Statement of Faith for Missionary Ivan Taylor

The Word of God

I believe in the verbal plenary inspiration and infallibility of God's Word as stated in II Tim. 3:15-17. I also include Psalms 12:6,7 which states: "The words of the Lord are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. Thou shalt keep them, O Lord, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever."

English is the universal language for the entire world. I believe that is the reason God used King James to bring about the translation of the scriptures into the English language.

The Trinity

I believe in one God existing in three persons based in I John 5:7, "For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Hoy Ghost." In John 14:16-26, Jesus includes Himself in the Trinity. Also, at the beginning of His public ministry, the Triune God was manifested at the Baptism of Jesus.

The Virgin Birth

I believe that Jesus Christ was begotten by the Holy Spirit, and born of Mary, a virgin, and is true God and True man based on Matthew 1:18-25. The keys are verses 20 and 23, "...behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife, for that which is conceived in her is the Holy Ghost." Verse 23-"Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel which being interpreted is, God with us."

Creation—Fall of Man

I believe God created man in His image according to Genesis 1:26: "And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness..." The first man, Adam, willfully sinned by disobeying God's first commandment. "But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die: (Gen. 2:16-17). First they died spiritually. This is clearly taught in Ephesians 2:1, "And you hath he (Christ) quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins." Jesus said that those who did not believe on Him were condemned already, John 3:18. Condemned already is the same as being on "death row"—prisoners condemned to death waiting for execution. If any person passes through physical death (Heb. 9:27), in this condition, this separation from God becomes eternally permanent according to Revelation 20:5-15. This separation from God is due to the fact that human beings are born with a sinful nature. Romans 5:12 says, "Wherefore as by one man (Adam) sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned."

Salvation-Repentance-blood of Christ

I believe that my Lord Jesus Christ died for my sins according to I Corinthians 15:3, where the Apostle Paul said, "For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures." II Cor. 5:14-21 teaches us that Jesus loved us and became sin for us to reconcile us to God. We must have genuine sorrow for our sin, II Corinthians 7:10, and turn to Jesus Christ for salvation through His blood. Hebrews 9:11a, "But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come...verse 12, "Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us; and verse 14: "How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?"

Spiritual Birth by Faith

I believe that a person can only become a child of God- be saved, by being spiritually born again by the Spirit of God. John 3:5-7 says, "Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. (6) That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. (7) Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again." Being born again is by faith—faith alone—in the Lord Jesus Christ. Ephesians 2:8, 9 "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God: (9) Not of works lest any man should boast." Rom.10:9 "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead thou shalt be saved." When a person does this, he or she becomes a child of God. Rom. 8:14-16 "For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. (15) For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear: but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. (16)The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God."

Resurrection

I believe that Jesus Christ was crucified and willingly died for my sins (John 19:30-42). John chapter 20 gives us the glorious news that Jesus had risen from the dead!! After He appeared to His eleven disciples and over 500 brethren at one time, (I Cor. 15:4-6), He ascended into Heaven (Acts 1:7-11). Today Jesus is our Great High Priest according to the book of Hebrews, chapters 9 and 10. Heb. 9:24 says that, "Christ entered into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us." Speaking of Jesus Christ, Heb. 7:25 states, "Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them"; also; I John 2:16 tells us, "And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous."

Eschatology

I believe in "that blessed hope" which is the hope of every child of God walking with Jesus. Titus 2:11-13 states "For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, (12) Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; (13) Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of he great God and our Savior Jesus Christ." I believe the return of my Lord Jesus Christ is imminent (it could be today), and will happen before the 7 year Tribulation (which is described in The Revelation of Jesus Christ—Rev.1:7; chapters 5-19), the children of God refer to this event as The Rapture. The word rapture means "catching up" and is described in I Cor. 15:51, 52 and in I Thess. 4:13-18. Verses 16-17 state, "For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: (17) Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord."

Bodily Resurrection and Eternity

I believe in the bodily resurrection of the just unto everlasting bliss in Heaven based on these three passages: I Cor. 15:50-58, I Thess. 43-18 and Revelation chapters 21-22. I believe the lost will also have a resurrection to stand before God at the Great White Throne Judgment. There the sentence of eternal punishment in the lake of fire and brimstone is executed. Rev. 20:11-15; 21-8.

The Church

I believe the Church is the body of Christ according to Eph. l:22, 23 "And hath put all things under His feet and gave Him to be the head over all things to the church, (23) Which is His body, the fullness of Him that filleth all in all."

The local church is made up of born again baptized believers and, was established by Jesus Christ. Jesus was baptized, Matt. 3:14-17. Jesus established the church in Matt. 16-18. He taught and authorized His disciples to baptize disciples, John 4:1, 2. He included baptism in the Great Commission, Matt. 28:18-20 and Mark 16:15. Following His resurrection from the dead, we are told the church numbered about 120, including the eleven Apostles, Acts l:l5. In Acts 2:41 about 3000 people responded to Peter's invitation (verse 38), "Then Peter said unto them Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the Holy Ghost (Baptism is not part of repentance--they are separate). The local church in Jerusalem grew by 3000 in one day!

The Ordinances of Baptism and The Lord's Supper

I believe Baptism is by a single immersion of only born again people. The word "baptize" means immerse, overwhelm, dip into. Sprinkling is not baptism. Baptism is an outward sign of an inward belief and the Christian is identified with the Lord in His death, burial and resurrection according to Rom. 6:1-5. The ordinance of Baptism was given to the church by Jesus during His ministry here on earth.

Also, The Lord’s Supper is the other ordinance given by Jesus to His Church according to Matt. 26: 26-29; Mark 14:22-25; Luke 22:19,20: and I Cor. 11:22-34.

Qualifications for Missionary Service

God's Mercy and Grace have been working overtime in my life since graduation from Bible College in 1977. For many years I listened to the enemy and convinced myself I was mistaken about being called to preach The Gospel. Like the Children of Israel, we wandered in the wilderness. Our wilderness was the United States. Five years in the Air Force placed us in; Missouri and Washington (state). After the military, back to Missouri, then to Boston, Massachusetts, to New Hampshire, to Maine, to Wisconsin, to Missouri, to Tennessee, and to Georgia. Everywhere we went we found a good Bible believing independent Baptist church. We took part in several building programs. I convinced myself that my calling was in music as a preparation for the preaching service. I served as Music Director in seven churches over 21 years. The Lord used me to start choirs in five churches. My wife and I taught Sunday school, ran Bus/Van routes, and cleaned buildings. However, I never had real peace and there was a deep restlessness in my soul. God broke me down in Georgia and I am no longer running from God's call to preach. He called me to preach and to take the Gospel in Spanish to those who don't yet understand enough English to be saved. I want to be in the center of God's will every day as long as He leaves me on this earth. I am so sick of going my own way. God has given me an ability to lead people and organizational skills. He has taught me patience in dealing with people and situations. He is teaching me the meaning of John 3:30. When I am dead to self (Gal. 2:20), the Holy Spirit produces the fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22, 23) through my life.