Several
new assemblies have used our Statement of Faith as a starting point for
their group and we welcome that. Improve on what we have done and use
it for God's glory in your area.
What we believe: and we are fully persuaded (RO 12:5)
King James
Bible Believing
Mid-Acts-Pauline
Dispensational
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The home across the pond in this beautiful picture (taken by Carol McLean) is that of author, poet, biographer Carol Sandburg which we visited last year.
STATEMENT OF FAITH:
We hold that the Bible can only be properly
understood by believing it literally, text
within context, dispensationally interpreted
We recognize that we are operating in the
Dispensation of Grace, that the converted
will leave the planet to meet Christ in the
air just prior to the time of the
Tribulation, and that Christ will return to
Earth to rule for a 1000 year Age of the
Kingdom. We understand that we are not
ourselves apostles and that the time for
apostolic signs and wonders is both past and
coming but not current.
We are therefore Pauline in doctrine and
practice and consider such understanding to
constitute that which is like-minded.
A THE SCRIPTURES We believe that the Holy
Bible, as originally written, was verbally
plenarily inspired and the product of God
the Holy Spirit. Further, we hold that God
has preserved that which was originally
written in the King James Authorized Version
and we hold the KJAV to be without error.
This statement of faith can in no way
abrogate or amplify our true authority,
which is the King James Bible Itself. The KJAV to which
we refer contains 66 books that were
supernaturally written and we do not refer
to any other version or book It is therefore
necessary that no other book be preached or
taught. The King James Bible which we hold
in our hand is God's perfect word and is our
final authority in all matters of faith and
practice.
B. GOD as we know Him is the one and the
only living and true God, an infinite,
intelligent Spirit, the Creator and ruler of
all that is in heaven and earth. Our God has
manifested Himself in three personages: The
Father, the Lord Jesus Christ and the Holy
Spirit. All three manifested persons are
each God and differ only in duties and
station, not different or multiple gods, but
one God in three manifestations. We reject
Kenotic Theology, Open View Theology and any
other system than diminishes the deity of
the Lord Jesus Christ.
C. HOLY SPIRIT is God in a particular
manifestation with certain ministries. The
Holy Spirit was active in creation; He
convicts of sin, righteousness and judgment;
He bears witness to that which is true, He
is involved in our regeneration in that He
immerses (baptizes) converts into Christ; He
is the earnest of our inheritance and He
seals us until the day of redemption.
D. JESUS CHRIST was begotten of the Holy
Ghost and born of the virgin Mary to
manifest God in a manner that would allow
Him to be tempted in all points yet without
sin, so that Christ could take the place of
sinners as the perfect savior.
Christ,
while positionally subjected to God the
Father, was in fact the manifestation of God
in the flesh, the fullness of the Godhead
bodily. He came as Messiah to Israel,
offering their prophesied kingdom. He was
rejected, crucified for the sins of mankind,
rose again the third day, and with his
victory over sin and death, Christ became
the agency of our conversion from death unto
life by faith in His shed blood according to
Paul’s ‘my gospel’ and the revelation of the
mystery.
E. SATAN, THE DEVIL was a created cherub
named Lucifer, who, because of pride,
rebelled against God and became the author
of sin. Satan is a being, not a concept, and
he has now transformed himself into an angel
of light in order that the saving Gospel of
Christ might be hidden from unsaved people.
In the time of the Tribulation, the devil
will indwell the Antichrist, in the Kingdom
the devil will be bound, and after a little
season during which the devil again gains
followers, he will ultimately be cast into
the lake of fire forever.
F. CREATION, as described in Genesis, is to
be taken literally and not as allegory or
myth. We do not accept the concept of
evolution or the notion that man can improve
himself, apart from God
G. SIN began as rebellion against God and
continues in the very nature of every person
who has ever lived with the lone exception
of the Lord Jesus Christ. Adam fell from his
innocent state and by him sin entered unto
all mankind. Since all have sinned and come
short of the glory of God, all deserve the
judgment of a literal burning hell as just
condemnation from our sinless God.
H. SALVATION is necessary because of man's
sinful condition and salvation was provided
by the blood sacrifice of the Lord Jesus
Christ on the cross. He was made to be sin
for us to satisfy the vengeance and wrath of
God. God's wrath was thus satisfied so that
man is counted righteous by trusting in the
finished work of the Lord Jesus Christ.
There are no works of grace or merit: there
is only the blood of Christ, given by God’s
grace and appropriated by the believer’s
faith. As dispensational Bible believers, we
reject both manmade theological systems of
Calvinism and Armenianism.
I. CHURCH, contrary to commonly taught
doctrines of men, the church is not a
building, a denomination or group. The
individual believer is the temple of the
Spirit of God so that, strictly speaking,
all saved people constitute a fellowship of
individual churches. The assembly has a
pastor/teacher, deacons as needed and
appropriate; and these offices are defined
by scripture. The assembly is self-governing
and operates in common consent as led by the
pastor.
J. WATER BAPTISM was used by God through the
ministry of John the Baptist and the
Messianic apostles to declare Christ to
Israel. This baptism of repentance for
remission of sin has been replaced by the
one spiritual baptism which is performed by
the Holy Spirit and accomplishes our
identification in Christ. Water baptism is
not mentioned in Romans Six as generally
believed in error, and is not necessary for
salvation or church membership or anything
else.
K. COMMUNION, THE LORD'S SUPPER, is in
commemoration of the death of the Lord Jesus
Christ for the sins of the believer and is
an appropriate means of celebration,
thanksgiving and self-evaluation.
L. CIVIL GOVERNMENT has no spiritual
authority over the believer, but civil
government is of divine appointment and is
to be obeyed in secular matters. We do not
condone or encourage the avoidance of
payment of taxes or the breaking of civil
law in any secular context.
M. SPIRITUAL GIFTS, SIGNS AND WONDERS were
used by God to declare His message to
unbelieving Israel in the times of the
apostles. There is neither Israel nor
apostles in this present day so the ministry
of such gifts has also passed.
N. DISPENSATIONALISM is the key to
understanding the Bible and realizing what
God is doing today. We believe that a time
of innocence ended with Adam and Eve's
expulsion from the Garden of Eden. We
believe that man was expected to operate
with God according to man's conscience and
God closed that ministration with the flood.
Subsequent to the flood and failure of man's
attempt to govern himself, God gave man
Israel as an example nation and
subsequently, the law under which to
operate. The law continued and Christ
ministered under the law and was crucified.
Daniel's 70th week, the Tribulation, began
at the cross and would have run it's course,
but God intervened by saving Paul and
revealing through Paul the previously
unknown dispensation of grace, in which we
now operate. The gospel of grace and the
church the body of Christ, in which there is
neither Jew nor Gentile began in the
mid-Acts period. When this current age
closes with the removal of the believers
from earth, the tribulation will be
reinstated and conclude with the literal
physical second coming of the Lord Jesus
Christ. Christ will establish his Kingdom on
earth and the administration described in
the gospels will be in operation. After the
1000 year kingdom this earth will pass with
a fervent heat and believers from the grace
dispensation will ever be with the Lord.
O. MEMBERSHIP in the body of Christ as a
result of salvation is what we are concerned
about. We do not believe assemblies should
keep membership roles, realizing that people will come and go as they
please whether claimed as members or not. We
do not confer voting rights by membership
and do not have the authority to 'disfellowship'
anyone. We would expect that like-minded
believers would want to fellowship with the
Dispensational Bible Institute and those with different convictions
would be more comfortable elsewhere. We
neither accept nor confer ‘membership
letters’ with respect to believers.
P. GIVING Is encouraged according to Pauline
principles rather than Old Testament
procedures. Each identified giver will be
provided with a receipt acceptable for
income tax purposes the January following
each year.
©
Discerning the Times Publishing Inc.
Terence D. McLean's resume'
Saved by grace, washed in the blood...
that's why we print it in red for all we
ever desire to be known as is a trophy of
God's marvelous grace. I Thessalonians
5.18
Terence D. McLean
Hilltop Acres Ranch, Sugarcreek Township
Xenia OH 45385-9323
1989 to present........Dispensational Bible
Institute: >founder/teacher/CEO,
Discerning
the Times publishing: founder, CEO
>Over 1000 columns in print, over 20
publications
Discerning the Times radio, since 1981
>WING-AM CNN RADIO 1410 (OVER 20 STATIONS)
With a Bible in my hand newspaper column
>Four time national Amy writing award winner
Evangelist-conference speaker
>Over 250 meetings held in over 175 churches
Twice cited “One of Ohio’s greatest
citizens”
Cited since 1992 in “Who’s Who in Religion”
Grace Bible Church: founding pastor 20+
years
1979 to 1999...........Owner, operator
McLean’s Christian Bookstores, Beavercreek,
West Carrollton, Huber Heights, Dayton, Ohio
1975 to 1979...........Schear Enterprises:
Liberal supermarkets vice-president sales and merchandising, President LTD Markets
1972 to 1975...........Golub Corp. Price
Chopper Supermarkets, Director Grocery
Merchandising, Albany New York Retailer of
the year 1975
1969 to 1972...........Hanniford Bros.
Wholesale Grocers General Merchandise
Manager, Founder and President Wellby Drug
Store chain
1959 to 1969...........Kroger Supermarkets:
Held positions starting with carry-out, then cashier, produce clerk, Assistant Store
Manager, Store
Manager, Buyer, Buyer-Merchandiser,
Processed Foods Field
Representative, General Merchandise Manager,
Corporate
Brand manager, Corporate Buyer-Merchandiser
Education..................Bowling Green
State University, University of Toledo
Charity Bible Institute
Dispensational Bible Institute
For Additional Information Please
Write: P.O. Box 87, Alpha OH 45301-0087
E-mail: MCBIBLE1769@AOL.COM
©
Discerning the Times Publishing Inc.
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Romans
14: 12
So
then every one of us shall give
account of himself to God.
I
Corinthians
3: 9 For we are
labourers
together with God: ye are God's
husbandry, ye are God's building.
II Timothy 2: 2 And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.
II Corinthians
4: 4 In whom the god of this world
hath blinded the minds of them which
believe not, lest the light of the
glorious gospel of Christ, who is
the image of God, should shine unto
them.
II Corinthians 5: 21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no
sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.