From Saul to Paul Ministries

From Saul to Paul Ministries Spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ and Christ crucified, encourage other Christians to LOVE one ano

Our Statement of Faith
We are Independent Fundamental Baptist by faith

The Scriptures
We believe that the entire Bible is the inspired Word of God and that men of God “were moved by the Holy Spirit” to write the very words of Scripture. The Bible is therefore without error (inerrant) in its original manuscripts. God has supernaturally preserved the Bible, and it is the sole and final authority f

or faith and life, providing encouragement, guidance, comfort and instruction for training in righteousness (2 Tim. 3:16-17; 2 Pet. 1:20-21). The Godhead (Trinity)
We believe in one true God eternally existing in three distinct persons (Father, Son and Holy Spirit) each of Whom is fully and equally God; possesses all of the divine nature and attributes, and is totally worthy of our worship and service (Isa. 46:9; Matt. 1:23; John 1:1, 1:14, John 10:30; John 14:9). God the Father
We believe that God the Father is the first person of the Trinity and is the eternal, unchanging all-powerful, all-knowing, all-wise, all-loving, completely just and perfectly holy, sovereign Ruler and Sustainer of the universe. He is the Father of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and the Father of all true believers (Gen. 1:1; Isa. 40:21-28, Isa. 43:10-13, Isa. 46:8-11; Eph. 4:6; John 1:12-13, John 5:19-21, John 17:1-5; Rom. 8:14-16). God the Son
We believe that Jesus Christ is the second person of the Trinity and is the only begotten eternal Son of God Who became flesh to reveal God to man, to fulfill prophecy, and to become the Savior of the lost world. In becoming man Jesus did not cease in any way to be God so that He is fully God and fully man inseparably united in one person forever. Jesus was miraculously conceived by the Holy Spirit; born of the Virgin Mary; lived a sinless life; died on the cross as the substitutionary, all-sufficient atoning sacrifice for all of the sins of all men of all time; was buried; bodily rose from the dead; physically ascended into heaven in His glorified, resurrected body; is seated at the right hand of the Father performing His ministry of intercession; will return in the air for all His saints; and will come again to earth in bodily form, personally and visibly, to conclude human history and consummate God’s eternal plan by executing judgment and ushering in His Millennial Kingdom reign to be followed by the eternal state (John 1:1,14,18; John 3:16; Luke 1:30-35; Phil. 2:5-8; Col. 2:3,9; Mark 10:45; Acts 2:22-24; John 1:29; Rom. 3:25-26; Heb. 10:5-14; 1 Pet. 2:24, 1 Pet. 3:18; John 20:20; Phil. 3:20-21; Heb. 1:3; Rom. 8:34; 1 John 2:1; Acts 1:11; Heb. 9:28; 1 Thes. 4:13-18; 2 Thes. 2:7; Matt. 24:44; Rev. 19:11-21; Rev. 21-22). God the Holy Spirit
We believe that the Holy Spirit is the third person of the Trinity Who specially came into the world on the day of Pentecost to glorify Christ and to enable men to appropriate the salvation wrought by Christ. He is the primary agent for the conviction of sin and for regeneration. Simultaneously with salvation, the Holy Spirit imparts new life, baptizes the believer into the body of Christ (His church), permanently indwells the believer, and securely seals the believer unto the day of redemption. The Holy Spirit fills (directs and controls) those believers who are yielded to Him, enables believers to bear fruit, and empowers believers to live a life free from sin’s dominion. We also believe that the Holy Spirit gives spiritual gifts to believers for the purpose of edifying the church in accordance with the teachings of scripture (1 Cor. 13:8, 1 Cor. 14:22; John 16:7-8; 1 Cor. 6:19, 1 Cor. 12:13; Eph. 1:13-14, Eph. 4:30; Gal. 5:16-17, Gal. 22-23; Rom. 8:5-13; 1 Pet. 4:10-11; Rom. 12:3-8). Man
We believe that man was created in the image of God by direct act of God and did not come into being as the result of evolution. Man was created to glorify God, worship and serve Him, and have fellowship with Him. Mankind fell through the sin of Adam by disobeying God, thus incurring both physical and spiritual death, which alienated him from God. Man’s nature was thus corrupted and he is utterly lost, “dead in trespasses and sins,” and totally incapable of saving himself and coming back into right relationship with God by his own merit or effort (Gen. 1:26, Gen. 2:6,17, Gen. 3:17-24; Isa. 59:1-2; Rom. 3:9-19,23, Rom. 5:8; Luke 18:26-27; Eph. 2:13). Satan
We believe that Satan is the instigator of evil and a real spirit being, not simply the personification of evil. He is a fallen angel who, under the sovereign permission of God, has been given temporary rulership of the earth. He was utterly defeated at the cross, but the ex*****on of his judgment has been postponed by God until after the Millennial Kingdom when he will be cast into the eternal lake of fire. In the meantime, he deceives the world and seeks to establish his counterfeit kingdom on earth to discredit and blaspheme God and to tempt, accuse, attack and destroy believers. He can be resisted by the believer through faith and reliance on the power of the Holy Spirit (Gen. 3:1-5; Isa. 14:12-17; Ezek. 28:11-19; Job 1-2; 1 John 5:19; 2 Cor. 11:14; 1 Tim. 3:6; 1 Pet. 5:8-9; James 4:7; Rev. 12:9, Rev. 20:1-3, Rev. 7-10)

Salvation
We believe that the shed blood of Jesus Christ on the cross provides the sole basis for forgiveness of sins and salvation, which is the free gift of God’s mercy and grace. Salvation is affected by the regenerating work of the Holy Spirit and cannot be secured by man’s works or personal merit. Salvation is only appropriated by a person placing his faith in the finished work of Christ. Repentance is a turning toward God and away from sin and is a part of but not separate from believing faith. “The Gospel is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes” and those who receive Jesus Christ by faith are born again, have their sins forgiven, become children of God, are a new creation in Christ, and “are sealed by the Holy spirit unto the day of redemption” being kept by the power of God (Eph. 1:7:13-14; John 1:12-13, John 3:1-7, John 14-16; 2 Cor. 5:17; Rom. 1:16, Rom. 10:9-10; Eph. 2:8-10; Rom. 8:14-17, Rom. 31-39; John 10:27-29, Rom. 14:6; Acts 26:20; 1 Pet. 1:3-5). The Christian Life
We believe that every Christian should live for Christ and not for himself and should, by the power of the indwelling Spirit, allow Christ to manifest His life through him to God’s glory. By ever increasing obedience to the Word of God, each believer should mature and progressively become more like Jesus. In the power of the Spirit, each believer should, as much as possible, live a holy life; not fulfilling the lusts of the flesh; exercise his spiritual gifts to build up the body of Christ; witness for Christ; be personally involved in making disciples to fulfill the great commission; perform good works and bear fruit to the glory of God (Gal. 2:20; 1 Pet. 1:15-16, 1 Pet. 2:11; 2 Cor. 5:14-15; Rom. 6:11-13; Eph. 2:10, Eph. 4:11-12, Eph. 4:22-24; 1 Pet. 4:10-11; Acts 1:8; Matt. 28:18-20; Col. 1:10; John 15:8, 16). The Church
We believe "The Church" are an assembly of “called out one’s” made up of baptized believers which Jesus is the head. The authorized local church is a tangible expression of the body of Christ in a particular location. Since all members of the church are of the body of Christ and are united in Christ by the same Spirit, they should live in love, harmony and unity, being intent on the same purpose and accepting those sectarian or denominational practices which are based on a sincere interpretation of the Bible, which do not relate to substantive doctrinal matters, and which do not in practice cause disunity or hinder the ministry. The purpose of the church is to make Christ known to lost men and to make disciples, and glorify God on earth (Matt. 16:18; 1 Cor. 12:12-27; Eph. 1:20-23, Eph. 4:1-6, Eph. 4:12-16; Matt. 28:18-20; John 17; Col. 1:24-29).

06/05/2021

Amos 3:3 "Can two walk together, except they be agreed?"
This verse is one of the worst taken out of context. As it is applied to God and Israel if we read verses 1-8. We use it to say "if you don't agree with me, we can't walk as UNITY" as the family of God. The DEVIL'S way of dividing the Body of Christ and we eat it up like candy. All bc of sweet talking pastors preaching their own agenda (their own truths). All the Apostles preached from the Old Testament. Matthew, Mark, Luke and John was the OT before Christ died although they were written after the resurrection. The heresies Paul spoke and warned about was twisting the Gospel of Christ, THE GOSPELS pertaining to Christ. NOT if we disagree on election. False doctrine was ONLY PERTAINING to the Gospel of Christ. There was NO New Testament at that time but letters to the CHURCHES. Study HERESY and FALSE doctrine and see what Paul was speaking of. 2 Corinthians 11:13 "For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ." It is Impossible for a true Christian to be a false teacher. It is Impossible for a true Christian to teach heresy. YOU NAME CALLING PEOPLE. It is ONLY a MISINTERPRETATION of what they read OR what they were taught, THAT IT ALL.
DO YOU FALL UNDER THIS!!!!
2 Timothy 3:3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,
Accusing a brother or sister of HERESY or FALSE TEACHING when it is ONLY their misinterpretation OR they disagree with YOU is a FLAT OUT SIN.
WHAT DID PAUL SAY! 1 Corinthians 15:15 Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not.
THEY, YES THEY were called false witnesses JUST BC THEY SPOKE THE TRUTH ABOUT THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS CHRIST.... You NAME-CALLERS are going to stand and give an account at the Judgement Seat of Christ on why you accused a brother or sister of heresy OR being a false teacher WHEN YOU YOUR COULD BE WRONG.
DON'T LIKE STRONG WORD, THAN TOUGH. YOU WILL HEAR IT FROM ME OR HEAR IT FROM CHRIST WHEN IT IS TOO LATE.
YOUR CHOICE. If you call out a wolf in sheep's clothing YOU BEST BE RIGHT THAT THEY ARE A WOLF OR YOU WILL HEAR THOSE WORDS AGAIN. THIS WARNING GOES FOR ME AS WELL, I HAVE ENOUGH TO ANSWER FOR AS I DO NOT NEED TO BE ADDING TO IT. SO LET"S SEE HOW MANY EARS ARE NOT SUGAR-COATED.

Another graft from my book. I thought I was done until I got some extremely good honest advice from a dear friend. It wa...
02/06/2019

Another graft from my book. I thought I was done until I got some extremely good honest advice from a dear friend. It was a little tedious to read and he explained why. AMEN, for honest friends. Ones that tell you what you need to hear NOT what you want to hear. THEY are the most helpful BUT one also needs to be a friend AND LISTEN to them.

01/14/2019

A piece from the book:
One last thing when we study Matthew 27:50-54. In verse 5, the veil of the temple was ripped top to bottom revealing the room of the Holy of Holies where the high priest entered. This was God’s way of showing the Jews that the wall between Jews and Gentile was fulfilled on the cross. Notice in the Old Testament of the color of the veil. We read in
Exodus 26:31-33 that they “…shalt make a vail of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen of cunning work: with cherubims shall it be made: And thou shalt hang it upon four pillars of sh*ttim wood overlaid with gold: their hooks shall be of gold, upon the four sockets of silver. And thou shalt hang up the vail under the taches, that thou mayest bring in thither within the vail the ark of the testimony: and the vail shall divide unto you between the holy place and the most holy.”
Notice the colors of the veil. When we are badly bruised as Christ was on the cross, his skin would have been the color of blue and purple as his bloody body was red as scarlet. The verses of this color are in verses 31-33. What was the age of Christ from his ministry to the cross? About the same number in the verses? This shows the sovereignty of God in his plan.

John 1:3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
10/27/2018

John 1:3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.

10/24/2018

1 Corinthians 11:3 But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God.
Three administrations or offices within one person. Each administration can speak separately to each other and still be one with each other. God gave us a human version of himself when he created Adam and Eve only he took one from the other but still Eve was a part of Adam's flesh. Just as the Word/Christ is a part of the Father. This is why the Bible reveals them in order..Father, Son and Holy Ghost. Each has a separate roll in one Godhead. Genesis 1:26 "And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness."
God breathed into Adam a living soul ONLY THAN did God make Eve. Husband, wife and the Spirit that brought Adam to life. Father, Son and Holy Ghost (the 7 Spirits of God). Eve has the same FLESH as Adam ONE FLESH... 3 in the Godhead... 3 in the Flesh (Adam, Eve and Spirit) earthly....3 in the Spirit (Father, the Word and the Holy Ghost) Heavenly. Marriage EARTH..the Godhead HEAVENLY. The Godhead is not hard to understand as long as it is God that opens your eyes to see it.

10/22/2018

A short piece from the chapter The Building of the Church from my book

Choosing his foundations to the church

The third event is choosing offices for the church as Jesus gathers his twelve disciples. In John 1:35-37 after the baptism of Jesus, “…the next day after John stood, and two of his disciples; And looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God! And the two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus”. We can follow Jesus choosing his disciples in John 1:35-51 when he chooses them from those baptized by John. In the building of the church, we now have Christ as the head, twelve offices filled by disciples, and a congregation of baptized believers.
Jesus said in John 6:70-71 “…Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil? He spake of Judas Iscariot the son of Simon: for he it was that should betray him, being one of the twelve”. Jesus continues in John 15:16 that “Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you”.
Jesus explains in John 15:19-21 “If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also. But all these things will they do unto you for my name's sake, because they know not him that sent me”.
The world is in the dark and the Word of God is the light of the world and everyone that is in Christ is a part of that light. Christ chose his apostle out of the world of darkness because they were chosen to be partakers of the light of Christ. We understand this as we read in John 1:8-11 that “He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. He came unto his own, and his own received him not”.
Jesus ordains his twelve chosen in Mark 3:13-15 as “…he goeth up into a mountain, and calleth unto him whom he would: and they came unto him. And he ordained twelve, that they should be with him, and that he might send them forth to preach, And to have power to heal sicknesses, and to cast out devils”. What is not included that we know is part of being ordain to preach, Christ also ordained them with the authority to baptize as they began baptizing the people of Israel. No preacher is ordained to preach without also having the authority to baptize into the church.
We will also study an unusual event that happened with the apostles in John 20:21-22 when Jesus said “…to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you. And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost”. There is only four times this word is used and one of them is in Genesis 2:7 that “…the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul”.
It is the Holy Ghost that teaches us and reveals the mysteries of God to those he reveals it. We read as Jesus said unto his apostles in Luke 24:25-27 “…O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken: Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory? And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself”. Jesus continues saying in Luke 24:44 that “…These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me”.
They still have not fully understood the Work of Christ and how it was all in the Old Testament from Moses to the cross but it goes back to Genesis. As we read in of what God told the serpent in Genesis 3:15 that “…I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel”. Jesus gave them the full knowledge and understanding of Christ from Moses to the Work of Christ on the cross. Jesus taught them this understanding through the Holy Ghost.
We must understand that the church began from the preaching of John; not built but began with John. God began calling the house of Israel to John the Baptist for him to begin baptizing. After Christ, the chief corner stone, was baptized Jesus began choosing his foundation to his church and ordaining them as apostles. We see the physical foundation in Revelation 21:14 that “…the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb”. There are only twelve apostles, one for each floor of the New Jerusalem.
How can we know the Apostle Paul is one of them? Paul began his letter in Romans 1:1 “Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God”. He also began his letter in 1Corinthians 1:1 “Paul, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, and Sosthenes our brother”. Paul begins all his letters in 2Cor. 1:1, Gal 1:1, Eph. 1:1, Col. 1:1, 1Tim.1:1, 2Tim.1:1 and in Tit. 1:1.
All these letters except Hebrews and it is unknown of the writer. One verse might give it away that Paul wrote Hebrews as we read in Hebrews 3:1-2 “Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus; Who was faithful to him that appointed him, as also Moses was faithful in all his house”.
We can also in 1Timothy 2:7 “Whereunto I am ordained a preacher, and an apostle, (I speak the truth in Christ, and lie not;) a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and verity” and in 2Timothy 1:11 “Whereunto I am appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles”. If Christ only chose twelve apostles; that in itself should narrow down who wrote the letter to the Hebrews. That would make eleven foundations in the New Jerusalem for the apostles for the Jews; one foundation for the apostle to the Gentiles, the Apostle Paul. Jesus told Ananias about Paul in Acts 9:15 as “…Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel”.

10/20/2018

One of the rules to interpretation is to read by paragraphs.. Look at all 3 verses. Hebrews 6:4-6 For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost,
And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come,
If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame. Paul is actually saying it is impossible for one to be saved and fall away. Christ can't be crucified twice.

10/20/2018

The earthly shepherd and the heavenly shepherd

What do Adam and Moses have in common? They are both the earthly types of Christ. Paul wrote in Romans 5:14 that “…death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come”.
Paul mention Adam again in 1Corinthians 15:44-50 that “It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body. And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit. Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual. The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven. As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly. And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly. Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption”.
Adam was called the son of God in Luke 3:38 “Which was the son of Enos, which was the son of Seth, which was the son of Adam, which was the son of God”. How did Luke understand Adam to be the created son of God? They took Genesis that was written by Moses more seriously than we do today. Would we look at Adam as the son of God if it was not for us reading Luke 3:38? It is a very honest and interesting question that requires an honest answer; we cannot answer this but only to one’s self can it be answered.
When the Lord sent Moses out in the land of Midian, we find him in Exodus 3:1 that “…Moses kept the flock of Jethro his father in law, the priest of Midian: and he led the flock to the backside of the desert, and came to the mountain of God, even to Horeb”. Moses has to learn to tend the flock for he did not learn that as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter.
One must be a student before becoming a teacher as he was schooled in all the ways of Egypt but knew nothing of taking care of a flock of sheep. There is no way around it if one is a shepherd; sheep die and sometimes there is nothing one can do about it. It is a part of life as being a shepherd whether it is at birth or wild beast of the field; they will die. This was something Moses had to learn before keeping the flock of the church in the wilderness.
Jesus mentioned sheep in Matthew 18:12-14 “How think ye? if a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and goeth into the mountains, and seeketh that which is gone astray? And if so be that he find it, verily I say unto you, he rejoiceth more of that sheep, than of the ninety and nine which went not astray. Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish”.
Jesus said in John 10:11-16 “I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep. The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep. I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. As the Father knoweth me, even so know me the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep. And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.”
Moses spent one-third of his life learning to be a shepherd as his life was broke up into thirds. Here we find something divided into three’s as we do throughout the book; like the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost is three in one. Just as we see the life of Moses divided into three parts but yet one person. The first part taught him to be the head of a governing body so he could govern the church in the wilderness. The second part was to teach him how to care for the flock in the church in the wilderness. The third part was to be the prophet of God to oversee the congregation of Israel.
Moses was the earthly shepherd bringing the law; Christ was the Good Shepherd that laid down his life for his sheep by the blood of the cross. As Adam was made a living soul; the first shepherd brought the law to the people. As the first Adam made a living soul died; the second Adam was made a quickening spirit that in Christ all shall have eternal life. As Moses was the earthly shepherd giving the law; the heavenly Shepherd gave us grace through his blood that was shed for us.

09/09/2018

What is not explained by many of us is the difference between baptism and the Lord’s Supper. Why is baptism only once and the Lord’s Supper as often as we observe it to do in remembrance of Christ? We enter into a covenant with Christ in baptism as one would in a marriage as we are partakers in the bride of Christ. The Lord’s Supper we do in remembrance as one would remember the anniversary of what brought us into the covenant; the Work of Christ on the cross.

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Our Statement of Faith We are Independent Fundamental Baptist by faith The Scriptures We believe that the entire Bible is the inspired Word of God and that men of God “were moved by the Holy Spirit” to write the very words of Scripture. The Bible is therefore without error (inerrant) in its original manuscripts. God has supernaturally preserved the Bible, and it is the sole and final authority for faith and life, providing encouragement, guidance, comfort, and instruction for training in righteousness (2 Tim. 3:16-17; 2 Pet. 1:20-21). The Godhead (Trinity) We believe in one true God eternally existing in three distinct persons (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) each of Whom is fully and equally God; possesses all of the divine nature and attributes, and is totally worthy of our worship and service (Isa. 46:9; Matt. 1:23; John 1:1, 1:14, John 10:30; John 14:9). God the Father We believe that God the Father is the first administration of the Godhead and is the eternal, unchanging all-powerful, all-knowing, all-wise, all-loving, completely just and perfectly holy, sovereign Ruler and Sustainer of the universe. He is the Father of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and the Father of all true believers (Gen. 1:1; Isa. 40:21-28, Isa. 43:10-13, Isa. 46:8-11; Eph. 4:6; John 1:12-13, John 5:19-21, John 17:1-5; Rom. 8:14-16). God the Son We believe that Jesus Christ is the second administration of the Godhead and is the only begotten eternal Son of God Who became flesh to reveal God to man, to fulfill prophecy, and to become the Savior of the lost world. In becoming man Jesus did not cease in any way to be God so that He is fully God and fully man inseparably united in one person forever. Jesus was miraculously conceived by the Holy Spirit; born of the Virgin Mary; lived a sinless life; died on the cross as the substitutionary, all-sufficient atoning sacrifice for all of the sins of all men of all time; was buried; bodily rose from the dead; physically ascended into heaven in His glorified, resurrected body; is seated at the right hand of the Father performing His ministry of intercession; will return in the air for all His saints; and will come again to earth in bodily form, personally and visibly, to conclude human history and consummate God’s eternal plan by executing judgment and ushering in His Millennial Kingdom reign to be followed by the eternal state (John 1:1,14,18; John 3:16; Luke 1:30-35; Phil. 2:5-8; Col. 2:3,9; Mark 10:45; Acts 2:22-24; John 1:29; Rom. 3:25-26; Heb. 10:5-14; 1 Pet. 2:24, 1 Pet. 3:18; John 20:20; Phil. 3:20-21; Heb. 1:3; Rom. 8:34; 1 John 2:1; Acts 1:11; Heb. 9:28; 1 Thes. 4:13-18; 2 Thes. 2:7; Matt. 24:44; Rev. 19:11-21; Rev. 21-22). God the Holy Spirit We believe that the Holy Spirit is the third administration of the Godhead Who specially came into the world on the day of Pentecost to glorify Christ and to enable men to appropriate the salvation wrought by Christ. He is the primary agent for the conviction of sin and for regeneration. Simultaneously with salvation, the Holy Spirit imparts new life, baptizes the believer into the body of Christ (His church), permanently indwells the believer, and securely seals the believer unto the day of redemption. The Holy Spirit fills (directs and controls) those believers who are yielded to Him, enables believers to bear fruit, and empowers believers to live a life free from sin’s dominion. We also believe that the Holy Spirit gives spiritual gifts to believers for the purpose of edifying the church in accordance with the teachings of scripture (1 Cor. 13:8, 1 Cor. 14:22; John 16:7-8; 1 Cor. 6:19, 1 Cor. 12:13; Eph. 1:13-14, Eph. 4:30; Gal. 5:16-17, Gal. 22-23; Rom. 8:5-13; 1 Pet. 4:10-11; Rom. 12:3-8). Man We believe that man was created in the image of God by the direct act of God and did not come into being as the result of evolution. Man was created to glorify God, worship and serve Him, and have fellowship with Him. Mankind fell through the sin of Adam by disobeying God, thus incurring both physical and spiritual death, which alienated him from God. Man’s nature was thus corrupted and he is utterly lost, “dead in trespasses and sins,” and totally incapable of saving himself and coming back into right relationship with God by his own merit or effort (Gen. 1:26, Gen. 2:6,17, Gen. 3:17-24; Isa. 59:1-2; Rom. 3:9-19,23, Rom. 5:8; Luke 18:26-27; Eph. 2:13). Satan We believe that Satan is the instigator of evil and a real spirit being, not simply the personification of evil. He is a fallen angel who, under the sovereign permission of God, has been given temporary rulership of the earth. He was utterly defeated at the cross, but the ex*****on of his judgment has been postponed by God until after the Millennial Kingdom when he will be cast into the eternal lake of fire. In the meantime, he deceives the world and seeks to establish his counterfeit kingdom on earth to discredit and blaspheme God and to tempt, accuse, attack and destroy believers. He can be resisted by the believer through faith and reliance on the power of the Holy Spirit (Gen. 3:1-5; Isa. 14:12-17; Ezek. 28:11-19; Job 1-2; 1 John 5:19; 2 Cor. 11:14; 1 Tim. 3:6; 1 Pet. 5:8-9; James 4:7; Rev. 12:9, Rev. 20:1-3, Rev. 7-10) Salvation We believe that the shed blood of Jesus Christ on the cross provides the sole basis for forgiveness of sins and salvation, which is the free gift of God’s mercy and grace. Salvation is affected by the regenerating work of the Holy Spirit and cannot be secured by man’s works or personal merit. Salvation is only appropriated by a person placing his faith in the finished work of Christ. Repentance is a turning toward God and away from sin and is a part of but not separate from believing faith. “The Gospel is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes” and those who receive Jesus Christ by faith are born again, have their sins forgiven, become children of God, are a new creation in Christ, and “are sealed by the Holy Spirit unto the day of redemption” being kept by the power of God (Eph. 1:7:13-14; John 1:12-13, John 3:1-7, John 14-16; 2 Cor. 5:17; Rom. 1:16, Rom. 10:9-10; Eph. 2:8-10; Rom. 8:14-17, Rom. 31-39; John 10:27-29, Rom. 14:6; Acts 26:20; 1 Pet. 1:3-5). The Christian Life We believe that every Christian should live for Christ and not for himself and should, by the power of the indwelling Spirit, allow Christ to manifest His life through him to God’s glory. By ever increasing obedience to the Word of God, each believer should mature and progressively become more like Jesus. In the power of the Spirit, each believer should, as much as possible, live a holy life; not fulfilling the lusts of the flesh; exercise his spiritual gifts to build up the body of Christ; witness for Christ; be personally involved in making disciples to fulfill the great commission; perform good works and bear fruit to the glory of God (Gal. 2:20; 1 Pet. 1:15-16, 1 Pet. 2:11; 2 Cor. 5:14-15; Rom. 6:11-13; Eph. 2:10, Eph. 4:11-12, Eph. 4:22-24; 1 Pet. 4:10-11; Acts 1:8; Matt. 28:18-20; Col. 1:10; John 15:8, 16). The Church We believe "The Church"is an assembly of “called out ones” made up of baptized believers which Jesus is the head. The authorized local church is a tangible expression of the body of Christ in a particular location. Since all members of the church are of the body of Christ and are united in Christ by the same Spirit, they should live in love, harmony and unity, being intent on the same purpose and accepting those sectarian or denominational practices which are based on a sincere interpretation of the Bible, which do not relate to substantive doctrinal matters, and which do not in practice cause disunity or hinder the ministry. The purpose of the church is to make Christ known to lost men and to make disciples, and glorify God on earth (Matt. 16:18; 1 Cor. 12:12-27; Eph. 1:20-23, Eph. 4:1-6, Eph. 4:12-16; Matt. 28:18-20; John 17; Col. 1:24-29).