Clear Gospel Truth Logo
Clear Gospel
Truth
Clear Gospel Truth Logo
Clear Gospel
Truth

Statement of Faith

This statement is not intended to be a final authority. For all matters of doctrine and the faith, the Bible alone is the final authority of every believer.

A. The Bible

The Bible is the written word of God without error, inspired and preserved by God.

  1. The Bible is the written word of God. The collection of 66 books contained within are inspired by God and infallible. [2 Timothy 3:16, 1 Thessalonians 2:13, 2 Peter 1:21]

  2. Inspired scripture has been preserved by God throughout history, to the end that we may be rooted and stablished in our understanding of God and His will. The King James (Authorized) Bible is the preserved word of God, without error, in the English language. [Psalm 12:6-7, Matthew 5:18, Colossians 2:7]

  3. The word of God was fulfilled with Paul’s inspired epistles. Thus, revelation from God has ceased and His word is final and complete. Our doctrine is based on the word of God alone. [Colossians 1:25, Galatians 1:8]

  4. The Bible alone is our final authority in regard to our understanding of who we are, who God is, God’s will, and our service to Him. The Bible effectually works in those who believe. [1 Thessalonians 2:13, Romans 3:4]

  5. The Bible is to be interpreted literally in its context. [2 Peter 1:20]

B. The Godhead

There is one true God who manifests himself in three distinct persons. God the Father, God the Son (Jesus Christ), and God the Holy Spirit. [1 John 5:7]

The Father

  1. All things are of God the Father. [1 Corinthians 8:6]

  2. He is above all and through all, and in all who trust the gospel of the grace of God. [Ephesians 4:6]

  3. It pleased the Father that all the fulness of the Godhead should dwell in His son, Jesus Christ. [Colossians 1:19]

Jesus Christ

  1. Jesus Christ is the fulness of the Godhead bodily. He has always been God. He did not lay aside or empty any of His deity attributes nor divine characteristics when He put on humanity. [Colossians 2:9, 1 Timothy 3:16, John 5:18, Philippians 2:6]

  2. Jesus Christ was begotten of the Holy Ghost and born of the virgin Mary. He is God incarnate, having added to himself humanity, taking upon himself the likeness of a servant. [Acts 13:33, Galatians 4:4, Matthew 1:20-23, Luke 1:35, Philippians 2:6-8]

  3. Jesus lived a perfect life free of sin, but was unrighteously killed on a cross by the very ones he came to save. [1 Peter 2:22, John 1:11, Acts 2:23]

  4. Three days after his death, He was resurrected, defeating sin and death, and made alive again. [1 Corinthians 15:1-4, 1 Corinthians 15:54-55]

  5. Through His death, burial, and resurrection Jesus provided the needed sacrifice for the salvation of all of humanity. [Romans 3:21-22, Romans 4: 20-25, Romans 5:18-19, Colossians 1:14]

  6. He is Israel’s prophesied Messiah, having come once to the circumcision to confirm the promises made unto the fathers. He will return to earth again to reign as Israel’s prophesied King. [Daniel 9:26, John 5:39, Romans 15:8, Acts 1:11]

  7. He is the head of the church, the body of Christ. [Ephesians 1:22, Ephesians 5:23, Colossians 1:18]

The Holy Spirit

As the third person of the Godhead, the Holy Spirit (or Holy Ghost) has been active in the regeneration and anointing of mankind with the power of God. The Holy Spirit works to strengthen the inner man of the believer. [Titus 3:5, Ephesians 3:16]

  1. He seals us unto the day of redemption. [Ephesians 1:13, Ephesians 4:30]

  2. He baptizes us into the body of Christ. [1 Corinthians 12:13]

  3. He regenerates and renews at salvation. [Titus 3:5]

  4. He teaches us through God’s written word. [1 Corinthians 2:13]

C. Creation

The universe was created by God in six literal 24-hour days. Man was created in God’s image, but by man’s disobedience, sin entered into the world. [Genesis 1-3, Romans 5:12-14]

D. Satan

  1. The first to sin was Lucifer, a created cherub who desired to be like God. Because of his pride he fell from his position in heaven and usurped dominion of the earth from man. He currently assumes the role of the god of this world. He has transformed himself into an angel of light and ministers a counterfeit righteousness in order to hide the light of the glorious gospel. [1 John 3:8, Isaiah 14:12, 2 Corinthians 4:3-4, 2 Corinthians 11:14]

  2. Satan is the originator of confusion, His tactic has always been to handle the word of God deceitfully. [Genesis 3:1-4]

  3. Satan will ultimately be removed from having access to heaven and earth and be cast into the lake of fire to be eternally tormented. [Revelation 20:10]

E. Sin

  1. Sin began for man when Adam transgressed God’s will. By Adam’s transgression and disobedience sin entered into the world and death by sin. [Romans 5:12-14]

  2. Every human since Adam has been born in the image of Adam. This means that each of us are born into a sinful nature, separated from God. The only exception is Jesus Christ, God manifest in the flesh. [Genesis 5:3, 1 Corinthians 15:22]

  3. Sin is anything contrary to God and His will. Everyone sins and deserves the judgment of eternal punishment in the Lake of Fire. A sinner can do nothing to change this punishment. Only by God’s intervention and grace can we be saved from this judgment. [Romans 2:16, Romans 1:18, Ephesians 2:8-9]

F. Hell

The Bible associates hell with death. It is a place for all who have trespassed against God where both soul and body are destroyed after this life, unless they have received salvation. The purpose for Christ and the cross was to save sinners not only from the present condition of guilt and shame, but also from everlasting punishment of fiery torment and separation from God. Through salvation we are given life eternal, ever present with Him; not only in this life, but also in that which is to come. [Matthew 10:28, Psalm 55:15, Romans 3:23, Romans 5:1,21, Romans 6:23, 2 Corinthians 5]

G. Salvation

Throughout scripture God has interacted with humanity in various ways. In some dispensations God has required certain actions from men as a response to faith. It is to be clear however, that never have the works of men been able to save them. Salvation is always by the grace of God.

The Gospel of the Grace of God

  1. Salvation today can only be attained by believing that the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ (His work) alone is what saves your soul from eternal damnation. Salvation is by grace through faith apart from any works. [Ephesians 2:8-9, 1 Corinthians 15:1-4, Titus 3:5]

  2. As written in Romans 4 Jesus Christ was delivered for our offenses and raised again for our justification. When we believe this, we find Christ’s righteousness counted to us. Our own righteousness is as filthy rags, but Christ’s righteousness is the righteousness of God (as Jesus Christ is both fully God and fully man). [Romans 4:21-25, Philippians 3:9, Romans 3:21-22]

The Believer’s Position

  1. A Christian who possesses salvation through belief in the gospel of the grace of God is sealed unto the day of redemption by the Holy Spirit of God. This salvation is complete and unchanging. [2 Corinthians 1:22, Ephesians 1:13, Ephesians 4:30]

  2. At the moment of salvation a believer is placed into Christ as a member of His body. A believer is then an heir of God and joint-heir with Christ, having been made complete in Jesus Christ and having peace with God. [Romans 8:16-17, Ephesians 3:6, Galatians 4:7, Titus 3:7, Colossians 2:6-10, Romans 5:1]

H. The Church (The Body of Christ)

  1. The church, the body of Christ, is the new creature or one new man described in scripture. Every saved person today is a member of the body of Christ regardless of denomination or membership in a local assembly. [Ephesians 2:15, Galatians 6:15, Ephesians 4:4, Colossians 3:15]

  2. The church today is not Israel and does not claim the promises and covenants given specifically to them. [Ephesians 2:15, Colossians 3:11]

  3. The church, the body of Christ was revealed to the apostle Paul who was Christ’s appointed apostle, teacher, and preacher of the Gentiles in this dispensation of the grace of God. Paul records this revelation in all 13 of his epistles. [Romans 11:13, 2 Timothy 1:11, Ephesians 3:1-5]

  4. The function and purpose of the church today is to be the pillar and ground of the truth; preaching and ministering salvation to the lost, edifying itself with truth and sound doctrine, and raising up faithful men able to teach others. [1 Timothy 3:15, 1 Corinthians 1:21, Ephesians 4:15-16, Titus 1:9]

I. Spiritual Sign Gifts

The supernatural power of the Holy Spirit works within all who believe the gospel of the grace of God; according to God’s purpose today. Scripture also describes supernatural signs and powers that were promised and given to men throughout history. These signs served a particular purpose, but are no longer the ministry of the Holy Spirit today. [1 Corinthians 13:8-11, Ephesians 4:11-14, 2 Corinthians 5:7, 1 Corinthians 1:22]

J. Baptism

Baptism is an identification of God’s chosen people with God’s active purpose. There are numerous types of baptism throughout scripture. Today we are told that there is one baptism for members of the body of Christ. This one baptism is the baptism by the Spirit into Christ’s body, this occurs the instant that an individual believes the gospel of the grace of God. [Romans 6:3-6, 1 Corinthians 12:13, Ephesians 4:4-6]

K. Bible Study

  1. Scripture declares that we each must study to show ourselves approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. Bible study is how we are throughly furnished unto all good works, grow our knowledge and faith of God, and are made wise unto the will of God. [Romans 10:17, Romans 12:2, 2 Timothy 2:15, 2 Timothy 3:16]

  2. God has progressively revealed His will, purpose, and instructions to humanity throughout history. Scripture refers to clear changes in God’s instructions and dealings with humanity as dispensations. These dispensational distinctives are to be kept clear or, rightly divided, in order to understand and have wisdom in regards to God’s will. [Hebrews 1:1-2, Ephesians 3:1-9, 2 Timothy 2:15, Ephesians 5:17]

  3. Today, we live in the dispensation of the grace of God revealed to the apostle Paul. Jesus Christ was last seen of Paul and gave to him an abundance of revelations regarding the mystery of Christ. Paul was made a chosen minister, apostle, teacher, and preacher of the Gentiles regarding these revelations. [Ephesians 3:1-9, Colossians 1:25-29, 2 Timothy 1:8-11]

  4. To follow Christ, we of necessity must follow Him according to the revelation of the mystery, kept secret since the world began, but now revealed to His church. [1 Corinthians 11:1, Romans 16:25-26, 2 Timothy 2:7]

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