Cardinal Doctrines of a New Testament Church by Joseph F. Roberts, ThD, PhD - HTML preview

Introduction to Final Declaration

As we concluded in the Introduction to this declaration, we are living in dire times. The Institution of Marriage, established by God the Father Himself, is being attacked on all sides. Know this: If Satan can do away with marriage of one man and one woman, he will win the battle. There is, however, still a remnant that is and will continue for the Truth of God’s Word. Satan may win the battle, but he will never win the war! With that in mind, let us consider the proof texts for this declaration: We believe the Biblical definition of marriage is the union between a man and a woman.

Genesis 2:21-24: 21 And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon

Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh

instead thereof; 22 And the rib, which the LORD God had taken from

man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man. 23 And Adam

said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be

called Woman, because she was taken out of Man. 24 Therefore shall a

man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and

they shall be one flesh.

We see from the very beginning of time God established the institute of marriage by His creation of woman. Through marriage man and woman become one. God fashioned woman out of man. So, we have here in the beginning that God put one man with one woman. This is the standard that would continue until the last individual is born. When mankind goes against God in this, he will not acknowledge God in anything else. If the institute of marriage can be destroyed, mankind may think that God does not count anymore. The fact is this: the institute of marriage will not be done away as long as there are God’s people and God’s church on this earth. There will be a remnant that will remain faithful. As long as there is a scriptural church on this earth, there will be found the institute of marriage.

Matthew 19:4-6: 4 And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not

read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and

203

female, 5 And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother,

and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh? 6

Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God

hath joined together, let not man put asunder.

Jesus, in this reference, reaffirms that marriage is between one man and one woman. They leave all others to become one. He also reaffirms that it was this way from the beginning of man and woman.

Mark 10:6-9 : 6 But from the beginning of the creation God made them

male and female. 7 For this cause shall a man leave his father and

mother, and cleave to his wife; 8 And they twain shall be one flesh: so

then they are no more twain, but one flesh. 9 What therefore God hath

joined together, let not man put asunder.

These verses are basically a repeat of what Matthew wrote.

1 Corinthians 7:2-4: 2 Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man

have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband. 3 Let

the husband render unto the wife due benevolence: and likewise also the

wife unto the husband. 4 The wife hath not power of her own body, but

the husband: and likewise also the husband hath not power of his own

body, but the wife.

These references give guidance concerning sexual relations between the husband and wife.

Ephesians 5:22-31: 21 Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear

of God. 22 Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto

the Lord. 23 For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is

the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. 24 Therefore

as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own

husbands in every thing. 25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ

also loved the church, and gave himself for it; 26 That he might sanctify

and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, 27 That he might

present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or

any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. 28 So

ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife

loveth himself. 29 For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but

nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church: 30 For we are

204

members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. 31 For this cause

shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his

wife, and they two shall be one flesh.

Paul, in his letter to the church at Ephesus, wrote that submission is a major key in our relations one to another and to God. He compares the institution of marriage to the church. The relationship that Jesus has for His church is the same as that of the marriage of one man and one woman. Both were started and ordained by God, and He still blesses both richly.

Conclusion to Declaration #22

There is really not a way to condense this declaration because it is exactly as God intended it to be. We believe the Biblical definition of marriage is the union between a man and a woman.

The time has come for God’s people to take a firm stand: whose side are they on, God’s or Satan’s. The time is coming when you will be forced to take sides. There will be no “straddling the fence.”

205

206

Conclusion to the Series

Through this series on What We Believe as Missionary Baptists, we have seen the necessary things that are to be believed in a New Testament church. These are the things upon which church fellowship rests. If a church does not hold to these beliefs, it is not worthy of our fellowship.

These are the “Cardinal Doctrines of a New Testament Church.” These are the things that we should believe and should never, ever compromise on any of them. Jesus will judge us at the Judgement Seat of Christ as to how we have conformed to these truths. If we do not hold on to these truths, we will be held accountable for not having done so. This is not being narrow-minded or harsh. It is merely what God’s Word says for us to believe and follow.

We have now seen them all. Where do you stand on these declarations?

Are you of those who believe these declarations or are you of those who are in rebellion against God? That is a question that only you can answer.

May God bless you is my prayer.

207

About the Author

Dr. Joseph F. Roberts has been a Baptist minister, missionary, and pastor for 56 years. He currently serves as Executive Director of the International Missionary Baptist Ministries, a ministry of the Mayfield Drive Baptist Church in Smyrna, Tennessee. He holds two Bachelor of Theology Degrees, a Master of Theology Degree, a Master of Divinity, a Doctor of Theology Degree, and a Doctor of Philosophy in Religion Degree.

208