TABLE OF CONTENTS
I. Purpose and Goal
II.
Description
III.
How the Program Works
(a)
CTA Courses
(b)
Work Required
(c)
Completed Reading Assignments
and Term Papers
(d)
Completed Tests
(e)
Grading Guidelines
(f)
Reading Requirements
(g)
After Completing all the CTA Courses
(h)
Course Assistance
IV.
Cost
(a)
Total Cost
(b)
Individual Courses
(c)
Tuition Payment Options
V.
Refund Policy
(a)
Early Withdrawal
VI.
Completion Requirements for the CTA
(a)
Completion Time
(b)
Grade Description
VII.
How to Get Started
VIII.
Questions
IX.
Course Description
Course
1: The Basics of Apologetics
Course
2: Biblical Hermeneutics
Course
3: The Biblical Doctrine of the Trinity
Course
4: The Deity of Jesus Christ
Course
5: The Biblical Doctrine of Justification
Course
6: Oneness Theology (Modalism)
Course
7: Jehovah’s Witnesses
Course
8: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormonism)
Course
9: Roman Catholicism
Course
10: The Reliability of Scripture
Final
Exam
X.
Writing Guidelines
(a)
Paper
Size and Type
(b)
Length of Written Answers
(c)
Page Numbers
(d) Font Size
(e)
Font Type
XII.
Things to Avoid in Written Answers
(a)
Never Address the Reader
(b)
State/Affirm and Defend Only
(c)
Grammar
(d)
Clarity
(e)
Provide Biblical and Extra-Biblical Support for all Assertions
(f)
Footnotes
(g)
Publication Facts
(h)
Footnotes Examples
(i)
Consistency
Department
of Christian Defense’s Statement of Faith
I. Purpose and Goal
The
Department of Christian Defense’s
(DCD) purpose in offering this program is
1.
To educate and equip Christians to assert and defend the essentials of historic
biblical Christianity.
2.
To communicate accurately and exegetically substantive biblical doctrines.
3.
To witness and reach out to those involved in non-Christian cults.
4.
To biblically distinguish between truth and falsities.
5.
To exegetically refute those who oppose sound doctrine.
6.
To provide a basic understanding of hermeneutics (i.e., critical interpretation)
ensuring a correct interpretation of biblical passages.
II.
DESCRIPTION:
Certificate of Theological Apologetics
(CTA).
III.
HOW THE PROGRAM WORKS:
First, an CTA application must be submitted to start. Please
write DCD, We will then send the application to you.
(a)
CTA Courses: The CTA program consists of 10 courses (total of 44
credits), which can be accomplished by correspondence.
(b)
Work Required:
Student must satisfactorily complete 1 test (exam) per course (above 70%
to pass).
Additionally, students will be required to provide several written
answers per course (See X.
below for a description on writing requirements)
(c)
Completed Reading Assignments:
1. After student completes all course required reading assignments,
student will email DCD a completion notice, which will consist of:
i.
First and last name of student
ii.
Course name and number
2. To receive test
examination, student must email (edward@christiandefense.org) a
completion notice of course before test will be sent to student.
A completion notice is simply an email to DCD (edward@christiandefense.org)
indicating that all reading requirements have been completed.
Test will then be emailed to the student normally in
Microsoft Word format or a specified format if necessary. If student has
need of another format this must be indicated prior to starting the CTA
program.
3.
Completed Tests:
After student completes a course test, student will mail the completed test
(*hardcopy only) to DCD @ P.O. Box 2128, Winnetka, CA 91396-2128
and include a self-addressed stamped envelope inside.
The graded course
test will then be returned to the student. If proper postage
is not on return envelope student will be charged for any additional postage
(d)
Grading Guidelines:
Work will be graded on (i) theological accuracy, (ii) doctrinal accuracy
of particular religious groups discussed, (iii)
citation accuracy (i.e., correctly citing biblical references, authors, works,
pages of particular books, etc.), and (iv)
grammar and style of all written work.
(e)
Reading Requirements:
For each
course there will be required reading assignments, that is, designated
material, which will consist of primarily written articles most of which can be
acquired at no cost at
www.christiandefnse.org. However, reading requirements may include a book or
particular chapter(s) of assigned books. Listed with each course (see
Course Description
below) are the required reading assignments.
Listed
with each course (see
Course Description
below), are
the required reading
assignments, followed below by suggested books to read. Though they are
not required reading for the CTA program, we at DCD endorse these books for
further study of the particular course subject. We find that many students wish
to increase their theological horizon by going beyond the reading requirements.
Any book(s) that is
required and also suggested can be purchased at most Bible bookstores or online
bookstores (e.g., www.amazon.com).
(f)
After completing all CTA Courses: After completion of the last
course of the CTA program there
will be a final exam. After the final exam is graded student will then receive
his or her CTA issued by DCD. Note, 65 is the minimum passing grade for all
courses (sec.
VI.b below).
(g)
Course Assistance: A
DCD staff member will be
available to personally assist the student with course work, questions, or any
problems that student may encounter.
All courses and final exam
must be satisfactorily completed for a passing grade (above 70%). Students
that do not receive a passing grade may re-submit a test and/or final
exam once. Once the full CTA program is completed, student will then
receive his or her Certificate of Theology Apologetics issued by the
Department of Christian Defense.
IV.
COST:
(a)
Total Cost: The total cost for the CTA program is $600.00 (see
below for payment options). In addition, there will be a $25.00
enrollment fee. Student will incur some additional costs for required books (a
minimum of 9 books). However, all required articles can be downloaded free from
the DCD website. Payment(s) can be made by check or money order only (no cash is
accepted). All checks or money orders must be made payable to Department of
Christian Defense. The Department of Christian Defense is a state and
federal recognized 501(c)3 non-profit organization.
(b)
Individual Courses: Courses may be taken separately from the CTA
program for $100.00 per course, in which course credit may apply to the CTA
program.
(c)
Tuition Payment Options:
Option
1:
Paid in full $600.00
Option
2: 25%
down ($150.00) and the balance paid in thee equal monthly payments of $160.00.
Option
3: 10%
down ($60.00) and a monthly minimum payment of $50.00 for 12 months.
Option
4: 50%
down and a monthly payment of $30.00 for 12 months.
Student
may pay tuition early in which only unpaid balance excluding additional service
charges would be due. Student must choose payment method before starting
program. This must be indicated on the enrollment application.
Note:
There
will be a $35.00 late charge if payment is not received on or before the 20th
of every month of payment schedule. It is the responsibility of the student to
mail payment out. No generated monthly payment bills will be sent out, with the
exception of late fees, and/or postage fees, which will be billed at the end of
payment schedule.
V.
REFUND POLICY:
(a)
Early Withdrawal: Students who officially withdrawal in writing
from the CTA program may be granted a refund of tuition on uncompleted work.
Terms of refund are as follows:
30
days of enrollment………………………………80%
60
days of enrollment.……………………………....60%
90
days of enrollment……………………………….40%
After
90 days of enrollment………………………...None
The
$25.00 enrollment fee is non-refundable.
No
refund shall be made for any finance payment schedule.
VI.
COMPLETION
REQUIREMENTS FOR THE CTA:
(a)
Completion Time: The completion time for the CTA program is 12
months. However, depending on how much times is devoted, many students can
acquire their CTA earlier. Also, students may be granted an extension simply by requesting one. There
is no extension fee. In addition, student may finish before the time
allotted.
(b)
Grade description as follows:
A…………………………….92-100
B…………………………….85-91
C…………………………….70-84
D…………………………….65-73
F…….……………………….0-64
VII.
HOW TO GET STARTED:
To
start the CTA program potential student must:
1.
Request a CTA application, which will immediately be sent (emailed) on request
(in Microsoft Word format or format specified). Once DCD receives the signed
and completed CTA application by mail only, along with the $25.00 enrollment fee, a DCD staff
member will respond within 10 days. Subsequently, student may send tuition
payment and begin the CTA program beginning with the course #1.
2. As
indicated (see III. c), after completing all required reading assignments student
must send to DCD a completion notice of course, at which time the
appropriate test will be sent to student. The completed test must be sent to DCD
to be graded. Student should make copies of all tests submitted.
VIII.
QUESTIONS:
Questions
may be submitted to the director of the CTA program, Edward Dalcour, or a DCD
staff member at:
edward@christiandefense.org
818-377-5272.
www.christiandefense.org
We
at DCD are pledged to make sure that all men and women who participate in the
CTA program will become biblically equipped to defend the gospel and be able to
accurately communicate definitive biblical doctrine to all people.
IX.
COURSE DESCRIPTION
The
Certificate of Theological Apologetics consists of the following
courses:
COURSE
1: THE BASICS OF THEOLOGICAL APOLOGETICS (4
credits):
REQUIRED
READING:
1.
2.
Articles:
(a)
The
Rise of False Teachings within the Church,
(b)
The
Biblical Illiteracy in the Christian Church, (c)
Tota
Scriptura:
All of Scripture and Acts 20:28 , (d) The Do’s and Don’ts of Effective
Witnessing, (e)
The
Sovereignty of God in ALL Things
Suggested
books to read:
Defending Your Faith: An
Introduction to Apologetics, by R. C. Sproul
Always Ready,
by Greg L. Bahsen (advanced).
Evolution—The
Fossils say No, by Duane
Gish.
The Case for
Christ, by Lee Strobel.
COURSE
2: BIBLICAL HERMENEUTICS
(4
credits):
REQUIRED
READING:
1.
Book: Knowing
Scripture, by
R. C. Sproul.
Suggested
books to read:
How to Interpret the Bible for
Yourself,
by Richard Mayhue.
COURSE
3: THE BIBLICAL DOCTRINE OF THE TRINITY (4
credits):
REQUIRED
READING:
1.
Book: A Definitive Look at Oneness Theology: Defending the
Tri-Unity of God, chapters 1, 4, and 8 (by Edward Dalcour)--order
here.
2. Articles:
(a)
God the Holy Spirit: The Third Person of
the Trinity, (b)
The Soteriological Trinity
Suggested
books to read:
God
in Three Persons: Biblical Testimony to the Trinity, by
Allen Vander;
or Understanding
the Trinity, by Alister E.
McGrath.
The Forgotten Trinity,
by James White.
The Essentials of Christianity,
by R. C. Sproul.
The Trinity: The Classic Study of Biblical
Trinitarianism, by
Edward Henry Bickersteth.
COURSE
4: THE DEITY OF JESUS CHRIST
(4 credits):
REQUIRED
READING:
1.
Book: Jesus
is Both God and Man,
by Stuart Olyott; or Christ
Before the Manger, by Ron
Rhodes.
2.
Article: (a)
The
Birth of Christ: Taking the nature of a Servant
(b)
Deity of Jesus
Christ the Son of God (c)
This
article above deals primarily with the Jehovah’s Witnesses, however, it is
greatly beneficial in studying the deity of Jesus Christ.
Suggested
books to read:
Jesus: The
Divine Messiah, by Robert Reymond (advanced).
COURSE
5: THE BIBLICAL DOCTRINE OF JUSTIFICATION (4
credits):
REQUIRED
READING:
1 Book: Justification by
Faith Alone: Affirming the Doctrine by Which the Church and the Individual
Stands or Falls, by
John MacArthur (Editor), Joel Beeke, John Gerstner, John Armstrong, Don Kistler
(Editor), Faith Alone, R. C. Sproul.
2. Article:
(a)
Sola Fide:
The Foundation of Protestantism: An Exegetical Look at Romans 4:4-8 (b)
Definite
Atonement (c)
Unconditional Election (d)
Irresistible
Grace: The Effectual Calling of God (e)
The
Security of the Believer: Perseverance of the Saints
Suggested books to read:
Counted Righteous in Christ:
Should We Abandon the Imputation of Christ's
Righteousness, by
John Piper.
The God who Justifies, by James
White (advanced).
COURSE
6: ONENESS THEOLOGY (Modalism) (8
credits). Note: since there is
an enormous lack of Oneness apologetic material available, all reading
requirements below are found on DCD’s website. This will be the only reading
necessary for this course.
Or, for a more expanded and detailed treatment of Oneness theology, you can
order the book: A Definitive Look at Oneness Theology: Defending the
Tri-Unity of God Edward Dalcour)--order
here.
SUBJECT A: The
Oneness fundamental doctrinal assertion: Jesus is the Father.
SUBJECT B: The preexistence of
Jesus Christ.
REQUIRED
READING:
Or the
articles below can be substituted for book:
A Concise Look at
Oneness Beliefs
Introduction to Oneness Theology (Modalism)
Examining the Oneness
Claim that Jesus is His Own Father
The
Preexistence of the Son
Oneness
Pentecostals and Acts 2:38: “In the Name of Jesus” Only Formula
The
Multi-Personal God in the Old Testament and Oneness Theology
Modalism
and Church History
SUBJECT
C: The
Oneness objections to the doctrine of the Trinity.
1.
Article:
Examining the Oneness
Objections to the Doctrine of the Trinity
COURSE
7: JEHOVAH’S WITNESSES (8
credits):
SUBJECT A: Fundamental Watchtower
doctrines.
SUBJECT B: Attacks and assertions
on the deity of Christ and the
doctrine of the Trinity.
REQUIRED
READING:
1. Book:
Reasoning from the Scripture with the Jehovah’s Witnesses,
by Ron
Rhodes; or Kingdom of the Cults, rev. ed. (section on the
Jehovah’s
Witnesses), by
Walter Martin.
Suggested
books to read:
Why you Should Believe in the
Trinity,
by Robert Bowman.
Answering Jehovah’s Witnesses
Subject by Subject, by
David A. Reed.
REQUIRED
READING:
Or the
articles below can be substituted for book:
Articles:
Effective Verses to Show that Jesus Christ is Jehovah
The
Jehovah's Witnesses and the Doctrine of the Trinity
Objections to the Doctrine of the Trinity
The Bible of the Jehovah's
Witnesses: New World Translation
John 1:1 and the Jehovah's Witnesses'
New World Translation
Who Can you
Trust: Is the New World Translation Reliable?
Colossians 1:15-17 and the Jehovah Witnesses’ NWT
SUBJECT C: Witnessing tactics
(esp. demonstrating that the Watchtower
is a false prophet and showing that Jesus IS “the God”).
Articles
(a)
How to share
your faith with Jehovah’s Witnesses (Q&A) (b)
Quick Answers for the
Jehovah's Witnesses: The deity of Christ
(c)
The term "Jehovah" and the Jehovah's Witnesses
COURSE
8: The Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-day Saints
(Mormonism)
(8
credits):
SUBJECT A: Fundamental
LDS doctrines.
SUBJECT B: Early
teachings of Joseph Smith and the LDS Church.
REQUIRED
READING:
1.
Book: Mormonism 101:
Examining the Religion of the Latter-day Saints, by
Bill McKeever, Eric Johnson; or The Gospel According to Joseph Smith:
A Christian response to Mormon Teaching, by Ethan E. Harris.
2.
Articles
Not Eternal
God the Father is an exalted
man with body parts and passions
Many Gods (Polytheism),
thus denying what God had already said concerning Himself.
Responding to the Mormon Assertion of God the Father
Jesus Lucifer's spirit
brother
Exaltation, Man becoming a God
The
Early Teachings of Joseph Smith
Mormons and black skin
>Defining Mormon Terms
Suggested books to read:
What
Do Mormons Really Believe?: What the Ads Don't Tell You,
by John Ankerberg, John Weldon.
Kingdom
of the Cults,
rev. ed. (section on Mormonism), by Walter Martin.
Letters
to a Mormon Elder,
by
James White.
Reasoning
from the Scripture with the Mormons,
by Ron Rhodes.
COURSE
9: ROMAN CATHOLICISM (4
credits):
REQUIRED
READING:
1. Book: Reasoning
from the Scriptures with Catholics,
by Ron Rhodes; or The
Romans Catholic Controversy,
by James White.
Articles:
A Concise look at Roman Catholicism and the
worship of Mary
(b)
The Canon is closed
(c)
The Empty Hand of Faith (d)
Sola Fide
("Faith Alone"): The Foundation of Protestantism: An Exegetical Look at
Romans 4:4-8
COURSE 10:
THE RELIABILITY OF SCRIPTURE (4
credits):
REQUIRED
READING:
The New Testament Documents, by F. F. Bruce.
Suggested books:
Jesus
Under Siege, by
Gregory Boyd.
The
Case for Christ, by Lee
Strobel.
The
Canon of Scripture, by F. F.
Bruce (advanced).
FINAL
EXAMINE
This
examine will cover chief areas above.
X.
WRITING GUIDELINES
THE
WRITING TERM PAPER GUIDELINES ARE AS FOLLOWS:
The essay should approximately 3 to 6 passages.
(a)
Paper Size and Type:
All term papers must be written on 8.5” x 11” white paper, from a word-processor
1 1/2 -spaced,
1 inch margins
and in black ink and one-sided.
(d)
Font Size: All
main body text should be 12 pt. font.
(e)
Font Type:
Times Roman or Arial (preferably).
(f) Structure of essay:
-
Introduction
-
Main Body
-
Conclusion
XII. SUGGESTIONS AND THINGS TO AVOID IN WRITTEN ANSWERS:
(a)
Never Address the Reader: Example,
never say “you should know,” or “you see,” etc.
(b)
State/Affirm and Defend Only: Do
not assert opinions. Student should objectively state facts, and biblically and
logically defend the particular position being presented. This, is precisely the
biblical paradigm to treat false doctrines and provide adequate refutation
(e.g., Acts 17:2-3; 18:28; Titus 1:9, 13; 1 Pet. 3:15). Also, avoid
asking the reader questions.
(c)
Grammar: Correct
grammar should be considered for all written answers. Avoid long sentences. Do
not use contractions. In other words, do not use “don’t” rather use “do
not.” Do not use “can’t” rather use “cannot,” etc. Recheck test
answers multiple times for accuracy and grammatical correctness. *Bad
grammar could lower grade.
(d)
Clarity:
The reader should have a clear understanding of what the term paper
is communicating. It is important to be explicable and clear.
(e)
Provide Biblical and Extra-Biblical Support for all Assertions: Be
sure to provide support for assertions, claims, and citations. This is very
important in the area of apologetics. For example, when citing Joseph Smith, the
founder of the Mormon Church, pertaining to his views on the Godhead as 3
separate Gods, there should be a direct reference as to the source of the
citation (i.e., book, page, volume, etc.; see f
below). All biblical addresses used must be correctly provided as well. All
sources of citations and references should be adequately provided so the reader
can acquire the references. Providing correct references and addresses will add
credibility to an argument being presented.
(f)
Footnotes: Footnotes
establish the authorities, source of quotations, added ideas, and they cross
reference other quotations, books, or works not included in the text body.
Footnotes must be numbered consecutively. They must appear at the bottom of the
page on which the referenced quotation, address, idea, etc., occurs. The font
size is 10 pt. for all footnotes with no space between them (see
h below for footnote examples). .
(g)
Publication Facts:
Footnotes should contain the publication facts of the book, article,
journal, etc. The publication facts should include [in this order; see example
below]: 1) author’s name, 2) italicized title of the work or book [a comma
separates the author from the title], 3) edition, 4) enclosed in parentheses,
the location [city] of where the work was published, publishing house, and date
of last publication [i.e., date of most recent ©copyright], 5) and then,
separated by a comma, the volume or section (if any), and/or page number(s).
As
indicated below, for more detail concerning the standard on publication facts
see The Chicago Manual of Style, 14th ed. (Chicago: University
of Chicago Press, 1993).
(h)
Footnotes Examples:
1.
Bruce A. Ware, God’s Lesser Glory: The Diminished God of Open Theism
(Wheaton: Crossway Books, 2000), 238.
2.
Benjamin B. Warfield, Biblical Doctrines (Carlisle: The Banner of Truth
Trust, 1929), 220.
3.
Lawrence O. Richards, New International Encyclopedia of Bible Words
(Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1991), 266.
4.
Norman L. Geisler and William E. Nix, A General Introduction to the Bible,
rev. ed. (Chicago: Moody Press, 1986), 522-23.
5.
Archibald T. Robertson, Word Pictures in the New Testament (Nashville:
Broadman Press, 1933), 5:186-87.
Note,
when citing a work in a footnote that was previously cited in a written answer
to a test, the full publication facts are not necessary. It may contain only the
last name and a partial or full title of a work and the volume, section and/or
page(s) Note the example below where Word Pictures in the New Testament
is referenced in footnote #1 and again in #3:
1.
Archibald T. Robertson, Word Pictures in the New Testament (Nashville:
Broadman Press, 1933), 5:186.
2.
Lawrence O. Richards, New International Encyclopedia of Bible Words
(Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1991), 266.
3.
Robertson, Word Pictures, 4:32.
Do
not indicate volume, section, or page(s) with abbreviations (e.g., vol., sec.,
p., pp.), rather indicate volume, section, and/or page(s) by the number only.
Incorrect:
pp. 233-234.
Correct:
233-34.
Incorrect:
vol. 6, p. 139.
Correct:
6:139.
(i)
Consistency:
Writing style, footnotes, numeration, etc., should be consistent. By increasing
grammatical awareness, communication and writing skills will markedly increase.
Effective apologetics starts with clear and coherent communication skills. See The
Chicago Manual of Style for standard grammar and style guidelines.
A
Final Word:
Providing good apologetics requires a rational and well-informed
understanding of essential theology and biblical interpretation. We are
confident that the CTA program will be a delightful and a theologically edifying
experience. Jesus said to love God with our minds. With
liberal scholarship on the rise and the membership of the non-Christian cults
multiplying, today’s Christian must be equipped to affirm and defend the
gospel of Jesus Christ. The Apostle Peter instructs all Christians to be: hetoimoi
aei pros apologian panti tō aitouvti humas logon peri tēs en humin
elpidos, “ready always for defense to every one asking you [to provide a]
reason [for the hope in you]” (1 Pet. 3:15).
Department
of Christian Defense
STATEMENT OF FAITH
We
believe in
sola Scriptura, that is, Scripture is the ONLY sole infallible rule of
faith for the church. Scripture is sufficient above all things, hence
the ultimate authority and starting point for spiritual life and all
theology. All truth necessary for salvation is taught implicitly or explicitly
in Scripture alone (cf. 2 Tim.
3:16-17; 2 Pet. 3:16).
We
believe
the biblical and historical doctrine of the Trinity. Scripture presents that
there is one God (cf. Deut. 6:4; 4:35; Isa. 44:6, 8). Scripture also presents
that there are three divine Persons or Selves that are called God or Yahweh: the
Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit (cf. Rom. 1:7; John 1:1c: theos ēn
ho logos, “God was the Word”; Titus
2:13; Acts 5:3-4).
Additionally,
Scripture presents that
1.
Each of the three Persons are self-aware Subjects that are cognizant of their
own existence and have eternally existed in a loving relationship with
each other (cf. John 1:1b: pros,
“with”; 17:5: para,
“with /along side”).
2.
Each of the three Persons share the nature or essence (ousia)
of the one God (cf. Heb. 1:3: charaktēr tēs hupostaseōs autou,
“[the Son is the] exact representation of the nature of Him [the Father]”).
3.
The
three Persons are differentiated (codistinct) from each other (cf. Matt. 28:19;
John 5:31-32; 2 Cor. 13:14; Eph. 2:18; Titus 3:5-7).
4.
The Being of God is unquantifiable, inseparable, and indivisible. Hence, the one
eternal God revealed Himself in three distinct coequal, coeternal, and
coexistent Persons or Selves.
We
believe
that Jesus Christ is the eternal God (cf. John 1:1a: En
archē ēn ho
logos, “In [the] beginning was
the Word”; 8:24; 8:58; 13:19: egō eimi,
“I AM”; Rev. 22:13), Creator of all things (cf. John 1:3; Col.
1:16-17).
He
is of the same substance (homoousios) as the Father (cf.
Heb. 1:3). “The Word became [egeneto] flesh” (John 1:14). “Perfect
in Godhead and also Perfect in manhood; very God and very man” (Chalcedonian
Creed) (cf. John 1:1, 14; 20:28; Rom. 1:3-4; Col. 2:9; Phil. 2:6-7; Titus
2:13; 2 Pet. 1:1).
We
believe the
distinct Person of God the Holy
Spirit is coequal, coeternal, and coexistent
with God the Father and God the
Son (cf. Acts 5:3-4; Heb. 3:7; 10:15-18). He sanctifies and empowers the
church for works of service (cf. Acts 1:8; Titus 3:5-7).
We
believe
in Original sin, which is the result of the first sin in the Garden. The
un-regenerate man is dead, morally corrupt, and incapable of saving
himself (cf. Ps. 51:5; Rom. 5:12; Eph. 2:1-10).
We
believe
in the atonement by means of one sacrifice on the cross. By Jesus’
obedience and death, He fully discharged the debt of sin of all those who are
justified (cf. Rom. 3:26; 8:32; 2 Cor. 5:21). Jesus Christ the divine Mediator
provided the propitiation of sins on behalf of His people (cf. John 10:14,
26-30; Rom. 8:32; Heb. 10:11ff.).
We
believe
God saves infallibly. Salvation is solely by grace alone through faith
alone and by Christ alone. Man can only be regenerated by
means of the Holy Spirit. Saving faith and repentance are a gift that is granted
by God (cf. Acts 5:31; 13:48; Phil. 1:29; 2 Tim. 2:25), He can never merit or
add to his justification. Justification is the work of God alone (cf. Rom.
8:33). Christians are credited as righteous
or just (dikaios) through faith alone apart from additions
or modifications. Blessed is the man “whom God credits
[imputes] righteousness apart
from works [logizetai dikaiosunēn chōris
ergōn]” (cf. Rom. 4:4-8; 5:1; Gal. 2:16).
The
righteousness of Christ, that is, His obedience both passive and active is imputed
(not infused) to the believer (ibid.). Hence, the sole ground of justification
is the righteousness of Jesus Christ—the sole instrument is faith. This
righteousness did not originate in the believer, but rather it was a foreign
righteousness from Christ’s account being imputed to the believer.
Christians are permanently justified in Christ Jesus (cf. John
5:24; 10:28; Rom. 4:8).
Justification
is a one-time declaration; sanctification is ongoing in the believers’
life. Justification is a
declarative
act where God pronounces the guilty sinner “just” or “righteous.” Justification
is the gracious act of God the Father through the perfect work of Christ (cf. John
6:37-44; Rom. 5:1). Works are
the fruit not the cause of salvation (cf. Eph. 2:8-10).
We
believe that
Jesus Christ was physically resurrected (cf. John 2:19-22; 1 Cor. 15:3ff.).
We
believe in
a literal eternal Hell for the un-regenerate (cf. Matt. 25:46; John 3:36; Rev.
14:10, 11).
We
believe
that the Person of God the Son, Jesus Christ, will physically come again to
gather His elect and they will be with the Lord God forever (cf. 1
Thess. 4:14-18; Titus 2:13).
Department
of Christian Defense
P.O.
Box 2128, Winnetka, CA 91396
Contact
Edward Dalcour: edward@christiandefense.org
Copyright
© 2011 Department of Christian Defense all rights reserved