Doctrinal Statement of Faith
What we Believe:
1 - THE DEITY OF THE LORD AND SAVIOUR JESUS CHRIST, AND THE ETERNAL TRINITY OF THE GODHEAD – God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit are the three in one God. The Lord Jesus Christ is God and Creator of everything, for in Him dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily. The Godhead is omnipotent, (all powerful), omniscient, (all knowing), and omnipresent, (present everywhere, at all times).
(Gen 1:1; Exo 3:14; Deut 6:4; Psa 139:8; Matt 3:17; 28:19; Luke 1:35; John 1:1, 14; 14:6; Rom 1:3,4, 25; 1 Cor 8:6; 2 Cor 13:14; Eph 4:4-6; Phil 2:6-9; Col 2:9; I Tim 2:5, 6:15; Heb 12:2; 1 John 5:7-8; Rev 19:6).
2 - SALVATION is the gift of God, by faith through grace, not of works lest any man boast. There is nothing you can do to earn your salvation, as the Lord Jesus Christ did it all on the cross of Calvary. This is the gospel of grace by which you are saved from hell and given eternal life by believing it: 1 Cor 15:1-4 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
Eph 1:13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,
Eph 2:8-9 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.
Rom 3:23-25 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;
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The very second you believe that Christ died for your sins, was buried and rose again on the third day according to the scriptures, you are saved from hell; you have redemption through His blood; you receive eternal life; you are forgiven all of your sins past, present and future; you receive His righteousness; you are sealed by the Holy Spirit; you are baptized by the Holy Spirit into Christ; you are taken out of Adam and put into Christ; you are a member of the Body of Christ; you are saved by faith in His blood; you receive all spiritual blessings in heavenly places; you are the sons of God and joint heirs with Christ; you are washed, sanctified, and justified; you are delivered from the law of sin and death, the bondage of corruption, the law, and the wrath to come; you have the love, grace, mercy and peace of God Almighty; you have a Blessed Hope; you have a blessed assurance; you have the God of all comfort, you have Christ in you the Hope of Glory; you are a new creature; you are more than a conqueror; you are complete in Christ; you are accepted in the Beloved and have all the riches of Christ and so many more blessings; you are saved once and forever, as no one or anything can ever pluck you out of His hand. (John 1:28-29; 10:29; Rom 1:7; 2:16; 3:24-28; 5:1-17; 6:23; 8:2, 14, 17, 21, 24, 37; 16:25; I Cor 1:18; 6:11; 12:13, 27; 15:1-4, 22; 2 Cor 1:3, 10, 22; 5:14, 17, 21; Gal 4:6; Eph 1:3, 6, 7, 13-14; 2:4, 7, 8, 9; 3:8; 4:30; Col 1:14, 27; 2:2 10, 13; 1 Thes 4:14; 5:9; 1 Tim 1:2, 11; 2 Tim 2:13; Titus 2:13).
3 - GOD’S WORD - You are free to read and study any bible you choose. However, by faith, we believe that our final authority is the authorized King James Bible as it is the inspired and preserved words of God in the English language and is therefore wholly without error, altogether sufficient as our only infallible and authoritative rule of faith and practice. We believe that the 66 books of the Old and New Testament are the complete and divine revelation of God to man. We believe the verbal inspiration and plenary authority of the bible. (Psa 12:6-7; Prov 30:5-6; 2 Tim 2:15; 3:15-17; 2 Pet 1:20-21).
2 Tim 3:16-17 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.
Psa 12:6-7 The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. Thou shalt keep them, O LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever.
4 - THE KEY TO STUDYING GOD’S WORD - 2 Tim 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. What saith the scripture? This is the three-fold division in the King James Bible:
“Time Past” (Eph 2:11-12) is Genesis through Acts and was written to Israel (the earthly people) regarding law and prophecy. The Lord Jesus Christ had an earthly ministry of the circumcision, to the twelve apostles for the Jews/Israel, to confirm the promises made unto the fathers:
“But Now” (Eph 2:13) is Romans through Philemon and was written to the Body of Christ (the heavenly people) regarding grace and mystery. "BUT NOW" The Lord Jesus Christ presently has a heavenly ministry called the dispensation of grace, he gave by direct revelation to the Apostle Paul from Heaven's Glory. This mystery was kept secret since the world began, "BUT NOW" revealed to us, the Body of Christ, through our Apostle Paul. This "But Now" parenthetical interuption of "time past" and "The ages to come" will end at the Rapture of the Body of Christ, when all grace believers dead and alive will meet the Lord Jesus Christ in the air and get their new bodies. This is our blessed hope! Titus 2:13, 1Thes 4:13-18.
“The Ages to Come” (Eph 2:7) is Hebrews through Revelation and was written to Israel (the earthly people) regarding law and prophecy. The Lord Jesus Christ will again resume His earthly ministry and fulfill the prophecy of the seven year tribulation of His wrath by His return to the earth and His One-Thousand year reign on the earth until the "Dispensation of the Fulness of Times." That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him: Eph 1:10.
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This is an amazing progressive revelation of the mystery, that was kept secret since the world began, “but now” revealed through the pen of the Apostle Paul, to us and for us.
Romans through Philemon, is our mail and was written directly to us, the Body of Christ. All scripture is for us but not all scripture is written directly to us. Rightly dividing is the key to understanding scripture completely without contradiction. We believe the entire bible and dividing truth from truth is the key we find from the Lord Jesus Christ’s heavenly revelation to the Apostle of the Gentiles, for all believers in this Dispensation of Grace.
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1 Cor 1:18 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.
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1 Cor 14:37 If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord.
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Rom 2:16 In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.
Rom 16:25 Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began,
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Rom 15:8 Now I say that Jesus Christ was a minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made unto the fathers:
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Rom 11:13 For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office:
Col 1:25 Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God;
5 - THE RESURRECTION OF THE BODY- So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption: It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power: 1Thes 4:13-18 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words. (Luke 24:39-43; I Cor 15:40-44; 1 Thes 4:13-18).
6 - THE PRE-TRIBULATION RAPTURE – The Rapture of the Body of Christ, along with their innocent children, will occur in the twinkling of an eye, at our Lord Jesus Christ’s glorious appearing in the clouds, when we will secretly be caught up to meet the Lord in the air, as well as those Body of Christ Saints that were already in Heaven with the Lord, and receive our new bodies, and reward at the Judgment Seat of Christ for whatever work we did for His glory while on earth and then reign with Christ as joint-heir in Heaven forever. The Rapture is a secret, peaceful event. (Wherefore, comfort one another with these words). The Rapture will occur before the tribulation of God’s wrath and prior to the Return of Christ to the Earth.
7 – THE PREMILLENNIAL RETURN OF CHRIST TO THE EARTH
This event is distinctly different from the Rapture. The Premillennial Return of the Lord Jesus Christ to the earth will occur after the tribulation and be seen by every eye when the Lord comes back with His armies of Heaven. The wrath of God will be a horrifying, deadly and a fearful event. However, we are watching and eagerly waiting for the Great God and Saviour, our Lord Jesus Christ to appear in the clouds and sound the trump of God, then we will appear with Him in Glory. The Body of Christ will not be left behind to endure to the end of the tribulation. We are not appointed to wrath and fear and we are not looking for the antichrist.
Rev 19:11-16 And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.
(Deut 1:39; 2 Sam 12:22-23; Psa 139:7-8; Pro 15:3; Isa 57:15; Zec 14:4,9; Luke 18;16; Acts 1:10,11; Rom 1:18, 3:20, 5:12-14; I Cor 15:51-53; Phil 3:20,21; Col 3:4; I Thes 4:13-18; Titus 2:13,14; Rev 19:6-16; 20:4-6).
8 - THE ETERNAL PUNISHMENT of the unsaved, unbelievers in Hell/Lake of Fire.
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Rev 20:11-15 And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.
This great white throne judgment is reserved for unbelievers and the unsaved. We will not be there as our sins were already forgiven the moment we believed and once saved always saved, so there is no blotting out of sins in the future for us, the Body of Christ, only for Israel. (Luke 16:23-28; 2 Thes 1:9; Rev 14:11; 20:14,15).​
9 - THE MYSTERY “Hid in God” Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began, But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith; the divine purpose all to and for the Lord Jesus Christ, to make of Jew and Gentile ONE NEW MAN, that is, the Church, which is Christ’s Body. The mystery among the Gentiles which is Christ in you, the hope of Glory.
The revelation of this Mystery was committed to Paul, and it is in his writings alone that we find the doctrine, position, walk and destiny of the Church (Rom 16:25-26; Gal 1:11,12; Eph 3:1-9; Col 1:24-27).
10 - THE BODY OF CHRIST BEGAN with the Apostle Paul in mid Acts where he received the direct revelation from the Lord Jesus Christ from Heaven’s Glory, where the Lord Jesus himself appointed Paul as the one and only Apostle of the Gentiles and was given the dispensation of the grace of God. (Acts 9-16). 1Tim 1:16 Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting. We believe in the essential unity of all believers of the present dispensation of grace, as members of the one true Church, the BODY OF CHRIST (Eph. 1:22,23; I Cor. 12:13).
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11 - BAPTISM - All believers are made members of the Body of Christ by One Divine Dry Baptism. In this dispensation of grace, the bible states there is only one baptism now, and it is not performed by man, but rather, by the operation of God himself, and it does not include water. The Holy Spirit baptizes you into Christ the second you believe “The Gospel of the Grace of God”, found only in 1Cor 15:1-4.
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Col 2:12 Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.
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1Cor 12:13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.
1Cor 1:17 For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.
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Eph 4:4-6 There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.
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Gal 3:27 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
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Rom 6:3-5 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:
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In light of ICor:1:17; 12:13, and Eph 4:6, we affirm that water baptism has no place in God’s spiritual program for the Body of Christ in this dispensation of Grace.
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The baptism “with the Holy Ghost” was part of Israel’s program in prophecy. “But Now” we are baptized “BY the Holy Spirit” into the body of Christ as part of the “Mystery” program revealed to the Apostle Paul, the moment we believe.
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12 - THE COMMUNION OF THE LORD’S SUPPER as revealed through Paul for the members of the Body of Christ “till He come”
1Cor 11:23-34 For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread: And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me.
For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come. Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body.
For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep. For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world. Wherefore, my brethren, when ye come together to eat, tarry one for another. And if any man hunger, let him eat at home; that ye come not together unto condemnation. And the rest will I set in order when I come.
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13 - GOD’S WILL:
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Rom 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
1Thes 5:18 In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
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1Tim 2:3 -6 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.
14 – SIN – Grace is greater than all our sin, however, grace is not a license to sin. What does God’s word say about it? GOD FORBID! Go and sin no more!
Psa 103:12 As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.
John 8:10-11 When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee? She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.
Rom 5:12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:
Rom 5:20 Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound:
Rom 5:21 That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.
Rom 6:15 What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid.
Rom 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
1 Cor 15:34 Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame.
(Please refer to the chart below,
"Rightly Dividing the Word of Truth").
We are an independent;
non-denominational;
self-governing;
and self-supporting
Berean Grace Bible Church.
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FOX RIVER BIBLE CHURCH
260 E. SPRING AVENUE
SOUTH ELGIN, IL 60177
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​​​foxriverbiblechurchkjv@gmail.com
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