THEOLOG I C A L P O S I T I O N
Russell & Carol Barr
We believe…
…that the sixty-six books of the Bible are the infallible,
inspired Word of God, and the final word of authority
in a believer’s life.
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All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking,
correcting and training in righteousness, 17so that the man of God may
be thoroughly equipped for every good work. -2 Timothy 3:16-17
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Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about
by the prophet’s own interpretation. 21For prophecy never had it’s origin in
the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the
Holy Spirit. -2 Peter 1:20-21
…in one God who exists in three persons: Father, Son
and Holy Spirit.
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Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.”
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Jesus answered: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among
you for such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the father.
-John 14:8-9a
”I tell you the truth,” Jesus answered, “before Abraham was born, I am!”
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-John 8:58
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Then Peter said, “Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that
you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money
you received for the land? 4Didn’t it belong to you before it was sold? And
after it was sold, wasn’t the money at your disposal? What made you think of
doing such a thing? You have not lied to men but to God.” -Acts 5:3-4
God the Father
God the Father is the sovereign, holy and merciful
Lord who judges righteously, and who in love orches-
trates redemption for His fallen creation.
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Who has understood the mind of the LORD, or instructed him as his
counselor? 14Whom did the LORD consult to enlighten him, and who taught
him the right way? Who was it that taught him knowledge or showed him the
path of understanding? -Isaiah 40:13-14
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”For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that
whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17For God did
not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world
through him. -John 3:16-17
God the Son
Jesus Christ, Born of a virgin through a miraculous
work of the Holy Spirit, became man, lived a sinless
life, was crucified, died for the sins of mankind, rose
bodily from the dead, and ascended into heaven as
Lord of all. He now intercedes for believers.
”How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?” 35The
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angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the
Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the
Son of God. -Luke 1:34-35
The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the
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Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! -John 1:29
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For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ
died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4that he was buried, that he was
raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, 5and that he appeared to
Peter, and then to the Twelve. -1 Corinthians 15:3-5
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If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and
purify us from all unrighteousness. -John 1:9
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Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the
heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess.
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For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our
weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we
are—yet was without sin. 16Let us then approach the throne of grace with
confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our
time of need.
-Hebrews 4:14-16
God the Holy Spirit
God the Holy Spirit glorifies the Father and the Son in
all He does, not calling attention to Himself. His work
includes convicting and regenerating sinners, baptiz-
ing all believers into the body of Christ at the time of
regeneration, living in them, enabling them to live a
life of obedient faith, and equipping and empowering
them for service and witness.
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he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of
his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the
Holy Spirit, 6whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our
Savior, 7so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs
having the hope of eternal life. -Titus 3:5-7
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But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness,
faithfulness, 23gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no
law.
-Galatians 5:22-23
…that God created man and woman in His own im-
age, and they became separated from God through
their disobedience. Consequently, every human being
is born a sinner, unwilling and unable to please God.
Therefore, even those who have never heard the truth
about God and His provision for salvation are lost.
To Adam he said, “Because you listened to your wife and ate from the tree
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about which I commanded you, ‘You must not eat of it,’
“Cursed is the ground because of you;
through painful toil you will eat of it
all the days of your life.
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It will produce thorns and thistles for you,
and you will eat the plants of the field.
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By the sweat of your brow
you will eat your food
until you return to the ground,
since from it you were taken;
for dust you are
and to dust you will return.” -Genesis 3:17-19
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for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24and are justified
freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.
-Romans 3:23-24
…that eternal salvation is wholly a work of God. God,
out of His abundant grace, forgives sinners when they
repent of their sin and put their faith in the Lord Jesus
Christ as the Son of God who died for them and rose
from the dead. Jesus assumed their punishment for
sin, credits His righteousness to those who believe, and
brings them into relationship with God as His chil-
dren.
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For if, when we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the
death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved
through his life! 11Not only is this so, but we also rejoice in God through
our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.
-Romans 5:10-11
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For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ
Jesus our Lord. -Romans 6:23
...in the sanctification of the believer: that we are
declared holy in standing before God on the basis
of the finished work of Christ. However,until we are
glorified, when we are with the Lord, we are to grow
in godliness as we submit to Christ’s lordship, live in
Christian community and be filled (controlled and
empowered) by the Holy Spirit.
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And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body
of Jesus Christ once for all. -Hebrews 10:10
But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
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To him be glory both now and forever! Amen. -2 Peter 3:18
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And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love
him, who have been called according to his purpose. 29For those God fore-
knew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he
might be the firstborn among many brothers. -Romans 8:28-29
...in the eternal security of the believer; that it is
impossible for one born into the family of God to
lose their salvation.
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My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. 28I give them
eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my
hand. 29My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can
snatch them out of my Father’s hand. -John 10:28-29
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Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship
or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36As it is written:
“For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be
slaughtered.” 37No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through
him who loved us. 38For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither
angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers,
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neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to
separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
-Romans 8:35-39
...that God gives spiritual gifts to all his children,
primarily for the edification of the body of Christ.
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Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common
good. -1 Corinthians 12:7
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Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. 10Each one should use
whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s
grace in its various forms. -1 Peter 4:9
...that “sign gifts,” (miracles, healing and tongues, and
the interpretation of tongues) were, and are given at
specific times and under specific circumstances, to se-
lect people, to draw attention to the gospel message and
to glorify God. These gifts are not to be confused with
the work and power given to the spirit-filled believer.
They signify a special work of God, not that the bearer
of the gift is more special because of it.
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They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest
on each of them. 4All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to
speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them. -Acts 2:3-4
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Then Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you.
In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” 7Taking him by the right
hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man’s feet and ankles became
strong. 8He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them
into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and praising God. -Acts
3:6-8
Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret?
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-1 Corinthians 12:30
Paul warns of the easy abuse, especially the gift of
tongues and states its subservience to gifts of service. It
is also Russell’s experience, having been raised in the
modern day Pentecostal movement, that tongues have
been viewed as a sign of “having arrived” at a special
pinnacle of spiritual growth and, ironically, often lulls
the individual into a false sense of security and pride in
his or her own spiritual condition, and the real fruits
of the Spirit may be left to die on the vine.
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I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you. 19But in the
church I would rather speak five intelligible words to instruct others than ten
thousand words in a tongue. -1 Corinthians 14:18-19
...that Satan and other fallen angels are real, have
personality, and are enemies of God and destroyers of
men. While they are defeated at the cross and limited
in operation, they still engage in spiritual battle against
God’s people and against His purpose until the final
day of judgment. Through Christ, believers can live
victoriously in this struggle with the forces of evil.
Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the
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devil’s schemes. 12For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against
the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and
against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
-Ephesians 6:11-12
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Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
-James 4:7
...that the Church universal as the Body of Christ is
under His headship and is composed of all believers.
It is made visible in local communities of believers or-
ganized for corporate worship, edification, fellowship,
and the continuation of Christ’s mission on earth.
Christ commissioned the Church to communicate to
all people by verbal witness, godly living, and acts of
compassion, the Good News of God’s redemptive love
and provision of salvation.
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And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church,
and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. 19I will give you the keys of the
kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven,
and whatever yo loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”
-Matthew 16:18-19
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Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or
imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21to him be glory in
the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever!
Amen. -Ephesians 3:20-21
...that everyone who has received Christ should be
baptized as a public demonstration of his or her faith in
Christ, and that the Lord’s Supper should be admin-
istered to believers to show forth His death until He
comes.
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Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name
of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20and teaching them to
obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to
the very end of this age.” -Matthew 28:19-20
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After taking the cup, he gave thanks and said, “Take this and divide it
among you. 18For I tell you I will not drink again of the fruit of the vine until
the kingdom of God comes.” 19And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it,
and gave it to them, saying “This is my body given for you; do this in remem-
brance of me.” -Luke 22:17-19
...in the bodily resurrection of the just and the unjust;
the everlasting blessedness of the saved, and the ever-
lasting punishment of the lost.
Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. Earth and
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sky fled from his presence, and there was no place for them. 12And I saw the
dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened.
Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged
according to what they had done as recorded in the books. 13The sea gave up
the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in
them, and each person was judged according to what he had done. 14Then
death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the
second death. 15If anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he
was thrown into the lake of fire. -Revelation 20:11-15