2 We teach that God's word must be studied according to 2 Timothy 2:15.

We believe in studying God's word, rightly divided. As we study God's word we must strive to understand what God is saying (Interpretation). To get the meaning one must look at the context to see to whom God is speaking, through whom He is speaking and what He is saying literally. God has deposited truth to men in different ages to reveal His specific program for the people to whom they were to minister. The people to whom He is writing and the one through whom He is dispensing those truths is very significant.

3 We teach that the central Person in all of Scripture is the Lord Jesus Christ.

The Lord Jesus said, "You search the Scriptures for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me". (John 5:39 NKJV). God is revealed as one God existing in three persons. The Lord Jesus is revealed as one of those persons. He was and is God (John 1:1-3). He was born of the virgin, Mary, lived a perfect life and died a substitutionary death on the cross, was buried and rose again the third day. In dying He paid our sin debt. God offers, as a free gift, eternal life to all who have faith in His death, burial and resurrection as the remedy for their personal sin. This gift is not according to what we merit, but all because of His grace.

4 We teach that the risen and exalted Christ gave a special deposit of truth to the Apostle Paul for us today.

God's promises to His earthly people, Israel, concerning a kingdom on this earth with the Lord Jesus as their Messiah, were rejected during Christ's earthly ministry. This kingdom was reoffered during the book of Acts. At the close of the book of Acts the refusal of Israel to receive the Lord Jesus as Messiah caused God to set Israel's promises aside temporarily. God revealed truth to Paul that had never been revealed until revealed to him (Ephesians 3:1-10). If we want to understand Scripture, and understand God's purpose for us, we must recognize this unique revelation and study other scripture in light of that truth.

5 We teach that God is building a church in heaven called the body of Christ.

All who receive Christ as their personal Savior are added to that church. In that church there is no primacy given to Jew or Gentiles. All believers are joint (equal) members.

6 We teach that after God completes the Church of this age He will take it to heaven.

At that time saints who have died will be raised with an incorruptible body and living saints will receive bodies that will never die. Those bodies will be bodies of glory like His body of glory.

7 We teach that after the Church is taken to be with Christ that there will be a time of great trouble on the earth known as the "great tribulation" (Matthew 24:21).

During this time there will be a world government ruled by an individual, energized and empowered by Satan, known as the Anti-Christ. The first three and one half years of his reign will be peaceful, but at the end of those years there will be another three and one half years of "great tribulation". This period will end with the visible and personal return of the Lord Jesus as King of kings and Lord of lords. He will put down all rule and authority of His enemies. He will destroy them in great judgment. He will then usher in the glorious kingdom promised throughout the Old Testament, but rejected at His first coming. He will reign for a thousand year period as King-Priest. Israel will become a new nation and will be ministers to the Gentiles during that time. They will fulfill the purpose God had for them when He chose them to be His special people. They will be a royal priesthood, a holy nation (Exodus 19:5-6; 1 Peter 2:9. At the end of the thousand years, Christ will deliver the kingdom over to the Father and that kingdom will enter into its eternal aspect.

8 We teach that when a person trusts Christ as Savior and begins to understand His word that the believer should grow in grace and a knowledge of Him and give evidence of new life by a worthy walk. (Ephesians 4:1).

In a believer's life there should be a balance between studying God's word for spiritual knowledge and letting the Lord so control the person's life that the life will be worthy of the Lord. (Colossians 1:10). We should desire clear and true doctrine balanced with a desire to honor and serve the Lord in an acceptable manner.

Bible Study Notes