LUSH FAMILY PAGE
STATEMENT OF FAITH
Any doctrinal statement or statement of faith is but a meagre attempt to summarize and systematize the riches of an infallible divine revelation so that people can know where one stands on certain essentials of the Word of God. The aformentioned in no way detracts from the importance of such a statement. The affirmations which follow specify our position with regard to the major biblical doctrines, and thus provide a framework for our ministry. They also provide an anchor to protect our ministry against theological deception from the many false prophets and teachings that abound today in christendom. SOme aspects of this statement are essential and some are not. I would not die for eschatological perspectives. But for some others, I would certainly put up a good fight.
The Holy Scriptures
We teach that the Bible is God's written revelation to man, and thus the
66 books of the Bible given to us by the Holy Spirit constitute the plenary
(inspired equally in all parts) Word of God (1 Cor. 2:7-14; 2 Pet. 1:20,
21).
We teach that the Word of God is an objective, propositional
revelation (1 Cor. 2:13; 1 Thess. 2:13), verbally inspired in every word (2
Tim. 3:16), absolutely inerrant in the original documents, infallible, and
God-breathed. We teach the literal, grammatical-historical interpretation of
Scripture, which affirms the belief that the opening chapters of Genesis
present creation in six literal days (Gen. 1:31; Ex. 31:17).
We teach
that the Bible constitutes the only infallible rule of faith and practice
(Matt. 5:18; 24:35; John 10:35; 16:12, 13; 17:17; 1 Cor. 2:13; 2 Tim.
3:15-17; Heb. 4:12; 2 Pet. 1:20, 21).
We teach that God spoke in His
written Word by a process of dual authorship. The Holy Spirit so
superintended the human authors that, through their individual personalities
and different styles of writing, they composed and recorded God's Word to
man (2 Pet. 1:20, 21) without error in the whole or in the part (Matt. 5:18;
2 Tim. 3:16).
We teach that, whereas there may be several
applications of any given passage of Scripture, there is but one true
interpretation. The meaning of Scripture is to be found as one diligently
applies the literal, grammatical-historical method of interpretation under
the enlightenment of the Holy Spirit (John 7:17; 16:12-15; 1 Cor. 2:7-15; 1
John 2:20). It is the responsibility of believers to ascertain carefully the
true intent and meaning of Scripture, recognizing that proper application is
binding on all generations. Yet the truth of Scripture stands in judgment of
men; never do men stand in judgment of it.
God
We teach that there is but one living and true
God (Deut. 6:4; Is. 45:5-7; 1 Cor. 8:4), an infinite, all-knowing Spirit
(John 4:24), perfect in all His attributes, one in essence, eternally
existing in three Persons--Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (Matt. 28:19; 2 Cor.
13:14)--each equally deserving worship and obedience.
God the Father
We teach that God the Father, the first person of the Trinity,
orders and disposes all things according to His own purpose and grace (Ps.
145:8, 9; 1 Cor. 8:6). He is the Creator of all things (Gen. 1:1-31; Eph.
3:9). As the only absolute and omnipotent ruler in the universe, He is
sovereign in creation, providence, and redemption (Ps. 103:19; Rom. 11:36).
His fatherhood involves both His designation within the Trinity and His
relationship with mankind. As Creator He is Father to all men (Eph. 4:6),
but He is Spiritual Father only to believers (Rom. 8:14; 2 Cor. 6:18). He
has decreed for His own glory all things that come to pass (Eph. 1:11). He
continually upholds, directs, and governs all creatures and events (1 Chr.
29:11). In His sovereignty He is neither author nor approver of sin (Hab.
1:13), nor does He abridge the accountability of moral, intelligent
creatures (1 Pet. 1:17). He has graciously chosen from eternity past those
whom He would have as His own (Eph. 1:4-6); He saves from sin all those who
come to Him; and He becomes, upon adoption, Father to His own (John 1:12;
Rom. 8:15; Gal. 4:5; Heb. 12:5-9).
God the Son
We teach
that Jesus Christ, the second person of the Trinity, possesses all the
divine excellencies, and in these He is coequal, consubstantial, and
coeternal with the Father (John 10:30; 14:9). We teach that God the Father
created "the heavens and the earth and all that is in them" according to His
own will, through His Son, Jesus Christ, by whom all things continue in
existence and in operations (John 1:3; Col. 1:15-17; Heb. 1:2).
We
teach that in the incarnation (God becoming man) Christ surrendered only the
prerogatives of deity but nothing of the divine essence, either in degree or
kind. In His incarnation, the eternally existing second person of the
Trinity accepted all the essential characteristics of humanity and so became
the God-man (Phil. 2:5-8; Col. 2:9).
We teach that Jesus Christ
represents humanity and deity in indivisible oneness (Mic. 5:2; John 5:23;
14:9, 10; Col. 2:9).
We teach that our Lord Jesus Christ was virgin
born (Is. 7:14; Matt. 1:23, 25; Luke 1:26-35); that He was God incarnate
(John 1:1, 14); and that the purpose of the incarnation was to reveal God,
redeem men, and rule over God's kingdom (Ps. 2:7-9; Is. 9:6; John 1:29;
Phil. 2:9-11; Heb. 7:25, 26; 1 Pet. 1:18, 19).
We teach that, in the
incarnation, the second person of the Trinity laid aside His right to the
full prerogatives of coexistence with God, assumed the place of a Son, and
took on an existence appropriate to a servant while never divesting Himself
of His divine attributes (Phil. 2:5-8).
We teach that our Lord Jesus
Christ accomplished our redemption through the shedding of His blood and
sacrificial death on the cross and that His death was voluntary, vicarious,
substitutionary, propitiatory, and redemptive (John 10:15; Rom. 3:24, 25;
5:8; 1 Pet. 2:24).
We teach that on the basis of the efficacy of the
death of our Lord Jesus Christ, the believing sinner is freed from the
punishment, the penalty, the power, and one day the very presence of sin;
and that he is declared righteous, given eternal life, and adopted into the
family of God (Rom. 3:25; 5:8, 9; 2 Cor. 5:14, 15; 1 Pet. 2:24;
3:18).
We teach that our justification is made sure by His literal,
physical resurrection from the dead and that He is now ascended to the right
hand of the Father, where He now mediates as our Advocate and High-Priest
(Matt. 28:6; Luke 24:38, 39; Acts 2:30, 31; Rom. 4:25; 8:34; Heb. 7:25;
9:24; 1 John 2:1).
We teach that in the resurrection of Jesus Christ
from the grave, God confirmed the deity of His Son and gave proof that God
has accepted the atoning work of Christ on the cross. Jesus' bodily
resurrection is also the guarantee of a future resurrection life for all
believers (John 5:26-29; 14:19; Rom. 4:25; 6:5-10; 1 Cor. 15:20,
23).
We teach that Jesus Christ will return to receive the church,
which is His body, unto Himself at the Rapture and, returning with His
church in glory, will establish His millennial kingdom on earth (Acts
1:9-11; 1 Thess. 4:13-18; Rev. 20).
We teach that the Lord Jesus
Christ is the One through whom God will judge all mankind (John 5:22,
23):
a. Believers (1 Cor. 3:10-15; 2 Cor. 5:10);
b. Living inhabitants of the earth at His glorious return (Matt. 25:31-46); and
c. Unbelieving dead at the Great White Throne (Rev. 20:11-15). As the mediator between God and man (1 Tim. 2:5), the head of His body the church (Eph. 1:22; 5:23; Col. 1:18), and the coming universal King who will reign on the throne of David (Is. 9:6, 7; Ezek. 37: 24-28; Luke 1:31-33), He is the final Judge of all who fail to place their trust in Him as Lord and Savior (Matt. 25:14-46; Acts 17:30, 31).
God the Holy Spirit
We teach that the
Holy Spirit is a divine person, eternal, underived, possessing all the
attributes of personality and deity, including intellect (1 Cor. 2:10-13),
emotions (Eph. 4:30), will (1 Cor. 12:11), eternality (Heb. 9:14),
omnipresence (Ps. 139:7-10), omniscience (Is. 40:13, 14), omnipotence (Rom.
15:13), and truthfulness (John 16:13). In all the divine attributes He is
coequal and consubstantial with the Father and the Son (Matt. 28:19; Acts
5:3, 4; 28:25, 26; 1 Cor. 12:4-6; 2 Cor. 13:14; and Jer. 31:31-34 with Heb.
10:15-17).
We teach that it is the work of the Holy Spirit to execute
the divine will with relation to all mankind. We recognize His sovereign
activity in creation (Gen. 1:2), the incarnation (Matt. 1:18), the written
revelation (2 Pet. 1:20, 21), and the work of salvation (John
3:5-7).
We teach that a unique work of the Holy Spirit in this age
began at Pentecost when He came from the Father as promised by Christ (John
14:16, 17; 15:26) to initiate and complete the building of the body of
Christ. His activity includes convicting the world of sin, of righteousness,
and of judgment; glorifying the Lord Jesus Christ and transforming believers
into the image of Christ (John 16:7-9; Acts 1:5; 2:4; Rom. 8:29; 2 Cor.
3:18; Eph. 2:22).
We teach that the Holy Spirit is the supernatural
and sovereign agent in regeneration, baptizing all believers into the body
of Christ (1 Cor. 12:13). The Holy Spirit also indwells, sanctifies,
instructs, empowers them for service, and seals them unto the day of
redemption (Rom. 8:9-11; 2 Cor. 3:6; Eph. 1:13).
We teach that the
Holy Spirit is the divine teacher who guided the apostles and prophets into
all truth as they committed to writing God's revelation, the Bible (2 Pet.
1:19-21). Every believer possesses the indwelling presence of the Holy
Spirit from the moment of salvation, and it is the duty of all those born of
the Spirit to be filled with (controlled by) the Spirit (Rom. 8:9-11; Eph.
5:18; 1 John 2:20, 27).
We teach that the Holy Spirit administers
spiritual gifts to the church. The Holy Spirit glorifies neither Himself nor
His gifts by ostentatious displays, but He does glorify Christ by
implementing His work of redeeming the lost and building up believers in the
most holy faith (John 16:13, 14; Acts 1:8; 1 Cor. 12:4-11; 2 Cor.
3:18).
We teach, in this respect, that God the Holy Spirit is
sovereign in the bestowing of all His gifts for the perfecting of the saints
today and that speaking in tongues and the working of sign miracles in the
beginning days of the church were for the purpose of pointing to and
authenticating the apostles as revealers of divine truth, and were never
intended to be characteristic of the lives of believers (1 Cor. 12:4-11;
13:8-10; 2 Cor. 12:12; Eph. 4:7-12; Heb. 2:1-4).
Man
We teach that man was directly and immediately
created by God in His image and likeness. Man was created free of sin with a
rational nature, intelligence, volition, self-determination, and moral
responsibility to God (Gen. 2:7, 15-25; James 3:9).
We teach that
God's intention in the creation of man was that man should glorify God,
enjoy God's fellowship, live his life in the will of God, and by this
accomplish God's purpose for man in the world (Is. 43:7; Col. 1:16; Rev.
4:11).
We teach that in Adam's sin of disobedience to the revealed
will and Word of God, man lost his innocence; incurred the penalty of
spiritual and physical death; became subject to the wrath of God; and became
inherently corrupt and utterly incapable of choosing or doing that which is
acceptable to God apart from divine grace. With no recuperative powers to
enable him to recover himself, man is hopelessly lost. Man's salvation is
thereby wholly of God's grace through the redemptive work of our Lord Jesus
Christ (Gen. 2:16, 17; 3:1-19; John 3:36; Rom. 3:23; 6:23; 1 Cor. 2:14; Eph.
2:1-3; 1 Tim. 2:13, 14; 1 John 1:8).
We teach that because all men
were in Adam, a nature corrupted by Adam's sin has been transmitted to all
men of all ages, Jesus Christ being the only exception. All men are thus
sinners by nature, by choice, and by divine declaration (Ps. 14:1-3; Jer.
17:9; Rom. 3:9-18, 23; 5:10-12).
Salvation
We teach that salvation is wholly of
God by grace on the basis of the redemption of Jesus Christ, the merit of
His shed blood, and not on the basis of human merit or works (John 1:12;
Eph. 1:4-7; 2:8-10; 1 Pet. 1:18, 19).
Election
We teach
that election is the act of God by which, before the foundation of the
world, He chose in Christ those whom He graciously regenerates, saves, and
sanctifies (Rom. 8:28-30; Eph. 1:4-11; 2 Thess. 2:13; 2 Tim. 2:10; 1 Pet.
1:1, 2).
We teach that sovereign election does not contradict or
negate the responsibility of man to repent and trust Christ as Savior and
Lord (Ezek. 18:23, 32; 33:11; John 3:18, 19, 36; 5:40; 2 Thess. 2:10-12;
Rev. 22:17). Nevertheless, since sovereign grace includes the means of
receiving the gift of salvation as well as the gift itself, sovereign
election will result in what God determines. All whom the Father calls to
Himself will come in faith and all who come in faith the Father will receive
(John 6:37-40, 44; Acts 13:48; James 4:8). We teach that the unmerited favor
that God grants to totally depraved sinners is not related to any initiative
of their own part nor to God's anticipation of what they might do by their
own will, but is solely of His sovereign grace and mercy (Eph. 1:4-7; Titus
3:4-7; 1 Pet. 1:2).
We teach that election should not be looked upon
as based merely on abstract sovereignty. God is truly sovereign but He
exercises this sovereignty in harmony with His other attributes, especially
His omniscience, justice, holiness, wisdom, grace, and love (Rom. 9:11-16).
This sovereignty will always exalt the will of God in a manner totally
consistent with His character as revealed in the life of our Lord Jesus
Christ (Matt. 11:25-28; 2 Tim. 1:9).
Regeneration
We teach
that regeneration is a supernatural work of the Holy Spirit by which the
divine nature and divine life are given (John 3:3-8; Titus 3:5). It is
instantaneous and is accomplished solely by the power of the Holy Spirit
through the instrumentality of the Word of God (John 5:24), when the
repentant sinner, as enabled by the Holy Spirit, responds in faith to the
divine provision of salvation. Genuine regeneration is manifested by fruits
worthy of repentance as demonstrated in righteous attitudes and conduct.
Good works will be its proper evidence and fruit (1 Cor. 6:19-20; Eph.
5:17-21; Phil. 2:12b; Col. 3:12-17; 2 Pet. 1:4-11). This obedience causes
the believer to be increasingly conformed to the image of our Lord Jesus
Christ (2 Cor. 3:18). Such a conformity is climaxed in the believer's
glorification at Christ's coming (Rom. 8:16, 17; 2 Pet. 1:4; 1 John 3:2,
3).
Justification
We teach that justification before God is
an act of God (Rom. 8:30, 33) by which He declares righteous those who,
through faith in Christ, repent of their sins (Is. 55:6, 7; Luke 13:3; Acts
2:38; 3:19; 11:18; Rom. 2:4; 2 Cor. 7:10) and confess Him as sovereign Lord
(Rom. 10:9, 10; 1 Cor. 12:3; 2 Cor. 4:5; Phil. 2:11). This righteousness is
apart from any virtue or work of man (Rom. 3:20; 4:6) and involves the
placing of our sins on Christ (Col. 2:14; 1 Pet. 2:24) and the imputation of
Christ's righteousness to us (1 Cor. 1:2, 30; 6:11; 2 Cor. 5:21). By this
means God is enabled to "be just, and the justifier of the one who has faith
in Jesus" (Rom. 3:26).
Sanctification
We teach that every
believer is sanctified (set apart) unto God by justification and is
therefore declared to be holy and is therefore identified as a saint. This
sanctification is positional and instantaneous and should not be confused
with progressive sanctification. This sanctification has to do with the
believer's standing, not his present walk or condition (Acts 20:32; 1 Cor.
1:2, 30; 6:11; 2 Thess. 2:13; Heb. 2:11; 3:1; 10:10, 14; 13:12; 1 Pet.
1:2).
We teach that there is also by the work of the Holy Spirit a
progressive sanctification by which the state of the believer is brought
closer to the likeness of Christ through obedience to the Word of God and
the empowering of the Holy Spirit, the believer is able to live a life of
increasing holiness in conformity to the will of God, becoming more and more
like our Lord Jesus Christ (John 17:17, 19; Rom. 6:1-22; 2 Cor. 3:18; 1
Thess. 4:3, 4; 5:23). In this respect, we teach that every saved person is
involved in a daily conflict--the new creation in Christ doing battle
against the flesh--but adequate provision is made for victory through the
power of the indwelling Holy Spirit. The struggle nevertheless stays with
the believer all through this earthly life and is never completely ended.
All claims to the eradication of sin in this life are unscriptural.
Eradication of sin is not possible, but the Holy Spirit does provide for
victory over sin (Gal. 5:16-25; Eph. 4:22-24; Phil. 3:12; Col. 3:9, 10; 1
Pet. 1:14-16; 1 John 3:5-9).
Security
We teach that all the
redeemed once saved are kept by God's power and are thus secure in Christ
forever (John 5:24; 6:37-40; 10:27-30; Rom. 5:9, 10; 8:1, 31-39; 1 Cor.
1:4-9; Eph. 4:30; Heb. 7:25; 13:5; 1 Pet. 1:4, 5; Jude 24).
We teach
that it is the privilege of believers to rejoice in the assurance of their
salvation through the testimony of God's Word, which however, clearly
forbids the use of Christian liberty as an excuse for sinful living and
carnality (Rom. 6:15-22; 13:13, 14; Gal. 5:13, 16, 17, 25, 26; Titus
2:11-14).
Separation
We teach that separation from sin is
clearly called for throughout the Old and New Testaments, and that the
Scriptures clearly indicate that in the last days apostasy and worldliness
shall increase (2 Cor. 6:14 -7:1; 2 Tim. 3:1-5).
We teach that out of
deep gratitude for the undeserved grace of God granted to us and because our
glorious God is so worthy of our total consecration, all the saved should
live in such a manner as to demonstrate our adoring love to God and so as
not to bring reproach upon our Lord and Savior. We also teach that
separation from any association with religious apostasy, and worldly and
sinful practices is commanded of us by God (Rom. 12:1, 2; 1 Cor. 5:9-13; 2
Cor. 6:14 - 7:1; 1 John 2:15-17; 2 John 9-11).
We teach that
believers should be separated unto our Lord Jesus Christ (2 Thess. 1:11, 12;
Heb. 12:1, 2) and affirm that the Christian life is a life of obedient
righteousness demonstrated by a beatitude attitude (Matt. 5:2-12) and a
continual pursuit of holiness (Rom. 12:1, 2; 2 Cor. 7:1; Heb. 12:14; Titus
2:11-14; 1 John 3:1-10).
The Church
We teach that all who place
their faith in Jesus Christ are immediately placed by the Holy Spirit into
one united spiritual body, the church (1 Cor. 12:12, 13), the bride of
Christ (2 Cor. 11:2; Eph. 5:23-32; Rev. 19:7, 8), of which Christ is the
head (Eph. 1:22; 4:15; Col. 1:18).
We teach that the formation of the
church, the body of Christ, began on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:1-21,
38-47) and will be completed at the coming of Christ for His own at the
Rapture (1 Cor. 15:51-52; 1 Thess. 4:13-18).
We teach that the church
is thus a unique spiritual organism designed by Christ, made up of all
born-again believers in this present age (Eph. 2:11 - 3:6). The church is
distinct from Israel (1 Cor. 10:32), a mystery not revealed until this age
(Eph. 3:1-6; 5:32). We teach that the establishment and continuity of local
churches is clearly taught and defined in the New Testament Scriptures (Acts
14:23, 27; 20:17, 28; Gal. 1:2; Phil. 1:1; 1 Thess. 1:1; 2 Thess. 1:1) and
that the members of the one spiritual body are directed to associate
themselves together in local assemblies (1 Cor. 11:18-20; Heb.
10:25).
We teach that the one supreme authority for the church is
Christ (Eph. 1:22; Col. 1:18) and that leadership, gifts, order, discipline,
and worship in the church are all appointed through His sovereignty as found
in the Scriptures. The biblically designated officers serving under Christ
and over the assembly are elders (males, who are also called bishops,
pastors, and pastor-teachers; Acts 20:28; Eph. 4:11) and deacons, both of
whom must meet biblical qualifications (1 Tim. 3:1-13; Titus 1:5-9; 1 Pet.
5:1-5).
We teach that these leaders lead or rule as servants of
Christ (1 Tim. 5:17-22) and have His authority in directing the church. The
congregation is to submit to their leadership (Heb. 13:7, 17). We teach the
importance of discipleship (Matt. 28:19, 20; 2 Tim. 2:2), mutual
accountability of all believers to each other (Matt. 18:15-17), as well as
the need to discipline sinning members of the congregation in accord with
the standards of Scripture (Matt. 18:15-22; Acts 5:1-11; 1 Cor. 5:1-13; 2
Thess. 3:6-15; 1 Tim. 1:19, 20; Titus 1:10-16).
We teach the autonomy
of the local church, free from any external authority or control, with the
right of self-government and freedom from the interference of any hierarchy
of individuals or organizations (Titus 1:5). We teach that it is scriptural
for true churches to cooperate with each other for the presentation and
propagation of the faith. Local churches, however, through their pastors and
their interpretation and application of Scripture, should be the sole judges
of the measure and method of their cooperation (Acts 15:19-31; 20:28; 1 Cor.
5:4-7, 13; 1 Pet. 5:1-4).
We teach that the purpose of the church is
to glorify God (Eph. 3:21) by building itself up in the faith (Eph.
4:13-16), by instruction of the Word (2 Tim. 2:2, 15; 3:16-17), by
fellowship (Acts 2:47; 1 John 1:3), by keeping the ordinances (Luke 22:19;
Acts 2:38-42) and by advancing and communicating the gospel to the entire
world (Matt. 28:19; Acts 1:8).
We teach the calling of all saints to
the work of service (1 Cor. 15:58; Eph. 4:12; Rev. 22:12).
We teach
the need of the church to cooperate with God as He accomplishes His purpose
in the world. To that end, He gives the church spiritual gifts. He gives men
chosen for the purpose of equipping the saints for the work of the ministry
(Eph. 4:7-12) and He also gives unique and special spiritual abilities to
each member of the body of Christ (Rom. 12:5-8; 1 Cor. 12:4-31; 1 Pet. 4:10,
11).
We teach that there were two kinds of gifts given to the early
church: miraculous gifts of divine revelation and healing, given temporarily
in the apostolic era for the purpose of confirming the authenticity of the
apostles' message ( 2 Cor. 12:12; Heb. 2:3, 4); and ministering gifts, given
to equip believers for edifying one another. With the New Testament
revelation now complete, Scripture becomes the sole test of the authenticity
of a man's message, and confirming gifts of a miraculous nature are no
longer necessary to validate a man or his message (1 Cor. 13:8-12).
Miraculous gifts can even be counterfeited by Satan so as to deceive even
believers (Matt. 24:24). The only gifts in operation today are those
non-revelatory equipping gifts given for edification (Rom.
12:6-8).
We teach that no one possesses the gift of healing today but
that God does hear and answer the prayer of faith and will answer in
accordance with His own perfect will for the sick, suffering, and afflicted
(Luke 18:1-8; John 5:7-9; 2 Cor. 12:6-10; James 5:13-16; 1 John 5:14, 15).
We teach that two ordinances have been committed to the local church:
baptism and the Lord's Supper (Acts 2:38-42). Christian baptism by immersion
(Acts 8:36-39) is the solemn and beautiful testimony of a believer showing
forth his faith in the crucified, buried, and risen Savior, and his union
with Him in death to sin and resurrection to a new life (Rom. 6: 1-11). It
is also a sign of fellowship and identification with the visible body of
Christ (Acts 2:41, 42).
We teach that the Lord's Supper is the
commemoration and proclamation of His death until He comes, and should be
always preceded by solemn self-examination (1 Cor. 11:23-32). We also teach
that whereas the elements of communion are only representative of the flesh
and blood of Christ, the Lord's Supper is nevertheless an actual Communion
with the risen Christ who is present in a unique way, fellowshiping with His
people (1 Cor. 10:16).
Angels
Holy Angels
We teach that angels are
created beings and are therefore not to be worshiped. Although they are a
higher order of creation than man, they are created to serve God and to
worship Him (Luke 2:9-14; Heb. 1:6, 7, 14; 2:6, 7; Rev.
5:11-14).
Fallen Angels
We teach that Satan is a created
angel and the author of sin. He incurred the judgment of God by rebelling
against his Creator (Is. 14:12-17; Ezek. 28:11-19), by taking numerous
angels with him in his fall (Matt. 25:41; Rev. 12:1-14), and by introducing
sin into the human race by his temptation of Eve (Gen. 3:1-15).
We
teach that Satan is the open and declared enemy of God and man (Is. 14:13,
14; Matt. 4:1-11; Rev. 12:9, 10), the prince of this world who has been
defeated through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ (Rom. 16:20) and
that he shall be eternally punished in the lake of fire (Is. 14:12-17; Ezek.
28:11-19; Matt. 25:41; Rev. 20:10).
Last Things
(Eschatology)
Dispensationalism
We believe that the Scriptures interpreted in their natural, literal sense reveal divinely determined dispensations or rules of life which define man's responsibilities in successive ages. These dispensations are not ways of salvation, but rather divinely ordered stewardships by which God directs man according to his purpose. Three of these - the age of law, the age of the Church, and the age of the millennial kingdom are the subjects of detailed revelation in Scripture ( John 1:17; 1 Corinthians 9:17; 2 Corinthians 3:9-18; Galatians 3:13-25; Ephesians 1:10; Ephesians 3:2-10; Colossians 1:24-25; Hebrews 7:19; Revelation 20:2-6).
Death
We teach that physical death involves
no loss of our immaterial consciousness (Rev. 6:9-11), that there is a
separation of soul and body (James 2:26), that the soul of the redeemed
passes immediately into the presence of Christ (Luke 23:43; 2 Cor. 5:8;
Phil. 1:23), and that, for the redeemed, such separation will continue until
the Rapture (1 Thess. 4:13-17) which initiates the first resurrection (Rev.
20:4-6), when our soul and body will be reunited to be glorified forever
with our Lord (1 Cor. 15:35-44, 50-54; Phil. 3:21). Until that time, the
souls of the redeemed in Christ remain in joyful fellowship with our Lord
Jesus Christ (2 Cor. 5:8).
We teach the bodily resurrection of all
men, the saved to eternal life (John 6:39; Rom. 8:10, 11, 19-23; 2 Cor.
4:14), and the unsaved to judgment and everlasting punishment (Dan. 12:2;
John 5:29; Rev. 20:13-15).
We teach that the souls of the unsaved at
death are kept under punishment until the second resurrection (Luke
16:19-26; Rev. 20:13-15), when the soul and the resurrection body will be
united (John 5:28, 29). They shall then appear at the Great White Throne
judgment (Rev. 20:11-15) and shall be cast into hell, the lake of fire
(Matt. 25:41-46), cut off from the life of God forever (Dan. 12:2; Matt.
25:41-46; 2 Thess. 1:7-9).
The Rapture of the Church
We
teach the personal, bodily return of our Lord Jesus Christ before the
seven-year tribulation (1 Thess. 4:16) to translate His church from this
earth (John 14:1-3; 1 Cor. 15:51-53; 1 Thess. 4:15 - 5:11) and, between this
event and His glorious return with His saints, to reward believers according
to their works (1 Cor. 3:11-15; 2 Cor. 5:10).
The Tribulation
Period
We teach that immediately following the removal of the church
from the earth (John 14:1-3; 1 Thess. 4:13-18) the righteous judgments of
God will be poured out upon an unbelieving world (Jer. 30:7; Dan. 9:27;
12:1; 2 Thess. 2:7-12; Rev. 16), and that these judgments will be climaxed
by the return of Christ in glory to the earth (Matt. 24:27-31; 25:31-46; 2
Thess. 2:7-12). At that time the Old Testament and tribulation saints will
be raised and the living will be judged (Dan. 12:2-3; Rev. 20:4-6). This
period includes the seventieth week of Daniel's prophecy (Dan. 9:24-27;
Matt. 24:15-31; 25:31-46).
The Second Coming and the Millennial
Reign
We teach that after the tribulation period, Christ will come to
earth to occupy the throne of David (Matt. 25:31; Luke 1:32, 33; Acts 1:10,
11; 2:29, 30) and establish His messianic kingdom for a thousand years on
the earth (Rev. 20:1-7). During this time the resurrected saints will reign
with Him over Israel and all the nations of the earth (Ezek. 37:21-28; Dan.
7:17-22; Rev. 19:11-16). This reign will be preceded by the overthrow of the
Antichrist and the False Prophet, and by the removal of Satan from the world
(Dan. 7:17-27; Rev. 20:1-6).
We teach that the kingdom itself will be
the fulfillment of God's promise to Israel (Is. 65:17-25; Ezek. 37:21-28;
Zech. 8:1-17) to restore them to the land which they forfeited through their
disobedience (Deut. 28:15-68). The result of their disobedience was that
Israel was temporarily set aside (Matt. 21:43; Rom. 11: 1-26) but will again
be awakened through repentance to enter into the land of blessing (Jer.
31:31-34; Ezek. 36:22-32; Rom. 11:25-29).
We teach that this time of
our Lord's reign will be characterized by harmony, justice, peace,
righteousness, and long life (Is. 11; 65:17-25; Ezek. 36:33-38), and will be
brought to an end with the release of Satan (Rev. 20:7).
The
Judgment of the Lost
We teach that following the release of Satan
after the thousand year reign of Christ (Rev. 20:7), Satan will deceive the
nations of the earth and gather them to battle against the saints and the
beloved city, at which time Satan and his army will be devoured by fire from
heaven (Rev. 20:9). Following this, Satan will be thrown into the lake of
fire and brimstone (Matt. 25:41; Rev. 20:10) whereupon Christ, who is the
Judge of all men (John 5:22), will resurrect and judge the great and small
at the Great White Throne judgment.
We teach that this resurrection
of the unsaved dead to judgment will be a physical resurrection, whereupon
receiving their judgment (John 5:28, 29), they will be committed to an
eternal conscious punishment in the lake of fire (Matt. 25:41; Rev.
20:11-15).
Eternity
We teach that after the closing of the
Millennium, the temporary release of Satan, and the judgment of unbelievers
(2 Thess. 1:9; Rev. 20:7-15), the saved will enter the eternal state of
glory with God, after which the elements of this earth are to be dissolved
(2 Pet. 3:10) and replaced with a new earth wherein only righteousness
dwells (Eph. 5:5; Rev. 20:15, 21, 22). Following this, the heavenly city
will come down out of heaven (Rev. 21:2) and will be the dwelling place of
the saints, where they will enjoy forever fellowship with God and one
another (John 17:3; Rev. 21, 22). Our Lord Jesus Christ, having fulfilled
His redemptive mission, will then deliver up the kingdom to God the Father
(1 Cor. 15:23-28) that in all spheres the triune God may reign forever and
ever (1 Cor. 15:28).
