{"id":3506,"date":"2025-02-11T22:02:33","date_gmt":"2025-02-12T03:02:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/slentz.org\/blog\/?page_id=3506"},"modified":"2025-02-11T22:02:36","modified_gmt":"2025-02-12T03:02:36","slug":"the-bible-and-what-we-believe","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/slentz.org\/blog\/the-bible-and-what-we-believe\/","title":{"rendered":"The Bible and What We Believe"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignfull size-large\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"535\" data-attachment-id=\"2966\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/slentz.org\/blog\/devotional\/prayer-o-lord-chasten-me\/attachment\/bible-finger-pointing-2\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/slentz.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/Bible-Finger-Pointing.jpg?fit=1200%2C627&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"1200,627\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/slentz.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/Bible-Finger-Pointing.jpg?fit=300%2C157&amp;ssl=1\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/slentz.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/Bible-Finger-Pointing.jpg?fit=1024%2C535&amp;ssl=1\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/slentz.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/Bible-Finger-Pointing.jpg?resize=1024%2C535&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2966\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/slentz.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/Bible-Finger-Pointing.jpg?resize=1024%2C535&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/slentz.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/Bible-Finger-Pointing.jpg?resize=300%2C157&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/slentz.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/Bible-Finger-Pointing.jpg?resize=768%2C401&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/slentz.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/Bible-Finger-Pointing.jpg?resize=383%2C200&amp;ssl=1 383w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/slentz.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/Bible-Finger-Pointing.jpg?w=1200&amp;ssl=1 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h1 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The Bible and What We Believe <br><em>(Doctrinal Statment of Faith)<\/em><\/h1>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">There are Seven Foundational Doctrines listed in Hebrews<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Hebrews 6:1-3<\/strong><br><em>\u2026let us go on to perfection, not laying again the foundation of\u2026<\/em><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>repentance from dead works<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>faith toward God<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>of the doctrine of BaptismS \u2013 <em>Water Baptism<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>of the doctrine of BaptismS \u2013 <em>Baptism with the Holy Spirit<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>laying on of hands<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>resurrection of the dead<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>eternal judgment<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong><em>\u2026this we will do if God permits.<\/em><\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>When applicable, the individual <strong>Statements of Faith<\/strong> listed below will be indicated as part of these <strong>Seven Foundational Doctrines<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<style>#sp-ea-3508 .spcollapsing { height: 0; overflow: hidden; transition-property: height;transition-duration: 300ms;}#sp-ea-3508.sp-easy-accordion>.sp-ea-single {margin-bottom: 10px; border: 1px solid #e2e2e2; }#sp-ea-3508.sp-easy-accordion>.sp-ea-single>.ea-header a {color: #444;}#sp-ea-3508.sp-easy-accordion>.sp-ea-single>.sp-collapse>.ea-body {background: #fff; color: #444;}#sp-ea-3508.sp-easy-accordion>.sp-ea-single {background: #eee;}#sp-ea-3508.sp-easy-accordion>.sp-ea-single>.ea-header a .ea-expand-icon { float: left; color: #444;font-size: 16px;}<\/style><div id=\"sp_easy_accordion-1737682189\"><div id=\"sp-ea-3508\" class=\"sp-ea-one sp-easy-accordion\" data-ea-active=\"ea-click\" data-ea-mode=\"vertical\" data-preloader=\"\" data-scroll-active-item=\"1\" data-offset-to-scroll=\"0\"><div class=\"ea-card sp-ea-single\"><h3 class=\"ea-header\"><a class=\"collapsed\" id=\"ea-header-35080\" role=\"button\" data-sptoggle=\"spcollapse\" data-sptarget=\"#collapse35080\" aria-controls=\"collapse35080\" href=\"#\" aria-expanded=\"false\" tabindex=\"0\"><i aria-hidden=\"true\" role=\"presentation\" class=\"ea-expand-icon eap-icon-ea-expand-plus\"><\/i> The Holy Scriptures<\/a><\/h3><div class=\"sp-collapse spcollapse spcollapse\" id=\"collapse35080\" data-parent=\"#sp-ea-3508\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"ea-header-35080\"> <div class=\"ea-body\"><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The Holy Scriptures, including the Old and New Testaments, are God's verbally and plenary-inspired Word. They are inerrant, infallible, originated, and in-breathed by God alone, and therefore, they are the final authority for faith and life. Holy men of old penned the Holy Bible as they were moved upon and inspired by the Holy Spirit. The necessary starting point of all apologetics is that the entire Bible is cohesive and coherent, and it has absolute integrity.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The sixty-six books of the Old and New Testaments are God's complete and divine revelation to man, expressing the ultimate intention and Eternal Purpose of God. The Scriptures are the true center of the Christian faith and the supreme standard in which human behavior, beliefs, and opinions are to be judged (2 Tim 3:15-17; 1 Pet 1:23-25; 2 Pet 1:19-21; 1 Thes 2:13; Deu 4:1-2; Prov 30:5-6; Isa 8:20).<\/span><\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"ea-card sp-ea-single\"><h3 class=\"ea-header\"><a class=\"collapsed\" id=\"ea-header-35081\" role=\"button\" data-sptoggle=\"spcollapse\" data-sptarget=\"#collapse35081\" aria-controls=\"collapse35081\" href=\"#\" aria-expanded=\"false\" tabindex=\"0\"><i aria-hidden=\"true\" role=\"presentation\" class=\"ea-expand-icon eap-icon-ea-expand-plus\"><\/i> The Eternal Godhead<\/a><\/h3><div class=\"sp-collapse spcollapse spcollapse\" id=\"collapse35081\" data-parent=\"#sp-ea-3508\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"ea-header-35081\"> <div class=\"ea-body\"><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">There is one and only one living and true God (Deu 6:4). He is the eternally existent Creator of all things (Gen 1:1; John 1:3). God created the universe in six literal, 24-hour periods. We reject evolution, the Day-Age Theory, and Theistic Evolution as unscriptural theories of origin (Gen chs. 1\u20132; Exo 20:11).<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">God is Triune in nature, meaning He is manifested in three Persons (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) \u2014 coequal in all divine perfection, power, glory, and deity; co-eternal in their being; co-identical in their nature and attributes. Together, they created all things. They execute different but harmonious purposes in the great work of redemption and restoration of man (Gen 1:26; Jer 10:10; Mat 28:18-20). <\/span><\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"ea-card sp-ea-single\"><h3 class=\"ea-header\"><a class=\"collapsed\" id=\"ea-header-35082\" role=\"button\" data-sptoggle=\"spcollapse\" data-sptarget=\"#collapse35082\" aria-controls=\"collapse35082\" href=\"#\" aria-expanded=\"false\" tabindex=\"0\"><i aria-hidden=\"true\" role=\"presentation\" class=\"ea-expand-icon eap-icon-ea-expand-plus\"><\/i> God the Father<\/a><\/h3><div class=\"sp-collapse spcollapse spcollapse\" id=\"collapse35082\" data-parent=\"#sp-ea-3508\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"ea-header-35082\"> <div class=\"ea-body\"><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The Father is One of the three co-equal, co-eternal, and co-identical Persons of the Godhead. God is Love (1 John 4:8), Sustainer (Heb 1:3; 2 Tim 4:18), Judge of His universe (Heb 12:23), glorious in holiness (Exo 15:11), and worthy of all honor and praise (Rev 4:11). God the Father \u201cso loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son\u201d (John 3:16) to provide the only means for the full redemption and restoration of man. At the end of time and the beginning of eternity, the resurrected Jesus Christ is He who \u201cdelivers the Kingdom to God the Father,\u201d the \u201cAncient of Days,\u201d and puts \u201call things under Him [the Father], that God may be all in all\u201d (1 Cor 15:24-28).<\/span><\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"ea-card sp-ea-single\"><h3 class=\"ea-header\"><a class=\"collapsed\" id=\"ea-header-35083\" role=\"button\" data-sptoggle=\"spcollapse\" data-sptarget=\"#collapse35083\" aria-controls=\"collapse35083\" href=\"#\" aria-expanded=\"false\" tabindex=\"0\"><i aria-hidden=\"true\" role=\"presentation\" class=\"ea-expand-icon eap-icon-ea-expand-plus\"><\/i> God the Son, Jesus Christ<\/a><\/h3><div class=\"sp-collapse spcollapse spcollapse\" id=\"collapse35083\" data-parent=\"#sp-ea-3508\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"ea-header-35083\"> <div class=\"ea-body\"><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Jesus Christ is One of the three coequal, co-eternal, and co-identical Persons of the Godhead. His deity as the Christ and the only begotten Son of God is declared in Scripture (John 3:16, 18; Rom 1:4). Jesus Christ is the eternal Word of God through whom all things were made (John 1:1-3). His birth was supernatural \u2014 He was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary (Mat 1:23; 1 Tim 2:5), which was foretold by the Old Testament prophets (Gen 3:15; Isa 7:14; Mic 5:2; Gal 4:4-5).<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The Lord Jesus willingly chose obedience to God, His Father, Who sent His only Son to be incarnated, i.e., born supernaturally of a virgin and partaking of \u201cflesh and blood\u201d (Heb 2:14; Heb 5:5-9). He was \u201cin all points tempted as we are,\u201d yet He lived an absolutely sinless life (Heb 2:17-18; Heb 4:15). For this reason, He was able to proclaim from the Cross, \u201cIt is finished!\u201d He achieved our full and complete redemption through His death on the Cross as a representative, vicarious, and substitutionary sacrifice. His shed Blood alone secures our full atonement. Our justification is secured by His literal, bodily resurrection from the dead (Acts 2:18-36; Rom 1:4; Rom 3:24-25; Eph 1:7; Col 2:13-15; 1 Pet 1:3-5; 1 Pet 2:24; 1 Peter 3:18).<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Jesus Christ ascended to heaven and is now exalted at the Father's right hand as King of kings and our Great High Priest. It is through faith in His Name alone that mankind can find the assurance of salvation (2 Pet 1:3-4; Acts 4:12; Acts 20:28). Jesus Christ is Lord of all, and He possesses all authority in heaven and on earth (Mat 28:18; Phil 2:5-11).<\/span><\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"ea-card sp-ea-single\"><h3 class=\"ea-header\"><a class=\"collapsed\" id=\"ea-header-35084\" role=\"button\" data-sptoggle=\"spcollapse\" data-sptarget=\"#collapse35084\" aria-controls=\"collapse35084\" href=\"#\" aria-expanded=\"false\" tabindex=\"0\"><i aria-hidden=\"true\" role=\"presentation\" class=\"ea-expand-icon eap-icon-ea-expand-plus\"><\/i> God the Holy Spirit<\/a><\/h3><div class=\"sp-collapse spcollapse spcollapse\" id=\"collapse35084\" data-parent=\"#sp-ea-3508\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"ea-header-35084\"> <div class=\"ea-body\"><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The Holy Spirit is one of the three coequal, co-eternal, and co-identical Persons of the Godhead. He is the Person who convicts the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment (John 16:7-11). He is also the supernatural agent at the New Birth (Titus 3:5), who gives witness and assurance of salvation (Rom 8:16; 1 John 5:10).\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">On the Day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit, also referred to as the \u201cPromise of the Father,\u201d was \u201cpoured out\u201d upon the 120 believers who, at Jesus\u2019 command, were waiting for the experience called the Baptism with the Holy Spirit (Luke 24:29; Acts 1:4-8; Acts 2:1-4; Acts 2:33; Acts 3:37-39). [See \u201cBaptism with the Holy Spirit\u201d below.]<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">From the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2:1-4) until Jesus returns, the Holy Spirit has been charged with the responsibility of organizing and directing all of the affairs of the Church that Christ purchased with His own Blood (Acts 13:1-2; Acts 15:28; Acts 20:28). The Holy Spirit is also responsible for preparing the Church, as a glorious Bride without spot or wrinkle, for marriage with the Lamb, Jesus Christ (Eph 5:26-27; Rev 19:7-8; Rev 21:2,9-11; Rev 22:17).<\/span><\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"ea-card sp-ea-single\"><h3 class=\"ea-header\"><a class=\"collapsed\" id=\"ea-header-35085\" role=\"button\" data-sptoggle=\"spcollapse\" data-sptarget=\"#collapse35085\" aria-controls=\"collapse35085\" href=\"#\" aria-expanded=\"false\" tabindex=\"0\"><i aria-hidden=\"true\" role=\"presentation\" class=\"ea-expand-icon eap-icon-ea-expand-plus\"><\/i> Satan the Adversary<\/a><\/h3><div class=\"sp-collapse spcollapse spcollapse\" id=\"collapse35085\" data-parent=\"#sp-ea-3508\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"ea-header-35085\"> <div class=\"ea-body\"><p><em><strong>[#7 of the 7 Foundational Doctrines]<\/strong><\/em><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Satan is a fallen angel previously known as Lucifer (Isa 14:12-17; Eze 28:14-17). He is the author of sin and pride, the \u201cfather of lies\u201d (John 8:44) whose sole inclination is \u201cto steal, and to kill, and to destroy\u201d (John 10:10).<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Satan is the cause of the Fall of Man (Gen 3:1-7; 2 Cor 11: 3-4; 1 Tim 2:14). He is the open and declared enemy of God and the \u201caccuser of the brethren\u201d (Rev 12:10; Job 1:6-12; Job 2:1-7). Demons, evil spirits, and other fallen angels who participated in Satan\u2019s rebellion (2 Peter 2:4; Jude 1:6) constitute what the Bible refers to as \u201cprincipalities\u2026powers\u2026rulers of the darkness of this age\u2026spiritual hosts of wickedness in heavenly places\u201d (Eph 6:12; Eph 2:2; Col 2:15).<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Jesus Christ overcame all of Satan\u2019s many temptations (Mat 4:1-11; Mark 1:12-13; Luke 4:1-13; John 14:30). Through Christ\u2019s death and resurrection, He \u201cdisarmed principalities and powers,\u201d and triumphed over Satan (Col 2:14-15; Heb 2:14-15; 1 John 3:8). By the Blood of Christ, the Name of Jesus, and the Sword of the Word, Christians must \u201ctake up the whole armor of God,\u201d \u201cwithstand,\u201d \u201cwrestle against,\u201d \u201cresist,\u201d \u201cbind,\u201d \u201covercome,\u201d and \u201cexecute on them the written judgment\u201d (Eph 6:10-18; Jam 4:7; 1 Pet 5:8-9; Psalm 149:8-9; Rev 12:11).<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">As Eternal Judgment begins, Christians, together with Christ, will \u201cjudge angels\u201d (1 Cor 6:3), i.e., Satan and his host of darkness who shall ultimately be punished in the \u201ceverlasting fires prepared the devil and his angels\u201d where \u201cthey will be tormented day and night forever and ever\u201d (Mat 25:41; Rev 20:10).<\/span><\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"ea-card sp-ea-single\"><h3 class=\"ea-header\"><a class=\"collapsed\" id=\"ea-header-35086\" role=\"button\" data-sptoggle=\"spcollapse\" data-sptarget=\"#collapse35086\" aria-controls=\"collapse35086\" href=\"#\" aria-expanded=\"false\" tabindex=\"0\"><i aria-hidden=\"true\" role=\"presentation\" class=\"ea-expand-icon eap-icon-ea-expand-plus\"><\/i> The Fallen Nature of Man<\/a><\/h3><div class=\"sp-collapse spcollapse spcollapse\" id=\"collapse35086\" data-parent=\"#sp-ea-3508\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"ea-header-35086\"> <div class=\"ea-body\"><p><em><strong>[#1 &amp; #2 of the 7 Foundational Doctrines]<\/strong><\/em><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">We believe that man was created in the image and likeness of God, before whom he walked in holiness and purity. However, by voluntary disobedience and transgression, man fell from the purity and innocence of Eden into sin and depravity. Consequently, all mankind are sinners, not by constraint but by choice.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Therefore, man is wholly inclined to evil, guilty and without excuse, and deserving of the condemnation of a holy God. Through disobedience, Adam\u2019s sin caused him and the entire human race to fall from God\u2019s eternal purpose. Man has thus inherited a sinful nature (also referred to as the \u201cAdamic Nature\u201d), bringing the curse of death on all mankind. Because of this original sin, man is \u201cdead in sin,\u201d separated from God, depraved, and, of himself, utterly incapable of remedying his lost condition\u00a0 (Gen 1:26-27; Isa 59:1-2; Rom 3:22-23; Rom 5:12; Rom 6:23; Eph 2:1-3; Eph 4:17-19).<\/span><\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"ea-card sp-ea-single\"><h3 class=\"ea-header\"><a class=\"collapsed\" id=\"ea-header-35087\" role=\"button\" data-sptoggle=\"spcollapse\" data-sptarget=\"#collapse35087\" aria-controls=\"collapse35087\" href=\"#\" aria-expanded=\"false\" tabindex=\"0\"><i aria-hidden=\"true\" role=\"presentation\" class=\"ea-expand-icon eap-icon-ea-expand-plus\"><\/i> Man\u2019s Response to the Gospel<\/a><\/h3><div class=\"sp-collapse spcollapse spcollapse\" id=\"collapse35087\" data-parent=\"#sp-ea-3508\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"ea-header-35087\"> <div class=\"ea-body\"><p><em><strong>[#1 &amp; #2 of the 7 Foundational Doctrines]<\/strong><\/em><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">God, in His absolute sovereignty, divine wisdom, and love, created man with Free Will. Love cannot exist without a Will that is absolutely free from any coercion other than man\u2019s own ability to reason. Consequently, man is totally free to choose life or death at any time and by any means.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The New Birth requires a response out of man\u2019s Free Will. It is available to all who choose to receive Jesus Christ. This miraculous regeneration (New Birth) is absolutely essential for the salvation of lost and sinful man.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">When a sinner chooses to repent from sin, he can receive Christ by confessing with his mouth that Jesus is Lord and believing with his heart in the resurrection of Christ from the dead (Rom 10:9-10).<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">By the Holy Spirit\u2019s supernatural work of regeneration (Titus 3:4-7), this person is then instantly \u201cpassed from death into life\u201d (John 5:24). He is saved, forgiven, washed in the Blood, and redeemed. He is \u201cturned from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God\u201d (Acts 26:18). He is born again as a child in God\u2019s \u201cfamily,\u201d and his eyes are opened to \u201csee the Kingdom\u201d (John 1:12-13; John 3:3; Eph 3:14-15). He is delivered \u201cfrom the domain of darkness\u201d and is \u201ctransferred\u2026to the Kingdom of His Beloved Son\u201d (Col 1:12-14). He immediately becomes a recipient of the free gift of eternal life (Rom 6:23; Eph 2:4-9).<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The born-again child of God is \u201ckept by the power of God through faith\u201d (1 Pet 1:5) and thus absolutely secure in Christ forever as long as a believer in his Free Will chooses to \u201chear\u201d Jesus the Good Shepherd\u2019s voice and \u201cfollow\u201d (John 10:27-29) by walking in faith and with \u201cobedience of faith\u201d (Acts 6:7; Rom 1:5; Rom 16:26) according to the guidance of character as outlined all throughout the Holy Scriptures. (John 6:37-40; John 10:27-30; Rom 8:1-14; Rom 8:37-39; 1 Cor 1:8-9; 1 Cor 9:27; 1 Cor 10:12-13; Gal 5:16-26; Eph 4:17-24; Col 3:1-17; Heb 6:4-9; Heb 10:26-31; 2 John 1:8; Rev chs. 2-3).<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The believer\u2019s \u201cobedience of faith\u201d is not for earning God\u2019s favor but rather a response to the \u201cabundance of grace\u201d available in Christ (John 1:16; Rom 5;17; 1 Cor 15:10; Eph 2:10). God ordained the Christian life to be \u201cby grace\u2026through faith\u2026not of works\u201d from here to glory (Eph 2:8-9; Rom 4:3-5; Rom 11:6).<\/span><\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"ea-card sp-ea-single\"><h3 class=\"ea-header\"><a class=\"collapsed\" id=\"ea-header-35088\" role=\"button\" data-sptoggle=\"spcollapse\" data-sptarget=\"#collapse35088\" aria-controls=\"collapse35088\" href=\"#\" aria-expanded=\"false\" tabindex=\"0\"><i aria-hidden=\"true\" role=\"presentation\" class=\"ea-expand-icon eap-icon-ea-expand-plus\"><\/i> Water Baptism<\/a><\/h3><div class=\"sp-collapse spcollapse spcollapse\" id=\"collapse35088\" data-parent=\"#sp-ea-3508\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"ea-header-35088\"> <div class=\"ea-body\"><p><em><strong>[#3 of the 7 Foundational Doctrines]<\/strong><\/em><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Water Baptism is a New Testament Church \u201cordinance,\u201d meaning that it meets three criteria: (1) it is an act instituted by Christ while He was here on earth; (2) it was taught and \u201ccommanded\u201d by the apostles (Acts 10:48); and (3) it was also observed by the Early Church. Beyond being an ordinance, Water Baptism is also a vital part of the Great Commission (Mat 28:18-20; Mark 16:15-17). For this reason, Water Baptism is considered the first step of the obedience of faith.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">In Water Baptism, our Adamic nature, the inherited sin nature (Eph 2:1-3) or \u201cold man,\u201d is buried. Through this death and burial with Christ in Water Baptism, the believer is \u201clegally\u201d free from the nature of sin (Rom 7:1-6). At baptism, the believer is then raised up to \u201cwalk in newness of life\u201d (Rom 6:1-14).<\/span><\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"ea-card sp-ea-single\"><h3 class=\"ea-header\"><a class=\"collapsed\" id=\"ea-header-35089\" role=\"button\" data-sptoggle=\"spcollapse\" data-sptarget=\"#collapse35089\" aria-controls=\"collapse35089\" href=\"#\" aria-expanded=\"false\" tabindex=\"0\"><i aria-hidden=\"true\" role=\"presentation\" class=\"ea-expand-icon eap-icon-ea-expand-plus\"><\/i> Baptism with the Holy Spirit<\/a><\/h3><div class=\"sp-collapse spcollapse spcollapse\" id=\"collapse35089\" data-parent=\"#sp-ea-3508\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"ea-header-35089\"> <div class=\"ea-body\"><p><em><strong>[#4 &amp; #5 of the 7 Foundational Doctrines]<\/strong><\/em><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Since the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2:1-4), the Holy Spirit indwells the believer who has experienced the Baptism in the Holy Spirit (John 14:16-17, 26; John 15:26; John 16:7-14; 1 Cor 12:13; Eph 4:30).<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Acts is the God-given account of the formation and function of the early church and is totally relative to the church down through history, unto our day, and until Christ returns for His glorious Bride, the Church. Acts describes the Baptism with the Holy Spirit as being a *separate and distinct* experience from the experience of the New Birth (Acts 1:5; 8:12-17; 10:44-46; 11:14-16; 15:7-9).<\/span><\/p><p><em><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">[*Note: Some teach that this phrase \u2013 \u201cbeing sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise\u201d \u2013 refers to the Holy Spirit assuring the believer of their salvation experience. This is merely an interpretation of Eph 1:13, which may or may not be accurate. However, some people use this verse as proof positive that the Holy Spirit automatically begins dwelling within the believer at the very moment of new birth, making both experiences automatically received at New Birth. That overextended interpretation of Eph 1:13 cannot be correct. Consider to whom Paul is writing. When Paul first met believers in Ephesus, he acknowledged they were believers and then asked them a simple question: \u201cDid you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?\u201d Their answer was \u201cno.\u201d If receiving the Holy Spirit is experienced automatically at New Birth, then this question would not make any sense whatsoever. It was straightforward what to do. Paul first baptized them into Christ, then laid hands on them. The result? These born-again believers had a separate and distinct experience: \u201cthe Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke with tongues and prophesied\u201d (Acts 19:1-6). That is how the Ephesus church began, and it is these believers whom Paul speaks to in Eph 1:13.]<\/span><\/em><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Acts also reveals that the initial evidence of the Baptism in the Holy Spirit is speaking in other tongues as the divinely inspired, God-authored, and God-breathed book of Acts reiterates (Acts 2:1-4, 38-39; Acts 8:12-17; 10:44-46; Acts 11:15-17; Acts 15:7-9; Acts 19:1-6).<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Since the Day of Pentecost, the baptism in the Holy Spirit is the \u201cPromise of the Father\u201d to His children \u2013 those who have believed on Jesus Christ (Acts 2:38-39). The Promised Holy Spirit also included in the \u201cBlessing of Abraham\u201d (Gal 3:3-14), is the primary focus of the New Covenant as prophesied in the Old Testament (Jer 31:31-34; Eze 37:26-27; Heb 8:10; Heb 10:15-16). As Jesus explained clearly: \u201c\u2026how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him\u201d (Luke 11:13; Acts 5:32).<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">By the Baptism with the Holy Spirit, the believer is endued with \u201cpower from on high\u201d (Luke 24:49). He experiences the fullness and indwelling of the Holy Spirit, and \u201cfrom his innermost being will flow rivers of living water\u201d (John 7:37-39 NASB).\u00a0 The Christian is enabled to live a godly life and be Christ\u2019s \u201cwitness\u201d (Acts 1:8) and to be led by the Spirit\u2019s ministry of enlightening, comforting, and energizing the believer in prayer, worship, and service (Eph 5:18-21; Rom 8:1-14; Rom 8:26-27; 1 Cor 14:2,4,14-18; Gal 5:16-25; Eph 6:17-18; Jude 1:20-21). The Holy Spirit is also directly involved in the sanctification and inner transformation of the believer \u201cfrom glory to glory\u201d to be like Christ (2 Cor 3:18; Rom 15:16; 1 Thess 5:23; 2 Thess 2:13; 1 Pet 1.2).<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">By the Holy Spirit\u2019s indwelling, believers are enabled to express the nine spiritual gifts as the Spirit leads. The Holy Spirit is the Sovereign Giver of the spiritual gifts given to each believer \u201cas He wills\u201d (Rom 12:3-8; 1 Cor 12:4-11, 28). These gifts of the Holy Spirit are still available and manifested today.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">It is to be noted that the laying on of hands is often utilized in praying for people to receive the Holy Spirit (Acts 8:14-19; Acts 9:12,17; Acts 19:1-6) and also for praying for people to be healed (Mark 16:18; Luke 4:40; Mark 5:22; Mark 6:5).<\/span><\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"ea-card sp-ea-single\"><h3 class=\"ea-header\"><a class=\"collapsed\" id=\"ea-header-350810\" role=\"button\" data-sptoggle=\"spcollapse\" data-sptarget=\"#collapse350810\" aria-controls=\"collapse350810\" href=\"#\" aria-expanded=\"false\" tabindex=\"0\"><i aria-hidden=\"true\" role=\"presentation\" class=\"ea-expand-icon eap-icon-ea-expand-plus\"><\/i> The Church<\/a><\/h3><div class=\"sp-collapse spcollapse spcollapse\" id=\"collapse350810\" data-parent=\"#sp-ea-3508\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"ea-header-350810\"> <div class=\"ea-body\"><p><em><strong>[#5 of the 7 Foundational Doctrines]<\/strong><\/em><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The establishment and continuance of local churches are clearly taught and defined in the New Testament Scriptures (Acts 14:27, Acts 20:17-32; I Tim 3:1-13; Titus 1:5-11).<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The government of the local church resides in the locally recognized pastors and elders. Christ gave the five-fold ministry gifts of grace, manifested as apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers, to equip and prepare the saints for ministry and works of service (Eph 4:7-16; 1 Cor 12:28; Rom 12:3-8). The Scriptures show us that those called out to specific ministry to the church are often ordained with the laying on of hands by elders in church leadership (Acts 6:5-6; Acts 13:1-3; 1 Tim 4:14).<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Jesus has entrusted the Church with the Great Commission to \u201cGO into all the world and preach the Gospel\u201d and \u201cmake disciples of all nations,\u201d all ethnic groups, and all language groups. Christians are \u201cambassadors of Christ\u201d and have the \u201cministry of reconciliation.\u201d (Mat 28:19-20; Mark 16:15; Luke 24:46-48; John 20:21; Acts 1:8; 2 Cor 5:18-20).<\/span><\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"ea-card sp-ea-single\"><h3 class=\"ea-header\"><a class=\"collapsed\" id=\"ea-header-350811\" role=\"button\" data-sptoggle=\"spcollapse\" data-sptarget=\"#collapse350811\" aria-controls=\"collapse350811\" href=\"#\" aria-expanded=\"false\" tabindex=\"0\"><i aria-hidden=\"true\" role=\"presentation\" class=\"ea-expand-icon eap-icon-ea-expand-plus\"><\/i> Ten Dispensations<\/a><\/h3><div class=\"sp-collapse spcollapse spcollapse\" id=\"collapse350811\" data-parent=\"#sp-ea-3508\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"ea-header-350811\"> <div class=\"ea-body\"><p><em><strong>[#6 &amp; #7 of the 7 Foundational Doctrines]<\/strong><\/em><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">When correctly interpreted, the Scriptures reveal God's plan from the world's creation and through different periods of human history. These time periods, called \u201cdispensations,\u201d are stages in a progressive revelation expressly adapted to the needs of a particular nation or period of time. Dispensations refer to a form, method, or system of God\u2019s dealings with people during a specified time (Eph 1:10; Eph 3:9-11; Col 1:25-27; Heb 1:1-2).<\/span><\/p><p><strong>Scriptures delineate the following 10 dispensations:<\/strong><\/p><ol><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Dispensation of Angels (Gen 1:1; Job 38:4-7)<\/span><\/li><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Dispensation of Innocence (Gen 1 \u2013 2)<\/span><\/li><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Dispensation of Conscience (Gen 3 \u2013 Exo 18; Rom 5:12-14; Rom 2:15)<\/span><\/li><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Dispensation of Law (Exo 19 through Mal 4)<\/span><\/li><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Dispensation of Transition (Mat 1 to Acts 1; Mat 11:10-13; Luke 7:27-30)\u00a0<\/span><\/li><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Dispensation of Grace, also called the Church Age (Acts 2 \u2013 until Christ returns for His Church)<\/span><\/li><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Dispensation of the First 3\u00bd years of the 7-Year Great Tribulation (Rev 6-7; 8\u201311)<\/span><\/li><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Dispensation of the Last 3\u00bd years of the 7-Year Great Tribulation (Rev 8\u201311; 15\u201319)<\/span><\/li><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Dispensation of the Millennium (Rev 20)<\/span><\/li><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Dispensation of the Eternal Kingdom (Rev 21\u201322)<\/span><\/li><\/ol><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"ea-card sp-ea-single\"><h3 class=\"ea-header\"><a class=\"collapsed\" id=\"ea-header-350812\" role=\"button\" data-sptoggle=\"spcollapse\" data-sptarget=\"#collapse350812\" aria-controls=\"collapse350812\" href=\"#\" aria-expanded=\"false\" tabindex=\"0\"><i aria-hidden=\"true\" role=\"presentation\" class=\"ea-expand-icon eap-icon-ea-expand-plus\"><\/i> Resurrection, Eternal Judgment, and Eternity Future<\/a><\/h3><div class=\"sp-collapse spcollapse spcollapse\" id=\"collapse350812\" data-parent=\"#sp-ea-3508\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"ea-header-350812\"> <div class=\"ea-body\"><p><em><strong>[#6 &amp; #7 of the 7 Foundational Doctrines]<\/strong><\/em><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Scriptures conclude that there is bodily resurrection of all people\u2014the saved to eternal life, and the unsaved for judgment and everlasting punishment (Mat 25:46; John 5:28-29; John 11:25-26; Rom 14:10; 1 Cor 15:12-58; 2 Cor 5:1-11; Heb 9:27; 2 Pet 2:9; Rev 20:5-6; Rev 20:11-15).<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The \u201cblessed hope\u201d of the believer is the return of Jesus Christ for His Bride, the Church (Titus 2:13-14; Rev 19:7-9). This will happen in different stages. The Bride, the Church, will be raptured or \u201ccaught up\u201d (1 Thess 4:16-18) before the Seven Year Great Tribulation begins. Midway through those seven years, He will resurrect the great multitude of tribulation martyrs. Then, at the end of the Great Tribulation, Christ will personally and visibly return with His saints to establish His earthly Messianic Kingdom, which was promised to the Nation of Israel (1 Thess 1:10; Rev 7:9-17; Rev 19:11-16; Rev 20:1-6).<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">God, in His own time and in His own way, will bring the world to its ultimate goal, in keeping with His promise to bring about the absolute fullness of the New Heavens, the New Earth and the New Jerusalem (Rev 21:1-5), the final defeat of Satan (Rev 20:10), the resurrection of the dead (1 Cor 15:51-52), and the final judgment (John 5:28-30; Rev 20:11-15). The final consummation will involve the destruction of death (1 Cor 15:25) when all things are brought under the feet of Christ, and He delivers the Kingdom to God the Father that God may be \u201call in all\u201d (1 Cor 15:24-28).<\/span><\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"ea-card sp-ea-single\"><h3 class=\"ea-header\"><a class=\"collapsed\" id=\"ea-header-350813\" role=\"button\" data-sptoggle=\"spcollapse\" data-sptarget=\"#collapse350813\" aria-controls=\"collapse350813\" href=\"#\" aria-expanded=\"false\" tabindex=\"0\"><i aria-hidden=\"true\" role=\"presentation\" class=\"ea-expand-icon eap-icon-ea-expand-plus\"><\/i> Authority of the Statement of Faith<\/a><\/h3><div class=\"sp-collapse spcollapse spcollapse\" id=\"collapse350813\" data-parent=\"#sp-ea-3508\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"ea-header-350813\"> <div class=\"ea-body\"><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">This Statement of Faith does not exhaust the extent of our faith. The Bible itself is the sole and final source of all we believe. However, the foregoing Statement of Faith accurately represents the central and most essential teachings of the Bible \u2013 God's wonderful Words of Life.<\/span><\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"783\" data-attachment-id=\"2948\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/slentz.org\/blog\/teachings\/word-of-god\/loves-paradox\/attachment\/img_1176\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/slentz.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/IMG_1176.jpg?fit=1749%2C1338&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"1749,1338\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;1&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/slentz.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/IMG_1176.jpg?fit=300%2C230&amp;ssl=1\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/slentz.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/IMG_1176.jpg?fit=1024%2C783&amp;ssl=1\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/slentz.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/IMG_1176.jpg?resize=1024%2C783&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2948\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/slentz.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/IMG_1176.jpg?resize=1024%2C783&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/slentz.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/IMG_1176.jpg?resize=300%2C230&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/slentz.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/IMG_1176.jpg?resize=768%2C588&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/slentz.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/IMG_1176.jpg?resize=1536%2C1175&amp;ssl=1 1536w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/slentz.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/IMG_1176.jpg?resize=261%2C200&amp;ssl=1 261w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/slentz.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/IMG_1176.jpg?w=1749&amp;ssl=1 1749w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Bible and What We Believe (Doctrinal Statment of Faith) There are Seven Foundational Doctrines listed in Hebrews Hebrews 6:1-3\u2026let us go on to perfection, &hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2966,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-3506","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/Pa8ofw-Uy","jetpack-related-posts":[],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/slentz.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3506","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/slentz.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/slentz.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/slentz.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/slentz.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3506"}],"version-history":[{"count":9,"href":"https:\/\/slentz.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3506\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3524,"href":"https:\/\/slentz.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3506\/revisions\/3524"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/slentz.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2966"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/slentz.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3506"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}