MichelleBentham
1. I believe in the Holy Trinity existing as one Triune God. Based on the testimony of the Old and New Testament as well as the Christian Church we believe the Bible confirms that there is only one God and that He exists eternally in three persons:
God the Father – Creator and sustainer of all things. We affirm God as the creator of the universe, its inhabitants and all of mankind. He created mankind in His own image to live in relationship with Him. That relationship being broken after the original sin in the Garden of Eden and subsequent fall of mankind. God desires that all of mankind be reconciled to Himself through Christ’s redeeming sacrifice.
The Son – Jesus Christ is fully and eternally God. He eternally existed together with the Father and the Holy Spirit from the beginning, and through Him all things were made. In order to ensure redemption, He left heaven and became a man (incarnate) by the Holy Spirit through the virgin Mary. He is forever one Christ with two natures, God and man in one person.
The Holy Spirit – The Holy Spirit is God, the Lord and giver of life, who actively and visibly appeared in the Old Testament and was promised by Christ and given in fullness to the Church at Pentecost. He empowers believers for service and witnessing, cleanses mankind from the old nature, and conforms us to the image of Christ. The Holy Spirit’s power comes to us through the Baptism in the Holy Spirit after salvation. It releases the fullness of the Spirit and is evidenced by the fruits and gifts of the Holy Spirit.
I believe in the powerful presence of God and His manifest presence which occurs when His presence intersects my experience and I encounter Him through a physical, emotional or intellectual and spiritual response.
2. I affirm that the Bible, containing Old and New Testaments, stands alone as the only infallible and inspired Word of God, and that its authority is ultimate, final and eternal. It cannot be added to, subtracted from or superseded in any regard. The Bible is the source of all doctrine, instruction, correction and reproof. It contains all that is needed for guidance in godliness and practical Christian conduct.
3. I believe Christ’s death on the cross paid the penalty for the sins of the whole world, but its benefits are only applicable to those who receive Jesus as personal Savior. Healing – body, soul and spirit – and all of God’s provisions for His saints, are provided in the atonement, but the must be appropriated by faith through grace. This atonement provides the free gift from God of Salvation. Salvation is appropriated by personal repentance of sin and belief in the Lord Jesus Christ in personal acceptance of Him as Lord and Savior. This process is called salvation which involves justification and regeneration.
4. I believe that Christ gave us Scripture to accurately portray the life of believers in this world. I believe we are called to live a balance of what is imputed to us as Christians and what is imparted to us according to our faith and marturity in Bible doctrine. I believe that God’s provision for His children is absolute, a promise that is final and forever. Shortcomings individually or corporately as a Church exist because we are still progressing in sanctification. The Christian life is full of trials, tests, and suffering of many kind and involves warfare agains a spiritual enemy. The promises of eternal blessings in the presence of God are assured to those who abide in Christ until their natural death or His return. Dying to personal desires and passions requires utter dependence upon God and a daily practice of confession and growing in our relationship with God through Bible study, prayer and worship. This produces faithfulness in all circumstances of life.
5. I believe that the involvement of individual believers in a local church body is essential to living the victorious Christian life as well as growing and being accountable as a disciple of Christ. Church membership is essential and should be considered a privilege as well as a responsibility of a believer in Christ.
PLEASE NOTE: This blog/online community is no way intended to be provided as a substitute for membership and participation in a local body of believers. It is merely a personal extension of ministry by an individual believer. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional or pastoral care and should not be viewed as therapy or counseling. This ministry is subject to and information will be made available to any Church upon request.
6. I believe that baptism and the Lord’s Supper are perpetual ordinances given to the Church by the Lord Jesus Christ. Baptism is a public testimony of what God has done in the individual believer’s life and of their faith in Jesus Christ. It is identification with Jesus and is affected by the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. The Lord’s Supper commemorates the death of the Lord and is done in remembrance of Him until He comes again; it is a sign of our participation in Him. Both institutions are reserved for believers in Christ.
7. I believe and affirm the second coming of Christ as illustrated in the Bible – including his personal, bodily second coming; the resurrection of the saints; the millennium and final judgment. The final judgment will determine the eternal status of believers and unbelievers based upon their relationship to Jesus Christ. I believe and affirm with the Bible the final state will be a new heave and a new earth.