Daniel P. Barron

Statement of Faith

 

This is a mirror of "Statement of Faith" by Darwin Fish.

Unless otherwise stated, all articles on atruechurch.info are written by Darwin Fish and all Scripture quotations are from the NKJV.

For a pdf of the pamphlet that we pass out, click here.

Introduction

He who despises the word will be destroyed, but he who fears the commandment will be rewarded. i

We believe whatever the Holy Bible says. ii For how we do this, please see Our Hermeneutics and Judging. Scripture is our first and last and everything in between authority. The Word of God is our life and our salvation. iii By it He has given us eternal life, and our hope is in His Word. iv

If it can be shown from the Bible that we are wrong on something, we gladly, eagerly, and lovingly accept such correction. v

For the commandment is a lamp, and the law a light; reproofs of instruction are the way of life. vi

He who keeps instruction is in the way of life, but he who refuses correction goes astray. vii

31 The ear that hears the rebukes of life will abide among the wise.
32 He who disdains instruction despises his own soul, but he who heeds rebuke gets understanding.
33 The fear of the LORD is the instruction of wisdom, and before honor is humility. viii

And if anyone thinks that he knows anything, he knows nothing yet as he ought to know. ix

Most who "correct" us do so with their own opinion, which is worthless.

The LORD knows the thoughts of man, that they are futile. x

Or, people "correct" us with man's religious tradition, like Catholic, or Protestant, or otherwise, which is also worthless and damning. xi These things are not according to Christ, xii and so we have no ear for them. If we did, we would be rejecting God's Truth, and we flatly refuse to do so; xiii for that leads to nowhere but hell. xiv But, Scripture is "wholesome words" xv and makes a man "complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work." xvi If we are found in error before the Word, by the grace of God we will repent. xvii As it is written,

He who is of God hears God's words. xvii

Finally, this "Statement of Faith" is written so that you might know, in brief form, some of the particulars of what we believe, and that you too might believe His Word and be saved. Many claim to believe the Bible. Very very few actually do. And this is our first point.

I. Few

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. xviii

We believe the Bible predicts and warns about a massive false Christianity for the days in which we live. Matthew 7:13-27; 1 Timothy 4:1-3; 2 Timothy 3:1-5; 4:3-4; and 2 Peter 2:1-2 all warn of prevailing deceit within "Christianity." Catholicism, Protestantism, xix evangelicalism, and many other "isms" taking on the name of "Christ," well exemplify the deceit of this age. The entire world is deceived by Satan. xx Much of it is in the name of Christ. The result of this deception is illustrated in Jesus' words found in Luke 18:8:

Nevertheless, when the Son of the Man comes will He really find the faith upon the earth? xxi

Jesus' words depict things are going to be very bad! He questions if the faith will even be on the planet! In Noah's day, it was only eight people out of the entire population of the earth that were saved. xxii Jesus questioned whether there would be even one when He returns. xxiii

We have seen this despair graphically before our own eyes both theologically xxiv and practically. xxv The truth is not embraced and lies are, as it is written,

Satan, who deceives the whole world. xxvi

For examples of some of this deception, please see our false teachers page.

II. God

Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out! xxvii

"My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways," says the LORD. xxviii

Much of the deception comes via false teaching about God. The God of the Bible xxiv is not taught in churches today. xxix What is typically taught is a false God, a false Christ, and a false "Trinity." We expose the false Trinity in point "V. An Unholy Creed" in our article entitled "He Is Holy Gods" from a literal translation of Joshua 24:19. We expose the false Christs in various articles on false teachers. The real Christ, the God of the Bible, is as follows:

“Good and upright is the LORD.” xxx He loves everyone, xxxi for Jesus Is Love. xxxii Yet, He also hates everyone. xxxiii

Conversely, the false Jesus varies, but it is usually "another Jesus" xlviii that is not the Scripture Himself. xlix Typically, the false Jesus doesn't kill people, xxxiv doesn't hate people, l doesn't destine people to hell, xli doesn't create people to destroy them, xl doesn't prevent people from being saved, li doesn't cause people to sin, lii doesn't cause bad things to happen, liii doesn't deceive people, xxxvi didn't die for everyone, liv etc., or some combination thereof. Yet, the real Jesus is the Scriptures, lv has done and does all these things. lvi

But, the false "Jesus," typically taught, is also usually one that was not a human before John 1:14. Yet, the Jesus Christ of Scripture is, and always has been, God in the Flesh, lvii "slain from the foundation of the world." lviii He was virgin born twice, lix and everything was created by Him and for Him. lx

The false Christ is also typically a false way, a theological broad way that accepts those who preach false gospels, lxi like the false gospels of Calvinism and Arminianism. These gospels are different on five key points, yet "Christians" accept both kinds of "brothers in Christ." In contrast, the real Christ is the theological narrow Way lxii of "the Truth." He only accepts people in the faith who walk in Truth and "call on the Lord out of a pure heart." lxiii Those who don't are those of whom Scripture commands,

from such people turn away! lxiv

Furthermore, we believe Jesus, the one and only true God lxv of the Bible, is eternally perfect, lxvi and "He is Holy Gods" as Joshua explicitly stated in Joshua 24:19.

For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily. lxvii

For more on that, please see our article "He Is Holy Gods."

III. Miscellaneous Controversial Issues

  • We believe drinking alcohol in moderation is not wrong. lxxxv
  • We believe those who commit suicide go to hell. lxxxvi
  • We believe gambling is not wrong, but to gamble, because you are not content and want more, is sin. lxxxvii
  • We believe Scriputure does not condemn masturbation. Although it is typically done in wickedness, lxxxviii it can be done in godliness. lxxxix
  • We believe the Bible does not condemn slavery, xc even though it is illegal in the USA. xci
  • We believe smoking is not condemned in Scripture, but addiction is. xcii
  • We believe most debt is ungodly. xciii
  • We believe the Bible does not condemn polygamy, xciv even though it is illegal in the USA, xci which illustrates America's idea of what is moral or not is quite twisted. xcv
  • We believe there are fire breathing dragons called Leviathan. xcvi
  • We believe during the 1000 year reign of Christ on earth, xcvii God will bring back from the dead evil Levites of the past to serve in His temple. xcviii
  • We believe sexual intercourse during menstruation is an evil practice. xcix
  • We believe the answer to "eternal security" is both "yes" and "no." c

IV. Salvation

For since the beginning of the world men have not heard nor perceived by the ear, nor has the eye seen any God besides You, Who acts for the one who waits for Him. You meet him who rejoices and does righteousness, who remembers You in Your ways. You are indeed angry, for we have sinned - in these ways we continue; and we need to be saved. ci

Even though God has hated l and predestined the majority of mankind to hell, cii He nonetheless desires to have mercy on all people. ciii This is why He has confined all of mankind under sin. civ In other words, He has made everyone a sinner cv with a desperately wicked heart, cvi "that He might have mercy on all." xxxix

Everyone needs to be saved, cvii because God hates sinners. xxxiii He burns them in hell forever, cviii if they don't repent; cix even though they can't repent, unless He grants them repentance. cx Nevertheless, everyone is in need of God's mercy and is in great need of being saved from His wrath.

Thankfully, God is Love, cxi and as the above stands true, so does John 3:16:

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

The only begotten Son is Jesus Christ, who is the Word of God, the Bible, the Scriptures. cxii Therefore, only those who believe the Scriptures cxiii have eternal life, as Revelation 21:8 explicitly states,

"the unbelieving . . . shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone."

Anyone who does not believe what the Bible says, "does not believe God" and "has made Him a liar" cxiv and provokes His wrath. i For more on being saved, please see our article, "What Must I Do To Be Saved?" For our view of justification, please see our article entitled, "MacArthur on Justification and Sanctification." For our view of works, please see "Not By Works."

V. One Way

I have not written to you because you do not know the truth, but because you know it, and that no lie is of the truth. cxv

We believe there is only one way to Heaven and it is through faith in God's Word, the Truth. cxvi We believe there is only one true faith. cxvii All other faiths, called Christian or otherwise, are false and lead to nowhere but hell. All who are in the one true faith have the same teacher cxviii and believe the same things. They have the same theology, because they all truly believe whatever the Bible says. As Christ said in John 8:47,

He who is of God hears God's words. cxix

Jesus said His sheep hear His voice and follow Him. cxx They do not follow others. cxxi They follow the Truth. cxvi Therefore, everyone in this one way, this one faith, this true Christianity which is true Judaism, cxxii all believe the same. 1 John 4:6 puts it very succinctly:

We are of God. He who knows God hears us; he who is not of God does not hear us. By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error. cxxiii

For more on this theological unity, please see our articles entitled, "Unity of the Saints," "Marks of a Cult," and "You Think You're Saved, But You're Not!"

VI. Judgment

Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice and come forth - those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation. cxxiv

All mankind presently experiences death because of sin. cxxv After death, all men, whether saved or not saved, believer or unbeliever, will be judged by God based upon how they lived. God,

will render to each one according to his deeds: eternal life to those who by patient continuance in doing good seek for glory, honor, and immortality; but to those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness - indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguish, on every soul of man who does evil, of the Jew first and also of the Greek; but glory, honor, and peace to everyone who works what is good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. cxxvi

Those who know Christ cxxvii will be justified and given eternal life, because their sins will have been washed away by the blood of Christ, cxxviii and their lives will have been righteous. cxxix Those who do not know God will be condemned and sent to hell, because they will have been condemned already, cxxx and their deeds will have been wicked. cxxxi

VII. Spiritual Gifts

The gifts of the Holy Spirit were cxxxii given by God for the building up of the body of Christ. cxxxiii Some gifts in the past cxxxiv were of the nature of signs and wonders cxxxv and some were cxxxvi focused upon the mutual edification of the church. cxxxvii

The purpose of the signs and wonders gifts were to confirm the word of the apostles and those in the church cxxxviii that the things proclaimed about Christ were true. God, via the gifts of the Holy Spirit and the miraculous signs of the apostles, was bearing testimony to the proclamation of His Word about Christ. cxxxix As it is written,

how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him, God also bearing witness both with signs and wonders, with various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to His own will? cxl

Scripture gives no specific time for when these signs and wonders ceased existing. 1 Corinthians 13:8 does say "tongues will cease," but it does not say when tongues will cease. Yet, we see in the Scriptures a diminishing and ceasing role of these signs and wonders via the examples of Paul and James.

Paul had the God-given ability to do signs and wonders cxli and to be able to heal people. cxlii Yet, near the end of his life, he did not heal Timothy of his stomach ailments and frequent infirmities. Instead of instructing him to get healed, he told him to drink a little wine. cxliii Also, Paul left Trophimus sick in Miletus. cxliv Furthermore, when James writes to the "twelve tribes which are scattered abroad," he does not tell them to call the one with the gift of healing to heal the sick. Instead, he says,

Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the sick. cxlv

We believe God may still do the miraculous. cxlvi But, we do not believe He is still "confirming the word through the accompanying signs" cxlvii and "bearing witness both by signs and wonders, with various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit." cxlviii

There are many today who claim He is "confirming the Word through the accompanying signs, by signs and wonders, with various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit," but their claim is idle. When one honestly compares this claim with the infallible Word, there is no comparison. cxlix The signs and wonders of Christ and the apostles were undeniable works of God, cl and evident to all. cli Even their enemies could not deny their miraculous nature. clii But, such is not the case with those today who claim to be doing the same work.

Even if this was the case, in other words, even if they did perform "miracles" that were evident to all, we cliii living in the last days cliv should beware. Christ warned us in Matthew 7:22-23 that there would be many who will say,

Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?

These are false teachers who will be damned, because they are those "who practice lawlessness." clv He, likewise, warned that after the abomination of desolation is set up, clvi "false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, the elect." clvii

Actually, if a man clviii claims to be doing something great, clix from the warning above, such a claim and/or such an act should actually put the true believer on guard, like in Deuteronomy 13:1-4.

In any case, the message clx is to be tested according to the Word. clxi If their prophecy errs, we know on this alone they are false. clxii

Also, the Lord has let us know who will come in the future clxiii and of what kind of miracles they will perform. clxiv

VIII. The End

There is yet to occur on this earth a certain seven year period known as the last week of the seventy weeks in the prophecy of the book of Daniel. clxv The latter half of this seven years is a time of wrath and judgment from God, described in detail in Revelation chapters 6-19.

The Scriptures indicate that the Lord will return and remove those who are faithful to Him at the beginning of the time of wrath and judgment, clxvi which occurs immediately after the man of sin is revealed. clxvii During this time, clxviii that is, the great tribulation, God will send upon the unbelieving world a great deception unlike anything this world has ever known clxix through the means of the Devil himself. clxx Many will turn to Christ at this time, clxxi but the rest will be deceived and follow after the lie.

At the end of this period, the Lord Jesus Christ will come down from heaven and take complete control and rule over the entire world. clxxii He will set up His kingdom and reward those who were faithful to Him, and judge those who were not. clxxiii

After a thousand year reign on the earth, a rebellion will break out against Christ, the then ruling King, but the rebels will not prevail. clxxiv After this, the Lord will burn up the entire universe clxxv and execute a final judgment on mankind. clxxvi

He will then make a new universe and a new earth clxxvii where righteousness and holiness reigns, and all those of all the ages who walked with God will forever enjoy His presence and blessing. clxxviii

a true church, P. O. Box 130, Moodys, OK 74444

atruechurch.info 1-800-HOW-TRUE

For more, see also "Where Do We Stand?" and "Things The Bible Teaches."

  1. Proverbs 13:13 ^ ^
  2. all 66 books, Genesis to Revelation ^
  3. Matthew 4:4; John 1:1; 14:6; James 1:21 ^
  4. Psalm 119:49-50 ^
  5. Proverbs 12:1 ^
  6. Proverbs 6:23 ^
  7. Proverbs 10:17 ^
  8. Proverbs 15:31-33 ^
  9. 1 Corinthians 8:2 ^
  10. Psalm 94:11 ^
  11. Matthew 15:8-9; Colossians 2:8 ^
  12. the Word ^
  13. Psalm 119:93 ^
  14. Hebrews 4:12-13; Revelation 21:8 "unbelieving" ^
  15. 1 Timothy 6:3 ^
  16. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 ^
  17. John 8:47 ^ ^
  18. 2 Timothy 4:3-4 ^
  19. which is reformed, whitewashed Catholicism ^
  20. Revelation 12:9 ^
  21. Luke 18:8b, a more literal translation of, πλὴν ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ ἀνθρώπου ἐλθὼν ἆρα εὑρήσει τὴν πίστιν ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς; ^
  22. 1 Peter 3:20 ^
  23. Luke 18:8 ^
  24. see below ^ ^
  25. see our videos ^
  26. Revelation 12:9; see also 1 John 5:19 ^
  27. Romans 11:33 ^
  28. Isaiah 55:8 ^
  29. none that we know of ^
  30. Psalm 25:8 ^
  31. John 3:16 ^
  32. 1 John 4:8, 16 ^
  33. Psalm 5:5-6; 11:5 ^ ^
  34. Revelation 2:23 ^ ^
  35. Deuteronomy 32:39; Romans 11:36 ^
  36. Ezekiel 14:9 KJV ^ ^
  37. Proverbs 12:15; 21:2 ^
  38. 2 Samuel 12:11-12; Romans 11:36 ^
  39. Romans 11:32 ^ ^
  40. Proverbs 16:4 ^ ^
  41. Romans 9:11-22 ^ ^
  42. Mark 4:10-12; John 12:37-41 ^
  43. John 3:17 ^
  44. Romans 11:36 ^
  45. Proverbs 20:24; Jeremiah 10:23 ^
  46. Romans 5:9-10 ^
  47. Job 28:28 ^
  48. 2 Corinthians 11:4 ^
  49. John 1:1 ^
  50. Romans 9:13 ^ ^
  51. Mark 4:10-12 ^
  52. 2 Samuel 12:11-12 ^
  53. Isaiah 45:7 KJV ^
  54. Hebrews 2:9 ^
  55. Revelation 19:13 ^
  56. and more, Romans 11:36 ^
  57. Hebrews 13:8; Colossians 2:9 ^
  58. Revelation 13:8 ^
  59. Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:23 ^
  60. Colossians 1:16 ^
  61. unlike Paul, Galatians 1:8-9 ^
  62. Matthew 7:13-27; John 14:6 "I am the Way." ^
  63. 2 Timothy 2:22; Psalm 24:4; Luke 14:26-33; etc. ^
  64. 2 Timothy 3:5 ^
  65. John 17:3; Colossians 2:9 ^
  66. Psalm 90:2; Matthew 5:48 ^
  67. Colossian 2:9 ^
  68. Galatians 1:3 ^
  69. Genesis 1:26 ^
  70. Genesis 14:18-20; Hebrews 7:1-4 ^
  71. Hebrews 7:3 ^
  72. 1 Timothy 6:16 ^
  73. Hebrews 7:2 ^
  74. both fruit of the Spirit, Galatians 5:22-23; Ephesians 5:9 ^
  75. God ^ ^
  76. 1 Corinthians 1:30 ^
  77. Isaiah 9:6 ^
  78. John 4:24 ^
  79. Ephesians 4:4 ^
  80. 2 Corinthians 3:17 ^
  81. Revelation 1:4 ^
  82. Psalm 48:12-14 ^
  83. Revelation 16:17; Luke 15:18; Matthew 6:33 ^
  84. Zechariah 1:8-17 ^
  85. Deuteronomy 14:26; Psalm 104:15; John 2 ^
  86. John 15:1-6 ^
  87. Hebrews 13:5 ^
  88. Matthew 15:19 "evil thoughts" ^
  89. Titus 1:15 ^
  90. 1 Timothy 6:1-5 ^
  91. Romans 13:1 ^ ^
  92. 1 Corinthians 6:12; Galatians 5:22-23 ^
  93. Romans 13:8 ^
  94. Genesis 16:1-3 ^
  95. Isaiah 5:20 ^
  96. Job 41 ^
  97. Revelation 20 ^
  98. Ezekiel 44:10-14 ^
  99. Leviticus 18:19-30 ^
  100. Romans 8:31-39; 11:19-22 ^
  101. Isaiah 64:4-5 ^
  102. Matthew 7:13-14; Romans 9:6-23 ^
  103. 1 Timothy 2:4 ^
  104. Romans 11:32; Galatians 3:22 ^
  105. Romans 5:19; 11:36 ^
  106. Jeremiah 17:9 ^
  107. Isaiah 64:5 ^
  108. Revelation 21:8 ^
  109. Luke 16:19-31; Acts 17:30 ^
  110. 2 Timothy 2:25; Romans 9:16-18; 11:36 ^
  111. 1 John 4:16 ^
  112. John 1:1, 14; Hebrews 4:12-13; Revelation 19:13 ^
  113. "believes in Him" ^
  114. 1 John 5:10 ^
  115. 1 John 2:21 ^
  116. John 14:6 ^ ^
  117. Ephesians 4:5 ^
  118. 1 John 2:27 ^
  119. see also 1 Timothy 6:3-5 ^
  120. John 10:27 ^
  121. John 10:5 ^
  122. Romans 2:28-29; Galatians 3:7 ^
  123. For a detailed discussion on 1 John 4:6, see our blog of August 15, 2010 and following. ^
  124. John 5:28-29 ^
  125. Romans 6:23 ^
  126. Romans 2:6-10; see also Matthew 12:36-37; 25:31-46; John 5:28-29; 2 Corinthians 5:10; Galatians 6:7-8; 1 Peter 1:17 ^
  127. 1 John 2:3-5 ^
  128. 1 John 1:7 ^
  129. Matthew 25:31-46; 1 John 3:5-10 ^
  130. John 3:18 ^
  131. John 3:19-20; Revelation 21:8 ^
  132. and still are ^
  133. Romans 12:6; 1 Corinthians 12:7, 11 ^
  134. during the days of the apostles ^
  135. Acts 2:1-43 ^
  136. are ^
  137. Romans 12:6-8 ^
  138. during those first years of the church ^
  139. Mark 16:17-20; Acts 14:3 ^
  140. Hebrews 2:3-4 ^
  141. Acts 19:12; Romans 15:19; 2 Corinthians 12:12 ^
  142. Acts 28:8-9 ^
  143. 1 Timothy 5:23 ^
  144. 2 Timothy 4:20 ^
  145. James 5:14-15 ^
  146. Jeremiah 32:27 ^
  147. Mark 16:20 ^
  148. Hebrews 2:4 ^
  149. see the four gospels and Acts ^
  150. miraculous ^
  151. i.e., recognized to be true miracles by the masses ^
  152. e.g. Luke 23:35; John 11:47; Acts 4:16 ^
  153. believers ^
  154. 2 Timothy 3 and 4 ^
  155. i.e., they are evil, similar to Matthew 23:27-28 ^
  156. Matthew 24:15 ^
  157. Matthew 24:24 ^
  158. or men ^
  159. miraculous like what Christ and the apostles were doing ^
  160. i.e. doctrine ^
  161. 1 Thessalonians 5:21 ^
  162. Deuteronomy 18:20-22 ^
  163. in truth ^
  164. see Revelation 11 ^
  165. Daniel 9:24-27 ^
  166. 1 Thessalonians 4:13-5:3; Luke 21:34-36; Revelation 3:10 ^
  167. Daniel 9:27; 2 Thessalonians 2:1-4; Matthew 24:15-44 ^
  168. Matthew 24:15-21 ^
  169. 2 Thessalonians 2:1-12 ^
  170. Revelation 13 ^
  171. Revelation 7:9-17 ^
  172. Matthew 24:29-31; Revelation 19:11-20:6 ^
  173. Matthew 25:31-46 ^
  174. Revelation 20:7-10 ^
  175. 2 Peter 3:7,10 ^
  176. Revelation 20:11-15; 21:1 ^
  177. in perfection ^
  178. Psalm 16:11; 2 Peter 3:13; Revelation 21, 22 ^

5 Responses

  1. I do not think you know what Christology means. « Daniel P. Barron
    Tuesday, January 29, 2019

    [...] "I looked at the articles you sent me. They told me nothing." [...]

  3. Have we not done many wonders in Your name? « Daniel P. Barron
    Friday, May 22, 2020

    [...] "We believe God may still do the miraculous. But, we do not believe He is still 'confirming the word through the accompanying signs' and 'bearing witness both by signs and wonders, with various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit.'

    There are many today who claim He is 'confirming the Word through the accompanying signs, by signs and wonders, with various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit,' but their claim is idle. When one honestly compares this claim with the infallible Word, there is no comparison." [...]

  4. Anonymous
    Monday, April 5, 2021

    The bible is riddled with contradictions

  5. Daniel
    Monday, April 5, 2021

    Proverbs 26:

    4 Do not answer a fool according to his folly,
    Lest you also be like him.
    5 Answer a fool according to his folly,
    Lest he be wise in his own eyes.

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