A True Church - Statement of Faith

Statement of Faith

Unless otherwise stated, all articles on atruechurch.info are written by Darwin Fish and all Scripture quotations are from the NKJV.

For a pdf of the pamphlet that we pass out, click here.

Introduction

He who despises the word will be destroyed, but he who fears the commandment will be rewarded. (Proverbs 13:13)

We believe whatever the Holy Bible says (all 66 books, Genesis to Revelation). For how we do this, please see Our Hermeneutics and Judging. Scripture is our first and last and everything inbetween authority. The Word of God is our life and our salvation (Matthew 4:4; John 1:1; 14:6; James 1:21). By it He has given us eternal life, and our hope is in His Word (Psalm 119:49-50).

If it can be shown from the Bible that we are wrong on something, we gladly, eagerly, and lovingly accept such correction (Proverbs 12:1).

For the commandment is a lamp, and the law a light; reproofs of instruction are the way of life. (Proverbs 6:23)

He who keeps instruction is in the way of life, but he who refuses correction goes astray. (Proverbs 10:17)

31 The ear that hears the rebukes of life will abide among the wise.
32 He who disdains instruction despises his own soul, but he who heeds rebuke gets understanding.
33 The fear of the LORD is the instruction of wisdom, and before honor is humility. (Proverbs 15:31-33)

And if anyone thinks that he knows anything, he knows nothing yet as he ought to know. (1 Corinthians 8:2)

Most who "correct" us do so with their own opinion, which is worthless.

The LORD knows the thoughts of man, that they are futile. (Psalm 94:11)

Or, people "correct" us with man's religious tradition, like Catholic, or Protestant, or otherwise, which is also worthless and damning (Matthew 15:8-9; Colossians 2:8). These things are not according to Christ (the Word), and so we have no ear for them. If we did, we would be rejecting God's Truth, and we flatly refuse to do so (Psalm 119:93); for that leads to nowhere but hell (Hebrews 4:12-13; Revelation 21:8 "unbelieving"). But, Scripture is "wholesome words" (1 Timothy 6:3) and makes a man "complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work" (2 Timothy 3:16-17). If we are found in error before the Word, by the grace of God we will repent (John 8:47). As it is written,

He who is of God hears God's words (John 8:47).

Finally, this "Statement of Faith" is written so that you might know, in brief form, some of the particulars of what we believe, and that you too might believe His Word and be saved. Many claim to believe the Bible. Very very few actually do. And this is our first point.

I. Few

For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables. (2 Timothy 4:3-4)

We believe the Bible predicts and warns about a massive false Christianity for the days in which we live. Matthew 7:13-27; 1 Timothy 4:1-3; 2 Timothy 3:1-5; 4:3-4; and 2 Peter 2:1-2 all warn of prevailing deceit within "Christianity." Catholicism, Protestantism (which is reformed, whitewashed Catholicism), evangelicalism, and many other "isms" taking on the name of "Christ," well exemplify the deceit of this age. The entire world is deceived by Satan (Revelation 12:9). Much of it is in the name of Christ. The result of this deception is illustrated in Jesus' words found in Luke 18:8.

Nevertheless, when the Son of the Man comes will He really find the faith upon the earth? (Luke 18:8b, a more literal translation of, πλὴν ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ ἀνθρώπου ἐλθὼν ἆρα εὑρήσει τὴν πίστιν ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς;)

Jesus' words depict things are going to be very bad! He questions if the faith will even be on the planet! In Noah's day, it was only eight people out of the entire population of the earth that were saved (1 Peter 3:20). Jesus questioned whether there would be even one when He returns (Luke 18:8).

We have seen this despair graphically before our own eyes both theologically (see below) and practically (see our videos). The truth is not embraced and lies are, as it is written,

Satan, who deceives the whole world (Revelation 12:9; see also 1 John 5:19).

For examples of some of this deception, please see our false teachers page.

II. God

Behold, God is great, and we do not know Him (Job 36:26).

Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out! (Romans 11:33)

"My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways," says the LORD. (Isaiah 55:8)

Much of the deception comes via false teaching about God. The God of the Bible (see below) is not taught in churches today (none that we know of). What is typically taught is a false God, a false Christ, and a false "Trinity." We expose the false Trinity in point "V. An Unholy Creed" in our article entitled "He Is Holy Gods" from a literal translation of Joshua 24:19. We expose the false Christs in various articles on false teachers. The real Christ, the God of the Bible, is as follows:

“Good and upright is the LORD” (Psalm 25:8). He loves everyone (John 3:16), for Jesus Is Love (1 John 4:8, 16). Yet, He also hates everyone (Psalm 5:5-6; 11:5).

Jesus Kills People (Revelation 2:23). He has killed everyone who has died (Deuteronomy 32:39; Romans 11:36).

Jesus Deceives People (Ezekiel 14:9 KJV). Consequentially, Everyone Is Deceived (Proverbs 12:15; 21:2).

Jesus Causes People To Sin (2 Samuel 12:11-12; Romans 11:36). As it is written,

For God has committed them all to disobedience, that He might have mercy on all. (Romans 11:32)

Jesus creates people to destroy them (Proverbs 16:4), destines people to hell (Romans 9:11-22), and thus prevents people from being saved (Mark 4:10-12; John 12:37-41), even though His purpose in coming to earth was "that the world through Him might be saved" (John 3:17).

Jesus causes and controls everything, even the free will of man (Romans 11:36). Therefore, any choice made by man is completely controlled and caused by Jesus (Proverbs 20:24; Jeremiah 10:23).

Jesus Saves People (Romans 5:9-10).

We are terrified of Jesus (Job 28:28).

Conversely, the false Jesus varies, but it is usually "another Jesus" (2 Corinthians 11:4) that is not the Scripture Himself (John 1:1). Typically, the false Jesus doesn't kill people (Revelation 2:23), doesn't hate people (Romans 9:13), doesn't destine people to hell (Romans 9:11-22), doesn't create people to destroy them (Proverbs 16:4), doesn't prevent people from being saved (Mark 4:10-12), doesn't cause people to sin (2 Samuel 12:11-12), doesn't cause bad things to happen (Isaiah 45:7 KJV), doesn't deceive people (Ezekiel 14:9 KJV), didn't die for everyone (Hebrews 2:9), etc., or some combination thereof. Yet, the real Jesus is the Scriptures (Revelation 19:13), has done and does all these things (and more, Romans 11:36).

But, the false "Jesus," typically taught, is also usually one that was not a human before John 1:14. Yet, the Jesus Christ of Scripture is, and always has been, God in the Flesh (Hebrews 13:8; Colossians 2:9), "slain from the foundation of the world" (Revelation 13:8). He was virgin born twice (Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:23), and everything was created by Him and for Him (Colossians 1:16).

The false Christ is also typically a false way, a theological broad way that accepts those who preach false gospels (unlike Paul, Galatians 1:8-9), like the false gospels of Calvinism and Arminianism. These gospels are different on five key points, yet "Christians" accept both kinds of "brothers in Christ." In contrast, the real Christ is the theological narrow Way (Matthew 7:13-27; John 14:6 “I am the Way") of "the Truth." He only accepts people in the faith who walk in Truth and "call on the Lord out of a pure heart" (2 Timothy 2:22; Psalm 24:4; Luke 14:26-33; etc.). Those who don't are those of whom Scripture commands,

from such people turn away! (2 Timothy 3:5)

Furthermore, we believe Jesus, the one and only true God (John 17:3; Colossians 2:9) of the Bible, is eternally perfect (Psalm 90:2; Matthew 5:48), and "He is Holy Gods" as Joshua explicitly stated in Joshua 24:19.

For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily. (Colossian 2:9)

For more on that, please see our article He Is Holy Gods.

We believe "God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ" (Galatians 1:3) are two Men as Jesus explicitly stated in John 8:17-18. For more on that, please see The Lord Is A Man.

We believe the three Men who came to Abraham are God. For more on that, please see The Three Men of Genesis 18 Are God.

We believe God is also Female (Genesis 1:26). For more on that, please see God In The Feminine.

We believe Melchizedek is God (Genesis 14:18-20; Hebrews 7:1-4), because Melchizedek is an eternal Man with no "beginning of days, nor end of life" (Hebrews 7:3). God "alone has immortality" (1 Timothy 6:16), as Psalm 90:2 says, "from everlasting to everlasting, you are God." Also, being both King of Righteousness and King of Peace dictates Melchizedek's deity (Hebrews 7:2). There is no righteousness or peace (both fruit of the Spirit, Galatians 5:22-23; Ephesians 5:9) apart from God. Christ (God) Himself is Righteousness (1 Corinthians 1:30). Christ (God) is "Prince of Peace" (Isaiah 9:6). Melchizedek is King of both Righteousness and Peace.

We believe God is Spirit (John 4:24) and this One Holy Spirit (Ephesians 4:4) is God (2 Corinthians 3:17) and is literally Seven Spirits. For more on that, please see The Seven Spirits Are God (Revelation 1:4).

We believe the city of Jerusalem is God (Psalm 48:12-14).

We believe the Throne, Heaven, and the Kingdom Are God (Revelation 16:17; Luke 15:18; Matthew 6:33).

We believe the Horses of Zechariah 1 Are God (Zechariah 1:8-17).

III. Controversial Issues

We believe drinking alcohol in moderation is not wrong (Deuteronomy 14:26; Psalm 104:15; John 2).

We believe those who commit suicide go to hell (John 15:1-6).

We believe gambling is not wrong, but to gamble, because you are not content and want more, is sin (Hebrews 13:5).

We believe Scriputure does not condemn masturbation. Although it is typically done in wickedness (Matthew 15:19 "evil thoughts"), it can be done in godliness (Titus 1:15).

We believe the Bible does not condemn slavery (1 Timothy 6:1-5), even though it is illegal in the USA (Romans 13:1).

We believe smoking is not condemned in Scripture, but addiction is (1 Corinthians 6:12; Galatians 5:22-23).

We believe most debt is ungodly (Romans 13:8).

We believe the Bible does not condemn polygamy (Genesis 16:1-3), even though it is illegal in the USA (Romans 13:1), which illustrates America's idea of what is moral or not is quite twisted (Isaiah 5:20).

We believe there are fire breathing dragons called Leviathan (Job 41).

We believe during the 1000 year reign of Christ on earth (Revelation 20), God will bring back from the dead evil Levites of the past to serve in His temple (Ezekiel 44:10-14).

We believe sexual intercourse during menstruation is an evil practice (Leviticus 18:19-30).

We believe the answer to "eternal security" is both "yes" and "no" (Romans 8:31-39; 11:19-22).

IV. Salvation

For since the beginning of the world men have not heard nor perceived by the ear, nor has the eye seen any God besides You, Who acts for the one who waits for Him. You meet him who rejoices and does righteousness, who remembers You in Your ways. You are indeed angry, for we have sinned - in these ways we continue; and we need to be saved. (Isaiah 64:4-5)

Even though God has hated (Romans 9:13) and predestined the majority of mankind to hell (Matthew 7:13-14; Romans 9:6-23), He nonetheless desires to have mercy on all people (1 Timothy 2:4). This is why He has confined all of mankind under sin (Romans 11:32; Galatians 3:22). In other words, He has made everyone a sinner (Romans 5:19; 11:36) with a desperately wicked heart (Jeremiah 17:9), "that He might have mercy on all" (Romans 11:32).

Everyone needs to be saved (Isaiah 64:5), because God hates sinners (Psalm 5:5-6; 11:5). He burns them in hell forever (Revelation 21:8), if they don't repent (Luke 16:19-31; Acts 17:30); even though they can't repent, unless He grants them repentance (2 Timothy 2:25; Romans 9:16-18; 11:36). Nevertheless, everyone is in need of God's mercy and is in great need of being saved from His wrath.

Thankfully, God is Love (1 John 4:16), and as the above stands true, so does John 3:16.

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

The only begotten Son is Jesus Christ, who is the Word of God, the Bible, the Scriptures (John 1:1, 14; Hebrews 4:12-13; Revelation 19:13). Therefore, only those who believe the Scriptures ("believes in Him") have eternal life, as Revelation 21:8 explicitly states,

"the unbelieving . . . shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone."

Anyone who does not believe what the Bible says, "does not believe God" and "has made Him a liar" (1 John 5:10) and provokes His wrath (Proverbs 13:13). For more on being saved, please see our article, "What Must I Do To Be Saved?" For our view of justification, please see our article entitled, "MacArthur on Justification and Sanctification." For our view of works, please see "Not By Works."

V. One Way

I have not written to you because you do not know the truth, but because you know it, and that no lie is of the truth. (1 John 2:21)

We believe there is only one way to Heaven and it is through faith in God's Word, the Truth (John 14:6). We believe there is only one true faith (Ephesians 4:5). All other faiths, called Christian or otherwise, are false and lead to nowhere but hell. All who are in the one true faith have the same teacher (1 John 2:27) and believe the same things. They have the same theology, because they all truly believe whatever the Bible says. As Christ said in John 8:47,

He who is of God hears God's words. (see also 1 Timothy 6:3-5)

Jesus said His sheep hear His voice and follow Him (John 10:27). They do not follow others (John 10:5). They follow the Truth (John 14:6). Therefore, everyone in this one way, this one faith, this true Christianity which is true Judaism (Romans 2:28-29; Galatians 3:7), all believe the same. 1 John 4:6 puts it very succinctly.

We are of God. He who knows God hears us; he who is not of God does not hear us. By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error. (For a detailed discussion on 1 John 4:6, see our blog of August 15, 2010 and following.)

For more on this theological unity, please see our articles entitled, "Unity of the Saints," "Marks of a Cult," and "You Think You're Saved, But You're Not!"

VI. Judgment

Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice and come forth - those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation. (John 5:28-29)

All mankind presently experiences death because of sin (Romans 6:23). After death, all men, whether saved or not saved, believer or unbeliever, will be judged by God based upon how they lived. God,

will render to each one according to his deeds: eternal life to those who by patient continuance in doing good seek for glory, honor, and immortality; but to those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness - indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguish, on every soul of man who does evil, of the Jew first and also of the Greek; but glory, honor, and peace to everyone who works what is good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. (Romans 2:6-10; see also Matthew 12:36-37; 25:31-46; John 5:28-29; 2 Corinthians 5:10; Galatians 6:7-8; 1 Peter 1:17)

Those who know Christ (1 John 2:3-5) will be justified and given eternal life, because their sins will have been washed away by the blood of Christ (1 John 1:7), and their lives will have been righteous (Matthew 25:31-46; 1 John 3:5-10). Those who do not know God will be condemned and sent to hell, because they will have been condemned already (John 3:18), and their deeds will have been wicked (John 3:19-20; Revelation 21:8).

VII. Spiritual Gifts

The gifts of the Holy Spirit were (and still are) given by God for the building up of the body of Christ (Romans 12:6; 1 Corinthians 12:7, 11). Some gifts in the past (during the days of the apostles) were of the nature of signs and wonders (Acts 2:1-43) and some were (are) focused upon the mutual edification of the church (Romans 12:6-8).

The purpose of the signs and wonders gifts were to confirm the word of the apostles and those in the church (during those first years of the church) that the things proclaimed about Christ were true. God, via the gifts of the Holy Spirit and the miraculous signs of the apostles, was bearing testimony to the proclamation of His Word about Christ (Mark 16:17-20; Acts 14:3). As it is written,

how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him, God also bearing witness both with signs and wonders, with various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to His own will? (Hebrews 2:3-4)

Scripture gives no specific time for when these signs and wonders ceased existing. 1 Corinthians 13:8 does say "tongues will cease," but it does not say when tongues will cease. Yet, we see in the Scriptures a diminishing role of these signs and wonders via the examples of Paul and James.

Paul had the God-given ability to do signs and wonders (Acts 19:12; Romans 15:19; 2 Corinthians 12:12) and to be able to heal people (Acts 28:8-9). Yet, near the end of his life, he did not heal Timothy of his stomach ailments and frequent infirmities. Instead of instructing him to get healed, he told him to drink a little wine (1 Timothy 5:23). Also, Paul left Trophimus sick in Miletus (2 Timothy 4:20). Furthermore, when James writes to the "twelve tribes which are scattered abroad," he does not tell them to call the one with the gift of healing to heal the sick. Instead, he says,

Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the sick. (James 5:14-15).

We believe God may still do the miraculous (Jeremiah 32:27). But, we do not believe He is still "confirming the word through the accompanying signs" (Mark 16:20) and "bearing witness both by signs and wonders, with various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit" (Hebrews 2:4).

There are many today who claim He is "confirming the Word through the accompanying signs, by signs and wonders, with various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit," but their claim is idle. When one honestly compares this claim with the infallible Word, there is no comparison (see the four gospels and Acts). The signs and wonders of Christ and the apostles were undeniable works of God (miraculous), and evident to all (i.e., recognized to be true miracles by the masses). Even their enemies could not deny their miraculous nature (e.g. Luke 23:35; John 11:47; Acts 4:16). But, such is not the case with those today who claim to be doing the same work.

Even if this was the case, in other words, even if they did perform "miracles" that were evident to all, we (believers) living in the last days (2 Timothy 3 and 4) should beware. Christ warned us in Matthew 7:22-23 that there would be many who will say,

Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?

These are false teachers who will be damned, because they are those "who practice lawlessness" (i.e., they are evil, similar to Matthew 23:27-28). He, likewise, warned that after the abomination of desolation is set up (Matthew 24:15), "false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, the elect" (Matthew 24:24).

Actually, if a man (or men) claims to be doing something great (miraculous like what Christ and the apostles were doing), from the warning above, such a claim and/or such an act should actually put the true believer on guard, like in Deuteronomy 13:1-4.

In any case, the message (i.e. doctrine) is to be tested according to the Word (1 Thessalonians 5:21). If their prophecy errs, we know on this alone they are false (Deuteronomy 18:20-22).

Also, the Lord has let us know who will come in the future (in truth) and of what kind of miracles they will perform (see Revelation 11).

VIII. The End

There is yet to occur on this earth a certain seven year period known as the last week of the seventy weeks in the prophecy of the book of Daniel (Daniel 9:24-27). The latter half of this seven years is a time of wrath and judgment from God, described in detail in Revelation chapters 6-19.

The Scriptures indicate that the Lord will return, be revealed (Luke 17:30; Revelation 1:7), and remove those who are faithful to Him at the beginning of the time of wrath and judgment (1 Thessalonians 4:13-5:3; Luke 21:34-36; Revelation 3:10), which occurs immediately after the man of sin is revealed, at the midpoint of the last seven years (Daniel 9:27; 2 Thessalonians 2:1-4; Matthew 24:15-44). During this time (Matthew 24:15-21), that is, the great tribulation, God will send upon the unbelieving world a great deception unlike anything this world has ever known (2 Thessalonians 2:1-12) through the means of the Devil himself (Revelation 13). Many will turn to Christ at this time (Revelation 7:9-17), but the rest will be deceived and follow after the lie.

At the end of this period, the Lord Jesus Christ will come down from heaven and take complete control and rule over the entire world (Matthew 24:29-31; Revelation 19:11-20:6). He will set up His kingdom and reward those who were faithful to Him, and judge those who were not (Matthew 25:31-46).

After a thousand year reign on the earth, a rebellion will break out against Christ, the then ruling King, but the rebels will not prevail (Revelation 20:7-10). After this, the Lord will burn up the entire universe (2 Peter 3:7,10) and execute a final judgment on mankind (Revelation 20:11-15; 21:1).

He will then make a new universe and a new earth (in perfection) where righteousness and holiness reigns, and all those of all the ages who walked with God will forever enjoy His presence and blessing (Psalm 16:11; 2 Peter 3:13; Revelation 21, 22).

a true church, P. O. Box 130, Moodys, OK 74444

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For more, see also Where Do We Stand? and Things The Bible Teaches.