Light Unto My Path

Bible Studies for the Journey

 

Doctrinal Statement

You Need to Know Who the Writer is:

How can you spot a fake?

It is not my purpose to give great detail here as in a doctrinal statement that a church, school or organization might compile.  I could list every major doctrinal area and cover the site with scriptures to prove why I believe the way I do.  I think that it is important to say that my views are along main line Baptist.  Please, those of you that are not Baptist don't stop here.  Read the lessons and decide if I am "rightly dividing the Word of Truth."  

I am not trying to lessen the importance of a doctrinal statement as I think it is imperative that you know my beliefs before you jump in to the studies.

But the most important concern for me is that you know if what I am teaching and presenting as bible studies is to be trusted?  Are they accurate?  How do you know if I am teaching the truth or are a fake and teach deceptively?

There are a great deal of preachers, teachers and evangelists preaching throughout churches in the world today.   You can surf the World Wide Web and see that the number of Christian and Bible Teaching web sites are rising.  You must have faith in which you can trust when looking for good solid teaching.  Aren't all who have on a suit or wear priestly garments to be trusted?  How can they all be right when they call God by different names and have different ways of prayer and worship?  You will have your own answer for these questions, but my answer is NO.

There is one simple question you can ask of any teacher or religion.  What do they do with Jesus in their teachings and beliefs?  The answer to this question is will guide you in your search to see how they believe.  Their answer will let you find out if a person or religion is a cult and hoax.

You see the bible, from the Old Testament through the New Testament, Genesis through Revelation is about one person, Jesus.  The Old Testament points to Jesus and the New Testament shows Jesus as the promised Messiah.

  • I believe that Jesus is a member of the Triune God, God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit, coequal and coeternal, each having their own individually and responsibilities for the purpose of redemption yet united.

  • Jesus is the only begotten son of God.  He does not have any brothers or sisters that are Gods.

  • Jesus is God not a god.

  • Jesus is not just a great teacher or philosopher he is God.

  • Jesus birth was miraculous, born of a virgin.

  • Jesus led a sinless life but was tempted as we.

  • Jesus had an earthly ministry and at the end of that ministry, he laid down his life willingly for the purpose of God's plan of salvation.

  • Jesus rose from the dead and ascended to heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father.

  • Jesus will call for his bride, the born-again believers in a pre-tribulation movement before judgment starts on the earth.

  • Jesus will come again and reign on the earth for 1000 years then the Devil and his following will be judged and cast into Hell for all eternity.

  • All born-again Christians will forever be with the Lord.

For those of you that would like more of a "Doctrinal Statement", here you go.

I totally agree with the Baptist Faith and Mission Statement of 2000 of the Southern Baptist Convention.

1.         We believe the whole Bible from Genesis 1:1 to Revelation 22:21, as the verbally inspired and infallible Word of God.

2.         We believe Jesus Christ was born of Mary the Virgin, and is the Son of God, and God the Son.

3.         We believe that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, the Just for the unjust that He might bring us to God.

4.         We believe that He arose from the grave the third day according to the scriptures.

5.         We believe that He, only, is the great High Priest, and we need not the intercession of any man, but that Christ ever lives to make intercession for us.

6.         We believe that Christ will come again in Person bodily, visibly, to establish His Kingdom on the earth.

7.         We believe that in order to be saved, the soul must be born again -- "Ye must be born again."

8.         We believe that every truly born again soul should declare his faith by the act of baptism, (immersion in water) setting forth the Lord's death, burial, and resurrection.

9.         We believe that the church is a body of baptized believers whose only mission is, not to "reform the world," but to preach and teach the Word of God to the individual soul.

All teachings on this site will follow the above premise.  As we travel this journey together, there will be other signposts to help define what Truth is.

What About Bob?

So Bob, tell me a little bit about you.

Well I have been a Bible student for over forty years.  I have a Bachelors of Theology and working on a Masters.  Most of the teachings and Bible Studies that will be on this site are a culmination of lessons I have written and in most cases taught.

Some will be from Bible Studies conducted at work for a group of people that had different backgrounds and religious affiliations while others will be from very structured environments in my home church.

Some are from five years teaching and preaching to a wonderful group of Young Adults in Texas and those lessons bringing back fond memories.

Still others are from my favorite studies of the Tabernacle in the Wilderness.

My most cherished studies, although few in number are from the one person who fanned the flames of this teacher’s heart and soul, my dad.  He was such an inspiration to me.  We would debate over different scriptures and difficult passages.  Those were times of pure joy for me.  I loved my dad and his love of the Bible.