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My Beliefs

God

Jesus

Bible

Salvation

Baptism

Church

Second Coming

Sabbath

God

Who can comprehend all that God is? He is the Creator of earth and universe. He is infinite, yet intimate. He is Three, and He is One. He knows everything that is going on, yet remains ever and always forgiving and present.

To say God is love is a terrible understatement. Yet how else do we describe the One who gave His only One to offer life to the very ones seeking to take it!

Genesis 1:1; Deuteronomy 4:35; John 3:16; 1 John 4:8; Revelation 4:11

Jesus

Forever God, He became flesh. The co-equal to the Father became flesh, living among man. As a man He lived in perfection, tempted in all points as we, yet He overcame. He died as the Lamb of God redeeming the lost race of humanity to Himself. Now He sits at the right hand of the Father, waiting to return a second time to claim all who believe in Him. For where He is, He wants us to be also.

John 1:1-3, 14; 10:30; 14:1-3; Acts 1:9-11; 1 Corinthians 15:3-4; 2 Corinthians 5:17-19; Philippians 2:5-11; Colossians 1:15-19; Hebrews 2:9-18; 8:1-2; Titus 2:13; 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17

Bible

Written by many authors under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, the Bible gives us the infallible and authoritative Word of God. All Scripture, old and new testaments, are for teaching, reproof, correction, and for training in righteousness. The Scriptures are God's love letter to humanity revealing His perfect character and teaching a doctrine that leads to eternal life. Therefore, they are not open to my own interpretations, but must be allowed to interpret itself.

Psalm 119:60, 105; Proverbs 30:5; Isaiah 8:20; 28:9-14; John 17:17; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; Hebrews 4:12; 2 Peter 1:20-21

Salvation

God did not create sin. Everything He made was "good" according to Genesis. But Lucifer, a created angel in heaven, rebelled against God, citing Him as unfair. Through Adam and Eve, listening to the voice of the deceiver, sin entered this planet. Since then, pain, disease, and death have punctuated humanity's need for a Savior.

This "great controversy" between God and Satan continues for time longer, until the Second Coming of Jesus. It is this controversy that compelled Jesus to die for each of us. It was to clear His character and redeem us. Thus He demonstrates His matchless love for us, in that while we were still sinners, He died.

By His death the penalty for sin has been paid. The blood of Jesus removes my guilt, as though I had never sinned or even so much as doubted. Now through His resurrection, I can live in the hope of His coming, without the fear of death.

Genesis 3; Job 1:6-12; Isaiah 14:12-14; 45:22; Ezekiel 28:12-18; John 3:16; Romans 5:12-21; 6:23; 8:3-4; 1 Corinthians 15:20-22; Ephesians 2:8-9; Philippians 2:6-11; 1 Peter 5:8; Revelation 12:4-9

Baptism

Baptism is the way a believer declares his/her faith in Jesus. Baptism by full immersion is a testimony of faith to the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus and His forgiveness of my sins.

Matthew 28:19-20; Acts 2:38; 16:30-33; 22:16; Romans 6:1-6; Galatians 3:27; Colossians 2:12-13

Church

The Church is the community of believers who confess Jesus is Lord of lords and King of kings. Together, they worship, study, and serve as they wait for the glorious return of Christ. The church are those who have been "called out" of the world and its contrary ways. They come into the church, are taught, mentored, and equipped, then sent out to reach more unsaved with the testimony of Jesus.

Matthew 16:13-20; 28:19-20; 1 Corinthians 1:1-2; Ephesians 1:22-23; 2:19-22; 3:8-11; 5:23-27; Colossians 1:17-18; 1 Peter 2:9

Second Coming

The Apostle Paul calls Jesus' Second Coming the "blessed hope." It is in fact the grand climax of the Gospel. For at that time the ones who have died with their hope in Jesus will be resurrected. Then those who are still alive on earth, will be caught up to meet the newly resurrected saints. But more than this, we will meet our Savior for whom we have waited.</p>

We don't know when it will happen, but we are instructed to be ready. Bible prophecy indicates we are in the "last days" before He returns. The conditions of this planet and the failing of men's hearts for fear indeed confirms what the Scriptures have foretold. Even so, come quickly Lord, Jesus!

Matthew 24; Mark 13; Luke 21; John 14:1-3; Acts 1:9-11; 1 Corinthians 15:51-54; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; 5:1-6; 2 Thessalonians 2:8; 2 Timothy 3:1-5; Titus 2:13; Hebrews 9:28; Revelation 1:7; 19:11-21

Sabbath

I believe the Ten Commandments are a transcript of God's love and character. If humanity would follow these ten, simple requirements, how much different would the world look? Thus, the Ten Commandments are God's prescription for happy lives and genuine, holistic relationships with Him.

At the conclusion of the sixth day of creation, Genesis says that the Lord, rested and blessed the seventh day. Reminding us of His creative power, the unchangeable fourth commandment calls me to work the first six days of the week, even as He created in six days, and to rest the seventh, even as He rested.
                           
Thus the Sabbath is about communion with Him and each other, resting for our strife, toils, and weekly labors. By observing it weekly, I am announcing my redemption in Christ and allegiance to Him. Ezekiel calls the Sabbath a sign between God and His children. Thus, every week, from sundown Friday evening to sundown Saturday evening, I rest in celebration and worship of God's creative, and re-creative acts.

Genesis 2:1-3; Exodus 20:8-11; Deuteronomy 5:12-15; Isaiah 56:5-6; 58:13-14; 66:22-23; Ezekiel 20:12, 20; Matthew 12:1-12; Luke 4:16; Hebrews 4:1-11