UNDERSTANDING THE SAVAGE THEOLOGIAN’S DOCTRINAL STANCE
The doctrinal stance of TST is laid out in the following statement: “Our doctrine is based solely on God’s Word.” Throughout the New Testament the importance of sound doctrine is stressed over and over again. Paul says in 2 Timothy 2:15: “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”
Paul also warns us in 2 Timothy 4:3-4: “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.”
On this Blog we are committed to “rightly dividing” God’s Word and not simply speaking to what “itching ears” desire to hear.
The following articles of faith summarize what we believe God’s Word says about the essential doctrines of our faith in Jesus Christ.
1. The Scriptures: We believe in the Inerrancy of Scripture as the Word of God, complete in and of itself, as found in the original manuscripts of both the Old and New Testaments. We also believe that God is the Author, writing through men. (2 Timothy 3:16-17, II Peter 1:19-21, Revelation 22:18-19)
2. The Trinity: We believe that there is one, and only one living and true God; that the Scriptures reveal God as eternally existing and manifesting Himself in three (3) Persons – the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. We believe that all three (3) Persons of the Divine Trinity are equal in every aspect but carry out distinct functions. (Genesis 1:1-3, Exodus 20:2-3, 1 Corinthians 8:6, Matthew 3:16-17, Revelation 4:11, John 1:1-3, John 5-7, John 19:30, 2 Corinthians 13:14)
3. Jesus Christ: We believe Jesus Christ to be God the Son. He was 100% God, and 100% man. We believe that He was born of a virgin, that He lived His life without sin, that though He was man while on earth He never ceased to be God, that He died as the substitutionary payment for our sin, and that He restored us to fellowship with God. We believe that He was physically raised from the dead (1 Corinthians 15), and is now in the presence of God as our intercessor and High Priest. (John 1:1-14, Philippians 2:6-8, Genesis 3:15, Isaiah 7:14, Matthew 1:18-25, Luke 1:35, Ephesians 2:8, Acts 15:11, Romans 3:24-25, John 3:16, Matthew 8:11, Hebrews 2:14, Isaiah 53:4-12, 1 John 4:10, 1 Corinthians 15:3-4, 2 Corinthians 5:21, John 10:18, Galatians. 1:4, 1 Peter 2:24, 1 Peter 3:18, Hebrews 12:2;1 Corinthians 15:20, Hebrews 9:12-15, 7:25, 1 John 2:2, Matthew 28:6-7, Luke 24:39, 51, John 20:27, Acts 1:9-11, Mark 16:19, Revelation 3:21, Hebrews 8:6, 1 Timothy 2:5, 1 John 2:1, Hebrews 2:17)
4. The Holy Spirit: We believe that the Holy Spirit is a Divine Person, not merely a force; equal with God the Father and God the Son and possesses the same nature. He is responsible primarily to empower followers of Jesus to live every day for God and to convict of sin. (John 14:16-17, Matthew 28:19, Hebrews 9:14, John 14:26, Luke 1:35, Genesis 1:1, 2 Thessalonians 2:7-13, John 16:8-11, Acts 5:30-32, John 3:5, 6, Ephesians 1:13-14, Mark 1:8, John 1:33, Acts 11:16, Luke 14-49, John 16:13, 14:26, Romans 8: 14-16, 1 Peter 1:22, Romans 8:26-27, Romans 12, 1 Corinthians 12)
5. Satan: We believe in the reality of Satan (the Devil) and that he actively and aggressively works at destroying and hindering God’s work on earth. As a creation of God he must ultimately submit to God’s authority over him. His destiny is sure – eternity in the Lake of Fire. (Matthew 4:1-11, Mark 1:13, 2 Corinthians 4:44, Ephesians 2:2, Revelation 20:10, Isaiah 14, Ezekiel 28, Genesis 3, Job 1)
6. Creation: We believe God created the heavens and the earth, and they were good. Humans, God’s crowning act, were created in the image of God. Sin has alienated humanity from the Creator and creation, but God offers redemption and reconciliation through Jesus Christ. We believe in the Genesis account of creation as literal, true, accurate and scientific. (Genesis 1 & 2, Colossians 1:16-17, John 1:3, Genesis 1:27, 2:7)
7. Fall of Man: We believe that Adam was created sinless, but that he willfully chose to break God’s law, thereby bringing sin into the world. As a consequence, all mankind became law-breakers and stand guilty before God, deserving of punishment, and therefore have been sentenced to “death” (eternal separation from God). We believe sin is individual and corporate opposition to God’s good purposes and leads to physical and spiritual death. (Genesis 3:1-6, Romans 5:12, 19, 3:10-19; 1:18, 20, 32, Ephesians 2:1-3, Galatians 3:22)
8. New Birth: We believe God saves all people who put their faith in Jesus Christ. Through his obedient life, sacrificial death, and victorious resurrection, Christ delivers people from the tyranny of sin and death and redeems them for eternal life in the age to come. We believe that salvation (the only escape from our “death” sentence) is by grace through faith in Jesus Christ, and that it is available to all who believe in the substitutionary death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus, and who acknowledge Him alone as Lord and Saviour. (John 3:3-13, Galatians 3:26, Acts 16:31, 2 Corinthians 5:17-19, 1 John 5:1, 2 Peter 1:4, Romans 6:23, Ephesians 2:1, Colossians 2:13, Galatians 5:22, Ephesians 5:9)
9. Justification: We believe that upon salvation the believer is justified, such justification including: the pardoning of sin, the impartation of righteousness, the endowment of eternal life, and the status of a new creation. This justification is accomplished solely through faith in Jesus’ death; His righteousness is credited to us on His merits, not our own works. (Acts 13:39, Isaiah 53:11, Zechariah 13:1, Romans 8:1, 5:1,9, Titus 3:5-7, Romans 1:17, Habakkuk 2:4, Galatians 3:11, Romans 4:1-8, Hebrews 10:38)
10. Sanctification: We believe that sanctification is the process by which God gives to us His holiness. This is progressive work that begins at the new birth (salvation) and continues in our hearts by the work of the Holy Spirit in connection with Bible study, self-examination and repentance of sin, watchfulness and prayer – only to be completed upon the return of Christ! (1 Corinthians 6:11, 2 Peter 3:18, 1 Thessalonians 3:12, 1 John 3:2)
11. Discipleship: We believe that all believers should live in such a manner as to enhance their testimony as a witness for Christ, and to not bring reproach upon their Saviour and Lord. This life includes obedience to Scriptural principles of living. Jesus calls people who have experienced the new birth to follow Him in a costly life of service to God. The power of the Holy Spirit transforms believers from the unrighteous pattern of the present age into a life of joyful obedience with God’s people. (2 Timothy 3:1-5, Romans 12:1-2, 14:1-3, 1 John 2:15-17, 2 John 9-11, 2 Corinthians 6:14, 7:1)
12. Marriage, Singleness, and Family: We believe that singleness and marriage are honoured by God and should be blessed by the church. God instituted marriage as a lifelong covenant between a man and a woman for the purpose of companionship, encouragement, sexual intimacy, and procreation. Children are gifts from God and should be nurtured by parents in the ways of God. (Genesis 1:26-31; 2:18-24; 5:1-2; 12:1-3; Exodus 22:16-17; Leviticus 18:22; 20:13; Deuteronomy 6:4; 24:1-4; Psalm 127:3-5; Proverbs 31; Matthew 5:32; 10:34-39; 19:3-12; Romans 7:2-3; 14:12; 1 Corinthians 7:8-40; 2 Corinthians 6:14-15; Ephesians 5:21-6:4; 1 Timothy 3:1-13; 5:3-16; Hebrews 13:4; 1 Peter 3:1-7)
13. The Local Church: We believe that the local church is a caring group of born-again believers. The church is the covenant community called by God through Jesus Christ to live a life of discipleship and witness as empowered by the Holy Spirit. The local church gathers regularly for worship, fellowship, and accountability and to discern, develop, and exercise gifts for ministry. (Acts. 2:41-42, 1 Corinthians 11:2, Ephesians 1:22-23, Acts 20:17-18, 1 Timothy 3:1-7, Colossians 1:18, Ephesians 5:23, 1 Peter 3:21, Matthew 28:18-20)
14. Baptism: We believe God’s Word commands every believer, and only believers, to be baptized by the immersion of the believer in water. Baptism, while not necessary for salvation, is a beautiful outward symbol of our inward faith and public identification with the crucified Saviour who was buried and rose again. Baptism by water is a public sign that a person has repented of sin, received forgiveness, died with Christ, and been raised to new life through the power of the Holy Spirit. Baptism is also a public declaration of a believer’s incorporation into the body of Christ as expressed in the local church. (Romans 6:3-5, Colossians 2:12, Acts 8:36-39, John 3:23, Matthew 3:16, 1 Peter 3:21, Matthew 28:18-20)
15. Communion: We believe that the Lord’s Supper is the remembrance of His death until He comes, and that it should be observed by believers in recognition of His broken body and shed blood. We believe that in obedience to Christ, the church observes the Lord’s Supper as a remembrance of his atoning death and to celebrate forgiveness, new life, and the fellowship and unity of all believers. Communion must always be preceded by self -examination. It is not necessary for salvation. (1 Corinthians 11:23-28, Matthew 26:17-30)
16. Evangelism: We believe that it is the solemn obligation and privilege of all believers to do their utmost to carry out the Saviour’s command to give the gospel to the whole world. This is accomplished through verbalization of our beliefs, leading a life which exemplifies our beliefs, following the Holy Spirit’s leading, and supporting fellow believers’ evangelistic efforts through prayer, finances, and exhortation. (Ephesians 4:12, Mark 16:15, Acts 1:8, Matthew 28:19-20)
17. Christ’s Final Triumph: We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ will return triumphantly at the end of this age to destroy all evil powers, condemn all who have rejected Christ to eternal punishment, and unite believers with Christ to reign forever with God in glory. We believe that all those who have been truly born again will be resurrected at the rapture of the Church to eternal fellowship with the Lord; and that their works shall be rewarded at the judgement seat of Christ. (Malachi 3:18, Romans 6:17-18, Romans 5:1, 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, 1 Corinthians 15:42-44, 52, 2 Corinthians 5:10, 1 Corinthians 3:11-15, John 8:21, Matthew 7:13-14, John 5:28-29, Luke 16:25, Mark 9:32-48, Revelation 20:11-15)
