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Hi to all my Forum Friends,

Since I joined the TimesDaily Religion Forum (or by its previous names) in January 2007, I have shared my firm belief that salvation is by the grace of God, through faith in Jesus Christ -- plus NOTHING ELSE.   In recently sharing about faith in my discussion titled  "Is Salvation By "Blind Faith" -- Or By "Living Faith"? -- I stated that I believe firmly in the PreTribulation Rapture of the church and the PreMillennial Return of Jesus Christ.  I was stating my own very firm personal beliefs -- and not that a belief in any eschatological teaching is required to attain eternal life in Christ.

However, now that BeterCon has opened the subject by claiming that I vacillate, I would like to share from a PowerPoint presentation which I created a few years ago to inaugurate the Sunday School class for a new church plant.  In starting a new church plant, or in starting a new Bible study group or a new Sunday School class -- I believe it is imperative that this new venture begin with establishing and teaching a Statement of Faith, i.e., the Biblical (Doctrinal) Statement of Beliefs which this church or group will believe and teach.

Not establishing this in the beginning could lead to confusion in the church fellowship.  About ten years ago, I was one of three Elders chosen as the first Elder Board for our relatively new church.   One of the other Elders and I used to chat on the telephone every Saturday.  In these discussions, I discovered that he believed in an Amillennial eschatology, a belief he brought from his previous church.  For a long time, he and I had these Saturday discussions, each presenting the reasons we believe as we do.  I never changed his eschatological views and he never changed mine.  But, there was never any doubt that both of us were saved.

However, I do believe our pastor should have talked with each Elder candidate privately to know what beliefs we held -- before appointing us as Elders.  Why?  Because our church believes in and teaches a PreTrib/PreMillennial eschatology.  Having a church leader, an Elder, who held different views might have caused confusion in the local church fellowship.

So, when I helped start a new church and their Sunday School a few years ago -- for the first Sunday School class, I created my PowerPoint presentation titled "Inaugural Class - We Believe."  Below are the first few slides used in this presentation.  I believe this clearly establishes what I believe and what I will share with folks in my writings.

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WHAT DOES YOUR CHURCH BELIEVE AND TEACH?

 

If you are witnessing to a friend, or inviting a friend to visit our church fellowship, and that friend asks you, "What does your church believe and teach?" -- what will you tell him/her?

Can you give a clear, concise answer explaining the Biblical Christian Doctrines or Beliefs upon which our Christian fellowship is built and what we teach in our Bible studies, Sunday School classes, and sermons?  Can you tell your friend why our church fellowship is a Christian fellowship?

If that friend asks if your church is a Liberal Theology church or a Conservative Theology church; what will you say?  Why?


WHAT DOES YOUR CHURCH BELIEVE AND TEACH?


If your friend asks you where your church stands on the deity of Jesus Christ, the Trinity, the Bible, salvation, heaven and hell; what will you say?

If that friend asks where your church stands on issues such as eschatology, method of baptism, eternal security; what will you say?


DOES IT AFFECT ONE’S SALVATION?

 

That is the purpose of our Inaugural Sunday School Class -- to make sure we all understand the Biblical Doctrines of our church fellowship.

And, we should understand there are Biblical issues which do not affect our salvation; but, are of value to study and to discuss in groups such as this.  Such issues would be eschatology, i.e., End Time prophecies; methods of baptism; eternal security; and others which may affect a person's Christian peace and security -- but, will not affect his/her salvation.

 

ESSENTIAL CHRISTIAN DOCTRINES

 

These Biblical doctrines define our Christian faith -- and if any church teaches anything else, it is not a Christian church.   What are those essential Biblical doctrines?


THE ESSENTIAL DOCTRINES OF CHRISTIANITY

 

1.  The Deity of Jesus Christ:  God Incarnate -- fully man; yet, fully God.
2.  The Trinity:  God eternally existing; manifested (revealed) in three persons: Father, Son, Holy Spirit.
3.  Salvation by Grace:  By grace you are saved, through faith in Jesus Christ – plus nothing else.
4.  The Resurrection of Christ:  He rose from the dead, that we may also be resurrected.
5.  The Gospel:  The birth, death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus Christ according to Scripture.
6.  Heaven and Hell:  Both are real places and are the only two eternal destinations available to all mankind.


NO COMPROMISE!


These are the Biblical doctrines which we, as Christians, cannot compromise.  Although there are other important doctrines, these six are declared by Scripture and are essential.  A non-regenerate person, or a cult church, will deny one or more of these essential doctrines.  They are not Christian!


DID YOU FORGET THE BIBLE?


No!  The Inspiration and Inerrancy of the Bible are of vital importance to all Christian believers.

However, a person will not lose his salvation because he does not believe this – only his sense of eternal security and peace of  mind.


INSPIRATION AND INERRANCY OF THE BIBLE


7. The Inspiration and Inerrancy of the Bible:   Supernaturally inspired, spoken by the Holy Spirit into the hearts and thoughts of chosen men.  No errors in its moral and spiritual teaching and its record of historical facts.

However, we do know that our brothers and sisters in Christ, who are in churches that teach Liberal Theology, are taught that the Bible is a good book, a good guideline for Christians -- but, is not the Holy Spirit inspired, inerrant Word of God.  In Liberal Theology, many churches place books of Tradition and Rituals, and pre-written Prayer Books, at a higher level of authority than the Bible.


WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?

 

Can YOU support your Doctrinal Beliefs from Scripture?   What does the Bible say?


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These slides are the beginning of my PowerPoint presentation used to teach my church's Statement of Faith, i.e., what we believe and teach -- in Sunday School classes or in Bible studies.

After what I have shown above, the following slides go into more detail, showing specific Bible verses to support each element of our beliefs.  And, at the end of the presentation, I have several slides which go into the PreTribulation, PreMillennial belief on eschatology, the study of End Times, and what these terms mean.

If any of my Forum Friends would like a copy of this PowerPoint presentation, "Inaugural Class - We Believe" -- or, the ones titled  "It All Began With Creation" or "END TIMES Bible Study - Week One" or "END TIMES Bible Study - Week Two" -- I will be happy to e-mail them to you.  Just send me a Private Message (Dialog) with your e-mail address.

BeterCon, thank you for allowing me this opportunity to share more fully my Biblical Beliefs with our Forum Friends.

God bless, have a wonderful, blessed day,

Bill

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Last edited by Bill Gray
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Originally Posted by Bill Gray:

Hi to all my Forum Friends,

I was one of three Elders chosen as the first Elder Board for our relatively new church. 

I do believe our pastor should have talked with each Elder candidate privately to know what beliefs we held -- before appointing us as Elders.

Having a church leader, an Elder, who held different views might have caused confusion in the local church fellowship.
So, when I helped start a new church and their Sunday School a few years ago -- for the first Sunday School class, I created my PowerPoint presentation titled "Inaugural Class - We Believe." 

Bill

_____________________________

Ah ha! Things weren’t set up & going the way you wanted so you left that church & started your own. Why am I not surprised at that little tidbit of news?

 

Your PowerPoint presentation? Not impressed at all! What exactly is it you hope to gain by bragging?

 

"Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven".

So, Bill, your "pastor" appoints the "elders" in your church?

 

"Pastors" and "elders" (or "bishops" for that matter) are not distinguished as separate offices in the New Testament churches , Bill.  In the New Testament, there was no such thing as a "pastor" as the chief executive of a local congregation.  Thus, the organization of your church is apparently unscriptural on its face.  The "pastor" concept is a holdover from Roman Catholicism.  The great leaders of the Reformation just did not get around to reforming the system where one man was permitted to be in charge of the entire church.  Your church seems to have continued this unscriptural practice. The "pastor" you describe has arrogated to himself an authority that he can not justify from the Word of God.

 

 

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