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CORE BELIEFS

 

God:

We believe in an absolute omnipotent, omniscient and omnipresent God, who exists as a tri-unity of Father, Son and Holy Spirit. These distinct Beings have neither beginning nor end of days, possess all power and knowledge, and are immutable. They are the same in purpose, power, glory, and substance. God’s nature is further characterized by holiness (Lev. 19:2), love (1 John 4:8), goodness (Matt. 19:17), truth (John 14:6), loving-kindness/mercy, justice and righteousness (Jer. 9:23,24), and all manner of excellencies in between.

 

Jesus Christ:

  • His Incarnation - We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God, became man, never ceasing to be God, was conceived by the Holy Spirit, and born of the virgin Mary. We believe His incarnation was specifically to effect man’s redemption from sin, and reconcile man to God. (Luke 1:30-35; John 1:1, 2, 18; 1 Tim. 3:16).

  • His Perfection - We believe the Lord Jesus Christ, as God the Son, to be incapable of sin (Heb. 4:15, 7:26; I Peter 2:22, James 1:13).

  • His Substitutionary Death - We believe Christ died on the cross as the willing Substitute for all mankind, satisfying the debt of sin owed to a holy God, was buried and rose again the third day (1 Cor. 15:1-4; 1 Tim. 2:3-6).

  • His Resurrection - We believe the Lord Jesus Christ ascended to Heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father where He fulfills the ministry of Advocate and Intercessor (Acts 1:9,10; Heb. 1:3, 7:24-26).

  • His Authority - We believe the Lord Jesus Christ is the Judge of all the earth and that all mankind is accountable to Him (Acts 10:42; I Cor. 4:5; 2 Cor. 5:10; Heb. 4:13; Heb. 9:27). 

  • His Return - We believe in the imminent, bodily return of Christ for His Church, known as the Pre-Tribulation Rapture, to rescue His people from the Great Tribulation period, known as the "wrath to come" and "The Day of the LORD" (1 Thessalonians 4:15-5:10; Romans 5:9).

 

The Holy Spirit:

  • The Agent of Conviction - We believe the Holy Spirit brings conviction regarding personal sin and the Remedy for that sin - the Lord Jesus Christ (Gen. 6:3; John 14:26; 15:26; 16:7-14; 2 Thess. 2:13).  It is mankind’s responsibility to respond to His conviction by repenting of their sins and trusting Christ.

  • Our Pledge/Guarantee - We believe the Holy Spirit to be the divine Agent in regeneration, effecting spiritual birth upon a sinner’s repentance and faith in Christ. He immediately indwells the new Believer (1 Cor. 3:16; 2 Tim. 1:14) as the “Guarantee” of the Father’s eternal acceptance, and places them into the Church, the Body of Christ (1 Cor. 12:13).

  • Our Comforter/Teacher/Guide - The Holy Spirit is the “Comforter” who the Father has sent to indwell Believers while Jesus is ascended. He is our divine Teacher and Guide, via the Word of God (2 Cor. 3:18).

 

Salvation:

  • The Gift of God - We believe salvation is a gift of God, not of works, offered to all, by the love and grace of God (John 3:16; Rom. 5:16; Eph. 2:8).

  • Through Christ Alone - We believe salvation was made possible by the shed blood of the Lord Jesus Christ for the forgive-ness of sin, who after His death on the Cross, was raised to life again. (1 John 1:7; Rom. 4:25).

  • By Faith Alone - We believe that God’s salvation in Christ is accessed by faith alone (Acts 16:31), and that genuine faith is evidenced by godly sorrow and repentance (Acts 20:21;     2 Corinthians. 7:10).

 

 

The Church:

We believe the Church is made up of all Believers in Jesus Christ from the day of Pentecost until now, and that the Holy Spirit works through the Church to be salt and light in the world (1 Cor. 3:16).

 

Satan:

We believe Satan to be an angel who, by personal choice, abandoned his position as a “covering cherub” and mutinied against God. He is the author of sin and is responsible for instigating the “fall.” He is the relentless enemy of God and His people, and shall be punished eternally in the Lake of Fire, with all those, angels and humans, who have joined his rebellion (Ezek. 28:11-19; Rev. 20:10).

 

The World:

  • Universal Need for the Gospel - From Adam and Eve on, mankind has demonstrated their universal sinfulness by either selfish disregard, or blatant disobedience, to the will of God. While all humanity is born with a sin nature (the flesh), condemnation only comes when individuals are mature enough to have an understanding of the truth and choose to reject it (John 3:18, James 4:17). 

  • Loved by God - While man is unworthy, he is not worthless (Malachi 3:17. Matt. 16:26).

  • Helpless - Man, in and of himself, can do nothing to merit, obtain or perform his own salvation. The Gospel is God's fair and gracious offer of rescue for all nations, of all time, of all social classes, on equal terms  (Rom. 5:6). 

 

The Eternal State: 

  • For Believers - We believe all who die in Christ are immediately escorted into the eternal presence of the Lord (2 Cor. 5:8) where they will also be reunited with saved loved ones who have gone before them.

  • After the Rapture, they will receive rewards (2 Cor. 5:10), and enjoy the Wedding Supper of the Lamb (Rev. 19:9). After the Tribulation, Christ’s Bride will return with Him to earth, reigning with Him forever as kings and priests (Rev. 5:9,10). 

  • For Unbelievers - We believe the souls of all who die rejecting the Person and work of Christ (Heb. 2:3) are confined to Hades awaiting the Great White Throne Judgment of the wicked (Rev. 20:11-15). The “books” will be opened and the full disclosure of sins revealed. These resolved enemies of God will be cast into the Lake of Fire for eternity (Rev. 20:15). 

 

Conclusion: 

Whereas sound doctrine may be defined, submission and obedience to God’s Word cannot be legislated. Every response to the will of God must rise from a love for Christ, a love for His truth, and a love for His people. Anything less will be hypocrisy (Isa. 56:1-7; 2 Cor. 9:7; Col 3:17, 23). 

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Old Landmarks Christian Fellowship of Burns Lake, recognizes the Holy Bible as the complete revelation of God’s will. We view His unchanging truths as “ancient landmarks” (Prov. 22:28) that must be diligently guarded (Ps. 119:63; Jude 3) and lovingly obeyed, if we are to enjoy fellow-ship with God (I John 1:3, 4) and experience His blessings. It is to these eternal truths we purpose before God to embrace, promote, preserve and defend, by the enabling of His Spirit.

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