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Statement of FaithTheWayIsNarrow.org presents a biblical, orthodox Christian viewpoint consistent with the 1689 London Baptist Confession and reflected in the following core beliefs.
God
There is one living, eternal, true God. Infinite in all perfections, unchanging, and absolutely sovereign, He is the Creator, Sustainer and Ruler of the universe. For all of eternity, He directs or permits all events, and sustains and governs all creatures; yet He is neither the author nor approver of sin, being infinitely holy. Comprising the unity of the Godhead are three co-equal, co-eternal Persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, with distinct personal characteristics, but unified in essence and being.
One true God: Deut 6:4, 4:35,39, 32:39; 1 Chr 17:20; 2 Sam 7:22; 1 Ki 8:60; Ps 86:10; Is 37:16, 44:6, 44:8; 45:6, 45:21; 46:9; Zec 14:9; Mk 12:29-34; John 17:3; 1 Cor 8:4-6; Eph 4:6; 1 Tim 1:17, 2:5; Jam 2:19. Infinite in all perfections / (infinite): 1 Ki 8:27; 2 Chr 2:6; Job 26:14; Ps 139:7-10, 145:3; Pro 15:3; Is 66:11; Jer 23:23-24; Acts 7:48-49, 17:24-28; Rom 11:33; Rev 1:8. (eternal): Gen 21:33; Ex 15:18; Deut 32:40, 33:27; 1 Chr 16:34; Neh 9:5; Ps 33:11, 90:1-2, 102:12, 102:25-27; Is 41:4, 48:12; Jer 10:10; Lam 5:19; Dan 6:26; Hab 1:12; John 8:58; 1 Tim 6:16; Heb 13:8; Rev 1:8, 4:8-10. (omniscient): 1 Chr 28:9; Ps 33:13, 139:1-6, 147:5; Is 40:28; Ezek 11:5; Acts 15:18; Rom 2:16, 11:33; Heb 4:13; 1 John 3:20. (omnipotent): Ps 115:3; Is 40:28, 48:12-13; Jer 10:10, 32:17; Mt 19:26; Mk 14:36; Rom 11:36; Eph 1:11, 1:19-21; Col 1:15-17; Heb 1:3. (omnipresent): Jos 1:5; 1 Ki 8:27; Job 11:7-9; Ps 90:1-2, 139:7-12; Pro 15:3; Is 66:1-2; Jer 23:23-24. (unchanging): Num 23:19; Is 40:8; 1 Sam 15:29; Ps 33:11, 102:25-27; Mal 3:6; Rom 11:29; Heb 1:10-12, 6:17, 13:8; Jam 1:17. (good): Ex 33:19, 34:6-7; 1 Chr 16:34; Ps 25:8, 27:13, 31:19-20, 34:8, 86:5, 106:1, 119:68, 135:3, 136:1, 143:10, 145:7; Neh 9:20; Nah 1:7; Mt 19:17; Mk 10:18; Lk 18:19; Rom 2:4; Jam 1:17. (righteous): Gen 18:25; Deut 32:4; 2 Chr 19:7; Ps 7:9, 9:8, 19:7-9, 48:10, 65:5; 71:19, 97:2, 97:6, 111:3, 112:3, 119:137, 119:142, 129:4; 145:17; Ezra 9:15; Is 5:16, 45:21, 46:13, 51:8; Jer 9:24, 12:1; Lam 1:18; Dan 9:14; Rev 15:3. (faithful): Num 23:19; Deut 7:8-9, 32:4; Jos 1:5; 1 Sam 15:29; Neh 9:32; Ps 33:4, 36:5, 89, 91:4, 119:75, 119:89-90; Lam 3:22-23; Rom 4:21; 1 Cor 1:9; 1 Thes 5:24, 2 Thes 3:3; 2 Tim 2:13; Heb 2:17, 6:13-15, 10:23, 11:11, 13:5; 1 John 1:9; 1 Pet 4:19; Rev 19:11. (merciful): Ex 34:6-7; Neh 9:32; Ps 6:4; Lam 3:21-22; Rom 9:16, 9:23-24; Eph 2:4; Ti 3:5; Heb 4:15-16; 1 Pet 1:3. (holy): Lev 11:44-45, 19:2, 22:32; Ex 3:5-6, 15:11; Jos 24:191 Sam 2:2; 1 Chr 16:35; Ps 22:3, 33:21, 71:22, 77:13, 96:9, 97:12, 99:2-3, 99:5; Is 5:16, 6:3, 40:25, 43:15, 57:15; Mk 1:24; Lk 1:49; John 17:11; 1 John 1:5; 1 Pet 1:15-16; Rev 4:8, 15:4. Sovereign: Deut 4:39, 10:14; 1 Chr 16:31, 29:11-14; 2 Chr 20:6; Ps 24:1-2, 29:10, 47:2, 115:3, 135:6; Job 42:2; Is 43:13, 45:9-10; Dan 4:35; Rom 8:29-30, 9:19-21; Eph 1:11-12; Col 1:17; 1 Tim 1:17, 6:15; Rev 15:3, 19:6; Creator, Sustainer, Ruler: Neh 9:6; Gen 1:1-25, 14:19; 2 Chr 20:6; Job 26:7, 33:4; Is 37:16, 42:5, 44:24, 45:7, 45:18, 66:2; John 1:3; Col 1:16-17; Pr 3:19; Ps 19:1, 33:6, 33:9, 47:2, 83:18, 103:19, 104:2-4, 104:30, 121:2-8; Amos 4:13, 5:8; Mt 6:28-30; Rom 1:20; Heb 1:2-3; Rev 4:11, 19:6. Directs or permits all events, governs all creatures: Gen 50:20; Job 1:12, 38-39, 42:2; Ex 4:11, 14:8; 1 Sam 2:6-7; Is 45:7; Amos 3:6; Ps 135:7, 147:18, Pr 16:9, 16:33, 20:24, 21:1; Judg 3:8; Jon 1:17, 2:10; 1 Ki 17:6; Dan 1:9, 4:35; Lam 3:38; Ezra 1:1; Mt 10:29; Mark 4:39; Lk 8:24-25; Acts 17:26; Rom 8:28; Eph 1:11, 3:2-11. Neither author nor approver of sin: Jam 1:13; Mt 13:24-30; Rom 5:12; 1 Cor 14:33; 1 John 1:5, 2:16, 3:8; Gen 1:31, 3:1-6, 14-24; Pro 5:5-6; Hab 1:13. Existing in three persons: Is 48:12-16, 63:7-14; Mt 3:16-17, 4:1, 28:19, Mk 1:10-11; Lk 3:21-22; Jn 1:18, 3:16, 5:20-22, 14:26, 15:26, 16:13-15; 2 Cor 13:14; Eph 2:18, 1 John 4:13-14; 1 Pet 1:2; Rev 1:4-5. One essence/multiple persons unified in essence: Gen 1:26, 3:22; 11:7; Deut 6:4; Is 6:8; Jn 10:29-30, 14:9-10; Rom 8:3-4; 1 Cor 8:4; Eph 4:4-6; Jam 2:19.
Man
Man is God’s special achievement of creation, formed wholly by His direct act on the sixth literal day. Made in God’s image and likeness and existing as a three-fold being of body, soul, and spirit, man was given dominion over the earth under God’s authority and exists for the purpose of glorifying Him. Man was originally innocent of sin and granted free will, intelligence, moral responsibility to his Creator, and an eternal spirit. Through Adam’s disobedience, sin was introduced into the world, causing man to lose his innocence and suffer the penalties of physical death and spiritual separation from God. The affliction of sin impacts all of Creation and has been passed down to all future generations of man. Because of man's inherent sin nature and God's inherent holiness, it is impossible for man by his own power to atone and obtain reconciliation with his Creator. Thus his salvation is entirely dependent on God’s grace through Christ’s substitutionary death on the cross.
Formed wholly by direct act: Gen 1:26-27, 2:7, 2:18; 5:2; Job 10:8-12. Made in His image: Gen 1:26, 5:1-2, 9:6; 1 Cor 11:7; Eph: 4:24; Jam 3:9. Three-fold being: Gen 1:26; 1 Thes 5:23; Heb 4:12. Dominion over the earth: Gen 1:26-28; Ps 8:4-8, 115:16; Heb 2:5-8. Purpose: Pro 3:6, 16:4; Eccl 12:13-14; Is 43:7, 43:21, 48:9-11; Mic 6:8; John 17:4; Rom 12:1; 1 Cor 10:31; Eph 1:11-12; Phil 2:11; 1 Pet 2:9. Originally innocent: Gen 1:31; Deut 32:4; Ecc 7:29. Free will: Gen 2:16-17; Deut 11:26-28, 30:11-20; Josh 24:15; Pro 16:9; Ezek 18:30-32; Mt 17:12, 23:37; Mk 7:21-23; John 3:19, 7:17; Rom 13:2; Jam 1:14; Rev 3:20. Eternal spirit: Ps 22:26, 23:6, 49:7-9; Eccl 12:7; Dan 12:2-3; Mt 25:46; Luke 16:22-25; 1 Cor 15:12-19. Penalty of sin: Gen 2:17; Ezek 18:4, 18:20; Ps 145:20; Mt 25:46; Rom 5:12, 6:23; 1 Cor 15:22; Eph 2:1; Gal 6:7; 1 Tim 5:6; Jam 1:15 Sin impacts all Creation: Gen 3:17-18; Ps 102:25-26; Is 24:4-6; Rom 8:20-22. Sin nature passed down: Ps 14:2-3, 51:5, 58:3; Job 14:1-4; Rom 3:10, 5:12, 5:19; 1 Cor 15:22; Eph 2:3. Unable to atone: Ps 49:7; Is 64:6; Rom 3:23, 8:7; Eph 2:8-9; Phil 3:9; Ti 3:5; Jam 2:10. Redemption through Christ: Is 53:5-6; Mt 1:21, 20:28, 26:28; Mark 10:45, 14:24; John 1:12-13, 1:29, 3:16, 6:44, 8:36, 10:11; Rom 5:6-11, 17-18; Eph 1:7; 1 Cor 15:22; 2 Cor 5:14-15, 18-21; Gal 3:14; Col 1:14; Heb 2:9, 5:9, 9:13-15, 9:26-28, 10:10; 1 John 2:2, 4:10, 1 Pet 2:24, 3:18; Rev 5:9.
The Bible
Divinely compiled and preserved through the ages, the 66 books of the bible exist as God’s written revelation of Himself to man. Transmitted by the Holy Spirit through inspired human writers, it is eternal, inerrant, and infallible, and therefore completely accurate and without contradiction or error in the original manuscripts. Holy scripture is complete, sustaining, and wholly authoritative, revealing the principles by which God judges man and His standard to which all human conduct and beliefs are subject.
Revelation of Himself: Ps 119; John 1:1-2, 5:39, 6:63, 17:8, 18; 2 Tim 3:16-17; 1 Thes 2:13; Is 55:10-13; Jer 1:9, 36:1-3; Ezek 12:25; Luke 8:11; 1 Pet 1:25; 1 Cor 2:13; 1 John 5:9. Inspired of the Holy Spirit: John 14:26, 20:31; 1 Cor 14:37; 2 Tim 3:16; 2 Pet 1:19-21, 3:15-16. Eternal/inerrant/infallible: Ps 12:6, 19:7, 119:142, 119:160; Pro 30:5; Is 40:8; Mt 5:18, 24:35; Luke 16:17; John 10:35, 17:17; 2 Sam 7:28. Complete: Deut 4:2, 12:32; Pr 30:6; Rev 22:18-19. Sustaining: Deut 8:3; Ps 119:76, 119:116; Mt 4:4. Authoritative: Deut 12:32; Josh 1:8, 23:6; Ps 19:7-11, 119:89, 119:140, 119:142, 119:160; Pr 30:5; Is 40:8, 45:23; Jer 23:29; Mt 4:4; 5:17-19; Heb 4:12; 2 Tim 3:16; 2 Pet 1:19-21. His Standard: Ps 19:7-11, 119:11, 119:105, 119:160; Pr 30:5; Mt 5:19; Rom 15:4; 2 Tim 3:16-17.
Salvation
Man is spiritually separated from God due to the sin nature inherited from Adam, as well as by his own thoughts and actions, and is unable to atone for this fallen condition through any effort of his own. Salvation is the sovereign act of God through which man is redeemed, absolved of sin, and delivered from His judgment and eternal punishment. It is wholly of God’s grace, freely granted to those called to accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, who by the merit of His shed blood alone obtained a complete and final atonement for believers. Man has no ability to produce his own salvation; his capacity for faith and repentance are themselves gifts of God, and it is only through faith in Christ, demonstrated through obedience and repentance of sins that he may be redeemed. As Christ’s righteousness is imputed to the believer, he is thereby justified before God and sanctified to Him. The salvation of believers is assured and eternal.
Separated from God: Gen 2:17; Is 53:6, 59:1-2; Rom 3:23, 5:12; 2 Thes 1:8-9. Unable to atone: Gen 6:5; Ps 14:3, 49:7; Is 64:6; Jer 17:9; Rom 3:10-18, 3:23; Gal 2:16; Eph 2:8-9; Phil 3:9; Ti 3:5. Of God’s grace: Rom 3:20-24, 9:15-16; Gal 1:15; Eph 1:7, 2:4-5, 2:8; 2 Thes 2:16; 2 Tim 1:9; Ti 2:11, 3:4-7. Those called: Mk 13:20; John 6:44, 6:65, 15:16; Acts 13:48; Rom 8:29-30, 8:33, 9:11; Gal 1:15; Eph 1:4-6; 2 Thes 2:13; Col 3:12; 2 Tim 2:10; Ti 1:1; 1 John 4:19; 1 Pet 1:1, 5:13; Rev 13:8, 17:8, 17:14. Through Christ alone: Is 43:11, 53:5, 53:11-12; John 1:12-13, 3:16-17, 3:36, 10:9; 14:6; Acts 4:12, 13:38-39, 16:30-31; Rom 4:25, 5:1, 5:8, 6:23, 10:9-10; 2 Cor 5:17, 5:21; Gal 2:15-16; Eph 1:13-14; 1 Thes 5:9-10; Heb 2:9, 5:9, 9:13-15, 9:26-28, 10:10; 1 1 Tim 2:5; Ti 2:13-14; 1 Pet 1:18-19; 3:18; 1 John 5:11-13; Faith, repentance the work of God: Acts 5:31, 11:16-18; 1 Cor 12:3; Eph 2:1-5, 2:8; Phil 2:12-13; 2 Tim 2:25. Assured and eternal: John 5:24, 6:37-40, 10:28; Rom 8:38-39; 2 Cor 5:1; Heb 7:25, 13:5; 1 Pet 1:5.
Christ
Jesus Christ is God incarnate, the eternal Word and second Person of the trinity (Son) manifested in the flesh, having precisely the same essence and perfections as God the Father and God the Holy Spirit. To the purpose of God’s revelation of Himself and fulfilment of His plan of redemption for humanity, God the Son entered human history as the man Jesus of Nazareth in order to reconcile sinful man to holy God. Jesus was conceived miraculously by the Holy Spirit, was born of a virgin, and possesses both a divine and a human nature. Having been rejected by Israel as its promised Messiah and King, He gave His life as a ransom for many according to the eternal counsel of God. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, He was literally, physically resurrected in the same body in which He lived and ascended to heaven in a glorified state. It is through His substitutionary death and resurrection alone that God’s justice is satisfied, the penalty of sin erased, and eternal life secured for believers. The only mediator between God and man, He is now seated at the right hand of God the Father making intercession for those who believe in Him and trust in His atonement on their behalf. In keeping with His promises, He will come to collect His Church and judge and reign eternally.
God incarnate: Is 7:14, 9:6, 43:10-11; Mt 1:23, 12:8; Jn 1:1-3, 1:14, 1:18, 5:17, 5:23, 8:24, 8:58, 9:35-38, 10:28-30, 10:38, 12:44-46, 13:13, 13:18-19, 14:6-7, 14:9-11, 18:6, 20:28; Acts 20:28; Rom 1:4; 1 Cor 8:6; 2 Cor 4:4, 13:14; Col 1:15-17, 2:9-10; 1 Tim 3:16, 6:14-16; Titus 2:13; Phil 2:5-8; Heb 1:2-3, 1:8-9, 13:8; 2 Pet 1:1; 1 Jn 5:20; 2 Jn 1:7; Rev 1:5-6, 1:8, 1:17-18, 2:8, 5:8-9, 22:13, 22:16. Reconciles man unto God: Is 25:7-9, 53:5, 53:12; Mk 10:45; Jn 3:16-17, 10:10; Acts 20:28; Rom 3:24-26, 5:8-10, 5:18, 6:4; 1 Cor 1:30, 6:20, 7:23, Eph 1:7, 1:14, 5:1-2; Gal 1:4, 2:20, 3:13, 4:5; Col 1:14, 1:20-22; 1 Tim 2:6; Titus 2:14; Heb 9:12, 9:15, 10:14; 1 Pet 1:18-19, 3:18; 1 Jn 3:16, Rev 5:9. Conceived miraculously: Gen 3:15; Is 7:14; Mt 1:18, 1:20, 1:23; Lk 1:27, 1:34-35. Sinless: Is 53:9; Mt 4:1-25; Jn 8:29, 8:46; 2 Cor 5:21; Heb 4:15, 5:8-9, 7:26, 9:14; 1 Pet 1:18-19, 2:22; 1 Jn 3:5. Possesses both divine and human natures: Mic 5:2; Lk 2:52; 24:39; Jn 1:14, 14:9-10; 20:26-29; Rom 8:3, 9:5; Gal 4:4; Col 2:9; 1 Tim 3:16; Heb 2:14, 4:15; 1 Jn 4:2-3. According to the eternal counsel: Is 53:10-12; Jn 10:17-18; Acts 2:23, Eph 3:11; Heb 5:5. Resurrected: Mt 28:6; Mk 16:6; Lk 24:6; Jn 20:14-16, 20:25-27; Acts 2:24, 3:15, 17:31; Rom 1:4; 4:25, 6:4-5, 6:9-11, 8:11; 1 Cor 6:14, 15:2-5; 2 Cor 5:15; Eph 1:19-20; Phil 3:10; Col 2:12; 1 Thes 1:10; 1 Pet 1:3, 3:21; Rev 1:17-18. Ascended: Mk 16:19; Lk 24:51; Jn 3:13, 7:33, 14:2, 16:28, 20:17; Acts 1:9-11; Eph 4:8; 1 Tim 3:16; Heb 4:14, 9:24; 1 Pet 3:22. The only mediator: Mt 7:13-14, 11:27; Mk 16:16; Jn 1:11-12, 3:18, 3:36, 8:24, 10:9, 14:6, Acts 4:12; Rom 8:34; 1 Tim 2:5 1 Jn 2:23, 5:12, 17:9; Rev 1:18. Collect the faithful: Is 25:8-9; Dan 12:1-2; Mal 3:17; Mt 13:30, 24:31, 24:42; Mk 13:32; Lk 12:40, 17:34-35, 21:36; Jn 1-3; 14:31; 1 Cor 15:51-53; Phil 3:20-21; 1 Thes 1:10, 2:19-20, 4:16-17, 5:9; 2 Thes 2:7; Heb 9:28; Rev 3:10, 4:4. Return: 1 Chr 16:33; Job 19:25; Ps 2:8-9, 50:3-5, 96:13; 102:16, 102:22, 110:5-6; Is 2:4, 9:6-7, 11:4-9, 24:23, 26:21, 66:15-16; Jer 23:5, 33:6-18; Dan 7:13-14; Ezek 39:7-8, 39:21-22, 43:7; Joel 2:1-2, 3:14-17; Mic 4:1-7; Zep 3:14-20; Zec 2:10, 6:12-13, 8:3, 9:10, 14:3, 14:9; Mal 3:1; Mt 16:27, 19:28, 24:27, 24:30-31, 24:37-39, 25:31-32; Mk 8:38, 9:1; Lk 17:28-20; 21:25-28, 21:34-36; Jn 5:28-29, 16:8; Acts 1:11, 3:19-21, 17:31; 1 Cor 1:7, 4:5, 11:26, 15:23-24; 1 Thes 5:3, 2 Thes 1:6-7, 2:8; 1 Tim 6:14-15; 2 Tim 4:1; Heb 10:37; Jam 5:7-9, 2 Pet 3:10; 1 Jn 2:28; Jude 1:14-15; Rev 1:7-8, 3:11, 16:15, 19:11-16, 22:12-13; 22:20.
Repentance and Faith
Granted through the grace of God alone, repentance from sin and faith in the atoning work of Jesus Christ are the inseparable traits of the redeemed. Repentance is one's own conviction of his guilt before God and the inward, conscious decision to turn away from sin and obey Christ as Lord of his life. True faith, attended always by a repentant and obedient heart, is full trust in Christ alone as the only and all-sufficient savior that justifies man before holy God.
By grace alone: Zec 12:10; Acts 11:18; Rom 2:4; Eph 2:8; Gal 2:16; Ti 2:11-13; Necessary: Gen 15:6; Ps 51; Is 55:1-13; Ezek 14:6; Mt 3:8, 4:17; Mk 1:15; Luke 7:50, 15:18-24; John 1:12, 3:16, 3:36, 5:24, 6:35, 6:40, 11:25, 12:46, 14:6; Acts 2:38, 3:19-21, 8:37, 10:43, 11:18, 13:39, 15:8-9, 16:30-31, 20:21; Rom 1:16, 4:3, 5:1, 9:33, 10:9, 10:13, 1:16-17; 1 Cor 15:1-4; 2 Cor 4:13-14, 7:10; Eph 2:8; Gal 2:16; 2 Tim 2:25, 3:15; Jam 4:7-10; 2 Pet 3:9; 1 John 5:1.
Ordinances
Water baptism and the Lord’s Supper, as documented in the New Testament, are the only ordinances established by Jesus Christ, taught by the original apostles, and instituted by the early church. As believers are saved through Christ alone, these ordinances in and of themselves do not impart salvation, but stand as symbolic testaments of the believer's faith and obedience. Baptism is the full immersion of a believer in water to symbolize and publicly testify to one’s fellowship in the death, burial and resurrection of Christ. The Lord’s Supper commemorates the death of Christ, allowing believers to recall His sacrifice and affirm their faith in the salvation and spiritual sustenance that it provides.
Baptism: Mt 3:11-17, 28:19-20; Mk 1:4-5, 8-10; Luke 3:16, 21-22; John 1:29-33, 3:23; Rom 6:1-18, 6:4; Acts 2:38-41, 8:12, 8:36-38, 10:47-48, 16:32-33, 18:7-8, 22:16; 1 Cor 12:13; Eph 4:4-6; Gal 3:27; Col 2:12; 1 Pet 3:21. Lord’s Supper: Luke 22:19-20; Mt 26:26-29; Mk 14:22-25; John 6:53-59; Acts 2:42; 20:7; 1 Cor 10:16, 11:23-26, 11:28. Saved through Christ alone: John 3:16, 3:36, 5:24, 10:9, 14:6; Acts 4:12, 13:39, 16:31; Rom 3:28, 5:1, 6:23; 2 Cor 5:21; Gal 2:15-16, 3:26; Eph 2:8-10; 1 Tim 2:5; Ti 3:4-7; Is 43:11.
Resurrection, Final Judgment, and the Eternal State
All people, regardless of their redemptive status before God, will be bodily resurrected. The saved will be resurrected to eternal life and fellowship with God, the unsaved to everlasting punishment and the eternal judgment of God. The souls of believers in Christ upon death immediately pass into His presence and remain in a state of conscious blessedness until their resurrection at the second coming of Christ. They are then judged and rewarded for their Christian works. The souls of dead unbelievers are immediately delivered to a state of conscious torment until their resurrection at Christ's final judgment of the unsaved, resulting in their sentencing to eternal hell. After the final judgment and God’s destruction of the universe, He will create new heavens and a new earth to replace the former. As the physical eternal dwelling of believers forever associated with God in glory, the new earth will be free from sin, evil, suffering and death. Redeemed man, existing in a glorified physical state and fully reconciled unto God, will dwell in His presence for all eternity.
Resurrection of the saved: Job 19:25-26; Ps 17:15, 49:15, 71:20; Is 26:19; Dan 12:2; Hos 13:14; Mt 24:31, 27:52-53; Luke 14:14; John 5:21, 5:24, 5:28-29, 6:39-40, 6:54, 11:24-26; Acts 24:15; Rom 8:11; 1 Cor 4:14, 5:1-4, 6:14, 15:20-23, 15:42-44, 15:51-53; Phil 3:21; Col 3:4; 1 Thes 4:13-16; 2 Tim 2:11, 1 John 3:2; Rev 20:4, 20:6. Resurrection of the unsaved: Dan 12:2; John 5:21, 5:28-29, Acts 24:15; Rev 20:5, 20:12-13; Believers immediately pass into God’s presence: Luke 16:22, 23:43; Acts 7:55-59; 2 Cor 5:6-8; Phil 1:21-23, Rev 6:9-11; Conscious blessedness/eternal glory: Mt 6:20; 13:43; John 3:36; 1 Cor 2:9; 2 Cor 4:17; Eph 2:6; Col 3:3; 1 Pet 1:4-5, 5:10; Rev 3:4-5, 6:11, 7:15, 14:13, 21:4-7, 22:3-5, 22:14; Believers judged and rewarded: Mt 5:12, 6:4, 10:41, 16:27, 25:20-21, 25:34-40, 25:46, Luke 19:17-19; Acts 17:30-31; 1 Cor 3:13-15, 9:25; 2 Cor 5:10; 1 Thes 2:19, 2 Tim 4:1, 4:8; Jam 1:12; 1 Pet 5:4; 2 John 8; Rev 2:26-28, 11:18, 20:13, 22:12; Conscious torment/eternal hell: Dan 12:2, Ps 55:15; Is 66:24; Mt 3:12, 10:28, 13:41-42, 13:50, 24:51, 25:41, 25:46; Mk 9:43-48; Luke 16:22-24; John 3:36; 2 Thes 1:9; Jude 1:7, 1:13; Rev 14:11, 21:8; Judgment of the unsaved: Ezek 33:11; Mt 16:27, 25:41-46; Acts 17:30-31; 2 Thes 1:9, 2 Tim 4:1; Rev 11:18, 20:11-15, 21:8, 22:12; Destruction of the universe: Ps 102:25-26; Is 24:1-3, 34:4, 51:6; Mt 24:35; Mk 13:31; 2 Pet 3:7, 3:10-12; Rev 20:11; New heavens and earth: Is 65:17, 66:22; 2 Pet 3:10-13; Rev 21:1-2, 21:10-27, 22:1-3; Redeemed dwell in God’s presence: Rev 3:21, 7:15, 19:9, 21:3-4, 21:7, 22:14.
The Great Commission and the Believer’s Service
It is the responsibility of every believer to glorify God in his life, spread the gospel, maintain a personal standard of conduct that is blameless before the world, exercise wise stewardship of resources, and strive to attain a full maturity of faith in Christ. Believers have been granted a variety of gifts for service, with each called to their own divinely appointed service as God may will. Throughout church history, God has called certain gifted believers to ministry for the purposes of edifying fellow believers and evangelizing the heathen; these individuals are to be sustained and encouraged in their service to the fulfilment of His will.
Glorify God: 1 Chr 16:25-29; Ps 29:1-2, 34:3, 63:3, 86:8-12, 96:4-9, 99:9, 118:28; Is 24:14-15, 25:1, 42:12; Mt 5:16; John 17:4; Rom 4:20, 1 Cor 10:31, 2 Thes 1:11-12, 1 Pet 4:11, Rev 7:12, 14:7, 15:4 Spread the gospel/Great Commission: Mt 9:37-38, 28:19, Mk 16:15; Luke 10:1-2, 24:47, John 4:35-38, 20:21, Acts 1:8, 2:1-47, 10:42, 22:21, 28:28, Rom 10:15 Blameless conduct: Ps 15:2, 101:2; Mt 7:12; Luke 6:31; 1 Cor 9:27; Eph 1:4; Phil 1:10, 2:15; Col 1:10; 1:27; 1 Thes 2:10, 3:13, 4:11, 5:22, 1 Tim 3:2; Ti 2:12, Heb 12:1; 2 Pet 3:14; Wise stewardship: Lev 27:30; Pro 3:9, 21:20; Hag 1:3-11; Mal 3:10; Mt 25:14-30; Luke 12:42-46, 16:11; Acts 2:44-45; 2 Cor 9:6-7; 1 Tim 3:4-5, 3:12, 6:17-19; Ti 1:7-10; Jam 1:7; Fullness of faith: Eph 4:13-15, 4:22-23; 2 Cor 7:1; Phil 1:9-11, 3:13-15; Col 1:9-10; 2:2, 2:6-7; Heb 5:14, 11, 1 Pet 1:7 Divine gifts of service: Rom 12:6-8; 1 Cor 12:4-11, 12:27-28; 1 Pet 4:10-11; Called to ministry: Acts 13:2; Rom 10:13-15; 1 Cor 12:28; 2 Cor 4:1; Eph 4:11-16; 1 Tim 4:12; 2 Tim 2:15; Heb 5:4, 13:7; Sustained and encouraged: Rom 15:27; 1 Cor 9:6-11; Gal 6:6; Phil 4:16-18; 1 Tim 5:17-18; 3 John 7-8.
Scripture Alone • Faith Alone • Grace Alone • Christ Alone • To the Glory of God Alone
Most scripture quotations taken from the New American Standard Bible® (NASB)
