Category: Articles Page 10 of 11

On May 31, 2016

Is salvation a tag-team effort, where you do your part, and Jesus does His part? Is it an open-ended transaction that is incumbent on multiple people to perform an action individually to “seal the deal”? Scripture places a prominent emphasis on Jesus alone – and never with man’s help or even slight involvement – in the completion of salvation. “But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.” (2 Corinthians 11:3). I trust that you will not be deceived by the ultimate trickster – Satan – to be corrupted from the simplicity of salvation that focuses on Jesus Christ alone.

The Way of Salvation

On March 31, 2016

The scriptures restrict man’s salvation and merit of entrance into heaven to Christ alone:

1) Jesus is THE WAY (John 14:6) – Jesus is THE [ONLY] DOOR OF THE SHEEP (John 10:7)

2) There is ONLY ONE MEDIATOR between God and man, and it’s Jesus Christ (1 Tim. 2:5)

3) NEITHER IS THERE SALVATION IN ANY OTHER: for there is NONE OTHER NAME UNDER HEAVEN GIVEN AMONG MEN, WHEREBY WE MUST BE SAVED. (Acts 4:12)

So if salvation is truly “In Christ Alone”, we should never have to apologize that our doctrine – when applied consistently – covers all of God’s children in their specific circumstance: that God will save them all to heaven, despite their individual conditions here in this life. So what is the way of salvation that is presented in scripture?

Article of Faith 12 – New Testament Worship

We believe in the simplicity of New Testament worship consisting of acapella singing, prayer, preaching, and fellowship. (Colossians 3:16, Ephesians 5:19, Acts 2:42-47, 1 Corinthians 1:18)

Article of Faith 11 – Secret Societies

We know, from experience, that no good can result to the church from any secret organization; therefore, we declare non-fellowship with those who participate or engage in secret organizations of any kind. (John 18:20-21, Ephesians 5:11-13, Matthew 5:14-16)

Article of Faith 10 – Ordination of the Ministry

We believe that no minister has a right to the administration of the ordinances except those who have been regularly baptized and called of God and have come under the imposition of hands by a presbytery and that only so long as they continue in the faith once delivered to the saints. (Acts 13:2-3, Titus 1:5-6)

Article of Faith 9 – Resurrection and General Judgment

We believe in the resurrection of the dead and eternal judgment and that the joys of the righteous and the punishment of the wicked will be everlasting. (John 5:28-29, 1 Corinthians 15:19, Daniel 12:2)

Article of Faith 8 – Observance of Church Ordinances

We believe that Jesus Christ who is the Head and Lawgiver has instituted the ordinance of baptism and the Lord’s Supper, which are to be perpetually observed by the Church to the end of the world. (Isaiah 33:22, James 4:12, John 13:17)

Article of Faith 7 – Ordinances of the Church

We believe that baptism and the Lord’s Supper and feet washing are ordinances of Jesus Christ, and that true believers are the only proper subjects and the proper mode of baptism is by immersion. (Matthew 3:16, Mark 1:10, Romans 6:4, Ephesians 4:5, John 13:14-16)

Article of Faith 6 – Calling, Glorification, and Preservation of the Elect