We’re no denomination. We have no law but love, no creed but Christ, no book but the Bible: no membership; just fellowship through the Blood of Jesus Christ that cleanses us from all unbelief.

The following statements are my personal convictions and beliefs and I am not speaking on behalf of everyone at Christian Believers fellowship. (each one has to work out their own salvation with fear and trembling and must give an account to Jesus Christ alone)

Here is only a cross section of doctrinal beliefs. In no way do I believe that you have to hear me to be saved or that I have it all. There are many ordained ministries in the world and there is an invisible union of the bride of Christ. I do the telling and He does the convincing. I simply try to do my best for the Lord and to play my part in God’s kingdom. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit sayeth. Not everything traditional is up-to date. In this day we are not called to enter into Noah’s ark, but into Christ.

In order to see any doctrine in the Bible correctly, one must focus on Calvary. The work of the cross, the shed blood of our Lord Jesus Christ must be the center. Only then will every doctrine take its rightful place.

ON UNITY

Man often wants to unify others upon mutual agreements, such as: we all believe the “catholic doctrine“, or the “baptist doctrine”, the “pentecostal doctrine” or “the message of the hour” etc. The common denominator in God’s kingdom is not based upon agreeing with doctrine, but upon being filled with His Spirit. True Christian unity is in the Holy Spirit. One must be born of the Spirit of Christ in order to be part of that Body. Without His Spirit, we are not even part of Him! Only when a believer is filled with the Holy Spirit he or she will have the mind of Christ. One can know the Scriptures backward and forward and still not be able to perceive and hear what the Spirit sayeth. It is not just to know Christ the Word, but to receive Christ the Person. The Holy Spirit will lead us into all Truth! Into the true doctrines of Christ too. One will also recognise other members of the same Body. Not all have the same function and not all have the same level of maturity, but by their Spirit we will know them. God will also give us the grace to be patient with one another.

ON SALVATION

JOHN 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. ACTS 2:21 And it shall come to pass, [that] whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.

All one needs to do to be saved is to believe in the completed work on Calvary by our Lord Jesus Christ. His Blood cleanses from all sin. As we repent of our sins, trust in the shed Blood of Jesus Christ on Calvary and die to ourselves, He will come and fill us with the Holy Spirit. Then will we be sealed until the day of redemption. EPHESIANS 4:30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.. The evidence of the Holy Spirit is not necessarily speaking in tongues and spiritual manifestations or being active in church, but a consecrated life that agrees with every Word of God. If the same Holy Spirit that wrote the Bible dwells in you, you will say amen to every Word of God. Use discernment when you hear the Word preached.  Understanding comes as God reveals His Word to us.  Obeying His Word is a reflection of our love relationship with Him and is not what some people call legalism.  The rain falls on the just and the unjust. There are false anointed ones among us. Consider, God is faithful, even if we are unfaithful. He is always true to His own Word. Of course, if someone is filled with the Holy Ghost, the signs and manifestations will follow. Having our prayers answered is no evidence that we are right with God. He even answered prayers of demons and granted them to enter into a herd of pigs. MATTHEW 8:28-32 And when he was come to the other side into the country of the Gergesenes, there met him two possessed with devils, coming out of the tombs, exceeding fierce, so that no man might pass by that way. 29 And, behold, they cried out, saying, What have we to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God? art thou come hither to torment us before the time? 30 And there was a good way off from them an herd of many swine feeding. 31 So the devils besought him, saying, If thou cast us out, suffer us to go away into the herd of swine. 32 And he said unto them, Go. And when they were come out, they went into the herd of swine: and, behold, the whole herd of swine ran violently down a steep place into the sea, and perished in the waters. Sin is unbelief. People sin, because they believe not. Smoking, drinking, fornication is not sin as such, but the outworking of sin (unbelief)

ON THE TRINITY DOCTRINE

The Lord Jesus Christ is God manifested in the flesh. JOHN 14:10-11
Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works. 11 Believe me that I [am] in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works’ sake.

God is a Spirit JOHN 4:24 God [is] a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship [him] in spirit and in truth.

All of God dwelt in Christ Jesus COLOSSIANS 2:9 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. ISAIAH 9:6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace

Jesus Christ is the Word JOHN 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. … and the Word became flesh and dwelt among us. To be against the Word is to be against Christ – for Christ is the Word. Anti-Word is Anti-Christ. The Lord said in MATTHEW 4:4 …Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. It is very important that we have every Word of God in order to stand against every attack of Satan. The Word must become part of us to be effective. If Christ by the Holy Spirit dwelleth in us, we will agree and manifest the same Word. The Holy Ghost will not contradict His own Word.

Jesus Christ is the great I am, God, the Alpha and Omega REVELATION 1:17-18 And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last: 18 I [am] he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death. ISAIAH 44:6 6 Thus saith the LORD the King of Israel, and his redeemer the LORD of hosts; I [am] the first, and I [am] the last; and beside me [there is] no God. Jehovah of the Old Testament is Jesus Christ of the New Testament JOHN 8:58 Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.

God the Holy Spirit. God is a Spirit – a Holy Spirit. The Spirit that fell on Pentecost. Christ in Spirit form returning into the believer. COLOSSIANS 1:26-27 [Even] the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints: 27 To whom God would make known what [is] the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory: JOHN 14:16-17 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; 17 [Even] the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. JOHN 14:20 At that day ye shall know that I [am] in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you.

Trinity of God. God is a Spirit – there is only one God. He manifested Himself as our heavenly Father, He came as our Saviour in His son Jesus Christ, and He came again in the form of the Holy Spirit into the believer. One God – three manifestations. DEUTERONOMY 6:4 Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God [is] one LORD:

ON BAPTISM

True Christian baptism is by full immersion in water, in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ. It symbolises death to self, burial in the waters of baptism and rising to a new life in Christ. It is also a wonderful type of the bride taking on the Name of her heavenly bride groom. ACTS 2:38 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 gift of the Holy Ghost. The Lord Jesus said: MATTHEW 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: This is not a contradiction as it seems, but a fulfillment by Peter of what Jesus said. Jesus said to baptise in “the name”. This is singular and in no translation we find in “the names”. Father is not a name, neither is Son nor Holy Ghost. I am also a son, a father and a husband, but this is not my name. It is an office, function or description of the person bearing the name. I don’t think that the bank would accept a cheque signed “father” or “husband’ or “son”. Peter did not disobey the Lord, but he had the revelation of the Name. So did also all the early Christians. It only was changed at the Nicaean council in A.D.325. Unfortunately, the reformation did not restore this truth that was distorted by the catholic church. Nevertheless, many believers have received the original truth and were baptised, or even re-baptised in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ. There is no-one found in the early Church (book of Acts) that was baptised in the titles of Father, Son and Holy Ghost. If I were to believe that Peter, full of the Holy Ghost at Pentecost disobeyed the Lord, I would have no confidence in any of his other writings. I believe that Peter had the revelation given by God. MATTHEW 16:14-20 And they said, Some [say that thou art] John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets. 15 He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? 16 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. 17 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed [it] unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. 18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. 19 And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. 20 Then charged he his disciples that they should tell no man that he was Jesus the Christ. The Church is not built upon Peter, as some say, but upon the spiritual revelation, knowing who Jesus Christ is. Even today, it takes spiritual revelation to know Christ. Just think of this, if all the mainstream churches are right, then the Bible would be wrong, for it foretells the falling away from the faith among the churches in these last days. ACTS 19:1-7 And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples, 2 He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost. 3 And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John’s baptism. 4 Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus. 5 When they heard [this], they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 6 And when Paul had laid [his] hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied. 7 And all the men were about twelve. There are many passages where believers were baptised and ordered to be re-baptised in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ. It also represents a type – the bride of Christ taking on the Name of her heavenly bridegroom in the waters of baptism. We are not saved by the water, but by grace of God through the shed Blood of Jesus Christ. Nevertheless, water baptism is a commandment with a promise (the Holy Ghost)! If we step into this light, obeying the commandment, then God will show us more light – the next step. Refusing to accept a truth, means one will continue walking with a lie, “round and round the mountain” not able to grow further spiritually.

ON THE MARK OF THE BEAST

In the last days there will be two categories of people   You either come under the seal of God or the mark of the beast.  EPHESIANS 4:30 “And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.”  The Bible says that all that that didn’t have the Seal of God came under the mark of the beast. Therefore it is essential that we are born of the Spirit of God. Compare this with the Old Testament type of the jubilee. Whenever the “Gospel” trumpet sounded, the opportunity to be free was there. If rejected – that servant was marked with a hole that was bored through the ear and thus he became a slave forever. When the manifested truth comes your way – do not reject it. Rejecting the truth means you continue with the lie.   A person that rejects revealed Bible truth will never advance with God and just becomes a poor, lost religious person.  Without the Holy Ghost, entire Churches will be misled to join a Council of Churches that compromises with the Word of God.  The mark of the beast is not worshipping on a Sunday as some say.  Being in Christ means that we have entered into His rest – the true Sabbath.  God Himself rested the seventh day.  In the Old Testament it was considered a terrible sin to do any work on a Sabbath.  There was a man stoned to death just for picking up a few sticks on the Sabbath.  The Bible says that Israel failed to enter into that rest, the promised land, the true Sabbath, Christ Himself.  Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he has entered into the rest (Sabbath)  We now rest in Christ, in His completed work on Calvary.  To add to it (works) will be a type of breaking the Sabbath.  Jesus Christ said: It is finished.  I believe it and rest in it.  According to the Bible, there is also a physical mark (the mark of the beast) forced upon people.  Without it you won’t be able to buy or sell.  Let’s not wait for this but get into Christ now.

ON THE BAPTISM OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

It is so essential that we have a true Holy Ghost experience. There are three Scriptures I know of, which promise us the Holy Ghost. He gives it to the one who asks. He gives it to the one who obeys His Word and He gives it to the one who is baptized in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Of course, our faith in Him must be absolutely sincere and according to His Word. Once He accepts the faith we place in Him, He will fill us with His Holy Spirit. This experience is the new birth. As the natural birth is a mess, so is the spiritual. People who are receiving the Holy Spirit will know that something happened.  Some will be screaming and shouting.  If His Spirit gives witness to our spirit, then something has to happen. If not, we may have a still born child. When we are filled, not just anointed, with the Holy Ghost, then will we be part of the mystical body of Jesus Christ and sealed until the day of redemption. We must follow Christ and Christ alone. Without the Holy Ghost we are not even part of Him!
In Mark 16 the Bible states that “these signs shall follow them that believe”. Casting out demons, speaking in tongues, drinking deadly things and it will not harm, laying hands on the sick and they shall recover. If these signs are not present, then I do have my doubts whether one is sent by God and led by his Spirit, or one just promotes a truth or a doctrine he or she is convinced about. These signs will follow the true believers (Church) and the Holy Ghost in them will agree with every Word of God. Not in Word only, but by the Power of the Holy Spirit!  If you see false anointed ones, speaking in tongues etc. then if there are false ones, you can be sure that there is also the real thing.  Jesus said, By their fruits you will know them.
The Holy Spirit puts us on the same level.  Praise the Lord! Galatians 3:28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.

ON THE GREAT HARLOT

The Bible teaches us: REVELATION 18:4 4 And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues. The great harlot on the seven hills is Rome. She, the catholic church system and her daughters. Those who once came out from her, but are now back in the great council of churches with their mother. A harlot is one that is not true to her husband. Christ the Word. Establishing doctrines and teachings outside of the Word of God is spiritual fornication. She becomes an adulteress. Christ will choose a pure bride – a Word bride.

There are many wonderful Christians caught up in some of those “Anti-Christ” denominations and their salvation depends on what they do with Christ. No one will ever be judged by the word of their church, but by Christ – the Word. Be true to Him!

ON RAPTURING FAITH

What is rapturing faith and how do we get it? It sounds like something for sale everyone wants. There is plenty of advertising and many claim to have the goods.  Will one have to hear a certain preacher or interpreter of the message of God? All this sounds like putting the cart before the horse. Very much like faith and works. Produce the works, learn the message my way, and you will have rapturing faith. What nonsense, the Bible says I show you the works by my faith. I wonder how many of such meetings I would need to attend until I have the faith required to make it for the rapture? Once I worked with a man who was very knowledgeable about the ins an outs of the share market. He tried to convince people to invest in certain shares and futures. He sounded very convincing! I had to admit, that he knew far more about the share market, than I did. As it was not for me to get into the share market, but out of interest, I did a bit of investigation. It happened to be, that this person not only did trade shares, but he also stole large sums of money and lost it in the share market. He further ended up in a mental hospital for months and with marriage problems. Who would risk their money with a person with such a history? The sad thing is, that our soul is far more important than money and yet, many people trust certain men and their version of “making it into the rapture”. The track record often shows what spirit has been leading in the past. How can men, having been deceived by the wrong spirit teach others of how to make it for the rapture? It is very important to trust in Jesus Christ alone – He will lead us into all truth!  Once you are filled, and not just anointed, with the Holy Spirit you will have the token, the quickening power within yourself. This is what is needed in order to make it for the rapture. The quickening power, the Holy Ghost and nothing else. Remember, it is always the bride groom that proposes and one can only be the bride of Christ, once He personally proposed to us and we accepted. He fills us with the Holy Ghost, when our faith we place in Him is accepted by Him. In order to make it for the rapture, you must be born again, filled with His Love by the Holy Spirit.  Then the works will follow your faith, as you are led by His Spirit. Don’t substitute great teachings for the Holy Ghost. The devil too knows the truth and he will use it and preach in such a way, so that you will think that the knowledge of the truth is the Holy Ghost. He will try everything to hinder you to get to Calvary, to die to yourself and to be born again. The message of the cross is foolishness and of no great importance to them that perish. Don’t entrust your soul to a man’s opinion and teachings. Look to Christ, recognise Him and follow Him and Him alone. The way God saves men has never changed! He is the Same, yesterday, today and forever! |Romans 8:11 says: But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.

ORDINANCES

There are Scriptures which are ordinances of God.  Not a matter of salvation, but a matter of relationship with Christ.

The main ordinances are:
– Baptism (Matthew 28:19 and Acts 2:38)
– Communion (1. Corinthians 11:23-34)
– Foot washing (John 13:2-17)

For the communion service (Lord’s supper) we use unleavened bread, representing the sinless body of Jesus Christ, and real red wine, representing the life in the Blood of Jesus Christ.

There are many Scriptures which are not related to Salvation.  It is a matter of revelation and love relationship with your heavenly bridegroom to whether you obey or dismiss those Scriptures.  (Scriptures on women to have long hair and men to have short hair, not wearing clothes which pertain to the opposite sex etc)

CONCLUSION

In order to become a believer, one has to be drawn by God. Then seek Him with all your heart. Respond, obey and do what He shows you to do. It may be something very personal to what He wants you to be changed. “a total surrender”. Walk in the light He shows you and continue to walk in the Truth He reveals to you. If you believe that all of the Bible is the inspired Word of God, and if you realise the importance of every Word of God, then you will also see other doctrinal issues in the light of God’s Word. The Holy Spirit will lead you into all Truth. Just think of this, the devil uses every device and argument to destroy, lie, cheat and defile and therefore we have need of every Word of God to be able to fight back. Remember Christ is the Word. Be faithful to Him and Him alone. Only He shed blood for you. He will not join Himself to an (spiritual) adulteress. Unless we are born again by His Spirit – we are none of His. ROMANS 8:9 9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. You don’t need man’s approval but His witness that your faith in Him has been accepted.