Revelation

REVELATION

I believe that God has disclosed His redemptive purposes, actions, and Himself to all humans so that they may enter into a personal relationship with Him. God reveals Himself in creation (Pss. 19:1-3) and through human conscience (Rom. 2:14-16). All see and know God (Gal. 4:8; 1 Thess. 4:5) but, because of sin, suppress and distort that knowledge (Deut 8:19; Rom 1:18-32).

GENERAL REVELATION

I believe that through the personal act of God, He makes Himself known through his creation, conscience to humanity in general, and providence. God makes himself known as creator (Acts 14:14-18; 17:22-31) and man his created through wisdom (1 Cor. 1:21), and providence (Matt. 5:45). God is actively pursuing and drawing all people so that they might come into personal relationship with him. The knowledge of God brings condemnation (Rom. 1). The result of this is that people are driven to know more about God. Those who respond to God’s invitation will get eternal life though Special Revelation (Rom. 2:4-10).

SPECIAL REVELATION

I believe that through the conscious, personal act of God, He makes Himself known through his redemptive purposes to many people, Bible, Jesus (John 1:14), prophecy, angels (Gen. 16:7; Luke 1:11-20), the church, the Spirit of truth in His people (1 John 4:6), dreams (Gen. 28; Matt.  1:20ff), visions (Zech 1:8ff, Rev. 4:1ff), and direct speech (Gen 3:8-19; Exo 19:9-10). God makes himself known as Messiah (Rom. 5:10) who redeems and reconciles sinful man (Rom 3:23). This is so that His sin-alienated creation may be redeemed resulting in a personal relationship whereby they share intimate fellowship.

SCRIPTURE

I believe that the Bible is the written inspired interpretation of God’s mighty acts.  All scripture comes from God and has absolutely power and authority (2 Tim. 3:15-17) and is profitable in the believer’s life (Gal. 3:16). God guided human thinking (1 Cor. 2:12-13; 1 Thess. 2:13; Rev. 1:10-11) by taking the initiative (Acts 13:32-35; Gal 1:11-12). The words are in ordinary human terms and expressions.

I believe that the Bible is totally trustworthy as it teaches absolute truth from God. It is wholly true in all that it affirms (2 Pet. 1:20-21).  It is the Spirit who speaks in his revelatory message to us through the pages of Scripture.

I believe that all sixty-six books of the Bible constitute a biding rule of faith and practice because of their divine inspiration (Gal. 6:16). They are included in the canon based on their authenticity and reliability (Exod. 25:16-21; Deut. 31:24-26; 1 Cor. 14:37-38). Everything necessary for God’s glory, man’s salvation, faith and life is either expressly set down in Scripture or by good and necessary consequence may be deduced from Scripture (Pss. 19:7-8; John 20:31; Luke 24:24-27). All things that are necessary to be known and observed for salvation and conduct are revealed with sufficient clarity for all to understand (Deut. 30:11-14, 1 John 1:20-27). Scripture is for all believers without regards to formal learning.

I believe that the Holy Spirit is at work preparing us to receive the written Word such that we comprehend its authority and the spiritual significance of its meaning (John 14:25-26; 1 Cor. 2:7-16, Heb 3:7). Scripture is properly understood through the evaluation of various views that considers all data, both biblical and historical, and explains the majority of the data with the fewest difficulties (Acts 15). The Scriptures have been divinely given and therefore have authority in all matters of life, faith, and practice for the believer (Matt. 5:17-18; 1 Thess. 2:13).