Monday, September 6, 2010

Statement of Faith Pt. 3

Good Labor Day to Everyone, I hope all of you have a good day celebrating with family and friends. But let's not forget the main reason we have to celebrate, our LORD and Savior Jesus Christ. I am going to finish up on the statement of faith study today. It did not quite turn out as I intended, but hopefully we all have a better understanding of what is contained in this important statement, and why it is so important.

7. Baptism is commanded in order to show our obedience to Christ, and does not in any way affect our salvation. It represents Christ death, burial, and resurrection, in the movements, and act of immersion in water. If we truly accept Christ as our Savior we should have a desire to show our relationship with him through baptism.
Matthew 3:6, 3:16, 28:19-20; Acts 2:41, 8:36-39; Romans 6:3-5; Colossians 2:12
As someone enters the water, it represents Christ time on the cross, as they are lowered into the water, it represents His death and burial, then just as that person is raised out of the water, Christ victoriously arose from the dead, and the grave. This is just another way to demonstrate our love for Him, and our obedience to His commandments. After all He died for us, surely we can get wet for Him.

8. The global church is comprised of all believers worldwide. The local church is a congregation of baptized believers meeting together as a family to worship God, and learn about Him through the preaching of His word. The local church is autonomous, free of control by any outside organization, board, or person.
A. The true mission of the local church is found in the “Great Commission”. First to make individual disciples and to teach and instruct them, second to build up the church, and third to reach out in a spiral from the church, starting in the local community, then the region, then nationally, and finally the whole world, through national, and international missions.
B. Even though men and women are equal in God’s eyes, He has established certain requirements for jobs within the church, women are never to be over men, and accordingly only men are eligible to be pastors, elders, and deacons.
Leviticus 27:30-32; Malachi 3:10; Matthew 28:19-20; Acts 2:41-42, 4:42-47, 6:2-3, 14:23, 15:22-23; 1Corinthians 5:11-13, 16;1-2; Ephesians 1:20-23, 5:23-24; Colossians 1:17-18; 1Timothy 2:12, 3:1-13
I tried my best to separate these three items, but all of the supporting verses would have been the same for all three (to a point anyway), so it just made sense to put them all together. I am probably as much for equal rights as anyone else when it comes to the workforce, but the Bible is clear about the role of women and men in the church, and the home.

9. Civil Governments are of divine appointment, in order to control society, and should always be obeyed except when they oppose the laws of God. God’s law always takes precedence.
Matthew 10:28, 22:21; Romans 13:6-7; Titus 3:1 1Peter 2:13-17
Does this need to be explained?

10. Scriptural giving is one of the fundamentals of the faith. We are commanded to tithe 10% of our income before any deductions are made, to the local church. We are also commanded to cheerfully give above and beyond the tithe by faith to support mission work and the furtherance, and spread of the Gospel. At the same time we are commanded also to be witnesses in our local community our self.
Leviticus 27:30; Malachi 3:10; Matthew 23:23, 28:19-20; Acts 4:32-37, 11:27-30; Romans Ch. 15; Hebrews 7:2-4; 1Corinthians 16:2, 15-17; 2Corinthians 8:1-5, 9:6-7
Notice that the tithe comes out from the income amount before any deductions. Also notice that missions offering is made by faith, over and above the tithe. I promise that if you are faithful to give the missions offering then He will be faithful to bless you for it.

That is all of this list, as I said to start with I have seen some list that were quite extensive, covering a lot more subjects, with a lot more per subject. However this is a blog, not a church I just want to give a basic idea of what I believe in. Hopefully I covered all I need to cover, and did so adequately.

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