What is doctrine?

A belief or teaching of the Church. A body of instruction which expresses the Church’s faith.

We believe the Bible is the inspired Word of God, written by men inspired by God. (2 Timothy 3:16) The Word of God is our instruction on how to know God and build a strong relationship with Him. For example, when you take a trip to an unknown location you are going to use some sort of mapping system whether it is a physical map or a set of instructions from mapquest or google maps. The bible is the sure source we can rely on when looking for our set of instructions on knowing God and knowing God’s plan for salvation. How do we know the Bible is true?

Historical Accuracy:

The historical accuracy of the Scriptures is likewise in a class by itself, far superior to the written records of Egypt, Assyria, and other early nations. Archeological confirmations of the Biblical record have been almost innumerable in the last century. No archeological discovery has ever contradicted a Biblical reference. Scores of archeological findings have been made which confirm in clear outline or in exact detail historical statements in the Bible.

Scientific Accuracy:

Another striking evidence of divine inspiration is found in the fact that many of the principles of modern science were recorded as facts of nature in the Bible long before scientist confirmed them experimentally. A variety of these would include:

  • Roundness of the earth (Isaiah 40:22)
  • Almost infinite extent of the sidereal universe (Isaiah 55:9)
  • Law of conservation of mass and energy (II Peter 3:7)
  • Hydrologic cycle (Ecclesiastes 1:7)
  • Vast number of stars (Jeremiah 33:22)
  • Law of increasing entropy (Psalm 102:25-27)
  • Paramount importance of blood in life processes (Leviticus 17:11)
  • Atmospheric circulation (Ecclesiastes 1:6)
  • Gravitational field (Job 26:7)
  • And many others…

These are not stated in the technical jargon of modern science, of course, but in terms of the basic world of man’s everyday experience; nevertheless, they are completely in accord with the most modern scientific facts. It is significant also that no real mistake has ever been demonstrated in the Bible – in science, in history, or in any other subject.

Unique Structure:

The remarkable structure of the Bible should also be stressed. Although it is a collection of 66 books, written by 40 or more different men over a period of 2,000 years, it is clearly one Book, with perfect unity and consistency throughout. The individual writers, at the time of writing, had no idea that their message was eventually to be incorporated into such a Book, but each fits perfectly into place and serves its own unique purpose as a component of the whole. Anyone who diligently studies the Bible will continually find remarkable structural and mathematical patterns woven throughout its fabric, with an intricacy and symmetry incapable of explanation by chance or collusion.

The one consistent theme of the Bible, developing in grandeur from Genesis to Revelation, is God’s great work in the creation and redemption of all things, through Himself (Jesus Christ).

The doctrine of the mystery of Godliness stated in two affirmations:
God is absolutely and indivisibly one with no distinction of persons. (Deuteronomy 6:4, Galatians 3:20)

Jesus Christ is all the Fullness of the Godhead incarnate. (John 20:28, Colossians 2:9)
All the Titles and Names of the Deity: God, Jehovah, Lord, Father, Word, and Holy Spirit refer to one being. These various Names and Titles denote manifestations, roles, relationship to humanity, modes of activity, and aspects of God’s Revelation to humankind. All aspects of the divine Deity and personality apply to Jesus and are manifest in Him. We know through the scriptures Jesus is God or Jehovah incarnate. (Isaiah 9:6, Isaiah 40:9, John 8:58, John 20:28, 2 Corinthians 5:19, Colossians 2:9, 1 Timothy 3:16, Titus 2:13)

Father:

The Bible reveals God as the “Father”, in the Son, and as the Holy Spirit. The One God is the “Father” of all creation, Father of the only begotten Son, and the Father of born again believers. (See Deuteronomy 32:6, Malachi 2:10, Galatians 4:6, Hebrews 1:5, Hebrews 12:9)

Son:

The Title of “Son” refers to God’s incarnation. Jesus conceived literally by the Spirit of God and was therefore the Son of God (Matthew 1:18-20, Luke 1:35). The humanity of Christ is the manifestation of the title “Son” and God’s incarnation into human flesh. The terms “God the Son” and “Eternal Son” are non-biblical. The Son was begotten by the miraculous work of the Holy Spirit in the womb of Mary. The Son had a beginning at the Incarnation. (Luke 1:35, Galatians 4:4, Hebrews 1:5-6)

In John 1, the Word is God’s self-revelation, self-expression. Before the incarnation, the Word was the thought, plan, reason, or mind of God. In the beginning, the word was with God not as a distinct person but as God himself – pertaining to God as a man and His word. “The Word was God Himself (John 1:1 Amplified). In the fullness of time, God put flesh on the Word, thus revealing Himself in flesh. In the person of Jesus Christ, “the Word was made flesh” (1 Timothy 3:16). The Eternal Word revealed in the begotten Son.

Holy Ghost:

The Title Holy Spirit refers to God in spiritual essence and activity. It describes character of God’s nature; Holiness forms the basis of His moral attributes, while spirituality forms the basis of His immortal attributes. God is a spirit and can do such works as, anointing, regeneration, indwelling, and sanctifying humanity. (see Genesis 1:1-2, Acts 1:5-8)

The Titles Father, Son, and Holy Spirit describe God’s multiple roles and works. “Father” refers to God in family relationship to Humanity, “Son” refers to God in flesh, and “Spirit” refers to God in activity. One man can have three significant relationships or functions– such as Administrator, Teacher, and Counselor–and yet be one person in every sense. The name of Jesus means Jehovah-Savior, the supreme name by which God has revealed Himself to humanity and is the redemptive name in the New Testament. (see Matthew 1:21, Luke 24:47 Acts 4:12, Acts 10:43, Philippians 2:9-11, Colossians 3:17)

  1. All God (Perfect), the One True God incarnate
  2. All Human (Perfect), without sin
  3. There is a distinction between the transcendent, eternal Deity and His manifestation in flesh as a man Christ Jesus. The gospels reveal that Christ is both Human and Divine. Some scenarios and sayings primarily demonstrate his humanity and some His deity. None of the demonstrations of His humanity denies His Deity, and none of the demonstrations of His Deity denies His humanity. His humanity did not exist separately from his deity while His deity was not fully revealed without His humanity.
  4. Deity and humanity are united inseparably in Christ. Christ is not a Spirit-filled person as we are capable of living as a human apart from the Spirit while we can recognize both Deity and humanity in Christ, they are so united that Christ is one person in every way. Jesus is God manifested in that flesh not God by and indwelling, but by incarnation, identity, and essence.
  5. The genetic relationship of Christ to humanity was inherited through his mother, Mary. He is thereby part of the human race, the biological descendant of Adam and Eve, Abraham and David, and qualified to reconcile sinful humans to God. Because the Holy Spirit overshadowed Mary, Jesus was the unique Holy union of the Word of God and true genetic humanity.

The doctrine of the “Devine Flesh” or “Heavenly Flesh” of Christ – defined as the denial that Jesus Christ was biological or genetically related to humanity through His Mother, Mary – is scripturally false. Moreover, the denial of the biological or genetic relationship of Jesus Christ to other human beings is contrary to the Teachings of the Bible. Jesus on His Father’s side was divine, on His Mother’s side, human thus, He was known as the Son of God and also the Son of Man or the God-man.

Baptism in Jesus Name:

The Apostles always baptized converts in the name of Jesus and the church should do the same today (see Acts 2:38, Acts 8:16, Acts 10:48, Acts 19:3-5, Acts 22:16, Romans 6:3-4, 1 Corinthians 1:13, 1 Corinthians 6:11). Since Jesus is all the fullness of God incarnate, the name (singular) of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit as described by Matthew 28:19 is “Jesus” (see Matthew 1:21, Luke 24:47, John 5:43, John 14:26).

The Holy Ghost:

Have you received the Holy Ghost since you believed? (Acts 19:2) There is a false doctrine in our world today, making people feel that they have received the Holy Ghost when they have accepted Christ as their Lord. Jesus breathed on His disciples and said, “Receive ye the Holy Ghost.” This was only a foretaste, a promise of that which the disciples were to receive at Pentecost. Jesus instructed them to tarry (wait) in the city of Jerusalem until they would receive the Promise (Luke 24:49, Acts 1:4-5). This would not have been necessary had they received the Holy Ghost at the time Jesus breathed on them in John 20:22. Peter preaching on the day of Pentecost declared, “This Jesus hath God raised up whereof we all are witnesses. Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, He hath shed forth this which ye now see and hear (Acts 2:32-33).

The Holy Ghost experience was the Fruit of Jesus’ death, burial, resurrection ascension, and glorification exactly as Jesus had promised. The Holy Ghost today in the believer is a foretaste of heaven; “the earnest of our inheritance” (Ephesians 1:14), as was the breath of Jesus was a foretaste of the Holy Ghost. The sound of a mighty rushing wind (literally hard breathing), filling everyone in the house.

“And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance” (Acts 2:4).

“For the promise is unto you (the Jews of that day and hour) and to your children (the Jewish nation), and to all that are afar off (Gentiles, that’s us!), even as many as the Lord our God shall call” (Acts 2:39).

I ask you the question, the same question the Apostle Paul asked in (Acts 19:2), Have you received the Holy Ghost since you believed?”