A Brief History of Our Church
Evendale Bible Church began as a group of believers who met in a home on December 2, 1977, to seek the Lord’s direction about the possibility of forming a church. On December 11, 1977 Evendale Bible Church officially began with 30 charter members. The services were held in homes until something better could be found.
In need of a building, the church looked into using the former Good’s Store building in Richfield as a meeting place. Renovations were begun in October of 1978 to accommodate the needs of the church. Services were first able to be held there in December of 1978.
With a desire for a more permanent structure, God provided a piece of ground in the summer of 1980 through a donation of land in Sand Valley. Six weeks of prayer was begun in August seeking the Lord for $8,000 in pledges before building. In less than four weeks the money was pledged, so building could begin. A commitment was made to build only as the Lord provided the funds. Ground was broken in April of 1981. Construction continued from 1982 through 1984 with the labor being provided by the members of the church. On July 1, 1984 the first Sunday Praise Service was held in the newly finished church basement.
Leon Clayberger pastored the new church with his wife Sharon until May 1985. Neil Skjoldol served as a summer supply pastor from 1986-1988 while the elders led the congregation and provided the speaking for the services until a new pastor was found.
On May 24, 1987 the church was finished and the new sanctuary was able to be utilized. The congregation rejoiced that God had enabled them to complete the project debt-free. On January 22, 1989, the present pastor, James Beck and his wife Melissa began their ministry at the church. During these subsequent years God has raised up and sent out six couples from the church to serve in fulltime mission work around the globe.
Through the years the church has hosted ladies’ retreats, church camping retreats, concerts, youth events, a weight-loss group, vacation Bible schools, Bible studies, outreach events, and other activities to spread the Gospel and encourage believers in their faith. Many things have changed, but the commitment to the Bible as God’s Word and salvation through trust in Jesus Christ alone have remained as firm as at the beginning.
In need of a building, the church looked into using the former Good’s Store building in Richfield as a meeting place. Renovations were begun in October of 1978 to accommodate the needs of the church. Services were first able to be held there in December of 1978.
With a desire for a more permanent structure, God provided a piece of ground in the summer of 1980 through a donation of land in Sand Valley. Six weeks of prayer was begun in August seeking the Lord for $8,000 in pledges before building. In less than four weeks the money was pledged, so building could begin. A commitment was made to build only as the Lord provided the funds. Ground was broken in April of 1981. Construction continued from 1982 through 1984 with the labor being provided by the members of the church. On July 1, 1984 the first Sunday Praise Service was held in the newly finished church basement.
Leon Clayberger pastored the new church with his wife Sharon until May 1985. Neil Skjoldol served as a summer supply pastor from 1986-1988 while the elders led the congregation and provided the speaking for the services until a new pastor was found.
On May 24, 1987 the church was finished and the new sanctuary was able to be utilized. The congregation rejoiced that God had enabled them to complete the project debt-free. On January 22, 1989, the present pastor, James Beck and his wife Melissa began their ministry at the church. During these subsequent years God has raised up and sent out six couples from the church to serve in fulltime mission work around the globe.
Through the years the church has hosted ladies’ retreats, church camping retreats, concerts, youth events, a weight-loss group, vacation Bible schools, Bible studies, outreach events, and other activities to spread the Gospel and encourage believers in their faith. Many things have changed, but the commitment to the Bible as God’s Word and salvation through trust in Jesus Christ alone have remained as firm as at the beginning.
What We Believe
The Scriptures
1. Written by men who were inspired by the Holy Spirit – 2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:20-21
2. Kept from error by the Holy Spirit in every word and in all parts in the original writings - Psalm 119:160; John 17:17
3. God’s eternal word – Psalm 119:89; 1 Peter 1:23, 25
4. God’s final revelation to guide all men- Psalm 119:105, 130
a. Salvation – Romans 10:13, 17
b. Christian growth – 1 Peter 2:2; 2 Peter 3:18; 2 Timothy 2:15
The Triune God
God exists eternally as the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. – Matthew 28:19; John 14:16, 26; John 15:26;
2 Corinthians 13:14. These three exist as one God. - Deuteronomy 6:4; Mark 12:29
1. God the Father
a. Active in creation - Genesis 1:1
b. Rewards in prayer - Matthew 6:6
c. Reveals truth - Matthew 16:17
2. God the Son
a. Conceived by the Holy Spirit - Matthew 1:18, 20
b. Born of a virgin - Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:23; Luke 1:27
c. Only begotten Son of God - John 3:16, 18
d. Is God and is equal with God-John 10:30; Philippians 2:6
e. Active in creation - Colossians 1:16-17
f. Came to redeem sinful men - Matthew 20:28; Luke 19:10
g. Died as the substitute for the sins of men - 2 Corinthians 5:21; Romans 3:24-25; 1 Peter 2:24
h. Is resurrected from the dead - Matthew 28:6-7; 1 Corinthians 15:3-4
i. Is our mediator and intercessor - 1 Timothy 2:5; Romans 8:34
j. Will return for His own - Acts 1:11; 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17
3. God the Holy Spirit
a. Equal with the Father and the Son – Matthew 28:19; John 14:16-17
b. Active in creation – Genesis 1:1-2
c. Present in salvation – John 3:5-6; Hebrews 9:14
d. Testifies of the believer’s salvation – Romans 8:16
e. Indwells the believer – John 14:16-17; 1 Corinthians 3:16; 1 Corinthians 6:19; 2 Corinthians 6:16
f. Causes the fruit of the spirit to be evidenced in the believer - Galatians 5:22-23
g. Teaches the believer - John 14:26; 16:13
h. Restrains the devil in the world - 2 Thessalonians 2:7
i. Convicts of sin, righteousness, and judgment - John 16:7-11
Creation
1. The Genesis account of creation is to be accepted literally. Genesis 1:1; Exodus 20:11
2. God made all things. John 1:3; Acts 17:24; Colossians 1:16-17
3. All forms of life reproduce after their own kind (vegetable, animal, and human life), not by an evolutionary process. Genesis 1:11-31
4. All forms of creation are final and are not being continued by any evolutionary process. Genesis 2:1-2
Man
1. Creation
a. Made in the image of God – Genesis 1:26-27; 2:7; 5:1-2; Colossians 3:10; 1 Corinthians 11:7
b. Made male and female – Genesis 1:27; 2:21-22; Matthew 19:4
c. Made in a state of innocence – Genesis 2:15-17; 3:1-6
2. Fall
a. Man fell from his sinless and innocent state by voluntary action. Romans 5:12,19
b. All mankind are sinners by choice and are all descendants of Adam. Acts 17:26; Romans 3:10-12, 23; Isaiah 53:6; Ephesians 2:1
c. Mankind is under condemnation without defense and excuse. Romans 1:20, 32; Galatians 3:22
d. Without Christ, mankind is doomed to everlasting punishment as a result of sin. Matthew 25:41, 46. The place of eternal punishment is the lake of fire and brimstone. Revelation 20:11-15.
Salvation
1. By faith in Christ (not by feeling, nor by experience) – Luke 7:48, 50; Romans 3:28; 5:1-2; Romans 10:17
2. By grace, NOT by works- Ephesians 2:8-9; Romans 3:24-5
3. Directed to salvation by the Holy Spirit – John 6:44; 12:32
4. Results in new birth (from above) – John 3:3, 7; 8:23
5. Justified by Christ’s blood – Romans 5:9
6. Redemption by Christ’s blood – Ephesians 1:7; Colossians 1:14; Hebrews 9:22
7. Received by personal choice – John 1:12; 7:37-38; Revelation 22:17
8. Possessor of the divine nature – 2 Peter 2:4
9. Sons of God by adoption – Romans 8:14-15; Galatians 4:5; Ephesians 1:5
10. Freedom from condemnation of sin – Romans 8:1
11. Evidenced by a new manner of living – 2 Corinthians 5:17
12. God’s gift of eternal life – Romans 6:23
Eternal Security
1. God’s promise that we cannot perish - John 3:16; 10:28-29; Hebrews 13:5
2. Certainty of salvation - 1 John 5:13
3. Kept by God’s power - 1 Peter 1:5; Jude 24-25
4. Indwelt by the Holy Spirit forever - John 14:16
5. Sealed by the Holy Spirit - Ephesians 1:13; 4:30
6. Nothing can separate the believer from Christ - Romans 8:35-39
Sanctification
Sanctify means to set apart – Exodus 13:2, 12. It does not mean the baptism of the Holy Spirit (Acts 11:15-16) nor the eradication of the sin nature (1 John 1:8, 10)
1. Setting apart of body and mind to God – Romans 12:1-2
2. Godly expression of good works – Ephesians 2:10
3. Not a second work of grace – 1 Peter 1:2
a. Past tense at time of salvation – 1 Corinthians 6:11
b. Present outworking – 2 Corinthians 7:1
c. Future standing – 1 Thessalonians 3:12-13; 5:23
The Church
1. The body of born again believers – Acts 2:41
2. The bride of Christ – Revelation 19:7; 21:9
3. The organism of living souls (not a building) – Ephesians 1:22-23; Colossians 1:18; 2:19
4. Christ is the superintendent in all matters – Colossians 1:18
The Local Church
1. To minister the gospel – Matthew 28:19-20
2. To perfect and edify the believers – Ephesians 4:11-12; Acts 20:28
3. To perform the gifts directed by the Scriptures – 1 Corinthians 12:4, 8-11
4. To administer the ordinances of baptism and the Lord’s Supper in accordance with the Scriptures – Acts 2:41; 1 Corinthians 11:23-25
5. The officers are
a. Pastor – 1 Peter 5:1-4; Ephesians 4:11-12
b. Elders – 1 Timothy 3:1-7; Titus 1:5-9
c. Deacons – Acts 6:3-6; 1 Timothy 3:8-13
6. To be independent, self-governing, and directly accountable to God without hierarchy interference – Matthew 18:17-19; Acts 13:1-3; 15:22-23
7. To establish membership and exercise discipline – Matthew 18:15-20; 1 Corinthians 5:1-13
8. To send forth as missionaries those whom God called to go into all the world – Matthew 28:19; Acts 1:8; 11:22; 13:2-3
Ordinances
1. Baptism is a testimony to the unsaved of a different life – 2 Corinthians 5:17 and a testimony to the saved of like precious faith – 2 Peter 1:1
a. To be administered to born-again believers only (not infants or unsaved) – Acts 2:41
b. Pictures the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ – Romans 6:4-5
c. To be by immersion only – Matthew 3:16; Acts 8:38-39
d. To be in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit – Matthew 28:19
2. Lord’s Supper
a. The remembrance of the broken body and shed blood of Christ - Luke 22:19-20
b. The bread and the cup are symbols and represent the broken body and shed blood of Christ - Matthew 26:26-28
c. A time of self-examination of personal spiritual condition - 1 Corinthians 11:28-32
d. Expresses the Lord’s death and anticipation of his coming - 1 Corinthians 11:26
Note: There is no clear direction in Scripture to practice foot-washing as an ordinance.
Angels, Satan
1. There are a great number of angels who kept their holy place and are ministering for God as He commands them. - Genesis 19:1; 28:12; Psalm 91:11; Matthew 4:11; Hebrews 1:14
2. Satan, formerly Lucifer, was a holy angel who, through rebellion and pride, fell from his heavenly position.- Isaiah 14:12-15; Ezekiel 28:12-18
3. Satan drew a number of angels with him leaving their first place.
a. A number of the fallen angels are “reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day.” 2 Peter 2:4; Jude 6
b. Others are demons who are active as Satan’s agents. Matthew 12:43; Mark 5:2
4. He is the prince of the power of the air. John 12:13; 14:30; 16:11; Ephesians 2:2
5. He is the accuser of the brethren. Revelation 12:10
6. He is the tempter. 1 Thessalonians 3:5; Mark 1:13
7. He is the deceiver. Revelation 12:9; 20:10; Genesis 3:13
8. He is the originator of sin, causing the fall of man. Genesis 3:1-19
9. He is the enemy of God. Matthew 13:39; 1 John 3:8; 1 Peter 5:8
10. He is the author of all false religions and cults, denying the effectiveness of the blood of Christ and salvation by grace alone. 2 Corinthians 4:3-4; 11:13-15
11. He will be bound with a great chain, be cast into the bottomless pit for a thousand years, then will be loosed for a little season, and in final judgment be cast into hell prepared for him and his angels. Matthew 25:41; Revelation 20:1-3,10
Heaven, Hell, Lake of Fire
1. Heaven
a. Abiding place of God – Matthew 3:17; 18:10
b. Final abiding place of the righteous – John 14:2-3; 1 Peter 1:4
2. Hell - The place of torment for the unsaved – Luke 16:23
3. Lake of Fire - Final abiding place of the unsaved – Matthew 25:41; Revelation 20:11-15; 21:8
Gifts
1. Christ baptizes with the Holy Spirit – John 1:33
2. The baptism of the Holy Spirit places us into the body of Christ – 1 Corinthians 12:13
3. The filling of the Holy Spirit means to be controlled by the Holy Spirit – Ephesians 5:18
4. Gifts are given by the Holy Spirit individually for the various ministries – 1 Corinthians 12:1-11, 28
Note: This is neither a “second work of grace” nor a “second blessing.” Tongues and charismatics are not the evidence of the baptism or filling of the Holy Spirit.
Civil Government
1. Instituted by God for the good of human society – Romans 13:1-7
2. To be obeyed for the Lord’s sake and our good – 1 Peter 2:13-14, 17; Titus 3:1
3. To be upheld except for regulations that are immoral or against the will of God –Acts 4:19-20; 5:29; Daniel 3:17-18
Future Events
1. The Rapture
a. The event of Christ raising the righteous dead and taking into heaven the resurrected righteous ones and the righteous living – 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17
b. The resurrected righteous dead ones and the righteous living ones will receive a changed body – 1 Corinthians 15:42-44, 51-53; Philippians 3:20; 1 John 3:2
c. The Rapture will precede the seven-year Tribulation period. The Rapture is not synonymous with the Second Coming.
2. The Tribulation follows the Rapture of the church as Israel’s seventieth week – Daniel 9:27; Matthew 24:15-21; Jeremiah 30:7
3. The Judgment Seat of Christ takes place in heaven while the Tribulation is proceeding on earth. The resurrected righteous ones and the righteous living taken in the Rapture will be judged for the things done in his or her body for the purpose of being rewarded accordingly – 2 Corinthians 5:10; 1 Corinthians 3:12-15
4. The Second Coming of Christ follows the Tribulation period and is when Christ will return to the earth with the righteous believers to set up his kingdom – Matthew 25:31; Revelation 5:10; 20:6
5. The Millennium lasts for a period of one thousand years when Christ will reign on the earth –Revelation 20:2-7; 12:5; 19:15
6. The Great White Throne Judgment
a. Takes place at the end of the Millennium when the unrighteous dead will be resurrected, judged, and cast into the lake of fire – Revelation 20:5, 11-15
b. Is not to be confused with the Judgment Seat of Christ
1. Written by men who were inspired by the Holy Spirit – 2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:20-21
2. Kept from error by the Holy Spirit in every word and in all parts in the original writings - Psalm 119:160; John 17:17
3. God’s eternal word – Psalm 119:89; 1 Peter 1:23, 25
4. God’s final revelation to guide all men- Psalm 119:105, 130
a. Salvation – Romans 10:13, 17
b. Christian growth – 1 Peter 2:2; 2 Peter 3:18; 2 Timothy 2:15
The Triune God
God exists eternally as the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. – Matthew 28:19; John 14:16, 26; John 15:26;
2 Corinthians 13:14. These three exist as one God. - Deuteronomy 6:4; Mark 12:29
1. God the Father
a. Active in creation - Genesis 1:1
b. Rewards in prayer - Matthew 6:6
c. Reveals truth - Matthew 16:17
2. God the Son
a. Conceived by the Holy Spirit - Matthew 1:18, 20
b. Born of a virgin - Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:23; Luke 1:27
c. Only begotten Son of God - John 3:16, 18
d. Is God and is equal with God-John 10:30; Philippians 2:6
e. Active in creation - Colossians 1:16-17
f. Came to redeem sinful men - Matthew 20:28; Luke 19:10
g. Died as the substitute for the sins of men - 2 Corinthians 5:21; Romans 3:24-25; 1 Peter 2:24
h. Is resurrected from the dead - Matthew 28:6-7; 1 Corinthians 15:3-4
i. Is our mediator and intercessor - 1 Timothy 2:5; Romans 8:34
j. Will return for His own - Acts 1:11; 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17
3. God the Holy Spirit
a. Equal with the Father and the Son – Matthew 28:19; John 14:16-17
b. Active in creation – Genesis 1:1-2
c. Present in salvation – John 3:5-6; Hebrews 9:14
d. Testifies of the believer’s salvation – Romans 8:16
e. Indwells the believer – John 14:16-17; 1 Corinthians 3:16; 1 Corinthians 6:19; 2 Corinthians 6:16
f. Causes the fruit of the spirit to be evidenced in the believer - Galatians 5:22-23
g. Teaches the believer - John 14:26; 16:13
h. Restrains the devil in the world - 2 Thessalonians 2:7
i. Convicts of sin, righteousness, and judgment - John 16:7-11
Creation
1. The Genesis account of creation is to be accepted literally. Genesis 1:1; Exodus 20:11
2. God made all things. John 1:3; Acts 17:24; Colossians 1:16-17
3. All forms of life reproduce after their own kind (vegetable, animal, and human life), not by an evolutionary process. Genesis 1:11-31
4. All forms of creation are final and are not being continued by any evolutionary process. Genesis 2:1-2
Man
1. Creation
a. Made in the image of God – Genesis 1:26-27; 2:7; 5:1-2; Colossians 3:10; 1 Corinthians 11:7
b. Made male and female – Genesis 1:27; 2:21-22; Matthew 19:4
c. Made in a state of innocence – Genesis 2:15-17; 3:1-6
2. Fall
a. Man fell from his sinless and innocent state by voluntary action. Romans 5:12,19
b. All mankind are sinners by choice and are all descendants of Adam. Acts 17:26; Romans 3:10-12, 23; Isaiah 53:6; Ephesians 2:1
c. Mankind is under condemnation without defense and excuse. Romans 1:20, 32; Galatians 3:22
d. Without Christ, mankind is doomed to everlasting punishment as a result of sin. Matthew 25:41, 46. The place of eternal punishment is the lake of fire and brimstone. Revelation 20:11-15.
Salvation
1. By faith in Christ (not by feeling, nor by experience) – Luke 7:48, 50; Romans 3:28; 5:1-2; Romans 10:17
2. By grace, NOT by works- Ephesians 2:8-9; Romans 3:24-5
3. Directed to salvation by the Holy Spirit – John 6:44; 12:32
4. Results in new birth (from above) – John 3:3, 7; 8:23
5. Justified by Christ’s blood – Romans 5:9
6. Redemption by Christ’s blood – Ephesians 1:7; Colossians 1:14; Hebrews 9:22
7. Received by personal choice – John 1:12; 7:37-38; Revelation 22:17
8. Possessor of the divine nature – 2 Peter 2:4
9. Sons of God by adoption – Romans 8:14-15; Galatians 4:5; Ephesians 1:5
10. Freedom from condemnation of sin – Romans 8:1
11. Evidenced by a new manner of living – 2 Corinthians 5:17
12. God’s gift of eternal life – Romans 6:23
Eternal Security
1. God’s promise that we cannot perish - John 3:16; 10:28-29; Hebrews 13:5
2. Certainty of salvation - 1 John 5:13
3. Kept by God’s power - 1 Peter 1:5; Jude 24-25
4. Indwelt by the Holy Spirit forever - John 14:16
5. Sealed by the Holy Spirit - Ephesians 1:13; 4:30
6. Nothing can separate the believer from Christ - Romans 8:35-39
Sanctification
Sanctify means to set apart – Exodus 13:2, 12. It does not mean the baptism of the Holy Spirit (Acts 11:15-16) nor the eradication of the sin nature (1 John 1:8, 10)
1. Setting apart of body and mind to God – Romans 12:1-2
2. Godly expression of good works – Ephesians 2:10
3. Not a second work of grace – 1 Peter 1:2
a. Past tense at time of salvation – 1 Corinthians 6:11
b. Present outworking – 2 Corinthians 7:1
c. Future standing – 1 Thessalonians 3:12-13; 5:23
The Church
1. The body of born again believers – Acts 2:41
2. The bride of Christ – Revelation 19:7; 21:9
3. The organism of living souls (not a building) – Ephesians 1:22-23; Colossians 1:18; 2:19
4. Christ is the superintendent in all matters – Colossians 1:18
The Local Church
1. To minister the gospel – Matthew 28:19-20
2. To perfect and edify the believers – Ephesians 4:11-12; Acts 20:28
3. To perform the gifts directed by the Scriptures – 1 Corinthians 12:4, 8-11
4. To administer the ordinances of baptism and the Lord’s Supper in accordance with the Scriptures – Acts 2:41; 1 Corinthians 11:23-25
5. The officers are
a. Pastor – 1 Peter 5:1-4; Ephesians 4:11-12
b. Elders – 1 Timothy 3:1-7; Titus 1:5-9
c. Deacons – Acts 6:3-6; 1 Timothy 3:8-13
6. To be independent, self-governing, and directly accountable to God without hierarchy interference – Matthew 18:17-19; Acts 13:1-3; 15:22-23
7. To establish membership and exercise discipline – Matthew 18:15-20; 1 Corinthians 5:1-13
8. To send forth as missionaries those whom God called to go into all the world – Matthew 28:19; Acts 1:8; 11:22; 13:2-3
Ordinances
1. Baptism is a testimony to the unsaved of a different life – 2 Corinthians 5:17 and a testimony to the saved of like precious faith – 2 Peter 1:1
a. To be administered to born-again believers only (not infants or unsaved) – Acts 2:41
b. Pictures the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ – Romans 6:4-5
c. To be by immersion only – Matthew 3:16; Acts 8:38-39
d. To be in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit – Matthew 28:19
2. Lord’s Supper
a. The remembrance of the broken body and shed blood of Christ - Luke 22:19-20
b. The bread and the cup are symbols and represent the broken body and shed blood of Christ - Matthew 26:26-28
c. A time of self-examination of personal spiritual condition - 1 Corinthians 11:28-32
d. Expresses the Lord’s death and anticipation of his coming - 1 Corinthians 11:26
Note: There is no clear direction in Scripture to practice foot-washing as an ordinance.
Angels, Satan
1. There are a great number of angels who kept their holy place and are ministering for God as He commands them. - Genesis 19:1; 28:12; Psalm 91:11; Matthew 4:11; Hebrews 1:14
2. Satan, formerly Lucifer, was a holy angel who, through rebellion and pride, fell from his heavenly position.- Isaiah 14:12-15; Ezekiel 28:12-18
3. Satan drew a number of angels with him leaving their first place.
a. A number of the fallen angels are “reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day.” 2 Peter 2:4; Jude 6
b. Others are demons who are active as Satan’s agents. Matthew 12:43; Mark 5:2
4. He is the prince of the power of the air. John 12:13; 14:30; 16:11; Ephesians 2:2
5. He is the accuser of the brethren. Revelation 12:10
6. He is the tempter. 1 Thessalonians 3:5; Mark 1:13
7. He is the deceiver. Revelation 12:9; 20:10; Genesis 3:13
8. He is the originator of sin, causing the fall of man. Genesis 3:1-19
9. He is the enemy of God. Matthew 13:39; 1 John 3:8; 1 Peter 5:8
10. He is the author of all false religions and cults, denying the effectiveness of the blood of Christ and salvation by grace alone. 2 Corinthians 4:3-4; 11:13-15
11. He will be bound with a great chain, be cast into the bottomless pit for a thousand years, then will be loosed for a little season, and in final judgment be cast into hell prepared for him and his angels. Matthew 25:41; Revelation 20:1-3,10
Heaven, Hell, Lake of Fire
1. Heaven
a. Abiding place of God – Matthew 3:17; 18:10
b. Final abiding place of the righteous – John 14:2-3; 1 Peter 1:4
2. Hell - The place of torment for the unsaved – Luke 16:23
3. Lake of Fire - Final abiding place of the unsaved – Matthew 25:41; Revelation 20:11-15; 21:8
Gifts
1. Christ baptizes with the Holy Spirit – John 1:33
2. The baptism of the Holy Spirit places us into the body of Christ – 1 Corinthians 12:13
3. The filling of the Holy Spirit means to be controlled by the Holy Spirit – Ephesians 5:18
4. Gifts are given by the Holy Spirit individually for the various ministries – 1 Corinthians 12:1-11, 28
Note: This is neither a “second work of grace” nor a “second blessing.” Tongues and charismatics are not the evidence of the baptism or filling of the Holy Spirit.
Civil Government
1. Instituted by God for the good of human society – Romans 13:1-7
2. To be obeyed for the Lord’s sake and our good – 1 Peter 2:13-14, 17; Titus 3:1
3. To be upheld except for regulations that are immoral or against the will of God –Acts 4:19-20; 5:29; Daniel 3:17-18
Future Events
1. The Rapture
a. The event of Christ raising the righteous dead and taking into heaven the resurrected righteous ones and the righteous living – 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17
b. The resurrected righteous dead ones and the righteous living ones will receive a changed body – 1 Corinthians 15:42-44, 51-53; Philippians 3:20; 1 John 3:2
c. The Rapture will precede the seven-year Tribulation period. The Rapture is not synonymous with the Second Coming.
2. The Tribulation follows the Rapture of the church as Israel’s seventieth week – Daniel 9:27; Matthew 24:15-21; Jeremiah 30:7
3. The Judgment Seat of Christ takes place in heaven while the Tribulation is proceeding on earth. The resurrected righteous ones and the righteous living taken in the Rapture will be judged for the things done in his or her body for the purpose of being rewarded accordingly – 2 Corinthians 5:10; 1 Corinthians 3:12-15
4. The Second Coming of Christ follows the Tribulation period and is when Christ will return to the earth with the righteous believers to set up his kingdom – Matthew 25:31; Revelation 5:10; 20:6
5. The Millennium lasts for a period of one thousand years when Christ will reign on the earth –Revelation 20:2-7; 12:5; 19:15
6. The Great White Throne Judgment
a. Takes place at the end of the Millennium when the unrighteous dead will be resurrected, judged, and cast into the lake of fire – Revelation 20:5, 11-15
b. Is not to be confused with the Judgment Seat of Christ
