What I Believe

God has been refining my theology through my local church, academic experiences, and personal times of Bible study and prayer. Here are my key convictions:

The Bible is God’s written revelation of his self and his will. Written by men and divinely inspired, it is the inerrant, infallible Word of God which seeks to point humans to salvation. It is the source of all Christian doctrines—and the standard by which all doctrines are judged. (Psalm 18:30; 119:96; 2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:20-21)
The God of the Bible is the one true, living God who eternally exists as three persons—the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The holy, Triune God deserves love, worship, and obedience. (Exodus 3:4; Deuteronomy 6:4; Matthew 28:18-19; Mark 12:29; John 1:14; Acts 5:3-4)
- The Father sovereignly created, reigns over, and sustains his creation. He is the one from whom and for whom all things exist. (Genesis 1:1; Isaiah 64:8; John 4:24; Romans 8:14-15; 1 Corinthians 8:6; Ephesians 4:6; 1 Timothy 1:17)
- The Son, Jesus Christ, is fully God and also became fully man at His incarnation. He was born of virgin; led a sinless life; taught and performed mighty works; was crucified as the penalty for our sin; was physically raised from dead; and ascended to right hand of God where He heads the church and intercedes for all believers. (Hebrews 1: 2; 4:15; 1 Corinthians 15:3-8; Romans 8:34; Matthew 16:27)
- The Holy Spirit is also God, with all his divine attributes. He proceeds from Father and Son; convicts world of sin; indwells believers; baptizes and seals believers at salvation; endows gifts for the building of church; guides believers to understand and apply the Word; and empowers Christ-like character. (John 16:7-15; Romans 8:9; 1 Corinthians 12:13; Ephesians 4:30; John 16:13; Galatians 5:22-23)
Humanity was created good in the image of God. But when Adam and Eve disobeyed God, sin entered the world. Since then, all humans sin, choose their own way, and stand condemned by God. (Genesis 1:27; 3; Romans 3:23; 6:23)
Salvation is a gift of God’s grace, not of works; was purchased by Jesus’ death on the cross; and is personally appropriated by repentance and faith. True believers cannot lose their salvation, but sin interrupts fellowship and brings the Father’s loving discipline. (Mark 1:15; John 10:28; Romans 5:8; Ephesians 2:8; 1 John 5:12-13)
The church is universal, being comprised of all who have been saved by faith in Jesus. It is also local, being comprised of believers who gather to devote themselves to worship, prayer, teaching of the Word, the ordinance of baptism and the Lord’s Supper, fellowship, service, and outreach. Under the watchful, loving care of pastors and deacons, local church members seek to grow in love, become unified, and glorify God. (Matthew 28:19; Luke 22:19; Acts 1:8; 2:42-47; Galatians 6:10; Ephesians 3:21; 1 Timothy 3:1; Hebrews 10:24-25; Peter 5:1-3)
- Baptism is an act of obedience to proclaim outwardly an inner change, and it involves the full immersion of a believer in water in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
- The Lord’s Supper is an act of obedience and an occasion for self-examination which memorializes Jesus’ death and anticipates his return.
At the consummation, Jesus will physically, visibly, and unexpectedly return to earth to judge sinners, claim the church, and establish his millennial kingdom. There will be a bodily resurrection in which the saved will live with Christ in heaven, and the sinners will be sent to the lake of fire. (Daniel 12:2; Matthew 16:27; 24:27-31, 36; 25:31-46; 26:64; John 5:28-29; 6:40; 14:3; Acts 1:11; 24:15; 1 Corinthians 15:12-54; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17; 5:2; 2 Timothy 4:1; Hebrews 9:28; 1 John 2:28; Revelation 20:1-15)