Articles of Faith
These articles are not designed as an exhaustive statement of our faith, nor of its defence, but are to simply define and declare what we believe the Word of God teaches on these vital doctrines.
ARTICLE I - THE BIBLE
We believe in the verbal (every word) and plenary (complete) inspiration of the Scriptures in the original manuscripts; that the complete written revelation of God is the sixty-six books of the Bible; that these books are therefore infallible and inerrant in all matters of which they speak; that God has preserved His Word through the centuries; and that these Scriptures are the supreme, literal and authoritative standard by which all human conduct, creeds, and opinions shall be judged (Psalm 119:89; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:16-21).
ARTICLE II - GOD
Section 1 - The Trinity
We believe in one Triune God, eternally existing in three Persons - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; that they are equal in every divine perfection, while executing distinct but harmonious offices in the great work of redemption (Matthew 28:19-20; John 16:7-15; 1 John 5:1-8).
Section 2 - God the Father
We believe that God the Father is father only to those who receive Jesus Christ as Saviour (John 1:14; John 20:17; Romans 4:11; 1 Peter 1:3-5); that He is spirit (John 4:24); that He is perfect in holiness, infinite in wisdom, and measureless in power (Leviticus 11:44; Psalm 147:4); that He concerns Himself in the affairs of men (1 Timothy 2:3-6); that He hears and answers prayer (Psalm 65:2); and that He is the object of our worship and praise (Exodus 20:3-6).
Section 3 - God the Son, Jesus Christ
We believe in the absolute Deity of Jesus Christ (1 John 5:20; John 1:18); His eternal existence as God (Hebrews 1:8); His incarnation (becoming flesh) by means of the virgin birth (Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:18-25; Luke 1:26-56; Luke 2:1-20); His sinlessness (1 Peter 2:22); His substitutionary atonement for the sins of mankind by the shedding of His blood on the cross (Hebrews 9:12-14); His death, burial, bodily resurrection, and ascension (1 Corinthians 15:3-6); His present high-priestly ministry in heaven (Hebrews 4:15; Hebrews 7:26; 1 John 2:1); and His personal, visible return to earth (1 Thessalonians 4:16; Acts 1:11).
Section 4 - God the Holy Spirit
We believe that the Holy Spirit is divine in His person, equal to and of the same nature as the Father and the Son (Matthew 28:19); that He convinces the world of sin, righteousness, and judgement (John 16:7-15); that He is the agent of the New Birth (John 3:5-7); that He baptises all true believers into the body of Christ (Acts 1:5,8); indwelling, filling, sanctifying, sealing, and securing them unto the day of the redemption of the body (2 Corinthians 1:21-22; Ephesians 1:13-14; 4:30); and that the evidence of His filling is a changed life characterised by practical spiritual graces (Galatians 5:22-23). We do not believe that the New Testament gift of tongues exists today, but, along with certain other temporary sign gifts, has ceased (1 Corinthians 13:8-10; Revelation 22:18-19).
ARTICLE III - CREATION
We believe the Genesis account of creation as a literal, historical account of the direct, immediate creative acts of God, without the involvement of any evolutionary process (Genesis 1:1-2:25; Colossians 1:16; John 1:1-3).
ARTICLE IV - THE DEVIL, OR SATAN
We believe in the reality and personality of Satan, the Devil (Matthew 4:1-11); his creation by God and subsequent fall (Isaiah 14:12-17); that he is the author of sin, the initiator of man's temptation and fall (Genesis 3); that he is the enemy of God and man, the leader of a host of demonic forces, and the god of this present world system (2 Corinthians 4:4); and that he is destined to judgement in the Lake of Fire (Revelation 20:10).
ARTICLE V - MAN
We believe that man was created in innocence in the image and likeness of God, but by voluntary transgression fell from his sinless and happy state (Genesis 3:1-6); that being in Adam all men have a sin nature and are guilty and totally depraved as sinners by virtue of their nature and actions (Romans 3:10-19; 5:12,19); and that all men are under just condemnation without defence or excuse, and if not saved after the day of accountability (2 Samuel 12:23) will endure eternal punishment in the Lake of Fire. (Romans 1:18,32; Revelation 20:14-15).
ARTICLE VI - SIN
We believe in the universality and exceeding sinfulness of sin and that there is no remission of sins apart from the shedding of the blood of the Son of God and man's repentance (Ezekiel 18:4; Luke 24:46-47; Romans 3:10-26; 6:23; 7:13-14; Hebrews 9:22).
ARTICLE VII - SALVATION
Section 1 - The Atonement
We believe in the single substitutionary sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ for sinners, One for all, and once for all; that salvation is wholly of divine grace apart from any works of merit of the sinner; that it is provided in the atonement of Jesus Christ, wrought by God, and is received by a sinner when he repents towards God and puts his trust in the Lord Jesus Christ as his own personal Saviour; that all who receive the Lord Jesus Christ by personal faith as Saviour, are thereby born again, and have eternal life through the indwelling Christ; that unbelievers will suffer eternally for their sins (Psalm 49:7; Jonah 2:9; Mark 1:14-14; Luke 13:3; 24:46-47; John 1:11-13; 3:16,18,36; 5:24; 8:24; Acts 16:31; 17:30-31; 20:20-21; Romans 4:2-5; 5:8; 10:9-10; 2 Corinthians 5:14; Galatians 6:15; Ephesians 2:8-10; 1 Timothy 4:10; Titus 3:4-7; Hebrews 10:10; 1 John 5:11-12; Revelation 21:8).
Section 2 - The Eternal Security and Assurance of Believers
We believe that all the redeemed, once saved, are kept by God's power and are thus secure in Christ forever (John 6:37-40; 10:27-30; Romans 8:1; 8:38-39; 1 Corinthians 1:4-8; 1 Peter 1:5). We believe that it is the privilege of believers to rejoice in the assurance of their salvation through the testimony of God's Word; which, however, clearly forbids the use of Christian liberty as an occasion to the flesh (Romans 13:13-14; Galatians 5:13; Titus 2:11-15).
Section 3 - The Two Natures of the Believer
We believe that every saved person possesses two natures, with provisions made for victory of the spiritual nature over the carnal, fleshly, soulish nature through the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit, and, that all claims to the eradication of the old nature in this life are unscriptural (Romans 6:13; 8:12-13; Galatians 5:16-25; Ephesians 4:22-24; Colossians 3:10; 1 Peter 1:14-16; 1 John 3:5-9).
Section 4 - Sanctification
We believe in the positional sanctification of each believer in Christ at the time of salvation, and a practical sanctification which is progressive, depending upon the believer's appropriation of divine means; and all without a second work of grace (John 17:17; 1 Corinthians 1:2, 30). We believe that all who are born from above in salvation will be becoming like Jesus Christ as the Spirit and Word of God work in their daily lives (Romans 8:28-29); that each believer has the responsibility of growing in grace and in the knowledge of their Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ (2 Peter 3:18); and that this growth comes by a personal walk with Christ in the Word of God, in prayer, in obedience, in fellowship with other saints, and in service to Him (Acts 2:41-47).
ARTICLE VIII - THE CHURCH
We believe that the church as an organisation is an assembly of baptised believers, voluntarily associated by covenant in the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ for the purposes of conducting and supporting a local church ministry in accordance with the Word of God (Acts 2:41-47); that its officers are pastor(s) and deacons whose qualifications, claims, and duties are clearly set forth in the Scriptures (1 Timothy 3:1-13); that the local church has the right of self-government, free from the interference of any hierarchy of individuals or organisations, religious or governmental (Acts 15:1-35); that the local church's only Superintendent is Christ through the Holy Spirit (Colossians 1:18); that it is Scriptural for true churches of like faith and practice to cooperate with each other in contending for the faith and for the furtherance of the gospel, and that each local church is the sole judge in the measure and method of its co-operation; and that in all matters of membership, policy, government, discipline, benevolence, and rule, the will of the local church under the authority of the Word and Spirit of God is final (Acts 15:1-35).
We further believe that all those who have been truly born again in this New Testament church age are a unified part of the Body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:13).
ARTICLE IX - CHURCH ORDINANCES
We believe that there are two Christian ordinances and that they are symbolic, not sacramental: Baptism and the Lord’s Table.
Section 1 - Baptism
We believe that Christian baptism is the immersion of a believer in water after his salvation profession, in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19-20); that it sets forth in picture the essential facts in redemption — the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ (Romans 6:4); that it gives testimony to that which has taken place in the life of the believer — death to sin and resurrection to walk in newness of life (Romans 6:4); and that it is an act of obedience to Christ and a prerequisite to local church membership (Acts 2:41).
Section 2 - The Lord’s Table
We believe that the observance of the Lord’s Table is a commemoration of the Lord’s death to be observed until He comes (Matthew 26:29); that the elements — the unleavened bread and the unfermented juice — are symbols of His broken body and shed blood (Matthew 26:26-28); that our observance of it is a pictorial testimony of the believer’s fellowship with the crucified Saviour (1 Corinthians 10:16-21); and that the observance should be preceded by solemn heart searching and self-judgement (1 Corinthians 11:17-34).
ARTICLE X - SPIRITUAL GIFTS
We believe that God is sovereign in the bestowment of all His gifts; and, that the gifts of evangelists, pastors, and teachers are sufficient for the edification and perfecting of the saints today. Prophesying and the giving of knowledge beyond that revealed in Scripture ceased as the New Testament Scriptures were completed and their authority became established; therefore we will not allow the exercising of any so-called gift of speaking in tongues, extra-Biblical prophesying, or healing (Ephesians 2:19-22; Ephesians 4:7-12; Hebrews 2:2-4).
ARTICLE XI - THE SEPARATED LIFE
We believe in the separation of believers unto Christ and from the world so as to maintain good works and to have no fellowship with the evil works of darkness but rather reprove them; that all the saved should live in such a manner as not to bring reproach upon our Saviour and Lord; and, that separation from all religious apostasy, all worldly and sinful pleasures, practices, and associations is commanded by God. We therefore urge upon every member of Taupo Bible Church to separate himself/herself from any participation in or endorsement of sin or worldliness (1 John 2:15-16); from ecclesiastical organisations and religious personalities that deny the faith or compromise its message (2 Corinthians 6:14-18); and from brethren who walk disorderly or who unrepentantly continue in sin (2 Thessalonians 3:6; 1 Corinthians 5:4-5; Titus 3:10-11).
ARTICLE XII - MARRIAGE
We believe that marriage is an inseparable union until death parts, in spite of divorces allowed by society; our Lord Himself teaches that at the beginning, God made them male and female for which cause a man shall leave his father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife, and they twain shall become one flesh. We believe, further, that whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery; and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced commits adultery. Believers should not marry unbelievers, which creates an unequal yoke (Matthew 5:32; Matthew 19:9; Mark 10:2-12; Romans 7:2-3; 1 Corinthians 7:15, 39; 2 Corinthians 6:14-15). We believe that the only legitimate marriage is the joining of one man and one woman (Genesis 2:24; Romans 7:2; 1 Corinthians 7:10; Matthew 19:4-6). We believe that God has commanded that no intimate sexual activity be engaged in outside of marriage between a man and woman. We believe that any form of homosexuality, lesbianism, bisexuality, bestiality, incest, fornication, adultery, and pornography are sinful perversions of God's gift of sex (Genesis 2:24; Genesis 18:20; Genesis 19:5-7, 13; Leviticus 18:1-30; Romans 1:26-32; 1 Corinthians 5:13; 6:9; 1 Thessalonians 4:1-8; Hebrews 13:4). Because of the divine command to end such practices, persons engaged in immoral activities shall not be members of this church (1 Corinthians 5:1; 6:9).
ARTICLE XIII - WORLD EVANGELISATION
We believe that it is the heart's desire of Almighty God to save sinners, that He has committed Himself to the faithful witness of His redeemed children to reach them with the gospel, and that He has commissioned His people to be diligent and zealous in publishing the saving message of Jesus Christ throughout all the world so that sinners may be persuaded to repent of their sins, believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and be saved (Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:15-16; Luke 24:46-48; Acts 1:8; 1 Timothy 2:3-6; 2 Peter 3:9).
ARTICLE XIV - FUTURE EVENTS
Section 1 - The Rapture
We believe in the pretribulational, premillennial return of Christ, an event which can occur at any moment (Philippians 3:20-21); that at that moment the dead in Christ shall be raised in glorified bodies, the living in Christ shall be given glorified bodies without tasting death, and both groups will be caught up to meet the Lord in the air (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; 1 Corinthians 15:42-44, 51-54); that this rapture of the church is pretribulational - that is, it shall take place immediately prior to the seven years of Tribulation (Revelation 3:10); that the Tribulation will be culminated by the premillenial revelation of Jesus Christ in power and great glory to deliver Israel, to bind Satan, and to sit upon the throne of David for a literal 1,000 year reign upon the earth (Revelation 20:1-4,6); that Christ shall ultimately cast Satan and his hosts into the Lake of Fire (Revelation 20:11-15; 21:8-9).
Section 2 - The Resurrection
We believe in the bodily resurrection of all men, the saved to eternal life, and the unsaved to judgement and everlasting punishment (Matthew 25:46; John 5:28-29; 11:25-26; Revelation 20:5-6, 12-13). We believe that there will be two resurrections and that all the dead will be raised: that the righteous dead will have part in the first resurrection which will issue in eternal life, and that the wicked dead will have part in the second resurrection which will issue in eternal damnation (Luke 14:14; John 5:28-29; 1 Corinthians 15:20-26; Revelation 22:4-6, 11-15). We believe that the souls of the redeemed are, at death, absent from the body and present with the Lord, where in conscious bliss they await the first resurrection, when spirit, soul, and body are reunited to be glorified forever with the Lord (Luke 23:42; Revelation 20:4-6; 2 Corinthians 5:8; Philippians 1:23, 3:21; 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17).
We believe that the souls of unbelievers remain, after death, in conscious misery until the second resurrection, when with soul and body reunited they shall appear at the Great White Throne of Judgement, and shall be cast into the Lake of Fire, not to be annihilated, but to suffer everlasting conscious punishment (Luke 16:19-26; Matthew 25:41-46; 2 Thessalonians 1:7-9; Jude 1:6-7; Mark 9:43-48; Revelation 20:11-15).
Section 3 - Eternity
We believe that eternity will be composed of Heaven and Hell: that Heaven is a place of eternal blessedness and that Hell is a place of eternal suffering; that all true believers in Jesus Christ will be fully redeemed from sin's penalty, power, and presence, will be glorified with the Lord when He comes, and will enjoy the blessing of unbroken fellowship with God in Heaven forever; that all unrepentant sinners and rebels against God will be judged by the Lord Jesus Christ according to their deeds, without respect of persons, by the glorious Gospel of God, and will be cast out from God's presence to suffer the torments of the lake of fire in Hell forever (Matthew 25:46; Luke 16:19-31; Romans 2:1-16; 2 Corinthians 5:1-10; Philippians 3:20; Revelation 20:1-15; 21:22).
ARTICLE I - THE BIBLE
We believe in the verbal (every word) and plenary (complete) inspiration of the Scriptures in the original manuscripts; that the complete written revelation of God is the sixty-six books of the Bible; that these books are therefore infallible and inerrant in all matters of which they speak; that God has preserved His Word through the centuries; and that these Scriptures are the supreme, literal and authoritative standard by which all human conduct, creeds, and opinions shall be judged (Psalm 119:89; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:16-21).
ARTICLE II - GOD
Section 1 - The Trinity
We believe in one Triune God, eternally existing in three Persons - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; that they are equal in every divine perfection, while executing distinct but harmonious offices in the great work of redemption (Matthew 28:19-20; John 16:7-15; 1 John 5:1-8).
Section 2 - God the Father
We believe that God the Father is father only to those who receive Jesus Christ as Saviour (John 1:14; John 20:17; Romans 4:11; 1 Peter 1:3-5); that He is spirit (John 4:24); that He is perfect in holiness, infinite in wisdom, and measureless in power (Leviticus 11:44; Psalm 147:4); that He concerns Himself in the affairs of men (1 Timothy 2:3-6); that He hears and answers prayer (Psalm 65:2); and that He is the object of our worship and praise (Exodus 20:3-6).
Section 3 - God the Son, Jesus Christ
We believe in the absolute Deity of Jesus Christ (1 John 5:20; John 1:18); His eternal existence as God (Hebrews 1:8); His incarnation (becoming flesh) by means of the virgin birth (Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:18-25; Luke 1:26-56; Luke 2:1-20); His sinlessness (1 Peter 2:22); His substitutionary atonement for the sins of mankind by the shedding of His blood on the cross (Hebrews 9:12-14); His death, burial, bodily resurrection, and ascension (1 Corinthians 15:3-6); His present high-priestly ministry in heaven (Hebrews 4:15; Hebrews 7:26; 1 John 2:1); and His personal, visible return to earth (1 Thessalonians 4:16; Acts 1:11).
Section 4 - God the Holy Spirit
We believe that the Holy Spirit is divine in His person, equal to and of the same nature as the Father and the Son (Matthew 28:19); that He convinces the world of sin, righteousness, and judgement (John 16:7-15); that He is the agent of the New Birth (John 3:5-7); that He baptises all true believers into the body of Christ (Acts 1:5,8); indwelling, filling, sanctifying, sealing, and securing them unto the day of the redemption of the body (2 Corinthians 1:21-22; Ephesians 1:13-14; 4:30); and that the evidence of His filling is a changed life characterised by practical spiritual graces (Galatians 5:22-23). We do not believe that the New Testament gift of tongues exists today, but, along with certain other temporary sign gifts, has ceased (1 Corinthians 13:8-10; Revelation 22:18-19).
ARTICLE III - CREATION
We believe the Genesis account of creation as a literal, historical account of the direct, immediate creative acts of God, without the involvement of any evolutionary process (Genesis 1:1-2:25; Colossians 1:16; John 1:1-3).
ARTICLE IV - THE DEVIL, OR SATAN
We believe in the reality and personality of Satan, the Devil (Matthew 4:1-11); his creation by God and subsequent fall (Isaiah 14:12-17); that he is the author of sin, the initiator of man's temptation and fall (Genesis 3); that he is the enemy of God and man, the leader of a host of demonic forces, and the god of this present world system (2 Corinthians 4:4); and that he is destined to judgement in the Lake of Fire (Revelation 20:10).
ARTICLE V - MAN
We believe that man was created in innocence in the image and likeness of God, but by voluntary transgression fell from his sinless and happy state (Genesis 3:1-6); that being in Adam all men have a sin nature and are guilty and totally depraved as sinners by virtue of their nature and actions (Romans 3:10-19; 5:12,19); and that all men are under just condemnation without defence or excuse, and if not saved after the day of accountability (2 Samuel 12:23) will endure eternal punishment in the Lake of Fire. (Romans 1:18,32; Revelation 20:14-15).
ARTICLE VI - SIN
We believe in the universality and exceeding sinfulness of sin and that there is no remission of sins apart from the shedding of the blood of the Son of God and man's repentance (Ezekiel 18:4; Luke 24:46-47; Romans 3:10-26; 6:23; 7:13-14; Hebrews 9:22).
ARTICLE VII - SALVATION
Section 1 - The Atonement
We believe in the single substitutionary sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ for sinners, One for all, and once for all; that salvation is wholly of divine grace apart from any works of merit of the sinner; that it is provided in the atonement of Jesus Christ, wrought by God, and is received by a sinner when he repents towards God and puts his trust in the Lord Jesus Christ as his own personal Saviour; that all who receive the Lord Jesus Christ by personal faith as Saviour, are thereby born again, and have eternal life through the indwelling Christ; that unbelievers will suffer eternally for their sins (Psalm 49:7; Jonah 2:9; Mark 1:14-14; Luke 13:3; 24:46-47; John 1:11-13; 3:16,18,36; 5:24; 8:24; Acts 16:31; 17:30-31; 20:20-21; Romans 4:2-5; 5:8; 10:9-10; 2 Corinthians 5:14; Galatians 6:15; Ephesians 2:8-10; 1 Timothy 4:10; Titus 3:4-7; Hebrews 10:10; 1 John 5:11-12; Revelation 21:8).
Section 2 - The Eternal Security and Assurance of Believers
We believe that all the redeemed, once saved, are kept by God's power and are thus secure in Christ forever (John 6:37-40; 10:27-30; Romans 8:1; 8:38-39; 1 Corinthians 1:4-8; 1 Peter 1:5). We believe that it is the privilege of believers to rejoice in the assurance of their salvation through the testimony of God's Word; which, however, clearly forbids the use of Christian liberty as an occasion to the flesh (Romans 13:13-14; Galatians 5:13; Titus 2:11-15).
Section 3 - The Two Natures of the Believer
We believe that every saved person possesses two natures, with provisions made for victory of the spiritual nature over the carnal, fleshly, soulish nature through the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit, and, that all claims to the eradication of the old nature in this life are unscriptural (Romans 6:13; 8:12-13; Galatians 5:16-25; Ephesians 4:22-24; Colossians 3:10; 1 Peter 1:14-16; 1 John 3:5-9).
Section 4 - Sanctification
We believe in the positional sanctification of each believer in Christ at the time of salvation, and a practical sanctification which is progressive, depending upon the believer's appropriation of divine means; and all without a second work of grace (John 17:17; 1 Corinthians 1:2, 30). We believe that all who are born from above in salvation will be becoming like Jesus Christ as the Spirit and Word of God work in their daily lives (Romans 8:28-29); that each believer has the responsibility of growing in grace and in the knowledge of their Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ (2 Peter 3:18); and that this growth comes by a personal walk with Christ in the Word of God, in prayer, in obedience, in fellowship with other saints, and in service to Him (Acts 2:41-47).
ARTICLE VIII - THE CHURCH
We believe that the church as an organisation is an assembly of baptised believers, voluntarily associated by covenant in the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ for the purposes of conducting and supporting a local church ministry in accordance with the Word of God (Acts 2:41-47); that its officers are pastor(s) and deacons whose qualifications, claims, and duties are clearly set forth in the Scriptures (1 Timothy 3:1-13); that the local church has the right of self-government, free from the interference of any hierarchy of individuals or organisations, religious or governmental (Acts 15:1-35); that the local church's only Superintendent is Christ through the Holy Spirit (Colossians 1:18); that it is Scriptural for true churches of like faith and practice to cooperate with each other in contending for the faith and for the furtherance of the gospel, and that each local church is the sole judge in the measure and method of its co-operation; and that in all matters of membership, policy, government, discipline, benevolence, and rule, the will of the local church under the authority of the Word and Spirit of God is final (Acts 15:1-35).
We further believe that all those who have been truly born again in this New Testament church age are a unified part of the Body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:13).
ARTICLE IX - CHURCH ORDINANCES
We believe that there are two Christian ordinances and that they are symbolic, not sacramental: Baptism and the Lord’s Table.
Section 1 - Baptism
We believe that Christian baptism is the immersion of a believer in water after his salvation profession, in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19-20); that it sets forth in picture the essential facts in redemption — the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ (Romans 6:4); that it gives testimony to that which has taken place in the life of the believer — death to sin and resurrection to walk in newness of life (Romans 6:4); and that it is an act of obedience to Christ and a prerequisite to local church membership (Acts 2:41).
Section 2 - The Lord’s Table
We believe that the observance of the Lord’s Table is a commemoration of the Lord’s death to be observed until He comes (Matthew 26:29); that the elements — the unleavened bread and the unfermented juice — are symbols of His broken body and shed blood (Matthew 26:26-28); that our observance of it is a pictorial testimony of the believer’s fellowship with the crucified Saviour (1 Corinthians 10:16-21); and that the observance should be preceded by solemn heart searching and self-judgement (1 Corinthians 11:17-34).
ARTICLE X - SPIRITUAL GIFTS
We believe that God is sovereign in the bestowment of all His gifts; and, that the gifts of evangelists, pastors, and teachers are sufficient for the edification and perfecting of the saints today. Prophesying and the giving of knowledge beyond that revealed in Scripture ceased as the New Testament Scriptures were completed and their authority became established; therefore we will not allow the exercising of any so-called gift of speaking in tongues, extra-Biblical prophesying, or healing (Ephesians 2:19-22; Ephesians 4:7-12; Hebrews 2:2-4).
ARTICLE XI - THE SEPARATED LIFE
We believe in the separation of believers unto Christ and from the world so as to maintain good works and to have no fellowship with the evil works of darkness but rather reprove them; that all the saved should live in such a manner as not to bring reproach upon our Saviour and Lord; and, that separation from all religious apostasy, all worldly and sinful pleasures, practices, and associations is commanded by God. We therefore urge upon every member of Taupo Bible Church to separate himself/herself from any participation in or endorsement of sin or worldliness (1 John 2:15-16); from ecclesiastical organisations and religious personalities that deny the faith or compromise its message (2 Corinthians 6:14-18); and from brethren who walk disorderly or who unrepentantly continue in sin (2 Thessalonians 3:6; 1 Corinthians 5:4-5; Titus 3:10-11).
ARTICLE XII - MARRIAGE
We believe that marriage is an inseparable union until death parts, in spite of divorces allowed by society; our Lord Himself teaches that at the beginning, God made them male and female for which cause a man shall leave his father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife, and they twain shall become one flesh. We believe, further, that whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery; and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced commits adultery. Believers should not marry unbelievers, which creates an unequal yoke (Matthew 5:32; Matthew 19:9; Mark 10:2-12; Romans 7:2-3; 1 Corinthians 7:15, 39; 2 Corinthians 6:14-15). We believe that the only legitimate marriage is the joining of one man and one woman (Genesis 2:24; Romans 7:2; 1 Corinthians 7:10; Matthew 19:4-6). We believe that God has commanded that no intimate sexual activity be engaged in outside of marriage between a man and woman. We believe that any form of homosexuality, lesbianism, bisexuality, bestiality, incest, fornication, adultery, and pornography are sinful perversions of God's gift of sex (Genesis 2:24; Genesis 18:20; Genesis 19:5-7, 13; Leviticus 18:1-30; Romans 1:26-32; 1 Corinthians 5:13; 6:9; 1 Thessalonians 4:1-8; Hebrews 13:4). Because of the divine command to end such practices, persons engaged in immoral activities shall not be members of this church (1 Corinthians 5:1; 6:9).
ARTICLE XIII - WORLD EVANGELISATION
We believe that it is the heart's desire of Almighty God to save sinners, that He has committed Himself to the faithful witness of His redeemed children to reach them with the gospel, and that He has commissioned His people to be diligent and zealous in publishing the saving message of Jesus Christ throughout all the world so that sinners may be persuaded to repent of their sins, believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and be saved (Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:15-16; Luke 24:46-48; Acts 1:8; 1 Timothy 2:3-6; 2 Peter 3:9).
ARTICLE XIV - FUTURE EVENTS
Section 1 - The Rapture
We believe in the pretribulational, premillennial return of Christ, an event which can occur at any moment (Philippians 3:20-21); that at that moment the dead in Christ shall be raised in glorified bodies, the living in Christ shall be given glorified bodies without tasting death, and both groups will be caught up to meet the Lord in the air (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; 1 Corinthians 15:42-44, 51-54); that this rapture of the church is pretribulational - that is, it shall take place immediately prior to the seven years of Tribulation (Revelation 3:10); that the Tribulation will be culminated by the premillenial revelation of Jesus Christ in power and great glory to deliver Israel, to bind Satan, and to sit upon the throne of David for a literal 1,000 year reign upon the earth (Revelation 20:1-4,6); that Christ shall ultimately cast Satan and his hosts into the Lake of Fire (Revelation 20:11-15; 21:8-9).
Section 2 - The Resurrection
We believe in the bodily resurrection of all men, the saved to eternal life, and the unsaved to judgement and everlasting punishment (Matthew 25:46; John 5:28-29; 11:25-26; Revelation 20:5-6, 12-13). We believe that there will be two resurrections and that all the dead will be raised: that the righteous dead will have part in the first resurrection which will issue in eternal life, and that the wicked dead will have part in the second resurrection which will issue in eternal damnation (Luke 14:14; John 5:28-29; 1 Corinthians 15:20-26; Revelation 22:4-6, 11-15). We believe that the souls of the redeemed are, at death, absent from the body and present with the Lord, where in conscious bliss they await the first resurrection, when spirit, soul, and body are reunited to be glorified forever with the Lord (Luke 23:42; Revelation 20:4-6; 2 Corinthians 5:8; Philippians 1:23, 3:21; 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17).
We believe that the souls of unbelievers remain, after death, in conscious misery until the second resurrection, when with soul and body reunited they shall appear at the Great White Throne of Judgement, and shall be cast into the Lake of Fire, not to be annihilated, but to suffer everlasting conscious punishment (Luke 16:19-26; Matthew 25:41-46; 2 Thessalonians 1:7-9; Jude 1:6-7; Mark 9:43-48; Revelation 20:11-15).
Section 3 - Eternity
We believe that eternity will be composed of Heaven and Hell: that Heaven is a place of eternal blessedness and that Hell is a place of eternal suffering; that all true believers in Jesus Christ will be fully redeemed from sin's penalty, power, and presence, will be glorified with the Lord when He comes, and will enjoy the blessing of unbroken fellowship with God in Heaven forever; that all unrepentant sinners and rebels against God will be judged by the Lord Jesus Christ according to their deeds, without respect of persons, by the glorious Gospel of God, and will be cast out from God's presence to suffer the torments of the lake of fire in Hell forever (Matthew 25:46; Luke 16:19-31; Romans 2:1-16; 2 Corinthians 5:1-10; Philippians 3:20; Revelation 20:1-15; 21:22).