Some say, “Doctrine Divides”. I believe that statement. But the reality of this experience does not cause me to cease from talking about doctrine. Should the Son not talk about what the Father has taught? Should disciples not talk openly and joyfully about what the Son has taught?
My precious church family in Ammon, Idaho is Berean Baptist Church. Here is our third article of faith in this doctrinal series.
III. THE LORD JESUS CHRIST
The Second Person of the Triune God is the Son Whose name is the Lord Jesus Christ. He existed eternally with the Father, and at the time of His incarnation, without change in His deity, became a man through the miracle of His divine conception and virgin birth. He lived a sinless, impeccable life, died a substitutionary death for all men; was buried and arose from the grave physically the third day. He ascended into Heaven; is presently fulfilling His intercessory and mediatory ministry; and has promised to return to rapture the church prior to the Tribulation, at the conclusion of which He will institute His Davidic reign over Israel and the nations. (Matthew 1:20-25; Matthew 17:5; Luke 1:26-35; John 8:28; John 14:3; I Corinthians 15:4; I Thessalonians 4:13-18; Hebrews 4:15; Hebrews 9:24; Hebrews 10:12; I John 2:2)
I believe all of this article. Yet some of the wording in this article of faith is much more fundamental than other parts. In other words, there are some particular phrases in this article of faith that as proclamational truth, I would die for. But also there are some specific nuances printed here, where I think good brothers humbly differ.
Do you see what I am saying?
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Part 1: Berean’s First Article of Faith
Part 2: Berean’s Second Article of Faith
Jesus in Idaho Falls 
“…arose from the grave physically the third day. He ascended into Heaven…”
You say that he arose physically, but did he ascend to Heaven physically? And is he “presently fulfilling His…ministry” physically?
Yes to both questions
“and has promised to return to rapture the church prior to the Tribulation,”
This is the only part I think I may differ on, where I believe we will be raptured prior to the Great tribulation, as we will not be here when God unleashed His wrath, I believe believers will endure and in fact do endure tribulation. And Gods word says “no man knows the time”, so we can’t really say we know for sure, so I don’t think it’s necessary to put in “prior”.
I’m don’t really believe in the rapture, period. I keep it open as a possibility, but I think you only get the rapture from a rather innovative reading of the Bible.
I believe you either believe the whole book, or you throw the whole thing away, it CANNOT be anywhere in between. You can not pick and choose what you believe to be true and real and what you decide you don’t want to believe to be true because you don’t “feel” right about, it is either all true or none of it is true.
Anonymous, my godly grandfather believed as you . . . that God’s people will go straight through the great Tribulation to come.
I already said I don’t think the rapture is really all that supported by the Bible.
What’s throwing the Bible away got to do with it?
All I meant is, if you don’t believe the entire Bible to be the complete true, uncomprimised, and inerrant word of God, then why bother reading it.
I’m curious, what do you think these verses are talking about?
1Th 4:14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus.
15 For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive, and remain until the coming of the Lord, shall not precede those who have fallen asleep.
16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of [the] archangel, and with the trumpet of God; and the dead in Christ shall rise first.
17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and thus we shall always be with the Lord.
18 Therefore comfort one another with these words.
1Th 5:11
I would also add to this the He is the Creator Himself according to John 1. Here is another statement that i stand behind
Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God, fully God and fully man. As God incarnate He was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He therefore lived a sinless life and perfectly fulfilled God’s law, imputing this righteousness to those who believe. He glorified God by saving mankind from their sin, taking sins upon Himself, dying on the cross under the punishment of God as the atoning sacrifice. Having raised from the dead, He ascended into heaven and is at the right hand of God where He ever lives to make intercession for His saints. Christ is the only means whereby mankind can be forgiven of their sins and their guilt removed. At the appointed time He will return bodily in power and glory to judge the living and the dead, and to consummate His redemptive purpose. (Matt 5:17, Luke 1:26-33, 2:6-7, John 1:1-3, 5:22-29, 14:6, Acts 4:12, 17:31, Rom 3:21-26, 8:34, Col 1:15-18, 2 Thess 2:7-10, Heb 9:14, 1 Pet 2:21-24, 1 John 3:5)
A very good statement.
Nice to have this statement side-by-side (and the one on the Holy Spirit) for comparison.
Get with you more later on these threads for discussing the nuances.
This is great, bro.