“Things
Most
Surely
Believed
Among
Us”
Luke 1:1
A
Doctrinal
Statement
Of
Charles
Carrin
Ministries
In
presenting
this
Doctrinal
Statement
we do so
with the
precaution
that the
message
of
Scripture
can
never be
reduced
to
theological
abstractions.
Such
attempts
are both
dangerous
and
abortive.
Dangerous,
because
of the
possibility--as
happened
frequently
in the
past--that
such
documents
becom e
tools to
interpret
Scripture
instead
of
Scripture
being
used to
interpret
the
documents.
Additionally,
the
Bible
speaks
to every
generation,
culture,
and
circumstance,
with
truths
relevant
to each
particular
age.
While
Scripture
remains
unchanging,
a
specific
illumination
may
appear--or
disappear--according
to need.
As the
Holy
Spirit’s
inspired
volume,
the
Bible is
to be
revered,
loved,
believed,
and
protected.
In that
understanding,
we share
the
following
abbreviated
doctrinal
statement.
THE
BIBLE:
"Holy
men of
God
spoke as
they
were
moved by
the Holy
Spirit."
II Peter
1:20,21.
The Old
and New
Testaments
are
Covenants
(not
mere
books);
the
first,
sanctified
by Moses
"sprinkling
the
blood of
bulls
and
goats"
and the
second
sanctified
by the
Messiah
sprinkling
His own
blood.
Hebrews
9:11-23;12:24.
As such,
each
Covenant
is
inalterable,
cannot
be added
to or
taken
from,
and of
which no
part has
lost the
Divine
Seal.
Revelation
22:19.
We
therefore
believe
that I
Corinthians
12 and
14, and
similar
passages,
are
trustworthy,
reliable,
and
credible
parts of
Scripture
and that
all
sincere
believers
should
acknowledge
them as
authoritative.
As
modern
Christians,
we
believe
it is
our duty
to
preach
all New
Testament
Scripture
with20commitment
equal to
that of
first
century
Christians.
Regarding
the
unity of
the two
Covenants,
we
understand
the Old
Testament
to be
the New
Testament
concealed;
the New
Testament
to be
the Old
Testament
revealed.
Holy
Scripture
is the
Divinely
inspired
Word of
God and
our only
rule of
faith
and
practice.
II
Timothy
3:16.
THE
BEING
AND
NATURE
OF GOD:
God is
One,
maintaining
His
unity
while
sovereignly
manifesting
Himself
in three
distinct
persons,
Father,
Son, and
Holy
Spirit.
II
Corinthians
13:14;
John
1:1-14.
Genesis
1:26.
18:1,2.The
Father
is the
origin
and
initial
cause of
all that
is.
Jesus
Christ,
eternally
pre-existent
with the
Father,
became
flesh,
was born
of a
virgin
into the
earth,
is the
only
sin-bearer
for
mankind,
was
crucified,
resurrected,
ascended,
forever
satisfied
the
demands
of the
Law, and
will
return
again in
Glory
for the
reclamation
of the
saints.
"For he
has made
him to
be sin
for us,
who knew
no sin;
that we
might be
made the
righteousness
of God
in him."
II
Corinthians
5:20,21.
The Holy
Spirit
was, is,
and
forever
remains,
God with
us on
the
earth as
the
Divine
Presence
in
creation,
salvation,
inspiration,
continuation,
and
consummation.
RELATIONSHIP
WITH
GOD:
Jesus
Christ
is man’s
complete
and
sufficient
approach
to God.
He said,
"I am
the way,
the
truth,
and the
life: no
man
comes to
the
Father,
but by
me. John
14:6.
"Neither
is there
salvation
in any
other:
for
there is
none
other
name
under
heaven
given
among
men,
whereby
we must
be
saved."
Acts
4:12. To
receive
eternal
life,
one must
be
redeemed
in
Christ,
cleansed
of sin
in His
blood,
born-again
by the
Holy
Spirit,
and
presented
guilt-free
to the
Father.
This
new-birth
experience
is
achieved
"Not by
works of
righteousness
which we
have
done,
but
according
to his
mercy he
saved
us, by
the
washing
of
regeneration,
and
renewing
of the
Holy
Spirit;
Which he
shed on
us
abundantly
through
Jesus
Christ
our
Savior."
Titus
3:5-6.
God
"saved
us, and
called
us with
an holy
calling,
not
according
to our
works,
but
according
to his
own
purpose
and
grace,
which
was
given us
in
Christ
Jesus
before
the
world
began."
II
Timothy
1:9.=2
0"For by
grace
are you
saved
through
faith;
and that
not of
yourselves:
it is
the gift
of God:
Not of
works,
lest any
man
should
boast.
For we
are his
workmanship,
created
in
Christ
Jesus
unto
good
works,
which
God has
before
ordained
that we
should
walk in
them."
Ephesians
2:8-10.
The gift
of
salvation
is
received
as Jesus
explained:
"He came
unto his
own, and
his own
received
him not.
But as
many as
received
him, to
them he
gave
power to
become
the sons
of God,
even to
those
who
believe
on his
name:
Who were
born,
not of
blood,
nor of
the will
of the
flesh,
nor of
the will
of man,
but of
God."
John
1:11-13.
"For God
so loved
the
world,
that he
gave his
only
begotten
Son,
that
whosoever
believes
in him
should
not
perish,
but have
everlasting
life.
For God
sent not
his Son
into the
world to
condemn
the
world;
but that
the
world
through
him
might be
saved.
He who
believes
on him
is not
condemned:
but he
who
believes
not is
condemned
already,
because
he has
not
believed
in the
name of
the only
begotten
Son of
God."
John
3:16-18.
"The
gospel
of
Christ
... is
the
power of
God unto
salvation
to every
one who
believes;
to the
Jew
first,
and also
to the
Greek."
Romans
1:1620
HOW DOES
ONE KNOW
HE IS
SAVED?
The
evidence
of a
born-again
life is
one’s
true
belief
that
Jesus
Christ
is the
Son of
God.
This is
proved
by his
"denying
ungodliness
and
worldly
lusts"
and the
desire
to live
"soberly,
righteously,
and
godly,
in this
present
world."
Titus
2:12.
"We know
that we
have
passed
from
death
unto
life
because
we love
the
brethren."
I John
3:14.
Being in
the
"state
of
grace"
is
personal
to each
individual.
We
cannot
claim
salvation
because
of
relationship
to
people,
churches,
denominations,
organizations,
or
family
ancestry.
Jesus
said,
"By
their
fruit
you
shall
know
them."
Matthew
7:20.
BAPTISM
IN THE
HOLY
SPIRIT:
Jesus
provided
the Holy
Spirit’s
baptism
and
miraculous
gifts to
equip
believers
for
power-endued
ministry
and
victorious
living.
As the
new
birth
brings
us into
eternal
life,
preparing
us for
Heaven,
so the
baptism
in the
Spirit
equips
our
present
life
with
miraculous
words of
wisdom,
knowledge,
faith,
healings,
miracles,
prophecy,
discerning
of
spirits,
tongues,
interpreting
tongues,
and
more. I
Corinthians
12:4-11.
Since
the New
Testament
is
Covenant-guaranteed,
this
wonderful
gift
remains
available
to the
Body of
Christ
until
Jesus’
return.
I
Corinthians
1:7.
None of
the
spiritual
gifts
have
been
withdrawn.
The
"Baptism
in the
Holy
Spirit"
is also
called
"The
promise
of the
Father"
and/or
the
"filling
of the
Spirit".
Luke
24:49.
Acts
1:4-8. I
Corinthians
12:12-14.
THE
GOSPEL:
As a
"witness
to all
nations",
the
gospel
should
be
presented
with the
original
message
and
power
Jesus
gave at
the
beginning.
He
expected
the
gospel
to
remain
unchanged
when He
said to
the
first
disciples,
"Go
therefore
and make
disciples
of all
the
nations,
baptizing
them in
the name
of the
Father
and of
the Son
and of
the Holy
Spirit,
teaching
them
(all
nations)
to
observe
all
things
that I
have
commanded
you; and
lo, I am
with you
always,
even to
the end
of the
age."
Matthew
28:19-20.
Jesus
was
emphatic.
His
instruction,
"teach
them all
things,"
referring
specifically
to the
church
at the
"end of
the age"
is
unmistakably
clear.
He
expected
the 21st
century
church
is to be
taugh t
precisely
what He
taught
the
first
century
church.
As a
Ministry,
we
therefore
deny the
cessation
theory
that
parts of
the New
Testament
lost
their
validity
or that
the Holy
Spirit’s
miraculous
gifts
and
power
have
been
withdrawn.
The
power is
absent
because
the
masses
of
Christianity
have
replaced
faith in
Bible tr
uth with
doctrines
of
denial.
Jesus
established
one
church
for all
time;
there is
no such
thing as
an
"apostolic"
and
"post-apostolic"
gospel
with
different
teachings,
different
powers,
and
different
expectations.
As Jesus
is "the
same
yesterday,
today,
and
forever,"
so His
gospel
is as
unchanging
as
Himself.
Hebrews
13:8.
"One
Lord,
one
faith,
one
baptism."
Ephesians
4:5.
"SIGNS
AND
WONDERS"
CONFIRM
THE
WORD:
The
Apostle
Paul
equated
his
"fully
preaching
the
gospel
of
Christ"
by the
attestation
of
"mighty
signs
and
wonders".
Romans
15:19.
That is,
no
"signs
and
wonders",
no full
presentation
of the
gos pel.
Mark
16:20.
The
gospel
itself
is
miraculous
and
should
be
verified
miraculously.
Not
until
contemporary
times
did the
church’s
unbelief
force it
to
abandon
faith in
the Holy
Spirit’s
visible
manifestations.
That
deception
has
caused
some
believers
to
credit
genuine
works of
God to
the
devil.
That is
both
blasphemous
and
dangerous.
As a
Ministry,
we not
only
believe
in the
Spirit’s
present-day
miracles
but we
experience
them.
While
this
includes
healings,
deliverances,
revelations,
etc.,
the New
Testament
provides
no list
of such
"signs
and
wonders".
It
merely
confirms
that
amazing
things
took
place
and that
the Holy
Spirit
expects
to
continue
them
until
the
coming
of
Jesus.
THE
CHURCH
AND THE
KINGDOM:
Jesus
"loved
the
church
and gave
Himself
for it".
Ephesians
5:25.
While He
spoke
the word
"church"
only
three
times in
the
Gospels,
Matthew
16:18,
18:17,
He spoke
of the
Kingdom
more
than 130
times.
Jesus
established
the
church,
nourished
and
protected
it, all
the
while
focusing
His
major
attention
on the
Heavenly
Kingdom.
When
churches
reverse
this
order,
placing
themselves
first,
disaster
results.
Such
congregations
fail
their
true
mission
and lose
Kingdom
power.
By being
in
submission
to the
Kingdom,
from20which
they
draw all
authority
and
strength,
Matthew
16:19,
local
churches
become
capable
instructors
in
Scripture,
providers
of
strong
spiritual
families,
instruments
for
baptism,
holy
communion,
and the
operation
for
spiritual
gifts.
As part
of the
Body of
Christ,
the
visible
congregation
is God’s
tool for
involving
believers
in
world-evangelism
and
directing
new
converts
to the
all-important
Kingdom.
Whenever
possible,
every
believer
should
be
identified
with a
local
Bible-believing
church.
DELIVERANCE
MINISTRY:
Thirty
percent
of
Jesus’
recorded
New
Testament
ministry
was
spent in
direct
conflict
with
unclean
spirits.
He
declared
that the
proof of
His
Kingdom’s
presence
was the
casting
out of
demons,
Matthew
12:28,
and
commanded
the
disciples
to
continue
doing
so. Mark
16:17.
We
therefore
believe
in--and
exercise--the
ministry
of
deliverance
from
unclean
spirits.
THE
RESURRECTION:
There
will be
a
resurrection
and
final
judgeme
nt of
the
dead.
Those
redeemed
in
Christ
will be
saved,
others
will be
lost.
Jesus
said,
"And
these
shall go
away
into
everlasting
punishment
but the
righteous
into
life
eternal."
Matthew
25:46.
The
duration
of one
is as
great as
the
other.
THE
RELIABILITY
OF
SCRIPTURE
God the
Father
said:
"My
Covenant
I will
not
break
nor
alter
the Word
that is
gone out
of my
lips."
Psalm
89:34.
Jesus
said:
"Heaven
and
earth
shall
pass
away but
My words
will by
no means
pass
away."
Matthew
24:35.
Jesus
said:
"It is
written,
man
shall
not live
by bread
alone,
but by
every
word
that
proceeds
out of
the
mouth of
God."
Matthew
4:4
Jesus
said to
the
Father:
"For I
have
given to
them
(the
disciples)
the
words
which
You have
given
Me, and
they
have
received
them
..."
John
17:8.
Peter
said:
"But the
word of
the Lord
endures
forever.
Now this
is the
word
which by
the
gospel
was
preached
to you."
I Peter
1:25.
Peter
said
again:
"Knowing
this
first,
that no
prophecy
of
Scripture
is of
any
private
interpretation,
for
prophecy
never
came by
the will
of man,
but holy
men of
God
spoke as
they
were
moved by
the Holy
Spirit."
II Peter
1:20-21.
Paul
said:
"All
Scripture
is given
by
inspiration
of God
and is
profitable."
II
Timothy
3:16.
Paul
also
said:
"But
even if
we, or
an angel
from
heaven,
preach
any
other
gospel
to you
than
what we
have
preached
to you,
let him
be
accursed."
Galatians
1:8.
David
said:
"Forever,
O Lord,
Your
Word is
settled
in
Heaven."
Psalm
119:89.
CC
ONE-SENTENCE
SERMONS
Over the
years I
have
collected
bits of
wisdom
from
different
sources.
I share
a few of
them
with
you.
When
known,
authors
are
named.
"There
are none
so
enslaved
as those
who
falsely
believe
they are
free."
Johann
Wolfgang
von
Goethe
"When
people
regard a
portion
of the
truth as
if it
were the
whole
truth it
becomes
more
dangerous
than an
untruth."
Jack
Taylor
"Most
preachers
would
make
good
martyrs;
they are
so dry
they
would
burn
well."
Charles
Spurgeon
"Don’t
be
afraid
that
your
life
will
end. Be
afraid
that it
will
never
begin."
Grace
Hansen
"The
danger
is not
that God
has set
the ‘bar
too
high’
and that
we will
miss
it–the
danger
is that
we have
set the
bar too
low and
will
make
it."
"A
woman’s
heart
should
be so
hidden
in
Christ
that a
man
would
have to
seek Him
first to
find
her."
Maya
Angelou
"The
church
must
feed
people
the
food–not
merely
show
them the
menu."
"We make
a living
by what
we get;
We make
a life
by what
we
give."
Sir
Winston
Churchill
"Patience
is the
weapon
that
forces
deception
to
expose
itself."
"Americans
will die
on their
feet
before
they
will
live on
their
knees."
George
Washington
"The
task
ahead of
you is
never as
great as
the
Power
behind
you."
"People
like us
who
believe
in
physics
know
that the
distinction
between
past,
present,
and
future,
is only
a
stubbornly
persistent
illusion."
Albert
Einstein
"Pray
that
people
will
meet
Christ
before
they
meet the
church."
Bumper
Sticker:
"I love
Jesus–I
just
don’t
like
some of
His Fan
Clubs."
"Sanctification
is an
impartation–not
an
imitation."
Oswald
Chambers
"Find
out what
you are
following–compare
it to
Christ–you
will
find
your’s
to be
inferior."
Perry
Comas
"Do not
lower
God’s
word to
the
level of
your
experience."
Randy
Clark
< /o:p>
"Democracy
is two
wolves
and a
lamb
deciding
what to
have for
dinner.
Liberty
is a
well-armed
lamb."
Benjamin
Franklin
"The
only
difference
between
a rut
and a
grave is
the
depth."
"We
better
find out
what God
is doing
today
less we
be found
arranging
chairs
on the
deck of
the
Titanic
tomorrow."
"The
Bible is
a verb;
not a
noun."
Rick
Cross
"It
takes a
steady
hand to
hold a
full
cup."
"The
Bible
was not
given to
replace
direct
revelation
or the
miraculous
but to
correct
abuses."
Martyn-Lloyd
Jones
"Demons
are like
rats at
the
garbage
dump.
Unless
you get
rid of
the
garbage
they
will be
back."
Message
on a
boy’s
T-shirt:
"I used
to be
schizophrenic
— but
now we
are
o.k."
"One who
judges
others
proclaims
himself
to be
God."
"Marriage
is the
only war
where
you
sleep
with the
enemy."
"Burnout
is
operating
outside
your
anointing;
it is a
breakdown–not
a
breakthrough."
Tod
Zeiger
"Success
is never
permanent;
failure
is never
final."
"When
the tide
comes in
all the
ships in
the
harbor
rise
with
it."
"I had
more
anointing
in the
hour and
forty-five
minutes
that I
witnessed
to
Yasser
Arafat
than in
any
sermon I
ever
preached."
R.T.
Kendall
"Jesus
is ‘Lord
over the
Church’;
The Holy
Spirit
is ‘Lord
in the
Church’."
Derek
Prince
"Follow
the
cloud–or
follow
the
crowd."
James
Robinson
"‘Tradition’
is the
living
faith of
a dead
past;
‘Traditionalism’
is the
dead
faith of
a living
past."
Jack
Taylor
"The one
who
kneels
before
God can
stand
before
anyone."
"Life
shrinks
or
expands
in
proportion
to one’s
courage."
Anais
Nin
"Life is
too
short to
be too
little."
Benjamin
Disraeli
"Truth
is in
the
Scripture;
Power is
in the
truth."
C.
Carrin
"Private
victories
precede
public
victories."
Stephen
Covey
"Appeasement
is like
feeding
the
alligators–hoping
they
will eat
you
last."
Sir
Winston
Churchill
