Often it is the understanding of the general picture that best serves to ground us in the truth. Without this broader understanding, the minute details of Scripture are too easily manipulated by human wisdom and reasoning. All too often, and for the most part unknowingly, we set aside any possibility of the Spirit of God becoming our teacher, and with this the potential of receiving divine truth and instruction. How does the Christian believer possess the mind of Christ? How can we possibly know the things given to Jesus by the Father, except we truly humble ourselves to be taught by the Holy Spirit (John 16:13-15)?
We believe that every Christian needs to first gain a sound understanding of their salvation/redemption in Jesus Christ. Once the reality of his sins being forgiven and forever gone is settled in his conscience, we believe there isn’t a more important bible topic for the believer to gain knowledge of than the counsels of God – the final endpoint and eternal destiny of all people and all things as determined by the will and purpose of God. Now if we can keep God’s design clearly settled in our minds, we will have it constantly before us as the key and test of everything.
In order to accomplish this task, we believe there are biblical principles and institutions that God long-ago brought the revelation of into His word that will help the believer more fully grasp the eternal plan of God. These principles are listed below. Choose one you would like to know more about, click on it, and it will take you to a separate page for a short explanation. If you want more, underneath the explanation will be links listed which will provide greater details of teaching on that particular principle. (This portion of the website was added on 1/27/20, and as a work in progress continues to be edited and developed over time)
We believe there are essential truths that will help every Christian rightly divide the word of truth. For example, understanding the severity of the fall of mankind through the disobedience of Adam is necessary for properly comprehending all its results and consequences. Also understanding the differences between the nation of Israel and the church, their different callings and destinies, become biblical truths essential for comprehending God’s eternal plan. These topics and more are listed below, so that the believer may gain in the knowledge of God and have the mind of Christ.
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CREATION HAS A RESPONSIBILITY TO THE CREATOR
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MANKIND’S ORIGINAL STATE
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THE SIN NATURE WAS ACQUIRED BY ALL MANKIND THROUGH ADAM’S FAILURE TO OBEY GOD IN THE ONE COMMAND GOD GAVE HIM
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WHAT IS A BIBLE DISPENSATION?
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HOW MANY DISPENSATIONS ARE THERE IN SCRIPTURE?
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WHAT IS THE ORDER OF THE THREE DISPENSATIONS?
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THE NATION OF ISRAEL AND THE RELIGION OF JUDAISM ARE TIED TO THE EARTH AND ASSOCIATED WITH THE WORLD
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GOD PLACING MANKIND ON PROBATION
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THE PERIOD OF MANKIND’S PROBATION INCLUDED THE ENTIRE JEWISH DISPENSATION
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THE LAW HAS NO REDEEMING ABILITY OR POWER; GOD’S TRUE PURPOSE FOR GIVING THE LAW TO ISRAEL WAS TO DEMONSTRATE TO MANKIND HIS INABILITY TO BE RESPONSIBLE AND SAVE HIMSELF
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THE LAW (JUDAISM) WAS A TEST OF RESPONSIBILITY GIVEN TO THE JEWS AS A CHOSEN AND PRIVILEGED PEOPLE, SEPARATING ISRAEL FROM THE GENTILE NATIONS. IN CONTRAST, CHRISTIANITY IS THE PRODUCT OF GOD’S SOVEREIGN GRACE, AND AS A RELIGION, IS COMPLETELY DIFFERENT FROM THE PRACTICE OF JUDAISM
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THE CRUCIFIXION OF JESUS CHRIST MARKED ISRAEL’S FINAL FAILURE AND THE IMMINENT SUSPENSION OF THE JEWISH DISPENSATION.
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CHRISTIANS/THE CHURCH HAVE A HEAVENLY CALLING
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CHRISTIANS/THE CHURCH WILL EVENTUALLY SIT IN HEAVENLY PLACES IN CHRIST JESUS
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CHRISTIANS ARE NOT OF THIS WORLD (JOHN 17:14-16)
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THE CHURCH, AS THE BODY OF CHRIST, IS THE MYSTERY OF GOD THAT WAS HIDDEN FROM OLD TESTAMENT PROPHECY AND ITS PROPHETS
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ALL WHO PROFESS JESUS CHRIST ARE PART OF THE MODERN-DAY ORGANIZED CHURCH, THAT WHICH WE WOULD CALL CHRISTENDOM. WHAT MAN HAS BEEN RESPONSIBLE FOR BUILDING IS CORRUPT AND IN RUIN. IT HAS FAILED IN THE CHRISTIAN DISPENSATION JUST AS ISRAEL FAILED IN THEIR DISPENSATION
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THE CHURCH, THE BODY OF CHRIST, CONSISTS OF ALL TRUE BELIEVERS JOINED TOGETHER AS ONE CORPORATE GROUP. GOD BUILDS THE CHURCH HIMSELF, AND SHE WILL BE MADE PERFECT IN GLORY. SHE NOW PATIENTLY AND EXPECTANTLY WAITS FOR JESUS TO COME AND TAKE HER TO HEAVEN
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DISCIPLESHIP: HOW CHRISTIANS SHOULD LIVE IN THIS WORLD
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NOT ALL WHO CALL THEMSELVES “CHRISTIANS” ARE NECESSARILY CHRISTIAN
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THERE WILL BE NO MASS REVIVAL IN CHRISTENDOM. THE WORLD WILL NOT BE CHRISTIANIZED. RATHER, EVIL WILL CONTINUE TO GROW AND RIPEN IN BOTH CHRISTENDOM AND THE WORLD
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CHRISTIANS ARE CHOSEN BY GOD; HE KNEW US BEFORE WE EVER EXISTED. iT IS ONLY BY HIS GRACE WE ARE SAVED AND BELIEVE
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THE CHURCH IS NOT ISRAEL, AND ISRAEL IS NOT THE CHURCH
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THE RESPONSIBILITY OF CHRISTIANS IS TO EMULATE JESUS CHRIST IN THEIR WALK IN THIS WORLD, AND TO EXPECTANTLY WAIT FOR HIS RETURN FOR US
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GOD IS NOT DEALING WITH EVIL IN THIS WORLD EXCEPT TO RESTRAIN ITS FULL DISPLAY. EVIL AND UNBELIEF WILL ONLY BE JUDGED BY GOD AFTER JESUS CHRIST PHYSICALLY RETURNS TO THIS EARTH AND WORLD AND EVERY EYE WILL SEE HIM
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GOD WILL HONOR HIS PROMISES TO ISRAEL. GOD WILL SAVE AN END-TIME JEWISH REMNANT AND BRING THEM BACK INTO THE LAND PROMISED TO THEM. FROM THIS REMNANT GOD WILL GROW THE NATION OF ISRAEL. THEY WILL BE RESTORED AND BECOME THE GREATEST NATION IN THE MILLENNIAL EARTH. THE GENTILE NATIONS WILL SERVE THEM
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TWO THINGS MUST HAPPEN FOR THE FUTURE MILLENNIAL DISPENSATION TO BE SUCCESSFUL – JESUS CHRIST MUST BE PRESENT ON THE EARTH AND THE DEVIL MUST NOT BE PRESENT. SATAN MUST BE BOUND AWAY IN THE BOTTOMLESS PIT
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REGARDLESS OF TIME OR DISPENSATION, GOD ALWAYS SAVES HIS ELECT BY THE SAME MEANS – HIS SOVEREIGN GRACE THROUGH FAITH.
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THE GLORY OF GOD IS EVER THE ENDPOINT OF ALL THINGS. THE EFFECT OF GOD ACCOMPLISHING HIS OWN COUNSELS WILL BE THAT GOD GLORIFIES HIMSELF. BY DESIGN, THIS WILL ALTOGETHER BE IN JESUS CHRIST, KNOWN IN THE VARIOUS GLORIES IN WHICH HE IS REVEALED