Statement of Faith

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Book StudiesVerse by Verse
- Proverbs
  - Proverbs Chapter 1
    - Proverbs 1:1-7
    - Proverbs 1:8-19
  - Proverbs Chapter 22
    - Proverbs 22:6
- Luke
  - Luke Chapter 8
    - Luke 8:4-15 - Parable of the Sower, a Matter of the HeartThe seed of the word of God is given to all but not all have hearts that are good soil. Some are hostile, some are flaky, some are divided, but there's hope!
  - Luke Chapter 15
    - Luke 15:1-10 - The Overwhelming, Never-Ending, Reckless Love of God
- John
  - John Chapter 3
    - John 3:1-7
- Romans
  - Romans Chapter 1
    - Romans 1:1-17
    - Romans 1:18-32
  - Romans Chapter 2
  - Romans Chapter 3
  - Romans Chapter 4
    - Romans 4:1-15
    - Romans 4:16-25
  - Romans Chapter 5
    - Romans 5:1-11
    - Romans 5:12-21
  - Romans Chapter 6
  - Romans Chapter 9 - An In-Depth, Non-Calvinist InterpretationAn encouraging exegete of Romans 9 that maintains a high view of God's sovereignty yet respects the character of God as seen in Jesus.
    - Romans 9:1-12 - It's About God's Promise, Not Individual SalvationRomans 9, when studied properly, is a beautiful exegete of the Old Testament making known a mystery that prior to the Messiah was largely misunderstood.
    - Romans 9:13-18 - A Matter So Important God Saw To It PersonallyThe hatred of Esau, the hardening of Pharoah, not unloving as some claim but more importantly all part of God's election to make way for the Messiah.
    - Romans 9:19-23 - Man Plans His Way but the Lord Directs His StepsThe Potter's original intent wasn't to make vessels of wrath. This is a result of the clay spoiling. Therefore God remade them for a greater redemptive purpose.
    - Romans 9:24-33 - A Stumbling Stone to One Is Refuge for AnotherChrist offends those who pursue a right standing with God on their own because He accomplished what they cannot, and freely gives it to those not trying.
  - Romans Chapter 10 - Paul's How-To (and How-Not-To) On Being SavedAmazingly Profound Yet Incredibly Simple, Woven Throughout Scripture Yet Defined in One Verse, Offensive to Hard Workers and Good News for Freeloaders!
    - Romans 10:1-9 - The Easy Way or the Impossible Way, Your ChoiceMen not properly handling the Mosaic Law ignorantly seek to establish their own righteousness through it, blinded to the reality that they utterly fail to do so.
    - Romans 10:10-21 - Unbelief Isn't an Inability but a Deliberate RefusalIt's not an inability to believe, nor a lack of hearing the gospel that's the problem, but rather a deliberate refusal that's the issue.
  - Romans Chapter 11 - Israel Hardened So All May BenefitGod has NOT forsaken Israel but rather God is using those in their unbelief to bring about His greater redemptive plan for all..including Israel.
    - Romans 11:1-6 - Grace and Works Are Like Oil and Water, They Don't MixCan it be both Grace AND works? The Apostle Paul shows us that Mormon's, Jehovah Witnesses, Catholics, and all other's who pervert grace have it wrong.
    - Romans 11:7-24 - Profound Hardening of Israel for the Sake of GentilesIn one of the very few New Testament prophecies regarding Israel's future, Paul reveals God's mysterious redemptive plan benefiting both Jew and Gentile alike.
    - Romans 11:25-32 - Profound Mercy to Gentiles for the Sake of IsraelThe exclusion of Israel benefited the Gentiles, now the inclusion of Gentiles benefits Israel.
- 2 Corinthians
  - 2 Corinthians Chapter 12
    - 2 Corinthians 12:1-13 - What Could Possibly Torment Paul?
- Galatians
  - Galatians Chapter 1
    - Galatians 1:1-5 - The Calm Before The StormA greeting with grace, the very area the Galatians were failing in.
    - Galatians 1:6-10 - The Most Severe Rebuke In All Of Paul's LettersPaul dives into the issue of legalism right away and doesn't let up for the entire epistle.
    - Galatians 1:11-24 Paul Defends His Ministry and AuthorityPaul appreciates their need to validate his apostleship in order to believe the message he's preaching.
  - Galatians Chapter 2
    - Galatians 2:1-10 The Council at JerusalemPaul recounts the events recorded in Acts 15 regarding these infiltrators who were following him, undermining him and perverting the gospel.
    - Galatians 2:11-21 - Peter's Hypocrisy Opposed by PaulPeter's actions preached a message contrary to what he believed.
  - Galatians Chapter 3
    - Galatians 3:1-5 - Being Perfected by the Flesh (Legalism)Paul makes a crucial distinction between the Spirit and the flesh which the Galatians had confused, having been leavened by legalism
    - Galatians 3:6-9
    - Galatians 3:10-14
    - Galatians 3:15-18
    - Galatians 3:19-22
    - Galatians 3:23-29
- Ephesians
  - Ephesians Chapter 1
    - Ephesians 1:1-14
    - Ephesians 1:15-18
Theological StudiesBiblical Insight on Topics
Study SeriesFocused Theological Studies
- Struggling With DoubtA thorough, in-depth book regarding the subject of doubt.
  - Chapter 1 - Introduction"I want to believe but I just can't."
    - Welcome!
    - Introduction
  - Chapter 2 - Understanding Doubt “Only God and certain madmen have no doubts!”
    - Universal Doubt
    - Doubt is Not Unbelief
  - Chapter 3 - Understanding FaithWhy are we saved through faith?
  - Chapter 4 - The Origins of DoubtA person's doubt can stem from one or more of these different categories.
  - Chapter 5 - Reprogramming“God will not give us more than HE can handle.”
  - Chapter 6 - Truth and Grace"Truth without grace only kills, grace without truth goes unnoticed, unappreciated, and therefore unaccepted."
    - Truth and Grace
  - Chapter 7 - Who We are in Christ"See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we would be called children of God; and such we are..." - 1 John 3:1a
    - Who We are in Christ
  - Chapter 8 - Securities in God"If we are faithless, He remains faithful, for He cannot deny Himself." - 2 Tim. 2:13
    - Can We Lose Our Salvation?
    - The Pillars of God's Faithfulness
  - Chapter 9 - Doubts Disarmed"Faithful is He who calls you, and He also will bring it to pass." - 1 Thess 5:24
    - Doubts Disarmed
- God's GloryFor His glory? Because of His glory?
  - What is God's glory?Then Moses said, “I pray You, show me Your glory!” - Exo 33:18
  - God is Not a Narcissistic Glory MongerEven the lillies of the field will testify to this truth.
  - For His Glory - The Best Gift!Because He is glorious God is for His glory, which simultaneously results in the best possible gift for us.
- What is Faith?How does it work? Where does it come from?
  - What is Faith? IntroductionWhy is it important?
  - Faith is Not a WorkFaith is not meritorious and therefore earns you nothing.
  - Faith is Not an Object to BeholdAssurance is not found in faith itself but rather its object.
  - Faith is Not a FeelingFaith rests on facts, feelings follow faith.
  - Faith is Not Lumped in With GraceGrace is the source, faith is the condition.
  - Faith Is Not Merely a Knowledge of God - Even the Demons BelieveIf knowledge of God saved then all would be saved. Don't be deceived. There is a crucial difference between believing that God is and believing in God.
  - What is Faith?Faith is trust, saving faith is trust in Christ.
  - Faith Is Receiving and It's Really Really EasySalvation couldn't be any easier, nor more of a guarantee!
  - Where Does Faith in Christ Come From?I'm curious, how did you come about to faith in Christ?
  - What are Some Reasons that Cause People to Not Have Faith in Christ?Hard hearts, riches of the world, the enemy, simply unwilling.
  - Why Did God Choose Salvation to be by Faith?Why faith and not some other means?
  - What About Those Who've Never Heard of Christ?Do they know? Are they saved?
- Struggling With CalvinismRightfully a tough pill to swallow.
  - Struggling With Calvinism IntroductionIncluding internal and external resources.
  - The Devastating Self-Defeating Pitfall of CalvinismGod's love isn't a secondary quality.
  - The Disturbing Conclusions of CalvinismDisturbing conclusions hidden within Calvinism.
  - Narcissism + Christianity = CalvinismCorrelation between narcissists and calvinists.
  - Does God Have Multiple Wills?Does God have a hidden agenda?
  - A Shadow Of A Doubt - Calvinistic Word GamesA twisting of words to mean something else.
  - Free Will vs PredestinationA growing collection of scripture related to this subject.
- Struggling With OCDAccompanied by strong feelings of doubt, fear, and anxiety.
- Struggling With LegalismThe Leaven of the Pharisees
  - Another Insufficient Attempt to Explain the Depth of God’s GraceIt’s Too Wonderful to Fully Explain but I Like Trying
  - “If You Love Me” Is Not a CommandLegalists Default to Seeing It as Such
  - Jesus Reacts to Having Just Finished Your RedemptionTake a look at His first post-resurrected message to His disciples
  - God Isn't Looking to Disqualify You Based on a TechnicalityLooming in many a deep-seated feeling that God will somehow disqualify them based on a technicality.
  - Those Under Grace Need Not Worry About Abusing ItSome, out of fear of abusing God's grace don't apply it at all. This is actually more detrimental.
The Gospel of SalvationA Free, No Strings Gift to Those that Ask
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While there are many other aspects of God revealed in the bible, for the purpose of our faith statement I desire to list what is rudimentary and is foundational to our faith. That is, Jesus Christ, and Him crucified. While right now in our present body we see through a glass dimly (1 Cor. 13:12) there are some things that have been made known to us that are absolute and unwavering (Rom. 1:20, 1 Cor. 2:1-2).

The Bible.

We believe the Bible. We believe the bible in it's entirety exactly as God has sent it out (Isa. 55:11). We believe the bible to be inerrant in it's original writings, God-breathed, and is the complete and final authority for faith and application (2 Tim. 3:16-17). The Holy Spirit, while maintaining the talents of individual writers, perfectly guided them and ensured they wrote precisely what He wanted written without error or omission (2 Pet. 1:21, Luke 12:11-12, 1 Cor. 2:13).

God.

We believe in one God, who is Creator of all (Deut. 6:4, Col. 1:16), who has revealed Himself in three distinct Persons—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (2 Cor. 13:14), yet who is one in being, essence, and glory (John 10:30). God is eternal (Psa. 90:2), infinite (1 Tim. 1:17), and sovereign (Psa. 93:1, 115:3, 2 Chr. 20:6). God is omniscient (Psa. 139:1-6), omnipresent (Psalm 139:7-13), omnipotent (Isa. 43:13, Dan. 4:35, Jer. 32:27, Matt. 19:26, Rev. 19:6), and unchanging (Mal. 3:6, Jam. 1:17). God is holy (Isa. 6:3), just (Isa. 30:18, Deut. 32:4), righteous (Exo. 9:27), avenging, and wrathful (Nah. 1:2). God is love (1 John 4:8), gracious (Psa. 145:8, Eph. 2:8), merciful (2 Sam. 24:14, 1 Pet. 1:3), patient, (2 Pet. 3:9, Rom. 2:4), kind (Rom. 2:4), and good (Exo. 33:19, Rom. 8:28).

Jesus Christ.

We believe in the deity of the Lord Jesus Christ. He is God incarnate. God in human form, the expressed image of the Father (2 Cor. 4:4, Col. 1:15) and the exact representation of His nature (Heb. 1:3). Jesus, without ceasing to be God, became man in order that He might demonstrate who God is and provide the means of salvation for humanity (Matt. 1:21, John 1:7, 1:18, 1 John 2:2, Eze. 18:22-23, 2 Pet. 3:9, 1 Tim. 2:3-4, 4:10, Titus 2:11, Heb. 2:9).

We believe that Jesus Christ was conceived of the Holy Spirit and was born of the virgin Mary (Matt. 1:23, Luke 1:30-31); that He is truly fully God and truly fully man (John 1:1,14); that He lived a perfect, sinless life (1 John 3:5); that all His teachings are true (John 14:6, Titus 1:2, Heb. 6:18). We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ died on the cross for all humanity (1 John 2:2, 2 Pet. 3:9, John 1:7, Eze. 18:22-23, 1 Tim. 2:3-4, 4:10, Titus 2:11, Heb. 2:9) as a substitutionary sacrifice (Isa. 53:5-6, 1 Pet. 2:24, 1 John 2:2); and that His work on the cross is complete (Matt. 5:17, John 19:28-30, 2 Cor. 5:21), and His death and resurrection (1 Cor. 15:17) are sufficient to provide salvation for all who receive Him as Savior (John 1:12, Acts 16:31, Rom 10:12-13, John 4:10, Rev. 3:20); that our justification is grounded in the shedding of His blood (Rom. 5:9, Eph. 1:7); and that it is attested by His literal, physical resurrection from the dead (Matt. 28:6, 1 Pet. 1:3).

We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ ascended to Heaven in His glorified body (Acts 1:9-10) and is now seated at the right hand of God as our High Priest and Advocate (Rom. 8:34, Heb. 7:25).

The Holy Spirit.

We believe in the deity and personality of the Holy Spirit (Acts 5:3-4, Eph. 4:30). He regenerates sinners (Titus 3:5) and indwells believers (Rom. 8:9). He is the agent by whom Christ baptizes all believers into His body (1 Cor. 12:12-14). He is the seal by whom the Father guarantees the salvation of believers unto the day of redemption (Eph. 1:13-14). He is the Divine Teacher who enlightens believers' hearts and minds (John 14:26, 1 Cor. 2:9-12, 1 John 2:27, Heb. 8:10) and gives understanding as a believer reads the Word of God (1 Cor. 1:18, 1 Cor. 2:9-12)

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