Doctrine

While we agree that there are other worthy translations of the Bible, we believe that the King James Version of the Bible is a true copy of the Hebrew Masoretic text of Old Testament and the Greek Textus Receptus, or Received Text, of the New Testament, and is by all means trustworthy, and can be received as the Word of God. It is recommended to be used in our public worship of preaching, and teaching. (Psalm 12:6, 7; I Peter 1:25). (see appendix A)

I. The Scriptures

We believe that the Scriptures as originally written were verbally and plenary inspired and are the product of Spirit controlled men^(a), and are truth without any admixture of error^(b).

By the "Scriptures" we mean the Bible, that collection of sixty-six books, from Genesis to Revelation, which as originally written, does not merely contain and convey the Word of God, but is the very Word of God.

By "inspiration" we mean that the Scriptures were "breathed of God". They were written by holy men of God, as they were moved by the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit did not so much select the words for the men, but rather He selected the words through the men ^(a). They were written in such a way that their writings were supernaturally free from error, as no other writings have been or ever will be.

By "plenary" we mean that this inspiration extends equally and fully to all parts of the writings as they appear in the original manuscripts, and that they are in all parts both infallible truth and final divine authority.

By "verbal" we mean that divine inspiration extends to every word as originally recorded.

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(a) II Timothy 3:16, 17; II Peter 1:19-21; Acts 1:16/28:25 (b) Psalms 119/160; Luke 24:25-27, 44; John 17:17

II. The Godhead

We believe the Scriptures teach there exists only one God and that there were none existing before Him, neither shall there be any after Him^(a). We believe the Scriptures teach that God is infinite, self-existent, spirit, unchangeable in His nature, omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent, holy, righteous, good, love, and truth^(b); and that He existed eternally as three distinct, yet inseparable persons known as the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit^(c). These three are one in nature, essence, and attributes^(d). Each is worthy of worship, trust and obedience^(e). Each of the divine persons has a distinct function in the execution of the decree of the Godhead^(f).

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(a) Isaiah43:10 (b) Ephesians 1:11; Isaiah 57:15/ 46:10; John 4:24; James 1:17; Revelation 4:8; Psalm 139:1-16, II Timothy 4:8; Matthew 19:17; I John 4:8-16 (c) Matthew 28:19; Genesis 1:26; II Corinthians 13:14; Psalm 2:7; Isaiah 63:10 (d) Deuteronomy 6:4; Mark 12:29; John 10:30 (e) II Corinthians 13:14 (f) I Corinthians 8:6/12:4-6; John 16:7/15:26; I John 1:9

III. God the Father

We believe the Scriptures teach that God the Father is the ultimate source of all things^(a), and that He began to assume the expression of His fatherhood relationship to the eternal Son in the council of the Godhead prior to creation and time^(b). His fatherhood relationship to the Son denotes their equality of nature, and expresses the subordination of the Son to the Father in the execution of the divine purpose^(c). He also has a fatherhood relationship to spirit beings, thus expressing His creation of them and authority over them^(d). He now forgives sins of those who receive Jesus Christ as their personal Savior, entering a fatherhood relationship with them through their spiritual birth, thus making them partakers of the divine nature and calling them His Sons^(e). The Father sent the son as His gift into the world^(f). Moreover, He with the Son, sent the Holy Spirit to be resident in the world from the day of Pentecost^(g).

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(a) I Corinthians 8:6 (b) Psalm 2:7-10 (c) John 5:18/1:1, 2 (d) Job 1:6; Hebrews 12:9 (e) I John 1:9, Romans 8:15, II Peter 1:4 (f) John3:16 (g) John 14:26/15:26

IV. God the Son

We believe the Scriptures teach that the second person of the triune Godhead is the Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, who is co-equal and co-eternal with the Father and the Holy Spirit^(a). He became a man when conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary^(b), thus becoming the God-man without change in His Deity^(c). He lived a sinless life^(d), died a substitutionary death for all men^(e), was buried and arose bodily from the grave the third day^(f). He then ascended bodily into Heaven and is presently fulfilling His intercessory and mediatorial ministry^(g). He has promised to rapture the Church prior to the Tribulation^(h). After the Tribulation, He will return to earth, with His Church, His bride, and institute His Millennial reign⁽ⁱ⁾.

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(a) John 1:1, 2; II Peter 1:16, 17 (b) Matthew 1:18, 20; Luke 1:27, 34-35, 45; Isaiah 7:14 (c) Philippians 2:6-8; John 1:14 (d) Hebrews4:15 (e) II Corinthians 5:14, 15, I Timothy 2:6; I John 2:2 (f) ICorinthians15:14 (g) Acts 1:9-11; Hebrews 4:14/7:25; Romans 8:34 (h) John 14:1-3; I Thessalonians 4:13-18; Revelation 3:10 (I) Matthew 24:29-31; Luke 1:32; Revelation 19:7-15/20:4-7

V. God the Holy Spirit

We believe the Scriptures teach that the Holy Spirit is the third person of the Godhead, being co-equal and co-eternal with the Father and the Son^(a). The Holy Spirit was a co-agent in creation, as well as the divine agent in the recording of the written revelation of God^(b). He restrains the Evil One until God's purpose is fulfilled^(c). He convicts of sin, righteousness and judgments^(d). He is the divine agent in the new birth, regenerating those who receive Jesus Christ as their personal Saviour^(e) and the New Testament believer is baptized in the Holy Spirit^(f), He indwells ^(g), teaches^(h), guides⁽ⁱ⁾, seals^(j), fills^(k), and bestows gifts for service^(l), upon believers. The Holy Spirit directs attention to and exalts the Lord Jesus Christ^(m).

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(a) Acts 5:3, 4; Hebrews 9:14; Matthew 28:19 (b) Job26:13; IIPeterl:21 (c) II Thessalonians 2:7 (d) John 16:7, 8 (e) John 3:5; Ephesians 2:1 (f) I Corinthians 12:12-13 (g) Romans 8:9; I Corinthians 6:19 (h) John 14:26 (i) John 16:13; Acts 16:7 (j) Ephesians 4:30 (k) Ephesians5:18 (1) I Corinthians 12:1-13 (m) John 15:26

VI. Satan, the Devil

We believe the Scriptures teach that Satan was a created spirit being of the highest order^(a), but through pride and ambition to be as the Almighty, sinned and drew after himself a host of angels which fell from their first estates^(b); and that he is now the prince of the power of the air and the unholy god of this world^(c). He is the great tempter^(d), the enemy of the Godhead^(e), the accuser of the saints^(f), the author of all false religions and the chief power of the present apostasy^(g), the lord of the Antichrist^(h), and is destined to final defeat⁽ⁱ⁾ and to judgment of an everlasting justice in the lake of fire prepared for him and his angels^(j).

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(a) Ezekiel28:14-17 (b) Isaiah 14:12-15; Revelation 12:9; Jude 6; II Peter 2:4 (c) Ephesians 2:2; John 14:30 (d) I Peter 5:8; I Thessalonians 3:5; Matthew 4:1-3 (e) I John 3:8; Matthew 13:25, 37-39 (f) Revelation 12:10 (g) II Corinthians 11:13-15 (h) I John 4:3; II Thessalonians 2:8-11; II John 7; I John 2:22 (i) Revelation 12:7-9; Revelation 20:1-3, 10 (j) Revelation20:10; Matthew25:41

VII. Creation

We believe the six day Genesis account of creation^(a) that man was created directly in God's image and likeness^(b), that creation of man was not a matter of evolutionary change or species, or development through intermediate periods of time from lower to higher forms^(c), that all the animal and vegetable life was made directly by God, and that God's established law was and is that they should bring forth only "after their kind"^(d), that all men are descended from their historical ancestors Adam and Eve, the first parents of the entire human race^(e).

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(a) Genesis 1:1; Exodus 20:11; Acts 4:24; Colossians 1:16, 17; Hebrews 11:3; John 1:3; Revelation 10:6; Acts 17:23-26; Nehemiah 9:6 (b) Genesis 1:26, 27; I Corinthians 11:17 (c) Genesis 2:7; 2:21-23 (d) Genesis 1:11, 24 (e) Genesis 1:28/3:16, 20

VIII The Fall of Man

We believe the Scriptures teach that man was created upright, in a state of innocence, under the law of his Creator. By a deliberate transgression of God’s command. Adam fell from his sinless state^(a). Adam was the Federal head of all mankind. All men are related to Adam seminally. Therefore when Adam sinned all men sinned; in consequence of which all men fell from their sinless state and are totally depraved. All men are partakers of Adam's fallen nature, and are sinners by nature and conduct^(b). All men are therefore under just condemnation without defense or excuse^(c).

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(a) Genesis 3:1-6, 24 (b) Romans 3:10-19/6:12, 19 (c) Romans 1:18, 32

IX The Substitutionary Sacrifice

We believe the Scriptures teach that the salvation of sinners is wholly of grace^(a), through the mediatorial offices of the Son of God, who by the appointment of the Father, freely took upon Himself our nature, being without sin, and by His death made a full and vicarious propitiation sufficient for our sins and the sins of all mankind^(b). His sacrifice was not as a martyr, but was the voluntary substitution of Himself in the sinner's place, the Just dying for the unjust, Christ bearing our sins in His own body on the tree^(c). He is in every way qualified to be a suitable, compassionate and all sufficient Savior^(d) and all that the Father gives Him shall come to Him and He will not cast them out^(e). All true believers are washed from their sins in His blood^(f).

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(a) Ephesians 2:8; Acts 15:11; Romans 3:24 (b) I John 2:2; II Peter 2:1; John 3:16; Matthew 18:11; Philippians 2:7; Hebrews 2:14; Isaiah 53:4-7; Romans 3:25; I John 4:10; I Corinthians 15:3; II Corinthians 5:21 (c) John 10:18; Philippians 2:8; Galatians 1:4; I Peter 2:24/3:18; Isaiah 53:11 (d) Isaiah 53:12; Hebrews 9:12-15/7:25 (e) John 6:37, 44, 65; Acts 13:48 (f) Revelation 1:5

X. The New Birth

We believe the Scriptures teach that sinners must be born again to be saved^(a); and the saved one is a new creation in Christ Jesus^(b); that the new birth is instantaneous and not a process^(c); 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^(d); that the new birth is brought about in a manner above our comprehension, not by culture, character, the will of man, but wholly by the power of the Holy Spirit in connection with divine truth, so as to secure our voluntary obedience to the gospel through faith in Jesus Christ^(e); and that the proper evidence of the new birth appears in the fruits of repentance, faith and newness of life^(f).

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(a) John3:3 (b) II Corinthians 5:17 (c) I John 5:1 (d) II Peter 1:4; Romans 6:23; Ephesians 2:1; Colossians 2:13 (e) John 3:8; John 1, 12, 13 (f) Galatians 5`:22; Ephesians 5:9

XI. Justification

We believe the Scriptures teach that justification is a judicial act of God whereby He declares the repentant sinner to be righteous through faith in Jesus Christ; that it is bestowed, not by works of righteousness which man has done, but solely though faith alone in the Redeemer's blood^(a).

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(a) Acts 13:29; Isaiah 53:11; Romans 4:1-5/5:1-9

XII. Repentance

We believe the Scriptures teach that repentance is a change of mind and purpose toward God prompted by the Holy Spirit which results in a behavioral change; that it is characterized by genuine sorrow for sin and the forsaking of it^(a).

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(a) Romans 2:4; II Corinthians 7:10; Matthew 21:28, 29; Jeremiah 25:5; Isaiah 55:7

XIII. Salvation

We believe that faith ( a gift of God ) in the finished work of the Lord Jesus Christ is the only condition of salvation from sin and that this salvation is wholly by grace. Salvation is not of works, no matter how good they may be. We can add nothing to make that salvation more secure^(a).

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(a) Romans 3:11; Romans 10:9-17; John 6:44, 65; Acts 13:48; Romans 8:29-30; Ephesians 1:4-6; Ephesians 2:8-10; Acts 16:31; Titus 3:57; Philippians 3:9

XIV. Sanctification

We believe the Scriptures teach that sanctification is the divine setting apart of believers unto God: first, an eternal act of God establishing the believers in a position of holiness the moment they trust Christ as Saviour; second, a life long process in which believers are being conformed to the image of Christ as the Holy Spirit applies the Scriptures to their lives; third, the completion of this process at the Lord's return when believers shall be made like Christ^(a). _____________________________

(a) Hebrews 10:10;/3:1; John 17:17; II Corinthians 3:18; I Thessalonians 4:3, 4; I Thessalonians 5:23, 24; I John 3:2; Revelation 22:11

XV. Eternal Security

We believe the Scriptures teach that all those who have been born again are saved having received eternal life and are kept through the power of the triune God so they can never be lost^(a).

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(a) John 3:16, 36/10:28, 29; Romans 6:23/8:35-39; I John 5:12, 13; Philippians 1:6

XVI. The Church

We believe the Scriptures teach the unity of all true believers in the Church which is the Body of Christ, established on the day of Pentecost, and that all believers, both Jews and Gentiles, from Pentecost to the Rapture, are added to this Church by the baptism in the Holy Spirit^(a). We believe that this Church should be manifested through the local church, a congregation of immersed believers associated by a covenant of faith and fellowship of the gospel^(b), observing the ordinances of Christ^(c). The local church is governed by the laws of Christ^(d), and exercises the gifts, rights, and privileges invested in it by His Word^(e); its scriptural officers are pastor(s) and deacons, whose qualifications and duties are defined in the Scriptures^(f).

We believe the mission of the church is the Great Commission: first, to make individual disciples; second, to baptize by immersion all who receive Christ; third, to teach and instruct believers as He has commanded^(g). We hold that the local church has the absolute right of self government, with Christ as its Head^(h). It is scriptural for Bible-believing churches to cooperate on a voluntary basis with other fundamental churches in contending for the faith and the furtherance of the gospel^(I). On all matters of membership, policy, government and discipline the will of the local church is final^(j).

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(a) Ephesians 8:1-6; I Corinthians 12:12,13; Acts 2:41, 42, 47 (b) Acts 2:41, 42 (c) Acts 2:42; I Corinthians 11:2, 23-30 (d) Ephesians 1:22, 23 (e) Ephesians 4:11; I Corinthians 11:2, 23-30 (f) Acts 14:23/6:5, 6/15:23/20:17-28; I Timothy 3:1-7/3:8-13 (g) Matthew 28:19, 20 (h) Colossians 1:18; Ephesians 5:23, 24; I Peter 5:14 (i) Acts 15:22; Jude 3, 4; II Corinthians 8:23, 24; I Corinthians 16:1, 2 (j) I Corinthians 5:11-13/6:1-3

XVII. Baptism and the Lord's Supper

We believe the Scriptures teach that Baptism is the immersion of believers in water, by the authority of the local church, to symbolize their faith in the crucified, buried and risen Savior; that Baptism is prerequisite to the privileges of church membership^(a). We believe that the Lord's Supper is the commemoration of Christ's death, and should be preceded by solemn self-examination^(b). We believe that the scriptural order of the ordinances is Baptism and then the Lord's Supper. All participants at the Lord's Supper should be immersed believers^(c).

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(a) Acts 2:41/8:36, 38, 39; Romans 6:3, 5; Colossians 2:12 (b) I Corinthians 11:23-28 (c) Acts 2:41, 42

XVIII. Spiritual Gifts

We believe the Scriptures teach that God is sovereign in the bestowment of all His gifts, and that the gifts of evangelists, pastors and teachers are sufficient for the perfection of believers today^(a). We believe that speaking in tongues and other sign miracles were given as signs to confirm the ministry and message of the apostles to Israel^(b), and they gradually ceased as the New Testament Scriptures were completed and their authority established^(c). (see XXII. Israel)

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(a) Ephesians 4:7-12 (b) Mark 16:17, 20; I Corinthians 14:21, 22 (c) I Corinthians 1:22; I Corinthians 13:8-13; Acts 28:25-28; Hebrews 2:3, 4; Jude 3

XIX Separation

We believe the Scriptures teach that all believers should be experientially separated from the world unto God; that believers are in the world but not of it; that believers are not to love the world nor to be conformed thereto; that they are pilgrims and strangers here and should not walk after the flesh but after the Spirit^(a). We believe Bible-believing churches, in obedience to scriptural commands, should separate themselves entirely from worldliness and ecclesiastical apostasy^(b).

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(a) Colossians 3:1-10; I John 2:15-17; Romans 12:2 (b) II Corinthians 6:14-7:1; I Timothy 6:3-5; Romans 16:17; II John 9-11

XX. Second Coming of Christ

We believe the Scriptures teach the imminent, pre-tribulational return of Jesus Christ in literal bodily form to rapture the Church, which is His Body, out of the world. At that time the dead in Christ shall be resurrected in their glorified bodies, and living believers shall be transformed, receiving glorified bodies. The Church shall be caught up to meet the Lord in the air^(a). Christ with His Church shall come to the earth at the end of the tribulation to judge the nations, to set up His Millennial Kingdom, and to rule from the throne of David^(b).

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(a) Revelation 4:1, 2; I Thessalonians 4:13-18; I Corinthians 15:42-44 (b) Matthew 24:27-51/25:31-46; Jude 14, 15; Revelation 19:11-21/20:1-6

XXI. Civil Government

We believe the Scriptures teach that civil government is of divine appointment for the interests and good order of human society^(a), and that magistrates are to be prayed for, honored and obeyed^(b), except in things opposed to the will of God as found in the Scriptures^(c).

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(a) Romans 13:1-7; Exodus 18:21, 22 (b) Matthew 22:21; Titus 3:1; I Peter 2:13, 14, 17 (c) Acts 5:29/4:19, 20; Daniel 3:17, 18

XXII. Israel

We believe the Scriptures teach the sovereign selection of Israel as God's covenant people, and that she is now dispersed because of her disobedience and rejection of Christ. Israel will be regathered in the Promised Land and will be saved as a nation at the Revelation of Christ^(a).

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(a) Genesis 13:14-17/15:18; Romans 11:1-32; Ezekiel 3 7; Jeremiah 30:11; Deuteronomy 38:63-66/30:3-5; Luke 21:20-28

XXIII. The Righteous and the Wicked

We believe the Scriptures teach there is a distinct difference between the righteous and the wicked, and that only those who are justified by faith in Jesus Christ and sanctified by the Spirit of God are truly righteous in His sight. All who continue in impenitence and unbelief are wicked and under the curse of God. This distinction holds among men both before and after death in the everlasting happiness of the righteous and the everlasting conscious suffering of the wicked in the lake of fire^(a).

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(a) Malachi 8:18; Genesis 18:23; I John 5:19; Proverbs 14:32; Luke 16:26; Matthew 25:34-41; Revelation 20:14, 15

XXIV. Heaven

We believe the Scriptures teach a literal Heaven, a place of blessedness to which the righteous go and forever consciously enjoy God's presence^(a).

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(a) John 14:2, 3; II Corinthians 5:1; Hebrews 11:16/12:22, 23; I Peter 1:3-5; Revelation 21:1, 2

XXV. Hell

We believe the Scriptures teach a literal hell, a place of torment to which the wicked go and forever consciously experience punishment and banishment from God's presence^(a).

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(a) Matthew 6:22/10:28/23:15, 33; Mark 9:43, 45, 47; James 3:6; Revelation 19:20/20:10, 14, 15/21:8

XXVI. Dispensationalism

We believe the Scriptures teach that God deals with mankind in distinctive methods during various times marked by a crucial event, test, failure or judgment. There are seven distinct dispensations in the Scriptures; Innocence^(a); Conscience ^(b); Human Government^(c); Promise^(d); Law^(e); Grace^(f); and the Millennium^(g).

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(a) Genesis 1:38 - 3:6 (b) Genesis 3:7 - 8-14 (c) Genesis 8:15 - 11:32 (d) Genesis 12:1 - Exodus 18:27; Hebrews 6:15/11:9 (e) Exodus 19:8 - Acts 1:26 (f) Acts 2:1 - Revelation 19:21 (g) Revelation 20:7-9

XXVII. Last Events

We believe the Scriptures teach that the order of last events is as follows:

1. The Rapture^(a) 2. The Judgment Seat of Christ^(b) 3. The Marriage of the Lamb^(c) 4. The Tribulation^(d) 5. The Revelation of Christ^(e) 6. Armageddon(f) 7. The Millennium^(g) 8. The Final Rebellion^(h) 9. The Great White Throne Judgment⁽ⁱ⁾ 10. The New Heaven and Earth^(j)

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(a) John 14:3; I Thessalonians 4:16, 17; I Corinthians 14:42-44 (b) I Corinthians 3:13-16; II Corinthians 5:10 (c) Matthew 22:2-10/25:10; Revelation 19:7-9 (d) Daniel 12:1; Matthew 24:21; Luke 21:25, 26; Revelation 4 (e) Zechariah 14:4; Matthew 24:20, 30; Revelation 19:11-16 (f) Revelation 16;12-16/19:11-21; Matthew 24:29, 30 (g) Daniel 2:44; Jeremiah 23:5; Isaiah 32:1; Revelation 20:3-7 (h) Revelation 20:7-10 (i) Revelation 20:11-15 (j) Revelation 21, 22

We understand that the above statements do not by any means exhaust the content of our creed which is the whole Word of God and they are not intended to set a limit beyond which faith can go within His Word; but we do believe that insofar as these articles extend they are a true presentation of the sound doctrine taught in the Scriptures and therefore binding upon us as Christian Believers.

Appendix A

The KWR-Ministries recognizes the multiplicity of the translations and versions of the Word of God in many languages and dialects. We accept the King James Version as an accurate and trustworthy version of the Word of God. We stop short of saying that it is the "inspired" Word of God. We do hold that the underlining text of the King James Version, known by many as the Textus Receptus, is every bit as reliable as any other collection of old Greek texts. We hold that inspiration is a direct miracle of God by which human authors and human languages were employed by God to give human beings His revelation in written form^(a) . It is the original text that partakes of inspiration proper. All other texts, copies, reproductions, translations, and versions partake of inspiration in an indirect fashion to the extent that they reproduce the text of the original manuscripts. We hold that only the autographs of Scripture are inerrant and that copies and translations of Scripture are inerrant insofar as they are true to the inerrant autographs. Thus any translation or version of Scripture in any language is the Word of God if it accurately reproduces what is in the original manuscripts.

We do not hold that the Word of God is to be found exclusively in any one English translation or any one translation in any other language since all such have mistranslations, miscopying, or misprinting, however minor, and are not therefore inerrant. On the other hand, even as a New Testament author could use the Septuagint, a Greek translation of the Hebrew Scriptures, as the authoritative Word of God^(b) so may any translation that is faithful to the autographs be held up as the Word of God. The King James version meets this requirement.

While the Bible clearly teaches the ultimate indestructibility of the verbal revelation of God ,^(c) it does not tell how and where the written manuscript lineage of that Word is preserved. We believe that God has providentially preserved His Word in the many manuscripts, fragments, versions, translations, and copies of the Scriptures that are available, and that by diligent study, comparison, and correlation, the original text (words) can be ascertained. We therefore hold that the integrity of any text, text type, translation, version, or copy of the Scriptures is to be judged by the autographs only and not by an English translation or any reproduction or translation.

We acknowledge the right of all Christians to study the manuscript evidence regarding the text of Scripture and to come to a preference for a text, text type, translation, or version. We do not grant the legitimacy of regarding one text, text type, or translation as the very Word of God to the exclusion of all others. It is a matter of closeness to the original autographs that guides our preference to the Textus Receptus and therefore to the King James Version. We do not feel reticent to hold up the King James Bible and declare that it is the Word of God. We do also agree that there are other versions in English and in other languages that can be held in like manner.

(a) 2 Tim 3:16; 2 Peter 1:21 (b) Heb. 2:7 quotes Ps 8:5 from the Septuagint; Heb 11:21 likewise quotes Gen 47:31 (c) Matt 24:25; 1 Pet 1:25

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Keith W. Rose
RR 1 Box 5
Dixmont, ME 04932

E-Mail keithrose@uninets.net