Doctrinal Statement - What We Believe
The
Scriptures
We believe all Scripture, Old and New
Testament, is inspired by God. This refers to the original autographs as
written by the prophets and apostles. Thus, the Bible is inerrant, and
without mistakes in the original words. We believe all Scripture points to
the Lord Jesus Christ and reveals the mind of God to man, and the
only way of Salvation is through Christ. The Scriptures also are the
only guide for our practical, moral, and spiritual
instruction.
[Mark 12:26, 36; 13:11; Luke 24:27, 44; John 5:39; Acts
1:16; 17:2-3; 18:28; 26:22-23; 28:23; Rom. 15:4; 1 Cor. 2:13; 10:11; 2
Tim. 3:16; 2 Pet. 1:21]
The
Interpretation of Scripture
In some ways interpretation
of Scripture would not be considered “doctrine,” yet it is extremely
important as to the method that one approaches in the study of the
Bible. In this sense, interpretation becomes an essential doctrinal
issue.
“Hermeneutics” is the science of interpretation. There
are evidences in both the Old and New Testaments as to the method that
Biblical truth is to be interpreted. Conservative, normal, and literal
hermeneutics takes a very tried and true approach to understanding the
Bible that should include observation, interpretation, and application. It
would argue for but one sense or meaning for each passage of
Scripture. As well, normative hermeneutics leaves no room for a new
“complementary hermeneutics” approach in the popularly labeled system of
Progressive Dispensationalism.
Though taking the Word of God
literally, and at face value, in classical hermeneutics there is room for
poetry, figures of speech, illustrations, types, and symbols. But these
literary devices do not take away from the foundational or normal
interpretative understanding of Biblical truth. Normal interpretation also
argues for progressive revelation, i.e., that the Holy Spirit over a
period of time revealed certain truths in a progressive fashion. For
example, the revelation of Jesus Christ starts in Genesis, but is not
fully complete until the book of Revelation.
Literal
interpretation is in opposition to allegorical interpretation. Though the
Apostle Paul in Galatians “creates” an allegory in order to make an
isolated point or illustration (4:21-26), allegory as a system is but an
unacceptable philosophical approach to understanding the Word of God. It
is clearly contrary to proper Biblical interpretation.
[Luke 1:1-4;
24:35; 44-46, 48; Acts 10:8; 17:11-12; 26:6-7; 26-27]
The Godhead
We believe that the Godhead
eternally exists in three persons—the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit
– and that these three are one God, having the precise same nature,
attributes, and perfections and worthy of precisely the same honor,
confidence, and obedience.
[Mt. 28:18-19; Mark 12:29; John 1:14;
Acts 5:3-4; 2 Cor. 13:14; Heb. 1:1-3; Rev. 1:4- 6]
God’s Eternal Purpose
We believe that
according to the “eternal purpose” of God (Eph. 3:11) salvation in the
divine reckoning is always “by grace through faith,” and rests upon the
basis of the shed blood of Christ. We believe that God has always been
gracious, regardless of the dispensation, but that man has not at all
times been under an administration or stewardship of grace as is true in
the present dispensation of the Church.
[Cor. 9:17; Eph. 3:2; 3:9;
Col. 1:25; 1 Tim. 1:4]
The Sovereignty
of God
Though God is Absolute Sovereign over all
creation and history, He is not the author of sin. Yet in some mysterious
way, His decrees include all that takes place in the universe. God has a
“determined plan for the whole world” and no one can alter His
purposes (Isa. 14:26-27). What He has planned that He will do (Isa.
46:11). And, He “works out everything in conformity with the purpose of
His will” (Eph. 1:11); “Surely as I have planned, so it will be, and as I
have purposed, so it will stand” (Isa. 14:24)
Sovereignty also
extends to the providence of God whereby He sustains all creatures, giving
them life and removing life as He pleases (Deut. 32:39). In sovereignty,
all things were created for the glory of God and all things exist for Him
(Rev. 4:11). The sovereignty of God also extends to the doctrine of divine
election whereby those chosen by the council of the Lord’s own will, shall
come to Him in faith. And yet, even though difficult to reconcile in human
understanding, the sovereignty of God does not remove the responsibility
of man.
[Jn. 6:37, 39, 44; Eph. 1:3-18; II Thess. 2:13; Habakkuk
1:6, 11; Acts 2:22-23, 36]
Angels,
Fallen and Unfallen
We believe that God created an
innumerable company of sinless, spiritual beings, known as angels; that
one, “Lucifer, son of the morning” – the highest in rank – sinned
through pride, thereby becoming Satan; that a great company of the angels
followed him in his moral fall, some of whom became demons and are active
as his agents and associates in the prosecution of his unholy purposes,
while others who fell are “reserved in everlasting chains under darkness
until the judgment of the great day.”
[Isa. 14:12-17; Ezek.
28:11-19; 1 Tim. 3:6; 2 Pet. 2:4; Jude 6]
Man, Created and Fallen
We believe that
man was originally created in the image and after the likeness of God, and
that he fell through sin and as a consequence of his sin, lost his
spiritual life, becoming dead in trespasses and sins, and that he became
subject to the power of the devil. Paul adds that the lost are mentally
blinded by Satan, the god of this world, and that the truth of the gospel
is veiled from those who are destroying themselves (II Cor.
4:3-4).
The Word of God makes it clear, there is no one
who seeks after God (Rom. 3:11). So God has given mankind over to the
lusts of the heart and to a depraved mind (Rom. 1:24, 28). The Apostle
further argues that men who live to indulge the flesh and the mind with
lusts, are by nature the children of wrath, and in life, walk after the
course designed by Satan, the “spirit” presently working in the sons of
disbelief (Eph. 2:2-3). Theologically, this “deadness” and darkness of
mind and heart along with all the sins that come forth, has been rightly
called Total Depravity (Rom 1:28).
Following the sin of Adam,
man could only produce descendants who would be sinners. Therefore
all mankind is under the death sentence and penalty of sin (Rom. 5:12-18)
and thus are all condemned. This doctrine is important because it stands
in opposition to the philosophy of humanism that is the moral and
spiritual scourge of modern man. only through the reconciliation of
Christ, by His death, are human beings who are enemies of God being saved
(Rom. 5:10). The result is that sinners are justified by Christ’s blood,
and are rescued from the wrath of God.
[Gen. 1:26; 2:17; 6:5; Ps.
14:1-3; 51:5; Jer. 17:9; Eph. 2:1-6]
The
First Advent of Christ
We believe that, as provided and
purposed by God and as preannounced in the prophecies of the Scriptures,
the eternal Son of God came into this world that He might manifest God to
men, fulfill prophecy and become the Redeemer of a lost world. To this end
He was born of the virgin, and received a human body and a sinless human
nature.
We believe that in fulfillment of prophecy He came
first to Israel as her Messiah-King, and, being rejected of that nation,
He gave His life as a ransom for all according to the eternal counsels of
God.
We believe that, according to the Scriptures, He arose
from the dead in the same body, though glorified, in which He had lived
and died, and that His resurrection body is the pattern of that body which
ultimately will be given to all believers.
[Luke 1:30-35; John 1:18;
3:16; Heb. 4:15; John 1:11; Acts 2:22-24; 1 Tim. 2:6; John 20:20; Phil.
3:20-21]
Salvation Only Through
Christ
We believe that, owing to universal death through
sin, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless born again; and that
no degree of reformation however great, no attainment in morality however
high, no culture however attractive, no baptism or other ordinance however
administered, can help the sinner to take even one step toward
heaven; but a new nature imparted from above, a new life implanted by the
Holy Spirit through the Word, is absolutely essential to salvation, and
only those thus saved are sons of God.
[John 1:12; 3:16; Rom.
1:16-17; 3:22; Gal. 3:22]
The Extent of
Salvation
Though the saved one may have occasion to
grow in the realization of his blessings and to know a fuller measure of
divine power through the yielding of his life more fully to God, he is, as
soon as he is saved, in possession of every spiritual blessing and
absolutely complete in Christ, and is therefore, in no way required by God
to seek a so-called “second blessing,” “second work of grace,” or a
“second baptism.”
[1 Cor. 3:21-23; Eph. 1:3; Col. 2:10; 1 John 4:17;
5:11-12]
Lordship
Salvation
Scofield Prophecy Studies repudiates what is called
Lordship Salvation. This teaching seems to go against the clear biblical
teaching that salvation is by grace through faith in the Lord Jesus
Christ. Nothing can be added to His work on the cross, or to the
proclamation of one’s personal faith and trust in His finished work
of eternal redemption.
Eternal
Security
We believe God keeps eternally all those He has
elected and called to salvation and that none are lost. God will, however,
chasten and correct His own in infinite love; but having undertaken to
save them and keep them forever, apart from all human merit, He, who
cannot fail, will in the end present every one faultless in Christ,
and on His merits, before the presence of His glory and conformed to
the image of His Son.
We believe that believers can have
eternal assurance that they are the children of God and thus, are
eternally kept. This assurance gives confidence and helps the believer
grow in inner peace and maturity.
[John 5:24; 10:28; 13:1; Eph.
1:3-17; 1 John 5:13; Rom. 8:29; Eph. 1:3-17]
The Holy Spirit
We believe that the
Holy Spirit, the Third Person of the Trinity, though omnipresent from all
eternity, took up His abode in the world in a special sense on the
day of Pentecost according to the divine promise, dwells in every
believer, and by His baptism unites all to Christ in one body, and
that He, as the indwelling one, is the source of all power and all
acceptable worship and service.
We know that great
misunderstanding today exists concerning some of the gifts of the Holy
Spirit. For example, tongues (glossa) was really a known language
gift whereby someone who spoke a different language could hear the gospel
in his or her own tongue. This dramatic gift is mentioned in only a
few places in the New Testament. Contrary to popular opinion (which is not
how doctrinal truth is established), the gift of languages in I
Corinthians is not different than what is practiced in Acts. All
grammatical and historical evidence shows that the gift of languages was
the same throughout the New Testament. The gift of languages, along with
other “communication” gifts of prophecy and knowledge, would someday
cease. But when and how? We know by studying church history that the gift
of languages dies out before the Middle Ages. The historical evidence is
cited by the church fathers – where the phenomenon of gibberish is
mentioned during the Middle Ages, it is always among the
heretics.
Irenaeus (120-202 AD) – The church father Irenaeus
wrote, shortly after the New Testament period, these comments on I
Corinthians: [Paul] calling these people “mature” who have received the
Spirit of God, and who through the Spirit of God do speak in all
languages, as he himself also used to speak. In like manner we do also
hear [now of] many brothers in the church, who possess prophetic gifts,
and who through the Spirit speak all kinds of languages … (Against
Heresies, Vol. I)
Chrysostom (345-407 AD) – on I
Corinthians 12 he writes: This entire passage is very obscure: but the
obscurity is produced by our ignorance of the facts referred to and by
their cessation, being such as then used to occur but now no longer take
place (Homilies on First Corinthians, Vol.
XII)
Augustine (354-430) – In the earliest time, the
Holy Spirit fell upon them that believed; and they spake with tongues,
“which they had not learned,” “as the Spirit gave them utterance.” These
were signs adapted to the time. For there behooved to be that betokening
of the Holy Spirit in all tongues, to shew that the Gospel of God was to
run through all tongues over the whole earth. That thing was done for a
sign, and it passed away. (Ten Homilies on The First Epistle Of
John, Vol. VII)
Eusebius (263-339) – This church father
writes about an ascetic, Montanus (126-180 AD), whom some label as a
demon-possessed heretic: A recent convert, Montanus by name, through his
unquenchable desire for leadership, gave the adversary opportunity against
him. And he became beside himself, and being suddenly in a sort of frenzy
and ecstasy, he raved, and began to babble and utter strange things,
prophesying in a manner contrary to the constant custom of the Church
handed down by tradition from the beginning. Some of those who heard his
spurious utterances at that time were indignant, and they rebuked him as
one that was possessed … And he stirred up besides two women, and
filled them with the false spirit, so that they talked wildly and
unreasonably and strangely … (Church History, Vol.
I)
We know that there are no Apostles today equal to Paul
and the Twelve. All believers are apostles in the sense that they are
messengers. But Paul and the other Apostles held and authority, an
inspiration, and a revelatory power not given today. Anyone claiming such
is an imposter. In the same sense, there are no Bible-like prophets today.
The New Testament gift of prophecy meant one had the ability to speak
God’s truth before the final revelation of the New Testament was
completed.
Even then, the words of such a prophet were not
absolute. They must be checked and balanced by other prophets present when
the teaching was given. Yet still there are those today who claim New
Testament prophetic power. In this, they are liars. When the Spirit fell
on the Gentiles in Acts 10, and they began to hear with the gift of
languages, Peter says it was the same phenomena as in Acts 2 – absolutely
a foreign tongue: [The Gentiles] have received the Holy Spirit just as we
did, … As I began to speak [at Cornelius’ house], the Holy Spirit fell
upon them, just as He did upon us at the beginning … (Acts 10:47;
11:15)
From the Greek text: Gifts of prophecy, they will in
the future be made inoperative; if there are tongues (languages), they
will in the future stop themselves; if there is knowledge, it will in the
future stop itself … (I Cor. 13:8)
[John 14:16-17; 16:7-15; 1 Cor.
6:19; Eph. 2:22; 2. Thess. 2:7]
The
Great Commission
We believe that it is the explicit
message of our Lord Jesus Christ to those whom He has saved that they are
sent forth by Him into the world to make known Christ to the whole
world.
[Mt. 28:18-19; John 17:18; Acts 1:8; 1 Pet 1:17;
2:11]
The Blessed
Hope
We believe that the next great event in the
fulfillment of prophecy will be the coming of the Lord in the air to
receive to Himself into heaven both His own who are alive and remain unto
His coming, and also all who have fallen asleep in Jesus, and that this
event is the blessed hope set before us in the Scripture, and for this we
should be constantly looking.
[John 14:1-3; 1 Cor. 15:51-52; 1
Thess. 4:13-18; Titus 2:11-14]
The
Apostasy of the Church
Without designating a specific
time table, the Apostle Paul warns of a “falling away” from the faith (2
Tim 4:1) that will lead to a heeding of deceitful spirits and the
teachings of demons (I Tim 4:2) Paul simply says it will occur in the
“later times” and produce hypocrisy and a searing of the conscience. This
apostasy will be religious and moral in nature (II Tim 3:1-7) and will
happen prior to the rapture of the Church and before the revelation of the
son of destruction, the Antichrist (II Thess. 2:1-5). Paul further teaches
that the seeds of apostasy are present in the Church but they will also
completely mature in the last days, which he describes as “difficult
times” (II Tim. 3:1).
The Apostle Peter continues the theme of
the apostasy that will come upon the Church in the future (II Pet. 2:1-2),
that is, during the “last days” (II Pet. 3:3) when men will be mockers
asking “Where is the promise of His coming?” (II Pet.
3:4).
Some argue, as is true, that the apostasy is ever-present
and not simply a future departure from the Word of God. Yet, the Bible
still predicts a future religious phenomenon whereby the truth is maligned
and the righteous will be exploited by greed and false words (II Pet
2:2-3).
The Tribulation
We
believe that the rapture of the church will be followed by the fulfillment
of Israel’s seventieth week (Dan. 9:27; Rev. 6:1 – 19:21) during which the
church, the body of Christ, will be in heaven. The whole period of
Israel’s seventieth week will be a time of judgment on the whole
earth, at the end of which the times of the Gentiles will be brought to a
close. The latter half of this period will be the time of Jacob’s trouble
(Jer. 30:7), which our Lord called the great tribulation (Mt. 24:15- 21).
We believe that universal righteousness will not be realized previous to
the second coming of Christ, but that the world is day by day ripening for
judgment and that the age will end with a fearful apostasy.
The Second Coming of Christ
We believe
that the period of great tribulation in the earth will be climaxed by the
return of the Lord Jesus Christ to the earth as He went. The millennial
age will follow, with Satan bound. Israel will be restored to her own land
and the Abrahamic
Covenant will be fulfilled by the consummation of its
three divisions – Land (Palestinian Covenant), Seed (Davidic Covenant),
and Blessing (New Covenant finally brought to complete fruition). The
whole world that survives will be brought to a complete knowledge of the
Messiah.
[Deut. 30:1-10; Isa. 11:9; Ezek. 37:21; Jer. 31:31-
on; Mt. 24:15 – 25:46; Acts 15:16-17; Rom 8:19-23; 11:25-27; Rev.
20:1-3]
The Eternal
State
We believe that at death the spirits and souls of
those who have trusted in the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation pass
immediately into His presence and there remain in conscious bliss until
the resurrection of the glorified body when Christ comes for His own,
whereupon soul and body reunited shall be associated with Him forever in
glory; but the spirits and souls of the unbelieving remain after death
conscious of condemnation and in misery until the final judgment of the
Great White Throne at the close of the millennium, when soul and body
reunited shall be cast into the Lake of Fire, not to be annihilated, but
to be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord,
and from the glory of His power.
[Luke 16:19-26; 23:42; 2 Cor. 5:8;
Phil. 1:23; 2 Thess. 1:7-9; Judge 6 – 7; Rev. 20:11- 15]
Dispensationalism
We believe that the
Bible presents the fact that God has not always dealt with mankind the
same way in every age. According to Biblical terminology these distinct
periods are called “administrations” in regard to the purpose of God or
“stewardships” concerning the responsibility of man as originated from the
New Testament usage of the Greek word, “oikonomia.” We believe that
classical or traditional dispensationalism is the system that best
represents the Biblical teaching on this matter. Classical or
traditional dispensationalism is distinguished by:
– A consistent
literal interpretation
– A clear distinction between Israel and
the Church
– Taking into account progressive revelation
–
Recognizing the glory of God as the ultimate purpose of God in the world
[Eph.1:10 3:2, 9]
On Current
Issues
We believe that corruptive influences have always
been working against the Church, the body of Christ. Along with anti-moral
forces, Scofield Prophecy Studies repudiates the man created philosophies of
secular humanism, materialism, evolution, and feminism. This includes the
influences of secular psychology. While some truths may be imprinted into
what man can observe, basically, they are counter to the revealed truths
of Scripture.
More than a detestable lifestyle (Lev. 18:22;
20:13), homosexuality is hedonism which claims its own rights no matter
what the consequences. Some churches are confused and say, “We don’t have
to accept the practice but we must love the person.” When men and women
blatantly jeopardize the lives of others and defiantly shake their fists
at God and human authority, tolerance reaches a limit. Though God detests
every sin, those sins that destroy human life, He moves against, giving
them “over to a depraved mind, to do those things which are not right”
(Rom. 1:28). If homosexuals repent before God and ask for forgiveness, as
found only in Christ, they should be accepted and supported.
Christians must continue to fight against the socialization of
homosexuality in government and education. Believers must also continue to
witness about God’s gracious ability through Christ to rescue even from
the most detestable of sins.
[Rom. 1:18-32; 1 Cor. 6:9; 1 Tim
1:8-11]
Women and
Ministry
We believe that in the body of Christ men and
women stand spiritually equal and constitute the Church universal. We
believe women have had and always will have their God-given gifts and
roles within this body. Accordingly, as the primary role of believing men
is to be husbands and fathers, so the primary role of women is to be wives
and mothers. Modern secular feminism has destroyed the importance of these
positions and blurred the differences between men and
women.
Scofield Prophecy Studies encourages women to have personal
ministries, but the Scriptures are clear that male leadership is called to
the local church positions of deacon, elder, and pastor-teacher. No amount
of debate can water down what the Bible says about the individual and
distinct callings of both sexes, in regard to gifts and positions. Scofield Prophecy Studies equally encourages women to pursue diplomas but the role of
pastor-teacher is Biblically reserved for men.
[1 Tim. 2:9-15;
3:1-13; Titus 1:5-9; 2:1-8; I I Cor. 14:34-35]
Openness of God
Scofield Prophecy Studies
repudiates what is known as the Openness of God theory that says, in so
many words, that God does not know the future. He is “open” to the free
choices people make, and then responds to their free agency. This view
violates the omniscience of God. It also violates the fact that in
sovereignty, He has ordained all things! As difficult a doctrine as this
is, it is still clearly stated in Scripture. The view of the Openness of
God should be considered a heresy!
Progressive Dispensationalism
Scofield Prophecy Studies repudiates the theories of Progressive Dispensationalism. The
central disturbing tenet in this view is that the Lord Jesus Christ is now
reigning on the throne of David in heaven. The Scriptures do not
teach this view. The Lord is seated at the right hand of the Father
presently in glory, but this is not the prophesied Davidic rule that will
take place in time and history.