Faith Statement
About the Author

"My brothers, if one of you should wander from the truth, and someone should bring him back;
remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save him from death, and cover over a multitude of sins."
James 5:19,20

"Rend your heart, and not your garments. Return to the LORD your God, for he is gracious and compassionate,
slow to anger and abounding in love, and he relents from sending calamity."
Joel 2:13

Why does this site exist?

The above scriptures are the key reason for the existence of this discernment site. It exists to help Christians avoid being part of movements or going to churches that preach false doctrine or otherwise try to control and manipulate them, and if they do to warn them what is behind these phenomena. Someone helped me in this manner and it should be done more often.

There are many deceptions creeping into the Church that every Christian should be aware of. Especially when these deceptions are sometimes even designed to control the People of God it is time to speak out against them. This is not meant to single out any one denomination as false doctrines and spiritual abuse are evident in practically all denominations, some more than others.

Also, there are more and more pastors and self-appointed apostles these days that hunger for power over others and possibly also their money.

Some may accuse me of trying to split the Body of Christ. I do not intend to do this. I feel that especially recently, despite the growth of some churches, that more and more sincere, honest Christians feel the need to separate themselves from what is currently happening in our churches. I have seen evidence that a remnant is being gathered, believers of diverse denominations are leaving their churches that they frequented for so long and are forming new groups. Why is this happening? What kinds of doctrines and churches should be avoided, and what kinds should we look for? At least in later publications I usually try not to name specific churches or denominations unless it seems unavoidable, but try instead to compare right and wrong using Scripture and reason. Sometimes names of persons must be mentioned. I cannot offer an answer to every question, but I do encourage you to explore the Scriptures, measuring everything you see according to it. God certainly has all the answers and reveals them to those who seek the truth. He gave us the ability to reason as well, to help us analyze situations, judging them to be helpful or harmful.

"The end of all things is near. Therefore be clear minded and self-controlled so that you can pray. Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms." 1 Peter 4:7-10.

Statement of Faith

This statement of faith leans somewhat on the London Confession of 1689, but I cannot agree with everything that the London Confession professes.

The Scriptures are the Word of God. By Scriptures I mean the Old Testament of the Bible and the four Gospels, Acts as well as Revelations. The letters I do consider to be a very valuable guideline for the Church, but as Scripture only insofar as they correspond to the Old Testament as seen through the lens of the Gospels. What Paul, Peter, James and Jude wrote concerning the interpretation of the Old Testament was inspired by God, but it is sometimes evident that they are airing their opinions on some minor subjects. I consider God to be infallible, but not the apostles, as much as I respect their wisdom and efforts for the Church. Paul did not presume to be perfect, so I see nothing wrong in not accepting him and the others as such. At one point he had to correct Peter for trying to impose Jewish law on non-Jewish Christians. Even the Apostles were not infallible. Why not accept every single verse of the Bible as infallible? I used to. I have seen apostolic opinions treated like God's commands used to oppress good, loving Christians in a way that Jesus Christ never would and if I must accept those opinions as fallible in order to be more Christlike then so be it. I do not accept the books called the apocrypha. Nothing should be added or subtracted from the Scriptures in their present form. Scripture can only be interpreted by using the Scripture itself, together with the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

The Lord is the one and only living and true God. He lives forever and is the source of life. He is sovereign, that is he has full knowledge and control of everything in heaven and on earth. Nothing can happen without his knowledge or consent. He is holy, everything he does is just. There is no evil in him and he is not the cause of it. He is truth. All glory goes to him. He will not divide it with another. He is loving, gracious, merciful, long-suffering, abundant in goodness. He made all things for himself. He rewards and judges as he sees fit.

God has three persons, the Father, the Son, also called the Word and the Holy Spirit. They are one in substance, power, and eternity, each having the whole divine essence, yet this essence is undivided. They are without beginning and without end.

Some people are predestined to eternal life through Jesus Christ. Others are allowed to continue in their sin to their condemnation, thus showing God's grace and his justice. God chose those human beings who are predestined to life before the foundation of the world, in accordance with his purpose simply because it was his will to do so. God chose them in Christ for eternal glory, solely out of his free grace and love, not based on the presence of righteousness, good deeds, race, nationality, beauty or any other trait.

God knew that Adam would sin, thus tainting all his offspring, and foreordained a solution to save those he chose. Those who are predestined to be saved by God from himself are redeemed by Christ, called to faith in Christ by his Spirit at the appointed time, justified, adopted, sanctified, and kept by his power through faith to salvation. None but the elect are redeemed by Christ, effectually called, justified, adopted, sanctified, and saved.

The elect are not in any way better than those that are not, since they did not earn redemption. The gospel is to be told to all people, regardless of whether they may believe or not. God alone knows whether a person has believed or not, or whether he will believe or not. Telling the gospel to all people is part of God's just plan.

In the beginning God created the world and all things in it, both visible and invisible, in six days, and all very good. After God had made all other creatures, he created human beings, male and female, with reasoning and immortal souls, fitting them for their service to him. They were made in the image of God, with knowledge, righteousness, and holiness. They had the law of God written in their hearts, and the power to fulfill it; yet they also had the possibility of disobedience, and were given a free will.

They received a command not to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. While they kept this commandment they were happy in their fellowship with God, and had dominion over all other creatures.

God governs everything on earth and in heaven. He governs in accordance with his foreknowledge and his will, to the praise of the glory of his wisdom, power, justice, infinite goodness and mercy. Nothing happens according to chance, but by his will.

This includes even the fall of Adam and Eve and all other sinful actions of angels and human beings. God did not simply permit it, for he wisely and powerfully limits and governs sinful actions, so that they bring about his own holy purposes. Yet in all of this the sinfulness of these actions comes entirely from the creature, and not from God, who is altogether holy and righteous; he is neither the source nor the approver of sinful actions.

Sometimes God even lets his own children be tempted, even to the corruption of their own hearts. This may be to discipline them for their former sins, or to show them the hidden strength of the sin still in their hearts so that they may be humbled, and to bring them to a closer and more constant dependence on him for their support, and to make them more watchful against future occasions of sin, among other things. So whatever happens to any of his elect it is by his appointment, for his glory and for their good, though this may not always be apparent.

As for those that are not chosen by him, God as a righteous judge blinds and hardens them because of their sins. He withholds his grace from them by which they might have been enlightened in their understanding and affected in their hearts. God gives them over to their own lusts, the temptations of the world, and the power of Satan. At the same time he tempers the evil of the world. See Common Grace below.

God created Adam upright and perfect, and gave him a righteous law which assured life for him while he kept it, but threatened death if he broke it. Satan used the subtlety of the serpent to deceive Eve, she seduced Adam, and Adam wilfully broke the law of their creation and the command given to them by eating the forbidden fruit. God allowed this, since it was his purpose to direct it toward his own glory. By this sin Adam and Eve fell from their original righteousness and communion with God. We, their offspring fell with them, for by their sin death came upon us all; all became dead in sin, by nature children of wrath, tending to evil, unable to please God without the saving power of Jesus Christ.

During this life, this corruption of nature remains in those who are regenerated by Jesus. Even though our souls are rescued, our bodies belong to this world and must eventually die and be destroyed with it.

Man can seek God, yet he cannot turn fully to him of his own accord. He cannot reach heaven without God's assistance and will. God himself breached the gap in the form of a covenant. Life and salvation are offered to us by the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ through faith in him.

This covenant is revealed through the gospel; first of all to Adam in the promise of salvation by the seed of the woman, and afterwards step by step until the full revelation of it was completed in the Gospels. This salvation rests on that eternal covenant transaction between the Father and the Son which concerns the redemption of the elect. It is by the grace of this covenant alone that all the descendants of fallen Adam who have ever been saved have obtained eternal life. This is not a renewal of the relationship that God had with Adam, but something else entirely. The elect do not simply become approved servants under God but also his sons, under the Lordship of Jesus Christ.

God chose and ordained the Lord Jesus, his only Son, in accordance with the covenant made between them both, to be the Mediator between God and the human race; to be prophet, priest, and king; to be the head and saviour of his church, the heir of all things, and judge of the world. From all eternity he gave the elect to Jesus Christ who is their Lord. In time all that are chosen will be redeemed, called, justified, sanctified, and glorified by him.

The Son of God, the second person in the Holy Trinity, is truly and eternally God. He is of the same substance and equal with him who made the world, who upholds and governs all things he has made.

When it was time, he took upon himself human nature, the nature of a servant, with all that this implies yet without sin. He was conceived by the Holy Spirit in the womb of the Virgin Mary. The Holy Spirit came down upon her and the power of the Most High overshadowed her, so that he was born to a woman from the tribe of Judah, a descendant of Abraham and David, in accordance with the Scriptures. So two whole, perfect, and distinct natures were inseparably joined together in one person. Jesus Christ is therefore truly God and truly human, yet one Christ, the only Mediator between God and the human race that is given.

Jesus was sanctified and anointed with the Holy Spirit without limit, so in him are all wisdom and knowledge. All of the fullness of God is in him, being holy, undefiled, and full of grace and truth, he is worthy to be a mediator. He but was called to do this by his Father, who also put all power and judgement in his hands, and commanded him to use them.

The Lord Jesus underwent the punishment and suffering which we deserved. He was made sin and was accursed for us; he endured the extremities of agonising distress in his soul and painful suffering in his body. He was crucified, died and was buried. On the third day he rose from the dead with the same body in which he had suffered, with which he also ascended into heaven, where he sits at the right hand of his Father making intercession for the elect. At the end of the world he will return to judge human beings and angels. The Lord Jesus has fully satisfied the justice of God by his perfect obedience and his once-for-all sacrifice which he offered up to God through the eternal Spirit. He has bought reconciliation and an everlasting inheritance in the kingdom of heaven for all those whom the Father has given to him whether they were born even before his coming or after his ascension into heaven. He is the same yesterday, today and forever.

This position of Mediator between God and the human race belongs exclusively to Christ, who is the Prophet, Priest, and King of the Church of God. It may not be given to anyone else.

Adam had freedom and power to will and to do what was good and well-pleasing to God; but was able to choose otherwise. The human race because of sin, cannot please God. In our natural state we are opposed to spiritual good and dead in sin; we cannot convert ourselves. When God converts sinners and transfers them into the state of grace, he frees them from their natural servitude to sin, and by his grace alone he enables them freely to will and to do what is spiritually good. Nevertheless, because of the remaining corruption of the body, which is destined to die, they do not perfectly nor exclusively will what is good, but also will what is evil. Only after physical death will our wills be made perfectly and permanently free to do good alone.

Those whom God has predestined to life, he calls by his Word and Spirit at the time he has set for this action. He renews their spirits, and leads them to do what is good. He effectually draws them to Jesus Christ, yet in such a way that they still come completely freely, for they are made willing by his grace.

This effectual call of God's comes not on account of anything that we are, will be or have done. It is not made because of any power or action in us, for we are altogether passive in it, we are dead in sins and trespasses until we are made alive and renewed by the Holy Spirit. By this regeneration we are enabled to answer this call, and to embrace the grace offered and conveyed in it, this power being none other than that which raised up Christ from the dead.

Those who are not chosen may emulate some Christian qualities and do good deeds, but cannot be saved because they are not effectually drawn by the Father, they have no saving faith, therefore they will not and cannot truly come to Christ. Their good works are not credited to them as righteousness. Faith alone, provided by God upon hearing the Word and the God-given revelation of himself and subsequent indwelling of the Holy Spirit constitute salvation.

There is no age limit to the calling. Even children can be called and respond with faith accordingly. Being children though, the fruit of the Spirit may not show until a level of inner maturity is reached.

Those whom God calls he also freely justifies. He does this by pardoning their sins, and by accepting them as righteous, not for anything done in them or by them, no matter how good it may be, but for Christ's sake alone. They do not even have faith at the beginning, it is the gift of God.

Faith is the sole instrument of justification. Yet it is never alone in the person justified, but is always accompanied by all the other saving graces; it is not a dead faith, true faith is never found without love.

From all eternity God decreed to justify all the elect, and Christ at the appointed time died for their sins, and rose again for their justification. Nevertheless they are not justified personally until the Holy Spirit at the appointed time enters them. God continues to forgive the sins of those who are justified; and although they can never lose their salvation they may fall under God's fatherly displeasure because of their sins.

God has granted that, in and for his only Son Jesus Christ, all those who are justified share in the grace of adoption. By this they are numbered with and enjoy the liberties and privileges of the children of God. They have his name put upon them, and are adopted. They have access to the throne of grace with boldness, and are able to cry, ‘Abba, Father!' They are pitied, protected, provided for, and disciplined by him as by a father, yet they are never rejected, but are kept to the day of redemption, and inherit the promises as heirs of everlasting salvation.

Those who are united to Christ, effectually called and regenerated, have a new heart and a new spirit created in them through the effect of Christ's death and resurrection. Furthermore, they are also really and personally sanctified through the same means, by his Word and Spirit dwelling in them. Saving graces are increasingly brought to life and strengthened in them.

This sanctification extends throughout the whole person, yet it will not be complete in this life. Some remnants of corruption still remain in every part, from which arise a continual and irreconcilable conflict, the body sometimes desiring what is contrary to the Spirit.

Believers grow in grace, moving towards mature holiness in the fear of God, pressing on towards the heavenly life in obedience to all the commands which Christ as Head and King has prescribed for them in his Word. They will not reach perfection in Christ in this life.

The grace of faith is the work of the Spirit of Christ in their hearts. It is normally brought into being by hearing the Word although the written Word has also been an agent of this.

By this faith, a Christian believes to be true whatever is revealed in Scripture for it is the authority of God himself. There is an excellency in the Word above all other writings and everything else in the world, because it shows the glory of God and his attributes, the excellency of Christ and his nature and offices, and the power and fullness of the Holy Spirit in his works and operations.

So believers are able to implicitly trust in the truth they have believed, and to respond appropriately obeying the commands and embracing the promises of God for this life and that which is to come.

The principal acts of saving faith are those directly to do with Christ—accepting, receiving, and resting on him alone for justification, sanctification, and eternal life, by virtue of the covenant of grace.

There is no one who does good and does not sin, and the best of people may fall into great sins against others and against God through the power and deceitfulness of their indwelling corruption and the strength of temptation. Therefore God has mercifully provided in the covenant of grace that when believers sin and fall they can repent. We should ask those that we sin against for pardon. We should ask God for forgiveness for wronging our brothers. Whether our brothers forgive us or not is irrelevant and has no bearing on what God will decide. If they do not forgive, that is then a problem between them and God and no longer concerns us. God forgives us if we sincerely repent to him.

Conviction is a process by which we realize, through the Holy Spirit that we have sinned. By faith in Christ we humble ourselves to God. We pray for pardon and strength of grace, and determine, by the ability supplied by the Spirit, to walk before God and to please him in all things.

Repentance can be practiced anytime that one has sinned. It is the duty of all Christians to repent before God in such a case and determine to do better.

In the covenant of grace God has made full provision through Christ for the preservation of believers in their salvation, so, although even the smallest sin deserves damnation, yet there is no sin great enough to bring damnation on the elect. Rather, God and not man removes them from the face of the earth before they can commit acts for which there would be no pardon.

The elect are created in Christ Jesus to do good works and to produce the fruits of holiness which lead to eternal life. Others may do what is defined in the Word of God as being good works, but this alone will not save them from God's wrath.

Those who through the Holy Spirit in their obedience to God do everything that God has commanded to please him in this life, are still far from being perfect and perfectly pleasing God. We cannot, even by our best works, merit pardon of sin or eternal life from the hand of God, for those works are out of proportion to the glory to come. Moreover, because of the infinite distance that is between us and God, our works can neither benefit God nor satisfy the debt of our former sins. Whatever we do is mixed with so much weakness and imperfection that it cannot endure the severity of God's judgment. He pardons us in the sincerity of our actions only for the sake of his Son Jesus Christ.

The elect are those whom God has accepted in Christ, his beloved Son. They are effectually called and sanctified by his Spirit, and given the seed of Faith.These can neither totally nor finally fall from the state of grace, but they shall certainly persevere in grace to the end and be eternally saved. God will not remove his calling.

Nothing can separate true believers from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus. They are sure to be kept by his power until their salvation is complete. They are engraved on the palms of his hands, and their names have been written in the book of life from all eternity.

There are those that deceive themselves with futile and false hopes and unspiritual presumptions that they are in favour with God and in a state of salvation, but their hope is not founded on Christ Jesus because they did not receive the revelation of him and were not given faith to believe. Yet those who truly believe in the Lord Jesus, love him sincerely and thus follow him, having received the Holy Spirit can be sure of grace and salvation.

God gave Adam a law of universal obedience written in his heart, and a specific command not to eat the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil. By this he bound him and all his descendants to personal, total, exact, and continual obedience. God promised life if it was kept, and threatened death if it was not kept, and he provided Adam and Eve with power and ability to keep it.

The same law that was first written in the human heart continued to be the means by which righteousness was measured. It was delivered by God upon Mount Sinai as the Ten Commandments.

Besides this law, God gave the people of Israel ceremonial laws containing several specific ordinances. These were partly concerning worship, and in them Christ was prefigured—his graces, actions, sufferings, and benefits. They also gave instructions about various moral duties. All of these ceremonial laws were appointed only until the time of the New Testament, when Jesus Christ abrogated them and took them away, for he was the true Messiah and only law-giver, and was empowered to do this by the Father.

Obedience to the Ten Commandments is required by God from everyone both elect and non-elect. Jesus did not nullify this law in the gospel, but insisted that it would not disappear until all things have come to pass to completion. The faith of the elect in Jesus Christ is credited to them as righteousness, as if they fulfilled all of the law. This is, however, no excuse for sin.

As the covenant of works was broken by sin and was unable to give life, God promised the Christ, the seed of the woman, as the means of calling the elect out of sin and bringing to life within them faith and repentance. This was the gospel, the good news.

This promise of Christ and of salvation by him, is revealed in the Word of God alone. Neither the works of creation and providence, nor the light of nature, reveal Christ or grace through him.

The revelation of the gospel to sinners has been given at various times and in a variety of places, together with the promises and precepts concerning the obedience required by it. The gospel is the only external means of revealing Christ and saving grace, and is all that is needed for this. Yet if people who are dead in sin are to be born again, brought to life or regenerated, an effectual, irresistible work of the Holy Spirit is necessary to produce in them a new spiritual life. Without this no other means will bring about their conversion to God. The preaching of the gospel is commanded by God and should be made available to all without cost, withheld from none. As we do not know who the elect are or when they will be called, the gospel can be offered more than once. They may be called after hearing it repeatedly. We cannot know the mind of God in this, the gospel may be a means of preparation to some as well as a means of salvation. For those that are not elect, it may offer reasons to behave and exercise self-control. See Common Grace below.

The freedom which Christ has purchased for believers under the gospel consists of their freedom from the guilt of sin, the condemning wrath of God, and the severity and curse of the law. It also includes their deliverance from this world, slavery to Satan and sin and the fear and sting of spiritual death. Furthermore, it includes their free access to God the Father, and their ability to yield obedience to him, not out of fear, but with love, and willing minds. All these blessings were also shared in essence by believers under the Old Testament law; but, under the New Testament, the liberty of Christians is increased in their freedom from the yoke of the ceremonial law. We also have greater boldness of access to the throne of grace, and fuller provision of the Spirit of God than believers under the law normally experienced.

The Christian conscience is dependent upon God through the Holy Spirit. It has no duties to human doctrines or commandments tht are contrary to Scripture. To require an implicit faith in or blind obedience to man is to destroy liberty of conscience and reason. In plain text this means that no matter what anyone expects you to do or believe, do not do it or believe it if it is not in accordance with what God expects of us.

God has lordship and sovereignty over all. Therefore he is to be feared, loved, praised, called upon, trusted in, and served with all the heart and soul and strength.

God may not be worshipped according to human imagination or methods, nor by any other way not prescribed in the Holy Scriptures. Worship is to be given to God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and to him alone, not to angels, saints, or any other creatures. Worship is not to be given by any mediation other than that of Christ alone.

Worshiping, praising or calling upon the Holy Spirit separately is not mentioned nor practiced in Scripture. I do not do this nor condone it.

Prayer with thanksgiving, being one part of natural worship, is required by God of all people. But to be acceptable, it must be made in the name of the Son, in Spirit and in truth, i.e. according to his will by the help of the Holy Spirit.

The reading of the Scriptures, the preaching and hearing of the Word of God, the teaching and admonishing of one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with gratitude in our hearts to the Lord and communion are all parts of the worship of God. These are to be performed in obedience to him, with understanding, faith, reverence and godly fear. Worship can be done everywhere in spirit and in truth, in families, individually, small groups or in larger public assemblies.

A portion of time should be set apart for the worship of God. Many Christians do this on the first day of the week, but I believe that any day of the week will do.

I believe that we cannot swear on anything seen or unseen because God has made all things. Promises that we make to others should be kept to a minimum and kept when they are made as long as this does not entail disobedience to God.

God, the supreme Lord and King of all the world, has ordained civil authorities to be under him and over the people. This does not guarantee, however, that they use their power for good. Where the London confession of 1689 makes allowance for war here, I do not condone it. I believe that only Christ himself has the authority to wage war against another. We, as Christians do not have the right to kill anyone. This would also include the death penalty, as the ten commandments state: do not kill (they do not say 'only kill if...'). A country, however, can choose to kill to defend itself as countries are not Christians. Each Christian as citizen of a country, if faced with the command to kill for it, will be faced with the dilemma to obey God or man. In such a situation one cannot do both.

It is lawful for Christians to accept and carry out the duties of public office when called upon to so. In the performance of such office they are particularly responsible for maintaining justice and peace in accordance with the wholesome laws of the nation, as long as these laws conform to God's as in Scripture. In the effect that the nation would ask them to do something that is unlawful or immoral according to God's Word, then the laws of the nation can no longer be obeyed. It is better to obey God rather than man.

As civil authorities are established by God, we ought to be subject to all their lawful commands for the Lord's sake, not merely to avoid punishment, but for conscience' sake as long as these commands do not contradict Scripture. We ought also to make supplications and prayers for rulers and all who are in authority, that under them we may live a quiet and peaceful life in all godliness and honesty.

Marriage is to be between one man and one woman. It is not lawful for any man to have more than one wife, nor for any woman to have more than one husband at the same time. One should not marry close relatives, as stated in Scripture.

The Church consists of the complete number of the elect who have been, who are, or who shall be gathered under Christ its Head. The church is the bride, the body, the fullness of Christ who fills all in all. The Lord Jesus Christ is the head of the church. He is capable of governing it without human assistance.

In exercising the authority entrusted to him, the Lord Jesus calls to himself out of the world those who are given to him by the Father. They are called to walk before him in the ways of obedience which he prescribes for them in his Word. He commands them to meet together for their mutual edification.

These people are ‘saints' by calling and they visibly demonstrate and give evidence of their obedience to the call of Christ by their testimony and walk. They give of themselves to the Lord and to one another by the will of God.

To each Christian and group of Christians so gathered by Christ, the Lord has given all the power and authority required to conduct the form of worship and discipline which he has appointed for them to observe.

Overseers of the local church group, if present, are to be the most humble and loving of the congregation, being selected by mutual consent, being older in the Lord as well, showing evidence of a moral life according to the Word of God, knowledge of the Word and wisdom. They should be able to teach and admonish others lovingly and humbly. They should serve as watchmen that protect their congregation from manipulation and deceit from without or within primarily by teaching them correctly from the Word of God.

God can appoint some to preach and teach and do other services without man's assistance or approval as he did with Paul. The proof of this will be based on whether what they preach and teach and the manner in which they do this corresponds with the Word of God or not.

Each Christian group and all its members are obliged to pray regularly for the good and prosperity of all Christians everywhere. At all times Christian individuals and groups should assist all believers within the limits of their area and calling in exercising their gifts and graces. Local groups of believers should come together when they can to promote peace among themselves, increase love, and mutual edification.

All believers are united to Jesus Christ their Head by his Spirit and by faith. They have fellowship in his graces, sufferings, death, resurrection, and glory. Being united to one another in love, they have fellowship in each other's gifts and graces. Believers should help one another in any way they can in love and humility to the glory of Jesus Christ.

Baptism and communion are ordinances explicitly and sovereignly appointed by the Lord Jesus, he having performed or participated in them.

Baptism is an ordinance of the New Testament, ordained by Jesus Christ, to be to the person baptised a sign of fellowship with Christ in his death and resurrection, already having been washed clean of his sins. Those who have repented and believed in Jesus Christ should be baptized as Jesus Christ was, by complete immersion in water in the name of the Father, and the Son and the Holy Spirit, if such a body of water is available and it is permitted to immerse a person in it. However, a professing Christian, if he has been baptized by sprinkling after having believed, should have no need of being re-baptized to be accepted by me as having been baptized. Even if someone has never been baptized, that does not mean that he is not indwelled by the Holy Spirit, i.e. Christian. Baptism is an outward sign of obedience to God that follows conversion, I do not believe that it causes an indwelling of the Holy Spirit, nor is it a guarantee of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. A measure of tolerance is necessary between Christians, usually time will tell if the Holy Spirit indwells someone, or if He does not, whether that person is baptized or not. I would offer to baptize an unbaptized Christian or arrange such a baptism by clergy if they prefer, but would not put them away from myself if they do not wish it at that time.

30.1 The supper of our Lord Jesus was begun by him the same night he was betrayed, to be observed at Christian gatherings as a remembrance of him and the sacrifice of himself in his death. It was also begun to confirm the faith of believers in all the benefits in Christ's death, for their spiritual nourishment and growth in him and to be evidence of their fellowship with him and with one another.

The bread and wine are not really the body and blood of Jesus Christ but serve only to help us remember how his body was broken and his blood poured out for those that had and would believe in him. Even though they are only common food and drink, communion should be taken solemnly, as the Word of God prescribes, after believers have searched their hearts to make sure that they have forgiven others before receiving it.

Communion is only for believers, and should not be offered to others because it symbolizes the unity of Christians to one another and to God through partaking in the body of Jesus Christ, a unity in which non-believers have no place. Anyone who qualifies as a Christian, who has been given the faith to believe and has professed it thus receiving the Holy Spirit can and should take part in Communion whether he is a member of the local group of Christians or not. Children who fit this description are also Christians and should not be excluded from communion. It may be that some professing Christians are not what they appear to be, sometimes it takes years of being in a Congregation before the truth surfaces, though they have been taking communion all along. I believe that this is a matter that God will deal with. If such an occurence were prevented at all costs, then many true Christians might be excluded from participating in communion though Jesus commanded all Christians to practice communion. Only God himself truly knows if someone is indwelled with the Holy Spirit. The latter situation of false exclusion, I believe, would constitute a greater problem than the former one of false inclusion, as one would be preventing someone from following Jesus Christ's command. Since the bread and wine are symbols rather than the true flesh and blood of Christ, a sacrilege cannot take place if a non-Christian does happen to participate unknown to the others present.

After death the bodies of people return to dust and decompose but their souls, which are immortal, immediately return to God who created them. The souls of the righteous are then made perfect in holiness remain with God while they wait for the full redemption of their bodies. The souls of the wicked are cast into hell, where they remain in torment, reserved for judgement on the great day of judgement.

On the last day, those believers who are still alive will not die, but will be changed. All the dead will be raised up with their own bodies that will be united again to their souls for ever, the righteous to eternal life with God and with a body like that of Jesus Christ's, the spiritually dead to eternal damnation shut out from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his power forever.

God has appointed a day when he will judge the world in righteousness by Jesus Christ, to whom the Father has given all power and judgment. On that day, not only the apostate angels will be judged, but also all people who have lived on the earth. They will appear before Christ's judgement throne to give an account of their thoughts, words, and deeds, and to receive judgement according to what they have done in the body, whether good or evil.

No one knows the exact date of this day of judgment but God himself. Christians should always be watchful, because they do not know when the Lord will come.

The saving grace of God is extended only to the elect. His common grace or good-will, however, extends to all men. His common grace can enable men to want good above evil, beauty above ugliness, order above chaos. Evil is allowed to exist, but is tempered by God. The giving of the law and the very coming of his Son has inspired men to try to be good throughout time. This will not save those that are not elect, but it makes life easier for all of us, otherwise evil would be more rampant than it already is.

About the Author

My name is Carmen Brill. I am American but lived in Germany for over a decade. I have been living in Italy since March 2001. I am not a member of the clergy. I am currently not able to be member of a church, not being in full agreement with any of the doctrines available. I attend churches of different denominations. I do not profess to be wise but have gathered experiences in my travels. I have made mistakes but have learned from them and hope to be able to help others avoid the same mistakes or at least help them if they have. Since early 2002 I have been researching sects and church movements.

Why are there few pictures and entertaining images on my site? I personally like sites that are quick to download. Not everybody can afford DSL or has the time to wait for dozens of pictures to appear. They can be cool or amusing but for me are usually just in the way. A friend finally convinced me to put a few images on the site.

When writing in English, I quote from the NIV or King James, usually the reference is included at the bottom of the page. I do not have anything against anyone that is using another version of the Bible, if he does so conscienciously. I only protest against it when I see that the Scriptures are purposely translated or twisted to preach false doctrine.

It would be productive if a certain measure of tolerance could be maintained between Christians. Jesus was more than patient with the disciples that kept blundering into false doctrine despite constant teaching and stuck it out with them as long as it was necessary. We are commanded to be patient with one another also. Each one of us can explore Scripture and according to it decide what kinds of compromises to make in dealing with other Christians and with non-Christians and where his personal doctrinal limits are. Every Christian that is obedient to God, with the guidance of the Holy Spirit will eventually go in the right direction at his own pace and in his own way. Some will move faster and some slower. Jesus puts issues in our hearts that he wants us to address and this almost certainly will not happen at the same time and in the same way he deals with other individuals. He knows our personal triumphs and weaknesses and as the Good Shepherd deals individually with each of us for our own good. When he admonishes us he does not hate us, but does it out of love. We have the opportunity deal with each other in the same way wherever possible. Any time a person religiously admonishes another out of hate and/or at least without love and compassion, no matter if this person is in a real or perceived position of authority, the admonition did not come from God, God is not legalistic or unloving toward his own children.

I do not hate those whose doctrines I hold in question. I may hate the doctrine but not the person. There is one thing that I cannot stand, though. That is when one person lies to another to lead him away from God. Some of those that do so have lied even to themselves and have allowed themselves to be deceived. When this happens it is very sad. That is when it is necessary to speak out against such lies and deceptions, to at least warn and even rescue those that are at risk of deception, manipulation and mind control.

Please take note that I do not like political correctness. I see it as simply another form of control instituted by man, not God. I feel that everyone should be able to express his opinions freely and my site reflects this. Also, we cannot force our opinions on others. No one, whether Christian or non-Christian should be forced to say, do or believe anything he does not want to. He should be free to do anything as long as it does not injure others in any way, mentally, spiritually or physically. I know that some will balk at this idea. There are forms of rebellion to God that do not injure others, this is true, but every person on this planet is responsible for his own actions and it is not our duty as Christians to force anyone to comply to God's commands. We are to spread the Gospel and teach those that believe it. Compliance to it or to any other code of behavior should not be forced on anyone. The world would be more pleasant if everyone would adhere to this.

If you have questions, comments, an article or a testimony please send it to: jamesfiv@jamesfive19.com. If you just need to get something off your chest or wish to post an anonymous testimony your letter is safe with me. If you send constructive criticism it will be welcome. All mail will be my property. I reserve the right to publish or not publish testimonies or articles on my site (never without permission). Any unconstructive criticism may end up being made public.

All websites, even though publicly available are not public domain. This according to The Digital Millenium Copyright Act of 1998. Go to http://www.loc.gov/copyright/legislation/dmca.pdf for a summary or to http://www.loc.gov/copyright/legislation/hr2281.pdf for a full version.

You may print, copy or reference this document for your own use but the name of the author, Carmen Brill, must be included and the copies or references must include a reference to this website, http://jamesfive19.com. You may not distribute this document in your name and you may not distribute it for profit.

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