WHAT WE, THE REMNANT, BELIEVE STATEMENT OF FAITH
By Remnant I mean those
who try with "Spiritual illumination" to hold faithfully
to the plain literal teachings of the scripture only using
allegory, parable and symbolism where obvious and avoid
reinterpreting scripture to fit the Modern Ideas of Unredeemed
Men!
1. We, the Remnant, believe in a literal six-day creation by a personal God who
is separate from his creation. This event occurred approximately 6,000 years ago. We
believe that the real scientific evidence supports the Genesis account. Adam and Eve were
created perfect with superior genetic makeup, superior intelligence as compared to modern
man and superior physical bodies capable of living 900 years. The whole human race has
descended from Adam and Eves genetic pool. Therefore there are no separate races for
all humans descended from Adam and Eve. Differences amongst people groups arise from gene
pool isolation and that groups response to the true God. Adam and Eves rebellion
against God brought a curse upon creation resulting in spiritual and physical death, the
aging process and the physical decay of the universe. The earth was originally created
with a protective canopy or bubble around it. The earth was specially designed from its
inner core to the atmosphere to support the full genetic expression of life on earth. Adam
and Eves descendants degenerated morally to the point where God allowed an internal
meltdown of the earth resulting in Noahs flood. We believe that Jesus Christ will
restore the world to its pre-flood state during the millennial kingdom. Exodus 20 v 11
(six days) , Genesis 1 v 6-9 (canopy), Genesis 1 v 31 (perfect design), Genesis 3 (fall
into sin), Genesis 7 v 11 (internal meltdown), Isaiah 65 v 17-25 (restoration)
2. We, the Remnant, believe the end of the Church Age will be the
pre-tribulation rapture of true believers to meet the Lord Jesus Christ in the air, to
receive immortal bodies, and to enter heaven to appear before the judgement seat of
Christ. The judgement seat of Christ is for the giving of rewards for faithfulness and
service. God will then proceed to complete the 70th week of Daniel and fulfill
the remaining promises to the Nation of Israel. This is also known as the 7-year
tribulation. At the end of the 7-year tribulation Jesus Christ will come out of heaven
with his bride the church to Jerusalem and institute the millennial kingdom. 1
Thessalonians 4 v 15-18, Revelation 3 v 10, Revelation 5 v 8-10 (rapture), 1 Corinthians
15 v 51-54 (immortal bodies), 1 Corinthians 3 v 11-15 (judgement seat of Christ), Daniel 9
v 24-27 ( 70th week), Revelation 6-19 (7-year tribulation), Revelation 19 v
11-15 (return of Christ and his church)
3. We, the Remnant, believe in the Blessed Hope (the pre-tribulation rapture of
the true church) just prior to the 7-year tribulation. God is presently setting the stage
and will fulfill in only one generation prophecies related to the nation of Israel, the
7-year tribulation, and the return of Jesus Christ. We would reject any other prophetic
views that seek to steal the Blessed Hope of the rapture from the Christian or would seek
to nullify Gods eternal promises to the Nation of Israel. Titus 2 v 13 (the Blessed
Hope), Mathew 24 v 32-34, Luke 21 v 28-32 (one generation), Romans 11 v 25-27, Ezekiel
chapter 37, Joel 3 v 1,2 (promises to the Nation of Israel)
4. We, the Remnant, believe in the trinity consisting of the persons of God the
Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. We believe that each person of the trinity
is co-eternal in being, co-identical in nature, co-equal in power and glory, and co-equal
in moral perfection, holiness and other divine attributes. Genesis 11 v 7 (plurality of
Godhead) Philippians 2 v 5-11 (God the Son and God the Father) , Micah 5 v 2 (God the
Son), John 8 v 58 (God the Son), Colossians 1 v 13-19 (God the Son as Creator and God the
Father), Isaiah 9 v 6,7 (God the Son), John 14 v 16-17 (God the Father, Son and Holy
Spirit), Matthew 3 v 14-17 (God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit), 1 John 5 v 7 (God the
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit)
5. We, the Remnant, believe that shortly after creation week there was a
rebellion in heaven by Lucifer and a third of the angels. We believe Lucifer was the
leader of music and worship in heaven. Lucifer was the first created being to withdraw his
submission to God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. He became the first
self-willed being and is known by the names Satan, the Devil, Beelzebub, Belial, the god
of this world, the prince of the power of the air and other representations such as the
serpent, the dragon, the deceiver, the murderer, the father of lies, and the angel of
light. Satan and his fallen angels are organized and oppose Gods plan for saving the
human race from its fall into sin and restoration of this world. Satan seeks to create
confusion and blind the minds of people through false religions, false ideas such as
evolution, false ideas about God, false ideas about Jesus Christ, and false ideas about
heaven, hell and eternal matters. We believe that Satan is defeated and that each believer
is called to resist his spiritual attacks through the power of the Holy Spirit and the
promises of God. We believe that Satan is limited by the sovereignty of God. We believe
that Satan has already been judged and will spend eternity in the Lake of Fire. Job 38 v 7
(all angels in submission to God during creation week), Isaiah 14 v 12-16 (the fall of
Lucifer), Ezekiel 28 v 12-19 (Lucifer as head angel and leader of worship in heaven),
Matthew 4 v 1-11 (Jesus tempted by Satan), 2 Corinthians 4 v 4 (Satan blinds the mind),
Ephesians 2 v 2 ( prince of the power of the air), Revelation 12 v 9 (Satan deceives the
whole world), 1 John 3 v 8 (Jesus has destroyed the works of the devil), Revelation 20 v
10, Matthew 25 v 41 (the Devil is cast into the Lake of Fire forever), James 4 v 7
(believers are to resist the devil), Job 1 v 6-12 (Satan limited by Gods
sovereignty)
6. We, the Remnant, believe that Satan tempted and deceived Adam and Eve into
disobeying God. Through Adams fall the human race is born in sin and his
relationship to his creator is broken. We believe that man has a conscience and a free
will and is accountable to God for his actions. Genesis 3 (the fall of man), Psalm 51 v 5
(born in sin), Matthew 23 v 37 (man has will to choose)
7. We, the Remnant, believe that God the Son set aside his glory and took upon
him a human body, lived a sinless life, paid the penalty for sin on the cross for the
whole world, rose from the dead, and is seated at the right hand of God. His death on the
cross fully satisfied Gods judgement against sin, broke the power of sin, the power
of Satan. This opened the door for each person to receive forgiveness and pardon if they
will Biblically repent and
Biblically receive Christ. Philippians 2 v 6-11 (Jesus set aside his glory), 2
Corinthians 5 v 20,21 (Jesus lived a sinless life), John 2 v 2 (died for the sins of the
whole world), Hebrews 10 v 12 (right hand of God)
8. We, the Remnant, believe that salvation is a free gift received by personal
repentance (which includes the surrender of the throne of the will) and faith in the
finished work of the Lord Jesus Christ. We believe that salvation brings a spiritual
rebirth through the indwelling Holy Spirit. Ephesians 2 v 8,9 (free gift) Acts 20 v 21
(repentance and faith), John 3 v 3-8 (need to be born again)
9. We, the Remnant, believe in the eternal security of the believer through the
Holy Spirit who indwells and empowers each believer forever. We believe that a true
profession of faith is evidenced by sound doctrine and the fruit of the Spirit as a
general pattern of growth. We believe that a false profession of faith is evidenced by
unsound doctrine and a general lack of true spiritual fruit. John 14 v 16,17 , Hebrews 13
v 5 (eternal security), Matthew 7 v 13-21 (type of fruit), 2 Timothy 2 v 15 (sound
doctrine)
10. We, the Remnant, believe that the Holy Spirit indwells each believer upon
repentance and faith in Christ. We reject any second baptism of the Spirit doctrine. The
believer is commanded to yield and be filled with the Holy Spirit daily in order to
manifest the fruit of the Spirit and mortify the lusts of the flesh. Galatians 5 v 16-25
(fruit of the Spirit vs. flesh), Ephesians 5 v 18 (be filled with the Spirit)
11. We, the Remnant, believe that the ceremony of water baptism is a symbolic picture
of the baptism of the Spirit. The baptism of the Spirit happens at the moment of
repentance and faith in the finished work of Jesus Christ. The ceremony of water baptism
is a first step of obedience in the daily Christian walk publicly declaring ones
identification with Jesus Christ. We would reject any teaching that the ceremony of water
baptism has any merit towards salvation or entrance into the Church of Jesus Christ.
Matthew 3 v 11, Roman 6 v 1-14 (baptism of the Spirit), 1 Corinthians 1 v 13-17 (gospel
saves not ceremony)
12. We, the Remnant, believe that each member of the human race possesses an eternal
conscious soul. We believe that each person will be resurrected and stand before Jesus
Christ to give an account of his life. We believe that there will be a series of
resurrections beginning with the rapture (Church Age saints), then the end of the 7 year
Tribulation (Old Testament and Tribulation saints), then the great white throne judgement
of Revelation chapter 20 (unbelievers of all ages). We believe that each person will spend
eternity either in heaven or hell dependent upon their response and relationship to Jesus
Christ.
13. We, the Remnant, believe that the spiritual gifts of healing, miracles, tongues,
and interpretation of tongues were apostolic gifts and were
no longer normative after the Apostolic period.
This position holds that these
were temporary sign gifts to confirm the Apostles authority and the word of God. The
Apostles who had these gifts used them only sparingly. Paul did not heal Epaphroditus
(Philippians 2 v 25 27), Timothy (1 Timothy 5 v 23) or Trophimus (2 Timothy 4 v 20).
The gift of miracles was the sign of a true apostle as testified in 2 Corinthians 12 v 12,
Acts 14 v 3 and Hebrews 2 v 3,4. The true gift of tongues was specific languages not
ecstatic babbling. Ecstatic babbling was common among the pagan religions during the
apostolic period. Ecstatic babbling that passes for tongues today violates the fruit of
the Spirit (self control, sober minded and the admonition to take "every thought
captive to Christ") and the behavior of the Lord Jesus Christ. We are to be conformed
to the image of his Son. We do believe that the Elders can
anoint with oil and a "prayer of faith" can bring healing. We
do believe that God does grant healing and miracles through the
petitions of individual believers. We also would not limit God in giving a believer
the ability to speak an actual language if circumstances were necessary but it
would be the exception rather than the rule. Translation of the Bible into the
native tongue of people groups would seem to be the general rule.
14. We, the Remnant, believe that 5 point Calvinism and the Armenian doctrine that a
believer can lose his salvation are false doctrines not properly built on the whole
counsel of Gods word. We believe that Gods sovereignty and mans
responsibility to repent and accept the gospel are in dynamic tension.
15. We, the Remnant, believe that the current Ecumenical
Movement to bring together all
religions in some form of unity will enter the 7-year
tribulation to support the efforts for a world government
and the final world leader. We believe that the local assembly should practice biblical separation from all
Christian groups that teach a false gospel or hold to unsound doctrine or practices. Just
as God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit are united and have one mind based
on doctrine, so also the local assembly should have unity based on doctrine. We are
commanded by the Lord to earnestly contend for the faith. 1 Timothy 6 v 3-5, 2 Timothy 3 v
5, 2 Thessalonians 3 v 6,14,15, 1 Corinthians 5 v 11-13, Romans 16 v 17, 2 John 10-11
(separation), 2 Timothy 4 v 3 (unsound doctrine), Ephesians 4 v 1,3,13-15 (unity we
already have must be maintained), Jude 3 (contend for the faith)
16. We, the Remnant, believe that the integration of psychological theories and
practices developed by unredeemed men (Maslow, Freud, Jung,
Rogers, James, Skinner, Dewey etc) with the Bible is unscriptural. We believe that God
has given each believer all things necessary to walk the journey of faith. This is
accomplished through the word of God and the indwelling Holy Spirit who is infinite in
wisdom and power. The psychological theories of low and high self-esteem and the existence
of the unconscious are unscriptural inventions of unredeemed men. Each human being is
suffering from a broken relationship with his Creator, and is under the bondage of
selfishness, sin and Satan. Problems identified as mental or of the mind are part of the
spiritual realm and as such are addressed by the Bible alone. We believe that a qualified
medical doctor should deal with problems that are physical in nature including the brain
and arise from the aging process. 2 Peter 1 v 3,4, 2 Timothy 3 v 16,17 (Bible/Holy Spirit
only), Ephesians 2 v 1-3 (bondage), Galatians 2 v 20 (death of self)
17. We, the Remnant, believe that as ambassadors for Christ his work must be carried
out according to his character. Because God will be indebted to no man we believe it is
unscriptural to borrow money on Gods behalf in order to carry out his work. We
believe that Gods work should be supported only through the giving of his saints.
Gods work done in Gods way will not lack Gods supply. 2 Corinthians 5 v
20 (ambassadors)
18. We, the Remnant, believe that the Bible from Genesis to Revelation in the
original languages is the written word of God. We believe that each "word" in
the original languages is divine and authoritative. We believe that in the English
language the King James Version is the best and only acceptable translation. We believe
the King James Bible is superior because of providential uncorrupted manuscripts, superior
translators, and superior translation technique (word for word where possible). We would
be in agreement for certain words to be modernized by those of sound doctrinal beliefs and
original language abilities. We believe that modern translations are inferior and corrupt
because of corrupted manuscripts underlying them, inferior translators holding unsound
doctrine and inferior method of translation (not word for word). We would not discount God
being able to use modern versions where the underlying text and translation line up with
the Holy Spirits intent. We recognize that the great majority of seminaries and
Bible colleges have preferred the new scholarship of Westcott and Hort and Nestle Aland.
Most students entering these institutions were unlikely aware of or in position to
challenge the corrupted texts. Just passing the original language courses would be
difficult enough. As such most graduates are not fully aware of the issues raised by the
King James supporters. Two examples will highlight the points made. Consider Revelation 5
v 8-10 in the KJV, which has the 24 elders singing the redemption song in the first
person. This is a picture of the raptured church in heaven prior to the 7-year tribulation
of Revelation 6-19. The NASB and the NIV have changed these verses to the 24 elders
singing in the third person. This corruption confuses the pre-tribulation rapture of the
church. A second example would be 1 Corinthians 1 v 18 and 2 Corinthians 2 v 15. The KJV
describes the Christians in these verses with the term "are saved". The NASB and
the NIV use the term "are being saved". This corruption caters to the false
doctrine that salvation is a process. The issue of Bible versions requires considerable
research free of bias and under the Lordship of the Holy Spirit to understand the correct
issues, the history of the Hebrew and Greek texts, and the instrumental men involved.