Bishop Rex M. Waddell

THE HOLY SCRIPTURE

II Timothy 3:16-17; II Peter 1:19-21

 

I believe that all scripture is inspired by God and it is profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness. Therefore, it expresses truth without error and it is the supreme standard by which all human conduct, creeds, and opinions shall be tried. As so brilliantly illustrated in the phrase “all scripture is given by inspiration of God..” (2 Timothy 3:16); we clearly understand that all scripture is God-inspired or in its Greek interpretation, “God-breathed.” We know from a scientific point of view that our breath carries within it the chemical make-up of our body. Thus the breathalyzer test reveals the chemical conditions of the blood and body. So then, what is inside that person is equally present in their breath! This metaphor lends itself well in this instance. What the Apostle is saying is that that essence of the chemistry of God is present within the chemistry of his word. The word of God is not some dead obsolete, antiquated or archaic writings but the word of God is both powerful and alive. (Hebrews 4:12). It is alive with both the presence and power of God himself! It provides the believer with a “plumb-line” or standard for all human activities.

 

ONE TRUE AND LIVING GOD

Exodus 21:2-3; I Corinthians 8:6; Revelation 4:11; I John 5:7

 

I believe there is one and only one living and true God, an infinite Spirit, the Maker and Supreme Ruler of Heaven and earth; inexpressibly glorious in holiness, and worthy of all possible honor, confidence and love; that in the unity of the God-head there are three persons: the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost, equal in every divine perfection, and executing distinct but harmonious offices in the great work of redemption.The monotheistic attribute of our faith captured within the “shema” located in the first section of the Hebrew Torah declares: “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD.” Deut 6:4 KJV. In this statement, God’s people Israel had both separated themselves from the heathenistic practices of their many polytheistic neighbors and honored and distinguish their God not as one god among many, but identified him as the only true and living God! Through many passages of scripture we have come to recognize the triune nature of our God. “For example, The word “God” in the text that reads: “in the beginning God” Genesis 1:1 .. translates “Elohim” and is a plural noun suggesting that the entire God-head was at work during creation. This explains the phrase “let us make man.” The bible depicts God having one divine nature as God and yet relating in an “object-subject” relationship towards each other within the trinity and are distinctly manifested in three personalities equal in power and glory.

 

JESUS CHRIST THE SON OF GOD

Isaiah 52:11-53:12; Matthew 3:16-17; Mark 9:35; Acts 1.9; Hebrews 1:1-4 Gal 4:4-5

 

I believe in Jesus Christ, God's only begotten Son who himself is God incarnate, conceived by the Holy Spirit. We believe in His virgin birth, sinless life, miracles and teachings. We believe in His substitutionary atoning death, bodily resurrection, ascension into heaven, perpetual intercession for His people, and personal, visible return to earth.God being made flesh or the incarnation of God in the person of Jesus Christ was certainly no divinely ill-conceived strategy; but was a part of God’s plan from before time in memorial. In reality, the scriptures are teeming with prophetic prophecies of God’s plan for salvation through the person and work of Jesus Christ. The Old Testament prophesizes Christ, the Gospels present Christ and the Epistles proclaim Christ. By all evidence both empirical and spiritual Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah! The only begotten Son of the Father, born of a virgin, lived a sinless life, died a substitutiary death on the cross for the sins of mankind, arose from the dead, ascended into heaven, serves as man’s advocate before his Father and will one day return to rapture his church!

 

THE HOLY SPIRIT

John 14:16-17; Matthew 28:19; Hebrews 9:14; John 14:26 Eph 1:13-14

 

I believe that the Holy Spirit is a divine person; that with God the Father and God the Son, and of the same nature; that He was active in the creation; that in His relation to the unbelieving world He restrains the Evil One until judgment; that He bears witness to the Truth of the Gospel in preaching and testimony; that He is the agent in the New Birth; that He seals, endues, guides, teaches, witnesses, sanctifies, and helps the believer. Just as in Genesis the breath of God brought life into man, so the Holy Spirit “as a mighty rushing wind” brings life into God’s church with is the body of Christ. Until its inaugural arrival on the Day of Pentecost, the church was basically an organization of a loosely knit band of frighten and somewhat discouraged disciples. However, upon the arrival of the Holy Spirit that organization of frighten disciples became a living fearless organism! One so powerful that even the very gates of hell cannot prevail against it! Furthermore, the Apostle declares that the Holy Spirit currently working both in us and through us is in reality only an “earnest” or down payment on the greater inheritance that awaits the believer in eternity. He is the spirit of the “promise;” the ambassador of every divine covenant. It is the Holy Spirit that enables us to say “it’s no longer I that lives, but Christ in me the hope of glory!”

 

SATAN THE FALLEN ANGEL

Matthew 4:1-3; II Corinthians 4:4 1 Peter 5:8

 

I believe that Satan is the unholy god of this age, and the author of all the powers of darkness, and is destined to the judgment of an eternal justice in the Lake of Fire. Indeed evil is not the product of some overactive imagination. Evil has a real origin and ambassador in the form of Satan, the fallen angel and is manifested through him and his demonic host. We are all prey to him and subjected to his enticing temptations. Away from the power of Christ and of the Holy Spirit we are no match for him and in our own power we can find no victories over his attacks. As Christians we must be careful not to ignore his existence nor be ignorant of his diabolical schemes. Likewise, we must be careful never to become overly frightened by his threats. Dressed in the whole armor of God, we are fully convinced that “greater is he that is in us, than he that is in the world!”

 

GOD THE CREATOR OF ALL THINGS

Genesis 1 & 2; Colossians 1:16-17; John 1:3

 

I accept the Genesis account of creation and believe that man came by direct creation of God and not by evolution.The term “unmoved mover” has been attributed to the philosophy of Aristotle and in his own words describes one who is the first cause that sets the universe into motion. The “unmoved mover” is not moved by any prior action or motion. Aristotle describes this “unmoved mover” as being perfectly beautiful, indivisible and contemplating only the most perfect contemplation which is in reality itself. Aristotle stops short of naming this “unmoved mover.” For those who have been enlightened by God’s word and God’s way, we easily recognize him in Aristotle’s description. The “unmoved mover” is none other than the only wise God our Lord! John affirms that God is the creator of all things! He is stationary in his godliness. Moving all things and yet nothing is moving him! He is “Elohim” the God of all creation!

 

SINFUL FALL OF MANKIND

Genesis 3:1-6; Romans 5:19; Romans 5:12; Romans 5:10-19; Romans 1:18; Romans 1:32

 

I believe that man was created in innocence under the law of his Maker but by voluntary transgression, fell from his sinless and happy state in consequence of which all mankind are now sinners, not only by constraint, but of choice, and are therefore under just condemnation without defense or excuse.In a very real sense, sin is a genetic disorder that is passed from one human generation to the next. The bible clearly identifies its origin being within our first parents Adam and Eve carried on the gene of their free-will agency. When given the opportunity to obey God or assert their prideful independence they chose the latter and thus plunged all of humanity into a cesspool of iniquity from which no amount of human effort could deliver us. Only faith in the atoning death and resurrection of Jesus Christ can deliver men and woman from the sentence of sin and death.

 

THE VIRGIN BIRTH

Genesis 3:15; Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:18-25; Luke 1:35; John 1:4; John 3:16

 

I believe that Jesus was begotten of the Holy Ghost in a miraculous manner; born of Mary, a virgin; as no other man was ever born or can ever be born of woman; and that He is the only begotten Son of God.The doctrine of the Virginal Birth (not to be confused with the doctrine of the Immaculate Conception) is congruent with that of the account of the Blessed Annunciation depicted in the Gospels in which the angel Gabriel expresses to Mary the manner and rationale for her miraculous conception and that this would be accomplished by the coming of the Holy Spirit upon her and through the power of the Most High God (italics mine). 

 

ATONING DEATH AND RESURRECTION OF CHRIST

Ephesians 2:8; Acts 15:11 2 Cor 5:19

 

I believe that the salvation of sinners is wholly of grace; that through the Son of God who, by appointment of the Father, freely took upon Him our nature, yet without sin, honored the divine law of His personal obedience, and by His death made a full and vicarious atonement for our sins; that His atonement consisted not in setting us an example by His a martyr, but was a voluntary substitution of Himself in the death as sinner's place, the Just dying for the unjust; that Christ the Lord body on the tree; that having risen from bore our sin in His own the dead, He is now enthroned in Heaven, and is uniting in His wonderful person the tenderest sympathies with divine perfection, He is in every way qualified to be a suitable, a compassionate and an all-sufficient Savior.

 

The very concept of “atonement” is captured within the word itself: “AT-ONE-MENT” and expresses the reconciliative work of Christ. The general definition for atonement expresses the reparation for a wrong or injury. For the Christian it represents the forgiving or pardoning of sin through the substitutionary or vicarial death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. This is as much of an act of love on the part of God as it is a gift of his divine grace. This action on the part of Christ saved man for eternal death by removing the sin debt that all mankind owed. The concept is best depicted in John 19:30; there while on the cross Jesus uttered the words “it is finished!” The scripture tells us that after saying these words Jesus “gave up the ghost.” (a metaphor for dying). The phrase “it is finished” dramatically illustrated in the Greek interpretation of the text is “tetelestai” meaning “paid in full.” This interpretation expresses the finality and completeness of the work of atonement and salvation accomplished both in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

 

THE GRACE OF GOD

John 3:3; II Corinthians 5:17; I John 5:1; John 3:6-7

 

i believe that in order to be saved, sinners must be born again; that the new birth is a new creation in Christ Jesus; that it is instantaneous and not a process; that in the new birth, the one dead in trespasses and in sins is made a partaker of the divine nature and receives eternal life, the free gift of God; that the new creation is brought about in a manner above our comprehension, soley by the power of the Holy Spirit in connection with divine truth, so as to secure our voluntary obedience to the Gospel; that its proper evidence appears in the holy fruits of repentance and faith and newness of life. Man’s salvation is obtained only through the finished work of Christ’s death and resurrection and is imparted through faith by grace upon the believer by the power of the Holy Ghost. An interesting characteristic of salvation is its triune existence. That is to say, those who have received Jesus and Lord “are” saved from the penalty of sin of sin (justification). But, we are currently “being” saved from the power of sin (sanctification). And we shall one day be saved from the “presence” of sin (glorification). Indeed salvation is instantaneous however, sanctification is a process where the old man must decrease while the new man increases.

 

THE DOCTRINE OF JUSTIFICATION

Acts 13:39; Isaiah 51:11; Zechariah 13:1

 

i believe that we were condemned through our sin and Jesus justified us before God with His supreme sacrifice. Justification includes the pardon of sin and the gift of eternal life on principles of righteousness. It is bestowed, not in consideration of any works of righteousness which we have done, but solely through faith in the Redeemer's blood; His righteousness is imputed to us. In the American legal system there is a stark contrast between the verdicts of being found “innocent” and being found “not guilty.” The latter simply means that there was not sufficient evidence to convict. In our case neither verdict applies because there was sufficient sin evident in our lives to warrant divine judgment. There is none that is innocent of sin. On Calvary’s cross Jesus paid the sin debt we owed in so doing justified us delivering to the sinner a full pardon of their sins.

 

SALVATION

Acts 16:31

 

i believe that faith in the Lord Jesus Christ is the only condition of salvation. However, this faith must be demonstrated and exercised through your works.Christianity is not a “do religion” it is in fact a “done religion.” The entire work of salvation was accomplished solely through and by Jesus Christ. The old adage “we don’t do good things to be saved, we do good things because we are saved” is as theological sound as ever. When it comes to a person being “saved” they need only to understand two words: “Jesus Saves!” Any thing added would be a doctrine of works and would lean towards legalism.

 

THE LOCAL CHURCH

Acts 2:41-42; I Corinthians 11:2; Ephesians 1:22-23; Ephesians 4:11 

 

The church is a group of believers called out of the world by the preaching of the gospel of Jesus Christ of which Jesus Christ himself is the head, and are endowed with the Holy Spirit. The church is the only visible part of God’s kingdom and consequently is called to serve as God’s ambassador and herald of the good news contained in the gospel preaching it to every creature. The church is comprised of various individuals upon who the Holy Spirit have divinely imparted a variety gifts, talents and abilities which they are to use for the advancement of God’s kingdom here on earth. Because of the very nature of the diversity of these spiritual gifts, those individuals laboring in God’s church are equal but are not the same in operation or contribution. Each one of us have a specific purpose and a specific place where we add the most value to God’s kingdom. The church as well as the individual member experiences greater victories when we walk in the vocation wherein we are called.

 

BAPTISM AND THE LORD’S SUPPER

Acts 8:26-39; John 3:23

 

I believe that Christian baptism is the immersion of a believer in water to show forth in a solemn and beautiful emblem our faith in the crucified, buried and risen Savior, with its effect in our death to sin and resurrection to a new life. We believe that the Lord's Supper is the commemoration of His death until He comes and should be preceded always by solemn self-examination.Baptism is an outward expression of an inward faith. It is representative of the death of the old nature being buried in a watery grave and then the resurrection of the new nature born to work in the newness of a life in Christ. The Lord’s Supper is a memorial that points backwards to his death and resurrection and also points forward to his soon return. It is a solemn celebration of the Christian faith.

 

SECURITY OF SALVATION

Philippians 1:6; Romans 8:35-39; John 10:28-29

 

The concept of “once saved always saved” has been a matter of discussion since the days of the early church. What is asserted in your statement strongly resembles the teaching of John Calvin and the amendments of his followers. One of the five points of Calvinism teaches that God has already predetermined who would be saved and chose them before creation. This teaching would mean that the atoning death and resurrection of Jesus was not for everyone but rather for those “elect” individuals. If this is what you are stating then I must say I am a believer of free-will agency and that whosoever comes to Jesus can be saved. However, if you are speaking of the power of the Holy Spirit’s ability to preserve or “keep” us as it relates to their state of salvation then I am in perfect agreement. The bible clearly teaches that no man can call Jesus Lord but by the Holy Ghost.

 

CONDITION OF THE SAVED AND UNSAVED

Malachi 3:18; Genesis 18:23, Romans 6:17-18

 

I believe that there is a radical and essential difference between the righteous and the wicked; that such only as through faith are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and sanctified by the Spirit of our God and are truly righteous in His esteem; whileall such as continue in impenitence and unbelief are in His sight wicked and under the curse; that this distinction holds among men both in after death in the everlasting felicity of the saved and the everlasting conscious suffering of the lost. It can be conjectured that there are indeed only two kinds of people in the world today. Those which have a relationship with Jesus Christ, and those that doe not. In the final analysis this is the only distinction that really matters. This grace dispensation has the capacity to lull many into believing that since God’s judgment of their rejection of Jesus and courtship with sin has no immediate consequence, there must be no judgment pending. Nothing could be farther from the truth! The bible teaches us that the “Lord knoweth them that are his…” God is a God of love, but he is also a God of righteous judgment.

 

CIVIL GOVERNMENT

Romans 13:1-7; II Samuel 23:3; Exodus 18:21-22; Acts 23:5 

 

I believe that civil government is of divine appointment for the interests and good order of human society; that magistrates are to be prayed for, conscientiously honored, and obeyed, except in things opposed to the will of our Lord Jesus Christ – who is the only Lord of the conscience and the coming Prince of the Kings of the earth. It is biblically sound teaching that all leaders operate under the watchful eyes of God and are subject to God’s sovereign authority. In as much they are to be respected and we as Christian should pray for them that they may govern righteously. Whether all leaders are “appointed” by God or merely “allowed” to rule may be a matter of splitting straws. It is a truth that even though Pharaoh of Egypt was a wicked leader much like Nebuchadnezzar of the Babylonians yet it is quite obvious that God used them to carry out his divinely orchestrated plans.

 

THE RESURRECTION AND THE PAROUSIA

 

I believe that our Lord Jesus Christ rose bodily from the tomb on the third day; that He ascended into Heaven; that He is now at the right hand of God the Father as our only sufficient mediator and advocate. Furthermore, I believe in the personal, imminent, pre-millennial coming of Christ for the Church often referred to as the “rapture” or the “parousia.” The Second Coming will involve the resurrection and physical glorification of the saints and the great tribulation. After which He will return with His saints to this earth where He will sit on the Throne of David and shall subdue all enemies and reign in righteousness for a thousand years; after this shall be the judgment of the Great White Throne when the unsaved dead shall be raised and judged, that this will result for them in eternal punishment in the Lake of Fire which is the second death; that the saved shall then enjoy eternal glory with God.