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Doctrine

Without reservation I confess the Westminster Shorter Catechism to be a faithful summary and confession of Holy Scripture. It is available here.

I teach a high view of scripture and 8 attributes of the Word of God critical for all who would follow the ancient paths. Holy Scripture is F.A.I.T.H.F.U.L.

Foundational
Authority
Inerrant
True
Highly-Effective
Full
Understandable
Light

F | Foundational –

All of the life and doctrine of a true believer is to be built on the foundation of Holy Scripture alone. Including the Old Testament (39 books from “the prophets”), the New Testament (27 books from “the Apostles”) with Jesus Christ as the “cornerstone.”
Ephesians 2:19–20 “You are no longer strangers and sojourners, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God’s household, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone…”

A | Authority –

The Word of God is “God-breathed,” and therefore every word in its original writing has the full authority of God Himself, who is the only Lord and King of everything. Therefore, Scripture is the sole authority for all of life and faith.
2 Timothy 3:16–17 “All Scripture is God-breathed and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be equipped, having been thoroughly equipped for every good work.”

I | Inerrancy –

All of the Holy Bible is “God-breathed,” and therefore in its original writing is fact, not fiction. Therefore, Scripture is completely without error. The weakness and fallen-ness of the human authors caused neither distortion or falsehood to God’s Word.
Titus 1:2 “God cannot lie”
2 Peter 1:21 “For no prophecy was ever made by the will of man, but men being moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.”

T | True –

Every originally written word of Scripture has the reliability of God himself. All of it, including His records of history, of the eternal future, His promises, His commands, and His warnings are true. Scripture is completely true when understood rightly will lead only to the right path for all of life and faith. Scripture leads no one astray from the truth.
John 17:17 “Your Word is Truth”
Psalm 19:7 “The law of Yahweh is perfect, restoring the soul; The testimony of Yahweh is sure, making wise the simple.”
John 3:33; Romans 3:3–4 

H | Highly-Effective –

The One who speaks through His Word is divine, and therefore His written words are divinely powered to accomplish what He wills. Therefore, God’s words in Holy Scripture are not simply effective, but powerfully so. It is where the true believer turns when facing trials or temptations to hear God speak and work in their heart and life.
Isaiah 55:10–11 “As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return there without watering the earth And making it bear and sprout, and giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, So will My word be which goes forth from My mouth; It will not return to Me empty, without accomplishing what pleases Me, And without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it.”
Luke 8:4-15; Hebrews 4:12; 11:3

F | Full –

Nothing is missing from Holy Scripture. The Bible is complete and whole in its original 66 books. God’s Word is sufficient for all of life and godliness.
2 Timothy 3:16–17 “All Scripture is God-breathed and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be equipped, having been thoroughly equipped for every good work.”
2 Peter 1:3 “His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the full knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence.”
Deut 4:2; 12:32; Prov 30:6; Jer. 26:2; Revelation 22:18–19; 

U | Understandable –

For those who the Lord gifts understanding (2 Tim 2:7), the Bible is clear and simple enough to create justifying faith in the Lord and Savior. However, some passages of scripture are “hard to understand” (2 Pet. 3:16), yet will become clear through devoted study and application. When a true believer receives saving faith, he also receives the Holy Spirit. He illuminates the Word as “the Spirit of truth” who “will guide you into all truth.” (John 16:13)
Deuteronomy 30:11–14 “For this commandment which I am commanding you today is not too difficult for you, nor is it far from you. It is not in heaven, that you should say, ‘Who will go up to heaven for us and get it for us and make us hear it, that we may do it?’ Nor is it beyond the sea, that you should say, ‘Who will cross the sea for us and get it for us and make us hear it, that we may do it?’ But the word is very near you, in your mouth and in your heart, that you may do it.
2 Timothy 3:15 ”From childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to make you wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.”
Deut. 6:6–7; Ps. 19:7

L | Light –

The general revelation of God’s character through creation is enough evidence for all of mankind to be without excuse before God (Rom 1:19-32). However, the specific revelation of biblical truth provides the way to the forgiving grace of God through faith (Rom 10:15, 17).

Further, the complete counsel of God regarding His character, His works, all of man’s life, justifying salvation, good works and ultimate glorification, are revealed in the light of Scripture.
Psalm 119:105 “Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path.”
John 1:1 “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”
John 1:4–5 “In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men. And the Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overtake it.”
John 3:20–22 “For everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come to the Light lest his deeds be exposed. But he who practices the truth comes to the Light, so that his deeds may be manifested as having been done by God.” After these things Jesus and His disciples came into the land of Judea, and there He was spending time with them and baptizing.
2 Corinthians 4:3–4; 2 Corinthians 3:16; 1 Corinthians 2:6–11

I teach the purpose of man found in scripture as summarized in the words of the Westminster Catechism: “Man’s chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him forever.” However, even the enemies of God can bring Him glory (Rom 9:17, 22-23), as well as creation (Psalm 19:1). Yet, a unique and greater glory is given by the people of God in their life of sacrificial-holy-worship (Romans 12:1-2).
Romans 11:36 “For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen.”
1 Corinthians 6:20 “For you were bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body.”
1 Corinthians 10:31 “Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.”
Isaiah 43:7 “Everyone who is called by My name, And whom I have created for My glory, Whom I have formed, even whom I have made.”
Romans 12:1 “Therefore I exhort you, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a sacrifice—living, holy, and pleasing to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.”
John 4:23–24

I teach and hold to the Lord’s day as the New Covenant Sabbath in agreement with the Westminster Confession which says the sabbath is “to be kept holy unto Him: which, from the beginning of the world to the resurrection of Christ, was the last day of the week; and, from the resurrection of Christ, was changed into the first day of the week, which in Scripture is called the Lord’s Day, and is to be continued to the end of the world as the Christian Sabbath.” (22:VII)

The Decalogue, aka Ten Commandments, are found in Exodus 20:1–17 and Deuteronomy 5:6–21. These are incorrectly translated as the “10 Commandments” in Exodus 34:28; Deuteronomy 4:13, 10:4. Biblically and historically the Church rightly called these the Decalogue. “Deca” meaning ten and “logue” from logos the Greek word defined as “word” or “statement.” Even predating the New Covenant, the people of God understood these as the Decalogue. For the Greek translation of these passage used in Jesus day was δέκα λόγους (Deca Logos).

The reason for continuing in this original understanding is that the first statement of the Decalogue has been lost in the 10 commandments. This had been “I am Yahweh your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery (Ex 20:2).” Here in the first statement is the redemptive work of God that was the cause to follow the other 9 statements. First comes the reason why we glorify God, then how to do so in the nine commands. Thus, the command to have no other God and make no idols was originally one and the same statement. As well as the command to not covet were originally one. The Jews today still hold to this historical ordering. The church needs to return to this proper translation, so that the reason for God’s glory and worship are retained as God spoke within the Decalogue.

I teach and affirm the doctrine of the Westminster Confession approved by the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, 1647, apart from the following 4 exceptions. The Westminster Confession is available here.

  1. Chapter 9 section IV alone, Of Free Will. There is no biblical evidence for a believers freewill to choose good or evil. God is the one “at work both to will and to work for His good pleasure” (Phil 2:13). A believer’s ability to seemingly choose good, is always God’s work, and thus God receives the glory and not man.
  2. Chapter 22 in full, regarding lawful oaths and vows. See Matthew 5:34–37 & James 5:12. There is however a scriptural difference between “oaths” and “swearing” which are forbidden by God, and covenants which are not forbidden. The distinction is found in the original meaning, where oaths and swearing are method of attempted verification of ones honest words and covenants are binding agreements between parties. Examples of covenants is a binding agreement in marriage, business, or the New Covenant.
  3. Chapter 27 section IV alone, regarding the sacraments “dispensed only by a minister of the Word, lawfully ordained.” There is no evidence of this requirement found in scripture. Although for the sake of order in the church, this can be a good practice (1 Corinthians 14:40).
  4. Chapter 31 in full, Of Synods and Councils. Acts 15:2-6 is sighted as evidence for Synods or modern “councils.” However, there is no evidence of a modern Synod in this passage where there are positions of some to lead and make decisions for a large group of churches. Instead we find the apostles and elders of the Jerusalem church meeting with other elders (Paul and Barnabas) and individuals to take up council and confirm unity on New Testament doctrine before the New Testament was written down and available. Paul took the people to the source teaching of the Gospels to show the unity and truth of his teaching. Both of these are now contained in scripture, making it unnecessary to make it normal to have councils like this, but necessary to return to the teaching of scripture for accountability and unity. Matthew 18:17-19 is also given as support for Synods, however church discipline in this passage is applied to the church by Jesus in verse 17, which gives no necessary reason to see it as any organization outside a local gathering of believers.