His Greater Works Ministry

Definition and Purpose of This Document

    This written document is a declaration of our core beliefs and understanding of the Holy Scriptures, as to our doctrinal beliefs, form of church government, organizational structure, and purposes as a body. It is vitally important for a church, if it is to glorify God and accomplish His purposes, that its people be in agreement with regard to doctrine, the presentation of the gospel of Jesus Christ, organizational structure and goals, as suggested in I Corinthians 1:10 to avoid sectarianism.

     “Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.”

    This statement is designed to promote a oneness of mind with an attempt to avoid sectarianism. Those that desire to be a part of this ministry may read and have a clear understanding of what our beliefs and objectives are.  The highest authority we have for our lives is God and His written Word and not this document.  Further we recognize God selects men to lead His churches on earth periodically and they are given grave responsibilities to be good stewards toward His sheep.

    “Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch over your souls, as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you”  (Hebrews 13:17). It should be understood that the local church itself is a living organism that is growing and that it is subject to the headship of Jesus Christ alone as revealed in God’s written Word (Eph. 1:22; 4:12-16).

HIS GREATER WORKS MINISTRY  -    Statements of Belief

H. Graham Wilson, Jr. 

Section 1- The Scriptures. We believe in the verbal plenary inspiration of the Scriptures and that they are authoritative for the believer, being without error in the original autographs.[1] .

Section 2- The Godhead. We believe in the Trinity, God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. [2]  One Godhead, three Persons, Unity in plurality: each Person executing distinct but harmonious offices in the work of redemption.[3]  We believe in the Incarnate, crucified Son, the Lamb of God. [4]

Section 3- The Person and work of God the Father. We believe that God the Father is Omnipresent, Omnipotent, Omniscient,   Immutable, Love, Infinite, Spirituality, Immateriality, Holiness, Sovereign, Eternal, Impassible, Creator of all Ex Nihilio, Aseity, and Transcendent.[5] 

Section 4 The Person and Work of Christ. We believe the pre-existent Son was that part of the Godhead, the second Person of the Trinity, Who took on flesh and died for the sin of the world; making all mankind savable in any dispensation[6].  Jesus Christ was born of a Jewish virgin, Mary, conceived in her womb by the Spirit[7]. The power of the Highest over-shadowed  Mary conceiving the Holy One called  Jesus. He is forever the God-Man, fully God and fully man, and impeccable.  We believe that because of the substitutionary Atonement all of mankind is savable[8].  We believe in the bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ, His ascension into heaven, and that He is alive forever[9]. We believe that, according to the Scriptures, He arose from the dead in the same body in which He had lived and died, immortal and incorruptible, and that His resurrection body is the pattern of that body which ultimately will be given to all believers, a glorified body[10].  We believe He is our mediator and High Priest of the order of Melchizedek and intercedes for all that are in Him[11].  We believe in the literal return of Jesus Christ first for His Church, and then after the great Tribulation on earth, to set up His kingdom that will last forever[12].

Section 5-The Person and Work of the Holy Spirit. We believe that the Holy Spirit, the Third Person of the Trinity, omnipresent from all eternity, took up His abode in the world in a special sense on the day of Pentecost according to the divine promise, dwells in every Church age believer, and by Holy Spirit baptism unites all in Christ to His one body, the Church, and that He, as the Indwelling One in Church age believers, is the source of all power and all acceptable worship and service. We believe that He never takes His departure from the Church, is ever present to testify of Christ; seeking to fill believers with Him and not with themselves nor with their experiences. We believe that His abode in the world in this special sense will cease when Christ calls to receive His Church at the Rapture. We believe the Holy Spirit convicts, regenerates, indwells, baptizes, leads, illuminates, and empowers[13]. He is a Person.

Section 6-Creation, the Fall, Atonement. We believe in the literal, grammatical, historical accounts of the Bible. God personally spoke into existence all, the heavens and the earth, and all that is in it as stated in the Bible.  We further believe that all Three Persons of the God-head were involved in creation[14].  We believe that Adam was the first man created and Eve was created from Adam both being created in the image and after the likeness of God[15]. By their disobeying God sin and death entered into God’s creation on earth[16].  All mankind became sinners and have the sin nature because of the fall of Adam and Eve. The image of God is marred in man but not destroyed because of original sin[17].  Atonement is by shed blood[18].  

Section 7-Satan, demons and the origin of Sin and death. Seven books of the OT and every writer of the NT refer to Satan.  Of the twenty-nine specific passages that speak of him in the Gospels, Christ is speaking in twenty-five of them. Satan, though supernaturally powerful, is a creature. He was created by God and was perfect in all his ways until he sinned. There was a time when he was not. He is a spirit being, a cherub of the order of cherubim[19]. Satan is higher than any of the wicked angels he leads and at his fall one-third of the angels fell with him[20]. We believe that Satan is the originator of sin, death came by sin and that, by permission of God, he subtlety led our first parents into transgression, thereby accomplishing their moral fall, death, and subjecting them and their posterity to his own power, that he is the enemy of God and the people of God, opposing and exalting himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped; and that he who in the beginning said, “I will be like the most High,” in his warfare appears as a roaring lion, as an angel of light, even counterfeiting the works of God by fostering religious movements and systems of doctrine, which systems in every case are characterized by a denial of the efficacy of the blood of Christ and of salvation by grace alone.[21] We believe that Satan was judged at the Cross, though not then executed, and that he, a usurper, now rules as the “god of this world”; that, at the second coming of Christ, Satan will be bound and cast into the abyss for a thousand years, and after the thousand years he will be loosed for a little season and then “cast into the lake of fire and brimstone,” where he “shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever” along with all demons[22]. 

Section 8-Salvation and Security of the believer. Christ died to secure the salvation of those who believe in Him and Christ died to provide a basis of salvation for all.  Salvation, all of it is of God, and is by grace through faith.  The believer is secure because of the presence and work of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.[23] There are three absolutes in salvation: 1) The agent of salvation is always the Holy Spirit, 2) the object of salvation, whether known or unknown, in any dispensation is Jesus Christ, being God in the flesh, and  3) the  instrument of salvation is always the Word  of God, whether audible or written.[24]

A.  Justification: When one believes God, as Abraham did, then God declares that one justified, righteous in His sight.  Justification by faith is a one time act of God whereby He declares the believer righteous, a legal or judicial declaration by God. This occurs at the moment of believing in Christ alone as the guarantor of eternal life in this age. Justification has to do with the believer’s standing before God and not his moral condition.[25]

B. Sanctification: To be sanctified means to be set apart by God. The one who believes in Christ as his Savior is set apart by God for His use.[26] Sanctification relates to the outworking of the truth that we have been declared righteous (justified) by faith in Jesus Christ. Sanctification is stated in three aspects, positional (initial), progressive (walk in life), and ultimate (glorification).  First, as far as one’s position before God is concerned in this age, each believer is set apart at the time of salvation. Second, it is the will of God that each Christian should be setting himself apart to holy living in this age. Third, there will be a final and complete setting apart of each child of God in this age when Christ comes for His Church at the Rapture whether dead or alive in Christ. Progressive sanctification has to do with the believer’s holiness in life, his walk before God and men. Ultimate sanctification (glorification) for the believer in Christ is complete at death or during translation and resurrection at the Rapture. At this time our sin nature is removed and our bodies become like His, sinless.[27]

Section 9-Church Ordinances.

A.     Communion: The Lord’s Table is a memorial remembering what Christ did for all through the Atonement.  A believer may partake and should be careful to examine himself and take of the elements in a worthy manner.[28]

B.      Baptism: Believer’s baptism in water by immersion is an ordinance of the local church and it is the means by which one’s union with Christ in His death, burial, and resurrection and one’s union with His body, the Church, is made public to the local church. Water baptism is a public testimony by a believer of his/her union with Christ and His Church through Holy Spirit baptism. Believers are water baptized by immersion in the name of the Father, The Son, and The Holy Spirit.[29]

Section 10-The Rapture of the Church, the Bema (works and rewards). The time of the Rapture of the Church is unknown, without sign, yet imminent. Nothing prevents the Rapture. The gospel of Jesus Christ does not have to be preached to all in the world before the Rapture can occur.  Biblically it occurs sometime before the seven year Tribulation on earth. Believers in Christ, whether dead or alive, are included in the Rapture of the Church. Participants are body of Christ Church members from Pentecost to the event. No OT saints are included in this event.[30]  We believe the Rapture to be pre-tribulational, that is, that the entire body of Christ’s Church is removed from earth by translation or by resurrection to heaven before the Great Tribulation of seven years occurs on earth. Those that are in heaven will go before the Bema, the judgment seat of Christ,and be judged for rewards. Rewards are for works done by those that were in Christ and edified His Church while on earth.  Sin is not involved but works, whether good or worthless, that were done while on earth.[31]

Section 11-The Tribulation. We believe that the Rapture of the Church will be followed by the fulfillment of Israel’s seventieth week during which time the Church will be in heaven participating in the Judgment seat of Christ for rewards done while on earth.[32]   The whole period of Israel’s seventieth week will be a time of judgment on the whole earth, at the end of which the times of the Gentiles will be brought to a close[33]. The gospel of the Kingdom will be preached in the Tribulation and it will have two emphases. It will announce the good news of the second coming of the Messiah and it will introduce the messianic age of blessing. Christ’s second coming is not contingent upon the world hearing the gospel of the Kingdom or the gospel of Jesus Christ.  The latter half of this period will be the time of Jacob’s trouble, which our Lord Jesus called the great tribulation.[34]  We believe that universal righteousness will not be realized previous to the second coming of Christ, but that the world is day by day ripening for judgment and that the age will end with a fearful apostasy. We believe that the period of great tribulation on the earth will be climaxed by the return of the Lord Jesus Christ to the earth as He went, in person on the clouds of heaven, and with power and great glory to introduce the messianic kingdom, to bind Satan and place him in the abyss, to partially lift the curse which now rests upon the whole creation, to restore Israel to her own land and to give her the realization of God’s covenant promises, and to bring the whole world to the knowledge of God. [35] 

Section 12-Israelology  This presents a fully classical dispensational approach to the separation of the Church and Israel as peoples of God. This term refers to a subdivision of Systematic Theology incorporating all the theological doctrines concerning the people of Israel in the entire Bible. The Biblical covenants made with Israel are to be fulfilled literally in the Messianic Kingdom on earth with Israel. The Church in no way replaces Israel in God’s program for Israel.[36]  

Section 13-The Pre-millennial Kingdom, OT and Tribulation Saints. We believe in the pre-millennial return of Christ with His Church to earth to establish His kingdom on earth for 1000 years.[37]  The second coming of Christ does have a major precondition that must be met before Christ will return to establish the Messianic Kingdom. It is twofold.

Section 14-The Eternal State. We believe that at death the souls of those who have believed in Christ as their Savior immediately pass into His presence and remain in conscious bliss until they are joined again with their bodies in resurrection, after which they shall be with the Lord forever.[40]

Section 15-The Great White Throne Judgment. We believe that the souls of unbelievers at death pass into conscious misery until the final judgment, the Great White Throne Judgment, when they shall be rejoined with their bodies, resurrected and cast into the lake of fire, not to be annihilated, but to undergo eternal conscious torment, punishment and separation from God forever. This will include all the lost for all time and there is no hope of escape.[41] 

Section 16-Missiology We believe that God is interested in saving people in all dispensations.  As a pre-tribulational, pre-millennial, dispensational church holding to a separation of Israel and the Church, we hold that missions began after Pentecost.  The mission of the body of Christ Church was to make disciples of Christ and proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ everywhere. We further believe every mission or missionary that we support should be in total agreement with our beliefs and our constitution before we can support them. We reject the notion and teaching that some introduce by claiming that the Church is in the OT and that missions began in Genesis as not being Biblical based on good hermeneutics or exegesis. Further, we believe that the first real Biblical missionary effort began in Acts and has continued to this day. Israel was centripetal in its missionary efforts and the Church is centrifugal in its efforts.  The purpose of missions is to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ to the world with the purpose of having those that are lost become regenerate, and then make them disciples of Jesus Christ.[42] 

Section 17-The Gospel of Jesus Christ. We believe that only in the Gospel is there the “power of God to salvation”.  Paul states that those who teach another gospel are cursed! [43]  Paul disdains all unethical and deceitful practices of those that distort the gospel of Jesus Christ. He writes, “by manifestations of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.”  The historical Biblical gospel of Jesus Christ is in I Corinthians 15. Paul reminds us that the gospel that he preached and taught offers salvation.  There are two great propositions and supporting evidences. “Christ died for our sins-proposition 1. According to the Scriptures-Biblical proof and he was buried-physical proof.  He arose-proposition 2. According to the Scriptures-Biblical proof and was seen-physical proof.   By believing in Jesus and Him alone for eternal life one is regenerated. The Bible is the believer’s birth certificate it proves how one can know they have eternal life.[44]                  

Footnotes

[1]  II Peter 1:21; I Timothy 3:16; Luke 24:27,44; II  Peter 3:16.

[2]  Matthew 3:16-17, 28:18-19;  I Corinthians 12:3-6; II Corinthians 13:14.

[3]  Genesis 1:1-2, 6,27; 3:22; 18:1-22; Joshua 5:13-15; Isaiah 40:13; Deuteronomy 6:4; Matthew 3:16-17; John 1:1-3,14; 15:26; Mark 12:29; Acts 5:3-4; Romans 15:15-16; Titus 3:3-7; Hebrews 1:1-3; I Peter 1:2-3; Revelation 1:4-6. 

[4]  John 1:1,14,29; Luke 1:31-33,35.

[5]  Psalm 139:7-16; Psalm 33:9; Matthew 19:26; Revelation 19:6; Isaiah 40:13-14; Matthew 11:21-23; Romans 11:34-36; Exodus 3:14; Psalm 102:26-28; I Samuel 15:29; Malachi 3:6; James 1:17; I John 4:8; Psalm 90:2; John 4:24; Leviticus 19:2; Psalm 99:9; I  John 1:5; I Chronicles 29:11-12; John 10:29; Romans 8:28-30; Ephesians 1:1-11; Genesis 1L1; Exodus 3:14; Hebrews 1:2; Jude 25; Job 22:2-3; 35:6-7; Psalm 50:10-12; Acts 17:25; Romans 11:35-36; James 1:5;  Genesis 1:1,3,6; Psalm 33:6,9; Hebrews 11:3; Revelation 4:11; Exodus 3:14; Psalm 8:1; 57:5; 97:9; 108:5; Ephesians 4:6.

[6]  John 1:1,14; I Corinthians 15:1-5; Romans 3:24-26; I John 2:2, 4:10.

[7]  Luke 1:31-35.

[8] Romans 3:24-25, 5:8; I John 2:2, 4:10; I Peter 1:18-19.

[9] Luke 24:34,39,46; Acts 1:9-11, 2:22-39; I  Corinthians 15:1-5.

[10] John 20:20; Philippians 3:20-21.

[11] I Timothy 2:5; Hebrews 5:1-10; 7.

[12] I Corinthians 15:50-58; I Thessalonians 4:13-18; II Samuel 7:12-17; Daniel 2:44; Luke 1:32-33; Revelation 19:11-16.

[13] John 14:16-17; 16:7-15; I Corinthians 6:19; 12:13; Ephesians 2:22; I Thessalonians 4:13-18; II Thessalonians 2:7.

[14] Genesis 1:1-2; 2:1; Isaiah 42:5; John 1:1-3; Colossians 1:16-17.

[15] Genesis  1:”26-27; 2:7,18,21-24.

[16] Genesis 3; Romans 5:12-21.

[17] Psalm 14:1-3; Jeremiah 17:9; Romans 1:24-32; 3:9-19,23; 5:12-2; 6:23; Galatians 3:22; Ephesians 2:1-3.

[18] Romans 3:24-25; I John 2:2, 4:10. 

[19] Ezekiel 28:11-19; Ephesians 6:11-12.

[20] Jude 9; Revelation 12:3-4.

[21] Genesis 3:1-19; Romans 5:12-14; II Corinthians 4:3-4; 11:13-15; Ephesians 6:10-12; II Thessalonians 2:4; I Timothy 4:1-3.

[22] Colossians 2:15; I Peter 5:8,   Jude 6; Revelation 20:1-3,10.

[23] John 5:24; 6:47; 10:28-29; Romans 3:24-25; I John 2:2, ; 4:10; John 3:16; Ephesians 2:8-9;  John 10:27-30; Romans 8:31-39; Ephesians 4:30.

[24] John 16:8-11; Genesis 3:15; Acts 4:10-12; John 8:58; 9:30, 37-38; 17:3; Romans 3:24-25; I John 2:2; 4:10; Revelation 13:8; II Timothy 3:14-17.

[25] Genesis 15:6; John 17:3; Romans 4; II Corinthians 5:21; Romans 8:28-30.

[26] I Corinthians 3:16-17; 6:19; Ephesians 2:8-10; Philippians 1:6; 2:13.

[27] I Corinthians 1:30; 6:11; John 17:17; II Corinthians 7:1; I Thessalonians 4:13-18; Romans 6:12-14; Galatians 5:16; Ephesians 4:30; Philippians 3:12; I Thessalonians 5:19; Hebrews 10:29; James 2:14-26; II Corinthians 5:6-8;  I Corinthians 15:5058; Romans 8:18-23; Philippians 3:20-21.

[28] Matthew 26:26-30; Mark 14:22-26; Luke 22:14-23; John 13:1-30; I Corinthians 11:23-34.

[29] Acts 8:36-38; Romans 6:1-4; I Corinthians 12:12-13; Matthew 28:19.

[30] Revelation 3:10; John 14:1-3; I Corinthians 15:58; I Thessalonians 1:10; 4:13-18; 5:9.

[31] Ephesians 2:10; I Corinthians 3:8-10; II Corinthians 5:10; Romans 14:10.

[32] Daniel 9:27; Revelation 6:1-19,21.

[33] Luke 21:24.

[34] Matthew 24:14; Jeremiah 30:7; Matthew 24:15-21.

[35] Deuteronomy 30:1-10; Isaiah 11:9; Ezekiel 37:212-28; Matthew 24:14-25, 46; Acts 15:16-17; Romans 8:19-23; II: 25-27;  I Timothy 4:1-3; II Timothy 3:1-5; Revelation 20:1-3.

[36] Genesis 12:1-3; 13:15-16; 15:1-21; 22:15-18; 26:2-5, 25; Daniel 9:24-27; Romans 11:29.

[37] Daniel 2:44; Revelation 19:11-16; 20:4-6.

[38] Leviticus 26:40-42; Psalm 80:1-19; Jeremiah 3:11-18; Zechariah 12:10-13:1; Hosea 5:15.

[39] Isaiah 26:19; Daniel 12:2; Revelation 20:4.

[40] II Corinthians 5:8; Philippians 1:23; John 14:1-3; I Corinthians 15:50-53; I Thessalonians 4:16-17; Revelation 21-22.

[41] Luke 16:19-28; II Thessalonians 1:8-9; Jude 6-7; Revelation 20:11-15.

[42] Matthew 20:18-20; Acts 1:8; 2; 8; 9:20-31; 10; 13:13; 14-28; John 16:8-10; Romans 1:16; 9-11; Ephesians 3; James.

[43] Galatians 1:8-10

[44] Romans 1:16; Galatians 1:8-10; II Corinthians 4:2; I Corinthians 15:1-5; Acts 16:30; John 3:16, 36; 6:47; 20:31.