Shepherds
The most important truth of all truth is the gospel, the gospel matters most. It is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believes. If you're just stopping by for a visit to Shepherd's Stream, please before you go, read the gospel of the blessed God, the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, it is the gospel of grace. It is the gospel of salvation.
Being a Christian is more than identifying yourself with a particular religion or affirming a certain value system. Being a Christian means you have embraced what the Bible says about God, mankind, and salvation. Consider the following truths found in the Bible.
God Is Sovereign Creator-Contemporary thinking says man is the product of evolution. But the Bible says we were created by a personal God to love, serve, and enjoy endless fellowship with Him. The New Testament reveals it was Jesus Himself who created everything (John 1:3 Colossians 1:16 ). Therefore, He also owns and rules everything (Psalm 103:19 ). That means He has authority over our lives and we owe Him absolute allegiance, obedience, and worship.
God Is Holy-God is absolutely and perfectly holy (Isaiah 6:3 ); therefore He cannot commit or approve of evil (Jas 1:13 ). God requires holiness of us as well. 1 Peter 1:16 says, You shall be holy, for I am holy.
Mankind Is Sinful-According to Scripture, everyone is guilty of sin: There is no man who does not sin (1 Kings 8:46 ). That doesn't mean we're incapable of performing acts of human kindness. But we're utterly incapable of understanding, loving, or pleasing God on our own (Romans 3:10-12 ).
Sin Demands a Penalty-God's holiness and justice demand that all sin be punished by death (Ezekiel 18:4 ). That's why simply changing our patterns of behavior can't solve our sin problem or eliminate its consequences.
Jesus Is Lord and Savior-Romans 10:9 says, if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved. Even though God's justice demands death for sin, His love has provided a Savior who paid the penalty and died for sinners (1 Peter 3:18 ). Christ's death satisfied the demands of God's justice, and Christ's perfect life satisfied the demands of God's holiness (2 Corinthians 5:21 ), thereby enabling Him to forgive and save those who place their faith in Him (Romans 3:26 ).
The Character of Saving Faith-True faith is always accompanied by repentance from sin. Repentance is agreeing with God that you are sinful, confessing your sins to Him, and making a conscious choice to turn from sin (Luke 13:3-5 1 Thessalonians 1:9 ), pursue Christ (Matthew 11:28-30 John 17:3 ), and obey Him (1 Jhn 2:3 ). It isn't enough to believe certain facts about Christ. Even Satan and his demons believe in the true God (Jas 2:19 ), but they don't love and obey Him. True saving faith always responds in obedience (Ephesians 2:10 ).
The Church-The Bible tells us all who place their faith in Jesus Christ are immediately placed by the Holy Spirit into one united spiritual Body, the church (1 Corinthians 12:12-13 ), the bride of Christ (2 Corinthians 11:2 Ephesians 5:23-32 Revelation 19:7-8 ), of which Christ is the Head (Ephesians 1:22 4:15 Colossians 1:18 ). We believe that the formation of the church, the Body of Christ, began on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2:1-21 ) and will be completed at the coming of Christ for His own at the rapture (1 Corinthians 15:51-52 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 ). The church is thus a unique spiritual organism designed by Christ, made up of all born-again believers in this present age (Ephesians 2:11 3:6 ). The church is distinct from Israel (1 Corinthians 10:32 ), a mystery not revealed until this age (Ephesians 3:1-6 5:32 ).
The establishment and continuity of local churches is clearly taught and defined in the New Testament Scriptures (Acts 14:23-27 20:17-28 Galatians 1:2 Philippians 1:1 1 Thessalonians 1:1 2 Thessalonians 1:1 ) and that the members of the one spiritual body are directed to associate themselves together in local assemblies (1 Corinthians 11:18-20 Hebrews 10:25 ).
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The five Solas of the Reformation represent the fundamental doctrines that are non-negotiable.
Sola Gratia: That it is by the decrees of God and His good pleasure alone that some men are saved through the Salvation wrought in Christ, for the manifestation of His glory. These men are ordained to eternal life through Jesus Christ, to the praise of His glorious grace; others being left to act in their sin to their just condemnation, to the praise of His glorious justice. 1 Tim 5:21 Matt 25:34 Eph 1:5-6 Rom 9:22-23 Jud 1:4 ). Those of mankind that are saved, God, before the foundation of the world was laid, according to His eternal and immutable purpose, and the secret counsel and good pleasure of His will, has chosen in Christ to everlasting glory, out of His mere free grace and love, without any other thing in the creature as a condition or cause moving Him to that end. Eph 1:4 , Eph 9 , Eph 1:1 Rom 8:30 2 Tim 1:9 1 Thess 5:9 Rom 9:13-16 Eph 2:5-12 .
Sola scriptura: That Scripture alone (the 39 books of the OT and the 27 books of the NT) is the sole rule and standard for faith and practice before God. (Luke 16:29-31 Luke 24:27 , Luke 24:44 2 Tim 3:15-16 John 5:46-47 ) It teaches the Bible alone is the only authority for the elect-redeemed church of Jesus Christ. The supreme judge by which all controversies of religion are to be determined, and all decrees of councils, opinions of ancient writers, doctrines of men, and private spirits, are to be examined, and in whose sentence we are to rest, can be no other but the Holy Spirit speaking in the Scripture (WCF 1.10 and 1689 Confession 1.10; Acts 15:15 John 5:46 2 Peter 1:19-21 Matt 22:29-32 Acts 28:23-25 Eph 2:20 1 Jhn 4:1-6 2 Peter 1:19-20 2 Tim 3:16 1 Jhn 5:9 1 Thess 2:13 Rev 1:1-2 ).
Solus Christus: That Jesus Christ is the only mediator between God and man. (Isa 42:1 1 Peter 1:19-20 Acts 3:22 Heb 5:5-6 Psa 2:6 Luke 1:33 Eph 1:22-23 Heb 1:2 Acts 17:31 Isa 53:10 John 17:6 Rom 8:30 .) It is not through his own works or on his own merit, that one is saved. Jesus Christ alone is the only Savior of the World, and His work imputed to those men elected from the foundation of the world, and the means alone by which any man may be saved. (Psa 40:7-8 Heb 10:5-10 John 10:18 Gal 4:4 Matt 3:15 Gal 3:13 Isa 53:6 1 Peter 3:18 1 Cor 5:21 Matt 26:37-38 Luke 22:44 Matt 27:46 Acts 13:37 1 Cor 15:3-4 John 20:25-27 Mark 16:19 Acts 1:9-11 Rom 8:34 Heb 9:24 Acts 10:42 Rom 14:9-10 Acts 1:11 2 Peter 2:4 .) To all those for whom Christ obtained eternal redemption, He effectually applies and communicates that work to them by His Holy Spirit. He also makes intercession for them uniting them to Himself by His Spirit, revealing to them, in and by the Word, the mystery of salvation, and persuades them to believe and obey the Gospel. (John 6:37 John 10:15-16 John 17:9 Rom 5:10 John 17:6 Eph 1:9 1 Jhn 5:20 Rom 8:9-14 Psa 110:1 1 Cor 15:25-26 John 3:8 Eph 1:8 ).
Sola Fide : That grace of faith where people are enabled to believe to the saving of their souls, is the work of the Spirit of Christ in their hearts, and is ordinarily worked by the ministry of the preached Word; by which also, and by the administration of baptism and the Lord’s Supper, prayer, and other means appointed of God, it is increased and strengthened. (2 Cor 4:13 Eph 2:8 Rom 10:14-17 Luke 17:5 1 Peter 2:2 Acts 20:32 ) Salvation by faith alone shows the Biblical model of the need for a renewed heart which has the ability to exercise the faith that God gives men in order to believe the Gospel message. (Rom 5:6 Rom 8:7 Eph 2:1-5 Titus 3:3-5 John 6:44 Col 1:13 John 8:36 Phil 2:13 Rom 7:15-19 Rom 7:21-23 )
Soli Deo gloria: Knowing that Man’s chief and highest end is to glorify God, and fully to enjoy him forever, the Reformers stressed this vital element of accomplishing “all things for God’s Glory” since they knew that God decrees all things as a means whereby He may pursue His glory to the uttermost. (Rom 11:36 1 Cor 10:31 Psa 73:24-28 ) God is actively pursuing His own glory, and this active pursuit is seen in His decrees. The subsequent “Solas” are simply one means to that ultimate end. However, keeping this central doctrine upon the mind of the Christian believer is a most important aspect of daily Christian living. Everything the Christian achieves ought to be primarily for the glory of God alone. This “Sola” stressed God’s complete sovereignty over every aspect of the created order, as well of every aspect of salvation (Psa 145:17 Psa 104:24 Isa 28:29 Heb 1:8 Psa 103:19 Matt 10:29-31 Gen 45:7 Rom 11:6 Isa 43:14 ).
