 |
Rushing Wind Bible Fellowship is reformed in our doctrine adhering to both the Doctrines of Grace and The Five Solas of The Reformation. We also hold fast to a believers baptism and our worship is contemporary in style. The Holy Scriptures We believe the Scriptures - both the Old and New Testaments - to be the verbally inspired Word of God, written by men under God's control, inerrant and infallible in the original manuscripts and the final authority in faith and life. We accept the grammatical-historical system of interpretation of the Scriptures, and accept the historical record of the Bible as accurate. 2 Timothy 3:13-15 / 2 Peter 1:20-21 The Godhead We believe in one God, eternally existing in three persons - Father, Son and Holy Spirit - who are identical in essence, equal in power and glory, and possess precisely the same attributes and perfection. Deuteronomy 6:4 / Matthew 28:19 / 2 Corinthians 13:14 The Person and Work of Christ We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God, became man without ceasing to be God; that He was conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of a virgin in order that He might redeem sinful man. He accomplished this redemption by voluntarily giving Himself as a sinless substitutionary sacrifice on the cross thereby satisfying God's righteous judgment against the sin of the elect. He gave proof that He accomplished that redemption by His bodily resurrection from the grave. He then ascended to the right hand of His Father where He intercedes on behalf of His people. Matthew 1:21 / John 1:1,2,14,18 / 10:15; Luke 1:34 / Romans 3:24,25 / 5:8; 1 Peter 2:2-4 The Person and Work of the Holy Spirit We believe that the Holy Spirit is the Divine Person who brings new life to those who are spiritually dead; that He places all believers into the one true church, which is the Body of Christ, that He indwells them permanently, seals them unto the day of redemption, and bestows spiritual gifts upon them. John 3:3-8 / 14:16-17 / 16:7-11 / 1 Corinthians 12:4-11 / Ephesians 4:30 / 5:18 The Condition of Man We believe that man was created in the image and likeness of God, in innocence and without sin. But in Adam's sin the race fell, man then inherited the guilt of his sin, a sinful nature, becoming spiritually dead and alienated from God so that man is a sinner both by nature and choice. Man, of himself, is incapable of remedying his lost and depraved condition and needs the work of the Holy Spirit within him to draw him to God and to Christ. Genesis 1:26 / 3:1-24 / Romans 3:10-18 / 5:12 / Ephesians 2:1-3 Salvation We believe that salvation is the gift of God's grace given to all whom God has elected to salvation. It includes all that God does in saving the elect from the penalty, power and presence of sin and in restoring them to a right relationship with God. As such, it is solely the work of God from initiation to completion. The regenerating work of the Holy Spirit is the cause, not the result of the believer's saving faith. It cannot be gained by good works, but is a free gift for all who put their trust in Jesus Christ and His finished work on the cross. All who trust in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord are forgiven and saved from their sins and made righteous before God and are born into the family of God. God's purpose for saving His elect is so that they bring glory to Him by their lives. John 1:12; / 2 Corinthians 5:21 / Ephesians 1:7; 2:8-9 / Philippians 1:6 / Titus 2:11-14 Security, Assurance and Responsibility We believe that all the saved - those in whom God has accomplished His transforming work of grace - are kept by His power and thus, are secure in Christ forever. This assurance, however, is not the occasion for sin, for God in His holiness cannot tolerate persistent sin in His children, and in infinite love He corrects them. True faith in Christ is expressed by a fruitful, God-pleasing life that endures until death. Matthew 7:20 / John 10:27-29 Romans 8:29-39 / Hebrews 12:6 James 2:20 / 1 John 5:13 Sanctification We believe that God, in the Scriptures, has given us everything pertaining to life and godliness. This includes the salvation from the penalty of sin and just as surely the provision of sanctification (separation) from sin. Sanctification from sin affects both the positional and practical aspects. Positional sanctification as a work of the Holy Spirit is complete and absolute; however, practical sanctification is a result of the continuing work of the Spirit using the Word of God to provide nourishment for growth into maturity in Christ. While the process of practical sanctification is assured by the Word and the Spirit, it is yet imperfect in this life. There is some element of corruption in every part of the fallen nature which is the source for the war between the flesh and the Spirit. Spiritual growth occurs as believers feed on the Word and are in fellowship with other believers for encouragement and service. John 17:17 / 1 Corinthians 1:30 / Romans 6:19,22 / Hebrews 10:25 / 1 Peter 2:2 / 2 Peter 1:3 The Church We believe the true Church, called in Scripture the Body of Christ, is a spiritual organism. Every person who has trusted Jesus Christ for salvation is a part of the church. The local church, as established in Scripture, is made up of redeemed individuals who have joined together for worship, instruction, fellowship and service. Acts 2:42 / 13:1-2 / 1 Corinthians 12:13 / Ephesians 1:22 Ordinances We believe that our Lord Jesus Christ, instituted two ordinances to be observed by all believers as a matter of obedience, not as a condition for salvation - water baptism subsequent to the believer's profession of faith, and the Lord's supper. Matthew 28:19; / 1 Corinthians 11:23-26 The Eternal State We believe that at death the souls of those who have trusted Christ for salvation pass immediately into His presence and remain there in conscious bliss until the resurrection of the body at Christ's coming for the Church, when soul and body will be reunited. We then shall be with Him forever in glory. We also believe that at death the souls of unbelievers remain in conscious misery until the final judgment when the soul and body will be reunited and cast into the lake of fire - not to be annihilated, but to be separated from God forever in conscious punishment. Luke 16:19-26 / 2 Corinthians 5:8 / Philippians 1:23; / 2 Thessalonians 1:7-9 Eschatology We believe, according to His promise, that Jesus will physically return for His people. This truth has been revealed to provide the believer comfort and encouragement in this life. 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 Doctrines of Grace Total Depravity - Man - in his unredeemed state - is totally incapable of pleasing God, because of his sinful nature. He neither seeks God, nor knows Him, but is spiritually dead, - unable to please God, and utterly sinful in every way. This is not to say that he is as bad or evil as he could be, but that there is no true goodness in him. Unconditional Election - Because of the lifeless, depraved nature of man, it is God - not man - who must originate salvation, through the work of the Trinity. God the Father chose those whom he wills to be saved from before the foundations of the Earth. God the Son secured their salvation by paying the debt for their sin on the cross. God the Holy Spirit awakens the spirit of the elect to recognize their sinfulness, desiring forgiveness, and they consequently repent and express faith in Jesus Christ as Lord. Limited Atonement - Both the recipient and the scope of Christ's sinless atonement on the cross were limited by God himself. In other words, Christ's death on the cross actually secured absolute forgiveness of sins - past, present, and future - but only for those whom God had ordained - elected - before the foundations of the world. We must be very clear, however; the reach of the atonement was limited NOT by Christ's ability to provide forgiveness, but by God's desire to show the glory of his mercy to only his elect - those whom he predestined before the foundations of the world. Irresistible Grace - It is impossible for those who are awakened by the spirit of God to effectively reject His calling. Because God is sovereign over salvation, his calling awakens the dead, softens the heart from that of stone to flesh, and transforms their nature - that because of God's grace, expressed in their election, they can now please God; freely coming to Him because their will has been freed from the bounds of their sin - by His grace. Preservation of the Saints - (also Perseverance of the Saints) - Because God chose the elect, because the Son atoned for their sin, and because the Spirit awakened them unto life, God sovereignty and faithfully initiates and secures the salvation of the elect. This security is not based upon the faithfulness or ability of man to persevere his own salvation, but rather on the faithfulness of God to preserve his salvation without exception. Five Solas of the Reformation SOLA SCRIPTURA - “Scripture Alone” This truth declares that the Bible alone is our only authority for our faith (what we believe) and our conduct (how we live). The Bible alone is God’s Word written. It is without error, it is authoritative, it is sufficient for all things pertaining to life and godliness. It must be preached, it must be taught and it must be lived out. (2 Timothy 3:16-17) All Scripture is God-breathed and profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness: so that the man of God may be completely, equipped for every good work. The fact is this. The only reason why we know God, know Christ, and know the Holy Spirit is because of Scripture. It must be read from and taught from with only the highest of respect and care. SOLA GRATIA - “Grace Alone” It answers the question of who does what in salvation. Many think that salvation is a “grace and…” project. If this is true, then “grace is no longer grace.” (Romans 11:6) And if by grace, then it is no longer by works; if it were, grace would no longer be grace. The Bible is clear, salvation is by grace and grace alone because “salvation comes from the Lord” (Jonah 2:9). (2 Timothy 1:9) He who has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time. SOLA FIDE - “Faith Alone” Faith alone is the instrument of our salvation. Salvation is not by works; it is by faith, that is, trusting in the Lord Jesus Christ through His work on the cross for your salvation. (Ephesians 2:8-9) For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast. Martin Luther realized this because every effort he made by his works to achieve the righteousness that he thought would gain him his salvation, only drew him farther away from that. As he studied the book of Romans he finally realized that all his works would never gain him anything in the way of salvation. It would only be gained through Gods grace as a gift to us by the faith that God himself instills in us. (Romans 1:17) "The righteous will live by faith." SOLA CHRISTUS - “Through Christ Alone” It is in Christ alone that we have salvation. In His perfect life and substitutionary death, alone we have salvation. Through Him and Him alone, we have the forgiveness of our sins and are declared righteous before God. (Titus 3:5-7) He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life. SOLI DEO GLORIA - “To God alone be the Glory” It is the great goal of all of God’s purposes in Jesus Christ. All that God does, He does for His own glory. He created all things for His glory. He sustains and rules over the world and our lives for His glory. Our salvation is all of grace through Christ for all His glory. One important thing to notice, the word alone. God and God alone is worthy of all glory and praise! (Romans 11:36) For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever! |
