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| 𝔧𝔢𝔯𝔢𝔪𝔶 |
ABOUT:
Ordained in 2018, I serve in a traveling ministry role, teaching and speaking at churches, conferences, and other ministry gatherings across the country.
During my college years, my primary focus was theology and church history, complemented by coursework in apologetics, philosophy, and psychology. Along the way, I earned several certificates of completion and was honored with a scholar award for my work.
Beyond ministry and study, I enjoy life as a husband, dog dad, musician, and graphic designer — with a love for good coffee and heavy music.
This blog is a space where I share reflections, explore the richness of theology, and wrestle with the deeper questions of faith and philosophy.
BELIEFS:
The following is taken from the 1689 London Baptist Confession of Faith, which I believe faithfully summarizes these doctrines as taught in Scripture.
THE BIBLE
- The Bible is the only sufficient, certain, and infallible standard of all saving knowledge, faith, and obedience (II Timothy 3:15-17; Isaiah 8:20; Luke 16:29, 31; Ephesians 2:20).
THE HOLY TRINITY
- The divine and infinite Godhead consists of three persons: the Father, the Word or Son, and the Holy Spirit (I John 5:7; Matthew 28:19; II Corinthians 13:14).
- At the same time, these three persons have the same substance, power, and eternity. They are each fully God, yet God is undivided (Exodus 3:14; John 14:11; I Corinthians 8:6).
THE FALL OF MAN
- God created humans upright and perfect (Genesis 2:16-17). However, they did not remain in this honored position for long. Satan used the subtlety of the serpent to trick Eve, who then seduced Adam. Without any compulsion, Adam willfully disobeyed the law written in his heart (of their creation) and God's command by eating the forbidden fruit. (Genesis 3:12-13; II Corinthians 11:3). God was pleased, according to his wise and holy counsel, to permit this because he had planned to use Adam's sin for his own glory.
- Because of this sin, our first parents fell from their original righteousness and communion with God, and we fell with them. In this way, death came to all (Romans 3:23).
TOTAL DEPRAVITY
- By God's decree, Adam and Eve represented the entire human race. The guilt of their sin was imputed and their corrupted nature was passed on to all of their offspring who descend from them (Romans 5:12-19; I Corinthians 15:21-22, 45, 49). Humans are now: conceived in sin, by nature children of wrath, servants of sin (Psalms 51:5; Job 14:4, Ephesians 2:3).
- Those who are regenerated still have a corrupted nature (Romans 7:18, 23; Ecclesiastes 7:20; I John 1:8). Although, through Christ, it is pardoned and put to death, this corrupted nature and all sinful actions that result from it are still truly and actually sin (Romans 7:23-25; Galatians 5:17)
JUSTIFICATION BY FAITH ALONE
- Justification is not based upon anything done within or by man, but is based upon Christ alone (I Corinthians 1:30-31, Romans 5:17-19). Faith that receives and rests upon Christ and his righteousness is the only means of justification (Romans 3:28).
- The justification of believers in the Old Testament was in every way exactly the same as the justification of believers in the New Testament (Galatians 3:9; Romans 4:22-24)
- Good works, which are done in obedience to God's commandments, are fruits and evidences of a true and lively faith (James 2:18, 22). By our good works, we can neither contribute to nor satisfy God for the debt of our former sins (Romans 3:20; Ephesians 2:8-9; Romans 4:6).
THE FATE OF SOULS
- The bodies of people who have died return to dust and undergo decay (Genesis 3:19; Acts 13:36).
- The souls of the righteous are received into heaven, where they are with Christ and behold the face of God in light and glory. There, they wait for the full redemption of their bodies (Luke 23:43; II Corinthians 5:1, 6, 8; Philemon 1:23; Hebrews 12:23).
- The souls of the wicked are cast into hell, where they remain in torment and utter darkness, reserved for the judgment of the great day (Jude 6-7; I Peter 3:19; Luke 16:23-24).
