Statement of Faith (Pastor Paul Jones)

The Inspiration of the Holy Scriptures

I believe the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments to be the verbally inspired Word of God. The Scriptures are infallible and God-breathed; and therefore the final authority for faith and life. The 66 books of the Bible are the complete and divine revelation of God to man. The Scriptures shall be interpreted according to their normal grammatical-historical meaning. I believe that the words of divine inspiration have been preserved in the King James Version which shall be the official and only translation that I use. (2 Tim. 3:16-17; Psalm 12:6-7)

Trinity

I believe in the Triune God, God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit, co-equal and co-eternal. Each has His individual identity and separate responsibilities for the purpose of redemption, yet perfectly united as three Persons in one. (1John 5:1-8; John 16 7-18; Matthew 28:19; Genesis 1:26.)

The Deity and Virgin Birth of Christ

I believe in the Deity of Jesus Christ. He is the only begotten, virgin born Son of God, the second Person in the Blessed Trinity, God the Son, God manifest in the flesh. (1 Tim 3:16;John 1:1-14; John 14:9;Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:18-25, John 10:36.)

The Resurrection

Believe in the physical resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. He ascended bodily into the heavens and is now at the right hand of God as our Mediator, Priest and Advocate. (Acts 3:12-26; John 20; Hebrews 9:24; 1Cor 15:12-28; 1 John 2:1)

The Second Coming

I believe in the rapture-the personal, pre millennial, pre tribulation and imminent return of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ “in the air.” This has been the “Blessed Hope” in every born-again believer in the Church Age. At that time He will receive to Himself the resurrected bodies of those who have “died in Christ” and also those who are presently alive and “in Christ.” (1 Thess 4:13-18; 5: 6-10; 1 Cor 15: 50-55; Acts 1:11; Titus 2:13)

The Personality of Satan

I believe in the personality of satan “that old serpent, called the devil, and satan which deceives the whole world.” He is actively opposing the cause of Christ on every hand and is the arch enemy of every believer. His warfare incorporates the deception of mixing error and truth as well as that which is flagrantly vile and evil. (2 Cor 11: 1-15; 2 Peter 5: 8-9; Rev 12: 9-10; Matt 4: 2-11; Isaiah 14:12-17; John 8: 24)

Heaven and Hell

I believe that Heaven is a real place of eternal blessedness prepared by God for those whose garments have been “made white” through faith in the shed “blood of the Lamb.” Hell is a real place of eternal suffering for those whose names are not written in the “book of life.” There is no intermediate state in which the unsaved can atone for his own sins. (John 14: 1-6; Rev 7: 13-17; 20: 11-15; 21: 22-27; 2 Cor 5:1-10; Luke 16:19-31)

Creation and Man’s Fall

I believe that God created all things in a time frame of six literal, twenty-four hour days. I believe evolution in any form which includes the so called “theistic evolution” and the “gap theory” to be contradictory to the clear teaching of scripture. I believe in the universality and exceeding sinfulness of man. In Adam all have sinned and, therefore, are guilty before God by nature as well as by deed. Man was created by a direct act of God and subsequently fell into sin in the Garden of Eden. (Rom 5:12-21; Ezekiel 18:4; Rom 3: 10-26; 6:23; Psalm 51:5; Gen 1-3 )

Justification by Faith

I believe that man is justified on the single ground of faith in the shed blood and bodily resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. (Romans 5:1, Ephesians 2:8-9). The all-sufficient and completed work of Redemption accomplished through His death and resurrection is fully appropriated at the moment in time by those who receive by faith the free gift of salvation offered in the one true Gospel.

Eternal Security

I believe in the eternal security of all believers in our Lord Jesus Christ. Once a lost sinner has become “a new creature in Christ”, he can never lose that new relationship in the family of God which is based on Christ’s imputed righteousness and not his own. The life that God imparts to the believing sinner is not “eternal life” if it can be terminated. (2 Cor 5:14-21; John 10:25-29). Sin in the life of the believer affects his fellowship with the Father not son ship. All who are truly born of the Spirit and who continue in sin will be dealt with by the chastening hand of God. (1 John 1:5-10;Hebrews 12:6-13; 1 Cor 3:11-15). All who are in Christ are sealed until the day of redemption and will be glorified.

The Holy Spirit and Body of Christ

I believe all regenerated people are baptized into the Body of Christ by the Holy Spirit the moment they receive Christ as their Savior. (1 Cor 12:13;1 Cor 10:32; Eph 2:13-18). The Holy Spirit indwells all who have been born again from above. Also, the baptism of the Spirit is not a separate event apart from the reception of the gift of the Holy Spirit upon believing on Christ unto salvation. (Acts 15:6-11;Gal 3:2,14; Rom 10:13,17; Rom 8:9)

Separation

I believe that all Christians are first to be separated wholly unto the Lord, and as a necessary result, they must be; Separated from the world and sinful practices, they are holy, even as He is holy.
(1 Peter 1:13-16, 1Cor 6:19-20, Romans 12:1-2 2) Separated from apostasy and unbelief A believer must not be “unequally yoked together with unbelievers,” there by being identified with unbelief by association, whether in ministry, worship, or by joint religious activities.
(2 Cor 6: 14-18; 1Tim 6: 3-5; 2Tim 2:19-22; 3:1-5; Amos 3:3) Separated from disobedient brethren and doctrinal compromise with respect to all ministry and service. A believer is identified with the doctrinal positions and practices of those he is in fellowship with, both before God and man. Separation from those who are not walking according to truth deters the effect of compromise, and gives a faithful warning to the erring brother. (Rom 16:17; 2 Thess 3: 6, 14-15; 2 John 10-11; Gal 2:9-11;1 Cor 15:33).

The Local Church and its Mission

I reject the concept of a universal, invisible church as it weakens the authority of local churches and is unscriptural. I believe scripture uses the word church in three ways: in reference to local assemblies (1Cor 1:2), in an institutional and generic sense (like we use the word family), (Gal 1:13); of the church in prospect, (Heb 10:23). The church is to be made up of born again, baptized believers,(Acts 2;41), how are organised to carry out the work of God. The church is the pillar and ground of truth,(1Tim 3:15). The great commission and the ordinances are given to the church. Its officers are two: Pastor (Bishop and Elder) who are under shepherds, and deacons, (1 Tim 3: 1-13), who are servants of the church, (Acts 6:1-7). The church is to be self governing with Christ as its head, (Eph 5:23). The church is to handle its own discipline in accordance with God’s direction, (Matt 18:15-17), and is financed through the tithes and offerings of the local assembly, (1Cor 16:1-2, Mal 3:10).