The Doctrine of God (Theology)
2.1 Overview:
We teach there is only one and true living God (cf. Deuteronomy 6:4; Isaiah 45:5-7; Mark 12:29; Romans 3:30; 1 Corinthians 8:4; James 2:19). God is Spirit (cf. John 4:24). God is infinite, eternal and unchangeable in being, wisdom, power, holiness, justice, goodness and truth. God is all-knowing, all-powerful, everywhere present and perfect in all His attributes. God is one in essence eternally existing in three Persons – Father, Son and Holy Spirit (cf. Matthew 28:19; 2 Corinthians 13:14). God is the Creator and Judge of everything that is created (cf. Genesis 1; Psalm 8; 104; Genesis 18:25; Deuteronomy 32:36; Isaiah 33:22). God is transcendent, that is superior to creation and distinct from and independent of creation (cf. Isaiah 55:9; Isaiah 6). God is immanent, that is God is present among His creation and God is actively sustaining His creation (cf. Acts 17:27-28; Jeremiah 23:24).
2.2 The Doctrine of the Trinity
2.2.1 Overview:
We teach there is one God eternally existing in three distinct Persons. God has one essence which wholly subsists in each of the three Persons without any confusing or mingling of the Persons. Each Person is fully God and there is one God. Father, Son and Holy Spirit are One in Being/Essence/Substance, co-eternal, co-equal yet three distinct Persons. The doctrine of the eternal Trinity of God is the truth that is only shown through divine revelation (e.g John 10:30).
2.2.2 God is One God in Three distinct Persons
The Word of God teaches that “there is one God, the Father, by whom are all things... and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things” (1 Cor. 8:6).
The Word of God teaches that God is the eternal Trinity, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, each an uncreated Person, one in essence, equal in power and glory. The Father is God (cf. Romans 1:7; 15:6). The Son is God (cf. John 1:1-18; Colossians 2:9; Titus 2:13; Hebrews 1:1-14). The Holy Spirit is God (cf. Acts 5:3-4; 1 Corinthians 3:16). Scripture teaches the distinction between the three Persons of the eternal Trinity (cf. Matthew 3:16-17; 28:19; 2 Corinthians 13:14; 1 Peter 1:2). Yet there are not three Gods. There is only one God eternally existing in three distinct Persons. The Father is not the Son. The Son is not the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is not the Father. The doctrine of the eternal Trinity of God is the truth of divine revelation. The Christian worships one God in Trinity, and Trinity in unity, neither confounding the Persons, nor separating the substance.
2.2.2.1 The Eternal Trinity is not Tritheism
We DO NOT teach Tritheism.
Tritheism is the heresy that denies the unity of the essence of God and holds to three distinct Gods. Tritheism maintains unity of purpose but not unity of essence. Tritheism, therefore, is false doctrine and must always be rejected by the church because it is a philosophy of pagan polytheism that postulates mystical triads of gods.
2.2.2.2 The Eternal Trinity is not Sabellianism
We DO NOT teach Sabellianism.
Sabellianism is the ancient heresy that argued a modal triad, not an ontological Trinity. In other words, Sabellianism argued a threefold nature of God in one person or three qualities in one and the same person that denied three Persons in one essence. Therefore, Sabellianism is false doctrine and as such must be rejected by the church.
2.2.2.3 The Sound Doctrine of the Eternal Trinity Defined:
We teach there is but one God. In this divine and Infinite Being there are three distinct Persons – the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
Not confounding the Persons, nor dividing the Essence. For there is one Person of the Father; another of the Son; and another of the Holy Spirit. But the Godhead of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, is all one; the Glory equal, the Majesty coeternal. Such as the Father is; such is the Son; and such is the Holy Spirit. The Father uncreated; the Son uncreated; and the Holy Spirit uncreated.
The Father unlimited; the Son unlimited; and the Holy Spirit unlimited. The Father Self-Existent; the Son Self-Existent; and the Holy Spirit Self-Existent. And yet they are not three eternals; but one eternal. As also there are not three uncreated; nor three infinites, but one uncreated; and one infinite. So likewise the Father is Almighty; the Son Almighty; and the Holy Spirit Almighty. And yet they are not three Almighties; but one Almighty. So the Father is God; the Son is God; and the Holy Spirit is God. And yet they are not three Gods; but one God. So likewise the Father is LORD; the Son LORD; and the Holy Spirit is LORD. And yet not three LORDS; but one LORD. We acknowledge every Person by Himself to be God and LORD; but we do not believe or teach that there are three Gods, or three LORDs. The Father is made of none; neither created, nor begotten. The Son is of the Father alone; not made, nor created; but begotten. The Holy Spirit proceeds from the Father and from the Son; but the Holy Spirit is not made, nor created, nor begotten; but proceeding.
We teach there is one Father, not three Fathers; one Son, not three Sons; one Holy Spirit, not three Holy Spirits.
And we teach that in this Trinity none is before, or after another; none is greater, or less than another. But the whole three Persons are coeternal, and coequal. The Unity in Trinity, and the Trinity in Unity.
2.2.2.4 The Sound Doctrine of the Eternal Trinity Defined Biblically:
Matthew 28:19 is an explicit biblical case for the doctrine of the Trinity to show that God is one being in three distinct persons (e.g. “βαπτίζοντες αὐτοὺς εἰς τὸ ὄνομα τοῦ Πατρὸς καὶ τοῦ Υἱοῦ καὶ τοῦ Ἁγίου Πνεύματος). Each person of the Trinity has a definite article to show distinction of personhood. Also, the verse revealed that God is one being. Matthew 28:19 revealed both unity and distinction based on the grammar construction. The Granville Sharp rule number six claims that for nouns that all have the same cases, joined together in a sentence by the Greek conjunction kai (i.e. “and”) and where each noun has a definite article (i.e. “the”) which is directly before each noun, the subsequent noun is a different person, thing, or quality than the preceding noun. In the case of Matthew 28:19, there is unmistakably and explicitly clear that there are three distinct Persons to the Eternal Godhead and that God is One Divine and Infinite Being.
2.3 God the Father
God, the Father, the first Person of the Eternal Trinity, orders and disposes all things according to His own purpose and grace (cf. Psalm 145:8-9; 1 Corinthians 8:6). God, the Father is the Creator of all things (Genesis 1:1-31; Ephesians 3:9) and absolute omnipotent Ruler over the universe. God, the Father is Sovereign over creation, providence, and redemption (cf. Psalm 103:19; Romans 11:35). As Creator He is Father to all men (cf. Ephesians 4:6), but He is spiritual Father only to believers (cf. Romans 8:14; 2 Corinthians 6:18). He has decreed for the Glory of God all things that come to pass (cf. Ephesians 1:11). He continually upholds, directs, and governs all creatures and events (cf. 1 Chronicles 29:11). In His Sovereignty He is neither the author nor approver of sin (cf. Habakkuk 1:13; John 8:38-47; 1 John 1:5), nor does He abridge the accountability of moral, intelligent creatures (cf. 1 Peter 1:17).
God the Father sent the Lord Jesus Christ (cf. John 20:21; Galatians 4:4).
God, the Father, in His love sent Jesus Christ, His Son, to save all those who believe in Him, for eternal life (cf. John 3:16; 5:24; 1 John 4:10).
He has graciously chosen from eternity those whom He would have as His own and has not destined those he has chosen for wrath (cf. Romans 9:23; Ephesians 1:4-6; 1 Thessalonians 1 Thessalonians 5:9); He forgives the sins of all who come to Him through Jesus Christ; He adopts as His own children all who come to Him through Jesus Christ; and He becomes, upon adoption, Father to His own (cf. John 1:12; Romans 8:15; Galatians 4:5; Hebrews 12:5-9).
2.4 God the Son, the Lord Jesus Christ
2.4.1 Overview:
The Lord Jesus Christ is the Eternal Son of God – the Second Person of the Eternal Trinity. The Lord Jesus Christ is infinite without any beginning (cf. John 1:1-2). The Lord Jesus Christ is not a created being (cf. John 1:1). The Lord Jesus Christ preexisted creation (cf. Matt. 20:28; 23:34, 37; John 1:1-3; 8:56-59; 12:39-41; 16:28; 17:5; Rom. 8:3; 1 Cor. 8:6; 10:4, 9; Gal. 4:4-6; Phil. 2:6; Col. 1:16-17; Heb. 1:2, 10-12; Jude 5). The Lord Jesus Christ is the agent of creation and creation’s redeemer (cf. John 1:3; Colossians 1:15-17; Hebrews 1:3).
The Lord Jesus Christ is God in human flesh (cf. John 1:1-4; 14). The Lord Jesus Christ has come in the flesh (cf. 1 John 4:2). He is one and the same person with two distinct natures, namely the God nature and the human nature (cf. Philippians 2:6; Hebrews 1:3). The Lord Jesus Christ is perfect in the divinity, perfect in the humanity, truly God and truly man. Jesus Christ has two natures, that is, the Divine nature and the human nature yet Jesus Christ is one person. Colossians 2:9 referenced both His Divine nature and His human nature, “For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form.” The Lord Jesus Christ has two natures, without mixture, change, division, or separation; the difference of natures not being removed by their union, but rather the propriety of each nature being preserved and concurring in One person and in One ύπόστασις, so that he is not divided or separated into two persons, but the only Son, God, the Word, the Lord Jesus Christ, and One and the same Person. The Lord Jesus Christ is perfect and self-existent.
2.4.2 The Lord Jesus Christ’s Divine Nature:
The Lord Jesus Christ made specific claims to deity, identifying His divine nature with the “I AM” of Ex 3:14-15. For example, the “I AM” statements in John are as follows, namely, “I AM the One speaking to you” (4:26); “I AM do not fear” (6:20); I AM the bread of life” (6:35); “I AM the bread the having come down from the heaven” (6:41); “I AM the bread of life” (6:48); “I AM the living bread from the heaven having come down” (6:51); “I AM the Light of the world” (8:12); “I AM the One bearing witness concerning Myself, and the Father having sent Me bears witness concerning Me” (8:18); “For if you believe not that I AM, you will die in the sins of you” (8:24); “When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I AM He” (8:28); “Truly, truly I say to you, before Abraham was born, I AM” (8:58)[3]; “I AM the door of the sheep” (10:7); “I AM the door” (10:9); “I AM the good Shepherd” (10:11); “I AM the good Shepherd” (10:14); “I AM the resurrection and the life” (11:25); “I AM” (13:19); “I AM the way, and the truth, and the life” (14:6); “I AM the true vine” (15:1); “I AM the vine” (15:5); “I AM” (18:5); “I AM” (18:6); and “I AM” (18:8). Jesus Christ is YHWH in human flesh (cf. Isa 40-66). Jesus Christ is the only begotten from the Father and He was the only begotten Son of God before God sent Him into the world (cf. John 1:14, 18; 3:16; 1 John 4:9b).
2.4.3 The Lord Jesus Christ’s Human Nature:
We teach concerning the Lord Jesus Christ’s human nature, Jesus Christ is consisting of a reasonable spirit and soul and body (cf. 1 Thessalonians 5:23); consubstantial with us according to the manhood; in all things like unto us, except that He is without sin. The Lord Jesus Christ is without sin (cf. 1 John 3:5). Concerning Jesus Christ’s humanity, He was born of a virgin. Born without imputed sin, without a sin nature, and He never sinned. Christ is referred to in Romans 5 as the “second Adam.” In order for Christ to be the second Adam would mean that He is truly human in every way man is except the Lord Jesus is without sin. When Adam sinned in Genesis 3 God imputed the first sin to the entire scope of humanity. The only human being after the fall who did not have a sin nature, who did not inherit original sin, was Jesus Christ (cf. Hebrews 4:15; 1 John 3:5). Unequivocally, the NT Gospel narrative accounts of the nativity of the Lord Jesus Christ articulated the doctrine of the incarnation which revealed the mystery of godliness (cf. Matthew 1:20-21, 25; Luke 2; 1 Timothy 3:16; Isaiah 7:14).
2.4.3.1 The Incarnation of the Lord Jesus Christ
The Lord Jesus Christ was born according to the manhood, of Mary the virgin. Mary is not the “mother of God” in the sense to cause God to come into existence but rather is to be understood as Jesus’ mother in His humanity. The Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is God and Man; God, of the Substance [Essence] of the Father; begotten before the worlds; and Man, of the Substance [Essence] of his Mother, born in the world. Perfect God; and perfect Man, of a reasonable spirit, soul and human flesh subsisting (cf. 1 Thessalonians 5:23). Equal to the Father, as touching his Godhead; and inferior to the Father as touching his Manhood. Who although he is God and Man; yet he is not two, but one Christ. One altogether; not by confusion of Substance [Essence]; but by unity of Person.
The Lord Jesus Christ is Savior of those who have trusted in Him to be saved from the wrath of God. The Lord Jesus Christ is to be acknowledged one and the same Christ; the Son, the Lord and the Savior. The Lord Jesus Christ is unique in that He came to take away sins through His Person and Cross work by vicariously living for and dying on the cross as a satisfactory penal substitute for everyone who would ever believe in Him for eternal life (cf. Matthew 20:28; Galatians 2:20; 1 Timothy 1:16). The only way that believing sinners could be forgiven and reconciled to God is if a representative would serve as a mediator between God and man by being Himself God and man and through Divine accomplishment propitiating God’s wrath toward sin in substitution by being also human in substitution to provide and secure eternal redemption for those He came to save (cf. 1 Timothy 2:5-6).
2.4.4 Against Heresies
The Lord Jesus Christ is one person in two natures, without mixture, change, division, or separation; the difference of natures not being removed by their union, but rather the propriety of each nature being preserved and concurring in one person and in one ύπόστασις, so that he is not divided or separated into two persons, but the only Son, God, the Word, our Lord Jesus Christ, and one and the same Person. The natures are not blended together but rather there is a perfect unity of the natures. This is what is meant by hypostatic union and clearly refutes the heresy called Eutychianism. What is more, the hypostatic union clearly refutes the heresy called Nestorianism which taught that Christ had two persons instead of two natures. Nestorianism is refuted by the statement “so that he is not divided or separated into two persons.”
Since the start of the church in the first century, the devil and demons have attacked biblical Christology to try to distort and get believers to deny the true hypostatic union of the Lord Jesus Christ. The Apostle John warned about this attack in 1 John 2:18 when he wrote, “Children, it is the last hour; and just as you heard that antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have appeared; from this we know that it is the last hour.” There are many antichrist, that is many false teachers throughout the church age that are possessed by the devil or demons for the purpose to propagate false doctrine and error. These false teachers are real human beings who are possessed by demons and therefore are physical expressions of demonic spirits (cf. Acts 20:28-30; 1 Thessalonians 5:20-21; 1 Timothy 4:1-2). One of the first of these antichrists was the false teachers Cerinthus (c. 50-100 AD) who attacked one of the first Asian Minor Churches, namely the church that met in the ancient city called Ephesus.
2.4.4.1 The Heresy called Eutychianism
We DO NOT teach Eutychianism
Named after a Constantinople monastery leader Eutyches (c. A.D. 378-454), Eutychianism was a heresy that denied the incarnate Christ had two distinct natures and taught that the divine nature absorbed the human nature of Christ to create one new super nature. If one believes and teaches Eutychianism they are not redeemed because it is a form of Gnosticism that denies that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh (cf. 1 John 4:2-3; 1 John 2:18-24; 2 John 1:7-9).
2.4.4.2 The Heresy called Nestorianism
We DO NOT teach Nestorianism
Nestorianism (named after the ancient heretic Nestorius) was a heresy which taught that Christ was composed of two distinct and independent persons who work in conjunction with each other. The error asserted that a true union of divine and human would have involved God in change and suffering and resulted in the impossibility for Jesus as man to experience true human existence. If one believes and teaches Nestorianism they cannot be saved because it is a form of Gnosticism that denies that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh (cf. 1 John 4:2-3; 1 John 2:18-24; 2 John 1:7-9).
2.4.5.3 The Heresy called Cerinthianism
We DO NOT teach Cerinthianism
Cerinthianism (named after the ancient heretic Cerinthus c. 50-100 AD) was a heresy which taught that “the heavenly christ” descended upon Jesus at Jesus’ baptism and guided him in ministry and the performing of his miracles, but left Jesus at the crucifixion. Therefore, Cerinthus had a form of Christology that taught Jesus is two persons. Therefore, Cerinthianism is heresy. The Word of God teaches Jesus has two natures perfectly united in One Person.
Cerinthus like to the Ebionites, argued that Jesus was not born of a virgin, but was a mere man, the biological son of both Mary and Joseph. Cerinthus and his followers claimed to have new light, different light, deeper light. But there claims were heretical.
According to the heretic Cerinthus, he argued that there was a “heavenly eon” named “christ” whom he substituted for the real Jesus Christ. Cerinthus argued that this “eon” was not the physical Jesus. Cerinthus taught that the physical Jesus was merely Joseph’s natural son. Therefore, Cerinthus denied the virgin birth.
The heretic Cerinthus argued that the “eon christ” descended upon Jesus at the time of his baptism but left Jesus before his passion so that only Joseph’s physical son Jesus died on the cross.[1]
Cerinthus and his follower’s claim to have fellowship with God was a lie. Instead, they had fellowship with the idol of their own imagination. The modern type of these antichrists formally are unitarians, modernists and all anti-trinitarian groups.
Cerinthus in his interpretation literally denied that Jesus was the Christ. And therefore, addressing the error the Apostle John used very clear distinctions to counteract what Cerinthus said in so many words,
“Who is the liar if not the one denying that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist the one denying the Father and the Son” 1 John 2:22.
And
“Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. 2 By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God; 3 and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God; this is the spirit of the antichrist, of which you have heard that it is coming, and now it is already in the world” 1 John 4:1-3.
Conclusion:
We DO NOT teach that Jesus is two Persons, as argued by Platonists and Gnostics.
We teach that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh (cf. 1 John 4:2).
We teach and proclaim the Lord Jesus Christ is God incarnate in human flesh (cf. John 1:14; Colossians 1:19; 2:9).
2.4.5 The Offices of the Lord Jesus Christ
The Lord Jesus Christ is the mediator between God and man (1 Timothy 2:5-6; Acts 17:30-31). The Lord Jesus Christ is the mediator of the New Covenant and He was appointed by God from everlasting to perfectly and fully fulfill the offices of the Mediator/Messiah, the Prophet, the High Priest, the King, the Apostle (sent One), the Teacher, and the Good Shepherd in respect of God’s eternal purpose and fulfillment of the biblical covenants (cf. Hebrews 3:1). We teach the Lord Jesus Christ is the only Head of His Body the church (cf. Ephesians 1:22; 5:23; Colossians 1:18).
2.4.5.1 Jesus Christ and His Office of Mediator and Messiah
We teach that the Lord Jesus Christ is the only Mediator between God and man (cf. 1 Timothy 2:5-6; Acts 17:30-31). Christ Jesus is the only head of His body the church (cf. Ephesians 1:22; 5:23).
Because of this, we teach that our Lord Jesus Christ during the first century A.D. in space and time and at the right time during His first advent eternally accomplished our redemption through the shedding of His blood and sacrificial death on the cross.
We teach that Jesus’ death on the cross was voluntary, vicarious, penal-substitutionary, propitiatory, and eternally redemptive reconciling sinners to God (cf. John 10:15; Romans 3:24-25; Romans 5:8; 1 Peter 2:4).
We teach that the Lord Jesus Christ is the Seed of the Woman (cf. Genesis 3:15).
We teach that the correct interpretation of the blessed Hebrew Scriptures is that the one and only Lord Jesus Christ is the individual revealed in Genesis 3:15 as Seed of the Woman prophesied to crush the spiritual serpent’s head, that is Satan’s head.
We teach that this messianic interpretation is the only correct interpretation because of the presence of the singular noun “seed, offspring.” Because this noun referred to an individual descendent.
We teach that anyone who denies the correct interpretation of Genesis 3:15 by teaching the phrase “seed of the woman” refers collectively to the human race that originated in the first woman in the sense of the ongoing struggle between humans and deadly snakes, a conflict that was indeed a grim reality in the ancient world as it is also a grim reality in the present time, is in grievous error and has upset the faith once for all handed down to the saints.
We teach that the “flow” of Genesis 3:15 extends throughout all of history from Genesis 4 – Revelation 20 because God through Christ (the Seed of the Woman) has eternally judged evil, defeated evil, delivered some from the judgement of evil (i.e. the elect) and will bless those delivered from the judgement of evil for all eternity in Christ cf. Revelation 21-22.
We teach that Genesis 3:15 is the first Biblical Covenant and red thread that extends throughout human history uniting the Biblical Covenants, namely the Noahic Covenant (cf. Genesis 6-9); the Abrahamic Covenant (cf. Genesis 12:1-3, 7; 13:14-17; 15:1-21; 17:1-21; 18:17-33; 21:12-13; 22:1-18), the Priestly Covenant (cf. Numbers 25:10-13; 1 Samuel 2:35; Jeremiah 33:20-21; Ezekiel 44:10-15; Malachi 2:4), the Mosaic Covenant (cf. Exodus 19-24; Deuteronomy), the Davidic Covenant (cf. 2 Samuel 7:8-16; Psalm 89; Psalm 110:1; and the New Covenant (cf. Jeremiah 31:27-40; Ezekiel 36:22-38).
To this effect, that is redemptive history from Genesis – Revelation:
We teach that the Lord Jesus Christ is the Seed of Abraham (cf. Galatians 3:16).
We teach that the Lord Jesus Christ perfectly fulfilled the requirement of the Mosaic Law and His righteous record is imputed (i.e. charged) to the account of the believing sinner (cf. 2 Corinthians 5:21; Romans chapters. 4-7).
We teach that the Lord Jesus Christ is the Seed of David (cf. 2 Timothy 2:8).
We teach that the Lord Jesus Christ is the mediator of the New Covenant (cf. Hebrews 9:15).
2.4.5.2 Jesus Christ and His Office of Prophet.
We teach that the Lord Jesus Christ is the fulfillment of Deuteronomy 18:15, 18-19 – “The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your countrymen, you shall listen to Him. . . . I will raise up a prophet from among their countrymen like you, and I will put My words in His mouth, and He shall speak to them all that I command Him. It shall come about that whoever will not listen to My words which He shall speak in My name, I Myself will require it of him.”
We teach that the Lord Jesus Christ has perfectly revealed the will of God, whatsoever is needful for us His followers to know and obey; and therefore He is called not only a prophet but the Prophet prophesied of from Deuteronomy 18:15, 18-19 the very wisdom of God, in whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge who forever continues revealing the same eternal truth of His glorious gospel to His people (John 12:49, 50, 17:8; Deuteronomy 18:15, 18-19; Matthew 23:10; Malachi 3:1; 1 Corinthians 1:24; Colossians 2:3).
We teach that it was necessary that the Lord Jesus Christ should be truly God to be the prophet every way complete and also that He should be truly man: For unless He is God, He could never have perfectly understood the will of God; and unless He is man, He could not have suitably exegeted (explained the will of God in His own Person to men (cf. John 1:18; Acts 3:22; Deuteronomy 18:15; Hebrews 1:1-2).
We teach that the Lord Jesus Christ is the Word of God (cf. John 1:1).
We teach that the Lord Jesus Christ is God in human flesh (cf. John 1:14)
We teach that the Lord Jesus Christ has come in the flesh (cf. 1 John 4:3).
2.4.5.3 Jesus Christ and His Office of High Priest
We teach concerning His priesthood, Jesus Christ having sanctified Himself, has come in His first advent to put away sin by the one offering of Himself on the cross as the only propitiatory sacrifice for sin, by which He has fully finished and suffered all things God required for the salvation of His elect, and removed all rites and shadows, and is now entered within the vail into the Holy of Holies, which is the presence of God. Also, He makes His people a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, namely the priesthood of all believers, to offer up spiritual sacrifice acceptable to God through Him. The Father does not accept and Christ does not accept any other worship or worshippers. (Cf. John 17:19; Hebrews 5:7, 8, 9, 10, 12; Romans 5:19; Ephesians 2:14; Romans 8:34; Hebrews 9:24; 8:1; 1 Peter 2:5; John 4:23-24).
We teach that His priesthood was not temporary, but according to the order of Melchizedek, and is fixed and perfect, not for a time, but forever, which is suitable to Jesus Christ alone, as to Him that forever lives to make intercession for the believer. Christ is the priest, sacrifice and altar; He was a priest according to His human nature; in Scripture it is attributed to His body, to His blood: Yet the effectualness of this sacrifice did depend upon His Divine nature. (Cf. Hebrews 7:17; Hebrews 5:6, 10:10; 1 Peter 1:18-19; Colossians 1:20-22; Hebrews 9:13; Acts 20:28; Hebrews 9:14; 13:10-15; Matthew 23:17; John 17:19).
2.4.5.4 Jesus Christ and His Office of King
We teach that Jesus Christ is truly of the race of David according to the flesh. We teach that Jesus Christ is truly God. We teach Jesus Christ in His true incarnation was born of a virgin and baptized by John, truly nailed up in the flesh. He suffered truly, as also, he raised Himself truly, not as certain unbelievers say that he suffered in semblance.
We teach Christ bodily risen from the dead, and ascended into heaven, and having all power in heaven and earth, He governs His church, and He exercises His power over all, angels and men, good and bad, to the preservation and salvation of the elect, and to the overruling and destruction of His enemies. By this kingly power He applies the benefits, virtue, and fruits of His prophecy and priesthood to His elect, subduing their sins, preserving and strengthening them in all their conflicts against the devil, the world, and the flesh, keeping their hearts in faith and filial fear by His Spirit: By this His might power He rules the vessels of wrath, using, limiting and restraining them, as it seems good to His infinite wisdom. (cf. 1 Corinthians 15:4; 1 Peter 3:21-22; Matthew 28:18; Luke 24:51; Acts 1:1, 5:30-31; John 19:36; Romans 14:9; John 5:26-27; Romans 5:6-8; 14:17; Galatians 5:22-23; Mark 1:27; Hebrews 1:14; John 16:15; Job 2:8; Romans 1:21, 9:17-18; Ephesians 4:17-18; 2 Peter 2).
We teach that Jesus Christ’s kingly power shall be more fully manifested when He shall physically return and when He shall come in glory to reign among His saints, when He shall put down all rule and authority under His feet (cf. 1 Corinthians 15:24, 28; Hebrews 9:28; 2 Thessalonians 1:9-10; 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17; John 17:21, 26).
We teach that Jesus Christ is the fulfillment of the Davidic Covenant, namely, that Jesus Christ is the Seed of David and that this truth is indeed an integral feature of the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ (cf. Psalm 110:1; 2 Samuel 7:8-17; Matthew 1:1; 2 Timothy 2:8).
We teach that, after the seven year tribulation period in the future (cf. John 14:1-3; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; Daniel 9:27; 12:1; 2 Thessalonians 2:7-12; Matthew 24:15-31; 25:31-46), Christ will physically return to earth to physically occupy the throne of David (cf. Matthew 25:31; Luke 1:31-33; Acts 1:10-11; 2:29-30) and physically establish His messianic kingdom for 1,000 years on earth (cf. Revelation 20:1-7). We teach that during this time the bodily resurrected saints will reign with Him over Israel and all the nations of the earth (cf. Ezekiel 37:21-28; Daniel 7:17-22; Revelation 19:11-16).
We teach that Jesus Christ’s 1,000 year millennial physical reign from David’s throne on earth will come after the overthrow of the Antichrist and the False Prophet, and by the removal of the devil from the world (cf. Daniel 7:17-27; Revelation 20:1-7).
We teach that this is the fulfillment of the Davidic Covenant and Christ’s office of King that the kingdom itself will be the fulfillment of God’s promise to Israel (cf. Isaiah 65:17-25; Ezekiel 37:21-28; Zechariah 8:1-17) to restore Israelites the land that was taken from them because of their disobedience (cf. Deuteronomy 28:15-68). The result of their disobedience was that Israel was set aside temporarily (cf. Matthew 21:43; Romans 11:1-26), but will again come to them through their repentance to enter into the land of Israel (cf. Jeremiah 31:31-34; Ezekiel 36:22-32; Romans 11:25-29).
We teach that when Jesus returns and reigns from David’s throne for 1,000 years this reign will be characterized by harmony, justice, peace, righteousness, and long life (cf. Isaiah 11; 65:17-25; Ezekiel 36:33-38).
2.4.5.5 Jesus Christ and His Office of Apostle
We teach the Lord Jesus Christ has as belonging to His Person the office of Apostle because such a title is ascribed to Him in Hebrews 3:1 placed beside His office of High Priest. These two designations of Jesus have but one definite article. Plainly, this office is ascribed to Him with the presence of the definite article. For instance, the text does not read, ‘an apostle’ but “the Apostle” (cf. Hebrews 3:1).
“Therefore, holy brothers, of heavenly calling partakers, carefully consider the Apostle and High Priest of the confession of us, Jesus” (Hebrews 3:1).
Hebrews 3:1 contains an imperative command form the apostle Paul, that is “carefully consider” from the phrase, “carefully consider the Apostle and High Priest of the confession of us.”
The Greek term ἀπόστολος (apostle) has the sense to mean someone who is sent on a mission (see John 17:3 and ἀποστέλλω ‘I send’). To this effect, the “sent one” is the representative delegate or commissioner of the one who sent him and therefore has the rights, power and authority of the sender.
We teach the Lord Jesus Christ was sent to earth by God the Father (cf. John 1:14; 3:17, 34; 5:36-38; 8:42; 17:3, 8, 21, 25; Hebrews 1:2; 1 John 4:14).
God has spoken to us in the Person of His Son whom He sent to be the Prophet like Moses (cf. Deuteronomy 18:15; 18). However, the fact that Jesus’ designation as “the Apostle” is placed beside Jesus’ designation as “High Priest” shows that Jesus Christ is placed above Moses who is never called a high priest.
We teach the Lord Jesus Christ is the progenitor of the office of Apostle and has historically commissioned twelve men in the first century AD as His Apostle by office sent out by the Lord Jesus Christ Himself to preach the Gospel (cf. John 17:6-26; Matthew 28:16-20; Acts 1:1-26).
We teach the Lord Jesus Christ’s apostles began the history and spread of Christianity by preaching the Gospel to Israel and the Gentiles (cf. John 17:20; Acts 1:8). They followed the Lord Jesus Christ by living their lives in obedience to Him and preaching His gospel that He preached. God sent Christ to the cross where He was executed in substitution for the elect to save them from the wrath of God. Preaching the gospel ultimately resulted in the executions of the Lord Jesus Christ’s apostles. They died for their Lord and the spread of Christianity so that other sheep would believe their message and be saved (cf. John 17:6, 20; 21:19).
In the Lord Jesus Christ’s priestly prayer recorded by the apostle John (cf. 17:1-26) He prayed to God the Father, “This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God and Jesus Christ whom You have sent” (17:3). The Greek verb that was translated into the English word “sent” is ἀποστέλλω[23] (cf. Matt 10:5) and its Greek noun form “ἀπόστολος” is from where the English transliteration “apostle” is derived (cf. Mk 6:30; Lk 6:13; see Mk 3:13-19). God the Father sent God the Son to exegete the truth, God the Son sent the apostles to exegete the truth (cf. Jn 17:17-20). God chose the apostles to preach the Word of God and to write the Word of God (cf. 2 Pet 3:15-16). The glory of unity that is found within the Godhead – that is, the glory of unity from veracity is the relationship in which the sheep have the assurance of a real salvific relationship with God through Christ because Jesus prayed to God the Father;
That they might all be one even as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me. The glory which You have given Me I have given to them, that they may be one, just as We are one; I in them and You in Me, that they may be perfected in unity, so that the world may know that You sent Me, and loved them, even as You have loved Me. (17:21-23)
The office of Apostle has ceased after the Apostolic Age because there were specific certain qualifications that one had to possess to occupy that office (e.g. Acts 1:12-26; emphasis on vv. 21-22). Today, after the Apostolic Age, no one in the Church Age can rightly claim that they occupy the office of Apostle. There are two offices in the Church Age for qualified men to occupy, namely, overseer/elder (cf. 1 Tim 3:1-7; Titus 1:5-9; 1 Pet 5:1-5) and deacon (cf. 1 Tim 3:8-13). The early church did not know anything about an apostolic succession of office after the departure of the Lord Jesus Christ’s apostles.
2.4.5.6 Jesus Christ and His Office of Teacher
We teach that the Lord Jesus Christ has as belonging to His Person the office of teacher (cf. Matthew 26:18; Mark 14:14; Luke 22:1; John 13:13). Only the Lord Jesus Christ has the incomparable authority to be the Teacher by office (cf. Matthew 7:28-29). If anyone else to claims the office of teacher or to be called the teacher other than the Lord Jesus Christ, that man or woman is an imposter, a pharisee and a modern expression of apostate 2nd temple Hellenistic Judaism (cf. Matthew 23:6-12).
We teach that the Lord Jesus Christ is the living Word of God – Namely, the living Word of God that spoke the will of God in the ‘Let it be” commands in creation and sustains creation by His word (cf. Genesis 1-2; John 1:1-3; Colossians 1:16-17; Hebrews 1:1-3). We teach that the Lord Jesus Christ as the living Word of God has as belonging to His person the office of teacher in such a way that He is not only the agent of creation but also the agent of exegesis – to this effect, John 1:18 reads, “No one has seen God at any time; the only begotten God who is in the bosom of the Father, He has explained Him.” The Greek term from John 1:18 that was translated into the English term “explained” is the Greek term ἐξηγέομαι (exégeomai) and is the root of the English term “exegesis” (cf. Luke 24:35; Acts 10:8; 15:12, 14; 21:19) Exegesis has the sense to draw out the Author’s intended meaning. Therefore, the Lord Jesus Christ as the Teacher is the Progenitor, Protology and Prolegomena to biblical exegesis – that is, to completely draw out the Author’s intended meaning and show the way.
We teach that the Lord Jesus Christ as the living Word of God has as belonging to His person the office of teacher in such a way that He is not only the agent of creation but also the agent of hermeneutics – to this effect, Luke 24:27 reads, “Then beginning with Moses and with all the prophets, He explained to them the things concerning Himself in all the Scriptures.” The Greek term from Luke 24:27 that was translated into the English term “explained” is the Greek term διερμηνεύω (dierméneuó) derived from the Greek term ἑρμηνεύω (herméneuó) and is the root of the English term “hermeneutics.” The Greek term ἑρμηνεύω (herméneuó) has the sense to mean translate or interpret (cf. John 1:42; 9:7; Hebrews 7:2; see Acts 14:12; Romans 16:14). Therefore, as the sole proprietor of the office of Teacher, the Lord Jesus Christ is the only authority to authorize the bestowal of the gift of teaching to men of God’s choosing. These men are given the gift of teaching for the purpose of the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ – that is, the church in the church age (cf. Ephesians 4:7-12). Therefore, teaching is a gift not an office for men in the church age – namely, only those who God has chosen to give the gift of teaching.
2.4.5.7 Jesus Christ and His Office of Shepherd/Pastor
We teach and the Word of God is unmistakably clear that the Lord Jesus Christ is the only Person qualified to occupy the office of Shepherd because the office of Shepherd has specific qualifications and is synonymous with the office of Messiah (cf. Isa 40:10-11; Eze 34:11-16, 23; Jn 10:1-18; Heb 13:20; 1 Pet 2:24-25; 5:1-5; Rev 7:17). The office of Apostle has ceased after the Apostolic Age because there were specific certain qualifications that one had to possess to occupy that office (e.g. Acts 1:12-26; emphasis on vv. 21-22). Today, after the Apostolic Age, no one in the Church Age can rightly claim that they occupy the office of Apostle. There are two offices in the Church Age for qualified men to occupy, namely, overseer/elder (cf. 1 Tim 3:1-7; Titus 1:5-9; 1 Pet 5:1-5) and deacon (cf. 1 Tim 3:8-13). The Apostles and the early church did not know anything about a succession of the office of Good Shepherd or an apostolic succession of office after their departure. Instead, the early church understood there were spiritually gifted men given by God who occupied the office of overseer/elder that exercise the action of shepherding the flock (cf. Acts 20:28; 1 Pet 5:1-2). In that sense, for men ministering in the church age, pastoring and shepherding are gifts not offices (cf. Ephesians 4:11). In the early church no Christian would have dared to take the position or title of “Senior Pastor” especially after reading or hearing Jesus’ shepherding scene metaphor. The NT does not refer to anyone other than the Lord Jesus Christ as the Pastor (i.e. with the definite article). This NT truth should provoke every Christian today to labor to dismantle the modern customary extra-biblical practice of calling one individual in a local church their “Senior Pastor” when that person is not the Lord Jesus Christ. Only Jesus Christ is the “Senior Pastor.” The claim for men today that they occupy an office or position called “Senior Pastor” is a claim that violates the great “I AM” statements of Christ in John, specifically 10:11 – “I AM the good Shepherd.” The “I AM” statements from Christ in the Gospel of John teach Jesus Christ’s existence is immeasurable – therefore, there cannot be a “Senior Pastor” in office unless they are the Christ. This is because “senior” presupposes seniority and Jesus said, “truly, truly I say to you before Abraham was born, I AM” (cf. 8:58).
Men today who claim they are “Senior Pastors” use business pragmatism where one professionally trained individual assumes complete authority and control over a local church like a CEO on the top of a company’s hierarchical pyramid. However, we teach the Lord Jesus Christ has the ultimate authority over His church. The Lord Jesus Christ was sent by God the Father in His mission concerning the duties of His office as Shepherd to fulfill Scripture. Jesus used the day of a ANE shepherd as a metaphor to explain what God eternally purposed the Good Shepherd to accomplish in the redemption of His sheep (cf. John 10). To this effect, there are three scenes to Jesus’ shepherding metaphor – namely, the morning scene (vv. 1-6), the midday scene (vv. 7-15), and the evening scene (vv. 16-18). The occasion of Jesus’ shepherding scene metaphor was to explain what happened to the blind man that Jesus healed and how Jesus saved him and rescued him from the false shepherds of his day – namely, the Pharisees. Continuity today with the blind man that Jesus healed is that anyone who is freed by Jesus is freed from the prison of pragmatic man-made religious institutions. Wolves try to destroy the flock with false doctrine. On the other hand, Jesus as the Good Shepherd protects His sheep from wolves.
We teach there are two distinct folds where Christ’s sheep were (v. Jn 10:1, 16) The first fold is the nation of Israel (cf. v. 1). During His first advent, the Lord Jesus Christ called His sheep from out of the fold of the nation of Israel and they followed Him. However, in the general sense and during Christ’s first advent, the nation of Israel was in unbelief and responsible for His crucifixion. But because of the death and resurrection of Christ His Israelite sheep are saved. The second fold is the Gentiles nations (cf. v. 16). With the nation of Israel the Romans crucified the Lord Jesus Christ. However, the Lord Jesus Christ was raised from the dead and because of His death and resurrection from the dead His Gentile sheep are saved. At His second advent, the Lord Jesus Christ will return to execute judgment upon the rebellious inhabitants of the earth, but those who are His sheep have and will trust in His perfect life, cross work, and resurrection from the dead. Therefore, His sheep are saved from the wrath of God. In the sense of distinctions the sheep come from every tribe and tongue and people and nation (cf. Rev 5:9). In the sense of efficacious salvation, there is only one way of salvation. Salvation is by God’s grace alone, through faith alone, in the Lord Jesus Christ alone – that is, the salvation from the wrath of God with one Shepherd and one flock.
We teach the Lord Jesus’ care for the sheep in His dying for them – that alone qualifies Him as the good shepherd and no one else. Jesus’ death on the cross for the sins of the elect is what qualifies Him to be the Good Shepherd. The nature of the atonement is vicarious propitiatory penal-substitution; not in example so that the sheep can die the same way as an example – because anyone can die in example but no one else except the Lord Jesus Christ can die in substitution for sheep saving them from the wrath of God. Sheep cannot save themselves. Sheep cannot save other sheep (cf. Ps 49:7-8). Any man can die. But only the Lord Jesus Christ can lay down His life for the sheep (cf. Ps 49:15). By the death of Christ the sheep are saved. No one else has the ability to care for the sheep or die for the sheep the way that Jesus cared for the sheep and died for the sheep. The sheep cannot be saved in any other way other than the substitutionary death of Christ on the cross for them. The sheep owed God as payment their eternal punishment because of their sin. But the sheep could not pay the penalty themselves. The sheep needed someone else to pay the penalty on their behalf. The Lord Jesus Christ is the only One who qualified to be the substitute, to pay the debt of the sheep so that the sheep would no longer be charged with eternal guilt and owe eternal penalty facing eternal condemnation for sin. The “I AM” statements that Christ made teach that He is the Infinite God in human flesh, the second Person of the eternal Trinity, the Son of God, and therefore His death on the cross has infinite value and resource to pay for the sins of the sheep.
https://bcri.wordpress.com/2022/05/19/the-good-shepherd-series/
https://bcri.wordpress.com/2022/05/20/the-good-shepherd-series-part-two/
https://bcri.wordpress.com/2022/05/24/the-good-shepherd-series-part-three/
https://bcri.wordpress.com/2022/06/01/the-good-shepherd-series-part-four/
The Good Shepherd Series: Part Five | The Biblical Christ Research Institute (wordpress.com)
https://bcri.wordpress.com/2021/11/08/is-pastor-an-office-or-gift-sneak-preview-rough-draft/
2.4.5.8 Succinct Statement about the Finish Work of the Lord Jesus Christ that will be Expanded upon in other Sections of this Document
We teach that the Lord Jesus Christ was during His first advent lived the perfect sinless life under the law (cf. Galatians 4:4); was crucified and physically died on the cross (cf. Acts 2:22-23; 10:39); and then bodily rose again from the dead on the third day as He prophesied beforehand (cf. Acts 2:24; 10:40-41; Matthew 16:21; 17:22-23; 20:17-19). He ascended into heaven (cf. Luke 24:51; Acts 1:9), He is seated at the right hand of God the Father Almighty (cf. Psalm 110:1; Ephesians 1:20-22; Colossians 3:1; Hebrews 12:2; Revelation 3:21), from where He will come again in the future in His glorified physical bodily return to judge the living and the dead (cf. Acts 10:42; 2 Timothy 4:1; 1 Peter 4:5). At whose coming all men will rise again with their physical bodies; And shall give account for their own works (cf. Revelation 20:11-15). Those that have done good shall go into life everlasting; and they that have done evil, into everlasting fire (cf. Matthew 25:46).
2.5 God the Holy Spirit
We teach the Holy Spirit is God. We teach God the Holy Spirit – the glorious third Person of the eternal Trinity is no less God than the Father or the Son. We teach that God the Holy Spirit is referred to in Scripture as a Person because of the masculine third person personal pronoun, namely, “He” (cf. John 15:26). We teach that God the Holy Spirit is a divine Person not a force and concerning all the divine attributes He is coequal and consubstantial with God the Father and God the Son. We teach that God the Holy Spirit is one in essence, equal in power and glory with God the Father and God the Son (cf. Matthew 28:19; Acts 5:3-4; 28:25-26; 1 Corinthians 12:4-6; 2 Corinthians 13:14).
2.5.1 The Deity of God the Holy Spirit
We teach that God the Holy Spirit is a Divine Person. We teach that God the Holy Spirit possesses all the Divine attributes that can only be affirmed of God because He is God (cf. Psalm 139:7-10; Luke 1:35; John 14:26; 16:12-13; Acts 5:3-4; 1 Corinthians 2:10-11; Hebrews 9:14). Believers in Christ are baptized with water
2.5.2 The Personhood of God the Holy Spirit
We teach that God the Holy Spirit is a Person. This is revealed by the personal pronouns as well as the third person form of the verbs used of Him in the NT (cf. John 14:16, 17, 26; 15:26; 16:7, 8, 13, 14, 15). The Lord Jesus Christ referred to God the Holy Spirit as the Comforter (cf. John 14:16, 26; 15:26; 16:7). To have such a title and office presupposes His personality and therefore His personhood. We teach that God the Holy Spirit is a Person because the Word of God teaches that He has powers of thought, intelligence, volition and love (cf. 1 Corinthians 2:11; 12:11; Romans 8:27; 15:30).
2.5.3 The Divine Work of God the Holy Spirit
We teach God the Holy Spirit is the Agency of the God-breathed Scriptures, namely Genesis-Revelation (cf. 2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:21).
We teach that God the Holy Spirit was actively involved in the Creation of the Universe (cf. Genesis 1:2; Job 33:4; Psalm 104:30; Isaiah 40:12-13).
We teach God the Holy Spirit is the Agent of the conception of Jesus Christ in the Virgin Birth by miraculous effort (cf. Matt 1:18).
We teach God the Holy Spirit filled Jesus Christ, led Jesus Christ and powered Jesus Christ during the first advent and ministry of Jesus Christ (cf. Luke 4:1; 14).
We teach that the Lord Jesus Christ began His ministry in the power of God the Holy Spirit (cf. Luke 4:14; see the ministry of God the Holy Spirit in Luke’s Gospel (cf. 1:15, 35; 3:22; 4:1, 18; 10:21)
And we teach that the Lord Jesus Christ rejoiced in God the Holy Spirit when Jesus Christ offered the prayer:
I praise You, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and intelligent and have revealed them to infants. Yes, Father, for this way was well-pleasing in Your sight. All things have been handed over to Me by My Father, and no one knows who the Son is except the Father, and who the Father is except the Son, and anyone to whom the Son wills to reveal Him (Luke 10:21-22).
We teach that the disciples and Apostles who were eye witnesses to the bodily resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ were commanded by the Lord Jesus Christ to wait for the ‘the power from on high,’ namely the promise of being filled with God the Holy Spirit which was fulfilled at Pentecost (cf. Luke 24:49; Acts 1:8; 2:4). We teach It was the work of God the Holy Spirit to enable the Apostles to boldly testify to the perfect life, atoning death, burial and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ.
We teach God the Holy Spirit seals the believer for the day of redemption (cf. 2 Corinthians 1:22; Ephesians 4:30; 1 Peter 2:9; cf. 1:14; Rev 7:3-8; see also Eph 1:13; 4:30; cf. 2 Tim 2:19).
We teach God the Holy Spirit spiritually immerses individual persons who He has regenerated into Christ and these individual persons are buried with Christ through Spirit baptism into Christ’s death and therefore into one body to make up the Church (cf. Romans 6:3-11; Corinthians 12:13). We teach this baptism by the Holy Spirit is positional. Concerning this truth, we teach that God the Holy Spirit possesses the office of Administrator of the Church (cf. 1 Corinthians 12:4-6).
We teach that the ministry of God the Holy Spirit in the life of the believer in Christ is certain and will never fail. His work is completed fulfilled in every single genuine believer in Christ.
We teach that the ministry of God the Holy Spirit in the life of those destined to be saved from the wrath of God by God’s grace alone through faith alone in the Lord Jesus Christ’s finished work alone is as follows:
1) Regeneration (cf. John 3:5; Titus 3:5)
2) Indwelling (cf. Romans 8:9, 11; 1 Corinthians 3:16; 6:19; 2 Corinthians 6:16; 2 Timothy 1:14; 1 John 2:27)
3) Repentance and Conversion (cf. Acts 2:38; 3:19; 2 Corinthians 7:10)
4) Justification (cf. 1 Cor. 6:11)
5) Sealing/Security (cf. Ephesians 1:13-14; 4:3)
6) Adopting (cf. Romans 8:15, 23; Galatians 4:6),
7) Filling (cf. Ephesians 5:18)
8) Sanctification (cf. 1 Peter 1:2; Gal. 5:18–26)
9) Convicting (cf. Galatians 5:16-18; Ephesians 4:3)
10) Glorification (cf. Rom. 8:11, 17, 30).
We teach God the Holy Spirit is the agent of applying the New Covenant to those He regenerated as He speaks of the divine prerogatives that He coequally shares with God the Father and God the Son to forgive sin (cf. Hebrews 10:15-17; Jeremiah 31:31-34).
We teach that the following personal works are accomplished by God the Holy Spirit:
He is operative and works (cf. 1 Corinthians 12:11), He reveals, searches all things and searches the depths of God (cf. 1 Corinthians 2:10), He testifies (cf. John 15:26), He convicts (cf. John 16:8-11), He teaches (cf. John 14:26), He intercedes for believers in Christ when they pray (cf. Romans 8:26), He glorifies the Lord Jesus Christ (cf. John 16:14), He leads believers in Christ in freedom (cf. Romans 8:2; Galatians 5:18); He produces fruit of righteousness in the lives of all believers in Christ (cf. Galatians 5:22-26), He calls men into service and offices in the church (cf. Acts 13:2; 20:28), He illuminates believers to understand the word of God (cf. 1 Corinthians 2:10-16; Ephesians 1:18); He leads and directs men in service and offices in the church to guard sound (cf. 2 Timothy 1:14).
We teach that God the Holy Spirit spoke audibly to the Apostles in the Apostolic age (cf. Acts 13:2).
We teach that God the Holy Spirit after the Apostolic age communicates to believers in the Lord Jesus Christ inaudibly through conviction in their consciences as the word of God is preached, read and studied. And the conduit of this communication comes to the new spirit given to them by Him when they are regenerated (cf. Jeremiah 31:33; Ezekiel 11:19-20; 36:26-27; Romans 8:16; 1 Corinthians 2:10-16; 1 John 4:13).
We teach that God the Holy Spirit gave unique sign gifts in the Apostolic age to authenticate the ministry of the Apostles for the inception of the history and spread of Christianity to fulfill their commission to testify to resurrected Lord Jesus Christ preaching the Gospel to the world (cf. John 14-17; Acts 1:8).
We teach that the Apostolic sign gifts have ceased in Apostolic age, namely the gift of miraculous healing, the gifts of tongues and the gift of prophecy.
See: https://bcri.wordpress.com/2019/11/01/against-charismatic-chaos-a-letter-to-open-but-cautious/
We teach that God the Holy Spirit bestows spiritual gifts to believers in Christ in the church age and empowers them for Christian life and service (cf. Romans 12:4-8; 1 Corinthians 12-14; Ephesians 4:11 ; 1 Peter 4:10-11).
[1] Historically, Cerinthus and all the platonistic pre-incipient gnostics claimed that they had the true knowledge about Christ and that it was a secret more advanced knowledge. However, they denied the truth concerning Jesus’ anointing for his ministry as Messiah by the coming of the Holy Spirit upon him at his baptism. Cerinthus and his followers denied biblical Christology. Cerinthus denied that the Supreme God made the physical world. That really classified Cerinthus as a Platonist and gnostic because he believed in the demiurge as the creator and therefore was a heretic from Hellenistic Judaism.
When it came to Christology, historically, the false teacher Cerinthus claimed to have fellowship with God. But Cerinthus denied the Son of God. Cerinthus denied the Deity of the Lord Jesus Christ. Cerinthus and his followers denied the virgin birth. Cerinthus and his followers denied that Jesus Christ had come in the flesh. Cerinthus and his followers denied the two natures of Jesus Christ. They denied that Jesus Christ was truly God and truly man. Cerinthus’ false teaching denied the Messianic office. Cerinthus denied Jesus’ true incarnation. The false teaching that the Apostle John warned against was Cerinthian Gnosticism when he wrote, “these things I wrote to you concerning those deceiving you” (1 John 2:26).
Cerinthus’ brand of pre-incipient Gnosticism taught that the Lord Jesus was simply a man and at his baptism there came upon him a metaphysical “eon” from “the eons.” They redefined and misrepresented God the Holy Spirit. They argued in the power of an “eon” he ministered for most of his ministry as recorded in the gospels, but at the end of his life here on earth, this eon departed from him, and then he was left as only a man and was crucified as only a man and that he was buried and did not rise from the dead in bodily form. Therefore, at the core of this false teaching is the lie that Jesus Christ was not truly the God-man. Cerinthus argued that Jesus was not truly God, that he did not have a divine nature.
In conclusion, Cerinthus and his followers were deceiving people in the first century. Cerinthus and his followers were denying that Jesus is the Christ. They were denying Jesus’ messiahship and true incarnation. Therefore, Cerinthus and his followers were antichrists.