The Bible (KJV) is the inspired (2 Timothy 3:15-17), preserved (Psalm 12:6-7) Word of God. When I say inspired I mean every Word, and when I say preserved I mean that it is kept for eternity. It is the only eternal thing mortal man will hold. Because it was written by God we have a more sure word of prophecy. (2 Peter 1:16-21) It is more sure than our own knowledge and experiences. The Bible has many works. First it tells us how to be saved, second it teaches us about doctrine, we learn what is wrong in our lives, then we see what God says is right, and finally it tells us how to be right.
When we deal with the Word of God there is also the issue of the counterfeits that are now available. Satan has tried to corrupt and counterfeit God’s Word. He has done this through the other versions such as the NIV, NKJV, etc. These “perversions” have changed God’s Word. This is done through adding and deleting the very words of the Bible. This effects the many doctrines and makes the Bible ineffective. This is why it is so important to hold to the KJV for it is the perfect, powerful Word of God.
Spurgeon said, “The Bible is God’s word, and when I see it, I seem to hear a voice saying, ‘I am the Book of God, man, read me; I am God’s writing: open my leaves, for I was penned by God’… I plead with you, I beg of you, respect your Bibles, and search them out. Go home and read your Bibles… O Book of books! And wast thou written by my God? Then I will bow before thee, thou Book of vast authority! For He has written this Book Himself… let us love it, let us count it more precious than fine gold!”
Trinity
The Trinity is God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. This is not a description of three different gods, but one God. (Deuteronomy 6:4) The trinity is mentioned in the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19), and pictured at the baptism of Jesus. (Matthew 3:16-17) Each person of the Godhead have the same nature and attributes therefore they are worthy of the same worship and respect. (Jeremiah 10:10)
God the Father
God the Father is the first person in the Trinity. God is a Spirit. (John 4:24) He is omnipotent (Psalm 115:3), Omnipresent (Psalm 139:7-10), and omniscient (Psalm 139:1-6) He is holy (1 Peter 1:16), righteous (1 John 2:29), truth (John 14:6, and love (1 John 4:8, 16). He is the Creator of everything (Genesis 1) He also designed salvation. (Ephesians 1:3-6)
Jesus Christ
He is the second person of the Godhead. He appeared in the Old Testament in what we call Christophanies. (Genesis 16:10-13; Joshua 5:13-15) In the New Testament He is God in the flesh. (John 1:1-7, 14) He was born of the virgin Mary. (Isaiah 7:14; Luke 1:35) As a man He still had the same attributes as God. (John 3:13) His mission on earth was to be our substitute for sins payment. (Luke 19:10) His death was a one-time payment for the sins of man. (Hebrews 9:13-14, 25-28) He will one day return for the saints to rapture them away. (1 Corinthians 15:52; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-5:4)
Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit is the third person in the Trinity. Unfortunately He is often the most overlooked and is referred to as an “it.” But since He is the third person of the Trinity and shares the same characteristics and attributes of God the Father and the Son He should be viewed as coequal. He convicts man of their sin (John 16:8-11), he comforts those who need comforting (John 14:16), He fills and controls believers (Ephesians 5:18), He leads us (Romans 8:14), and He teaches us. (John 14:26).
Salvation
Salvation was made possible by the shedding of Jesus’ blood. (Hebrews 9:13-14, 22-28) He did this because man is incapable of saving himself. (Ephesians 2:9) It is provided by grace. (Ephesians 2:8) It is accomplished by repentance of sin (Acts 2:38) and belief and acceptance of Jesus Christ. (Romans 10:13; Acts 16:31) When a man is saved God declares him justified which means the Jesus’s righteousness is imputed to man. (Romans 3:22-26; Romans 5:1, 9, 18-19) God also sanctifies the man that is saved. This means that God set man from sin unto Christ. (Hebrews 10:10; Ephesians 5:26) Finally God will one day glorify man. He will change the saved man. (1 Corinthians 15:51-54) Salvation can never be lost, it is eternal. (John 3:16) God also intended that salvation is for whosoever, meaning anybody. (John 3:16) God does not force a man to be saved, but He longs for all men to be saved. (2 Peter 3:9)
The Church
The New Testament church is a local group of immersed believers who voluntarily gather together to practice the ordinances, to carry out the great commission, and worship God. The church is to be autonomous, meaning self supporting and self governing. Jesus is the head of the church. (Ephesians 1:22-23) The final authority if the church is the Bible. (2 Timothy 3:14-17) The membership is made up of saved, baptized people. (Acts 2:38, 41) There are only two offices: the pastor and the deacon. (1 Timothy 3) Each church should be actively involved in reproducing themselves. (Acts 13:1-5)
Church ordinances
There are only two church ordinances: baptism and the Lord’s Supper. Baptism is administered after salvation. There are four requirements for baptism. 1) The proper subject. (Acts 8:36-38) 2) The proper mode: immersion. (Mark 1:10; Acts 8:38) 3) The proper authority. (Matthew 28:19-20; Acts 2:41) 4) The proper administrator. (John 4:2; Acts 9:18) Baptism places one into the membership of the church. (Acts 2:41; 1 Corinthians 12:13)
The Lord’s Supper is a memorial of the broken body and shed blood of Jesus Christ. (Luke 22:19-20) Only those who are saved and right with God can participate in it. (1 Corinthians 11:27-31)
There is no saving value in either of these ordinances. (Ephesians 2:8-9)
Christian service
Christian service is the duty of each believer. (Matthew 20:26-28) It is how we show others that we love God. It is the act of being involved in the life and ministry of the local church. There are many opportunities in which we can serve God. The most abundant is soul winning. The community a church is in has a great spiritual need of hearing about Jesus. We serve them by trying to meet this need. For a church to be successful the whole body should involved in service, instead of waiting for another to do it. Being a servant requires humility. (Mathew 23:11) We should place the needs of another above our own. (1 Corinthians 9:18-22)
Separation
Separation is taught throughout the Bible and is mandated for all believers. (Joshua 24:15; 2 Corinthians 6:14-7:1) Personal separation is the separation of the individual believer from worldly attitudes and activities that are contrary to the will and Word of God. Ecclesiastical separation is the separation of the autonomous local church from all forms of apostasy. Separation is not isolation. The purpose of separation is to be separated from the world unto the Lord so that we may be an effective tool for God to use.
Missions
It is the duty of every believer to be involved in the preaching of the gospel. (Matthew 28:18-20) Missions is often thought of in terms of worldwide missions, however if we are not involved in local missions then we are not really participating in the great commission. As far as worldwide missions we should be financially and prayerfully supporting missionaries which are families that go to the people that we cannot go to.
Stewardship
We have been given much by the Lord. He has placed things in our care and holds us accountable for all that he has given us. Therefore we should seek to cheerfully give to the Lord in a systematic fashion. We do this through the tithe (Malachi 3:10), giving of offerings (Luke 6:38), and using the gifts or talents God has given us. When we use what God has given us He will meet our needs. (Philippians 4:10-19)
Eschatology
There will come a day when Jesus will return for His saints. We have come to call the first part of His return the rapture. This is when all believers will be caught up to meet the Lord in the air. (1 Corinthians 15:51-58; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18) We do not know when He will return. (1 Thessalonians 5:2) We do know that it will be before the tribulation. Paul expected to be one of the ones raptured. (1 Thessalonians 4:17) It is not comforting to know that we would have to go through any part of the tribulation before the rapture occurred. (1 Thessalonians 4:18) The second part of His return is when He will be victorious against all that oppose Him. (Revelation 19:11-21), and He will establish the millennial reign on the earth. (Revelation 20:1-6) After this reign the lost will stand before God at “the Great White Throne Judgment.” They will be judged and then cast into the Lake of Fire for all eternity. (Revelation 20:11-15) In between the two parts of Jesus’ return the unbelievers will go through what is called “the Great Tribulation.” This is a period of seven years of absolute horror. During this time the antichrist will reign on this earth. It is during this period of time the believers that have been raptured away will stand before God at the Judgment seat. (2 Corinthians 5:10) This judgment will be the judgment of the works that we have done.
Israel
Israel is God’s chosen people. There is a great blessing promised to those people that bless God’s people. (Genesis 12:3)
Pastors
The pastor is to fulfill the qualifications that have been laid out in 1 Timothy 3:1-7. Scripture also gives us several titles each of which gives us a unique look at the role of the pastor. The first is the elder. (1 Timothy 5:17; Titus 1:5) This shows that he has the responsibility to lead the church. The second title of the pastor is bishop. (1 Timothy 3:1-2) He is the overseer. (Acts 20:28) There is a difference between an overseer and an over lord. (1 Peter 5:3) One who lords over the church forget that the church is God’s church also called God’s heritage. The third title is Shepherd. (1 Peter 5:2-4) This shows us that the pastor is to feed the flock, and defend the flock. This could be the most overlooked aspect of the pastor. If the flock is fled
then it will grow. If the flock is ignored or the pastor just harps on the people then there is no growth. This is also where the prayer life of the pastor comes into view. A shepherd who feeds his flock is one who prays for his flock. One who prays for his flock is one who loves his flock. The fourth title we will see is preacher. (1 Timothy 2:7) His main responsibility is to declare the Word of God in an uncompromising fashion, but also with love. (Ephesians 4:15) If the pastor neglects his job as a preacher than the Biblical standards are lowered. We should never forget that the church is the pillar and ground of the truth. (1P. Timothy 3:15) The church cannot do so if the truth is not declared from the pulpit. The fifth title is teacher. (1 Timothy 3:2; Ephesians 4:11) Part of the great commission is to teach. People need to be taught the great doctrines of the Bible and how to be a soul winner. Not only is teaching accomplished through a lesson, but it is also lived. With that thought how a preacher lives is a better lesson and message than what he says behind a pulpit.
Deacons
New Testament Deacons serve the Lord by conducting the caring ministry of the church-doing the benevolence work, visiting the sick, being alert to the spiritual needs of the congregation-for the purposes of freeing the pastor to focus on prayer and the ministry of the Word, promoting unity within the church, and facilitating the spread of the gospel.
Angels
Angels are created beings. They are divided into four classes: Archangel, Seraphims, Cherubims, and Angles. They have many responsibilities, however their vast responsibilities and powers does not mean they should be worshipped.
Unfortunately there are fallen angels also known as demons. The Devil is one of them. He was originally known as Lucifer. His desire to be like God was his downfall. He was cast out of Heaven and will one day be cast into the Lake of Fire.
Repentance
Repentance is a Spirit lead change of heart and mind toward God about sin. (Acts. 3:19) It should be the natural response of an individual upon agreeing with God that one is a sinner.