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Blessings to you, the readers of this page, in Jesus Christ our Lord. May He guide you and protect you always.
From: Rev. Bill McGinnis, Pastor - Bible Church Of Christ
http://patriot.net/users/bmcgin/biblechurchofchrist.html
P. O. Box 2543, Alexandria, VA 22301 USA
bmcgin@patriot.net - (703)-768-6710
February 23, 2000
The Lord Jesus Christ has led me to establish this Church and make it available to all who will do these three things:
1. accept Him as their Lord and Saviour;
2. accept the
"BASIC DOCTRINES OF THE BIBLE CHURCH OF CHRIST;"
3. accept me,
Rev. Bill McGinnis, as
their Pastor.
1. that you declare with your lips that Jesus Christ is your
personal Lord and Saviour
and that you believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead;
2.
that you accept the "BASIC DOCTRINES OF THE BIBLE CHURCH OF CHRIST," shown
below.
3. that you accept me, Rev. Bill McGinnis, as your Pastor.
I will then enter your name on the membership list and begin my pastoral relationship with you. You may end this relationship at any time, for any reason, without obligation of any kind.
The Six Certainties Of The Bible Christian Faith
1. There is one God, Creator of all things.
2. The Bible is the one true and complete written Word of God.
3. Jesus Christ is the only-begotten Son of God.
The words "only-begotten" mean "only-fathered," that
is, Jesus is the only human ever directly physically
fathered by God.
4. Jesus was crucified, dead and buried, then rose from the dead, by
the power of God, and lives today in Heaven and in the hearts of
those who believe in Him.
5. If we believe in Him, we will not perish, but will have eternal
life, forever with Him.
"Believing in Him" means: that we accept the fact that
He is Son of God, risen from the dead; that we accept
Him as our own personal Lord; that we try to follow
His commandments as best we know how; that we are
always willing to declare our faith in Him, openly and
without hesitation.
6. The most important thing He wants us to do is to love: to love God
first of all, then to love all other people the same as we love
ourselves, using His love for us as our example.
God's Rules To Live By
Every person has the freedom to believe what he wants to believe and
to follow whatever path in life he wants to follow. Some paths lead to
happiness and joy forever, others lead to misery and torment.
These are the major rules God has laid down for us to follow. These
rules are for our own good, not for His amusement. They are not
difficult to follow. They are suitable for all people, at all times,
in all places. If you follow these rules, you will never go far wrong.
If you ignore these rules or deliberately disobey them, you bring
nothing but trouble onto yourself.
<><
THE TEN COMMANDMENTS
1. "Do not put anything ahead of God your Creator."
2. "Do not make or worship idols."
3. "Do not take the name of God in vain."
4. "Take one day of complete rest each week, in honor of God.
5. "Honor your father and your mother."
6. "Do not commit murder."
7. "Do not commit adultery."
8. "Do not steal."
9. "Do not tell lies against anyone."
10. "Do not covet other people's possessions."
(Based on Exodus 20:1-17, restated in
Deuteronomy 5:6-22)
THE GREAT COMMANDMENT
------------------------------------------------
"First, love God your Creator more than anything
else. Then, love all other people the same as you
love yourself."
------------------------------------------------
(Based on Matthew 22:35-40, restated in Mark
12:28-31 and Luke 10:25-28. The idea of all people
as neighbors is explained in Luke 10:29-37)
THE LAW OF LOVE: "LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF."
This fulfills the Ten Commandments and all other commandments. If you
do this one thing, you have done everything God requires of you under His
law. God accepts your love for neighbor as if it were love for Himself
(see Matthew 25:40).
----------------------------------------------------------
For the whole law is fulfilled in one word, "You shall love
your neighbor as yourself." (Galatians 5:14 RSV)
----------------------------------------------------------
THE GOLDEN RULE: "TREAT OTHERS AS YOU WOULD HAVE THEM TREAT YOU."
(Based on Matthew 7:12, restated in Luke 6:31)
_____________________________________________________________
"So whatever you wish that men would do to you, do so to them; for
this is the law and the prophets." (Matthew 7:12 RSV)
"And as you wish that men would do to you, do so to them."
(Luke 6:31 RSV)
--------------------------------------------------------------
Jesus said, "This is the law and the prophets." He did not say,
"This is one of God's many laws." This IS is the law, all by itself.
The Golden Rule puts The Law Of Love into action.
Sexual Ethics
To many people, the Bible seems unclear on the subject of
human sexuality, seeming to support everything from
polygamy to total sexual abstinance. Even in the New
Testament, the definition of "sexual immorality" (PORNEIA)
is unclear; Jesus' instructions regarding divorce are unclear;
and no mention is made of sex for people who are not married.
In the absence of clear Biblical instruction, we default to the
Natural Law, as revealed to me below.
The Natural Law For Marriage, Divorce, And Sex
The Natural Law - (Romans 2:14-16 RSV)
_____________________________________________________________
14
When Gentiles who have not the law do by nature what the
law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though
they do not have the law.
15
They show that what the law requires is written on their
hearts, while their conscience also bears witness and
their conflicting thoughts accuse or perhaps excuse them
16
on that day when, according to my gospel, God judges the
secrets of men by Christ Jesus.
_____________________________________________________________
<><
This, then, is the Natural Law regarding marriage, divorce, and sex.
Basically, I am taking dictation from God, and this is what He
says:
The Nature Of Marriage
Marriage is the normal intended state for most adults. "Marriage" is
the relationship between one man and one women in which their two
bodies become as one flesh, through voluntary sexual intercourse; and
all other partners in sexual activity are henceforth excluded, by
mutual agreement.
"Sexual intercourse" is penetration of the vagina by the penis.
"Sexual activity" is any activity which includes sexual
gratification.
Establishment Of Marriage
The marriage relationship is established when both parties freely
agree to an exclusive sexual relationship with each other and
consummate it with sexual intercourse. Without voluntary agreement
there is no marriage. And without sexual consummation, there is no
marriage. Both elements are necessary. No ceremony is required: merely
agreement and consummation.
Duration Of Marriage
Once established, the marriage relationship continues until it is
broken by death, by mutual consent, or by extreme violation of the
one-flesh relationship.
When either partner dies, the relationship is broken, and the
surviving partner is free to marry again.
When both parties, by mutual consent, agree to terminate the marriage
and have no further sexual intercourse with each other, the
relationship is broken. Both are then free to marry again. Just as
voluntary agreement with sexual intercourse establishes the marriage
relationship, so also voluntary agreement without sexual intercourse
breaks the marriage relationship.
One party may terminate the marriage relationship without the consent
of the other party only if there has been extreme violation of the
one-flesh relationship by the other party. The most glaring and
extreme sexual violation is adultery, which is sexual intercourse by a
married person with some person other than the spouse. Another kind of
extreme violation would be if one party deliberately and repeatedly
inflicted harm on the other, in a way that he surely would not do to
himself.
In general, God opposes the termination of marriages. The greatest
single cause of divorce is sexual activity outside the marriage. If
you look deeply enough in almost any divorce, you will find the
disruptive influence of an outside partner in sexual activity. Perhaps
there are a few exceptions to this rule, but not many. Therefore all
such activity is prohibited, particularly adultery, which is a major
offense against God.
Sexual Activity For Those Who Are Not Married
Sex is a natural, God-given part of life, just as eating and sleeping
are natural, God-given parts of life. The desire for physical release
through sexual orgasm is a natural desire, like hunger or thirst. Some
people feel sexual desire more strongly than others, and those to whom
God has given strong sexual desires must not be judged or condemned by
those whose desires are weaker.
God provides for all our needs, including our need for sexual release.
His preferred method for dealing with sexual need is marriage, as
described above.
Nevertheless, people who are not married are also entitled to sexual
release, without guilt or shame.
There are different degrees of sexual intimacy which unmarried people
might experience with each other, from simple kissing to the various
forms of sex leading to orgasm. Sexual intercourse is reserved for
married people alone. Any other sexual activity between unmarried
persons should be governed by the rule," The closer you are to being
married, the greater intimacy you are permitted." Sexual orgasms bond
people closer to each other, leading the unmarried toward marriage and
strengthening the bond which already exists between those who are
married. Therefore sexual activity involving orgasm should be confined
to the one person with whom you are seeking a long-term marital bond.
Thus, sexual promiscuity, or "playing the harlot," is forbidden.
Certain kinds of sexual activity are simply not permitted, and these
are sex in any form with a person of the same sex, with an animal, or
with a close relative. Rape is forbidden, and also any adult sexual
activity with persons below the minimum age for marriage.
God has provided one method of sexual release, acceptable for all
people, and that is private solo masturbation. If you do not have a
married spouse or other acceptable sexual partner available to you,
you always have your own hand. There is no Scriptural prohibition
whatsoever against private solo masturbation. In fact, it can even be
a form of worship, as we give thanks to God for our bodies and for the
wonderful feelings He allows us to have.
"For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be
rejected if it is received with thanksgiving;" (1 Timothy 4:4 RSV)
<><
Children
Since sexual intercourse is reserved for married couples only, then
conception and childbearing should occur only among married couples.
From the moment of conception, the children are the joint
responsibility of the husband and the wife. Husband and wife have
equal rights in the children, and equal responsibilities toward them.
In the event of divorce, those rights and responsibilities need to be
allocated somehow, since the children will no longer be able to live
normally with both parents. This is one major reason why God opposes
divorce: it usually creates great difficulties and complications for
the children.
Abortion
Abortion is the taking of innocent human life, which God always
opposes.
<><
This concludes the BASIC DOCTRINES OF THE BIBLE CHURCH OF CHRIST.
Blessings to you in Jesus Christ our Lord.
If you would like to become a member, please write to me at this address:
Rev. Bill McGinnis, Pastor
Bible Church Of Christ
P. O. Box 2543
Alexandria, VA 22301 USA
There is no financial obligation of any kind.
http://patriot.net/users/bmcgin/ministries.html
May the Lord bless this presentation of His holy Word.
Rev. Bill McGinnis <><
bmcgin@patriot.net
See more pages like this, at our Index of Pearls Of Faith, a treasury of Biblical truths.
Please also see our related pages . . .
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Rev. Bill McGinnis, Director - LoveAllPeople.org
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