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THE GOSPEL OF GOD'S GRACE

The Character of God

The Holiness of God

  • Your eyes are too pure to approve evil, and You cannot look on wickedness with favor. (Habakkuk 1:13)

  • But your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden His face from you so that He does not hear. (Isaiah 59:2)

The Justice of God

  • For the LORD is righteous, He loves righteousness; the upright will behold His face. (Psalm 11:7)

  • But the LORD of hosts will be exalted in judgment, and the holy God will show Himself holy in righteousness. (Isaiah 5:16)

  • God is a righteous judge, and a God who has indignation every day. If a man does not repent, He will sharpen His sword; He has bent His bow and made it ready. (Psalm 7:11-12)

The Depravity & Condemnation of Man

  • For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. (Romans 3:23)

  • For all of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a filthy garment (Isaiah 64:6)

  • For as many as are of the works of the law are under a curse; for it is written, 'accursed is everyone who does not abide by all things written in the book of the law, to perform them'. (Galatians 3:10)

 

The Great Dilemma

  • He who justifies the wicked and he who condemns the righteous, both of them alike are an abomination to the LORD. (Proverbs 17:15)

  • Far be it from You to do such a thing, to slay the righteous with the wicked, so that the righteous and the wicked are treated alike. Far be it from You! Shall not the Judge of all the earth deal justly? (Genesis 18:25)

 

God's Action

While maintaining His holiness and justice, the Bible also affirms that God is love, and that in love He has responded to the plight of man.

Motivated by Love

  • God is love. By this the love of God is manifested in us, that God sent His only begotten Son into the world so that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. (1 John 4:8-10)

The Cross of Christ

  • For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus; whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith. This was to demonstrate His righteousness, because in the forbearance of God He passed over the sins previously committed; for the demonstration, I say, of His righteousness at the present time, so that He would be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus. (Romans 3:23-26)

The Resurrection

  • He who was delivered over because of our transgressions, and was raised because of our justification. (Romans 4:25)

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Man's Response

Repentance begins with a recognition and confession that what God says about us is true, that we have sinned.

  • For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me. Against You, You only, I have sinned and done what is evil in Your sight, so that You are justified when You speak and blameless when You judge. (Psalm 51:3-4)

A genuine recognition of our sinfulness and guilt will also lead to genuine sorrow, shame and even hatred for what we have done.

  • For what I am doing, I do not understand; for I am not practicing what I would like to do, but I am doing the very thing I hate. (Romans 7:15)

  • Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from this body of death? (Romans 7:24)

Apparent sincerity of confession alone is never definite evidence of genuine repentance. It must be accompanied by a turning away from sin.

  • Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean; remove the evil of your deeds from My sight. Cease to do evil. (Isaiah 1:16)

  • therefore every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. (Matthew 3:10)

Faith Defined

  • Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. (Hebrews 11:1)

  • and being fully assured that what God had promised, He was able also to perform. (Romans 4:21)

Faith Based on The Promises of God

  • For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. (John 3:16)

  • Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved (Acts 16:31)

Example of a Believer

  • worship in the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh (Philippians 3:3)

The Basis of Genuine Assurance

True conversion: A true Christian is a new creation and will live a life that reflects God's radical work of re-creation in his/her life.

  • Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. (2 Corinthians 5:17)

  • You will know them by their fruits. Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes nor figs from thistles, are they? (Matthew 7:16)

Assurance is based upon self-examination in the light of Scripture.

  • Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you unless indeed you fail the test? (2 Corinthians 13:5)

  • These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life. (1 John 5:13)

Test of Biblical Assurance

1 John 1:5-7 (Walking in the Light), 1 John 1:8-10 (Confession of Sin), 1 John 2:3-4 (Obedience), 1 John 2:9-11 (Love for the Brethren), 1 John 2:15-17 (Hatred for the World), 1 John 2:24-25 (Perseverance in Doctrine), 1 John 3:10 (Righteousness), 1 John 4:13 (Spirit's Testimony), Hebrews 12:5-8 (Discipline)

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GOSPEL
DOCTRINE
CHURCH

WHAT IS BIBLICAL DOCTRINE?

While there are certain aspects of doctrine or belief that can be disagreed upon within the realm of Christianity, we want to guard against false teaching and false doctrine. To do so we want to provide you with what we believe is an accurate statement on what the bible teaches:

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I. The Scriptures

The Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments were given by inspiration of God, and are the only sufficient, certain and authoritative rule of all saving knowledge, faith and obedience.

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II. God

There is but one God, the Maker, Preserver and Ruler of all things, having in and of Himself, all perfections, and being infinite in them all; and to Him all creatures owe the highest love, reverence and obedience.

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III. The Trinity

God is revealed to us as Father, Son and Holy Spirit each with distinct personal attributes, but without division of nature, essence or being.

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IV. Providence

God from eternity, decrees or permits all things that come to pass, and perpetually upholds, directs and governs all creatures and all events; yet so as not in any wise to be the author or approver of sin nor to destroy the free will and responsibility of intelligent creatures.

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V. Election

Election is God’s eternal choice of some persons unto everlasting life-not because of foreseen merit in them, but of His mere mercy in Christ-in consequence of which choice they are called, justified and glorified.

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VI. The Fall of Man

God originally created Man in His own image, and free from sin; but, through the temptation of Satan, he transgressed the command of God, and fell from his original holiness and righteousness; whereby his posterity inherit a nature corrupt and wholly opposed to God and His law, are under condemnation, and as soon as they are capable of moral action, become actual transgressors.

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VII. The Mediator

Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God, is the divinely appointed mediator between God and man. Having taken upon Himself human nature, yet without sin, He perfectly fulfilled the law; suffered and died upon the cross for the salvation of sinners. He was buried, and rose again the third day, and ascended to His Father, at whose right hand He ever liveth to make intercession for His people. He is the only Mediator, the Prophet, Priest and King of the Church, and Sovereign of the Universe.

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VIII. Regeneration

Regeneration is a change of heart, wrought by the Holy Spirit, who quickeneth the dead in trespasses and sins enlightening their minds spiritually and savingly to understand the Word of God, and renewing their whole nature, so that they love and practice holiness. It is a work of God’s free and special grace alone.

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IX. Repentance

Repentance is an evangelical grace, wherein a person being by the Holy Spirit, made sensible of the manifold evil of his sin, humbleth himself for it, with godly sorrow, detestation of it, and self-abhorrence, with a purpose and endeavor to walk before God so as to please Him in all things.

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X. Faith

Saving faith is the belief, on God’s authority, of whatsoever is revealed in His Word concerning Christ; accepting and resting upon Him alone for justification and eternal life. It is wrought in the heart by the Holy Spirit, and is accompanied by all other saving graces, and leads to a life of holiness.

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XI. Justification

Justification is God’s gracious and full acquittal of sinners, who believe in Christ, from all sin, through the satisfaction that Christ has made; not for anything wrought in them or done by them; but on account of the obedience and satisfaction of Christ, they receiving and resting on Him and His righteousness by faith.

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XII. Sanctification

Those who have been regenerated are also sanctified by God’s word and Spirit dwelling in them. This sanctification is progressive through the supply of Divine strength, which all saints seek to obtain, pressing after a heavenly life in cordial obedience to all Christ’s commands.

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XIII. Perseverance of the Saints

Those whom God hath accepted in the Beloved, and sanctified by His Spirit, will never totally nor finally fall away from the state of grace, but shall certainly persevere to the end; and though they may fall through neglect and temptation, into sin, whereby they grieve the Spirit, impair their graces and comforts, bring reproach on the Church, and temporal judgments on themselves, yet they shall be renewed again unto repentance, and be kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation.

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XIV. The Church

The Lord Jesus is the head of the Church, which is composed of all His true disciples, and in Him is invested supremely all power for its government. According to His commandment, Christians are to associate themselves into particular societies or churches; and to each of these churches He hath given needful authority for administering that order, discipline and worship which He hath appointed. The regular officers of a Church are Bishops or Elders, and Deacons.

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XV. Baptism

Baptism is an ordinance of the Lord Jesus, obligatory upon every believer, wherein he is immersed in water in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, as a sign of his fellowship with the death and resurrection of Christ, of remission of sins, and of giving himself up to God, to live and walk in newness of life. It is prerequisite to church fellowship, and to participation in the Lord’s Supper.

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XVI. The Lord’s Supper

The Lord’s Supper is an ordinance of Jesus Christ, to be administered with the elements of bread and wine, and to be observed by His churches till the end of the world. It is in no sense a sacrifice, but is designed to commemorate His death, to confirm the faith and other graces of Christians, and to be a bond, pledge and renewal of their communion with Him, and of their church fellowship.

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XVIII. Liberty of Conscience

God alone is Lord of the conscience; and He hath left it free from the doctrines and commandments of men, which are in anything contrary to His word, or not contained in it. Civil magistrates being ordained of God, subjection in all lawful things commanded by them ought to be yielded by us in the Lord, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake.

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XIX. The Resurrection

The bodies of men after death return to dust, but their spirits return immediately to God-the righteous to rest with Him; the wicked, to be reserved under darkness to the judgment. At the last day, the bodies of all the dead, both just and unjust, will be raised.

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XX. The Judgment

God hath appointed a day, wherein He will judge the world by Jesus Christ, when every one shall receive according to his deeds; the wicked shall go into everlasting punishment; the righteous, into everlasting life.

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FIND A BIBLICAL CHURCH

We believe that one of the most important aspects to the Christian life is to be part of a biblical church. As Christians grow into the image of Christ, they are in need of fellowship and accountability. The Bible makes it clear: "let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near." (Hebrews 10:24-25) Jesus rose from the dead on the first day of the week and the early church would gather together to worship corporately on the first day of the week. (Matthew 28:1-10, Mark 16:1-8, Luke 24:1-12, John 20:1-10, Acts 20:7, 1 Corinthians 16:1-2, Revelation 1:10) To willfully neglect the gathering of believers in worship is to set yourself in opposition to the very bride of Christ, His church. All Christians ought to be encouraged to find a biblical church and submit there to be edified by the preaching of the word and trained up to do the work of ministry. Here are a few resources to help you understand what qualifies as a biblical church and how to find one:

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