Discerning the World

Statement of Faith

statement of faith

What we believe:

Ephesians 4:1-6 “1 therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, 2 With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; 3 Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4 There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; 5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.”

The Bible

  • The entire Bible in its original writings is verbally inspired of God.
  • The Word of God is the final authority on all things.
  • We believe the KJV bible to be the best English translation.
  • II Tim. 3:16,17; II Pet. 1:21; Mark 12:26, 36; 13:11; Luke 24:27, 44; John 5:39; Acts 1:16; 17:2–3; 18:28; 26:22–23; 28:23; Rom. 15:4; 1 Cor. 2:13; 10:11

The Godhead

  • There is one God, eternally existing in three Persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
  • God is omnipotent, omnipresent, and omniscient.
    • His omnipotence means He is all-powerful over all of creation and He is able to do whatever He wills.
    • His omnipresence means that He is everywhere present at all times.
    • His omniscience means that He has knowledge of all things, knowledge that is all inclusive, extending to all of creation throughout all time and all things both actual and possible, including the thoughts and actions of His created beings, past, present, and future.
  • Deut. 6:4; I Tim. 2:5; Eph. 4:4-6; Matt. 28:19; II Cor. 13:14;  Gen. 18:14; I Ki. 8:27; Ps. 139:7-12; Jer. 23:23-24; Job 42:2; Ps. 93:1; Mk. 10:27; Eph. 3:20;  Job 40:2a; Ps. 139:16; 145:5; Isa. 40:13-14

The Person of Christ

  • Jesus Christ was begotten by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary.
  • Jesus Christ is 100% God and 100% Man.
  • He lived a sinless life in obedience to the Father.
  • Jesus Christ died on the cross of Calvary and became the divinely provided sacrificial Lamb and paid the full ransom for the sins of the world.
  • Jesus Christ died, He was then buried, and He then arose from the dead 3 days later in the same but glorified body.
  • He then ascended to Heaven and He is seated at the right hand of the Father.
  • Jesus Christ is our advocate and intercedes for the saved.
  • Luke 1:35; Phil. 2:6-9; Rom. 1:3,4; II Cor. 5:21; Col. 2:9; Heb. 4:15; John 1:29; Rom. 3:25–26; 2 Cor. 5:14; Heb. 10:5–14; 1 Pet. 3:18; Heb. 1:3; Eph. 1:22–23; Heb. 7:25; 1 John 2:1

Man, Created and Fallen

  • We believe that man was originally created in the image and after the likeness of God.
  • Man then fell through sin, and as a consequence of his sin, lost his spiritual life, becoming dead in trespasses and sins.
  • Because of this he became subject to the power of the devil.
  • We also believe that this spiritual death, or depravity of human nature, has been transmitted to the entire human race of man, except the Man Christ Jesus.
  • Every person on earth is born into the world with a nature which possesses no spark of divine life.
  • Gen. 1:26; 2:17; 6:5; Pss. 14:1–3; 51:5; Jer. 17:9; John 3:6; 5:40; 6:35; Rom. 3:10–19; 8:6–7; Eph. 2:1–3; 1 Tim. 5:6; 1 John 3:8

Dispensations

  • We are classic-dispensationist, not hyper-dispensationalist.
  • There are 7 or 8 dispensational schemes.
  • “Dispensation” is a word specifically chosen by God, making it a BIBLE word and not man-made.
  • The word “dispensation” is found in the KJV on 4 separate occasions in: (1 Corinthians 9:17, Ephesians 1:10, Ephesians 3:2, Colossians 1:25)
  • A dispensation is a God revealed body of information dispensed for mankind to follow.  It is not a time-period but rather instructions for a time-period.
  • In this present day, we are to live according to what God calls the “dispensation of the grace of God” (Ephesians 3:2).  
  • Different dispensations are not separate or different ways of salvation.
  • During each dispensation man is reconciled to God in only one way; by God’s grace through the work of Christ that was accomplished on the cross and vindicated in His resurrection.
  • Before the cross, man was saved on the basis of Christ’s atoning sacrifice to come, through believing the revelation thus far given.
  • Since the cross, man has been saved by believing on the Lord Jesus Christ, in whom revelation and redemption have been consummated.
  • The Apostle Peter was to preach primarily to the Jews, the Apostle Paul’s mission was to preach primarily to the Gentiles.
  • All Apostles understood the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  The Apostle Paul did not preach a different gospel to that of the other Apostles.
  • The books of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John are for Jew and Gentile alike.
  • See article:  What is Hyper Dispensationalism?

Salvation

  • God justifies ungodly sinners by His Grace upon the ground of the shed blood of Jesus Christ and through the means of personal faith.
  • This complete salvation is bestowed as a free gift of God.
  • Jesus Christ died for the sins of the whole world, not an elect few.
  • We believe God predetermined that all Believers will go to heaven and He predetermined that all who die wilfully rejecting Jesus Christ will go to hell.
  • Mankind has free will to choose.
  • We believe that any sinner that hears the gospel and puts their faith in God and His word and asks for salvation can and will be saved.
  • 1 John 2:2; Rom. 3:24-28; 5:1,9; Eph. 2:8,9

Eternal Security

  • All God’s children are saved and are eternally secure in Jesus Christ.
  • Col. 3:1-4; Phil. 1:6; Rom. 8:1; 8:29-39; Eph. 1:13,14

Personality and Work of the Holy Spirit

  • The Holy Spirit is a Person Who convicts individuals of sin.
  • He baptizes, indwells, seals, enlightens and empowers all born again believers.
  • Titus 3:5; I Cor. 12:13; Eph. 1:13,17,18; 3:16

The Church

  • In the present Dispensation there is only one true Church, called the Body of Christ who is separate and distinct from the prophesied, earthly kingdom of Christ.
  • The Body of Christ began with Pentecost.
  • The church is not a brick and cement building or a religious denomination.
  • Buildings are not sacred or holy, and are without any deity attributes.
  • The Lord no longer dwelleth “in temples made with hands:” (Acts 17:24).
  • According to the revelation of the mystery revealed to Paul, (Romans 16:25), He now dwells within each individual believer (Colossians 1:27).
  • And it is these individual believers who are referred to collectively in the scriptures as the Church (which is His body, i,e. The Body of Christ.)
  • I Cor. 12:13; Eph. 1:22,23; 3:1-6, Acts 2:1-4

Gifts

  • The spiritual gifts necessary for the ministry of the Body of Christ are those mentioned in Ephesians 4:7-16.
    • Of these, only the gifts of evangelists, pastors, and teachers are in operation today.
    • Prophecy (inspired preaching and teaching, interpreting the divine will and purpose of God) is in operation.
    • The gifts of ministry, teaching, exhortation, giving, and showing of mercy as listed in Romans 12:7,8 as well as the gifts of helps and governments from I Corinthians 12:28 may also be considered operational today.
  • All the sign gifts of the Acts period,  such as
    • Speaking in tongues (these were earthly languages, tongues was never a heavenly language) were temporary and have ceased.
    • Prophecy (new revelation and foretelling of the future) were temporary and have ceased.
    • Healing through a healer were temporary and have ceased. We now pray directly to Jesus Christ for healing, and if it’s God will He will heal us.
  • These signs were present in the Acts period as a witness to Jesus Christ and His ministry.
  • They were recorded in the bible for the believer to believe by faith.
  • 1 Cor. 13:8-11; 1Cor. 12:1-31; Isaiah 28:11; Eph. 4:7-16; John 20:29; 1 Cor. 12:21; 1 Co.r 14:22; 1 Co.r 13:8;  2 Cor. 5:7; I Cor. 12:28; Rom. 12:7,8
  • Please see article on: Gift of Speaking in Tongues, Prophecy and Healing for explanation.

A Christian’s Walk

  • By reason of Christ’s victory over sin and of His indwelling Spirit, all of the saved may and should experience deliverance from the power of sin by obedience to Romans 6:11.
  • We deny that man’s sinful nature is ever eradicated during this life.
  • As saints and members of the true Church we are to maintain a Christ-honoring testimony, separate from all forms of worldliness and apostasy, and to demonstrate obedience to the Lord Jesus Christ and love to all men.
  • Rom. 6:6-14; Gal. 5:16-25; Rom. 8:37; II Cor. 2:14; 10:2-5; Rom. 12:1,2,9; II Cor. 6:14-18; Eph. 5:11; I Tim. 6:20,21

Great Commission

  • The mission and commission of the Church which is His Body is to proclaim the message of reconciliation and to preach Jesus Christ and “the gospel of the grace of God” with all boldness.
  • The “mystery” being the secret that God hid from the beginning of time, was to preach to Gentiles during the Dispensation of Grace.
  • We, like Paul, must preach the entire Word of God in the light of “this gospel”.
  • And strive to reach those in the regions beyond where Christ is not yet named.
  • Rom. 16:25; Eph. 3:8,9; II Tim. 4:2; Gal. 1:8,9; Rom. 15:20; II Cor. 10:16; II Cor. 5:14-21

Baptism

  • All saved persons have been made members of the Body of Christ by ONE divine Holy Spirit baptism.
  • By this ONE baptism, every member of the Body of Christ is identified with Jesus Christ in His death, burial, and resurrection.
  • In light of the opening verse concerning the ONE baptism in Ephesians 4:5 and Paul’s statement in I Corinthians 1:17 that “Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel,”
  • We affirm that water baptism has no place in God’s spiritual program for the Body of Christ in this Dispensation of Grace.
  • God used water baptism by the hands of John the Baptist and the twelve apostles to declare Christ to Israel.
  • I Cor. 12:13

The Lord’s Supper

  • The communion of the Lord’s Supper as revealed through the Apostle Paul is for members of the Body of Christ to observe “until He comes.”
  • I Cor.11:23-26

Rapture of the body of Christ

  • Because of the distinctive nature of the Body of Christ, the resurrection and Rapture of the Church which is “His Body” will take place before the seven-year Tribulation.
  • At His appearing in the air.
  • The ‘Body of Jesus Christ’ which is the Church will not go through the Tribulation with is a full 7 years of God’s Wrath.  
  • Jer. 30:7; Matt. 24:15-31; I Thess. 4:13-18; Phil. 3:20,21; Titus 2:13,14; I Cor. 15:51-53

The Second Coming of Christ

  • Second Coming of Christ will be pre-millennial.
  • He will come first to receive the members of His Body to Himself.
  • And later to receive His Millennial Kingdom, over which He will reign.
  • The resurrection of the other saved dead who died during the seven-year Tribulation will occur after the Tribulation at the second coming of Jesus Christ.
  • I Thess. 4:13-18; Phil. 3:20,21; Zech. 14:4,9; Acts 1:10,11; Rev. 19:11-16; 20:4-6; Rev. 20:4-6

State of the Dead

  • Nowhere does Scripture extend any hope of salvation to the unsaved dead.
  • But instead reveals that they will forever continue to exist in a state of conscious suffering.
  • The teachings of universalism, of probation after death, of annihilation of the unsaved dead, and of the unconscious state or sleeping state of the dead, saved or unsaved are to be opposed as being thoroughly unscriptural and dangerous doctrines.
  • Luke 16:23-28; Rev. 14:11; 20:14,15; Col. 3:6; Rom. 1:21-32; Phil. 3:19; II Thess. 1:9; Luke 16:23-28; Phil. 1:23; II Cor. 5:6-8

Human Sexuality

  • Sexual Relations: We believe that for the good of mankind God has commanded that no sexual activity be engaged outside of a marriage relationship between a man (husband) and a woman (wife).
  • Any form of adultery, pornography, fornication, homosexuality, lesbianism, bisexuality, incest, bestiality, etc., are sinful perversions of God’s gift of sex to mankind within a marriage.
  • And is therefore unacceptable behaviour for anyone professing to be saved through personal faith in Jesus Christ.
  • Gen. 2:24; 19:5,13; 26:8,9; Lev. 18:1-30; Rom. 1:26-29; I Cor. 5:1; 6:9; Gal. 5:19; Eph. 5:1-7; Col. 3:2-5; I Thess. 4:1-8; Titus 2:11-14; 3:3-8; Heb. 13:4

Gender

  • We believe as stated in Scripture that God creates each new life as either male or female.
  • A person’s gender is documented at birth and is the biological sex of that person that God intended throughout his or her life.
  • Gen. 2:24, Gen 5:2; Mt. 19:4; Psalm 139:13-16

Marriage

  • We believe that the only legitimate marriage relationship is the joining together of one man and one woman as husband and wife.
  • 2:24; Rom. 7:2; I Cor. 7:10; Eph. 5:22,23

Spiritual Authority

  • We believe that men and women are spiritually equal in position before God but that God has ordained distinct and separate spiritual functions for men and women.
  • Husbands are to be the leaders in the home and men are to be the leaders in evangelism and pastoring, and teaching in a church.
  • Women may minister but may not be a pastor or head of a church (Acts 18:26).
  • A woman should be silent and listen in church when receiving Godly instruction.
  • There is however no verse in the bible that says a woman must sit quietly and listen to false teachers preach and accept it or worse succumb to it.
  • Col. 3:18; I Tim. 2:8-15; 3:4,5,12; Acts 18:26

Abortion

  • Human life begins at conception, with a beating heart.
  • The unborn child is a living human being.
  • Abortion constitutes the unjustified, unexcused taking of unborn human life and is therefore considered to be murder.
  • Job 3:16; Ps. 51:5; 139:14-16; Isa. 44:24; 49:1,5; Jer. 1:5; 20:15-18; Luke 1:44

Lawsuits Between Believers

  • Believers are prohibited by Scripture from bringing civil lawsuits against other believers.
  • They are to resolve personal disputes and that any such disputes should be resolved by the individuals involved according to the governing principles found in the Bible
  • I Cor. 6:1-8; Eph. 4:31,32.

Giving

  • All believers, are stewards of that portion of God’s wealth entrusted to them, and are to financially support other ministries, churches and/or organizations of same beliefs, i.e., who preach the gospel truth.
  • Offerings or donations that are freely given should be given with a cheerful attitude and willing heart.
  • When you give your offerings or donations you are not to let the church know or anyone else know how much you are giving.
  • I Cor. 16:1-3; II Cor. 9:6,7; Gal. 6:6; Eph. 4:28; I Tim. 5:17,18, Matt 6:3

Please note that it is DTW’s decision to not accept any money or make any money from this website. DTW is not a business, but a labour of love.