PORT MONMOUTH
COMMUNITY CHURCH
DOCTRINAL STATEMENT
FORMALLY KNOWN AS
THE PORT MONMOUTH MISSION COMMUNITY CHURCH
78 MAIN STREET
PORT MONMOUTH, NJ 07758
REV. DONALD A. MAGAW
PASTOR
pmcommunitychurch.com
The Old Book
The New Birth
The Precious Blood
The Blessed Hope
Every promise of God rests upon four pillars, each one as strong as the pillars of Heaven.
His justice and holiness, which will not permit Him to deceive.
His grace and goodness which will not suffer Him to forget.
His truth, which will not suffer him to change.
His power, which makes Him able to perform and accomplish.
Doctrinal Statements
PREACHING JESUS CHRIST, AS LORD AND SAVIOR, CRUCIFIED, RISEN AND COMING AGAIN WITHOUT APPOLOGY
WE BELIEVE:
Of the Inspiration of the Scriptures:
We believe that the Holy Bible was (a) written by men supernaturally inspired; (b) that it has truth without any admixture of error for its matter; and (c) therefore is, and shall remain to the end of the age, the only complete and final revelation of the will of God to men; the true center of Christian union and the supreme standard by which all human conduct, creeds and opinions should be tried.
Of the True God:
We believe that there is (a) one, and only one, living and true God, an
infinite, intelligent Spirit, the maker and supreme ruler of heaven and earth; (b) inexpressibly glorious in holiness, and worthy of all possible honor, confidence and love; (c) that in the unity of the Godhead there are three persons, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, (commonly referred to as the Trinity) equal in every diving perfection, and executing distinct but harmonious office in the great work of redemption.
Of the Holy Spirit:
We believe that the Holy Spirit is a divine person; (a) equal with God the Father and (b) God the Son and (c) of the same nature; (d) that He was active in the Creation; (e) that in His relation to the unbelieving world He restrains the Evil one until God’s purpose is fulfilled; (f) that He convicts of sin, of judgment and of righteousness; (g) that He bears witness to the Truth of the Gospel; in preaching and in testimony; (h) that He is the agent in the New Birth; (i) that He seals, baptizes, endures, guides, teaches, witnesses, sanctifies and helps the believer.
Of the Devil or Satan:
We believe that Satan was once (a) holy, and enjoyed heavenly honors; but through pride and ambition to be as the Almighty, fell and (b) drew after him a host of angels; that he is now (c) the malignant prince of the power of the air, and the unholy god of this world. (d) We hold him to be man’s great tempter; (e) the enemy of God and His Christ; (f) false accuser of the saints; (g) the author of all false religions, the chief power back of the present apostasy; (h) the Lord of the anti-Christ, and (i) the author of all the powers of darkness—destined however, (j) to final defeat at the hand’s of God’s Son, and (k) to the judgment of an eternal justice in hell, a place prepared for him and his angels.
Of the Creation:
We believe in the Genesis account of creation, and (a) that it is to be
accepted literally, and not allegorically or figuratively; (b) that man was created directly in God’s own image and after His own likeness; (c) that man’s creation was not a matter of evolution or evolutionary changes of the species, or development through interminable periods of time from lower to higher forms; (d) that all animal and vegetable life was made directly, and God’s established law was that they should bring forth only “after their kind.”
Of the Fall of Man:
We believe (a) that man was created in innocence under the law of his Maker, but (b) by voluntary transgression fell from his sinless and happy state; (c) in consequence of which, all mankind are now sinners, not by constraint but of choice; and (d) therefore under just condemnation without defense or excuse.
Of the Virgin Birth:
We believe (a) that Jesus Christ was begotten by the Holy Spirit in a miraculous manner; (b) born of Mary, a virgin, as no other man was ever born of woman, and (c) that He is both the Son of God and God, the Son.
Of the Atonement for Sin:
We believe (a) that the salvation of sinners is wholly of grace; (b) through the mediatorial offices of the Son of God, who by the appointment of the Father, freely took upon Him our nature, yet without sin, honored the divine law by His personal obedience, and by His death made a full and vicarious atonement for our sins; (c) that His atonement consisted not in setting us an example by His death as a martyr, but was the voluntary substitution of Himself in the sinner’s place, the Just dying for the unjust, Christ, the Lord, bearing our sins in His own body on the tree; (d) that, having risen from the dead, He is now enthroned in Heaven, and uniting in His wonderful person the most tender sympathies with divine perfection, He is in every way qualified to be a suitable, a compassionate and an all-sufficient Savior.
Of Grace in the New Creation:
We believe (a) that in order to be saved, sinners must be born again; (b) that the new birth is a new creation in Christ Jesus; (c) that it is instantaneous and not a process (d) that in the new birth the one dead in trespasses and sins is made a partaker of the divine nature and receives eternal life, the free gift of God; (e) that the new creation is brought about in a manner above our comprehension, not by culture, not by character, nor by the will of man, but wholly and solely by the power of the Holy Spirit, in connection with divine truth; so as to secure our voluntary obedience to the gospel; (f) that its proper evidence appears in the holy fruits of repentance and faith and newness of life.
Of the Freeness of Salvation:
` We believe (a) in God’s electing grace; (b) that the blessings of salvation are made free to all by the Gospel; (c) that it is the immediate duty of all to accept them by a cordial, penitent and obedient faith; and (d) that nothing prevents the salvation of the greatest sinner on earth but his own inherent depravity and voluntary rejection of the Gospel; (e) which rejection involves him in a aggravated condemnation.
Of Healing in the Atonement:
We believe that since Scripture records “Himself took our infirmities and ; blessed privilege to “lay hands on the sick” and to “anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord”, and “the prayer of faith shall save the sick.” Matthew 8:17; Isaiah 53:5; Mark 16:18; James 5:14-16.
Of Justification:
We believe that the great Gospel blessing which Christ secures to such as believe in Him is Justification; (a) that Justification includes the pardon of sin, and the gift of eternal life on principles of righteousness; (b) that it is bestowed not in consideration of any works of righteousness which we have done; but solely through faith in the Redeemer’s blood, His righteousness in imputed to us.
Of Sanctification:
We believe that Sanctification is a work of grace subsequent to justification and is the process by which, according to the will of God, we are made partakers of his holiness; (a) that it is a progressive work; (b) that it is begun in regeneration; (c) and that it is carried on in the hearts of believers by the presence and power of the Holy Spirit, the Sealer and Comforter, in the continual use of examination, self-denial, watchfulness, and prayer.
Of Repentance and Faith:
We believe that Repentance and Faith are (a) solemn obligations, and (b) also inseparable graces, (c) wrought in our souls by the quickening Spirit of God; (d) thereby, being deeply convicted of our guilt, danger, and helplessness, and of the way of salvation by Christ, we turn to God with unfeigned contrition, confession and supplication for mercy; (e) at the same time heartily receiving the Lord Jesus Christ and openly confessing Him as our only and all-sufficient Savior.
Of the Church:
We believe that a church of Christ is a congregation of baptized believers (a) associated by a covenant of faith and fellowship of the gospel; (b) observing the ordinances of Christ; (c) governed by His laws and (d) exercising the gifts, rights and privileges invested in them by His Word; (e) that its officers of ordination are pastors, elders and deacons, whose qualifications, claims, and duties are clearly defined in Scripture; (f) we believe the true mission of the Church is found in the great commission: First, to make individual disciples; Second, to build up the Church; Third, to teach and instruct, as He has commanded. We do not believe in the reversal of this order. (g) We hold that the local church has the absolute right of self-government, free from the interference of any hierarchy of individuals or organizations; and that the one and only superintendent is Christ, through the Holy Spirit; (h) that it is Scriptural for true churches to cooperate with each other in contending for the faith and for the furtherance of the Gospel; that every church is the sole and only judge of the measure and method of its cooperation; (i) on all matters of membership, of policy, of government, of discipline, of benevolence, the will of the local church is final.
Of Baptism:
We believe that Christian baptism is (a) immersion in water of a believer; (b) into the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit; (c) to show forth in a solemn and beautiful emblem our faith in the crucified, buried and risen Savior, with its effect in our death to sin and resurrection to a new life.
Of The Lord’s Supper:
We believe that Lord’s Supper is open to any believer in Christ who is solely responsible for self-examination before God. (“Let a man examine himself”, I Corinthians 11:23-28). We believe that the Lord’s Supper was instituted to be a memorial reminder of the death and resurrection of Christ until He returns again and that the partaking of the elements will not bring Salvation but that Salvation is a pre-requisite to the taking of the elements.
Of the Perseverance of the Saints:
We believe (a) that such only are real believers as endure unto the end; (b) that their preserving attachment to Christ is the grand mark which distinguishes them from superficial professors; (c) that a special Providence watches over their welfare; and (d) that they are kept by the power of God through faith unto eternal salvation.
Of the Righteous and the Wicked:
We believe that (a) there is a radical and essential difference between the righteous and the wicked; (b) that such only as through faith are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and sanctified by the Spirit of our God, are truly righteous in His esteem; (c) while all such as continue in impenitence and unbelief are in His sight wicked, and under the curse; (d) and that this distinction hold among men both in and after death, in the everlasting felicity of the saved and the everlasting conscious suffering of the lost.
Of the Death of Believers:
We believe that the instant a believer passes from life into death that their soul immediately goes to be with the Lord as Paul writes“to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord.” 2 Corinthians 5:8.
Of Civil Government:
We believe that civil government is (a) of divine appointment for the interests and good order of society; (b) that magistrates are to be prayed for, conscientiously honored and obeyed; (c) except only in things opposed to the will of our Lord Jesus Christ; (d) who is the only Lord of the conscience, and the coming Prince of the Kings of the earth. We believe that government is ordained of God, and that God’s children should be “subject unto the higher powers” according to Romans 13:1-7.
Of the Resurrection, Pre-millennial Return of Christ and Related Events:
We believe on and accept the sacred Scriptures upon this subject at their face value and full value:
The Bodily Resurrection: Matthew 28:6-7; Luke 24:19; John 20:27; I Corinthians 15:4; Mark 16:6; Luke 24:2.4.6.
The Ascension: Acts 1:9-11; Luke 24:51; Mark 16:19; Revelation 3:21; Hebrews 12:2
The High Priesthood: Hebrews 8:6; I Timothy 2:5; I john 2:1; Hebrews 2:17; Hebrews 5:9-10.
The Second Coming: John 14:3; Acts 1:11; I Thessalonians 4:16; Matthew 24:27; Matthew 25:13; James 5:8; Matthew 24:42; Hebrews 9:28.
The Resurrection of the Righteous Dead: I Thessalonians 4:16; I Corinthians 15:42-44; I Corinthians 15:52.
The Change of the Living in Christ: I Corinthians 15:51-53; I Thessalonians 4:17; Philippians 3:20-21.
On the Throne of David: Luke 1:32; Isaiah 9:6-7; Acts 2:29-30.
His Reign on Earth: I Corinthians 15:25; Isaiah 32:1; Isaiah 11:4-5; Psalm 78:8; Revelation 20:6.
Conclusion: (by Pastor Don Magaw, not part of the original document of the doctrinal stand, but a clarification)
We believe that God’s Word clearly teaches that Jesus Christ will come for His Bride before the Tribulation—that the Church will not go through that terrible time. We believe that the Bible teaches that the Lord will return before the Millennium—that he will establish His kingdom on the earth and will bring about the thousand years of peace. We also believe that the Bible clearly teaches that in the end God will triumph and Satan, his followers and all unbelievers will be cast into the eternal lake of fire.
We believe that the only means of salvation is through a faith and belief in the shed blood of Jesus Christ and acceptance of Him as Lord and Savior.
We believe in the “Trinity” and while in the human mind, it is a mystery that we cannot fully comprehend, we accept it by faith.
We believe that “whatever the Bible says is so,” beyond that point, we will not argue. Some people believe that it is possible to lose their salvation; others believe that “once saved, they are always saved.” We will not argue these points. Our position is that the important thing is to have salvation. Therefore, we will seek to point men to Him Who is the Way to eternal life. To those who love to argue for their interpretation of God’s Word on this point, we say that if it is possible to lose salvation, a Christian should stay close to the Lord so that he will not lose it, and that if he cannot lose salvation, he needs to be busy winning souls so that others can enjoy his security with him.
COVENANT
In the presence of God and of men, confessing
Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior, relying on the help of the Holy Spirit, we joyfully and solemnly covenant with each other:
Habitually to observe secret prayer;
Devoutly to study the Scriptures and teach them to our children;
Heartily to sustain the work and worship of the Church;
Faithfully to observe the ordinances of the Lord’s Supper;
To walk as God shall prosper us in supporting a faithful Christian ministry;
To aid as we are able in sending the Gospel to the whole world;
To seek as we have opportunity to lead others to Jesus Christ,
To live soberly, righteously and godly in this present world, abstaining from whatever is unbecoming the Christian profession.
Moreover, we covenant that when we remove from the vicinity we will, as soon as possible, unite with some other church of like precious faith.