The Scriptures
We believe that “all Scripture is given by inspiration of God” (2 Timothy 3:16). We understand this to mean that the whole Bible is inspired, in that holy men of God “were moved by the Holy Spirit” (2 Peter 1:21) to write the very words of Scripture. We believe that this divine inspiration extends equally and fully to all parts of Scripture as it appeared in the original manuscripts. We believe that the whole Bible in those original manuscripts is, therefore, without error. We believe that all Scripture centers around the Lord Jesus Christ in His person, work, and in His first and second coming. Therefore, no portion of the Old Testament is properly read or understood until it leads to Christ. We also believe that all Scripture was designed for our practical instruction. (Luke 24:27, 44; John 5:39; Romans 15:4; 1 Corinthians 10:11; 2 Timothy 3:16)
The Triune Godhead
We believe in the one true and living God, the Creator, Redeemer, Sustainer, and Ruler of all things. He is infinite, eternal, and unchangeable, and is revealed to us as the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
God the Father: God, as Father, reigns over all of His universe with providential care. He is all-powerful, all-loving, all-knowing, and all-wise. He is fatherly in attitude toward all men but is Father, indeed, to those who have become children of God through Jesus Christ, who will deliver them into the Father’s hands. (Genesis 1:1; 1 Chronicles 29:10; Jeremiah 10:10; Matthew 6:9; Acts 1:7; Romans 8:14-15; 1 Corinthians 8:6; 1 Corinthians 15: 24; Ephesians 4:6)
God the Son: We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God, became man without ceasing to be God, having been conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of a virgin, in order that He might reveal God and redeem sinful man. He accomplished this redemption by voluntarily giving Himself as a sinless, substitutionary sacrifice on the cross, thereby satisfying God’s righteous judgment against sin. After substantiating the accomplishment of that redemption and justification by His bodily resurrection from the grave, He ascended to the right hand of His Father, where He intercedes on behalf of those who trust Him. (Luke 1:34-35; John 1:1, 2, 14, 18; Romans 3:24-26; Romans 8:3)
God the Holy Spirit: We believe that the Holy Spirit is the Divine Person who convicts the world of sin (righteousness and judgment); that He alone brings new life to those who are spiritually dead; that He baptizes (or places) all believers into the one true Church, which is the Body of Christ; that He indwells them permanently, seals them unto the day of final redemption, bestows spiritual gifts upon them, and fills (controls) those who are yielding to Him. Every believer is called to live in the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit so that he will not fulfill the lust of the flesh but will bear fruit to the glory of God. (John 3:3-8; 14:16-17; 16:7-11; 1 Corinthians 12:7-11, 13; Ephesians 4:30; 5:18)
Creation
We believe that man was created directly by and in the image of God. We believe that God created the heavens and the earth, including all life, by direct act. (Genesis 1:1; John 1:3; Colossians 1:16-17)
Man
Although man was created in the image of God, he fell into sin and is lost. This is true of all men; and except a man be born again by the Holy Spirit, he cannot see the kingdom of God. (Genesis 1:26-27; John 3:3; Romans 3:10, 23)
The Devil – Satan
We believe that Satan is a person, the author of sin, and the reason for the fall of man, and is destined to the judgment of an eternal punishment in the lake of fire. (Matthew 4:1-3; Acts 5:3; 2 Corinthians 4:4; Revelation 20:10)
Atonement For Sin
We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures as a substitutionary sacrifice and that all who believe on Him are redeemed by His shed blood. We believe in the resurrection of the crucified body of our Lord Jesus Christ and in His ascension into heaven; He is our High Priest and Advocate. (John 1:1-3, 14; 3:1-7; Hebrews 10:4-14; 1 John 2:2)
Salvation
We believe that salvation is the gift of God’s grace. It cannot be gained or made more secure by meritorious works, but is freely bestowed upon all who put their faith in the finished work of Jesus Christ at Calvary. All who so trust the Savior are forgiven of their sins and born into the family of God by the regenerating work of the Holy Spirit. (John 1:12; Acts 16:30-33; Romans 10:9-10; Ephesians 1:7; 2:8-9)
The Christian Walk
We believe that we have a holy calling to walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit, and so to live in the power of the indwelling Spirit in order that we will not fulfill the lust of the flesh. The flesh is never eradicated in this life. Individuals must choose to keep the flesh in subjection to Jesus Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit, or it will surely manifest its presence in life and dishonor our Lord. (Romans 6:11-13; 8:2, 4, 12-13; Galatians 5:16-23; Ephesians 4:22-24; Colossians 2:1-10; 1 Peter 1:14-16; 1 John 1:4-7; 3:5-9)
The Great Commission
Until the return of Christ, it is the Christian’s duty and privilege to seek the fulfillment of Christ’s Great Commission and to minister in His name to a needy world. We are to be instruments of Jesus Christ as the Holy Spirit ministers redemption and reconciliation in the world. (Matthew 25:31-46; 28:18-20)
Fall of Man
We believe that man was created in innocence under the law of his Maker but by voluntary transgression, fell from his sinless and happy state in consequence of which all mankind are now sinners, not only by constraint, but of choice, and are therefore under just condemnation without defense or excuse. Genesis 3:1-6; Romans 5:19; Romans 5:12; Romans 5:10-19; Romans 1:18; Romans 1:32.
Virgin Birth
We believe that Jesus was begotten of the Holy Ghost in a miraculous manner; born of Mary, a virgin; as no other man was ever born or can ever be born of woman; and that He is the only begotten Son of God. Genesis 3:15; Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:18-25; Luke 1:35; John 1:4; John 3:16.
Grace in the New Creation
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 fruits of repentance and faith and newness of life. John 3:3; II Corinthians 5:17; I John 5:1; John 3:6-7.
Justification
We believe that the great gospel blessing which Christ secures to such as believe in Him is justification. Justification includes the pardon of sin and the gift of eternal life on principles of righteousness. It is bestowed, not in consideration of any works of righteousness which we have done, but solely through faith in the Redeemer’s blood; His righteousness is imputed to us. Acts 13:39; Isaiah 51:11; Zechariah 13:1.
Faith and Salvation
We believe that faith in the Lord Jesus Christ is the only condition of salvation. Acts 16:31.
Security of the Saints
We believe that all who are truly born again are kept by God the Father for Jesus Christ. Philippians 1:6; Romans 8:35-39; John 10:28-29.
Resurrection and Return of Christ and Related Events
We believe in and accept the sacred Scriptures upon these subjects at their face and full value. We believe that our Lord Jesus Christ rose bodily from the tomb on the third day; that He ascended into Heaven; that He is now at the right hand of God the Father as our only sufficient mediator and advocate; in the personal, imminent, pre-millennial coming of Christ for the Church; the resurrection and physical glorification of the saints; the great tribulation; after which He will return with His saints to this earth where He will sit on the Throne of David and shall subdue all enemies and reign in righteousness for a thousand years; after this shall be the judgment of the Great White Throne when the unsaved dead shall be raised and judged, that this will result for them in eternal punishment in the Lake of Fire which is the second death; that the saved shall then enjoy eternal glory with God. Matt.16:21-Luke 24:36-43-1st Thess.4:13-16-Rev.20:1-6-1st Cor.15:24-28-Rev.20:11-15-Rev.21:1-4 and 9-27-Rev.22:1-5.
Blessed, Happy New Year to your entire family. I love the new website and I really appreciate the growth in Christ your site affords.
Minister Redmond:
Thank you so much for helping me with undestanding something that my 92 years old mother has been telling me all my life that God did not call a woman to preach.
I was really believing it to a certain point because of man’s disobedience. But after reading the scriptures that you have put this together enlighten my mind with a beter understanding. As of Jan 10,2010, if it’s the Lord’s will, I MUST SHARE THIS WITH MY MOTHER, WHO WILL BE 93 FOR HER BIRTHDAY. And U have a birthday on January 17, 2010 (54)yrs, thank you for sharing a well-searched question with so mnay answers. Thank you. Siste Carroll
I’m a new sunday school teacher, for the adult class in my church. Do anyone have some ideas I could use, some interesting points I could bring out to the class. I don’t have a teacher book and I could really use some help.
Rejection is to be treated as a person that is…
a. Unwanted
b. Unneeded
c. Unnecessary
Do not surrender your self-worth to the option and judgment of others.
a. Put God in first place. (Ro. 8:31; Ps. 27:1)
b. Put people in their place. (Ro. 8:31)
c. Put yourself in your right place. (Ps. 8:5 ; Eph. 1:6 KJV)
hi,am a adult sunday school teacher, i’ll need a point to make my sunday school teaching more intresting. i will be waiting for ur reply. Thanks
I HAVE A QUESTION — ARE THE TWO WITNESSES IN REVELATION THE PROPHETS THAT THE INNER THREE WANTED TO BUILD MEMORIALS FOR?
Hey Rev Redmond — The joy and gracious tender mercies be upon your entire family. I must say I am glad your website exists. It gets better and better. Thanks for the lessons and the excellent webpage.
An excellent article, with great insight from the holy spirit. Thank you very much for the links. When we come together with the gifts that God has given us to exercise in the name of Jesus Christ, we develop more knowledge and power.
We perish for a lack of knowledge, we have knowledge that we are not here to stay, so while we are strangers passing through this selfish world, we now know that we must believe and hope in something far greater than this world. II Chronicle 7:14 WE GOT TO PRAY: PRAYER IS THE KEY AND OUR FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST, UNLOCKS THE DOOR. THANKS AGAIN
Great Sunday school lesson. Also reference 2 Peter 2 Chapter. GIG (God is good).
This is our sunday school lesson for Sunday. Keep the faith with hope, for those who believe will be saved and have everlasting life. Don’t be deceived by false teacher. Study to show thyself approved rightly dividing the word of truth!!!
This passage is so true from me experiencing it today at the nail shop with some females about my age being ignorant and showing it too towards me didn’t know me from adam but watched me all while I was in there like it was all about them. They was looking for me to say something ignorant but I held my peace, watched and prayed. It is sad you do you and they mad cause they evidently unhappy. By them showing their ignorance I can tell they are miserable and the sad part about it one of them had her daughter with her now somebody tell me what is wrong with this picture? To me no role model what so ever poor child learning ignorance from the momma and her old antique friend. Help us Lord down here because they evidently think you are playing
This is really great news. Thank you for sharing it with us!