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We believe in the following:
The Scriptures - We believe that the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments are the Word of God and are therefore infallible and inerrant, of divine authority, and therefore the only authority, in all things pertaining to faith and practice.
We believe that the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments are the Word of God, written under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, and are therefore infallible, and of divine authority in all things pertaining to faith and practice (a) and consequently free from all error whether of doctrine, fact, or precept (b). (adapted from C. Hodge, Systematic Theology, Chapter VI)
(a): | Luke 16:29 | Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them. |
Luke 16:31 | And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead. |
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Ephesians 2:20 | And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; |
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Revelation 22:18-19 | For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book,
If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book:
And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of
the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.
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2 Timothy 3:16 | All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof,
for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
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(b): | 2 Timothy 3:15-17 | And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make
thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All scripture is given by inspiration of God,
and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of
God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works. |
Galatians 1:8-9 | But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that
which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, if any man preach
any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed. |
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2 Thessalonians 2:2 | That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word,
nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand. |
The Triune God - We believe there are three distinct persons in the Godhead, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit; the same in essence, equal in power and glory. And yet, without any contradiction, these three are one true, eternal God.
We believe there are three persons in the Godhead, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit;(c) and these three are one true, eternal God, the same in substance, equal in power and glory; although distinguished by their personal properties.(d) (adapted from Question 9 of the Westminster Shorter Catechism)
(c): | Matthew 3:16-17 |
And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him,
and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: And lo a voice from heaven, saying,
This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
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Matthew 28:19 | Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father,
and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: |
(d): | John 1:1 | In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. |
Genesis 1:1-3 |
In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. And the earth was without form, and void;
and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.
And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.
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John 17:5 | And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I
had with thee before the world was. |
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John 10:30 | I and my Father are one. |
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Psalm 45:6 | Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: the sceptre of thy kingdom is a right sceptre. |
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Hebrews 1:8-9 | But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever:
a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom. Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity;
therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows. |
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Acts 5:3-4 | But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost,
and to keep back part of the price of the land? Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold,
was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God. |
The Creation of Man - We believe that God originally created man and woman, with rational minds and immortal souls, after His own image, having the law of God written in their hearts, and with the power to fulfill it.
We believe that God created man and woman,(e) with rational minds and immortal souls,(f) endowed with knowledge, righteousness, and true holiness, after His own image;(g) having the law of God written in their hearts,(h) and the power to fulfill it;(i) (adapted from WCF Chapter IV, Section II)
(e): | Genesis 1:27 | So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. |
(f): | Genesis 2:7 | And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed
into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul. |
Ecclesiastes 12:7 | Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it. |
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Luke 23:43 | And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with me in paradise. |
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Matthew 10:28 | And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul:
but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. |
(g): | Genesis 1:26 | And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea,
and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. |
Colossians 3:10 | And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him: |
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Ephesians 4:24 | And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. |
(h): | Romans 2:14-15 | For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law,
are a law unto themselves: Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness,
and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another; |
(i): | Ecclesiastes 7:29 | Lo, this only have I found, that God hath made man upright; but they have sought out many inventions. |
The Fall of Man - We believe that our first parents fell from their original righteousness and communion with God by breaking covenant with God through disobedience and so became dead in sin and corrupt in mind and body. The guilt of this original sin has been accounted to us.
We believe that our first parents, being left to the freedom of their own will, fell from their original perfect created state through disobedience against God(j) and so became dead in sin,(k) and corrupt in mind and body.(l) Being the source of all mankind, the guilt of this original sin was imputed;(m) and the same death in sin, and corrupted nature, conveyed to all their descendants.(n) (adapted from the Westminster Shorter Catechism Question 13 and from WCF Chapter VI Section I – III)
(j): | Genesis 3:6-8 | And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat. And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons. And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden. |
Genesis 3:13 | And the LORD God said unto the woman, What is this that thou hast done? And the woman said, The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat. |
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2 Corinthians 11:3 | But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. |
(k): | Genesis 2:17 | But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die. |
Ephesians 2:1 | Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God; And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; |
(l): | Titus 1:15 | Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled. |
Genesis 6:5 | And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. |
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Jeremiah 17:9 | The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? |
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Romans 3:10-18 | As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one. Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips: Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness: Their feet are swift to shed blood: Destruction and misery are in their ways: And the way of peace have they not known: There is no fear of God before their eyes. |
(m): | Genesis 1:27-28 | So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.
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Genesis 2:10 | And a river went out of Eden to water the garden; and from thence it was parted, and became into four heads. |
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Genesis 2:17 | But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die. |
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Acts 17:26 | And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation; |
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Romans 5:12 | Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: |
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Romans 5:15-19 | But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many. And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offences unto justification. For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.) Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life. For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous. |
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1 Corinthians 15:21-22 | For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. |
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1 Corinthians 15:45 | And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit. |
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1 Corinthians 15:49 | And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly. |
(n): | Psalms 51:5 | Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me. |
Genesis 5:3 | And Adam lived an hundred and thirty years, and begat a son in his own likeness, and after his image; and called his name Seth: |
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Job 14:4 | Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? not one. |
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Job 15:14 | What is man, that he should be clean? and he which is born of a woman, that he should be righteous? |
The Incarnation - We believe that Jesus Christ, the Son of God became a man, yet was without sin, being conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit, and born of the virgin Mary. Two whole, perfect, and distinct natures, God and man, were joined together in one person, Jesus, who is very God and very man.
We believe that Jesus Christ, the Son of God did take upon Him man's nature,(o) with all the essential properties, yet was without sin;(p) being conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit, and born of the virgin Mary.(q) Two whole, perfect, and distinct natures, God and man, were inseparably joined together in one person, without any confusion.(r) This person, Jesus, is very God and very man, yet one and the only Mediator between God and man.(s) (adapted from WCF Chapter VIII, Section II)
(o): | John 1:1 | In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. |
John 1:14 | And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. |
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1 John 5:20 | And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life. |
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Philippians 2:6 | Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: |
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Galatians 4:4 | But when the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, |
(p): | Hebrews 2:14-17 | Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham. Wherefore in all things it behooved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. |
Hebrews 4:15 | For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. |
(q): | Luke 1:27 | To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary. |
Luke 1:31 | And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. |
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Luke 1:35 | And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God. |
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Galatians 4:4 | But when the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, |
(r): | Luke 1:35 | And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God. |
Colossians 2:9 | For in him dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily. |
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Romans 9:5 | Whose are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came, who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen. |
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1 Peter 3:18 | For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit: |
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1 Timothy 3:16 | And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory. |
(s): | Romans 1:3-4 | Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh; And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead: |
1 Timothy 2:5 | For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; |
Christ’s Death, Resurrection and Ascension - We believe that Jesus Christ was crucified, died, and was buried. On the third day He arose from the dead, he ascended into heaven, and there sits at the right hand of His Father, mediating between God and us.
We believe that Jesus Christ was crucified, died,(t) and was buried. He remained under the power of death, yet saw no corruption.(u) On the third day He arose from the dead,(v) he ascended into heaven, and there sits at the right hand of His Father,(w) making intercession for us.(x) (adapted from the WCF Chapter VIII, Section IV)
(t): | Philippians 2:8 | And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. |
(u): | Acts 2:23-24 | Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain: Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it. |
Acts 2:27 | Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. |
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Acts 13:37 | But he, whom God raised again, saw no corruption. |
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Romans 6:9 | Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him. |
(v): | 1 Corinthians 15:3-5 | For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve: |
(w): | Mark 16:19 | So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God. |
(x): | Romans 8:34 | Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. |
Hebrews 9:24-25 | For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us: Nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others; |
God’s Election, Effective Call and Limited Atonement - We believe that no matter how good our works, we can never merit pardon for our sin or the gift of eternal life. Instead, all those God predestined to life, and those only, He calls by His Word and Spirit out of sin and death to grace and salvation in Jesus Christ – these are the elect of God. God chose to justify these elect, and Christ did die for their sins, and rise again for their justification.
We believe that no matter how good our works, we cannot merit pardon for our sin or the gift of eternal life at the hand of God.(y) Instead, all those God predestined to life, and those only, He is pleased to call,(z) by His Word and Spirit,(aa) out of sin and death to grace and salvation in Jesus Christ – these are the elect of God.(bb) God chose to justify all these elect,(cc) and Christ did die for their sins, and rise again for their justification,(dd) and they are justified when the Holy Spirit applies Christ to them.(ee) (adapted from WCF Chapter XVI, Section V, WCF Chapter X, Section I and WCF Chapter XI, Section IV)
(y): | Romans 3:20 | Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin. |
Romans 4:2 | For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God. |
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Romans 4:4 | Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. |
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Romans 4:6 | Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works, |
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Ephesians 2:8-9 | For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. |
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Titus 3:5-7 | Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. |
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Romans 8:18 | For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. |
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Psalms 16:2 | O my soul, thou hast said unto the LORD, Thou art my Lord: my goodness extendeth not to thee; |
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Job 22:2-3 | Can a man be profitable unto God, as he that is wise may be profitable unto himself? Is it any pleasure to the Almighty, that thou art righteous? or is it gain to him, that thou makest thy ways perfect? |
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Job 35:7-8 | If thou be righteous, what givest thou him? or what receiveth he of thine hand? Thy wickedness may hurt a man as thou art; and thy righteousness may profit the son of man. |
(z): | Romans 8:30 | Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified. |
Romans 11:7 | What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded. |
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Ephesians 1:10-11 | That in the dispensation of the fullness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him: In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will: |
(aa): | 2 Thessalonians 2:13-14 | But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth: Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. |
2 Corinthians 3:3 | Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart. |
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2 Corinthians 3:6 | Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life. |
(bb): | Romans 8:2 | For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. |
Ephesians 2:1-5 | And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) |
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2 Timothy 1:9-10 | Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began, But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel: |
(cc): | Galatians 3:8 | And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed. |
1 Peter 1:2 | Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied. |
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1 Peter 1:19-20 | But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, |
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Romans 8:30 | Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified. |
(dd): | Galatians 4:4 | But when the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, |
1 Timothy 2:6 | Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time. |
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Romans 4:25 | Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification. |
(ee): | Colossians 1:21-22 | And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight: |
Galatians 2:16 | Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified. |
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Titus 3:4-7 | But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. |
Justification - We believe that Jesus Christ, by his perfect obedience and by sacrifice of Himself, which He freely offered to God, has fully satisfied the justice of His Father and purchased not only reconciliation, but an everlasting inheritance in the kingdom of heaven for those whom the Father has given unto Him. Our justification is by faith alone, through grace alone, by Christ alone, to the glory of God alone.
We believe that Jesus Christ, by His perfect obedience, and sacrifice of Himself, which He, through the eternal Spirit, offered to God, has fully satisfied the justice of His Father;(ff) and purchased not only reconciliation, but an everlasting inheritance in the kingdom of heaven, for those whom the Father has given unto Him.(gg) (adapted from the WCF Chapter VIII, Section V)
(ff): | Romans 5:19 | For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous. |
Hebrews 9:14 | How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? |
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Hebrews 9:16 | For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator. |
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Hebrews 10:14 | For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified. |
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Ephesians 5:2 | And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling savour. |
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Romans 3:25-26 | Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus. |
(gg): | Daniel 9:24 | Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy. |
Daniel 9:26 | And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined. |
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Colossians 1:19-20 | For it pleased the Father that in him should all fullness dwell; And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven. |
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Ephesians 1:11 | In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will: |
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Ephesians 1:14 | Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory. |
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John 17:2 | As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him. |
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Hebrews 9:12 | Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. |
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Hebrews 9:15 | And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance. |
Our Sanctification and Good Works - We believe that sanctification is the work of God’s free grace, in which we are renewed, after the image of God, and by which we are enabled more and more to die to sin and live to righteousness. We are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God has prepared for us to do. As such, we are called to live a life of obedience to complete God’s work in us, so that we will walk as Jesus did. It is God who is working in us, both to will and to act according to His good purpose.
(adapted from the Westminster Shorter Catechism Question 35, Ephesians 2:10; 1 John 2:3-6; Philippians 2:13)
Q. 35. What is sanctification?
A. Sanctification is the work of God’s free grace,(hh) whereby we are renewed in the whole man after the image of God,(ii) and are enabled more and more to die unto sin, and live unto righteousness.(jj)
(hh): | Ezekiel 36:27 | And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them. |
Philippians 2:13 | For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure. |
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2 Thessalonians 2:13 | But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth: Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. |
(ii): | 2 Corinthians 5:17 | Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. |
Ephesians 4:23-24 | And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. |
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1 Thessalonians 5:23 | And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. |
(jj): | Ezekiel 36:25-27 | Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you. A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them. |
Romans 6:4 | Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. |
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Romans 6:6 | Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. |
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Romans 6:12-14 | Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace. | |
2 Corinthians 7:1 | Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. |
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1 Peter 2:24 | Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. |
The Fellowship of the Church - We believe that those who profess Christ are called to maintain fellowship in the worshiping of God, in performing spiritual service to benefit each other, and in helping each other in their physical and emotional needs as they are able.
We believe that all Christians are to maintain fellowship in the worshiping of God and in performing spiritual services to each others benefit,(kk) also to help each other in their physical and emotional needs as they are able. This communion, as God offers opportunity, is to be extended to all those who call upon the name of the Lord Jesus.(ll)
(kk): | Hebrews 10:24-25 | And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. |
Acts 2:42 | And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. |
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Acts 2:46 | And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, |
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Isaiah 2:3 | And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. |
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1 Corinthians 11:20 | When ye come together therefore into one place, this is not to eat the Lord's supper. |
(ll): | Acts 2:44-45 | And all that believed were together, and had all things common; And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need. |
1 John 3:17 | But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him? |
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2 Corinthians 8-9 |
Moreover, brethren, we do you to wit of the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia; How that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality. For to their power, I bear record, yea, and beyond their power they were willing of themselves; Praying us with much intreaty that we would receive the gift, and take upon us the fellowship of the ministering to the saints. And this they did, not as we hoped, but first gave their own selves to the Lord, and unto us by the will of God. Insomuch that we desired Titus, that as he had begun, so he would also finish in you the same grace also. Therefore, as ye abound in every thing, in faith, and utterance, and knowledge, and in all diligence, and in your love to us, see that ye abound in this grace also. I speak not by commandment, but by occasion of the forwardness of others, and to prove the sincerity of your love. For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich. And herein I give my advice: for this is expedient for you, who have begun before, not only to do, but also to be forward a year ago. Now therefore perform the doing of it; that as there was a readiness to will, so there may be a performance also out of that which ye have. For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not. For I mean not that other men be eased, and ye burdened: But by an equality, that now at this time your abundance may be a supply for their want, that their abundance also may be a supply for your want: that there may be equality: As it is written, He that had gathered much had nothing over; and he that had gathered little had no lack. But thanks be to God, which put the same earnest care into the heart of Titus for you. For indeed he accepted the exhortation; but being more forward, of his own accord he went unto you. And we have sent with him the brother, whose praise is in the gospel throughout all the churches; And not that only, but who was also chosen of the churches to travel with us with this grace, which is administered by us to the glory of the same Lord, and declaration of your ready mind: Avoiding this, that no man should blame us in this abundance which is administered by us: Providing for honest things, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men. And we have sent with them our brother, whom we have oftentimes proved diligent in many things, but now much more diligent, upon the great confidence which I have in you. Whether any do enquire of Titus, he is my partner and fellowhelper concerning you: or our brethren be enquired of, they are the messengers of the churches, and the glory of Christ. Wherefore shew ye to them, and before the churches, the proof of your love, and of our boasting on your behalf.
For as touching the ministering to the saints, it is superfluous for me to write to you: For I know the forwardness of your mind, for which I boast of you to them of Macedonia, that Achaia was ready a year ago; and your zeal hath provoked very many. Yet have I sent the brethren, lest our boasting of you should be in vain in this behalf; that, as I said, ye may be ready: Lest haply if they of Macedonia come with me, and find you unprepared, we (that we say not, ye) should be ashamed in this same confident boasting. Therefore I thought it necessary to exhort the brethren, that they would go before unto you, and make up beforehand your bounty, whereof ye had notice before, that the same might be ready, as a matter of bounty, and not as of covetousness. But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work: (As it is written, He hath dispersed abroad; he hath given to the poor: his righteousness remaineth for ever. Now he that ministereth seed to the sower both minister bread for your food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness;) Being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness, which causeth through us thanksgiving to God. For the administration of this service not only supplieth the want of the saints, but is abundant also by many thanksgivings unto God; Whiles by the experiment of this ministration they glorify God for your professed subjection unto the gospel of Christ, and for your liberal distribution unto them, and unto all men; And by their prayer for you, which long after you for the exceeding grace of God in you. Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.
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Acts 11:29-30 |
Then the disciples, every man according to his ability, determined to send relief unto the brethren which dwelt in Judaea: Which also they did, and sent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul.
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Propagation of the Faith - We believe that what has been historically called the "Great Commission" is the responsibility of the Church in which we have been commanded to go into all the world on Christ’s authority as Christ’s witnesses, baptizing, making disciples of and teaching all those who make profession of faith.(mm)
(mm): | Matthew 28:18-20 | And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen. |
Acts 1:8 | But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. |
The Sacraments - We believe that the sacraments of baptism and the Lord’s supper are signs and seals of God’s grace, to represent Christ and His benefits and to put a visible difference between those who belong to the Church and the rest of the world.
We believe that the sacraments of baptism and the Lord's supper are signs and seals of God's grace,(nn) to represent Christ and His benefits;(oo) and to put a visible difference between those who belong to the Church and the rest of the world;(pp) and, as such, those in Christ need to engage in them according to His Word.(qq) (adapted from WCF XXVI, Section II and WCF XXVII, Section I)
(nn): | Romans 4:11 | And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised: that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised; that righteousness might be imputed unto them also: |
Genesis 17:7 | And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee. |
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Genesis 17:10 | This is my covenant, which ye shall keep, between me and you and thy seed after thee; Every man child among you shall be circumcised. |
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Matthew 28:19 | Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: |
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1 Corinthians 11:23 | For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, that the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread: |
(oo): | 1 Corinthians 10:16 | The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? |
1 Corinthians 11:25-26 | After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, this cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come. |
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Galatians 3:27 | For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. |
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Galatians 3:17 | And this I say, that the covenant, that was confirmed before of God in Christ, the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul, that it should make the promise of none effect. |
(pp): | Romans 15:8 | Now I say that Jesus Christ was a minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made unto the fathers: |
Exodus 12:4 | And if the household be too little for the lamb, let him and his neighbour next unto his house take it according to the number of the souls; every man according to his eating shall make your count for the lamb. |
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Genesis 34:14 | And they said unto them, We cannot do this thing, to give our sister to one that is uncircumcised; for that were a reproach unto us: |
(qq): | Romans 6:3-4 | Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. |
1 Corinthians 10:16 | The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? |
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1 Corinthians 10:21 | Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord's table, and of the table of devils. |
Man After Death - We believe that after death, and until Christ returns, our bodies return to dust but our souls, being immortal, return to God who gave them. The souls of the righteous, return to the heavens where they behold God. The souls of the wicked are cast into hell, where they remain in darkness, reserved for the final judgment.
We believe that after death our bodies return to dust(rr) but our souls, being immortal, immediately return to God who gave them;(ss) the souls of the righteous, to the highest heavens where they behold God.(tt) The souls of the wicked are cast into hell, where they remain in torment and darkness, reserved to the judgment of the great day.(uu) (adapted from the WCF XXXII, Section I)
(rr): | Genesis 3:19 | In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return. |
Acts 13:36 | For David, after he had served his own generation by the will of God, fell on sleep, and was laid unto his fathers, and saw corruption: |
(ss): | Luke 23:43 | And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with me in paradise. |
Ecclesiastes 12:7 | Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it. |
(tt): | Hebrews 12:23 | To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, |
2 Corinthians 5:1 | For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. |
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2 Corinthians 5:6 | Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord: |
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2 Corinthians 5:8 | We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord. |
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Philippians 1:23 | For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better: |
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Acts 3:21 | Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began. |
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Ephesians 4:10 | He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things. |
(uu): | Luke 16:23-24 | And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame. |
Acts 1:25 | That he may take part of this ministry and apostleship, from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place. |
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Jude 6-7 | And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day. Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire. |
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1 Peter 3:19 | By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison; |
The Return of Christ and Final Judgment - We believe that Christ will return bodily and will be seen by all. At that time all men will be raised bodily and the final judgment will occur. The saved will receive eternal life. The unsaved will receive everlasting punishment.(vv)
(vv): | Revelation 1:7 | Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen. |
John 6:39 | And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. |
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Romans 8:10-11 | And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you. |
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2 Corinthians 2:14 | Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place. |
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John 5:28-29 | Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation. |
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Revelation 20:13-15 | And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. |
The Above Text Last Changed on: January 25, 2018 - 03:31 IST [MDT -6h]
Worship Service
Sunday 10:00 AM
Communion: Weekly
Canyon Bible Church, Inc.
1342 NM 333 • Suite D
Tijeras, NM 87059
(505) 407-1609