Doctrinal Statement of Missionary Jorge Villafranca
The Scriptures:
I believe in the verbal, plenary inspiration of the Holy Scriptures; including the Old and New Testaments that compose the entire bible as a total of 66 books. They are inerrant, infallible, preserved, God-breath and I take them as the final and only authority for faith and conduct. They are to be interpreted within grammatical, historical, cultural, and contextual meaning. I believe the King James Version is God’s word for the English speaking people. (II Timothy 3:16-17, II Peter 1:20-21)
The God head:
I believe in ONE Triune GOD, eternally existing in three persons, - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, each coeternal in being, coidentical in nature, coequal in power and glory, and having the same tributes and perfections. (Deuteronomy 6:4; Mathew 28:19; II Corinthians 13:14; John 14:10, 26)
The Person and Work of Christ:
I believe that the Lord Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God. Became man without ceasing to be God, having been begotten by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary in order to reveal God to humanity and redeem fallen men. (Isaiah 7:14; 9:6; Luke 1:35; John 1:1-2, 14; II Corinthians 5:19-21; Galatians 4:45; Philippians 2:5-8)
I believe that the Lord Jesus Christ accomplished our redemption through His dead on the cross as a representative, vicarious, substitutionary sacrifice; and that our justification is made sure by His literal, physical resurrection from the death. (Acts 2:18-36; Roams 3:24-25; I Peter 2:24; Ephesians 1:7; I Peter 1:3-5)
I believe that the Lord Jesus Christ ascended to Heaven and is now exalted at the right hand of God where, as our High Priest, he executes the duties as our Representative, our Intercessor, and our Advocate. ( Acts 1:9; Hebrews 9:24; 7:25; Romans 8:34; I John 2:1-2)
The Person and Work of the Holy Spirit:
I believe that Holy Spirt is a Person Who convicts the world of sin, of righteousness, and of judgement; and the He is the Supernatural Agent in regeneration, baptizing all believers into the body of Christ, indwelling and sealing them unto the day of redemption. ( John 16:8-11; Romans 8:9; I Corinthians 12:12-14; II Corinthians 3:6; Ephesians 1:13-14)
I believe that He is a Teacher Who helps the born again child of God to grow in grace through the Scriptures. (Ephesians 1:17-18; 5:18; I John 2:20, 27)
I believe that there are gifts bestowed by the Holy Spirit to every believer. God uses evangelist, pastors, and teachers to edify believers in the local assembly in order to perform the work of the ministry. (Romans 12:3-8; I Corinthians 12:4-11, 28; Ephesians 4:7-12)
In regards to speaking in tongues and the gift of healing: I believe those gifts gradually cease as the apostolic age came to a conclusion and the cannon of scripture was completed. (Acts 19:11-12; Acts 28:5; I Corinthians 1:22; 13:8; 14:21-22; )
Salvation:
I believe salvation is for whosoever will. It is a free gift of God for the repented sinner understanding their condemned condition and separation from God. IT IS FREE. Not by works. It is made possible by the love of God toward us and the dead, burial, and resurrection of his Son and Savior Jesus Christ. A sinner can place their faith in Christ alone and instantaneously receive the new birth. God’s desire is that none should perish but that all would repent. (Romans 10:13; Ephesians 2:8-9; Acts 20:21; Romans 5:8; John 3:16; Romans 10:9; John 3:3; II Peter 3:19)
Eternal Security of the Believer:
Eternal security is made possible by the unbroken promises of God. Upon salvation the believer is kept by the power of God and sealed by the Holy Spirit. This does not give the secured christian a license to sin, God forbid.
(John 6:37-40; 10:27-30; Romans 8:1, 38-39; I John 5:11-13; I Peter 1:4-5; Romans 13:13-14; Galatians 5:13; Titus 2:11-15)
Baptism:
I believe that a biblical baptism is to be perform under the authority of the New Testament local church and is only for saved individuals. Baptism is in no way an aid for salvation nor can it remove any sin. It is a step of obedience to be done as symbol of the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The believer must be immersed in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. This is also a prerequisite for church membership. (Acts 8:36-39; Matthew 3:6; Mathew 28:19; John 3:23)
The Lord's Supper:
I believe that it is to commemorate the love of Christ. A believer that is a church member of the local assembly is to perform a self-examination before partaking of the unleavened bread and unfermented fruit of the vine. (I Corinthians 11:23-28)
The Church:
I believe that church is composed of the regenerated and baptized. Jesus Christ is the head of the church, we make up the his body. Because Christ is the head the church should remain autonomous, liberated from any external authority or control. The two ordinances given by Christ, baptist and the Lord’s supper. The two offices are pastors and deacons. (I Corinthians 12:12-14; II Corinthians 11:2; Ephesians 1:22-23; Mathew 28:19-20; Acts 2:41-42; I Corinthians 11:23-26; Ephesians 4:12; I Timothy 3:1-13)
Creation:
I believe that Genesis account of Creation as a six, 24 hour days. Men was created by God in his own image. (Genesis 1-3; Exodus 20:11)
Minnelialism:
I reject post-milleniallism and amillenialism. I believe that taking the Bible literally will give you a literal thousand year millenial after the second coming of Christ. (Isaiah 40:10; Matthew 16:27; 25:34; Revelations 22:12; Zechariah 9:10; Matthew 6:9;Micah 4:2-3; Isaiah 6:6-9; Ezekiel 34:26-37; 36:29-30; Revelations 19- 20)
Tribulation:
I believe that seven years of tribulation are not for the church. The church at this time has already been raptured. Three and half years of tribulation, followed by another three and half years of great tribulation is for Israel. (Jacobs trouble) There will be seven seals, seven trumpets, and seven bowls. (Matthew 24:21-22; Revelation 20:4-6; Matthew 24:29-3; Daniel 12:1; Mark 13:24-27; 1 Thessalonians 5:9; Mark 13:19; Daniel 9:24-27;Romans 8:25)
Rapture:
I believe this undated event is for the church,(saved) to be snatched away with Him in the clouds. It is not to be confused with the second coming of Christ. This event concludes the church age. (1 Thessalonians 4:13- 18)
