DOCTRINE Robert Lloyd Russell
I believe the essential doctrinal positions are centered in what we believe about Jesus Christ as related to:• His virgin birth • His sinless life • He was fully man and fully God • His ministry on earth• His substitutionary death for our sins • His burial• His victorious resurrection
Basic
Instructions
Before
Leaving
Earth
More specifically...
THE SCRIPTURES• I believe in the complete, absolute, unqualified, verbal inspiration of both the Old and New Testaments. • I believe that the Holy Spirit inspired the thoughts of the writers, including the very words that they used. • I believe that the original writings were without error regarding the facts and truth. References: 1 Corinthians 2:13; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:20-21
THE CREATION AND FALL OF MAN• I believe that God created man in His own likeness and image.• I believe that Adam sinned and that this separated him from God. • I believe that everyone born since Adam has this sin nature and is deserving of death and eternal separation from God. References: Genesis 1:25-27; Romans 3:23; 5:12-21
GOD• I believe that there is one God. That God exists in three persons, God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. • I believe that the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, are equal in power and have the same attributes. References: Matthew 28:18-20; 2 Corinthians 13:14
JESUS CHRIST• I believe that Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God. • I believe that He became man and at the same time He never stopped being God. • I believe that He was born of a virgin (Mary) after being conceived by the Holy Spirit. • I believe that He came to earth so that He would be the perfect sacrifice for the sins of all mankind. • I believe that He accomplished His purpose by dying on the Cross as a substitute for mankind. • I believe that this redemptive sacrifice was made complete by His resurrection. References: John 1:1-2; John 8-58; Luke 1:35; Romans 3:24-25; 1 Peter 3:1-5• I believe that the Lord Jesus Christ is now in heaven, seated at the right hand of God. • I believe that He is the Intercessor, and Advocate, for those that have put their faith and trust in Him. References: Hebrews 7:25; 9:24; Romans 8:34; 1 John 2:1-2• I believe in the pre-millennial return of our Lord Jesus Christ. • I believe that He will establish His kingdom and will reign upon the earth at that time.References: Zechariah 14:4-11; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; Revelation 20:6
THE HOLY SPIRIT• I believe that the Holy Spirit is the third person of the Trinity. • I believe that the Holy Spirit is God. • I believe that the Holy Spirit is on earth today and indwells everyone that has put their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. • I believe that the Holy Spirit baptizes all believers into the Body of Christ and seals them unto the day of redemption. • I believe there is a difference between baptism and filling. When one accepts Christ as their personal Savior, he/she is baptized into the Body of Christ. This is not a choice. • I believe that every believer is commanded to be filled with Holy Spirit. • I believe that when we are filled with the Spirit, this is a choice we make and one that God has commanded us to do. It is something that is ongoing and continuous. It is progressive. References: Romans 8:9; 1 Corinthians 12:12-13; Ephesians 1:13-14; 5:18-20
SALVATION• I believe that God gave man a gift. This gift was the Lord Jesus Christ. • I believe that everyone that puts their personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ is saved eternally. • I believe that others will see this faith through the works that the believer does, works that are pleasing to God. • I believe that true believers who accept Jesus Christ as their personal Savior will be kept saved forever. References: John 10:27-30; Romans 8:38-39; Ephesians 2:8-10; Philippians 1:6; 2 Timothy 1:12; Titus 2:11-14
THE CHURCH• I believe that the Church is the Body of Christ. It is made up of all those who have accepted and put their faith in Jesus Christ as their personal Savior. This is irrespective of their affiliation with any Christian organization. References: Ephesians 1:22-23; 1 Corinthians 12:12-14
OUR FINAL STATE• I believe that God has given mankind a choice. o It is this choice that determines his final state. This choice can only be made while alive. There is no second chance after death. o If a man or woman chooses by faith to accept Christ as his/her personal Savior, he/she will forever be with the Lord in heaven. o If a man or woman chooses not to accept Christ as his/her personal Savior, he/she will be forever separated from God in hell. • I believe that all will be conscious in either case, and that this state will be forever, and without end. References: Mark 9:43-48; Revelation 20:15; 22:3-5 • I believe that this teaches us of the kind of life we are to live and the kind of Gospel (“Good News”) we are to share with others. References: Matthew 5:14-16; 28:18-20
THE CREATION AND FALL OF MAN• I believe that God created man in His own likeness and image.• I believe that Adam sinned and that this separated him from God. • I believe that everyone born since Adam has this sin nature and is deserving of death and eternal separation from God. References: Genesis 1:25-27; Romans 3:23; 5:12-21
GOD• I believe that there is one God. That God exists in three persons, God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. • I believe that the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, are equal in power and have the same attributes. References: Matthew 28:18-20; 2 Corinthians 13:14
JESUS CHRIST• I believe that Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God. • I believe that He became man and at the same time He never stopped being God. • I believe that He was born of a virgin (Mary) after being conceived by the Holy Spirit. • I believe that He came to earth so that He would be the perfect sacrifice for the sins of all mankind. • I believe that He accomplished His purpose by dying on the Cross as a substitute for mankind. • I believe that this redemptive sacrifice was made complete by His resurrection. References: John 1:1-2; John 8-58; Luke 1:35; Romans 3:24-25; 1 Peter 3:1-5• I believe that the Lord Jesus Christ is now in heaven, seated at the right hand of God. • I believe that He is the Intercessor, and Advocate, for those that have put their faith and trust in Him. References: Hebrews 7:25; 9:24; Romans 8:34; 1 John 2:1-2• I believe in the pre-millennial return of our Lord Jesus Christ. • I believe that He will establish His kingdom and will reign upon the earth at that time.References: Zechariah 14:4-11; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; Revelation 20:6
THE HOLY SPIRIT• I believe that the Holy Spirit is the third person of the Trinity. • I believe that the Holy Spirit is God. • I believe that the Holy Spirit is on earth today and indwells everyone that has put their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. • I believe that the Holy Spirit baptizes all believers into the Body of Christ and seals them unto the day of redemption. • I believe there is a difference between baptism and filling. When one accepts Christ as their personal Savior, he/she is baptized into the Body of Christ. This is not a choice. • I believe that every believer is commanded to be filled with Holy Spirit. • I believe that when we are filled with the Spirit, this is a choice we make and one that God has commanded us to do. It is something that is ongoing and continuous. It is progressive. References: Romans 8:9; 1 Corinthians 12:12-13; Ephesians 1:13-14; 5:18-20
SALVATION• I believe that God gave man a gift. This gift was the Lord Jesus Christ. • I believe that everyone that puts their personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ is saved eternally. • I believe that others will see this faith through the works that the believer does, works that are pleasing to God. • I believe that true believers who accept Jesus Christ as their personal Savior will be kept saved forever. References: John 10:27-30; Romans 8:38-39; Ephesians 2:8-10; Philippians 1:6; 2 Timothy 1:12; Titus 2:11-14
THE CHURCH• I believe that the Church is the Body of Christ. It is made up of all those who have accepted and put their faith in Jesus Christ as their personal Savior. This is irrespective of their affiliation with any Christian organization. References: Ephesians 1:22-23; 1 Corinthians 12:12-14
OUR FINAL STATE• I believe that God has given mankind a choice. o It is this choice that determines his final state. This choice can only be made while alive. There is no second chance after death. o If a man or woman chooses by faith to accept Christ as his/her personal Savior, he/she will forever be with the Lord in heaven. o If a man or woman chooses not to accept Christ as his/her personal Savior, he/she will be forever separated from God in hell. • I believe that all will be conscious in either case, and that this state will be forever, and without end. References: Mark 9:43-48; Revelation 20:15; 22:3-5 • I believe that this teaches us of the kind of life we are to live and the kind of Gospel (“Good News”) we are to share with others. References: Matthew 5:14-16; 28:18-20
Robert Lloyd Russell is the author of the "ABUNDANT LIFE NOW" blog.
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