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Believe
What we
Compelling Word Bible Church exists for the purpose of glorifying the true and living God, the creator of all things, and for the equipping of His people, the saints, and to make known the Gospel of Jesus Christ to those who are perishing.
To be "against" something or to be "for" something can often be unpopular. However, for the Christian faith to be anything at all there has to be a stand taken. If all things were accepted, or if all things were rejected, then our faith would be pointless and we would be disconnected from the truth that God has made known.
There are varying beliefs concerning some doctrines among those in the faith that are not essential. Such variance does not disrupt the unity of fellowship.
However, there are some doctrines that are essential and must be embraced because they represent truth that separates sheep from goat, light from darkness, good from evil, life from death, and right from wrong.
Here are some basic truths that are graciously affirmed and taught at Compelling Word Bible Church:
(NOTE: see also the "Who are we Theologically?" section below, which also gives more information regarding the 1689 London Baptist Confession of Faith that is substantially held to.)
01
Truth About
GOD
When referring to God, the God of the Bible is being referenced; the creator and ruler of all existence. There is only one God, there exists no other. He is self-existent, all-sufficient within Himself. He is all-knowing and all-powerful, absolutely omnipotent, able to create from nothing. Nothing is impossible for Him. He is the creator of all things and demonstrates His glory amongst His creation. For Him, nothing is contingent or uncertain. He is infinite, eternal, alone possessing immortality. He is invisible, not made up of parts. He is absolutely holy, holy, holy! For His own glory He works all things according to the counsel of His righteous and unchangeable will. He is the beginning and the end. He declares the end from the beginning. From eternity, He decreed all that occurs from within Himself. Therefore, He does not need to look into the future to determine what will occur. He is the embodiment of true love, showing grace and mercy in great patience. To those who trust in Him He surrounds with lovingkindness. He is perfectly just in His judgments, and His wrath is righteous. Because He is perfectly just in His judgments, and because He loves righteousness and justice, He does not leave the guilty unpunished. He exists in three Persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. (Genesis 1:1, 18:14, Exodus 34:7; Deuteronomy 6:4; Psalm 9:7-8, 32:10, 33:5, 90:2, 115:3; Proverbs 16:4; Isaiah 6:3, 43:10, 46:10; Nahum 1:2-3; Matthew 19:26; Mark 10:27, 14:36; Luke 1:37; 18:27; John 1:1, 5:26; Acts 5:3-4; Romans 9:15-18, 11:34-36; 1 Corinthians 8:4-6, Ephesians 1:11, 3:20; Colossians 1:15-20; 1 Timothy 6:16; Titus 2:13; Hebrews 1:8-12; Revelation 1:8, 21:6)
02
Truth About
God the Father
The Father is fully God. He is distinct from the Son and the Holy Spirit. He is uncreated, unbegotten, and proceeds from none. He has always been the Father. There exists no point where He did not exist. He is distinct from creation. Out of His love He sent His Son to save His people. He elects by His grace those who will be saved. No one can come to His Son, Christ Jesus, unless He draws them to Him. All He draws to His Son will be raised up on the last day to eternal life. All who the Father gives to the Son cannot be snatched out of the Son's hand nor the Father's hand. (Psalm 50:21; Matthew 3:17; John 3:16, 6:44, 7:29, 10:26-29, 14:16-17, 17:1-5; Galatians 4:4-5)
03
Truth About
God the Son
The Son, Jesus the Christ, is fully God and fully man. He is distinct from the Father and the Holy Spirit. He is uncreated, eternally existing, begotten not made. He has always been the Son. There exists no point where He did not exist. He is distinct from creation. He is the Word that was in the beginning with God - the Word that was God. He is the Son of God from eternity. There has never been a time when He was not the Son to the Father. He is the unique Son of Man. He took on flesh being born of a virgin. He lived a sinless life on the earth, fulfilled the Law and all that was written about Him, and called sinners to repentance. Although He existed in the very form of God, He emptied Himself, and being in the likeness of men, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death on a cross. He died on a cross vicariously atoning for the sins of His people, was buried, rose from the grave bodily, ascended into heaven, and will come again to the earth. He is the embodiment of salvation as there is salvation in no one else. It is His righteousness that gets imputed to the those justified. He is at the right hand of the Father and He makes intercession for those who are His. (Genesis 15:6; Isaiah 53:5-6, 53:10-12; Daniel 7:13-14; Matthew 5:17; Mark 1:1-3, 2:5-11, 14:62; Luke 5:32, 22:37, 24:44; John 1:1-5, 1:12-14; 1:18, 8:58, 10:14-15, 10:26-27, 15:25, 17:5; Acts 1:9-11, 4:12, 7:56; Romans 1:18, 3:23-26, 5:9, 5:18-19, 8:34, 10:4; 1 Corinthians 15:3-8; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Philippians 2:5-11; Colossians 1:15-20; 1 Timothy 2:5; Hebrews 4:15, 9:28; 1 Peter 3:18; 1 John 4:10)
04
Truth About
God the Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit is fully God. He is distinct from the Father and the Son. He is uncreated, eternally existing, proceeding from the Father and the Son. There exists no point where He did not exist. He is distinct from creation. He is the One whom dwells within the people of God, and He is the One by whom the people of God are sealed until the day of redemption. Therefore, all who are saved equally have Him as a gift; He is the promise that assures salvation cannot be lost. Whoever does not have the Holy Spirit does not belong to Him and such a one has not been saved, for the Holy Spirit is the promise, the surety, the down payment, the pledge of salvation. His presence produces righteous works and fruits as He conforms all He dwells into the image of Christ. That is the evidence of Him dwelling within. He, like the Father and the Son, is a Person. He is not an impersonal power or force; He is not an "it." He speaks what He hears, He is not to be grieved, He inspired Scripture, He convicts, He empowers, He sanctifies... (Genesis 1:2, Exodus 31:3; 1 Samuel 10:6; John 14:26, 15:26, 16:8, 16:13; Acts 1:8, 1:16, 2:4, 4:25, 5:3-5, 5:32, 7:55, 13:2, 13:4; Romans 8:9-17, 8:28-39; 1 Corinthians 6:11, 6:19; Galatians 5:22-23; Ephesians 1:13-14, 2:20-22, 4:30; 1 Peter 1:2, 1:12; 2 Peter 1:19-21)
05
Truth About
The Bible
The Bible (Scripture) is the inspired, God-breathed, inerrant, and infallible Word of God; 66 Books in total, from Genesis through Revelation. Being the very inspired words from God, it is sufficient, true, and the only infallible rule for faith and conduct. Nature demonstrates the power of God and that He exists, as Scripture confirms. Yet that is insufficient to have the knowledge of His will that is necessary for salvation. Thus, long ago, it pleased God to speak in various ways to reveal Himself and make His will known. Men moved by the Holy Spirit, not speaking of their own accord, spoke from God. From this we have Scripture which contains God's completed revelation to humanity; all that He desired for humanity to know concerning Him. As a result, no new revelation is given. (Psalm 119:89; Proverbs 22:19; Isaiah 40:8; Matthew 5:18, 22:31; Luke 16:29; Romans 1:19-21, 15:4; 1 Timothy 3:15-17; Hebrews 1:1; 1 Peter 1:25; 2 Peter 1:19-21)
06
Truth About
Mankind
Mankind is part of God's creation; creatures distinct from the Creator. All of mankind has sinned. The heart of man is deceitful and desperately sick. Apart from Christ man is enslaved to sin, and acts out of his sin nature. As a result, the just wrath of a Holy God awaits him in judgement. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is the good news concerning salvation from the righteous wrath of God, and being reconciled with Him in peace. Though God's people are undeserving, He, by His grace alone through faith alone in Christ Jesus alone, brings about salvation from His deserved wrath for them. This salvation is not by the works of man, for it is a complete work of God. Nonetheless, those whom God saves are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works. Therefore, righteous works follow those God saves, and by the power of the Holy Spirit they have the ability to live a Christ-like life, turning away from sin, and showing the love of Christ. (Genesis 1:26-27, 2:7, 2:18, 2:21-22, 5:2; Isaiah 53:1-3; Jeremiah 17:9; Matthew 19:4; Mark 10:6, 13:9; John 8:34; Romans 3:10-18, 5:1, 5:9, 6:6-18; 2 Corinthians 5:14; Ephesians 2:8-10; Colossians 1:15-20; James 2:14, 2:17; 1 Peter 1:2)
07
Truth About
The Church
The church is the household of God, the pillar and support of the truth. It is that which Christ built on the revelation of who He is, and that which the gates of Hades will not prevail against. It is the primary gathering place for the saints, for which the Lord set forth qualifications for leadership, and set forth proper conduct therein. Jesus Christ is the head of the church, not any man of creation. God sent forth His people to make disciples of all nations, to baptize, and teach that which Christ commanded. The local church is the primary Biblical context where discipleship, baptism, and teaching is rooted. (Matthew 16:13-20, 18:15-17, 28:19-20; 1 Corinthians 5:1-5; Colossians 1:18; 1 Timothy 2:8-15, 3:1-14, 3:15; Titus 1:5-9, 2:1-10)
08
Truth About
Eternity & the Spiritual Realm
Heaven and hell are not fictitious, abstract, or allegorical. They are real places. The spiritual realm is real. Angels, including fallen angels: demons, Satan, are real. They are not fictitious, abstract, or allegorical. They are created beings. In Scripture, the church is instructed to submit to God, resist the devil, and he will flee. In addition, we are commanded to draw near to God. The regenerate nature of being in Christ, and the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit who dwells in all those who have been saved, makes the ability to submit and resist, and to draw near to God possible. In resisting the accuser of the brothers- the one who is the father of lies, and his kingdom, those in Christ can put on the armor of God. Only God is invincible. One is either of God or of the devil. There is no middle ground. (Genesis 22:11, 22:15; Exodus 20:22; Deuteronomy 26:15; Psalm 14:2; Matthew 5:29-30, 10:28, 18:9, 23:15, 23:33; Mark 9:43, 9:45, 9:47; Luke 12:5, 23:43; John 8:44, 8:47, 14:1-3; Ephesians 2:2, 6:12; Colossians 1:13; Hebrews 1:13-14, 12:23; James 4:7-8; 1 John 3:8, 5:19; Jude 6-7; Revelation 2:9, 2:13, 3:12, 3:15, 12:9-10, 20:2, 20:7-10, 20:13-15)
09
Truth About
Creation
Everything, whether visible or invisible, was created by God. Adam and Eve were actual human beings created by God, existing in human history. They are not fictitious, abstract, or allegorical, but were the first created amongst man. Humanity did not evolve from anything, but were created, originating with Adam and Eve. Eve was deceived and fell into transgression. Adam sinned and death entered the world and spread to all men. God created the heavens and the earth. He is the cause that brought about the effect: creation. He created ex nihilo (from nothing). Apart from Him nothing was created. (Genesis 1:1-2:25, 1:26-27, 2:7, 2:21-22; Isaiah 40:26, 40:28; 42:25, 43:1, 45:12, 45:18; Matthew 19:4; Romans 5:12, 5:14; 1 Corinthians 15:22, 15:45; Colossians 1:15-20; 1 Timothy 2:13-14)
Who Are We
Theologically?
WE ARE
Christian - Biblical - Reformed - Baptistic - Trinitarian
WE
ARE
CHRISTIAN
Compelling Word Bible Church is wholly Christian in the Biblical and historical sense, affirming Christ Jesus as Lord, and holding to orthodox doctrines and confessions that are derived from Scripture.
Because Compelling Word Bible Church is wholly Christian, we fully embrace the truth that there is salvation in none other than Christ Jesus. He is the Son of God, who came in the flesh, born of a virgin, sinless, laid down His life for His sheep being crucified, dying for our sins according to the Scriptures, was buried, raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, appearing to many, and ascending into heaven, seated at the right hand of the Father.
By embracing the truth that can only be found in Christianity, Compelling Word Bible Church does not recognize any other religion or professed faith apart from Christianity as true. They are false and ultimately lead to destruction as salvation is realized only in Christ alone. Our desire is to share the Good News of Jesus Christ to the lost, and to serve the Body of Christ in helping the saints be on guard so as to not be led astray by the error of unprincipled men, and to grow in the knowledge and grace of the Lord Jesus Christ.
WE
ARE
BIBLICAL
Compelling Word Bible Church embraces the truth that the Bible, which consists of the closed canon’s 66 books of Scripture (Genesis – Revelation), is the inspired Word of God that by nature is binding, authoritative, inerrant, and infallible. Objectively, Scripture is the only infallible rule of faith and practice. It is sufficient, certain, profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work. It also overrides all contrary subjective thoughts, contrary ideas, contrary suppositions, contrary theories, contrary confessions, contrary creeds, and contrary philosophies.
Scripture is self-authenticating and self-authoritative by its nature. Therefore, Scripture’s authenticity and authoritativeness is neither derived from nor dependent upon the authority of man, the church, or any external entity as it is wholly dependent upon God, who is the embodiment of truth and whose words are breathed out and written therein. Thus, it is called the Word of God, and there exists no greater authenticity or authority, nor is there any equivalent.
WE
ARE
REFORMED
"Being reformed, Compelling Word Bible Church affirms the “5 Solas” as attested in Scripture and by the nature of Scripture: Sola Scriptura (Scripture alone), solus Christus (Christ alone), sola fide (faith alone), sola gratia (grace alone), and soli Deo Gloria (Glory to God alone)."
While we like to simply label ourselves as Bible believing Christians, there exists a need for more specificity in many cases today that explains in what ways one is a Bible believing Christian. Although the terminology of being “reformed” stems from the Protestant reformation of the 16th century that fostered a global scale restoration of Biblical teaching in opposition to Roman Catholicism, the substantive meaning of being reformed is rooted in Scripture from Genesis through Revelation. As a result, being “reformed” means that we have been reformed by the power of God’s Word. The primary focus is on God– His sovereignty, His holiness…all of who He is, and from that lens His self-revelation of Himself to humanity and His purpose that He sets forth for His creation are embraced.
Being reformed, Compelling Word Bible Church affirms that the corporate worship service is to be conducted according to what God has revealed in His Word. The label sometimes applied to such behavior is called the Regulative Principle of Worship. This guards against excess and deficient endeavors from taking place when God’s people gather together for worship. What God has set forth in Scripture for the gathering of the church is empowered by the work of the Holy Spirit to nourish disciples and to point all participants to Christ. Therefore, deviations and alterations from what has been substantively prescribed in Scripture should be avoided. The zeal to “think outside the box” or to innovate what God has set forth in order to try and enhance the corporate worship service is often sincere, but such zeal is unwise and ultimately causes harm. What God has prescribed for corporate worship: (1) the public reading of Scripture, (2) prayer, (3) singing Psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, (4) preaching, (5) instruction, (6) hearing the Word of God, (7) the ordinances of the Lord’s Supper and baptism.
Being reformed means Compelling Word Bible Church maintains a strong view of Biblical authority and inerrancy, which, because of the innate power of God’s Word and because of the Holy Spirit working in us, causes our worldview to be reformed, along with our interactions with others, our thoughts, our perceptions, and our presuppositions. Doctrinally, Compelling Word Bible Church affirms many aspects of historical reformed confessions and catechisms since they provide excellent summaries about what the Bible teaches. The church is the pillar and support of the truth, and confessions are summations of Biblical teaching that exemplify that. Any confession that represents a proper summary of Biblical teaching will also state that only Scripture is the certain, sufficient, and infallible standard for all saving knowledge, faith, and obedience. A confession is not meant to be a replacement of Scripture, nor equivalent with Scripture. It is a time tested summary of Biblical teaching that has been embraced by fellow Christians for, in most instances, many centuries. Compelling Word Bible Church substantially holds to the 1689 Second London Baptist Confession of Faith.
Being reformed means Compelling Word Bible Church is also Evangelical in the theological sense where there is a focus on the Gospel, and making disciples by teaching them to observe all Christ has commanded.
Being reformed, Compelling Word Bible Church affirms the “5 Solas” as attested in Scripture and by the nature of Scripture: Sola Scriptura (Scripture alone), solus Christus (Christ alone), sola fide (faith alone), sola gratia (grace alone), and soli Deo Gloria (Glory to God alone).
Being reformed, Compelling Word Bible Church strongly affirms the doctrines of grace as presented in Scripture. Salvation is completely a work of God and not based on any human works or merit. Thus, as a result of sin, man needs God’s intervention because he is dead in his sin, totally incapable of turning to God on his own. In Adam all die. God, before He even created the earth, unconditionally elected His sheep from amongst the totally depraved by His grace. Christ effectively and vicariously atoned for the sins of His sheep as a propitious sacrifice. God is sovereign, His grace is irresistible, and He preserves all who are His. Righteous works are evidenced in those whom God saves. We are therefore saved by grace through faith in Christ Jesus, and not by our works. What are God’s people saved from? His righteous wrath. The Father justifies us through faith in Jesus Christ and we have peace with Him as a result. The Holy Spirit sanctifies us, thereby progressively conforming us into the image of Christ, and He is the seal of our salvation, the guarantee of our inheritance.
Being reformed, Compelling Word Bible Church attests to the unity of Scripture in both the Old and New Testaments through its covenantal structure. This is covenant theology and it refers to God’s covenants with His creation. It demonstrates that God makes known what our relationship with Him should look like, and it gives us an appreciation for how God relates to us. This gives us clarity and removes uncertainty about God’s expectations. Christ said the Law and the Prophets (cf. also Colossians 2:17), which are a grouping of books found in what is our Old Testament today, spoke of Him. Covenant theology does not overlook the emphasis of Christ in all of Scripture as well as the importance of the church.
WE
ARE
BAPTISTIC
While not affiliated with any Baptist organization, Compelling Word Bible Church shares the Biblical convictions of Reformed Baptists (historically called Particular Baptists), particularly in the area of Baptism as distinct from that which is predominantly seen, for example, with our brothers in Presbyterian churches. The 1689 London Baptist Confession of Faith is a confession Compelling Word Bible Church subscribes to substantially as a summary of proper Biblical teaching, while maintaining that, as the 1689 Confession states along with all reputable confessions, it is not itself infallible nor on par with the Word of God. The confession allows us to stand on understanding God has given other men, and point to summarized Biblical truth that has been time tested and embraced for centuries.
Being baptistic, Compelling Word Bible Church embraces credobaptism. That means only those eligible for baptism are those with a credible profession of faith in Jesus Christ. This would exclude infants and very young children since they are unable to communicate a credible profession of faith.
Being baptistic, Compelling Word Bible Church embraces baptism by immersion in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit as the only proper mode of baptism. It represents a Christian’s union with Christ in His death, burial, and resurrection. Baptism does not regenerate nor causes God to provide salvation in any way. It is an act of obedience for those already in Christ.
WE
ARE
TRINITARIAN
"'Who God is' can never be relegated to something minor, nor can it be dismissed as non-essential. Who He is, is of utmost importance. If there is confusion about who God is...then all other aspects of the faith...will be thrown into disarray!"
It may be redundant to indicate that Compelling Word Bible Church acknowledges that God is Triune since one cannot be neither Christian nor Biblical and with intention deny the deity of the Father, the Son, or the Holy Spirit, or deny that each Person is distinct. “Who God is” can never be relegated to something minor, nor can it be dismissed as non-essential. Who He is, is of utmost importance. If there is confusion about who God is, such as uncertainty about whether Jesus is God or not, or if the Holy Spirit is God or not, then all other aspects of the faith, including the Gospel, will be thrown into disarray! Therefore, despite the redundancy, it is important to make known that Compelling Word Bible Church prominently embraces the Triune God who has been prominently revealed in all of Scripture, both the Old Testament and the New Testament.
Being Trinitarian, Compelling Word Bible Church embraces monotheism as expressed in Scripture– that there is only one God, there has only ever been one God, and there shall only ever be one God. That same one God eternally exists in three distinct Persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. One God, three Persons– Holy Trinity, the Godhead. God’s Being (His ontology– that which makes God to be God, His essence/substance), is fully shared by the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. He is not split into parts. Therefore, the Father is fully God, the Son is fully God, and the Holy Spirit is fully God. The three divine Persons are the only true God. Each has the exact same divine nature, are co-equal, and are distinct from each other, not separate. The Father is not the Son, the Son is not the Father, the Holy Spirit is not the Son, the Son is not the Holy Spirit, the Father is not the Holy Spirit, and the Holy Spirit is not the Father. Some prefer to use the term “Subsistence” instead of “Person” when describing the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit in the Godhead– the terms mean the same.
Being Trinitarian, Compelling Word Bible Church embraces the Scriptural truth that from all eternity the Father loves the Son, and that God is love. Only the Triune God can exhibit love before creation. A Unitarian or unipersonal god has no love to express towards anyone and can only do so economically. The true and living Triune God exhibits love immanently between each Person of the Trinity from all eternity.
Being Trinitarian, Compelling Word Bible Church acknowledges the role each Person of the Holy Trinity has in salvation. The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit operate in complete harmony in all that they do. For salvation, in short, the Father by grace elects, the Son through love gave Himself for His sheep, and the Spirit sanctifies the sheep, setting them apart to God. His sheep are those who are chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to obey Jesus Christ and be sprinkled with His blood (cf. 1 Peter 1:2).
Being Trinitarian, Compelling Word Bible Church also embraces the high Christology presented in Scripture, affirming that Jesus is fully God and fully man. He was in the beginning. All things came into being through Him, and apart from him nothing came into being. He was the Word that was with God and the Word that was God. He is the Word that became flesh and dwelt amongst humanity. No man has seen God, yet Jesus, being uniquely God who is in the bosom of the Father, has revealed Him. He is the image of the invisible God, preeminent over all creation. For by Him all things were created. He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. In Him we live, move, and have our being. In Him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell. Although He existed in the very form of God, He did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped. Instead He emptied Himself, assuming the form of a bond-servant in the likeness of men.
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