-the personal, premillennial, pretribulational and imminent return of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ "in the air." This has been the "Blessed Hope" of every born-again believer in the Church Age. At that time He will receive to Himself the resurrected bodies of those who have "died in Christ" and also all those who are presently alive and "in Christ." 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; 5:6-10; 1 Corinthians 15:50-55; Acts 1:11; Titus 2:13. He will then come "with His saints" seven years thereafter to execute judgment upon the ungodly nations before the inauguration of His earthly millennial reign at His second coming to the earth. Jude 14,15; Matthew 25:31-46. The Lord will cast the anti-christ and the false prophet into the lake of fire, send Satan into the abyss and establish His earthly kingdom. The Lord Jesus Christ will reign one thousand years, thus literally fulfilling the covenant promises made to a believing remnant of Israel through the Patriarchs of the Old Testament. Isaiah 11:1-16; Revelation 19:19-20; 20:1-6. After the earthly reign of one thousand years, He will bring all the unsaved dead to the judgment of the Great White Throne and all who stand before that Throne will be cast into the lake of fire forever. Revelation 20:11-15; Matthew 7:21-23. Satan will also be cast into the lake of fire. Revelation 20:10.
VII. The Personality of Satan
We believe in the personality of Satan, "that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world." He is actively opposing the cause of Christ on every hand and is the arch enemy of every true believer. His warfare incorporates the deception of mixing error and truth as well as that which is flagrantly vile and evil. 2 Corinthians 11:1-15; 2 Peter 5:8-9; Revelation 12:9-10; Matthew 4:2-11; Isaiah 14:12-17; John 8:24. He marshals a host of fallen angels that can also serve to deceive the unsuspecting by "transforming themselves into...apostles of Christ [and] ministers of righteousness..." (2 Corinthians 11:315). These false spirits can influence the unfaithful servant to say helpful and even true things and can also themselves energize ones to do the miraculous. Therefore, every experience and teaching must be examined in light of the Word of God to determine its true source. Isaiah 8:20; 1 John 4:1.
VIII. Heaven and Hell
We believe that Heaven is a real place of eternal blessedness prepared by God for those whose garments have been "made white" through faith in the shed "blood of the Lamb." Hell is a real place of eternal suffering for those whose names are not written in the "book of life." There is no intermediate state in which the unsaved can atone for his own sins. John 14:1-6; Revelation 7:13-17; 20:11-15; 21:22-27; 2 Corinthians 5:1-10; Luke 16:19-31.
IX. Creation and Man's Fall
We believe God created all things in a time frame of six literal, twenty-four hour days. We believe evolution in any form, and this necessarily includes so called "theistic evolution" and the "gap theory" to be contradictory to the clear teaching of Scripture. We believe in the universality and exceeding sinfulness of sin. In Adam all have sinned and, therefore, are guilty before God by nature as well as by deed. Man was created by a direct act of God and subsequently fell into sin in the Garden of Eden. Romans 5:12-21 Ezekiel 18:4; Romans 3:10-26; 6:23; Psalm 51:5 Genesis 1-3.
X. Justification by Faith
We believe that man is justified on the single ground of faith in the shed blood and bodily resurrection of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Romans 5:1 Ephesians 2:8-9. The all-sufficient and completed work of Redemption accomplished through His death and resurrection is fully appropriated at the moment in time by those who receive by faith the free gift of salvation offered in the one true Gospel. The adding of works, baptism, sacraments, or any other condition placed upon man in order to obtain God's gift of salvation by faith alone in the finished work of Christ results in "another gospel" that is under God's curse. Galatians 1:6-10; Romans 1:16 1 Corinthians 15:1-4; John 5:24; Ephesians 5:8.
XI. Eternal Security
We believe in the eternal security of all believers in our Lord Jesus Christ. Once a lost sinner has be come a "new creature in Christ," he can never lose that new relationship in the family of God which is based upon Christ's imputed righteousness and not his own. The life that God imparts to the believing sinner is not "eternal life" if it can be terminated. 2 Corinthians 5:14-21; John 10:25-29. Sin in the life of the believer affects his fellowship with the Father not sonship. All who are truly born of the Spirit and who continue in sin will be dealt with by the chastening hand of God. 1 John 1:5-10; Hebrews 12:6-13 1 Corinthians 3:11-15. All who are in Christ are sealed unto the day of redemption and will be glorified. We are to "work out" our salvation not "work for" our salvation; Philippians 2:12. Texts used to supposedly teach one can lose his salvation are speaking of loss of reward, not the loss of salvation or the right to be called a child of God. 1 Corinthians 3:8-15; 2 John 8; Revelation 3:11; Romans 8:29-30; 1 Timothy 1:12; Ephesians 1:13-14; 4:30.
XII. The Holy Spirit and Body of Christ
We believe all regenerated people are baptized into the Body of Christ by the Holy Spirit the moment they receive Christ as their Saviour. 1 Corinthians 12:13; 1Corinthians 10:32; Ephesians 2:13-18. The Holy Spirit indwells all who have been born again from above. Also, the baptism of the Spirit is not a separate event apart from the reception of the gift of the Holy Spirit upon believing on Christ unto salvation. Acts 15:6-11; Galatians 3:2,14; Romans 10:1317; Romans 8:9. The Church which is Christ's Body consists of all those who, in the present dispensation, truly believe and accept Jesus Christ as Saviour and Lord. Romans 8:14-27; James 1:18; John 1:12; 1 Corinthians 1:2; Matthew 16:16-16.
XIII. Separation
We believe that all Christians are first to be separated wholly unto the Lord, and as a necessary result, they must be: 1) Separated from worldly and sinful practices. They are to be holy, even as He is holy, and this desired behavior will always be diametrically opposed to the course of this present age. 1 Peter 1: 13-16; 1 Corinthians 6:19-20; Romans 12:1-2; 1 John 2:15-17. 2) Separated from apostasy and unbelief. A believer must not be "unequally yoked together with unbelievers," thereby being identified with unbelief by association, whether in ministry, worship, or by joint religious activities. 2 Corinthians 6:14-18; 1 Timothy 6:3-5; 2 Timothy 2:19-22; 3:1-5; Amos 3:3. 3) Separated from disobedient brethren and doctrinal compromise with respect to all ministry and service. A believer is identified with the doctrinal positions and practices of those he is in fellowship with, both before God and man. Separation from those who are not walking according to truth deters the leavening effect of compromise, and gives a faithful warning to the erring brother. Romans 16: 17; 2 Thessalonians 3:6,14-15; 2 John 10-11; Galatians 2:9-11; 1 Corinthians 15:33.
XIV. The Local Church and Its Mission
We believe God has ordained the ministry of local, independent, indigenous assemblies of believers to accomplish His work in this dispensation extending from Pentecost to the Translation of Christ's Body at His appearing. The church's membership is to be composed of regenerated, baptized believers. The two ordinances of the local church are believer's baptism by immersion, and the memorial of the Lord's supper until He returns. The church is to be missionary and evangelistic in spreading the Gospel into all the world. It is not the mission of the church to "bring in the Kingdom," work for political or economic justice, major on social improvement, or "Christianize" society. It is to strive together for the faith of the Gospel, proclaim and maintain purity of doctrine and practice, and worship and serve the Lord in "spirit and truth." Acts 2:41-47; 20:17-32; Matthew 28:16-20; Ephesians 4:11-16; 1 Corinthians 11:23-34.
XV. Good Works
We believe that all followers of the Lord Jesus Christ should maintain good works, a "good work" being that which is done in obedience to the will of God as revealed in the Word of God. Works will determine the reward or loss of reward at the Judgment Seat of Christ before which every Christian will stand. Every believer must realize his responsibility before God to "maintain good works," i.e., walk in the light of the Word of God. The Bible is the believer's absolute Standard of faith and practice, his perfect Counsel. The Word provides him with "all things that pertain unto life and godliness" (2 Peter 1:3-4). The Bible, not any form of psychological counseling or therapy, is the answer. Ephesians 2:8-10; Titus 2:11-14; 3:1-11; 2 Thessalonians 5:23; 1 Corinthians 1:18-29; 3:8-15; 2 Corinthians 5:9-11
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