Statement of Faith
This ministry is dedicated to glorifying God by demonstrating, equipping, and exhorting the Christian faith to be lived out in all areas of life under the Lordship of Jesus Christ from the authority of the Scriptures. As far as we can understand it, it is the platform of Reformed Theology that makes most Biblical and logical sense when consistently applied to all areas of life. While there are finer details with which we might have slight hesitation (and while the team of Lord over Life may even have points of disagreement among each other), it is safe to say that we all believe that the Westminster Confession and the London (Baptist) Confession of Faith are generally a solid summary of what the Bible teaches.
As for our personal statement of faith, please see below.
However, our purpose in this ministry is not to minister only to churches in the reformed faith, nor do we only learn from teachers in the reformed faith. We believe God has placed many excellent pastor-teachers throughout reformed and evangelical denominations; and we believe He has called us all to live under the Lordship of Jesus Christ.
And to that end, by God's grace we intend to use this ministry in supporting such a call - to the entire church - Reformed and Evangelical, Covenant and Dispensational.
As for our personal statement of faith, please see below.
However, our purpose in this ministry is not to minister only to churches in the reformed faith, nor do we only learn from teachers in the reformed faith. We believe God has placed many excellent pastor-teachers throughout reformed and evangelical denominations; and we believe He has called us all to live under the Lordship of Jesus Christ.
And to that end, by God's grace we intend to use this ministry in supporting such a call - to the entire church - Reformed and Evangelical, Covenant and Dispensational.
Personal Statement of Faith
The Scriptures
The Protestant Bible, comprised of the 66 books in the Old and New Testaments, is the very Word of God, without error in the original writings. Being literally 'breathed-out' by God, it is the final authority to which all things must appeal. It is the only infallible, authoritative word - and it is the absolute standard by which all else must be tested.
(Ps. 19:7-11; Prv. 30:5-6; 2 Tim. 3:16-17; 2 Pet. 1:21; Rev. 20:18-19)
God
There is one God, eternal, omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent, fully just and fully gracious. He has perfectly expressed Himself in three persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. While each person is distinct from the others and carries out different functions within the Godhead, each is fully God and is worthy of all glory and worship.
(Ex. 34:6; Deut. 6:4; Ps. 90:2; Isa. 40:28; Jn. 8:58, 10:30; 2 Cor. 3:17)
Man
Man was created on the sixth literal day by a deliberate and unique act of God. Man did not evolve from a lower life-form but was created and was innocent. As the designated image-bearer of God it is man's duty to be obedient to God and glorify Him in all his conduct.
However, because of Adam's sin in the garden man is under the curse of death, both physical and spiritual. In Adam man is in a lost and sinful state, being dead in his trespasses and sins and, by himself, incapable of rightly relating to God or others. He is no longer innocent by nature but guilty, deserving only of death.
(Gen. 1:27-31, 2:16-17, 3:6, 14-19; Rom. 5:12)
Sin
Sin is any thought or act that falls short of the glory of God. The Bible teaches clearly that, except for Christ, there is no one on earth who does what is right and never sins. Furthermore, man is not only a sinner by practice, but also in his very nature. Because of the power of sin, it is impossible for man to believe the gospel unless God Himself regenerates him, stirs his heart, opens his eyes, and draws him to Himself.
(Ps. 51:5; Jn. 6:44; Rom. 3:9-18, 5:12; 1 Cor. 1:26-29; Eph. 2:1-3, Ti. 3:3-7)
Salvation
Deliverance from sin and its consequences is found only in the shed blood of Christ on the cross and in the power of His resurrection. Jesus Christ is the only acceptable offering to God whereby man may be made clean and given full pardon for all his trespasses. One attains salvation by placing his trust in the Lord Jesus Christ as his Savior from all his sins. The Bible is clear that salvation cannot be attained by any works, no matter how great - rather, salvation is by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone.
Once a sinner has placed his faith in Christ, nothing can be done to further improve his salvation. He is saved for all eternity because of the persevering nature of the faith that God gives him as a gift. This trusting faith is truly itself a gift, given by God to the elect. And this same faith, while alone is sufficient for salvation without the addition of works - this kind of faith is never left without works. The same Spirit who grants saving faith to the sinner also grants the new believer the desire and ability to carry out good works that God has prepared beforehand that he should walk in them.
(Isa. 53:4-6; Jn. 14:6; Acts 4:12; Rom. 1:16-7, 3:21-26, 8:1; Gal. 2:16; Eph. 2:1-10)
Sanctification
Sanctification is a work of the Holy Spirit whereby He enables the believer to walk in a continually progressive lifestyle of obedience to the Lord Jesus Christ. While none will be sinless this side of glory, through the work of the Holy Spirit the believer is able to render himself to the Lordship of Jesus Christ with increasing degree until death or translation. This is not to say believers will not have times of doubting, times of stumbling, times of spiritual plateau or even backsliding. But to the extent that this happens, all true believers in Christ will, by means of the same Spirit, recover from these difficult times and be brought to victory in their faith in the Lord.
(Rom. 8:1, 9-11; 1 Cor. 1:30-31; 2 Cor. 3:18; Gal. 5:16, 25, 6:1-2; Phil. 3:12-4:1; Ja. 5:19-20; 1 Pet. 5:10; 1 Jn. 3:4-10, 5:1-5, 13)
Jesus Christ
Jesus is the prophesied Christ (Messiah) of the Old Testament. He is fully God and fully man. He was born of the virgin Mary, walked on the earth in a physical body, performed divine miracles, and lived a perfect life. He was rejected by his own people, crucified under Pontius Pilate, buried and raised from the dead on the third day. This all was done in accordance with the Scriptures, that He might be the perfect, spotless Lamb given over in sacrifice as the satisfactory atonement and payment for the sins of all those who trust in Him (His elect), and that He might be the glorious conqueror of death, who is now at the right hand of the Father from where He reigns with all authority in heaven and on earth given to Him and from where He will one day return in great power and glory to consummate the history of this world and bring about a new heavens and new earth wherein righteousness dwells.
(Gen. 3:15, 49:10; Deut. 18:15; Isa. 9:6-7, 11:1-9, 52:13-53:12; Dan. 7:13-14, 27; Lk. 1:26-33; Jn. 1:1, 29; Acts 10:38-43; Heb. 1:3, 4:14; Rev. 19:11-20:6)
The Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit is fully God, the third person of the Trinity, and the Helper and Advocate prophesied by Christ before his death. He regenerates the elect sinners into saving belief, places them into the body of Christ, and gives each one a gift or gifts according to His will for the building up of the body. The Holy Spirit intercedes for the believers in prayer and enables each Christian to walk the Christian life and grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
(Jn. 14:26, 16:7-15; Acts 1:5, 2:4; Rom. 8:1-30; 1 Cor. 12:11-13; 2 Cor. 3:1-18)
The Church
The universal church is the body of Christ, composed of all true believers, both Jew and Gentile. The local church is generally a congregation of families of those who profess to be redeemed by the blood of Christ and live under his Lordship, who meet together for the purpose of glorifying God through worship (including the sacraments of communion and baptism), study, fellowship, and ministry.
(Acts 2:42-47; Eph. 2:11-3:12; Heb. 10:23-25)
Satan
Satan is a real spiritual being and the enemy of all Christians. He is a created being and is ever subject to God, but he has incredible power and wisdom and the ability to deceive and hurt those on earth. His fate of eternal punishment was predicted at the fall, sealed at calvary, and will be consummated at the final judgment.
(Gen. 3:15; Job 1:6-2:8; Ezk. 28:11-19; Mt. 4:1-11; 1 Pet. 5:8; Rev. 20:1-10)
The Final Judgment
Every person is responsible to judgment after death. Those who, by God’s grace, are accounted righteous by Him through the work of Christ will live in eternal bliss with Him forever and ever. Those who do not repent from their sin and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ will live in everlasting torment in the lake of fire, which is the second death.
(Job 19:25-27; Dan. 12:2; Jn. 5:24; Rom. 5:1, 8:1, 31-39; Heb. 9:27; 1 Jn. 2:25; Rev. 20:11-14)