arC Ministries
Statement of Faith

ISSUE #1: GOD
(Genesis 1:1; Exodus 15:17-18; Nehemiah 9:6; Isaiah 40:22; Isaiah 48:16; Psalm 8:1-9; Matthew 3:16-17; John 1:1-3,14; Acts 17:22-31; Romans 1:20-25; 2 Corinthians 13:14; Ephesians 2:18; Ephesians 4:4-6; Colossians 1:16-18; Colossians 2:9; 1 Timothy 2:5; 1 John 5:7; Revelation 4:11; et cetera)

We believe in one Creator God who exists in three coequal and coeternal Persons—God the Father, God the Son (Jesus Christ), and God the Holy Ghost. Commonly called the “Trinity,” the Scriptural name is the “Godhead.” The God of the Bible, the God of Christianity, JEHOVAH God, is separate and distinct from the gods and goddesses of the world religions. He created the heavens and the earth as a place in which He will dwell. God is wise, holy, gracious, merciful, longsuffering, all-knowing (omniscient), all-powerful (omnipotent), and worthy of our trust, praise, and worship. Jesus Christ is the one Mediator between the Godhead and mankind.

ISSUE #2: THE HOLY BIBLE
(Deuteronomy 17:18-20; 2 Samuel 23:2; Psalm 12:6-7; Psalm 119:89,130; Psalm 138:2; Isaiah 29:18; Isaiah 30:8; Matthew 4:4; Matthew 24:35; Mark 13:31; Luke 4:16-21; Luke 21:33; Acts 13:27; Acts 15:21; Ephesians 3:4; Colossians 4:16; 1 Thessalonians 5:27; 2 Timothy 2:15-18; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 2:19-21; et cetera)

We believe in the divine inspiration of the Holy Scriptures and their divine preservation in the form of the King James Bible (commonly known as the Authorized Version, it is the Protestant Text of the Reformation). While no original autographs exist today, the Bible itself states that God uses a multiplicity of copies to perfectly preserve that text forever. The majority of extant manuscripts and other ancient witnesses support the readings found in the King James Bible. Thus, it is our final authority in all matters. We do not correct God’s Word; rather, we let God’s Word correct us. The 66 books of its completed canon teach us all we need to know about everything God wants us to know and do. Hence, we do not look for divine revelation or enlightenment in religious tradition, circumstances, angelic visitations, inner impressions, dreams and visions, et cetera. Any extra-biblical (outside Scripture) revelation from God ceased when the transitional period of the book of Acts ended in the first century A.D. (1 Corinthians 13:8-13). We believe it necessary to use the Bible according to the divine principle of “rightly dividing the word of truth,” making the distinctions that God Himself has made in His Word. Dispensational Bible study is the only way to understand and enjoy the Bible as the Holy Spirit guides us in daily reading and studying it.

ISSUE #3: SIN & SALVATION
(Psalm 51:5; Isaiah 64:6; Romans 3:10-28; Romans 4:1-8; Romans 5:1-21; 1 Corinthians 1:30-31; Galatians 2:16-21; Galatians 5:1-5; Ephesians 1:12-14; Ephesians 2:1-9; Ephesians 4:32; Colossians 1:12-14; Colossians 2:13; 1 Timothy 4:10; 2 Timothy 1:12; Titus 3:4-7; Hebrews 7:25-27; Hebrews 9:26; et cetera)

We believe that each person is corrupt from the moment of conception, tainted by a sin nature that produces sinful thoughts and actions, and alienated from the life of the Creator God. Hence, the Lord Jesus Christ came to die for our sins, to shed to His sinless blood to pay for our sins, to be buried to put away our sins, and to be raised again for us to walk in newness of life and righteousness. This is “the Gospel of the Grace of God” (Acts 20:24), or “Paul’s Gospel” (Romans 2:16; Romans 16:25; 2 Timothy 2:8). By grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone, we are forgiven of all our sins, made righteous in God’s sight, and destined for heaven. There is no salvation unto eternal life in a “sinner’s prayer,” repentance, self-reformation, confession, almsgiving, baptismal ceremony, commandment-keeping, et cetera. We believe that Christians are called unto good works, to have lives filled with the fruits of righteousness by Jesus Christ, but good works play absolutely no role in saving us from hell and giving us a right standing before God. We are fully secure in Jesus Christ forever because of His faithfulness at Calvary and not our faithfulness.

ISSUE #4: THE CHURCH THE BODY OF CHRIST
(Romans 11:11-13; 25-29; Romans 16:25-26; 1 Corinthians 2:6-8; 1 Corinthians 12:12-27; 1 Corinthians 14:37-38; Ephesians 1:20-23; Ephesians 2:11-22; Ephesians 3:1-11; Colossians 1:24-29; 1 Timothy 1:15-16; Titus 1:1-3; et cetera)

We believe that we are part of a program—“the Dispensation of the Grace of God” (Ephesians 3:2)—and a group of people—“the Church the Body of Christ” (Ephesians 1:22-23)—that God kept secret in Himself since the world began but has now made them manifest through the Apostle Paul’s ministry and epistles. This mystery (or secret) body of believers is composed of all Jews and Gentiles who have simply trusted the Lord Jesus Christ and Him alone for forgiveness of sins and eternal life. We believe that we are separate and distinct from the nation Israel. We have not replaced Israel and we have not been grafted into Israel. As Israel is God’s earthly people, we are God’s heavenly people. We do not find ourselves in Jesus Christ’s earthly ministry (Matthew through John) or the early Acts period (including Acts chapter 2). We find ourselves in Christ’s heavenly ministry—Paul’s epistles. We believe that the Church the Body of Christ began with the salvation of Saul of Tarsus (Apostle Paul) on the road to Damascus in Acts chapter 9. Thus, while we read and study all 66 books of the Bible, Paul’s epistles, Romans through Philemon, are written directly to and about us. We believe that the Church the Body of Christ, and our Dispensation of Grace, will end at the Rapture, when no one else wants to trust the Lord Jesus Christ as their personal Saviour. Whenever possible, we fellowship with like-minded (grace) believers around our identity in Jesus Christ. The Lord’s Supper—not a religious snack but a Scriptural meal—exemplifies our oneness in Christ (1 Corinthians 11:23-34).

ISSUE #5: CHRISTIAN LIVING
(Romans 6:1-23; Romans 8:1-39; Romans 12:1-21; Romans 14:10-12; Romans 15:4; 1 Corinthians 10:13; 2 Corinthians 4:16-18; 2 Corinthians 5:1-11; 2 Corinthians 12:7-10; Galatians 5:13-26; Ephesians 2:10; Philippians 1:9-11; Philippians 4:11-13; Colossians 3:1–4:6; 1 Thessalonians 2:13; 1 Thessalonians 4:1-12; 1 Thessalonians 5:23; Titus 2:11-15; 2 Timothy 2:19-26; 2 Timothy 3:15-17; Titus 3:8; et cetera)

We believe that all of the Bible is for us, but not all of the Bible is to us or about us. In Paul’s epistles alone, Romans through Philemon, we find our identity, position, doctrine, duty, walk, and destiny as members of the Church the Body of Christ. Paul is “the apostle of the Gentiles” (Romans 11:13). For this reason, we do not hold to water baptism, tithing (forced giving), confession, Law-keeping, Sabbath-day observance, and so on. Victorious Christian living is not found in obeying the demands and precepts of the Mosaic Law system, but by learning and trusting the grace principles found in the Bible books of Romans through Philemon. Our one baptism occurs when the Holy Spirit baptizes us into the Body of Christ at the moment of justification (Ephesians 4:5; 1 Corinthians 12:13). Grace living is the believer’s prayerful dependence upon God’s grace to accomplish His work because He is already pleased with us in Christ, not us straining and striving to please Him. It is the Holy Spirit’s goal to work in and through us, that our lives continue to be conformed to the life of Jesus Christ. We are not saved by our good works but we have been saved unto good works. No matter what our circumstances, good or bad, God’s grace has equipped us to handle all of life’s joys and pains for His glory. Our ultimate hope as Christians in this the Dispensation of the Grace of God, is to be rewarded at the Judgment Seat of Christ, and to serve in eternity in the heavenly places for the Lord Jesus Christ’s glory.

ISSUE #6: THE NATION ISRAEL
(Romans 9:1-33; Romans 10:1-21; Romans 11:1-36; et cetera)

We believe that God has another group of believers in His Word besides us the Church the Body of Christ. That entity is the nation Israel, the literal and physical descendants of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Jacob’s 12 sons. While Israel is currently fallen before God and spiritually blinded, this is only temporary, until He finishes forming the Body of Christ. The nation Israel is (and will be) the recipient of the Abrahamic Covenant (Genesis 12:1-3), the Palestinian Covenant (Genesis 15:17-21), the David Covenant (2 Samuel 7:12-16), and the New Covenant (Jeremiah 31:31-34; Hebrews 8:8-13), among other things (Romans 9:4-5).

ISSUE #7: ESCHATOLOGY / END TIMES
(Deuteronomy 32; Isaiah 11; Daniel 9:24-27; the entire books of Hebrews, the Revelation, Ezekiel, Daniel, Isaiah, Jeremiah, as well as many other portions of Scripture too numerous to cite here)

We believe in a pre-millennial timeline of eschatological events. That is, the Church the Body of Christ has absolutely no role in prophecy. Therefore, it will be caught up into heaven at the Rapture before the seven-year Tribulation begins (Romans 5:9; 1 Corinthians 15:51-55; 1 Thessalonians 1:10; 1 Thessalonians 4:13–5:9; 2 Thessalonians 2:1-17). After those seven years of divine wrath elapse, Jesus Christ will return to Earth to conclude the Antichrist’s reign and defeat Satan. God’s literal, physical, visible, earthly kingdom will be established through redeemed Israel (see Issue #6 above). We believe in a literal re-gathering and restoration of all 12 tribes of Israel. All of the saints of Israel’s program will be bodily resurrected to enter that 1000-year (transitional Millennium) earthly kingdom, which will ultimately give way to the eternal New Heaven and New Earth.

ISSUE #8: SATAN & HIS POLICY OF EVIL
(Isaiah 14:12-14; Ezekiel 28:11-19; Matthew 4:8-10; Mark 9:42-50; 2 Corinthians 2:11; 2 Corinthians 11:13-15; Ephesians 2:1-3; 1 Thessalonians 2:18; 2 Thessalonians 1:8-9; 2 Thessalonians 2:2; 1 Timothy 4:1-3; 2 Timothy 2:26; 2 Timothy 3:1-9; 1 Peter 5:8-9; 2 Peter 2:1-3; Revelation 14:9-11; Revelation 20:11-15; Revelation 21:8; et cetera)

We believe in a literal, personal, chief evil spirit called Satan, or the Devil. This individual operates very covertly in numerous forms and avenues, especially in lost people and in churches—religious works, false Bible manuscripts and their modern Bible translations, most Bible colleges and seminaries, Earth’s governments, Heaven’s governments, and so on. The Lord Jesus Christ, upon His return to Earth, will abolish the Adversary’s works and punish him in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone. Those who die without Jesus Christ will experience the same fate as that of their spiritual father—everlasting damnation in eternal hellfire. The lost dead will be resurrected to stand before the Great White Throne Judgment to be judged, that they be consigned to the eternal lake of fire.

ISSUE #9: THE MINISTRY OF THE LOCAL CHURCH
(2 Corinthians 5:14-21; Philippians 1:27; Philippians 2:1-16; Colossians 1:28-29; 1 Thessalonians 1:3-10; 1 Timothy & 2 Timothy; Titus; Philemon; 1 Timothy 4:16; 2 Timothy 2:2,24-26; 2 Timothy 4:1-5; et cetera)

We are a local group of grace believers who share God’s will in having all people saved and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. It is our hope and desire to achieve these two goals through participation in a variety of ministry projects—home Bible studies, collegiate outreach, nursing-home visits, conferences, online websites and blogs (full-length Bible study articles, daily devotionals, and Bible Q&A articles, YouTube videos, and Tweets), a grace study Bible project, printed material, disc media, and the like. We want all lost people to be saved from hellfire by trusting alone in Jesus Christ’s finished crosswork, and we want all Christians to learn how to use the Bible dispensationally and be delivered from denominational bondage and religious confusion. Praise our Lord Jesus Christ!

Last Updated 01/2016