Bible Beliefs that matter

[DigitGen]

THE BIBLE:

     The Bible in its original documents is the inspired Word of God, the written record of His supernatural revelation of Himself to man, absolute in its authority, complete in its revelation, final in its content, and without any errors in its statements.  (II Timothy 3:16; John 10:35; Psalms 89:34; Hebrews 6:18; II Peter 3:16)

GOD:

     There is one God, eternally existent, creator of the heaven and earth.  He is manifested in three persons--Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.  (Isaiah 9:6; John 14:9; I Timothy 3:16; I John 5:7; Genesis 1:2)

JESUS CHRIST:

     The Lord Jesus Christ is fully God who took on flesh and dwelt on earth.  He was sinlessly perfect and gave Himself as a substitutionary sacrifice by shedding His blood and dying on the tree; He then came back from the dead.  This was to pay for all sins (past, present, future) for all who believe.  (II Corinthians 5:21; Hebrews 2:9; Titus 2:14; Hebrew 10:10-14; Hebrews 9:12-28; Acts 13:38-41; I Peter 2:24; I John 3:5)

THE HOLY SPIRIT:

     Being God, the Holy Spirit was and is present in all of the plan and work of God.  He restrains evil; convicts the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment; regenerates all who believe in Christ; indwells, anoints, and seals the saved; and baptizes all the believers into the body of Christ.  He controls the obedient Christians and empowers them for service, and He is the Divine Author of the Bible.  (II Thessalonians 2:7; John 16:7-11; Titus 3:5; Romans 8:9; I Corinthians 12:13; John 16:13; I John 2:20-27; Ephesians 5:18; Acts 1:8; II Peter 1:21)

MAN:

     Each member of the human race is fallen, sinful and lost, and regeneration by the Holy Spirit is absolutely essential for the salvation of man.  The moment a person receives Christ as his Savior, immediately, the Holy Spirit indwells the believer who is sealed until the day of redemption.  (Romans 3:23; John 3:7; I Corinthians 6:19; Ephesians 1:13-14; Luke 24:49; Titus 3:5)

THE SOVEREIGNTY OF GOD AND THE FREE WILL OF MAN:

     God is absolutely sovereign and in His sovereignty he gave man a free will to accept or reject the salvation that He has provided.  It is God's will that all would be saved and that none should perish.  God foreknows, but does not predetermine any man to be condemned.  God permits man's destiny to depend upon man's choice.  (I Timothy 2:4; II Timothy 2:13; I Peter 1:2; John 6:64-65; Acts 10:34; I Corinthians 1:21; Ephesians 1:5-14; Romans 8:29-30; Romans 9:30-32)

REPENTANCE:

     Repentance in salvation means a change of mind from any idea of religion that man may have to accept God's way of salvation.  Repentance is definitely necessary for salvation and the following is a quote from the Old Scofield Edition of the Bible, Footnote No. 2, and page 1174.  "Repentance is the translation of a Greek word (metanoia/metanoeo) meaning, 'to have another mind', 'to change the mind', and is used in the New Testament to indicate a change of mind in respect of sin, of God, and of self.  This change of mind may, especially in the case of Christians who have fallen into sin, be preceded by sorrow (II Corinthians 7:8-11), but sorrow for sin, though it may 'work' repentance, is not repentance.  The son in Matthew 21:28,29 illustrates true repentance.  Saving faith (Hebrews 11:39, note) includes and implies that change of mind which is called repentance."  (Acts 20:21; II Corinthians 7:8-10; Matthew 21:32.)

SALVATION:

     Man is saved by undeserved mercy through faith and nothing of man enters into his salvation; it is a free gift.  Man's efforts, regardless of how good or well intended, before or after salvation, have nothing to do with it.  Salvation is by the finished work of Christ and nothing can be added to it.  (Ephesians 2:8-9; Galatians 2:16; Romans 11:6; Col. 2:13.)

SECURITY AND CHASTENING:

     Every true child of God possesses eternal life, being justified by faith, sanctified by God, sealed with the Holy Spirit, and is safe and secure for all eternity.  He cannot lose his salvation.  However, a Christian can, through sin, lose his fellowship, joy, power, testimony, and reward, and incur the Father's chastisement.  Relationship is eternal, being established by the new birth; fellowship, however, is dependent upon obedience.  (I Corinthians 3:11-17; Hebrews 12:5-11; I Corinthians 11:30-34.)

THE TWO BIRTHS:

     A true child of God has two births; one of the flesh, the other of the Spirit, giving man a flesh nature and a Spirit nature.  The flesh nature is neither good nor righteous.  The Spiritual Man does not commit any sin.  This results in a warfare between the Spirit and the flesh, which continues until physical death, or the return of the Lord.  The flesh nature of the man does not change in any way with the new birth, but can be controlled and kept subdued by the new man. (John 3:3-7; Romans 7:15-25; Romans 8:8; Gal. 5:17; I John 3:9; I Peter 1:23; I John 5:18, I John 1:8.)

THE CHRISTIAN LIFE AND RESPONSIBILITY:

     The true Christian is an ambassador of Christ, and is commanded by Him to be controlled by the Holy Spirit.  As a child of God, the believer's main responsibility in the life is to faithfully proclaim the gospel.  As we are saved by faith in Christ, through God's grace, so we live the Christian life by an obedient faith in God's Word, being disciplined by His grace.  (II Corinthians 5:14-20; Ephesians 5:18; Galatians 5:16; I John 15:8,16; Mark 16:15; I Thessalonians 2:4; Acts 1:8; I Corinthians 9:14-31; Colossians 2:6-7; Romans 6:16; Titus 2:11-12; James 1:22; Hebrews 10:38.)

THE TRUE CHURCH:

     The Church began with the descent of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost and is composed of all true believers.  The Holy Spirit baptizes all of us into the one body of Christ.  Water baptism is not essential for salvation but is a testimony to the world.  (Acts 1:8; I Corinthians 6:19-20; Acts 2:1-4; I Corinthians 12:13; Ephesians 4:5; Acts 10:47.)

THE LOCAL CHURCH:

     The local church should be comprised of those who trust Christ as Savior.  This assembly, therefore, is under the direct leadership of the Holy Spirit.  The local church's purpose is for worship, praise, prayer, fellowship, encouragement, and evangelizing the lost.  The pastor/teacher is a man called of God. (Acts 2:42-47; Acts 14:21-23; Hebrews 10:22-25; II Timothy 2:1-2; Ephesians 4:7,11-15.)

SATAN:

     Satan is a person, the author of sin, and he and his angels shall be eternally punished. (Ezekiel 28:15-17; Isaiah 14:12-15; Revelations 20:10; Matthew 25:41.)

THE SECOND COMING OF CHRIST:

     We believe in the personal, pre-tribulational and pre-millennial return of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  (I Thessalonians 1:10; 5:9-11; II Thessalonians 2:1-8; Revelation 3:10; 4:4; Luke 21:36; Titus 2:13; Isaiah 26:17-21; 27:1.)

THE RAPTURE

The rapture is the next event on God's calendar.  Jesus Christ will descend part way from heaven with a shout. All living believers will be bodily caught up to meet the Lord in the air.  The believer's body will be transformed into his new resurrection body on the way up.  The believer from this point on will be forever with the Lord.  On the earth there will follow seven years of tribulation such as the world has never experienced. {I Thessalonians 4:13-18; I Corinthians 15:51-54; Matthew 24:15-22}.

[TalkerCat]

I love your post GKB!  But I must say, you're singing to the choir!  Everyone here is already a believer - I pray that you take this beautiful message to the world of non believers!  They need you, and your passion!

Blessings -

[TalkerCat]

SORRY!  My reply was to DigitGen!

[Reba]

Must one believe as you have posted to be a believer?

[TalkerCat]

Reba,

Believe as whom does dear? I don't understand where this post is going.

Blessings -

[DigitGen]

Not at all, as I believe, these are all simple obvious bible doctrines, nothing complicated, now if you say you believe the bible, then you should I would think believe them. If you think I have stated them wrong, then show me how the passages I have used are not in context
In His love and Grace,
David Winn

[TalkerCat]

  I know exactly what you're saying DigitGen!  It was Reba's post I did not understand  This is a christian website and I believe that all who come here are "believers" in Christ.  I can't explain what Reba believes because she didn't say.  All I got from the brief post was that she feels that we're challenging everyone else's belief system, which I know we are not.  Correct me Reba, if I'm wrong . . . I would appreciate a more broad communication . . .  no one meant to challenge you

Blessings -

[Shammu]

I know exactly what you're saying DigitGen!  It was Reba's post I did not understand  This is a christian website and I believe that all who come here are "believers" in Christ.  I can't explain what Reba believes because she didn't say.  All I got from the brief post was that she feels that we're challenging everyone else's belief system, which I know we are not.  Correct me Reba, if I'm wrong . . . I would appreciate a more broad communication . . .  no one meant to challenge you

Blessings -

Hey Talkercat, yes Reba is a Christian. She doesn't post here very often anymore. So you may have a longggg wait, for your answer. Looking over the posts, I believe it was DigitGen, she was talking to.

Resting in the hands of the Lord.
Bob

[TalkerCat]

Thanks DW. . . I too misunderstood DigitGen when I first started reading his posts . . but the Lord opened my eyes to what "DG" is saying and he's very deep in his faith.  I was kind of defending him I guess . . . if and when Reba replies I will apologize to her.

Blessings -

[Reba]

THE SECOND COMING OF CHRIST:

    We believe in the personal, pre-tribulational and pre-millennial return of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  (I Thessalonians 1:10; 5:9-11; II Thessalonians 2:1-8; Revelation 3:10; 4:4; Luke 21:36; Titus 2:13; Isaiah 26:17-21; 27:1.)

THE RAPTURE

The rapture is the next event on God's calendar.  Jesus Christ will descend part way from heaven with a shout. All living believers will be bodily caught up to meet the Lord in the air.  The believer's body will be transformed into his new resurrection body on the way up.  The believer from this point on will be forever with the Lord.  On the earth there will follow seven years of tribulation such as the world has never experienced. {I Thessalonians 4:13-18; I Corinthians 15:51-54; Matthew 24:15-22}.

If a person believes "POST trib "  "MID trib" are they believers?

What if the i say the next event on Gods calendar is tommorrow. Does that make me a non bliever?

Hey Talkercat, yes Reba is a Christian. She doesn't post here very often anymore. So you may have a longggg wait, for your answer. Looking over the posts, I believe it was DigitGen, she was talking to.

Resting in the hands of the Lord.
Bob

Hey DW thanks


Talker cat

ThanksDW...I too misunderstood DigitGen when I first started reading his posts . . but the Lord opened my eyes to what "DG" is saying and he's very deep in his faith.  I was kind of defending him I guess . . . if and when Reba replies I will apologize to her.

Blessings -

Thanks Talker cat but no need to apologize.....

Not all Christians agree on what the Word says. Some points are unto salvation some are not.  The rapture, teaching that has been around for the last couple hundred years, is not a point unto salvation in my thinking.

Talker not all who come here are believers Mr. Bepster (Tom) and fellow moderators are very good at keeping this place a quiet safe place. Some times to good, and many an intriguing, discussion has been stopped.

As DW stated i dont post here much any more. My life has changed i work 13 hour days now

I wish view points outside the box YET Christian   were more welcome here.

[TalkerCat]

Perhaps if you posted more often, Reba, you would see that we have very intelligent, thoughtful conversations.  If you want to discuss christianity "outside the box" I would suggest that you stay within the 'Debate' forum.  

Furthermore, I've yet to see Brother Tom (BEP aka: Sweet Pea) say anything that challenged someone elses belief system.  We all know that God's word can be interpreted differently by different christians, that's why we discuss it and learn from each other.  I sense that you may feel persecuted here and there's no way that that's the case.  

Blessings -

[2nd Timothy]

As DW stated i dont post here much any more. My life has changed i work 13 hour days now

Hi Reba!!!   Was wondering where you had been.   13 hour days are long indeed.   I work a 13 and a 1/2 myself, but only for 3 days = 40.5 hours total.   Hopefully you're not doing that for a full week  

I wish view points outside the box YET Christian  were more welcome here.

As you and I both know, viewpoints will vary, but you are always welcome here IMO anyways.  I'm sure Mr Beps (as you like to call him) will back me up on that one.

If all else fails thinking outside the endtime box, we can think outside the bun and go to taco bell for dinner and talk it over      Don't feel like an outsider, we love you sister!    

[TalkerCat]

I agree with 2nd Timothy!  EVERYONE is welcome here!  It's ok to think outside the box, God is not in a box! I would love to know Sister Reba better and have invited her to email my private address.  I regret anything I said that sounded pious.  We must respect each other so I apologize to whomever I may have offended....  

Blessings -

[Reba]

You guys are kind.... I do not feel like an outsider here ... I am a  PK remember  so my hide is tuff!!



Is the church here because the Jews rejected Christ? Another way to ask is Had the Jews not rejected Christ would there be a church.


Church = the body of belivers.

[TalkerCat]

   Hello Sister Reba!


I know you're referring to the body of christ when you say "church" so when you propose "what if the jews had accepted Christ would there be a church?" and my answer is a resounding "yes!"   I say that because I believe the church was always God's plan.  

God created man knowing we would sin and after the world rejected Him, He sent His Son to save us.  OK, so God already knew that some would follow Jesus and that some would not.  God knew what His son would endure in order that the church be built  So I believe, ( thinking outside the box   ) that had the jews accepted Christ the Messiah the church would have started there instead of where it did. . . .

I believe that God created us because he wanted to  not because he had to!  He wanted a family and I'm humbled to be part of it.

Hopefully I've chosen the correct words to convey what I think "outside the box" because I sincerely think we can discuss our christianity from creative view points without causing a debate.

Blessings -