Statement of Faith

This commentary is neither Calvinist nor Arminian in nature. However, within the teachings of each group some knowledge and understanding of the true word of God can be found. As a result, the truth, at times, may resemble a purely Calvinist view, while at other times resemble a purely Arminian view.

Bits and pieces of the true word of God can be found within the teachings of many different denominations. Sadly, I have yet found a single denomination which holds to the whole truth, without any errors which have crept in, or which have not been influenced by the desires of the carnal man.

The Lord has taught me many things over the past few years, and He is teaching me yet today, and will continue to teach me in the years to come. As a result, I have had to overcome many things that I was taught as a child, as well as, many things I had been taught of men. As a result, my Statement of Faith may change. I try to keep myself open to the leadership of the Holy Spirit, and not allow myself to hold too tightly to those things that He has not yet confirmed to me to be the truth.

I have found that if a person seeks the truth, he cannot trust in men, thier commentaries, or thier teachings. Likewise, I do not want you to trust in my commentaries. I only ask that you give my commentaries proper consideration, search the scriptures, and pray for wisdom, knowledge, and understanding of His word. I ask that you allow yourself to be moved to a position, from which you can observe the word of God, from a different perspective. The Bereans, as others, thought Pauls teachings were strange new doctrines. Yet, they yielded themselves to Pauls teachings and searched the scriptures from this new and strange perspective. In doing so, they found the truth.

The true word of the Holy Spirit teaches that:

 Of God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit -

• there is only one true and living God; the Father, Son and Holy Ghost, and these three are One. John 10:30, 1 John 5:7
• that the Holy Spirit moved the authors of the books of the Bible, to record the absolute truth, without error, and that all scripture originated from Him and there are no contradictions. 2 Peter 1:21
• the scriptures of the Old and New Testament are of divine authority, and the only rule of faith and practice. 2 Tomothy 3:16, Romans 6:17, 1 Timothy 4:13 & 16

Of creation -

• that God created the heavens and the earth in six literal (non-earth) days. Genesis 1:5, 8, 13, 14-15, 19, 23, 31
• that Adam was created in the image of God, after His likeness, and it was very good. Genesis 1:27, 31

Of the carnal nature of men -

• that Adam was expelled from the garden of Eden, not because of his transgression, but to take away his ability to "put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever". Genesis 3:22
• that all of Adams prosperity are begotten in his likness, after his own image, under the reign of death and judgement of condemnation. Gensis 2:17, 3:5 & 7, 5:3, Romans 5:12 & 18, Romans 8:7, 1 Corinthians 3:3
• that the way of the tree of life is kept from all of Adams prosperity and none are able to return to the garden, by thier own means, that they might, by choice, put forth thier hand and take of its fruits. Colossians 1:13, John 6:44, Ephesians 2:10
• that the carnal man must be loosed from total domination of the flesh before conversion is possible. Romans 6:6 & 22, Romans 7:1-2, 4, 6, Romans 8:7-8
• that after the carnal man is loosed at regeneration, the disobedient children of God willingly yield themsleves servants of sin unto death. Romans 6:16 & 19, Romans 7:4, 6, Romans 8:6, 13

Of the election of God -

• that God chose a people unto Himself before the foundations of the world. Ephesians 1:4
• that God predestinated His chosen unto the adoption of children, by the sacrifice of His Son Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of His will to the praise of the glory of his grace, and not according the will, desire, or works of righteousness performed by those whom He choose. Ephesians 1:5

Of the regeneration of the elect of God -

• that His chosen, in the washing of regeneration, are adopted as children to Himself and are bequeathed an inheritance, reserved in heaven for them, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will, and not according the will, desire, or works of righteousness by those whom He choose. John 3:5, Titus 3:5, Ephesians 1:11

Of the inheritance -

• that the substance of the inheritance is eternal life and eternal salvation.
• that the substance of the earnest of the inheritance does not differ from the eternal inheritance from which it is derived, which is reserved in heaven for us, and is therefore the present possession of eternal life and eternal salvation. Ephesian 1:11 & 14
• that Christ made atonement for all the sins of all His people by His death on the cross, being both High Priest and sacrifical lamb.

Of the conversion of the elect of God -

• that by placing faith in Christ and converting to a life of righteousness, the regenerate receive the earnest of the inheritance in the form of the Holy Spirit of promise. Ephesians 1:13-14
• that the Holy Spirit only dwells within those who have repented of thier sins and put thier faith in Christ, converting to a life of righteousness, walking in the narrow way. Leviticus 26:3 & 11, Romans 8:8-14, Ephesians 3:17, 1 John 4:13, John 14:23, Matthew 3:16, Matthew 28:19, Mark 1:4, Mark 10:39, Mark 16:16, Luke 7:30, Acts 2:38, Acts 8:12, Acts 8:14-17, Acts 10:44-47, Acts 11:16, Acts 19:1-6, Ephesians 1:13, and so many more.
• that until conversion, the regenerate person does not possess the Holy Spirit, and therefore does not receive salvation or possess life in this present world. John 6:63, Romans 6:16, 6:21&23, 8:2, 8:6, 8:10-11, 8:13, Galatians 6:8, 1 John 3:14, 1 John 5:16-17

Of falling away -

• that the regenerate, after having converted and been enlightened, and tasted of the heavenly gift, and made partakers of the Holy Ghost, and tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come can fall away, loosing their present posession of salvation and life, being cutoff from the gift of the earnest of the inheritance. Hebrews 6:4-6, and passages previously listed for the regenerate unconverted, Matthew 3:10, 3:12, John 15:2-8

• that it is the duty and privilege of all believers to make a public confession of faith, to submit to baptism by immersion, and to give themselves members of the visible church.
• that the church of Jesus Christ consist of faithful persons who have given themselves up to the Lord and to each other, and have convenanted to keep up a Godly discipline, agreeable to the rules of the Gospel.
• that baptism and the communion of the Lord’s supper are ordinances of Jesus Christ, and that all true believers are the only proper subjects for baptism, that baptized believers are the only proper subjects for the Lord’s supper, and that immersion is the only scriptural mode of baptism. John 3:23, John 4:1
• that Christ Jesus reigns today upon the throne of God, sitting at the right hand of the Father. That the thousand year reign is only symbolic of the present period. 1 Corinthians 15:24-25, 2 Timothy 2:12, Matthew 26:24, Matthew 16:19, Luke 22:69, Acts 7:55-56, Hebrews 10:12, 1 Peter 3:22
• that war and combat of any kind is rooted in the evils of lust, convetousness, selfishness, and natural desires. James 4:1-2.