22 Theses - Affirmations & Denials

01.

Scripture

We affirm that the Bible teaches us core doctrines clearly, coherently, and free of contradiction.

We deny that there are any central beliefs that the Bible conclusively teaches us solely by inferences to the assumptions of the biblical writers.

We also deny that any claims that the Bible explicitly negates are biblical doctrines.

Deut. 29:29; Psa. 119:130; Mat. 10:27; 2 Cor. 4:2; Col. 4:3-4; 2 Tim. 2:15; 2 Tim. 3:14-16; 2 Peter 3:15-18; 1 John 2:20-25; 2 John 1-3, 8-9

02.

Eternity

We affirm that both the Father and the Son are from everlasting to everlasting.

We deny that there was ever a time when the Father was not, or that there ever was a time when the Son was not with the Father. We deny there will ever be a future time when they will be without each other.

We also deny that anyone else was together with them before creation.

Psa. 90:1-2; 1 Chron. 16:36, John 1:1-18; 6:46; John 17: 3-5; 17:24; 1 John 1:1-3; Col. 1:15-17; Heb. 1:8-12; Jude 25; Rev. 1:8; 22:13

03.

Creation

We affirm that two fully divine sources of creation exist, two fully divine sovereigns over creation, and two fully divine saviors, from whom are all things and through whom are all things.

We deny that more than two fully divine sources of creation exist, or more than two fully divine sovereigns cooperated in creation, or that there are more than two fully divine saviors.

We deny that either the Father or the Son were created.

Isa. 45:18-23; John 1:1-18, 5:19-29; 5:37; 8:12-19,10:28-30; 14:1-11; 17:20-26; 1 Cor. 8:4-6; Phil. 2:5-11; Col. 1:15-20, 2:9;Heb. 1:1-14,3:5-6

04.

Divine Oneness

We affirm that both the Father and the Son are one in divine form and one in divine fullness.

We affirm that they are harmoniously one in divine familial roles and divine function.

We deny that anyone else exists in divine form, fullness, familial roles, divine function, or is one in divine fullness with the Father and the Son.

Exo. 33:19-21 (c.f., John 6:46, 14:7-9); Dan. 7:13-14; John 5:36-38; 1 Cor. 8:4-6, 11:2-3;Phil. 2:5;Col. 1:15-20 (c.f., 2:9); Heb. 1:1-14; Rev. 11:15

05.

One God

We affirm that the Father is the one God, the definitive God, the Most High, the true and living God.

We affirm that the Father possesses divine ultimacy in all things. He is the ultimate source and sovereign of all things and the ultimate savior of His chosen people.

We deny that anyone, including the Son, possesses divine ultimacy besides the Father. We deny that the one God exists as one divine substance shared by multiple divine persons.

We also deny that the New Testament explicitly reveals a redefinition of the Old Testament belief in one God with a new belief in one God existing as a tri-personal being.

Deut. 6:4-9; 1 Chron. 29:10-13; Isa. 45:18-23; John 5:19-29, 5:44, 17:1-4; Rom. 11:33-36; 1 Cor. 3:21-23; 8:4-6,11:2-3; 15:24-28; 1 Tim. 6:15

06.

One Lord

We affirm that the Father has granted the Son to be the Lord over heaven and earth, including the new creation.

We affirm that the Son has always submitted to the authority of the Father, who is both His God and His Father.

We deny that the Son has ever had any authority over the Father or has any authority apart from what the Father granted Him.

Psa. 110:1-7; Mat. 11:25-27; John 10:17-18, 10:28-30, 14:28-31, 15:1-9, 20:17; 1 Cor. 15:24-28; 2 Cor. 4:4-6; Heb 3:5-6

07.

The One Divine Father

We affirm that the Son lives because of the life granted to Him by the living Father, who has life in Himself. We affirm that the Son depends on the Father for life, likeness, learning, leadership, and love.

We also affirm that the Father has also granted the Son life in Himself so that others may live because the Son gives them life.

We deny that either the Father or the Son granted anyone else life in themselves as a divine source of life.

John 5:19-29, 6:57-58, 14:1-6; 15:1-6; 1 Timothy 6:13-16;

08.

Exclusive Knowledge and Love

We affirm that only the Father intimately knows the Son. We affirm that only the Son intimately knows the Father.

We also affirm that the Father supremely loves the Son, and the Son supremely loves the Father.

We deny that anyone else intimately knows the Father except the Son. We deny that anyone intimately knows the Son except the Father.

We also deny that anyone other than the Father and the Son supremely loves the Father and Son.

Mat. 11:25-27 (c.f., Luke 10:21-22), 12:18, 24:36; Mark 12:1-12; 12:28-34; John 1:18, 3:35, 5:20, 6:46, 14:1-6, 14:30-31, 17:22-26; 1 Cor. 2:6-16

09.

The Humanity of the Son

We affirm that, according to His predestined plan, the Father sovereignly sent His only Son in human flesh. Made like us in all respects, yet without sin, His Son saved all people from their sins at the appointed time.

We affirm that He was descended biologically from Adam, the patriarchs, and David, born of Mary, the virgin.

We deny that the Son was exclusively human in His identity. We deny that the Son only seemed human or that He ever sinned. We deny that Jesus Christ was the Father manifested in human form.

We also deny that the concept of the Son of God exclusively refers to the human nature of Jesus Christ.

Mat. 1:1-25; Luk. 3:23-38; Rom. 1:1-6, 8:1-4, 9:1-5; Gal. 4:1-7; 2 Tim. 2:8-10; Heb. 2:5-18;1 Pet. 2:21-25, 3:18; 1 John 4:1-3, 4:9-10

10.

The Son's Permanent Humanity

We affirm the centrality of the humanity of the Lord Jesus to His permanent identity. We affirm that His humanity remains the central emphasis of His permanent identity as our royal priest forever.

We also affirm He is the Son of Man and remains a human for all ages to come, with all heavenly and earthly powers subject to Him.

We deny that the Lord Jesus is either exclusively human or exclusively divine in His permanent identity. We deny that Jesus will ever cease to be fully human or that He will ever cease to be fully divine.

We also deny that the Lord Jesus has any division of His one identity as a fully divine Son and a fully human son.

2 Sam. 7:12-17; Dan. 7:13-14; Acts 2:22-36; Rom. 5:12-21; Eph 1:15-23; Phil 2:5-11; Col. 1:18-23; 1 Tim. 2:1-7; Heb. 2:5-18, 7:15-28

11.

The Agency of the Son

We affirm that the full divine agency of the Son is in harmony with the full divine ultimacy of the Father.

We affirm that all things are ultimately from the Father and through the Son.

We deny that the full divine agency of the Son contradicts the divine ultimacy of the Father.

We deny that the Son has not been granted primacy as the source of life, authority, and honor along with the Father.

Psa. 110:1-7; Mat. 28:16-20; Luke 24:44-49; John 5:19-29; Acts 2:32-36; 1 Cor. 8:4-6; Col. 1:15-20; Heb. 1:1-14

12.

Salvation through Jesus Christ & the Exaltation of the Son

We affirm that God the Father exalted the Son supremely and divinely due to His complete obedience, including His sacrificial death. Jesus offers salvation by grace through faith to whosoever trusts in His finished work. We affirm that the Lord Jesus is divinely seated at God’s right hand, above all things, subject only to His God and Father and serving as His people’s royal priest.

We also affirm that the Father granted the Son to bear the sacred name of the Lord (YHWH), fulfilling His glorious promises through the name of Jesus. The Lord (YHWH) is salvation.

We deny that the man, the Lord Jesus Christ, was only partially exalted or exalted in a less than fully divine sense. We deny that there is anyone above the Son except the Father. We deny that anyone besides the Lord is divinely seated with Him and the Father. We deny that the Father has granted anyone else besides the Lord Jesus to bear the sacred name of the LORD (YHWH). We deny that salvation can be obtained in any other way or by any other name under heaven, except through the name of Jesus.

We also deny that apostolic baptisms were done in any other name but the name of the Lord Jesus.

Ps. 110:1-7; Micah 5:4; Lu. 24:44-49; Acts 2:32-41; Ro. 10:9-13 (Joel 2:32 LXX); Phi. 2:5-10 (c.f., Is. 45:23 LXX); Heb. 1:8-14 (c.f., Ps. 102:25-27 LXX)

13.

One in Word and Works

We affirm that the Father and the Son are one in their words and works.

We affirm that, in love, the Father sent the Son to sacrificially die for His people’s sins, raising Him on the third day.

We deny any disunity between the Father and Son at any time or any separation between them, including during the Lord Jesus’ death on the cross or burial in the tomb.

Psa. 22:1-2, 22:19-24; Mat. 11:25-27, 17:5; John 5:19-29, 8:28-30, 10:22-30, 10:37-38, 14:6-11, 17:20-26; 1 Cor. 15:1-8; 2 Cor. 5:18-19

14.

One Divine Spirit

We affirm that the Father and the Son are one in spirit.

We affirm that together they share the same divine spirit.

We affirm that the Father, the Holy One, is occasionally called the Holy Spirit. The Son, the Lord Jesus, may also be called the Spirit.

We affirm that most references to the divine spirit focus on the Father, who is spirit, while some focus on the Son, who is also the spirit of life.

We also affirm their one spirit is holy and is to be reverenced.

We deny that the Father and the Son have two separate divine spirits. We deny that the spirit of the Father is someone other than the Father Himself or that the spirit of the Son is someone other than the Son Himself. We deny that the spirit of God is someone other than the Father, or the Son of God, or that the spirit of the Lord is someone other than God or the Lord.

We also deny that words like “the spirit of God” require a relationship of God with someone else who shares His one divine essential spirit.

Mat. 10:20; John 4:24, 14:20; 17:20-23; Acts 2:32-36; Gal. 4:4-6; Rom. 8:9-11; 1 Cor. 12:11-13, 15:45; Eph. 4:4; 1 John 4:13

15.

Normative Concepts of the Divine Spirit

We affirm that the Bible asserts and assumes certain standard concepts about the one spirit of the Father and the Son, including the concept that they consist of spirit and have promised to confer their one spirit on their one chosen people. We affirm that spirit is what God is and what He gives through His Son to their people. The Father is the ultimate giver and the gift; He is the helper and comforter, with the Son in Him, dwelling in their one people.

We also affirm the symbolic concepts of God’s spirit of life as His hand, face, mouth, heart, mind, soul, and breath.

We deny that the Bible asserts or assumes that the one spirit of the Father and the Son is another divine person, distinguishable from both the Father and the Son. We deny that any passages necessitate the nuanced concept that the spirit of the Father and the Son is someone other than the Father and the Son. We deny that the Father cannot be both the giver and the gift, pouring out from His spirit in the name of His Son. We deny that God thinking or being grieved within His spirit is a revelation of another additional person.

We also deny that the spirit of God is an impersonal force, influence, or aspect of God.

Psa. 139:5-18; John 4:22-24, 14:18-24, 20:22; Lu. 11:11-13, 24:49; Acts 2:16-36, 11:15-18; 1 Cor. 15:45; 2 Cor. 1:3, 3:14-18; Eph. 4:30; 1 Jo. 4:13

16.

One in Glory

We affirm that the Father and the Son are one in their glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all creation, now and forever.

We affirm the Son is the image of God, the exact representation of His nature, the very outshining of His glory.

We deny that there was a time when either the Father or the Son did not possess glory, majesty, dominion, and authority.

We deny that someone else is one in glory, majesty, dominion, and authority with the Father and the Son.

John 1:14-18, 14:8-11, 17:1-3; 2 Cor. 4:4-6; Col. 1:15-17; Heb. 1:1-4; 2 Pet. 3:18; Jude 24-25

17.

One in Worth

We affirm that the Father and Son are worthy of our highest faith, love, obedience, fear, priestly service, and worship.

We affirm that the Father and the Son are holy, righteous, good, mighty, truthful, faithful, unchangeable, wise, merciful, and loving.

We deny that anyone else is worthy of our highest faith, love, obedience, fear, priestly service, or worship besides the Father and the Son.

We deny that the Father or the Son is unholy, unrighteous, evil, powerless, untruthful, unfaithful, changeable, unwise, unmerciful, or unloving.

Psa. 96:1-13; Isa. 9:6-7; John 14:1; Jam. 1:16-18; 1 Pet. 2:9-10, 3:14-15 (c.f., Isaiah 8:12-13); 1 John 1:3; Rev. 4:8-11, 5:8-14, 7:9-17, 20:6

18.

Upholding Creation

We affirm that the Father and the Son are the upholders of all creation, holding all things together.

We deny that anyone else upholds the created order besides the Father and the Son.

Neh. 9:6; Jer. 33:24-26; Mat. 6:25-33; John 5:19-29; Acts 17:22-31; Col. 1:15-17; Heb. 1:1-12; 2 Pet. 3:4-7

Category

Affirmations

Denials

Bible Ref.

19.

One in Judgment

We affirm that, through the Son, the Father will bring about the resurrection of the righteous and the unrighteous. We affirm that the Father and the Son have also revealed their righteous wrath against the wicked. We affirm that the Father will judge the living and the dead through the Son on the last day.

We also affirm that the Father will judge Satan, the disobedient angels, and all the children of the evil one through the Son on the last day.

We deny that anyone else will be the one through whom the Father and the Son will bring about the resurrection of the dead.

We deny that anyone else will be the supreme judge in the final judgment, besides the Father through the Son.

Psa. 2:1-12, 110:1-7; Mat. 25:31-46; John 5:19-29; Acts 17:29-31; Rom. 14:10-12 (c.f., 2 Cor. 5:6-10); 1 Thess. 4:13-18; 2 Thess. 1:5-12; James 5:7-9; Jude 14 -16; Rev. 6:15-17, 11:15-19, 20:11-15

20.

One in Honor

We affirm that all of creation, in heaven and earth, will bow in full worship before the Father and the Son and confess their one name, giving them both full, divine honor.

We deny that anyone else will receive full, divine honor from all creation in heaven and earth.

Psa. 110:1-7; Dan. 7:13-14; Isa. 45:22-23; John 5:19-24; Rom. 14:10-12; Phil. 2:9-11; Heb. 1:6 (c.f., Deut. 32:43 LXX and Psa. 97:7 LXX); Rev. 4:8-11, 5:8-14, 7:9-17, 22:1-5

21.

New Heaven and Earth

We affirm that the Father and the Son will be the fully divine sources and sovereigns of the new heavens and earth.

We affirm that there will be one kingdom for their redeemed people, the kingdom of God and Christ.

We deny that anyone else will be the fully divine source or fully divine sovereign of the new heavens and earth, besides the Father and the Son.

Isa. 11:1-10; Mat. 19:27-29; Acts 3:17-21; Phil. 3:17-21; Rev 2:5-7, 3:11 -13, 11:15-19, 21:1-8, 22:1-5, 22:12-13

22.

Eternal Dwelling

​We affirm that the Father and the Son will supremely dwell with their one chosen people forever and ever on the new earth.

We deny that someone else besides the Father and the Son will supremely dwell with the one chosen people forever and ever on the new earth.

Psa. 115:15-16; Isa. 66:15-24; Luk. 21:34-40; John 17:20-26; 1 Thess. 4:13-18; Heb. 12:22-24; 1 John 2:15-17, 2:23-25; 2 Peter 3:11-13; Jude 24-25; Rev. 21:1-4, 21:22-27, 22:1-5