Beliefs

A statement of Christian faith is an expression of beliefs about God, the origin of the universe, mankind, why people behave sinfully, the existence of angels, how we got our Bible, where history is going, and other issues relevant to mankind. Here is a link to a short article on The Essentials of the Christian Faith.

The Bible

All Scripture is inspired by God. Inspiration means God the Holy Spirit superintended the human authors of Scripture (Prophets and Apostles) so that without sacrificing their particular literary style, the words they wrote in Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek, precisely communicated God’s thoughts to mankind (Mark 13:11; Acts 1:16; Rom 1:18-25; 2 Tim 3:16-17; 2 Pet 1:21). The Bible is God’s Word and is without error in the original autographs. The Bible alone provides special revelation from God to us, and without it, we cannot know anything particular about Him, His creation, or His redemptive work in history through His Son, Jesus Christ (Luke 24:27, 44; John 5:39; Acts 17:2-3; 18:28; 26:22-23; 28:23).

The Bible provides us with the necessary information to make sense of our world; that is, the Bible provides the necessary presuppositions to have a correct worldview, as Scripture alone gives the true origin of the universe created in six literal days and reveals that mankind came from the hand of God as a special creature made in His image and in no way evolved from a lower species. More so, the Bible explains the origin of sin and evil, the beginnings of language and society, and why the earth is in a state of decay. Scripture gives hope to mankind, showing that God has provided salvation to all who trust in Jesus Christ as their personal Savior (John 3:16-18; 20:31; Acts 4:12; 16:30-31; Eph 2:8-9; Tit 3:5). Lastly, God’s Word shows that evil—which had a beginning—will eventually come to an end, and that God will at some time in the future create a new heaven and earth (Gen 3-11; Rev 21-22).

The Trinity

The Bible teaches that God exists as Trinity; that there are three Persons in the Godhead who are co-equal, co-infinite, and co-eternal, possessing exactly the same attributes, but functioning in different roles (Deut 6:4; Matt 28:18-19; John 1:1, 14, 18; Acts 5:3-4; 2 Cor 13:14; Heb 1:1-3; Rev 1:4-6).

God the Father

God the Father is the first Person in the Godhead. God the Father is the master planner of all creation and the Father of all those who believe in Jesus Christ for salvation (1 Cor 8:6; Gal 3:26), but is by no means the Father of unbelievers (John 8:42-44). God the Father sent God the Son into the world as an expression of His love and to provide salvation for lost sinners (John 3:16-18). The Father was completely satisfied with the substitutionary death of Jesus who died in the place of sinners (Mark 10:45; Rom 3:25; 1 John 4:10).

God the Son

Jesus is the eternal Son of God who came into the world (John 1:1, 18), born of a virgin in the kingly Jewish line of David (Luke 1:30-35). Being truly God, He took upon Himself true humanity that He might live righteously according to the Mosaic Law (John 1:14; Gal 4:4; Heb 4:15), and thus be a qualified substitute to die in the place of sinners (Mark 10:45). After His bodily crucifixion, Jesus was in the grave for three days and was resurrected to life never to die again and has ascended to heaven where He currently intercedes for the saints until He returns to receive them to Himself at the rapture (1 Cor 15:3-4; Phil 3:20-21; 1 Th 4:13-18).

God the Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit is God (Gen 1:2; Acts 5:3-4). God the Holy Spirit has a special ministry in the Church Age in which He indwells and seals every believer at the moment of salvation (John 3:3; 14:16-17; 1 Cor 6:19; Eph 1:13; 4:30). At the moment of regeneration, the Holy Spirit baptizes each believer into union with Christ and gives a spiritual gift that can be developed for the edification of others through spiritual maturation (1 Cor 12:13; Rom 12:6-8). The Spirit empowers, teaches, and guides the believer in accordance with Scripture, which believer is often under the teaching ministry of a mature Pastor-Teacher (John 16:13-15; Rom 12:6-8; Eph 4:11-13).

Angels

God created an unknown number of spirit beings known in Scripture as angels. These spirit beings have intelligence, emotion, and volition. Angels are classified as either unfallen or fallen. One angel, according to the high order of Cherub, known in Scripture as Lucifer, Satan, the Devil, the Dragon, and the Serpent, at some time before the fall of Adam (Gen 3:1-7), led an angelic revolt in heaven and convinced many angels to follow him in rebellion against God (Isa 14:12-17; Ezek 28:11-19). Satan and his many fallen angels (known in the Bible as demons) continue in their rebellion (1 Tim 4:1; 1 Pet 5:8; Rev 16:14); whereas unfallen angels continue in their faithful allegiance to God and serve as His ministers in heaven and on the earth (Heb 1:14; 13:2). Eventually, God will assign all fallen angels to the Lake of Fire for eternity (Matt 25:31; Rev 20:1-10).

Mankind

Adam and Eve were uniquely created in the image of God with intelligence and volition that was untainted by sin and were completely free to serve Him in the perfect environment of the Garden of Eden (Gen 1:26-27; Gen 2:8-15). Adam corrupted his human nature, as well as the nature of all his children (excluding Jesus), when he willfully sinned by eating the forbidden fruit (Gen 2:16-17; 3:1-7; Rom 3:23; 5:12; 1 Cor 15:21-22).

Sin

Adam sinned against God when he ate the forbidden fruit, bringing death to himself, the creation, and all his descendants (Gen 2:16-17; 3:1-7; 5:3; 6:5; Rom 5:12; 8:19-22; 1Cor 15:21-22; Eph 2:1-6). Biblically, all of Adam’s children are sinners by imputation (Rom 5:12-18; cf. Heb 7:9-10), nature (Psa 51:5; Rom 7:19-21; Eph 2:3), and choice (1 Ki 8:46; Eccl 7:20; Isa 64:6; Rom 3:9-18). Sin so completely permeates every part of our being (mind, will, and body) that we are helpless to live up to God’s perfect standard of righteousness and must rely completely on God for salvation and spiritual advance after regeneration (Rom 5:6-10; Eph 2:1-6; Tit 3:5). Jesus’ shed blood is the sole basis for the forgiveness of sins (Col 1:14; Eph 1:7; Heb 10:10-14). By the work of Christ on the cross, the believer is saved from the penalty of sin (Rom 8:1; Eph 2:5, 8), the power of sin (Rom 6:1-14), and will ultimately be saved from the presence of sin (1 Pet 1:3-5; Rev 21:4).

Unlimited Atonement

Christ died for everyone; however, His death is only beneficial to those who believe in Him for salvation (2 Pet 3:9; 1 John 2:2; 1 Tim 4:10; Heb 2:9).

Salvation

Salvation is the free gift of God, bestowed by grace alone (Eph 2:8-9), through faith alone (Rom 3:28; Gal 2:16), in Christ alone (John 14:6; Acts 4:12). Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God (John 1:1, 14; Col 2:9), died for our sins, was buried, and was raised on the third day (1 Cor 15:3-4). He alone is the Savior, for “whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life” (John 3:16). Through faith in Him, the believer receives forgiveness of sins (Acts 10:43; Eph 1:7), the gift of eternal life (John 10:28; Rom 6:23), and the imputed righteousness of Christ (2 Cor 5:21; Phil 3:9). This salvation is not obtained by works (Rom 4:4-5) but rests solely upon the finished work of Christ on the cross (John 19:30; 1 Pet 3:18).

Eternal Security

Salvation is completely the work of God and never the work of people; and those of us whom the Lord saves, He faithfully preserves until He brings us home to heaven (John 5:24; 10:28; Phil 1:6; 1 John 5:13). The biblical truth of our eternal security is in no way a license for us to sin, for God calls us as His children to live righteously in this present world (Tit 2:11-14; 1 Pet 1:14-16). And when we stubbornly turn from His will, He disciplines us in love to restore us to fellowship and growth (1 Cor 5:1-5; 11:27-30; Heb 12:5-7).

Israel as the Covenant People of God

God created Israel when He called Abraham and entered into a unilateral covenant with him, promising to give him and his descendants the land of Canaan as an everlasting possession (Gen 12:1-3; Isa 43:1; cf. Gen 15:18; 17:8; Josh 1:2-4). Though Israel is currently under divine discipline for their national rejection of the Messiah (Matt 23:37-38; Rom 11:7-10), God has not abandoned His people, and we know that national Israel will be restored in fulfillment of His promises (Rom 9:1-5; 11:25-29; Zech 12:10; 14:1-9). While we do not endorse all that Israel does politically or morally, we should love the Jewish people as God’s chosen nation (Deut 7:6-8; Rom 11:28-29) and recognize that He still has a future purpose for them according to His sovereign plan (Jer 31:35-37; Ezek 37:21-28).

Israel & Church Distinction

Israel and the Church are both the people of God, but they are distinct in their identity and purpose. Israel is God’s chosen nation, given specific promises related to the land, seed, a future earthly kingdom, and national restoration (Gen 12:1-3; 15:18; Jer 31:35-37; Ezek 37:21-28). The Church, by contrast, is a distinct body of believers—Jew and Gentile united in Christ—formed at Pentecost and given a unique calling (Matt 16:18; 1 Cor 12:13; Eph 1:22-23; 3:6). While Israel’s promises remain in effect and will be fulfilled in the future, the Church is not a replacement for Israel but a separate entity with its own role in God’s redemptive plan (Rom 11:1-2, 25-29).

The Church

The Church is the body of Christ, distinct from Israel, and was brought into existence at Pentecost when the Holy Spirit baptized believers into one body (Acts 2:1-4; 1 Cor 12:13). There is both a universal Church and a local church. The universal Church consists of all believers—both Jew and Gentile—who have been united by the Holy Spirit to the risen Son of God and baptized into one spiritual body (Acts 2:42-47; 1 Cor 12:12-27; Eph 1:20-23; 4:3-10; Col 3:14-15). The local church, by contrast, is a gathered assembly of believers in a specific place, committed to the Lord and to one another for the purpose of carrying out the visible ministry of the universal Church. This includes the teaching of God’s Word, worship and prayer, mutual edification and care, and the spread of the gospel message (Matt 28:19-20; Acts 2:41-47; 4:19; 5:29; 1 Cor 1:1-2; 15:3-4; 1 Th 1:1; Heb 10:24-25). The two ordinances for the church are the Lord’s Supper and water baptism by immersion (Matt 28:19; Luke 22:19-20; Acts 2:42; 1 Cor 11:23-34).

The Rapture of the Church

The next prophetic event to take place is the rapture, in which all those who are in Christ—whether dead or alive—will meet the Lord in the air when He comes for His church (John 14:1-3; 1 Cor 15:51-52; 1 Th 4:13-18; Tit 2:13).

The Tribulation

After the rapture of the church God will bring a time of judgment on the earth known in Scripture as the Tribulation, which will last seven years and will culminate with the return of Jesus to establish His millennial reign on the earth (Dan 9:24-27; Matt 24-25; Rev 6-20).

The Second Coming and Millennial Reign of Christ

Immediately after God completes His time of judgment on the earth during the seven years of Tribulation, Jesus will personally return to reign as King in Jerusalem for one thousand years (Matt 24:27-30; 1 Cor 15:23-24; Rev 19:11-21; 20:1-6).

The Eternal State

After Christ completes His millennial reign on the earth, heaven and earth will be destroyed and God will create a new heaven and a new earth that will be free from sin, death, pain, or sorrow of any kind (2 Pet 3:10-13; Rev 21-22).

Position Statements

Because society is drifting away from biblical morals, it is becoming increasingly necessary to stand on certain biblical truths that define Christian faith and conduct. The following position statements are intended to provide clarity for those who partner with Thinking on Scripture.

1. God Created the Universe, Earth, and Humankind in Six Literal Days. The popular teaching today is evolution, which denies the biblical account of creation in Genesis. A plain reading of Genesis reveals that God created the universe, the earth, and humankind in six days, with each day consisting of twenty-four hours (Gen 1:1-31). Furthermore, God created everything in a state of maturity, giving the appearance of age. The young earth view is consistent with the revelation of Scripture.
2. Christian Identity. As those who have believed in Jesus as Savior (1 Cor 15:3-4), we are no longer “in Adam”, but are “in Christ” (1 Cor 15:22; cf. 2 Cor 5:17), and our new “citizenship is in heaven” (Phil 3:20). This means our Christianity identity supersedes all other forms of identity; especially those that are artificially manufactured on humanistic philosophies and values that are antithetical to biblical teaching.
3. Marriage as a Divine Institution. Marriage is clearly defined in Scripture as being between one man and one woman (Gen 2:24; Matt 19:6). However, marriage is being redefined as though it were merely a social construct to be tinkered with. This ministry supports marriage ceremonies based solely on the biblical model of one man and one woman.
4. Family as a Divine Institution. The family is the smallest social unit intended to train succeeding generations for godliness and authority orientation (Deut 6:6-7; Eph 6:4). Training children belongs primarily to parents and not the state. The state may help in the educational development of children, but not contrary to the parent’s authority or values, and only as parents may consent.
5. Labor. Labor is a divine institution established by God for human productivity, purpose, and provision. Work was ordained before the Fall, as God placed Adam in the garden to cultivate and keep it (Gen 2:15). Though sin brought hardship and toil to labor (Gen 3:17-19), work itself remains a good and God-honoring endeavor. Scripture teaches that diligent labor provides for one’s needs (Prov 10:4; 2 Thess 3:10-12), benefits others (Eph 4:28), and ultimately serves the Lord, who rewards faithful work (Col 3:23-24). Believers are called to work with integrity and excellence, recognizing that their labor is not merely for human employers but as an act of service to God (1 Cor 10:31).
6. Government. Government is a divine institution established by God to maintain order, administer justice, and restrain evil in human society. Its authority originates from God, who ordains human rulers as His servants to promote righteousness and punish wrongdoing (Rom 13:1-7; 1 Pet 2:13-14). While governments may vary in structure, their fundamental purpose is to uphold justice and provide a framework for societal stability (Gen 9:5-6; Prov 8:15-16). Though human rulers are fallible, believers are called to respect governing authorities, recognizing that their legitimacy comes from God, while also obeying Him above all when government commands contradict His Word (Acts 5:29).
7. Nationalism. God has separated the nations of the world in order to hinder the advancement of evil and human tyranny. He divided the nations by multiplying languages and confusing the efforts of defiant persons, as these tried to build the Tower of Babel by using His language and resources independently of His wishes (Gen 11:1-9). Today, many would like to see a one world government, but Christians should oppose it, realizing it’s God’s will that national boundaries exist (Acts 17:24).
8. One Human Race. Biblically, there is only one human race (Gen 1:27; 9:18-19; Acts 17:26). The idea of multiple races confuses and divides people in harmful ways, allowing for racism. However, we should see all people as part of one human race, and help them to understand that God loves them and Christ died for them.
9. God Created Two Genders. Biblically, there are only two genders, male and female (Gen 1:27).
10. Life Begins in the Womb at Conception. The Bible teaches that human life begins at conception (Psa 139:13; Isa 44:24; Jer 1:5), not at a later stage outside the womb. This means that babies in the womb are full persons, and aborting a baby is a decision to end a human life prematurely.
11. Freedom. God desires that we be free, both physically and spiritually, as this provides us occasion to exercise our volition in godly ways (Gal 5:1, 13; 1 Pet 2:16).
12. Communism, Socialism, and Fascism are Evil. Communism, socialism, and fascism are antibiblical because they undermine key biblical principles of individual responsibility, private property, and God-ordained authority structures. Communism and socialism reject the biblical right to private ownership (Ex 20:15; Acts 5:4) by advocating for state or collective control of resources, which discourages personal stewardship and hard work (Prov 10:4; 2 Thess 3:10-12). Fascism exalts the state above God, demanding ultimate allegiance and suppressing individual freedoms, contrary to the biblical teaching that only God deserves supreme devotion (Ex 20:3; Acts 5:29). All three systems tend to concentrate power in human rulers rather than recognizing God as the ultimate authority (Dan 2:21; Rom 13:1-7), often leading to oppression, injustice, and the suppression of religious freedom. Biblical governance affirms personal responsibility, voluntary charity, and limited government that upholds justice without usurping God-given freedoms.

Dr. Steven R. Cook