Concerning SoundWords
Contrary to the belief that SoundWords has something to do with music or sound, SoundWords has taken its name from the English translation of the Bible verse 2. Timothy 1:13:
“Hold fast the form of sound words.”
The purpose of SoundWords is primarily to point to the picture (or orderly form) of sound words found in the Bible, the inspired Word of God. Knowing and holding on to this image is through faith and love found in Christ, and is only possible in the power of the Holy Spirit.
SoundWords sees itself as a help for growth and edification of those who have gained new life through regeneration and forgiveness of sins. To this end, SoundWords seeks to impart sound biblical teaching. In doing so, the gifts that the Lord has given to His Church, even in past centuries, are to be acknowledged and made use of – often in the form of translated articles. In addition, however, SoundWords also takes a position to doctrinal questions and to topics of the practical life of a Christian.
SoundWords is not a registered association and is currently run and maintained exclusively by the editors and staff who are in secular employment.
Used Bible Translations
In general, we use the King James or the John Nelson Darby translation. If we use a different translation, this is usually indicated in the text.
Spelling
In originally English articles we have mainly left the spelling as it was used by the authors.
Translations from German to English
German articles have been translated into English by not native English speaking persons. So they are not perfect. If you find errors, we are glad about a note.
Frequently asked Questions to the SoundWords-Editors – click here
You have a question to the SoundWords-Editors – click here
You want to support SoundWords – click here
Our Principles of Belief
In response to the frequent and justified request of our readers to know who the providers of this website are, we would like to list here some of our principles of faith.
We would like to state that we would never subscribe to any creed, even if written by ourselves, because all human determinations of truth fall far short of the Holy Scriptures, even if everything were taken directly from the written Word.
We write the following in awareness of our imperfection. In doing so, we admit that one should actually list much more. Nevertheless, we can say of what we write here: We believe this. This is what we have learned from the Scriptures!
Content
God, Father, Son, Holy Spirit
Ressurection of Christ
The Gift of the Holy Spirit
Redemption / Atonement
New Birth
Sins
Forgiveness
The Love and Rightousness of God
Eternal Security
Election
Calling
The Holy Scriptures
The soul
Baptism and Supper
Church
Expectation
The Coming of the Lord for his Own
Judgement/Damnation
God, Father, Son, Holy Spirit
We believe that there is a living God (1Tim 2:5; 4:10 „(2:5) For God is one, and the mediator of God and men one, the man Christ Jesus,“ „(4:10) for, for this we labour and suffer reproach, because we hope in a living God, who is preserver of all men, specially of those that believe.“), who has been fully revealed to us in Christ (John 1:18 „No one has seen God at any time; the only-begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him .“) and made known to us through Him as Father, Son and Holy Spirit (Mt 3:16,17; 28:19 „(3:16) And Jesus, having been baptised, went up straightway from the water, and lo, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove, and coming upon him: (3:17) and behold, a voice out of the heavens saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I have found my delight.“ „(28:19) Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptising them to the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit;“; Eph 2:18 „For through him we have both access by one Spirit to the Father.“), in the unity of the Godhead (John 5:19 „Jesus therefore answered and said to them, Verily, verily, I say to you, The Son can do nothing of himself save whatever he sees the Father doing: for whatever things he does, these things also the Son does in like manner.“; 1Cor 12:6 „and there are distinctions of operations, but the same God who operates all things in all.“); three persons in one God. God is the Creator of all things; the act of creation is personally attributed to the Word and the Son and to the working of the Spirit of God (Gen 1:1.2 „(1) In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. (2) And the earth was waste and empty, and darkness was on the face of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.“; Job 26:13 „By his Spirit the heavens are adorned; his hand hath formed the fleeing serpent.“; Jn 1:1–3 „(1) In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. (2) He was in the beginning with God. (3) All things received being through him, and without him not one thing received being which has received being.“; Col 1:16 „because by him were created all things, the things in the heavens and the things upon the earth, the visible and the invisible, whether thrones, or lordships, or principalities, or authorities: all things have been created by him and for him.“; Heb 1:2 „at the end of these days has spoken to us in the person of the Son, whom he has established heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;“).
We believe that the Word who was with God and who was God became flesh and dwelt among us (John 1:1,2,14 „(1) In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. (2) He was in the beginning with God.“ „And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us (and we have contemplated his glory, a glory as of an only-begotten with a father), full of grace and truth;“), in that the Father sent the Son as Saviour of the world (1. John 4:14 „And we have seen, and testify, that the Father has sent the Son as Saviour of the world.“). He was born as the Christ from a woman (Gal 4:4 „but when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, come of woman, come under law,“), by the power of the Holy Spirit who came upon the Virgin Mary (Luke 1:35 „And the angel answering said to her, The Holy Spirit shall come upon thee, and power of the Highest overshadow thee, wherefore the holy thing also which shall be born shall be called Son of God.“). He was a true man (Phil 2:7 „but emptied himself, taking a bondman's form, taking his place in the likeness of men;“; Heb 2:14. 17 „Since therefore the children partake of blood and flesh, he also, in like manner, took part in the same, that through death he might annul him who has the might of death, that is, the devil;“ „Wherefore it behoved him in all things to be made like to his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things relating to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people;“; 1. John 4:2 „Hereby ye know the Spirit of God: every spirit which confesses Jesus Christ come in flesh is of God;“; 2. John 7 „For many deceivers have gone out into the world, they who do not confess Jesus Christ coming in flesh--this is the deceiver and the antichrist.“), without sin (Luke 1:35 „And the angel answering said to her, The Holy Spirit shall come upon thee, and power of the Highest overshadow thee, wherefore the holy thing also which shall be born shall be called Son of God.“; 1. John 3:5 „And ye know that he has been manifested that he might take away our sins; and in him sin is not.“); in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead in the flesh (Col 2:9 „For in him dwells all the fulness of the Godhead bodily;“); He is the promised offspring of David in the flesh (Rom 1:3 „concerning his Son (come of David's seed according to flesh,“; Acts 2:30; 13:23 „(2:30) Being therefore a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn to him with an oath, of the fruit of his loins to set upon his throne;“ „(13:23) Of this man's seed according to promise has God brought to Israel a Saviour, Jesus;“; 2Tim 2:8 „Remember Jesus Christ raised from among the dead, of the seed of David, according to my glad tidings,“), the Son of Man (Mt 16:13 „But when Jesus was come into the parts of Caesarea-Philippi, he demanded of his disciples, saying, Who do men say that I the Son of man am?“) and the Son of God, who was with the Father from all eternity (John 1:18,34 „No one has seen God at any time; the only-begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him .“ „And I have seen and borne witness that this is the Son of God.“). He is true God and true man in one person (Phil 2,6–10; 2Cor 5,19–21; Heb 1–2; 1. John 2,23–33; 5,20; Rev 22,12.13; Jn 1,1.14; 8,58).
We believe that the Holy Spirit is God and is a person (Acts 5:3,4 „(3) But Peter said, Ananias, why has Satan filled thy heart that thou shouldest lie to the Holy Spirit, and put aside for thyself a part of the price of the estate? (4) While it remained did it not remain to thee? and sold, was it not in thine own power? Why is it that thou hast purposed this thing in thine heart? Thou hast not lied to men, but to God.“; John 14:26; 15:26; 16:13,14 „(14:26) but the Comforter, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and will bring to your remembrance all the things which I have said to you.“ „(15:26) But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who goes forth from with the Father, he shall bear witness concerning me;“ „(16:13) But when he is come, the Spirit of truth, he shall guide you into all the truth: for he shall not speak from himself; but whatsoever he shall hear he shall speak; and he will announce to you what is coming. (16:14) He shall glorify me, for he shall receive of mine and shall announce it to you.“).
Resurrection of Christ
We believe that Christ personally and bodily rose from the dead (1Cor 15:20 „(But now Christ is raised from among the dead, first-fruits of those fallen asleep.“; Mt 28:6 „He is not here, for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.“), raised by God, through the glory of the Father (Acts 3.15; John 2.19; Rome 6:4; Eph 1.20), that He also rose again in the power of His person and ascended into the highest place (Mk 16.19; Lk 24.51; Eph 4.8–10), after having cleansed our sins by Himself, and that He sits there at the right hand of God (Heb 1:3; 10:2 „(1:3) who being the effulgence of his glory and the expression of his substance, and upholding all things by the word of his power, having made by himself the purification of sins, set himself down on the right hand of the greatness on high,“ „(10:2) Since, would they not indeed have ceased being offered, on account of the worshippers once purged having no longer any conscience of sins?“; Eph 1:20.21 „(20) in which he wrought in the Christ in raising him from among the dead, and he set him down at his right hand in the heavenlies, (21) above every principality, and authority, and power, and dominion, and every name named, not only in this age, but also in that to come;“).
The Gift of the Holy Spirit
We believe that after Ascension, the Holy Spirit was sent down to earth to dwell in His people individually and collectively, so that they may be the temple of God in both respects (John 16:7; 7:39 „(16:7) But I say the truth to you, It is profitable for you that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Comforter will not come to you; but if I go I will send him to you.“ „(7:39) But this he said concerning the Spirit, which they that believed on him were about to receive; for the Spirit was not yet, because Jesus had not yet been glorified.“; Romans 8:9 „But ye are not in flesh but in Spirit, if indeed God's Spirit dwell in you; but if any one has not the Spirit of Christ he is not of him:“; the Father sends: John 14,26; Christ sends from the Father: John 14:16.17.26 „(16) And I will beg the Father, and he will give you another Comforter, that he may be with you for ever, (17) the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see him nor know him; but ye know him, for he abides with you, and shall be in you.“ „but the Comforter, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and will bring to your remembrance all the things which I have said to you.“; Rom 8:11 „But if the Spirit of him that has raised up Jesus from among the dead dwell in you, he that has raised up Christ from among the dead shall quicken your mortal bodies also on account of his Spirit which dwells in you.“; 1Cor 6:19; 3:16 „(6:19) Do ye not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit which is in you, which ye have of God; and ye are not your own?“ „(3:16) Do ye not know that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?“; Eph 2:22 „in whom ye also are built together for a habitation of God in the Spirit.“; 1Cor 12:13 „For also in the power of one Spirit we have all been baptised into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether bondmen or free, and have all been given to drink of one Spirit.“; Eph 1:23 „which is his body, the fulness of him who fills all in all:“). We are sealed (Eph 1:13 „in whom ye also have trusted , having heard the word of the truth, the glad tidings of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, ye have been sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise,“; 2Cor 1:22 „who also has sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.“) and anointed with the Holy Spirit (2Cor 1:21 „Now he that establishes us with you in Christ, and has anointed us, is God,“; 1. John 2:20.27 „And ye have the unction from the holy one , and ye know all things.“ „and yourselves, the unction which ye have received from him abides in you, and ye have not need that any one should teach you; but as the same unction teaches you as to all things, and is true and is not a lie, and even as it has taught you, ye shall abide in him.“), with the love of God poured out into our hearts (Rom 5:5 „and hope does not make ashamed, because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit which has been given to us:“); we are guided by Him (Rom 8:14 „for as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.“); and He is the pledge of our heritage (Eph 1:14 „who is the earnest of our inheritance to the redemption of the acquired possession to the praise of his glory.“; 2Cor 1:22; 5:5 „(1:22) who also has sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.“ „(5:5) Now he that has wrought us for this very thing is God, who also has given to us the earnest of the Spirit.“).
Redemption/Atonement
We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ died for all, that He gave Himself for a ransom for all, of which the testimony was proclaimed in His time, that He atoned for our sins, not only for ours, but for the whole world (2. Corinthians 5:14 „For the love of the Christ constrains us, having judged this: that one died for all, then all have died;“; 1Tim 2:6 „who gave himself a ransom for all, the testimony to be rendered in its own times;“; 1. John 2:2 „and he is the propitiation for our sins; but not for ours alone, but also for the whole world.“).
We believe that in this way He obtained eternal redemption (Heb 9:12 „nor by blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood, has entered in once for all into the holy of holies, having found an eternal redemption.“), that through His sacrifice the sins of all those who believe in Him are washed away once and for all (Heb 1:3; 9:22; 10:2 „(1:3) who being the effulgence of his glory and the expression of his substance, and upholding all things by the word of his power, having made by himself the purification of sins, set himself down on the right hand of the greatness on high,“ „(9:22) and almost all things are purified with blood according to the law, and without blood-shedding there is no remission.“ „(10:2) Since, would they not indeed have ceased being offered, on account of the worshippers once purged having no longer any conscience of sins?“), and that by believing in Him their consciences are also cleansed (Heb 9:14; 10:2 „(9:14) how much rather shall the blood of the Christ, who by the eternal Spirit offered himself spotless to God, purify your conscience from dead works to worship the living God?“ „(10:2) Since, would they not indeed have ceased being offered, on account of the worshippers once purged having no longer any conscience of sins?“). God will never again remember their sins and lawlessness (Heb 10:17 „and their sins and their lawlessnesses I will never remember any more.“). Furthermore, as those called by God, they receive the promise of the eternal inheritance (Heb 9:15 „And for this reason he is mediator of a new covenant, so that, death having taken place for redemption of the transgressions under the first covenant, the called might receive the promise of the eternal inheritance.“), being made perfect forever, so that they may be free to enter the sanctuary through His blood (Heb 10:14; 19:20 „(10:14) For by one offering he has perfected in perpetuity the sanctified.“ „(19:20) saying, This is the blood of the covenant which God has enjoined to you.“).
New Birth
We believe that to enter the Kingdom of God, we must be born again of water and the Spirit (John 3:3,5 „Jesus answered and said to him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except any one be born anew he cannot see the kingdom of God.“ „Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except any one be born of water and of Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.“), since we are by nature dead in sins and children of wrath (Eph 2:1–3 „(1) and you, being dead in your offences and sins-- (2) in which ye once walked according to the age of this world, according to the ruler of the authority of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience: (3) among whom we also all once had our conversation in the lusts of our flesh, doing what the flesh and the thoughts willed to do, and were children, by nature, of wrath, even as the rest:“; 2Cor 5:14 „For the love of the Christ constrains us, having judged this: that one died for all, then all have died;“).
What God uses for our new birth is His Word (James 1:18 „According to his own will begat he us by the word of truth, that we should be a certain first-fruits of his creatures.“; 1Pet 1:23 „being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the living and abiding word of God.“). We therefore become His children by faith (John 1:12 „but as many as received him, to them gave he the right to be children of God, to those that believe on his name;“). We may know that we are children of God (1Jn 3:1.2 „(1) See what love the Father has given to us, that we should be called the children of God. For this reason the world knows us not, because it knew him not. (2) Beloved, now are we children of God, and what we shall be has not yet been manifested; we know that if it is manifested we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.“).
Sins
We believe that Jesus Christ, the Savior, died for our sins (1Cor 15:3 „For I delivered to you, in the first place, what also I had received, that Christ died for our sins, according to the scriptures;“; Heb 9:28 „thus the Christ also, having been once offered to bear the sins of many, shall appear to those that look for him the second time without sin for salvation.“; 1Pet 3:18 „for Christ indeed has once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God; being put to death in flesh, but made alive in the Spirit,“), after He was once revealed at the end of the ages to abolish sin through His sacrifice (Heb 9:26 „since he had then been obliged often to suffer from the foundation of the world. But now once in the consummation of the ages he has been manifested for the putting away of sin by his sacrifice.“).
We believe that He bore our sins in His body on the cross, suffering for the unjust, so that He might lead us to God (1Pet 2:24; 3:18 „(2:24) who himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, in order that, being dead to sins, we may live to righteousness: by whose stripes ye have been healed.“ „(3:18) for Christ indeed has once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God; being put to death in flesh, but made alive in the Spirit,“), and that He is our righteousness before God (1Cor 1:30 „But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who has been made to us wisdom from God, and righteousness, and holiness, and redemption;“; Heb 9:24 „For the Christ is not entered into holy places made with hand, figures of the true, but into heaven itself, now to appear before the face of God for us:“).
Forgiveness
We believe that our sins are forgiven because of the name of Jesus (Acts 10:43 „To him all the prophets bear witness that every one that believes on him will receive through his name remission of sins.“; 1. John 2:12 „I write to you, children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name's sake.“), because of His blood shed for us (Heb 9:22; 10:18 „(9:22) and almost all things are purified with blood according to the law, and without blood-shedding there is no remission.“ „(10:18) But where there is remission of these, there is no longer a sacrifice for sin.“), if we confess them. God forgives us because of our confession and cleanses us from all unrighteousness (1Jn 1:9 „If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins, and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.“).
The love and righteousness of God
We believe that God thus loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life (Jn 3:16 „For God so loved the world, that he gave his only-begotten Son, that whosoever believes on him may not perish, but have life eternal.“), but that for this purpose, God being a just and holy God, the Son of man had to be lifted up upon the cross (Jn 3:14, 15 „(14) And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, thus must the Son of man be lifted up, (15) that every one who believes on him may not perish, but have life eternal.“). There He Himself bore our sin in His body (1Pet 2:24 „who himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, in order that, being dead to sins, we may live to righteousness: by whose stripes ye have been healed.“); there He, who knew not sin, was made sin for us, that we might become God’s righteousness in Him (2Cor 5:21 „Him who knew not sin he has made sin for us, that we might become God's righteousness in him.“).
Eternal security
We have the promise that we will never perish and that no one will rob us out of the hand of Christ (Jn 10:28 „and I give them life eternal; and they shall never perish, and no one shall seize them out of my hand.“), but that God will secure us to the end, that we may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ (1Cor 1:8 „who shall also confirm you to the end, unimpeachable in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.“).
Election
We believe that the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before Him in love (Eph 1:4 „according as he has chosen us in him before the world's foundation, that we should be holy and blameless before him in love;“).
Calling
We believe that if believers are in Christ, Christ is in them and that they are called to manifest the life of Jesus in their mortal flesh (Jn 14:20 „In that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you.“; Rom 8:10 „but if Christ be in you, the body is dead on account of sin, but the Spirit life on account of righteousness.“; 2Cor 4:10 „always bearing about in the body the dying of Jesus, that the life also of Jesus may be manifested in our body;“) and to walk as He walked (1Jn 2:6 „He that says he abides in him ought, even as he walked, himself also so to walk.“).
The Scriptures
We learn from the example and authority of the Lord and His apostles that the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments are inspired by God and are to be received as the Word of God. (See Mt 4:4, 7, 10; 5:17, 18 „(4:4) But he answering said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word which goes out through God's mouth.“ „(4:7) Jesus said to him, It is again written, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.“ „(4:10) Then says Jesus to him, Get thee away, Satan, for it is written, Thou shalt do homage to the Lord thy God, and him alone shalt thou serve.“ „(5:17) Think not that I am come to make void the law or the prophets; I am not come to make void, but to fulfil. (5:18) For verily I say unto you, Until the heaven and the earth pass away, one iota or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law till all come to pass.“; Lk 24:25–27, 44 – 46 „(25) And he said to them, O senseless and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! (26) Ought not the Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into his glory? (27) And having begun from Moses and from all the prophets, he interpreted to them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.“ „(44) And he said to them, These are the words which I spoke to you while I was yet with you, that all that is written concerning me in the law of Moses and prophets and psalms must be fulfilled. (45) Then he opened their understanding to understand the scriptures, (46) and said to them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved the Christ to suffer, and to rise from among the dead the third day;“; Jn 5:39; 10:35; 20:9 „(5:39) Ye search the scriptures, for ye think that in them ye have life eternal, and they it is which bear witness concerning me;“ „(10:35) If he called them gods to whom the word of God came (and the scripture cannot be broken),“ „(20:9) for they had not yet known the scripture, that he must rise from among the dead.“; Mt 1:23 „Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which is, being interpreted, 'God with us.'“ and a number of other passages; Mt 26:54 „How then should the scriptures be fulfilled that thus it must be?“; 2Pet 1:20. 21 „(20) knowing this first, that the scope of no prophecy of scripture is had from its own particular interpretation, (21) for prophecy was not ever uttered by the will of man, but holy men of God spake under the power of the Holy Spirit.“; Gal 3:8 „and the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the nations on the principle of faith, announced beforehand the glad tidings to Abraham: In thee all the nations shall be blessed.“; 2Tim 3:14 –17 „(14) But thou, abide in those things which thou hast learned, and of which thou hast been fully persuaded, knowing of whom thou hast learned them ; (15) and that from a child thou hast known the sacred letters, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation, through faith which is in Christ Jesus. (16) Every scripture is divinely inspired, and profitable for teaching, for conviction, for correction, for instruction in righteousness; (17) that the man of God may be complete, fully fitted to every good work.“; 1Thess 2:13 „And for this cause we also give thanks to God unceasingly that, having received the word of the report of God by us, ye accepted, not men's word, but, even as it is truly, God's word, which also works in you who believe.“; 1Cor 15:2, 3; 2:13; 14:36, 37 „(15:2) by which also ye are saved, (if ye hold fast the word which I announced to you as the glad tidings,) unless indeed ye have believed in vain. (15:3) For I delivered to you, in the first place, what also I had received, that Christ died for our sins, according to the scriptures;“ „(2:13) which also we speak, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, communicating spiritual things by spiritual means .“ „(14:36) Did the word of God go out from you, or did it come to you only? (14:37) If any one thinks himself to be a prophet or spiritual, let him recognise the things that I write to you, that it is the Lord's commandment.“; Rom 16:26 „but which has now been made manifest, and by prophetic scriptures, according to commandment of the eternal God, made known for obedience of faith to all the nations--“. Here it is not “the writings of the prophets,” ie, they are scriptures, to be sure, but New Testament scriptures; 2Pet 3:16 „as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; among which some things are hard to be understood, which the untaught and ill-established wrest, as also the other scriptures, to their own destruction.“).
We believe that the testimony of the Lord is reliable, making the simple wise and judging the thoughts and minds of the heart, and that the scriptures are understood not by human wisdom but by divine instruction because they are spiritually discerned and revealed, communicated, and discerned by the Spirit (Ps 19:7 „The law of Jehovah is perfect, restoring the soul; the testimony of Jehovah is sure, making wise the simple;“; Heb 4:12, 13 „(12) For the word of God is living and operative, and sharper than any two-edged sword, and penetrating to the division of soul and spirit, both of joints and marrow, and a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. (13) And there is not a creature unapparent before him; but all things are naked and laid bare to his eyes, with whom we have to do.“; Lk 24:45 „Then he opened their understanding to understand the scriptures,“; 1Cor 2:10; 2:12–14 „but God has revealed to us by his Spirit; for the Spirit searches all things, even the depths of God.“ „(12) But we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit which is of God, that we may know the things which have been freely given to us of God: (13) which also we speak, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, communicating spiritual things by spiritual means . (14) But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him; and he cannot know them because they are spiritually discerned;“; 1Jn 2:20, 27 „And ye have the unction from the holy one , and ye know all things.“ „and yourselves, the unction which ye have received from him abides in you, and ye have not need that any one should teach you; but as the same unction teaches you as to all things, and is true and is not a lie, and even as it has taught you, ye shall abide in him.“; Jn 6:45 „It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every one that has heard from the Father himself , and has learned of him , comes to me;“).
The soul
We believe that while God alone has immortality in and by Himself (1Tim 6:16 „who only has immortality, dwelling in unapproachable light; whom no man has seen, nor is able to see; to whom be honour and eternal might. Amen.“), angels are not subject to death (Luke 20:36 „for neither can they die any more, for they are equal to angels, and are sons of God, being sons of the resurrection.“), and that the death of a man, whether ungodly or born again, does not affect the life of his soul, but that all, though dead, live unto God (Mt 10:28 „And be not afraid of those who kill the body, but cannot kill the soul; but fear rather him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.“; Luke 12:4, 5; 16:23; 20:38 „(12:4) But I say to you, my friends, Fear not those who kill the body and after this have no more that they can do. (12:5) But I will shew you whom ye shall fear: Fear him who after he has killed has authority to cast into hell; yea, I say to you, Fear him.“ „(16:23) And in hades lifting up his eyes, being in torments, he sees Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.“ „(20:38) but he is not God of the dead but of the living; for all live for him.“), and that the wicked are raised up as well as the righteous (John 5:28, 29 „(28) Wonder not at this, for an hour is coming in which all who are in the tombs shall hear his voice, (29) and shall go forth; those that have practised good, to resurrection of life, and those that have done evil, to resurrection of judgment.“; Acts 24:15 „having hope towards God, which they themselves also receive, that there is to be a resurrection both of just and unjust.“).
Baptism and the Lord’s Supper
We believe that the Lord left two solemn customs or ordinances, both of which have reference to his death, one introductory, the other continuing in the Church of God: baptism and the Lord’s Supper (Mt 26:26–28; 28:19 „(26:26) And as they were eating, Jesus, having taken the bread and blessed, broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat: this is my body. (26:27) And having taken the cup and given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it. (26:28) For this is my blood, that of the new covenant, that shed for many for remission of sins.“ „(28:19) Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptising them to the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit;“; Mark 16:16 „He that believes and is baptised shall be saved, and he that disbelieves shall be condemned.“; Acts 2:38; 8:12. 16.36; 9:18 „(2:38) And Peter said to them, Repent, and be baptised, each one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ, for remission of sins, and ye will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.“ „(8:12) But when they believed Philip announcing the glad tidings concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptised, both men and women.“ „(8:16) for he was not yet fallen upon any of them, only they were baptised to the name of the Lord Jesus.“ „(8:36) And as they went along the way, they came upon a certain water, and the eunuch says, Behold water; what hinders my being baptised?“ „(9:18) And straightway there fell from his eyes as it were scales, and he saw, and rising up was baptised;“; Eph 4:5 „one Lord, one faith, one baptism;“; 1Cor 1:17; 10:14 –17; 11:23–26 „(1:17) For Christ has not sent me to baptise, but to preach glad tidings; not in wisdom of word, that the cross of the Christ may not be made vain.“ „(10:14) Wherefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry. (10:15) I speak as to intelligent persons : do ye judge what I say. (10:16) The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of the Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of the Christ? (10:17) Because we, being many, are one loaf, one body; for we all partake of that one loaf.“ „(11:23) For I received from the Lord, that which I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus, in the night in which he was delivered up, took bread, (11:24) and having given thanks broke it , and said, This is my body, which is for you: this do in remembrance of me. (11:25) In like manner also the cup, after having supped, saying, This cup is the new covenant in my blood: this do, as often as ye shall drink it , in remembrance of me. (11:26) For as often as ye shall eat this bread, and drink the cup, ye announce the death of the Lord, until he come.“; 1Pet 3:21 „which figure also now saves you, even baptism, not a putting away of the filth of flesh, but the demand as before God of a good conscience, by the resurrection of Jesus Christ,“; Rom 6:3 „Are you ignorant that we, as many as have been baptised unto Christ Jesus, have been baptised unto his death?“; Col 2:12 „buried with him in baptism, in which ye have been also raised with him through faith of the working of God who raised him from among the dead.“).
Church
We believe that Jesus Christ loved the church and gave Himself for it, that He might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, that He might present it glorified to Himself, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing (Eph 5:24 –29).
We believe that when Christ ascended on high, He received gifts for men, for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, and that through Christ the whole body, fitted together, and connected by every joint of supply, according to the working in its measure of each one part, works for itself the increase of the body to its self-building up in love. (Eph 4:6–13; Acts 2:33 „Having therefore been exalted by the right hand of God, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this which ye behold and hear.“; 1Cor 12:28 „And God has set certain in the assembly: first, apostles; secondly, prophets; thirdly, teachers; then miraculous powers; then gifts of healings; helps; governments; kinds of tongues.“; Rom 12:6 „But having different gifts, according to the grace which has been given to us, whether it be prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith;“; 1Pet 4:10, 11 „(10) each according as he has received a gift, ministering it to one another, as good stewards of the various grace of God. (11) If any one speak--as oracles of God; if any one minister--as of strength which God supplies; that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom is the glory and the might for the ages of ages. Amen.“).
We believe that according to Scripture there is only one church (or assembly), consisting of all born-again Christians, regardless of what denomination, church, group, or circle they may belong to (Acts 20:28 „Take heed therefore to yourselves, and to all the flock, wherein the Holy Spirit has set you as overseers, to shepherd the assembly of God, which he has purchased with the blood of his own.“; Mt 16:18 „And I also, I say unto thee that thou art Peter, and on this rock I will build my assembly, and hades' gates shall not prevail against it.“; Eph 1:22, 23 „(22) and has put all things under his feet, and gave him to be head over all things to the assembly, (23) which is his body, the fulness of him who fills all in all:“).
We believe that in the eyes of God there can be only one church in a place at a time, consisting of all born-again Christians who dwell in that place, and that this church is a representation of the one worldwide church of God (Mt 18:15–20; 1Cor 1:2; 12:27 „(1:2) to the assembly of God which is in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called saints, with all that in every place call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both theirs and ours:“ „(12:27) Now ye are Christ's body, and members in particular.“; Eph 4:4 „ There is one body and one Spirit, as ye have been also called in one hope of your calling;“). The representation of this is found where one goes forward in the unity of the body of Christ (Eph 4:4 „ There is one body and one Spirit, as ye have been also called in one hope of your calling;“) and where godly church discipline is exercised: in the area of doctrine, morals, and connections (1Cor 5; 10:14 –22; 2Tim 2:18–22 „(18) men who as to the truth have gone astray, saying that the resurrection has taken place already; and overthrow the faith of some. (19) Yet the firm foundation of God stands, having this seal, The Lord knows those that are his; and, Let every one who names the name of the Lord withdraw from iniquity. (20) But in a great house there are not only gold and silver vessels, but also wooden and earthen; and some to honour, and some to dishonour. (21) If therefore one shall have purified himself from these, in separating himself from them , he shall be a vessel to honour, sanctified, serviceable to the Master, prepared for every good work. (22) But youthful lusts flee, and pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace, with those that call upon the Lord out of a pure heart.“; Gal 5:9 „A little leaven leavens the whole lump.“).
We believe that all local churches are connected to one another by the union of all individual believers with the common Head and by the operation of the one Spirit (Eph 4:3, 4, 15, 16; 5:23, 30 „(4:3) using diligence to keep the unity of the Spirit in the uniting bond of peace. (4:4) There is one body and one Spirit, as ye have been also called in one hope of your calling;“ „(4:15) but, holding the truth in love, we may grow up to him in all things, who is the head, the Christ: (4:16) from whom the whole body, fitted together, and connected by every joint of supply, according to the working in its measure of each one part, works for itself the increase of the body to its self-building up in love.“ „(5:23) for a husband is head of the wife, as also the Christ is head of the assembly. He is Saviour of the body.“ „(5:30) for we are members of his body; we are of his flesh, and of his bones.“).
Expectation
We believe that we are converted to await God’s Son from the heavens (1Thess 1:9, 10 „(9) for they themselves relate concerning us what entering in we had to you, and how ye turned to God from idols to serve a living and true God, (10) and to await his Son from the heavens, whom he raised from among the dead, Jesus, our deliverer from the coming wrath.“; Tit 2:12, 13 „(12) teaching us that, having denied impiety and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, and justly, and piously in the present course of things, (13) awaiting the blessed hope and appearing of the glory of our great God and Saviour Jesus Christ;“; Lk 12:35–37 „(35) Let your loins be girded about, and lamps burning; (36) and ye like men who wait their own lord whenever he may leave the wedding, that when he comes and knocks, they may open to him immediately. (37) Blessed are those bondmen whom the lord on coming shall find watching; verily I say unto you, that he will gird himself and make them recline at table, and coming up will serve them.“).
Christ’s coming again for His own
We believe that Christ will come again to take us to Himself (Jn 14:3 „and if I go and shall prepare you a place, I am coming again and shall receive you to myself, that where I am ye also may be.“); in so doing, He will raise His own who have already fallen asleep and transform those who are still alive, fashioning their bodies into conformity with His glorified body, according to the power by which He is able to subdue all things to Himself (1Thess 4:16, 17 „(16) for the Lord himself, with an assembling shout, with archangel's voice and with trump of God, shall descend from heaven; and the dead in Christ shall rise first; (17) then we, the living who remain, shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air; and thus we shall be always with the Lord.“; 1Cor 15:23, 51, 52 „But each in his own rank: the first-fruits, Christ; then those that are the Christ's at his coming.“ „(51) Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all fall asleep, but we shall all be changed, (52) in an instant, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.“; Phil 3:20, 21 „(20) for our commonwealth has its existence in the heavens, from which also we await the Lord Jesus Christ as Saviour, (21) who shall transform our body of humiliation into conformity to his body of glory, according to the working of the power which he has even to subdue all things to himself.“).
Judgment/Damnation
We believe that God has set a day when He will judge this world in righteousness by a man whom He has appointed, and has given proof of it to all by raising Him from the dead (Acts 17:31 „because he has set a day in which he is going to judge the habitable earth in righteousness by the man whom he has appointed, giving the proof of it to all in having raised him from among the dead.“), and that in the end He will sit on the great white throne and judge the dead, both great and small (Rev 20:11, 12 „(11) And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled, and place was not found for them. (12) And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened; and another book was opened, which is that of life. And the dead were judged out of the things written in the books according to their works.“).
We believe that each one of us will give an account for himself to God (Rom 14:12 „So then each of us shall give an account concerning himself to God.“) and that he will receive what he has done in the body, whether good or evil (2Cor 5:10 „For we must all be manifested before the judgment-seat of the Christ, that each may receive the things done in the body, according to those he has done, whether it be good or evil.“). And as the righteous man inherits eternal life (Rom 6:22, 23 „(22) But now, having got your freedom from sin, and having become bondmen to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end eternal life. (23) For the wages of sin is death; but the act of favour of God, eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.“; Mt 25:46 „And these shall go away into eternal punishment, and the righteous into life eternal.“), so the wicked man will be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord; he will go to eternal damnation and will be cast into the lake of fire prepared for the devil and his angels. Yes, everyone who is not found written in the book of life will be thrown into the lake of fire (2Thess 1:7–9 „(7) and to you that are troubled repose with us, at the revelation of the Lord Jesus from heaven, with the angels of his power, (8) in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who know not God, and those who do not obey the glad tidings of our Lord Jesus Christ; (9) who shall pay the penalty of everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his might,“; Mt 25:46 „And these shall go away into eternal punishment, and the righteous into life eternal.“; Rev 20:15 „And if any one was not found written in the book of life, he was cast into the lake of fire.“).