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TIME FOR CHRIST |
www.timeforchrist.ca |
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DOCTRINAL
STATEMENT
1. The Holy Bible
Psalm 12:6, 7; Matthew
5:18; 24:35; John 10:35; 1 Peter 1:23-25 (Amended January 28, 2006).
Genesis 17:1; Exodus 15:11; 20:2-3; Psalm 83:18; 90:2; 147:5; Jeremiah 10:10; Matthew 28:19; Mark 12:30; John 4:24; 10:30; 15:26; 17:5; Acts 5:3-4; Romans 11:33; 1 Corinthians 2:10-11; 8:6; 12:4-6; 2 Corinthians 13:14; Ephesians 2:18; 4:6; Philippians 2:5-6; 1 Timothy 1:17; 1 John 5:7; Revelation 4:11
We believe that Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God; that He eternally possessed with the Father and Holy Spirit, in one Godhead, all the essence and attributes of Deity; that as provided and purposed by God, and as pre-announced in the prophecies of the Scriptures, He came into this world that He might manifest God to man, fulfill prophecy, and redeem lost men; that to this end He was born of a virgin, and received a human body and a holy human nature; that because of that holy human nature inseparably linked with His divine nature, He not only did no sin, but He was morally and constitutionally incapable of sin; that He obeyed fully the law and fulfilled the Father=s will in all things.
Genesis 3:15; Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:18-25; Mark 1:1; Luke 1:35; John 1:1-3, 14; 14:3; Galatians 4:4; Colossians 1:15-17; Hebrews 4:15
B. His Sacrificial Death.
We believe that He first came to Israel as her Messiah-King, was rejected of that nation and according to the eternal counsels of God, gave His life a ransom for all who believe. We believe that Christ=s death is of such infinite value that it is fully sufficient to save all men should God have chosen so to do, and that His power to save is in no sense limited; we further believe that the sacrifice of Christ was not merely provisional, but was an actual substitution for those chosen in Him before the foundation of the world, this vicarious substitutionary sacrifice making full satisfaction to God for their sins and infallibly securing their salvation by grace, through faith in Him, such faith being produced in them by the Holy Spirit through the preaching of the Word of God, the Gospel of Jesus Christ, this faith being the result of God=s choice and not the cause of it.
Isaiah 53:4-7, 11-12; Matthew 1:21; 20:28; 21:4-9; 27:37; John 10:11, 14-15; 3:16; Acts 15:11; Romans 3:24-25; 10:17; 1 Corinthians 2:9-14; 15:3; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Ephesians 2:8; Philippians 1:29; Hebrews 9:12-15
C. His Resurrection and Ascension.
We believe that He arose from the dead on the third day in the same body in which He suffered and died. We believe that our Lord ascended into Heaven: that He is now glorified and seated at the right hand of the Father, and is our only Mediator, High Priest, and Divine Advocate with the Father.
Matthew 28:6-7; Mark 16:19; Luke 24:39, 51; John 20:27; Acts 1:11; 1 Corinthians 15:4; 1 Timothy 2:5; Hebrews 7:24-26; 8:1; 1 John 2:1
D. His Return and Related Events.
We believe in the imminent, personal, physical, and pre-millennial return of Christ, occurring in two phases: first, to complete the Church Age by rapturing all believers prior to the tribulation; and second, at the end of the Great Tribulation when He shall return with His saints, at which time the nations shall be judged and the millennial kingdom, with regathered and redeemed Israel central and Christ as King, will be ushered in. At the end of the 1,000 years the judgment of the Great White Throne will take place, followed by the eternal damnation of the wicked, Satan and his cohorts, and the establishment of the New Heavens and the New Earth wherein dwelleth righteousness.
John 14:3; Acts 1:11; 1 Corinthians 15:42-44, 51-53; 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17; Revelation 19:11-21; 20:1-15
We believe that the Holy Spirit is a divine Person; equal with God the Father and God the Son and of the same nature; that He was active in the creation; that in His relation to the unbelieving world He restrains the evil one until God=s purpose is fulfilled; that He convicts of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment; that he bears witness to the truth of the Gospel in preaching and testimony; that He is the agent in the new birth; that He seals, endues, guides, teaches, witnesses, sanctifies and helps the believer.
Genesis 1:1-3; Matthew 28:19; Luke 1:35; 24:49; John 3:5-6; 14:16-17, 26; 16:8-11, 13; Acts 5:30-32; Romans 8:14, 26-27; Ephesians 1:13-14; 2 Thessalonians 2:7, 13; Hebrews 9:14; 1 Peter 1:2
We believe that the Scriptures teach that in the opening days of the Church Age the Holy Spirit gave gifts which were revelatory in character to individual believers. Among these was the gift of tongues. The exercise of the gift was never to prove that the one speaking in tongues was saved or that he had received the Holy Spirit, but was that the Word of God might be preached with Aother tongues.@ Tongues and other gifts of the Holy Spirit were given to confirm the spoken word until the canon of Scripture was complete and all sixty-six books had been written. With the completion of the Bible the gifts of the Holy Spirit, which were partial and temporary, were no longer exercised. We have God=s complete and final revelation in the Holy Scriptures and need no other manifestation.
Acts 2:4-13; Corinthians 12:4-11, 28-31; 13:8-10; Hebrews 2:3-4
5. Satan We believe in the personality of Satan; that he was created holy and enjoyed heavenly honours, but through pride and ambition to be like the Almighty, he fell, and drew after him an host of angels; that he is now the unholy god of this world, man=s greatest tempter, the enemy of God and His Christ, the accuser of the saints, the author of all false religions, and the power back of the present apostasy; that he is limited in his activity by the wisdom and power of God; that he is destined to final defeat at the hands of God=s Son, and to the judgment of eternal justice in the lake of fire, a place prepared for him and his angels.
Isaiah 14:12-15; Ezekiel 28:14-17; Matthew 25:41; Mark 13:21-22; Luke 22:3-4; 2 Corinthians 11:13-15; Ephesians 2:2; 2 Peter 2:4; Jude 6; Revelation 12:7-9; 13:13-14; 19:11, 16, 20; 20:1-3, 10
We believe that man came by way of direct Divine creation and not as a product of evolution; that he was created holy, but through disobedience he became a fallen creature, totally depraved, and is now spiritually dead in trespasses and sins, by which we mean his natural utter incapacity to receive the things of the Spirit of God apart from the regenerating grace of that Spirit. We believe that because of sin, he is a mendicant upon the mercy of God.
Genesis 1:26-27; 2:21-23; 3:1-6, 24; Romans 1:18, 20, 28, 32; 3:10-19; 5:12, 19; 1 Corinthians 2:9-14; Galatians 3:22; Ephesians 2:1-3
7. Salvation We believe that salvation is by the sovereign electing grace of God; that the blessings of salvation are made free to all by the gospel; that it is the immediate duty of all to accept them by a cordial, penitent and obedient faith in the all-sufficient sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ; that nothing prevents the salvation of the greatest sinner on earth but his own inherent depravity and voluntary rejection of the gospel, which rejection involves him in an aggravated condemnation.
Isaiah 55:1, 6-7; Matthew 11:28; John 3:15-16, 36; 5:40; 6:37; Acts 2:38; Romans 8:29-30; 10:13; 1 Corinthians 15:10; Ephesians 2:4-5; Colossians 3:12; 1 Thessalonians 1:4; 1 Timothy 1:15; Titus 1:1; Revelation 22:17
We believe that in order to be saved, sinners must be born again; that the New Birth is a new creation in Christ Jesus; that it is instantaneous and not a process; that in the New Birth the one dead in trespasses and in sins is made a partaker of the divine nature and receives eternal life, the free gift of God; that the New Creation is brought about in a manner above our comprehension, solely by the power of the Holy Spirit in connection with divine truth, so as to secure our voluntary obedience to the Gospel; that its proper evidence appears in the holy fruit of repentance and faith and newness of life.
John 3:3, 6-8; Acts 16:30-33; Romans 6:23; 2 Corinthians 5:17, 19; Ephesians 2:1; Colossians 2:13; 2 Peter 1:4; 1 John 5:1
9. Repentance and faith We believe that repentance and faith are solemn obligations and inseparable graces wrought in the soul by the quickening Spirit of God; that the sinner, being deeply convicted of his guilt, danger and helplessness and having his understanding enlightened to see the way of salvation by Christ, turns in repentance to God with unfeigned contrition, confession and supplication for mercy; that at the same time he receives the Lord Jesus Christ in knowledge and trust as all-sufficient Saviour, submitting wholeheartedly to His Lordship and openly confessing Him before men by mouth and life.
Genesis 15:6; Psalm 2:12; 51:1-4, 7; Isaiah 28:16; 55:6-7; Zechariah 1:3; Matthew 3:2; 4:17; Mark 1:15; 16:16; Luke 8:12; 12:8; 13:3, 5; 18:13; 24:47; John 1:12; 3:15-16, 18, 36; 5:24; 6:47; 11:25; Acts 2:38; 3:19; 10:43; 16:31; Romans 1:16; 10:9-13; Ephesians 2:8 (Amendment January 29, 2005).
10. Justification We believe that justification is the judicial act of God whereby He once forever declares to be righteous the believer in the Lord Jesus Christ; that justification includes forgiveness of sin and the imputation of God=s righteousness in Jesus Christ; that it is not bestowed in consideration of any works of righteousness on the sinner=s part, but solely through the instrumentality of faith in Christ; that justifying faith is essentially evidenced by good works.
Genesis 15:6; Isaiah 53:11; Habakkuk 2:4; Zechariah 3:1-4; Acts 13:39; Romans 3:20-22, 24-26; 4:1-8, 25; 5:1, 9; 8:1, 30, 33; 10:4, 10; 1 Corinthians 1:30; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Galatians 2:16; 3:6, 8, 11; Ephesians 1:7; Philippians 3:9; Colossians 1:14; 2:13; Titus 3:5-7; Hebrews 11:4, 7; James 2:14-26 (Amendment January 29, 2005).
11. Perseverance of the Saints We believe that persevering attachment to Christ and a profound regard for the things of Christ, distinguish real believers from mere superficial professors; that a special Providence watches over the welfare of the saints, and that they are Akept by the power of God through faith.@ We believe that a Christian=s conduct cannot effect he eternal destiny, but that it does affect his fellowship with the Lord, his enjoyment of salvation, his usefulness to the church, and his helpfulness to other souls; and that persistence in unbecoming conduct brings chastening from the Lord.
John 10:28-29; Romans 8:35-39; Philippians 1:6; Hebrews 12:5-11; 1 Peter 1:5; Jude 1
We believe that the Scriptures teach non-conformity to the world for every believer; that it is clearly commanded of God for all believers to live lives of separation from sinful, worldly and doubtful practices and associations unto Christ and to be holy as He is holy. We believe the Bible teaches personal separation, that is Adenying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;@ and ecclesiastical separation, which is separation from churches and organizations in or associated with Apostasy. We believe that positionally sanctification occurs at the moment of regeneration and that practical sanctification is progressive throughout the entire life-span of the believer here on earth. The means that God has provided for holy living are the believer=s identification with Christ in His death, burial, resurrection and ascension; the indwelling Person and Power of the Holy Spirit and the believer=s yieldedness to Him; and by the powerful Word of God.
Romans 6:1-14; 12:1-2; 16:17-18; 1 Corinthians 6:19-20; 2 Corinthians 3:18; 6:14-7:1; Galatians 5:16-23; Colossians 3:1-4; 2 Timothy 3:1-5; Titus 2:14; Hebrews 10:4; 1 Peter 1:14-16; 2 John 7-11; Revelation 18:4
We believe the New Testament local church to be a company of baptized believers, voluntarily associated together for the ministry of the Word, mutual helpfulness and edification, the observance of the ordinances, and the propagation to the ends of the earth of the faith once delivered to the saints.
We believe a local church should be sovereign, under God, with no ecclesiastical authority higher than itself; that its Scriptural officers ore elders (also called in Scripture bishops and pastors) and deacons; that when such churches co-operate, each church is the sole and only judge of the measure and method of its co-operation; that on all matters of membership, polity, discipline and benevolence, the will of the local church is final; that in function, the church is to be executive of the will of Christ, and not legislative.
Matthew 18:15-17; Acts 2:41-42; 15:13-18; 20:17-28; 1 Corinthians 11:2; Ephesians 1:22-23; 4:11; 5:23-24; Colossians 1:18; 1 Timothy 3:1-13
We believe that there are by two church ordinances: Baptism and the Lord=s Supper; that baptism is the single immersion of the believer in water unto the Name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, by the authority of a true New Testament Church, in testimony of the believer=s union by faith with Christ in His death, burial, and resurrection. Immersion in water according to the Scriptural teaching shall be perquisite to church membership and baptism will not be administered apart from but rather in preparation for church membership.
We believe the Lord=s Supper to be the symbolical partaking of unleavened bread and the unfermented Afruit of the vine@ in remembrance of the Lord=s death Atill He come.@ It should be preceded always by solemn self-examination.
John 3:23; Acts 2:41-42; 8:26-39; Romans 6:3-5; 1 Corinthians 11:23-28; Colossians 2:12 (Amendment January 29, 2005).
15. The Righteous and the Wicked We believe that there is a radical and essential difference between the righteous and the wicked; that such only as through faith are justified in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and sanctified by the Spirit of our God, are truly righteous in His esteem; while all such as continue in impenitence and unbelief are in His sight wicked, and under the curse; and this distinction holds among men both in and after death, in the everlasting felicity of the saved and the everlasting conscious suffering of the lost.
Genesis 18:23; Proverbs 10:24; 14:32; Malachi 3:18; Luke 9:25-26; 12:5; 16:25; John 8:21, 24; 12:26; Romans 6:17-18, 23; 7:6; 1 John 5:9
We believe in the separation of church and state; that the church possesses no God-given authority over the state; and that the state, likewise, possesses no God-given authority over the church or the consciences of men.
We believe in religious liberty; that every man should have the right of soul liberty and freedom of conscience without coercion or molestation; and also the right to propagate his faith to others.
Matthew 22:21; Acts 4:18-20; 5:29
We believe that civil government is of divine appointment for the interests and good order of human society; that magistrates are to be prayed for, conscientiously honoured and obeyed, except in things opposed to the will of our Lord Jesus Christ as revealed in the Holy Scriptures, Who is the only Lord of the conscience and the coming Prince of the kings of the earth.
Exodus 18:21-22; 2 Samuel 23:3; Daniel 3:17-18; Acts 4:19-20; 5:20; Romans 13:1-7
Only members in good standing of this church, or one of like faith for a period of six months shall be married in the church, or by the Pastor. Under exceptional circumstances a marriage may take place with the approval of the deacons board (Amendment May 18, 1980).
We believe that marriage was instituted by God during creation. Its original design was for one man and one woman to unite for life. Marriage is when God has joined a man and a woman together in a covenant relationship that results in a new family unit, the twain becoming one flesh. We believe that there is a legal obligation for those whom God has joined together in marriage, that their marriage be recognized by the civil authorities as a marriage covenant unto God. Such a marriage covenant is indissoluble by civil law, and is terminated only by death
We believe divorce is a violation of the marriage covenant between the husband and the wife as they both stand before God. We believe there are no exceptions to this rule. Remarriage for either or both spouses after divorce must be considered as adultery. We believe the sin of adultery is forgivable, and that reconciliation and forgiveness should be sought from the Lord. We believe that the second marriage is not necessarily a state of perpetual adultery. We do not believe that second marriages should be dissolve in order to effect reconciliation.
We believe, in the case of a Christian brother or sister pursuing divorce that they are disobeying the Word of God and are out of the will of God; the local church has no recourse but to exercise discipline in such a willful desertion of the truth, after all attempts have failed to instruct the erring brother or sister to forsake such a course of disobedience.
We believe that, after a divorce, remarriage for either spouse is unlawful, and that reconciliation and forgiveness should be sought. If such attempts of reconciliation fail, then it is necessary that both spouse remain single. Upon the death of one of the spouses, the surviving faithful spouse is allowed to remarry and that only in the Lord.
We believe that a Christian brother or sister seeking to join the membership, who has been divorced and remarried, should be especially examined on their attitude about their sin of divorce and remarriage. If a confession of wrong doing is maintained, and repentance and forgiveness has been sought from the Lord and obtained, and the present marriage shows signs of stability, then entrance into membership should not be denied. We believe that such men have disqualified themselves from the office of pastor and deacon, but they can serve in other areas of ministry in the church as long as they maintain a spirit of submissiveness to the local church in all things.
Genesis 2:21-25; Exodus 20:14; Deuteronomy 24:4; 2 Samuel 12:9, 13; Malachi 2:14-16; Matthew 19:9; Mark 10:11-12; John 4:17-18; 8:11; Romans 7:2-3; 1 Corinthians 7:1-17, 39-40; 1 Timothy 3:2, 12; Titus 1:6; Hebrews 13:4 (Amendment January 28, 2002).
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