The Scriptures of
the Old and New Testaments have been given by the verbal
plenary inspiration of God and therefore are inerrant in
the original (Ps.
19:7-13; 119:89,105).
They are designed to lead us to salvation through faith
in Jesus Christ. They are fully inspired by God and,
therefore, serve as the authoritative guide for Christian
understanding, life, and ministry (II Timothy.
3:15-17). The Scriptures are not to be added to,
superseded, or changed by tradition or any supposed later
revelation (Isa. 8:20;
Gal. 1:8-9). Every
doctrinal formulation, whether of creed, confession, or
theology, must be put to the test of the full counsel of
God in the Holy Scriptures (Matt. 22:29-33; Eph. 2:20; Acts 28:23). All
redemptive understanding of the Scriptures depends upon
the illumination of the Holy Spirit; therefore, the most
accurate factual knowledge attained through exegesis,
exposition, and interpretation does not bring about
conversion or spiritual comprehension without the Holy
Spirit creating an understanding through the Word and
applying the message to the heart ( I Cor. 2:7-16).
Man was created
male and female, in the image and likeness of God (Gen. 1:26-27).
Through the original sin of man (Adam and Eve), mankind
has fallen from God and has become corrupt in his whole
nature. By himself, he is totally incapable of returning
to God (Rom.
5:12, 16-17; Jer.
17:9; Eph. 2:1-3;John 6:44). Fallen,
sinful men, whatever their character or attainments, are
eternally lost and without hope apart from salvation in
Christ (John 3:3-7;
Acts 4:12).
Salvation, the
gift of God, is provided solely by His grace through
faith in Jesus Christ (Eph.
2:8-9; Rom. 5:1; Acts 16:31). Turning
from sin in repentance, looking to Christ and His
vicarious death, man is born anew into eternal life by
the Holy Spirit (Acts
2:38; Titus 3:4-7;
Acts 3:19-21).
There is no other name except Jesus Christ by which man
may be saved (Acts 4:12).
Through His great redemptive act, there is forgiveness of
sin, liberation from bondage to the world, and freedom in
His Spirit (Eph. 1:17;
Gal. 6:14-15).
The Holy Spirit,
the Lord and Giver of life, convicts the world of sin,
righteousness, and judgment; unites man to Jesus Christ
in faith; brings about the New birth; and dwells within
the regenerate, producing in them the fruit of the Holy
Spirit, thus enabling them to grow in sanctification (John 15:8-10; I Cor. 12:13; John 3:5; I Cor. 6:19; Rom. 8:9-11; Gal 5:22-23; II Cor. 3:17-18).
The Holy Spirit inspired prophets, judges, and kings in
ancient times; anointed Jesus Christ for His ministry,
filled the church with pentecostal power, and will
transform the mortal bodies of believers into one like
His own immortal body in the glory of the resurrection (I Peter 1:2, 10-12; II Peter 1:20-21;
Luke 4:1, 18-21;
Acts 2:4, 4:31; Rom. 8:11; Phil. 3:21; I Cor. 15:51-52).
The
Holy Spirit is imparted to all who believe in the
Lord Jesus Christ and receive Him as Savior (Acts 2:38-39; Luke 11:13). The
promise of the Father that the Holy Spirit would be sent
in power was not only made to the early disciples, but
continues through generations to come. The gift of the
Holy Spirit is God's sovereign action for edifying the
Body of Christ (I
Cor. 12:7-11, 28-31;
14:1,13; Rom. 12:6-8; I Pet. 5:10-11).
The gifts of apostles, prophets, evangelists, and
pastor/teachers were given by the Lord Jesus Christ for
the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the
ministry, and for the edifying of the Body of Christ.
These Holy Spirit directed gifts to the Body of Christ
are the direct results of the Lord Jesus Christ's promise
to guide all believers into the truth (Eph. 4:7-16; Lk. 11:28; John 14:26; 15:26; 16:13).
The Church, which is
the Body and future Bride of Christ, is dedicated to the
worship and service of God, the observance of the
sacraments or ordinances of Baptism and the Lord's
Supper, as well as the practice of good works (Rom. 12:4-5; I Cor. 12:27; Eph. 2:22; 5:23,27; I Peter 2:5, 9-10;
Eph. 2:10; Titus 2:14). The
primary task of the Church in all ages is to teach all
nations and to make disciples, bringing the Gospel into
every aspect of life and thought. The ultimate mission of
the Church is the redemption of souls. When God
transforms human nature, this then becomes the chief
means of society's transformation (Matt. 28:19-20; II Cor. 10:4-5).
The
consummation of all things includes the visible,
personal, and glorious return of Jesus Christ; the
resurrection of the dead and the translation of those
alive in Christ; the judgment of the just and the unjust;
and the fulfillment of Christ's kingdom in the new heaven
and the new earth (I
Thes 4:13-17; Rev.
1:7; Acts 1:11; Rev. 20:11-15; II Cor. 5:10; Rev. 21:1-4). Satan
with his hosts and all men outside of Christ are
separated eternally from the presence of God, enduring
eternal punishment (Matt.
25:41; Mark
9:47-48; II
Thes. 1:7-10). All who have been redeemed by Christ
from the kingdom of darkness to the kingdom of light will
be in the presence of God forever.
Special Creation:
We believe the triune God created the universe apart from
the preexisting materials and without any evolutionary
process. We believe in the historicity of the first
eleven chapters of Genesis.
Satan: We believe
that Satan was originally a perfect being. He rebelled
against God. (As a result, he became depraved, the Devil
and adversary of God and His people, the leader of a host
of angels who fell with him.) Satan has been judged and
defeated at the cross and awaits his ultimate doom at the
Second Advent of Jesus Christ.
Ps. 19:7-13; 7 The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the
soul. The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy, making
wise the simple.
8 The precepts of the LORD are right, giving joy to the
heart. The commands of the LORD are radiant, giving light
to the eyes.
9 The fear of the LORD is pure, enduring for ever. The
ordinances of the LORD are sure and altogether righteous.
10 They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold;
they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the comb.
11 By them is your servant warned; in keeping them there
is great reward.
12 Who can discern his errors? Forgive my hidden faults.
13 Keep your servant also from wilful sins; may they not
rule over me. Then will I be blameless, innocent of great
transgression.
Ps 119:89,105 89 Your word, O LORD, is eternal; it stands firm
in the heavens.
105 Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my
path.
II Timothy.
3:15-17 15 and how from infancy you have known the holy
Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation
through faith in Christ Jesus.
16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for
teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in
righteousness,
17 so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for
every good work.
Isa. 8:20 20 To the law and to the testimony! If they do
not speak according to this word, they have no light of
dawn.
Gal. 1:8-9
8 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a
gospel other than the one we preached to you, let him be
eternally condemned!
9 As we have already said, so now I say again: If anybody
is preaching to you a gospel other than what you
accepted, let him be eternally condemned!
Matt. 22:29-33 29 Jesus replied, "You are in error because
you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God.
30 At the resurrection people will neither marry nor be
given in marriage; they will be like the angels in
heaven.
31 But about the resurrection of the dead--have you not
read what God said to you,
32 `I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the
God of Jacob'? He is not the God of the dead but of the
living."
33 When the crowds heard this, they were astonished at
his teaching.
Eph. 2:20 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and
prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief
cornerstone.
Acts 28:23 23 They arranged to meet Paul on a certain day,
and came in even larger numbers to the place where he was
staying. From morning till evening he explained and
declared to them the kingdom of God and tried to convince
them about Jesus from the Law of Moses and from the
Prophets.
I Cor. 2:7-16 7 No, we speak of God's secret wisdom, a wisdom
that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory
before time began.
8 None of the rulers of this age understood it, for if
they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of
glory.
9 However, as it is written: "No eye has seen, no
ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has
prepared for those who love him"--
10 but God has revealed it to us by his Spirit. The
Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God.
11 For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except
the man's spirit within him? In the same way no-one knows
the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God.
12 We have not received the spirit of the world but the
Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God
has freely given us.
13 This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human
wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing
spiritual truths in spiritual words.
14 The man without the Spirit does not accept the things
that come from the Spirit of God, for they are
foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them,
because they are spiritually discerned.
15 The spiritual man makes judgments about all things,
but he himself is not subject to any man's judgment:
16 "For who has known the mind of the Lord that he
may instruct him?" But we have the mind of Christ.
God is triune
Deut. 6:4
4 Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one.
I Cor. 8:4,6 4 So then, about eating food sacrificed to
idols: We know that an idol is nothing at all in the
world and that there is no God but one.
6 yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from
whom all things came and for whom we live; and there is
but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came
and through whom we live.
Isaiah 44:6-8 6 "This is what the LORD says--Israel's
King and Redeemer, the LORD Almighty: I am the first and
I am the last; apart from me there is no God.
7 Who then is like me? Let him proclaim it. Let him
declare and lay out before me what has happened since I
established my ancient people, and what is yet to
come--yes, let him foretell what will come.
8 Do not tremble, do not be afraid. Did I not proclaim
this and foretell it long ago? You are my witnesses. Is
there any God besides me? No, there is no other Rock; I
know not one."
Isaiah 57:15
15 For this is what the high and lofty One says--he who
lives for ever, whose name is holy: "I live in a
high and holy place, but also with him who is contrite
and lowly in spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly
and to revive the heart of the contrite.
I John 4:8
8 Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is
love.
Gen. 17:1
1 When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared
to him and said, "I am God Almighty; walk before me
and be blameless.
Ps. 145:3 3 Great is the LORD and most worthy of praise;
his greatness no-one can fathom.
Matt. 3:16-17
16 As soon as Jesus was baptised, he went up out of the
water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the
Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting on him.
17 And a voice from heaven said, "This is my Son,
whom I love; with him I am well pleased."
Matt 28:19
19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations,
baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son
and of the Holy Spirit,
I Cor. 12:4-6
4 There are different kinds of gifts, but the same
Spirit.
5 There are different kinds of service, but the same
Lord.
6 There are different kinds of working, but the same God
works all of them in all men.
II Cor. 13:14 14 May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and
the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be
with you all.
John 14:23,25
23 Jesus replied, "If anyone loves me, he will obey
my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to
him and make our home with him.
25 "All this I have spoken while still with
you."
John 15:26 26 "When the Counsellor comes, whom I will
send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who goes
out from the Father, he will testify about me.
John 16:13-15 13 But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he
will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his
own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell
you what is yet to come.
14 He will bring glory to me by taking from what is mine
and making it known to you.
15 All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I
said the Spirit will take from what is mine and make it
known to you.
God the Father
Gen. 1:1 1 In the beginning God created the heavens and
the earth.
Heb. 11:3
3 By faith we understand that the universe was formed at
God's command, so that what is seen was not made out of
what was visible.
Ps. 33:9 9 For he spoke, and it came to be; he commanded,
and it stood firm.
John 1:3,10 3 Through him all things were made; without him
nothing was made that has been made.
10 He was in the world, and though the world was made
through him, the world did not recognise him.
Col. 1:15-17 15 He is the image of the invisible God, the
firstborn over all creation.
16 For by him all things were created: things in heaven
and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or
powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created
by him and for him.
17 He is before all things, and in him all things hold
together.
Heb. 1:2-3 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by
his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and
through whom he made the universe.
3 The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact
representation of his being, sustaining all things by his
powerful word. After he had provided purification for
sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in
heaven.
Ps. 147:13 13 for he strengthens the bars of your gates and
blesses your people within you.
Rom. 8:28 28 And we know that in all things God works for
the good of those who love him, who have been called
according to his purpose.
John 3:16 16 "For God so loved the world that he gave
his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall
not perish but have eternal life.
Rom. 11:36 36 For from him and through him and to him are
all things. To him be the glory for ever! Amen.
Rev. 4:11 11 "You are worthy, our Lord and God, to
receive glory and honour and power, for you created all
things, and by your will they were created and have their
being."
Man was created
Gen. 1:26-27 26 Then God said, "Let us make man in our
image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish
of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock,
over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move
along the ground."
27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of
God he created him; male and female he created them.
Rom. 5:12, 16-17 12 Therefore, just as sin entered the world
through one man, and death through sin, and in this way
death came to all men, because all sinned--
16 Again, the gift of God is not like the result of
the one man's sin: The judgment followed one sin and
brought condemnation, but the gift followed many
trespasses and brought justification.
17 For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned
through that one man, how much more will those who
receive God's abundant provision of grace and of the gift
of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus
Christ.
Jer. 17:9 9 The heart is deceitful above all things and
beyond cure. Who can understand it?
Eph. 2:1-3 1 As for you, you were dead in your
transgressions and sins,
2 in which you used to live when you followed the ways of
this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air,
the spirit who is now at work in those who are
disobedient.
3 All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying
the cravings of our sinful nature and following its
desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature
objects of wrath.
John 6:44 44 "No-one can come to me unless the Father
who sent me draws him, and I will raise him up at the
last day.
John 3:3-7 3 In reply Jesus declared, "I tell you the
truth, no-one can see the kingdom of God unless he is
born again."
4 "How can a man be born when he is old?"
Nicodemus asked. "Surely he cannot enter a second
time into his mother's womb to be born!"
5 Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, no-one can
enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and
the Spirit.
6 Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth
to spirit.
7 You should not be surprised at my saying, `You must be
born again.'
Acts 4:12 12 Salvation is found in no-one else, for there
is no other name under heaven given to men by which we
must be saved."
Jesus Christ the Son
John 1:1 1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word
was with God, and the Word was God.
John 20:28 28 Thomas said to him, "My Lord and my
God!"
Col. 1:19 19 For God was pleased to have all his fulness
dwell in him,
I Tim. 2:5-6 5 For there is one God and one mediator between
God and men, the man Christ Jesus,
6 who gave himself as a ransom for all men--the testimony
given in its proper time.
Heb. 2:14-18 14 Since the children have flesh and blood, he
too shared in their humanity so that by his death he
might destroy him who holds the power of death--that is,
the devil--
15 and free those who all their lives were held in
slavery by their fear of death.
16 For surely it is not angels he helps, but Abraham's
descendants.
17 For this reason he had to be made like his brothers in
every way, in order that he might become a merciful and
faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might
make atonement for the sins of the people.
18 Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is
able to help those who are being tempted.
John 1:14 14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling
among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One
and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and
truth.
Matt. 1:18, 22-23 18 This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came
about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to
Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to
be with child through the Holy Spirit.
22 All this took place to fulfil what the Lord had said
through the prophet:
23 "The virgin will be with child and will give
birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel"--
which means, "God with us."
Luke 1:35 35 The angel answered, "The Holy Spirit
will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will
overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called
the Son of God.
John 8:29 29 The one who sent me is with me; he has not
left me alone, for I always do what pleases him."
John 19:33-37 33 But when they came to Jesus and found that he
was already dead, they did not break his legs.
34 Instead, one of the soldiers pierced Jesus' side with
a spear, bringing a sudden flow of blood and water.
35 The man who saw it has given testimony, and his
testimony is true. He knows that he tells the truth, and
he testifies so that you also may believe.
36 These things happened so that the scripture would be
fulfilled: "Not one of his bones will be
broken,"
37 and, as another scripture says, "They will look
on the one they have pierced."
Rom. 4:24-25 24 but also for us, to whom God will credit
righteousness-- for us who believe in him who raised
Jesus our Lord from the dead.
25 He was delivered over to death for our sins and was
raised to life for our justification.
I Cor. 15:1-3 1 Now, brothers, I want to remind you of the
gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which
you have taken your stand.
2 By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the
word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in
vain.
3 For what I received I passed on to you as of first
importance: that Christ died for our sins according to
the Scriptures,
II Cor 5:21 21 God made him who had no sin to be sin for us,
so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
I Peter 2:24
24 He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so
that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by
his wounds you have been healed.
I John 2:2
2 Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that
by it you may grow up in your salvation,
Acts 1:9-11
9 After he said this, he was taken up before their very
eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight.
10 They were looking intently up into the sky as he was
going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood
beside them.
11 "Men of Galilee," they said, "why do
you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who
has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in
the same way you have seen him go into heaven."
I Thes. 4:16-17
16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with
a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with
the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise
first.
17 After that, we who are still alive and are left will
be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the
Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord for
ever.
Col. 1:8
8 and who also told us of your love in the Spirit.
Col. 2:15
15 And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he
made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by
the cross.
Heb. 1:3-4
3 The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact
representation of his being, sustaining all things by his
powerful word. After he had provided purification for
sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in
heaven.
4 So he became as much superior to the angels as the name
he has inherited is superior to theirs.
Salvation
Eph. 2:8-9 8 For it is by grace you have been saved,
through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the
gift of God--
9 not by works, so that no-one can boast.
Rom. 5:1 1 Therefore, since we have been justified
through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord
Jesus Christ,
Acts 16:31 31 They replied, "Believe in the Lord
Jesus, and you will be saved--you and your
household."
Acts 2:38 38 Peter replied, "Repent and be baptised,
every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the
forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift
of the Holy Spirit.
Titus 3:4-7 4 But when the kindness and love of God our
Saviour appeared,
5 he saved us, not because of righteous things we had
done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the
washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit,
6 whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus
Christ our Saviour,
7 so that, having been justified by his grace, we might
become heirs having the hope of eternal life.
Acts 3:19-21 19 Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your
sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come
from the Lord,
20 and that he may send the Christ, who has been
appointed for you--even Jesus.
21 He must remain in heaven until the time comes for God
to restore everything, as he promised long ago through
his holy prophets.
Acts 4:12 12 Salvation is found in no-one else, for there
is no other name under heaven given to men by which we
must be saved."
Eph. 1:17 17 I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus
Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of
wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better.
Gal. 6:14-15 14 May I never boast except in the cross of our
Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been
crucified to me, and I to the world.
15 Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means
anything; what counts is a new creation.
The Holy Spirit
John 15:8-10 8 This is to my Father's glory, that you bear
much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.
9 "As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you.
Now remain in my love.
10 If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love,
just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in
his love.
I Cor. 12:13 13 For we were all baptised by one Spirit into
one body--whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free--and we
were all given the one Spirit to drink.
John 3:5 5 Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth,
no-one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of
water and the Spirit.
I Cor. 6:19 19 Do you not know that your body is a temple of
the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received
from God? You are not your own;
Rom. 8:9-11 9 You, however, are controlled not by the sinful
nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in
you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he
does not belong to Christ.
10 But if Christ is in you, your body is dead because of
sin, yet your spirit is alive because of righteousness.
11 And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the
dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead
will also give life to your mortal bodies through his
Spirit, who lives in you.
Gal 5:22-23 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy,
peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there
is no law.
II Cor. 3:17-18 17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the
Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.
18 And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's
glory, are being transformed into his likeness with
ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is
the Spirit.
I Peter 1:2 2 who have been chosen according to the
foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying
work of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and
sprinkling by his blood: Grace and peace be yours in
abundance.
I Peter 1:10-12 10 Concerning this salvation, the prophets, who
spoke of the grace that was to come to you, searched
intently and with the greatest care,
11 trying to find out the time and circumstances to which
the Spirit of Christ in them was pointing when he
predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories that
would follow.
12 It was revealed to them that they were not serving
themselves but you, when they spoke of the things that
have now been told you by those who have preached the
gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. Even
angels long to look into these things.
II Peter 1:20-21 20 Above all, you must understand that no
prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet's own
interpretation.
21 For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man,
but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the
Holy Spirit.
Luke 4:1, 18-21 1 Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from
the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the desert,
18 "The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he
has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has
sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and
recovery of sight for the blind, to release the
oppressed,
19 to proclaim the year of the Lord's favour."
20 Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the
attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the
synagogue were fastened on him,
21 and he began by saying to them, "Today this
scripture is fulfilled in your hearing."
Acts 2:4 4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit
and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled
them.
Acts 4:31 31 After they prayed, the place where they were
meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the
Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.
Rom. 8:11 11 And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus
from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from
the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies
through his Spirit, who lives in you.
Phil. 3:21 21 who, by the power that enables him to bring
everything under his control, will transform our lowly
bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.
I Cor. 15:51-52 51 Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all
sleep, but we will all be changed--
52 in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last
trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be
raised imperishable, and we will be changed.
The Holy Spirit is imparted to
all who believe
Acts 2:38-39 38 Peter replied, "Repent and be baptised,
every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the
forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift
of the Holy Spirit.
39 The promise is for you and your children and for all
who are far off--for all whom the Lord our God will
call."
Luke 11:13 13 If you then, though you are evil, know how to
give good gifts to your children, how much more will your
Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask
him!"
I Cor. 12:7-11,
7 Now to each one the manifestation of the
Spirit is given for the common good.
8 To one there is given through the Spirit the message of
wisdom, to another the message of knowledge by means of
the same Spirit,
9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts
of healing by that one Spirit,
10 to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to
another distinguishing between spirits, to another
speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still
another the interpretation of tongues.
11 All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and
he gives them to each one, just as he determines.
I Cor. 12:28-31 28 And in the church God has appointed first of
all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then
workers of miracles, also those having gifts of healing,
those able to help others, those with gifts of
administration, and those speaking in different kinds of
tongues.
29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers?
Do all work miracles?
30 Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues?
Do all interpret?
31 But eagerly desire the greater gifts.
I Cor. 14:1, 13 1 Follow the way of love and eagerly desire
spiritual gifts, especially the gift of prophecy.
13 For this reason anyone who speaks in a tongue
should pray that he may interpret what he says.
Rom. 12:6-8 6 We have different gifts, according to the
grace given us. If a man's gift is prophesying, let him
use it in proportion to his faith.
7 If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let
him teach;
8 if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is
contributing to the needs of others, let him give
generously; if it is leadership, let him govern
diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it
cheerfully.
I Pet. 5:10-11 10 And the God of all grace, who called you to
his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a
little while, will himself restore you and make you
strong, firm and steadfast.
11 To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen.
Eph. 4:7-16 7 But to each one of us grace has been given as
Christ apportioned it.
8 This is why it says: "When he ascended on high, he
led captives in his train and gave gifts to men."
9 (What does "he ascended" mean except that he
also descended to the lower, earthly regions?
10 He who descended is the very one who ascended higher
than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole
universe.)
11 It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be
prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors
and teachers,
12 to prepare God's people for works of service, so that
the body of Christ may be built up
13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the
knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining
to the whole measure of the fulness of Christ.
14 Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and
forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every
wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men
in their deceitful scheming.
15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all
things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ.
16 From him the whole body, joined and held together by
every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in
love, as each part does its work.
Lk. 11:28 28 He replied, "Blessed rather are those
who hear the word of God and obey it."
John 14:26 26 But the Counsellor, the Holy Spirit, whom the
Father will send in my name, will teach you all things
and will remind you of everything I have said to you.
John 15:26 26 "When the Counsellor comes, whom I will
send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who goes
out from the Father, he will testify about me.
John 16:13 13 But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he
will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his
own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell
you what is yet to come.
The Church
Rom. 12:4-5 4 Just as each of us has one body with many
members, and these members do not all have the same
function,
5 so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each
member belongs to all the others.
I Cor. 12:27 27 Now you are the body of Christ, and each one
of you is a part of it.
Eph. 2:22 22 And in him you too are being built together
to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.
Eph. 5:23, 27 23 For the husband is the head of the wife as
Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he
is the Saviour.
27 and to present her to himself as a radiant church,
without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy
and blameless.
I Peter 2:5, 9-10 5 you also, like living stones, are being built
into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering
spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus
Christ.
9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a
holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may
declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness
into his wonderful light.
10 Once you were not a people, but now you are the people
of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have
received mercy.
Eph. 2:10 10 For we are God's workmanship, created in
Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in
advance for us to do.
Titus 2:14 14 who gave himself for us to redeem us from all
wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are
his very own, eager to do what is good.
Matt. 28:19-20 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all
nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of
the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded
you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of
the age."
II Cor. 10:4-5 4 The weapons we fight with are not the weapons
of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to
demolish strongholds.
5 We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets
itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take
captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.
The consummation of all things
I Thes 4:13-17 13 Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant
about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest
of men, who have no hope.
14 We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we
believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have
fallen asleep in him.
15 According to the Lord's own word, we tell you that we
who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the
Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen
asleep.
16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with
a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with
the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise
first.
17 After that, we who are still alive and are left will
be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the
Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord for
ever.
Rev. 1:7 7 Look, he is coming with the clouds, and every
eye will see him, even those who pierced him; and all the
peoples of the earth will mourn because of him. So shall
it be! Amen.
Acts 1:11 11 "Men of Galilee," they said,
"why do you stand here looking into the sky? This
same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will
come back in the same way you have seen him go into
heaven."
Rev. 20:11-15 11 Then I saw a great white throne and him who
was seated on it. Earth and sky fled from his presence,
and there was no place for them.
12 And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before
the throne, and books were opened. Another book was
opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged
according to what they had done as recorded in the books.
13 The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death
and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each
person was judged according to what he had done.
14 Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of
fire. The lake of fire is the second death.
15 If anyone's name was not found written in the book of
life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.
II Cor. 5:10 10 For we must all appear before the judgment
seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due to
him for the things done while in the body, whether good
or bad.
Rev. 21:1-4 1 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for
the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and
there was no longer any sea.
2 I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out
of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully
dressed for her husband.
3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying,
"Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will
live with them. They will be his people, and God himself
will be with them and be their God.
4 He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be
no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old
order of things has passed away."
Matt. 25:41 41 "Then he will say to those on his left,
`Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal
fire prepared for the devil and his angels.
Mark 9:47-48 47 And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it
out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God
with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into
hell,
48 where 'their worm does not die, and the fire is not
quenched.'
II Thes. 1:7-10 7 and give relief to you who are troubled, and
to us as well. This will happen when the Lord Jesus is
revealed from heaven in blazing fire with his powerful
angels.
8 He will punish those who do not know God and do not
obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.
9 They will be punished with everlasting destruction and
shut out from the presence of the Lord and from the
majesty of his power
10 on the day he comes to be glorified in his holy people
and to be marvelled at among all those who have believed.
This includes you, because you believed our testimony to
you.