Our Beliefs

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The following is the official Statement of Beliefs of The Psalm 119 Association, Inc. While any statement of beliefs is but a simple and fallible human attempt to summarize and systemize the riches of God’s written revelation, still the affirmations that follow reflect the broad basis of our beliefs. They also provide an anchor to protect the Association against theological error.

WE BELIEVE IN THE BIBLE

The sole foundation of faith for the follower of Jesus Christ is the Bible, composed in the sixty-six books of the Old and New Testaments. We believe that Scripture entirely originated with God, and that it was revealed to us through chosen men whose every thought was directed and safeguarded so that what they wrote reflected exactly what was on God’s mind. We hold that the Scriptures are infallible and inerrant in the original manuscripts. They are the unique and final authority on all matters of faith and practice for the follower of Jesus Christ, and there are no other writings similarly inspired of God. As such, the authority of Scripture cannot be overruled by religious tradition or personal experience.

Psalm 119:4-8,12,18,24,33-38,42,64,66-68,71,75,86,89,97-100,102,104-105,111,125,129-130,133,135,137-138,140,142,151-152,160; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:20-21; Matthew 1:22; 1 Thessalonians 2:13.

WE BELIEVE IN GOD

We believe that there is only one true God, eternally existing in three persons-God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit-each of whom possesses equally all the attributes of deity and is worthy of worship. It pleased God in the beginning by the word of His mouth to create of nothing the universe and all it contains, in order to make the glory of His power, wisdom, and goodness known. By His sovereign power He continues to sustain His creation. Through His providence He is operating throughout history to fulfill His redemptive purposes.

Deuteronomy 6:4; Isaiah 45:5-7; John 17:3: I Corinthians 8:5-6; Matthew 28:19; 2 Corinthians 13:14; John 5:22-23; Genesis 1:1; Romans 1:20; Hebrews 11:3; Colossians 1:16-17; Ephesians 1:7-12.

WE BELIEVE IN JESUS CHRIST

God has fully revealed Himself in the person of His Son, Jesus Christ, who is “the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person” (Hebrews 1:3). Through His miraculous conception and virgin birth, He was united forever with a true human nature and is thus both fully God and fully man. He is the unique God-man who lived a sinless life of perfect obedience to the Father and voluntarily offered Himself on Calvary’s cross as a sacrifice for our sins. Through His death, Jesus fully satisfied all the demands of God’s justice and paid the penalty for our sins. After His literal, bodily resurrection from the dead, Jesus ascended into heaven as the exalted Lord of all, taking His seat at the Father’s right hand, where He intercedes for His own as the advocate and only mediator between God and man. We believe in the imminent return of the Lord Jesus Christ, removing His Church from the wrath of God’s judgment. Following God’ judgment on this sinful people and planet, Jesus Christ will return to rule in power and great glory and will then defeat Satan one last time and inaugurate for us an eternity with God forever.

Hebrews 1:1-2; Matthew 1:18-21; John 1:1,14; Hebrews 2:14-15; Philippians 2:6-8; Colossians 2:9; I Peter 2:22; Hebrews 4:14; John 10:17-18; Hebrews 9:14, 24-28; Romans 3:21-26; 4:25; I John 2:2; II Corinthians 5:21; John 14:6; Acts 4:12; Philippians 2:9-11; Hebrews 1:3; 7:25-26; I John 2:1; I Timothy 2:5-6; Acts 1:9-11; John 14:1-3; Titus 2:13; Revelation 3:10; I Thessalonians 4:16-17; I Thessalonians 5:9; II Thessalonians 1:7-9; John 5:22-23; II Corinthians 5:10; Matthew 25:31-46; Revelation 11:15; Psalm 72:8-14; Isaiah 11:2-9; Zechariah 14:6-21; 11:2-9; Zechariah 14:6-21; Revelation 20:1-9.

WE BELIEVE IN THE HOLY SPIRIT

The Holy Spirit, the third person of the Trinity, was sent by the Father and Son to convict the world of sin and enable people to repent and believe in Christ. At the moment of faith, the Holy Spirit permanently indwells each follower of Jesus Christ, giving us new life, uniting us with the body of Christ, and giving us spiritual gifts with which we can serve the Church and the world. In His ongoing ministry in the life of the believer, the Holy Spirit provides inner assurance that he/she is God’s child, power to overcome temptation and sin, and growth in every spiritual dimension until we reach the full measure of maturity in Christ.

Matthew 28:19; Acts 5:3-4; John 15:26; John 16:8; Titus 3:5-7; Ephesians 1:13-14; 1 Corinthians 6:19-20; Romans 8:9; John 6:63; 1 Corinthians 12:13; 1 Corinthians 12:11; I Peter 4:10; 2 Corinthians 12:12; Hebrews 2:3-4; Ephesians 2:19-20; Romans 8:15-16; Ephesians 3:14-16; Ephesians 5:18-21; Galatians 5:16-23; 2 Corinthians 3:17-18; John 16:14; I Corinthians 3:16; Acts 1:8; Revelation 22:17.

WE BELIEVE IN GOD´S GRACIOUS SALVATION

A central theme in Scripture is God’s provision of salvation for sinful human beings. Though originally created in perfect fellowship with God, the first man yielded to the temptation of Satan and disobeyed the command of God, bringing upon himself and all subsequent humanity God’s judgment of both physical and spiritual death. All human beings therefore enter the world under condemnation and with a disposition that rejects God’s authority over their lives, rendering them unable to please God. Because God is holy and just, He must punish all sin. Yet in His love and grace, He chose instead for His Son Jesus Christ to bear the full guilt and penalty of man’s sin. Whoever repents of sin and places faith in Jesus Christ alone as Savior receives forgiveness of sin and is declared righteous in God’s sight. The believer in Christ also receives spiritual life, creating in him/her the desire and ability to please God. Although good works cannot earn salvation, they are the proof of genuine faith. Salvation is based completely on the grace of God, and as the perfect Savior, God keeps us by the power of His strong arm.

Luke 24:44-47; Acts 10:43; Hebrews 1:1-3; Genesis 1:27; 2:17; 3:6; Romans 5:12; 6:23; Ephesians 2:1-3; Romans 3:10-19; 8:5-8; Deuteronomy 32:4; Exodus 34:7; Proverbs 11:21; Romans 5:8; 8:32; II Corinthians 5:21; Romans 3:21-26; 10:9-10; Luke 24:46-47; Acts 16:31; John 14:6; I Timothy 2:5-6; II Corinthians 5:17; Titus 3:5; Philippians 2:12-13; Ephesians 2:8-10; James 2:14-24; John 6:39-40; 10:27-29; Jude 24; Romans 8:38-39; Galatians 4:4-7; Colossians 1:13-14.

WE BELIEVE IN THE CHURCH

In the present age, God’s primary work is to call out from among all humanity a people to be identified as His very own. These, through common faith in Jesus Christ, are united in one spiritual body, the Church. Jesus Christ, through His death and resurrection, has been exalted as Head of the Church. We believe it is God’s will for each follower of Jesus Christ to be an active participant in the life of a local church. The mission of the Church in the world is to make disciples by winning, building, equipping, and mobilizing people to advance Christ’s kingdom and exalt His name. To that end, while not a physical expression of God’s local church, the Association exists to assist the church in achieving its magnificent mission.

Matthew 16:18; Acts 2:39; Titus 2:13-14; I Peter 2:9-10; Acts 15:14-18; Ephesians 2:11-22; 4:11-16; I Corinthians 12:12-27; Ephesians 1:18- 23; 5:23; Acts 20:17-28; I Peter 5:1-4; I Timothy 3:1-7; Titus 1:5-9; I Thessalonians 5:12-13; Hebrews 13:17; Philippians 1:1; I Timothy 3:8-13; Matthew 28:19-20; Acts 1:8; I Corinthians 9:19-23.

WE BELIEVE IN ADDRESSING HUMAN NEED

While we believe that Jesus’ primary mission to earth was “to seek and to save those who were lost” (Luke 19:10), the Savior was also a teacher, enabler, and humanitarian. Therefore, in ministry we too should be a teacher of what is moral, right, wholesome, biblical and eternally important in order to fruitfully address the human need. We should also be a provider of goods and services that come alongside our primary ministry to improve the conditions of the human need. We believe in humanitarianism, the need to help our fellow man, to give him a cup of water, to show him compassion so that in teaching him we may manifest the characteristics that we teach. While his spiritual needs are primary, often the catalyst for meeting those needs are found in teaching, providing and showing compassion.

Psalm 25:12; 34:11; 107:9; 119:12,64,66,68,124,135; 143:10; 146:7; Proverbs 9:9; Jeremiah 31:34; Ezekiel 44:23; Daniel. 1:4; Matthew 5:19; Mark 4:1; 6:2,34; Luke 11:1; 1 Corinthians 4:17; 1 Timothy 4:11; 6:2; 2 Timothy 2:2; Hebrews 5:12; Luke 1:53; Philippians 4:12; Isaiah 49:10; John 6:35; Romans 12:20; Revelation 7:16; Deuteronomy 4:9-10; 6:6-9; Ezra 7:10.

WE BELIEVE IN AN ULTIMATE HUMAN DESTINY

According to Scripture, all people are sinners and therefore destined to die. Upon death, the soul of the believer immediately enters the presence of God, and the soul of the unbeliever enters a state of separation from God. For all people, there will be a resurrection of the body and a final judgment. For unbelievers, judgment will result in eternal, conscious punishment. Believers will be rewarded for works done in this life and experience eternal joy and communion with God. There are two roads, two destinies: one leads to God, the other away from God. Our mission is to place educational and other roadblocks on the roads that create a destiny leading away from God and to pave the roads with educational and other benefits that create a destiny leading to God. To that end, we hold these doctrines to be sacred.

Romans 3:23; 5:12; 6:23; Hebrews 9:27; Philippians 1:21-23; II Corinthians 5:8; John 3:36; Daniel 12:2; John 5:28-29; Revelation 20:1-15; Luke 16:19-26; II Thessalonians 1:7-9; Matthew 25:41-46; Philippians 3:20-21; I Corinthians 3:12-15; II Corinthians 5:9-10.