BELIEFS - Divorced Church

Genesis 1:26 - Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”

I John 5:7 – For there are three that bear witness in heaven: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit; and these three are one.

There is only one living and perfect God. He created and formed the universe through His command.

Genesis 1:1 - In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

Matthew 5:48 - Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

Hebrews 11:3 - By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.

Jesus, God’s only son, sent by God from His throne to the Earth to be born of the flesh through the Holy Spirit, born of a virgin named Mary, sent to save His people from their sins, died on the cross and resurrected in the physical body.

Matthew 1:21 – And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.”

Philippians 2:5-11 - Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, 6who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, 7but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. 8And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. 9Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, 10that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, 11and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

The Holy Spirit sent by God as a Counselor and interpreter of God’s Word, being the supernatural in regeneration and convicting, baptizing, and redeeming. We are commanded to be filled with His Spirit and its life of fruits, to be sealed until the day of redemption.

John 15:26 - “But when the Helper comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me.

I Corinthians 12:13 - For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and have all been made to drink into one Spirit.

Galatians 5:22-23 - But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.

Ephesians 4:30 - And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.

Romans 1:17—For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “The just shall live by faith.”

Galatians 2:21—I do not set aside the grace of God; for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died in vain.

James 2:26—For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

John 10:28-29—And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. 29My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand.

Jude 24—Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy.

Reconciliation of God and humanity through the death of Jesus Christ.  Christ suffered the penalty for our sins, which removes sin from the repentant sinner and allows them to be reconciled with God.

Isaiah 53:5—But He was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed.

The act of God saving people from sin and its consequences. It’s a free gift of God’s grace and is only available through faith in Jesus.

Acts 16:30-31—And he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” 31So they said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.”

Romans 10:9-10—that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

Jesus raised from the dead on the third day after His crucifixion.

Matthew 28:6—He is not here; for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.

I Peter 1:3—Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

God is the giver of His gifts for all His saints. We are to do things in proper order, for the saints to give all glory to God.

Matthew 5:16—Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.

Romans 12:6-8 - Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith; 7or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; he who teaches, in teaching; 8he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.

1 Corinthians 14:40—Let all things be done decently and in order.

Jesus’ disciples fully submit to His authority and lived their lives according to His teachings. He was their Master and they follow Him as their Lord. Even the wind and waves obey Jesus at His command.

Matthew 8:27 - So the men marveled, saying, “Who can this be, that even the winds and the sea obey Him?”

John 13:13-14 - You call Me Teacher and Lord, and you say well, for so I am. 14If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet.

2 Corinthians 5:20 - Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God.

All who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and who have received Him as their savior are the true church of God. God’s church is autonomous as instructed in His Word.

Acts 15:19-31 - Therefore I judge that we should not trouble those from among the Gentiles who are turning to God, 20but that we write to them to abstain from things polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from things strangled, and from blood. 21For Moses has had throughout many generations those who preach him in every city, being read in the synagogues every Sabbath.” 22Then it pleased the apostles and elders, with the whole church, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas, namely, Judas who was also named Barsabas, and Silas, leading men among the brethren. 23They wrote this letter by them: the apostles, the elders, and the brethren, to the brethren who are of the Gentiles in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia: greetings. 24Since we have heard that some who went out from us have troubled you with words, unsettling your souls, saying, “You must be circumcised and keep the law” —to whom we gave no such commandment— 25it seemed good to us, being assembled with one accord, to send chosen men to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, 26men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. 27We have therefore sent Judas and Silas, who will also report the same things by word of mouth. 28For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things: 29that you abstain from things offered to idols, from blood, from things strangled, and from sexual immorality. If you keep yourselves from these, you will do well. Farewell. 30So when they were sent off, they came to Antioch; and when they had gathered the multitude together, they delivered the letter. 31When they had read it, they rejoiced over its encouragement.

The term “tongues” is a Greek word that translates to “languages”. On the day of Pentecost the disciples spoke in known languages. It was not jibberish, it was understood words the people heard. The people thought the disciples were drunk because all of them were speaking actual languages they recognized. Note: I speak only English.

Acts 2:6-11—And when this sound occurred, the multitude came together, and were confused, because everyone heard them speak in his own language. 7Then they were all amazed and marveled, saying to one another, “Look, are not all these who speak Galileans? 8And how is it that we hear, each in our own language in which we were born? 9Parthians and Medes and Elamites, those dwelling in Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya adjoining Cyrene, visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, 11Cretans and Arabs—we hear them speaking in our own tongues the wonderful works of God.”

We eat the bread and drink the wine to remember Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross.

I Corinthians 11:26—For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes.

BAPTISM

Acts 8:38—So he commanded the chariot to stand still. And both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and he baptized him.

Romans 6:3-4—Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? 4Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

I Peter 3:21—There is also an antitype which now saves us—baptism (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,

GUIDES – Psalm 23:3 - He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.

NURTURES – Isaiah 40:11 - He will feed His flock like a shepherd; He will gather the lambs with His arm, and carry them in His bosom, and gently lead those who are with young.

OBEDIENT - Matthew 19:16-17 - Now behold, one came and said to Him, “Good Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?” 17So He said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments.”

LAYS DOWN HIS LIFE – John 10:11 - “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep.

PROTECTS – John 10:28 - And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand.

WHEN BIBLICAL ABUSE ARISES These are a few examples as to why it is important to shepherd the flock as Jesus is a shepherd unto His church. (few examples as follows)

Abusing the Lord’s Supper - I Corinthians 11:17-34

Jealousy that leads to violence - Genesis 4:1-16

Fractured Relationships – Genesis 37

Injustice – Exodus 1-14

Power and unchecked authority – Judges 11:29-40

Brutal Abuse – Judges 19

Lack of Respect and Consent – II Samuel 11

Support and Protection – II Samuel 13

Adversity of friends – Book of Job

Wolves in sheep’s clothing – Matthew 7:15

God made each person at conception as male or female. Two distinct genders made in the image of God. Marriage being between only one male and one female in a single and exclusive union.

Genesis 1:26-31 - Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” 27So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. 28Then God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” 29And God said, “See, I have given you every herb that yields seed which is on the face of all the earth, and every tree whose fruit yields seed; to you it shall be for food. 30Also, to every beast of the earth, to every bird of the air, and to everything that creeps on the earth, in which there is life, I have given every green herb for food”; and it was so. 31Then God saw everything that He had made, and indeed it was very good. So the evening and the morning were the sixth day.

I Corinthians 6:16-20 - Or do you not know that he who is joined to a harlot is one body with her? For “the two,” He says, “shall become one flesh.” 17But he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him. 18Flee sexual immorality. Every sin that a man does is outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body. 19Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? 20For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.

We are called to be ready for God when He asks of us. The author Mark loved using the word “immediately”. When spontaneous happens to us from God, let us respond immediately. If it is a matter that is rather challenging to us or difficult, be quick to prayer (Philippians 4:6-7) and always keep God in the equation.

Psalm 119:59-60—I thought about my ways, and turned my feet to Your testimonies. 60I made haste, and did not delay to keep Your commandments.

Psalm 150:1-6—Praise the Lord! Praise God in His sanctuary; praise Him in His mighty firmament! 2Praise Him for His mighty acts; praise Him according to His excellent greatness! 3Praise Him with the sound of the trumpet; praise Him with the lute and harp! 4Praise Him with the timbrel and dance; praise Him with stringed instruments and flutes! 5Praise Him with loud cymbals; praise Him with clashing cymbals! 6Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord!

Hebrews 10:24-25—And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, 25not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.

II Corinthians 9:7 & 12 - 7So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver. 12For the administration of this service not only supplies the needs of the saints, but also is abounding through many thanksgivings to God,

This is a discussion involving modesty as a Christian. I Timothy 2:9 mentions propriety in women AND I Timothy 3:2 implores respectable and good behavior in men. People like to argue these verses, but we know as Christians these verses are described as an outward expression but we know that it is the inward posture that starts in the heart. Modesty in the Bible associates with humility and self-control. We are to be motivated by a desire to draw attention to God and to live in self-control .

Matthew 23:27-28—“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness. 28Even so you also outwardly appear righteous to men, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.

Matthew 19:7-9—They said to Him, “Why then did Moses command to give a certificate of divorce, and to put her away?” 8He said to them, “Moses, because of the hardness of your hearts, permitted you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning it was not so. 9And I say to you, whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery; and whoever marries her who is divorced commits adultery.”

Romans 12:13—distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality.

Hebrews 13:2—Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some have unwittingly entertained angels.

I Peter 4:9—Be hospitable to one another without grumbling.

The church should visit homes, nursing homes, hospitals, schools, community gatherings, etc; also encourage the church to be visitors in the faith of Jesus, to be equipped and ready to fellowship in prayer and songs with one another.

James 5:14—Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord.

Hebrews 3:13—But exhort one another daily, while it is called today; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.

When Christ returns, the bodies of the saved dead will rise along with the saved living and to meet Him in the sky to be with Him forever. Christ will establish His millennial Kingdom.

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 - But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. 14For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus. 15For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. 16For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. 18Therefore comfort one another with these words.

Zechariah 14:4-11 - And in that day His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, which faces Jerusalem on the east. and the Mount of Olives shall be split in two, from east to west, making a very large valley; half of the mountain shall move toward the north and half of it toward the south. 5Then you shall flee through My mountain valley, for the mountain valley shall reach to Azal. Yes, you shall flee as you fled from the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah.Thus the Lord my God will come, and all the saints with You. 6It shall come to pass in that day that there will be no light; the lights will diminish. 7It shall be one day which is known to the Lord— neither day nor night. But at evening time it shall happen that it will be light. 8And in that day it shall be that living waters shall flow from Jerusalem, half of them toward the eastern sea and half of them toward the western sea; in both summer and winter it shall occur. 9And the Lord shall be King over all the earth. In that day it shall be “the Lord is one,” and His name one. 10All the land shall be turned into a plain from Geba to Rimmon south of Jerusalem. Jerusalem shall be raised up and inhabited in her place from Benjamin’s Gate to the place of the First Gate and the Corner Gate, and from the Tower of Hananel to the king’s winepresses. 11The people shall dwell in it; and no longer shall there be utter destruction, but Jerusalem shall be safely inhabited.