My 'Most Holy Faith'

When I sat down to write out just what it is I actually believe I didn't realise just how immense a subject I was taking on. I know in whom I believe and I know what I believe but I needed verses from the Bible to verify these things. Here then is a concise version of my convictions, and I am more than glad to let the Word of God speak for itself.

Hear's What's Covered

* The Bible    * God    * Jesus Christ    * The Spirit    * Man    * Sin    * Salvation

* Assurance & Security    * Heaven & Hell    * The Blessed Hope    * The Church    * Christian Conduct

The Bible

The Bible is the Word of God and it is divinely inspired, without error, and historically accurate. The Bible is the final authority for our lives, our faith and practice. It is the revelation of God's mind and will to man. The Bible is infallible and the all-sufficient guide for salvation.

I personally prefer the Authorised Version of the Bible, which I believe to be the most faithful translation of the Holy Scriptures. All of the Bible quotations on this website have been taken from this translation, otherwise known as the King James Version or KJV. As you read the verses you will be reading text that has been preserved unchanged for over 400 years.

This is what the Bible says about itself:

“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, throughly furnished unto all good works.”
2 Timothy 3: 16 

“For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.”
2 Peter 1: 21

“Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him. Add thou not unto His words, lest He reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.”
Proverbs 30: 5-6

God

There is one God, who has no beginning and no end, existing eternally in three persons – God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. God is a spirit, infinite, eternal and unchangeable.

This is what the Bible says about God:

“And the Lord passed by before him, and proclaimed, The Lord, The Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children's children, unto the third and to the fourth generation.”
Exodus 34: 6-7

“Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord ... ”
Deuteronomy 6: 4

“Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God.”
Psalm 90: 2

“God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.”
John 4: 24

“I and my Father are one.”
John 10: 30

“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. And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of thine hands: they shall perish; but thou remainest; and they all shall wax old as doth a garment; and as a vesture shalt thou fold them up, and they shall be changed: but thou art the same, and thy years shall not fail."
Hebrews 1: 8-12

"The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen."
2 Corinthians 13: 14

Jesus Christ

The Lord Jesus is the eternal Son of God. He entered into the human race miraculously by being born of a virgin. He did not sin because it was impossible for Him to do so. He died as a substitute for all the sins of the human race, atoning for them by means of His death on the cross. He was buried, rose bodily from the grave and is now in heaven at His Father's right hand where He now ministers as our Great High Priest.

This is what the Bible says about the Lord Jesus Christ:

“And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins. Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.”
Matthew 1: 21-23

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.

There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe. He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.

He came unto his own, and his own received him not. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. 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."
John 1: 1-14

“For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.”
Colossians 2: 9

“For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell;”
Colossians 1: 19

“[God's] 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 ... “
Romans 1: 3-4

"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:"
1 Peter 3: 18

“For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.”
2 Corinthians 5: 21

“Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. 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."
Hebrews 4: 14-15

"Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them."
Hebrews 7: 25

"Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever."
Hebrews 13: 8

The Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit convicts sinners of their need of forgiveness. He regenerates, indwells, baptizes and seals all those who are true believers in Christ, helping them to live a life that is pleasing to God. The Holy Spirit also takes the things of Christ and reveals them, enriching the soul of individual believers and helping to develop Christ-like character.

This is what the Bible says about the Holy Spirit:

“And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: of sin, because they believe not on me; of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged ... when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you. All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you.”
John 16: 6-15

“But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. 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.

Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God”
Romans 8: 9-16

“ ... In Christ. In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed,ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, which is the earnest of our inheritance ...”
Ephesians 1: 13-14

Man

The first man Adam was created by God Himself in His image and in His likeness. When God made him, he was an innocent being. But in the passing of time he subsequently sinned. Adam as head of the entire human race has passed on a sinful nature to all mankind after him. As a consequence, all people are sinners by nature and by practice. Without God's salvation man is eternally lost.

This is what the Bible says about man:

“So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.”
Genesis 1: 27

“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 ...”
Romans 5: 12

“So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.”
Romans 8: 8

Sin

Sin is the violation of or the direct disobedience to the revealed will of God. It is also a state: the absence of righteousness, morality, honesty, or anything that falls short of the perfect glory of God. He has declared and established that the penalty for sin is eternal death.

This is what the Bible says about sin:

“For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.”
James 2: 10

“Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.”
James 4: 17

“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God ... ”
Romans 3: 23

“Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die.”
Ezekiel 18: 4

"All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all."
Isaiah 53: 6

Salvation

Salvation can only be acquired on the grounds of the death of Christ on the cross as our substitute. Without it the sinner has no hope. Salvation depends entirely on the grace of God and through personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Law-keeping, good works and religious activity cannot accomplish salvation; it rests wholly on the finished work of Christ on the Cross. It is acquired by all those who hear and understand the gospel, truly repent of their sin, and trust in the Lord Jesus Christ alone as their Lord and Saviour.

This is what the Bible says about Salvation:

“The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance"
2 Peter 3: 9

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life"
John 3: 16

"That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation."
Romans 10: 9-13

"For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works."
Ephesians 2: 8-9

"Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved."
Acts 4: 12

“Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
John 3: 3

“Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.”
John 8:12

Related Link - Gospel ABCs

Assurance & Security

All true believers are assured of their salvation based on the authority of the Word of God. Those who are trusting in Christ are safe and secure for all eternity.

This is what the Bible says about Assurance & Security:

“Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ”
Romans 5: 1

“And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand.”
John 10: 28-29

“For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.
2 Timothy 1: 12

“These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life ...”
1 John 5: 13

Heaven & Hell

At death the spirit of man does not cease to exist or become unconscious. The dead will be raised bodily either to eternal life or eternal condemnation. Heaven & hell are realities, in fact the Lord Jesus spoke at length about hell emphasising its awful reality. Heaven is where God is, and hell is where God is not.

This is what the Bible says about Heaven & Hell:

“Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.”
Matthew 7: 13-14

“For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words.”
1 Thessalonians 4: 16-18

"And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.

And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.

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.”
Revelation 20: 11-15

The Blessed Hope

God has revealed different dispensations of times. He has a schedule as and many events that the Bible has prophesied have already come to pass. This present dispensation is called the age of grace. This is indeed a unique time in which we live; for there is one great event to take place, which each believer is looking forward to and that is the personal, imminent return of the Lord Jesus to take His people to be with Himself even as He promised.

What the Bible says about the Blessed Hope:

“Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also."
John 14: 1-3

“But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.

For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words.”
1 Thessalonians 4: 13-18

“Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ ...”
Titus 2: 13

The Church

The first believers met together in humble circumstances, in people's homes and in any place large enough to accommodate them. The believers were called “Christians” by the people of Antioch, and this at the time was probably a derogatory term however believers are more than happy to own the name of Christ. All true believers, those that have been “born of God”, or truly “born again” are part of what the Bible calls “the church”. The church is not a building but the body of believers. The Bible also calls all true believers “The Bride of Christ.” When the local church gathered together it had a specific reason for doing so: “And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.” Acts 2: 42. This is what God intended for His church, even to this day.

This is what the Bible says about the Church:

“He (Peter) came to the house of Mary the mother of John, whose surname was Mark; where many were gathered together praying.”
Acts 12: 13

“The churches of Asia salute you. Aquila and Priscilla salute you much in the Lord, with the church that is in their house.”
1 Corinthians 16: 19

“And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.”
Acts 11: 26

“Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
John 3: 3

“But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.”
John 1: 12-13

“And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.”
Acts 2: 47

"He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom's voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled."
John 3: 29

"And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely."
Revelation 21: 17

Christian Conduct

Christians represent the Lord Jesus here on earth and are therefore expected to live a holy life. They are followers of Jesus Christ and as such, their testimony and service should verify this. Serving the Lord includes ministering to the people of God and spreading the gospel to the whole world. The Lord Jesus Christ Himself has warned against the prioritisation of the laying up of treasures on earth and promises rewards in heaven for serving Him faithfully in our lives on earth.

This is what the Bible says about Christian Conduct.

“But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.”
1 Peter 1: 15-16

“If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.”
Colossians 3: 1-2

“And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it.”
Mark 8: 34-35

“Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light. But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!

No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.
Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?

Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature? And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?

Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself.”
Matthew 6: 19-34

 

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