THE BIBLE AS THE FINAL AUTHORITY

“All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness … ” (2 Timothy 3:16).

The Bible, the Written Word of God, is our final authority on all matters of faith, doctrine and conduct. While the Holy Spirit continues to guide us with personal revelation, we affirm that the canon of Scripture is closed and that there is no new revelation in terms of doctrine. Everything we need for doctrine and theological understanding is found in the written pages of Holy Scripture. Proverbs 30:5 says: “Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him”—and we believe it. At New Covenant Baptist, we use the King James version of the Bible as the perfect, infallible Word of God in English.

GRACE THROUGH FAITH ALONE

“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9).

The Bible’s clear teaching is that Salvation is a gift that cannot be bought or earned. Paul outright says that salvation is “not of works”, just to make sure you understand this core, foundational teaching. Luther served the church well when he risked being burnt at the stake in order to oppose Rome’s wicked, false teaching of works-salvation.

The moment you try to earn or pay for a gift, it is no longer a gift. Paul’s most logical, axiomatic explanation of Grace through faith is in Romans 11:6: “And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.” In other words, salvation is either by grace or by works. It can’t be both—or even a hybrid combination. Salvation is by grace through faith, period.

THE TRINITY

“For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one” (1 John 5:7).

Athanasius said it best in his ancient creed: “That we worship one God in Trinity, and Trinity in Unity; Neither confounding the persons nor dividing the substance.”

God is triune in nature, yet we do not worship three Gods, but one God— who alone exists as three co-equal, co-substantial and co-eternal Persons. Before you reject the word, “persons” in relation to the Godhead, consider that Hebrews 1:3 says that Jesus is “the express image of his person”. God is a person—not in the human sense of the word—but in his distinct personal nature and divinity.

Jesus prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane: “O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt” (Matthew 26:39). The Father and Son each have their own unique, individual—but unified—wills.

Denying the distinctions between Father, Son and Spirit, makes God not only appear schizophrenic, but undermines the eternal Father / Son relationship they share from all eternity. It’s a Father and Son thing, a family affair—and it always has been that way—even before the Son was made flesh. They existed relationally to one another from all eternity.

The Father was well-pleased with His beloved Son and the Holy Spirit descended as a Dove at Jesus’ baptism, giving us a real example of the triune nature of God in both history and Scripture. Paul affirms in 2 Corinthians 13:14: “The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen.”

THE VIRGIN BIRTH

“Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel” (Isaiah 7:14).

As the Eternal Son of God, Jesus was incarnate in human flesh, through conception of the Holy Spirit, by the blessed—but fully human—virgin, Mary. While we do not worship Jesus’ mother or consider her the Mediatrix, Christians are to honor Mary and affirm, in the words of the Angel Gabriel: “blessed art thou among women” (Luke 1:28).

As virgin-born, Jesus is fully God and fully Man in His person. To say He is only God or only man is equally heretical. “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 1:14).

THE DEATH, BURIAL & RESURRECTION

“For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:” (1 Corinthians 15:3-4).

In order to be saved, we must believe not only in the death and burial of Jesus Christ, but also in His miraculous resurrection from the dead. On the Cross, Jesus made penal, substitutionary atonement on our behalf by shedding His precious blood: “… for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul” (Leviticus 17:11). In death, Jesus paid the full penalty for our sins and in resurrection, He conquered death and Hell: “O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?” (1 Corinthians 15:55).

ETERNAL, CONSCIOUS PUNISHMENT OF THE DAMNED

“And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name” (Revelation 14:11).

Annihilationism, the teaching that the unrepentant soul ceases to exist after death, is pure and utter heresy. The Bible is not apologetic about the clear teaching of a literal Hell in which all unregenerate men will be tormented day and night forever. The only escape from such damnation is faith alone in Jesus Christ alone as your Savior.

Those who reject the doctrine of eternal Hellfire need to explain why the “smoke of their torment” ascends up for ever and ever, because if the wicked cease to exist, there remains nothing left to burn and, therefore, the smoke would also be extinguished.

“And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:” (Hebrews 9:27). Be sure to place your faith and trust in the Lord Jesus Christ in this lifetime. If you die without Jesus, there are no second chances.

Every knee shall bow, whether here on earth, in heaven or in hell. The choice is yours. “But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death” (Revelation 21:8).

ETERNAL SECURITY

“For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:38-39).

The Assurance of Salvation is debated vehemently within the Christian body. While we can extend grace to one another on the various nuances of this core, fundamental teaching, ask yourself: if you think you can lose your salvation for any reason, is your salvation dependent on you or on God? If you are still striving to be saved, have you truly rested in the finished, redemptive work of Jesus Christ on the Cross?

“And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.” It’s hard to argue against the words: “never perish” and “eternal”, because by definition, they mean without end.

Jesus said in John 5:24: “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.” Jesus made this promise in the present tense. We have everlasting life now, because our spirit has already been born again; we only now await and long for the redemption of our bodies. “Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:” (Philippians 1:6)

If it were possible to lose your salvation, you would!

THE NEW COVENANT

“In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away” (Hebrews 8:13).

While we affirm that every Word of God is true in both testaments, we are no longer under the terms of the old covenant, but are at rest in Christ under the tenets of the new covenant. The Levitical priesthood was abolished the moment Jesus shed His blood on the Cross. Jesus is now our High Priest, under the priestly order of Melchizedek—and the Law has literally been disannulled or cancelled. “For there is verily a disannulling of the commandment going before for the weakness and unprofitableness thereof” (Hebrews 7:18).

The purpose of the Law? Romans 3:19: “… that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.” The Law condemns the world in unrighteousness and sin and reveals our urgent need for a Savior. If you are trying to keep the Law in order to be saved, you are not under grace, but still remain in bondage to sin. Paul says in Romans 3:28: “Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.”

While this is not an excuse to sin, comprehend your liberty in Christ. “If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed” (John 8:36).

THE LITERAL RETURN OF JESUS CHRIST

“He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus” (Revelation 2:20).

We can debate eschatology or whether you are pre-trib, post-trib, or post-trib/ pre-wrath, but we must never deny that Jesus is coming back to judge the quick and the dead—and to pour out His holy wrath upon the unregenerate. Saved also affirms the literal, 1,000-Year Millennial Reign of Christ and rejects all forms of preterism. “For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God …” (1 Thessalonians 4:16).

Even so, come, Lord Jesus.