The Bible Church Online was designed for easy to understand expository Bible teaching. It is in the form of verse by verse commentary. As such, the Bible is the authority and all comments are the work of frail humanity. Therefore they are subject to error. All attempts are made to minimize such error, yet if an error is found and brought to my attention, it will be reserached and corrected as needed. —Bro. Mark.
Table of Contents:
About The Bible Church Online
The Bible Church Online is an online church dedicated to the expository teaching of God’s Word in an understandable process, which is the best way to a more complete understanding of the Word. The primary mission of The Bible Church Online is the examination, study and analysis of Scripture. After all, the Scripture instructs us to “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Tim 2:15 KJV). The Bible Church Online is intended for everyone, including unbelievers and believers alike. Truly, unbelievers may become believers just by studying the Word of God. One goal of The Bible Church Online is to help Christians to mature in God’s Word. Another goal is to open the Scriptures to all who visit this site. A third goal is to present the Gospel to everyone.
The Bible Church Online is not intended to replace active attendance in a local church or body of believers. As such it does not replace your personal involvement in your local church. Hebrews 10:24-25 (NKJV) teaches, “And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching“(emphasis added). Therefore we exhort you to attend your local church regularly.
To mature in God’s Word means to study His Word thoroughly. This includes the exposition of the scripture and verse by verse study. Exposition of the scriptures allows us to study verse by verse and to take into consideration all the variables and parameters of the scripture. This involves the context, the subject matter, the original languages, and the depths of what God wrote in His Word. That is what we try to do at The Bible Church Online.
The single, overriding subject of the entire Bible is Jesus the Christ. Jesus is evident from Genesis 1:1 to Revelation 22:21. He is the Beginning and the End, the Alpha and Omega, the Aleph and Tav. God, the Father, has provided sinful mankind with an opportunity to receive salvation. That salvation can ONLY come through the shedding of the innocent and perfect blood of the man, Jesus the Christ. The whole Bible is concerned throughout with that one purpose, that is, the salvation of mankind. The Bible gives us exhaustive “ensamples” or examples of this purpose. Every story in the Old Testament is an example of Jesus Christ and his atoning work for our salvation.
At the Bible Church Online, God’s Word is the authority and spiritual maturity is the object. Each Bible Study or Topical Study is based on the expository teaching of God’s Word, chapter and verse. We are interested in what GOD says, not what the traditions of men and/or churches teach.
“Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” (2 Tim 2:15)
Our Beliefs
Here is a brief list of our beliefs. A more in-depth discussion follows this list.
We Believe:
- In the one true Eternal Triune God, Who is Creator of everything, and exists in three separate Persons, Who are the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
- That Jesus Christ is God, the Divine Second Person of the Trinity. He is the Word that was with God at creation, and is the Eternal God.
- That Jesus Christ was born of the Virgin Mary who conceived of the Holy Spirit of God. He is both human and divine, being the Only Begotten Son of God.
- That Jesus Christ lived and walked upon the earth as a human being yet He was without sin. Though innocent of any sin, he died on the cross at Calvary as a sacrifice for our sins.
- That Jesus Christ died, was buried, and three days later was raised back to life by God the Father (see the timeline). He is now at the right hand of the Father in heaven and makes intersession for our sins.
- That the Holy Spirit is God, the Divine Third Person of the Trinity, and is our comforter. He gives us understanding of the Scriptures. He leads us in righteousness in our daily lives. He shows sinners their need of a Savior and brings them to repentance.
- That salvation is not of works, but of the grace of God. It is the free gift of God through faith in Christ.
- In the resurrection of the dead. The unsaved will be judged and cast into the everlasting Lake of Fire. The saved will live eternally with Christ.
- That the Bible is the complete, inerrant (without error), and inspired Word of God. It is our authority for all matters, both private and public.
- That God has Providentially preserved the Scriptures throughout history. They are as complete and accurate today as when they were inspired.
- That Christians should gather regularly in fellowship and worship, in person, and face to face. It is not necessary to meet on the seventh day, or Sabbath, for Jesus Christ is our Sabbath rest. He fulfilled the Old Testament Sabbath. Most churches today meet regularly every Sunday, the day of our Lord’s resurrection.
- That all true believers are one in Christ. This crosses all boundaries: age, race, nationality, denomination, political group, and both sexes.
- We believe that Jesus is the Son of God, and that He was born of a virgin, grew as a man, died on the cross as a sacrifice in our place, was raised on the third day and today sits at the right hand of the Father making intercession for our sins.
- That life begins at conception and that induced and/or intentional abortion is the deliberate taking of human life and is therefore the premeditated murder of the unborn child.
The following is a more in-depth discussion of our beliefs:
We believe in salvation through faith in Jesus Christ and that His blood was shed and His body broken for all in vicarious atonement for our sins. Vicarious atonement means that He went to the cross and died in our place, as our substitute. There is nothing we can do to “earn” our salvation. Jesus Christ accomplished that work for us on the cross. We do not merit salvation; it is the gift of God through Jesus Christ. As the Apostle said, “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:“ (Eph 2:8)
Salvation is through faith and not through works.
We believe that Jesus Christ is the Only Begotten** (therefore NOT created) Son of God, God’s Anointed, the Messiah. He was God incarnate (in the flesh) when He trod this earth and He was killed on a Roman cross and was raised on the third day and glorified and is now sitting at the right hand of God making intercession for us.
Jesus Christ is God, the Second Person of the Trinity or the Triune God, Who is God the Father, God the Son (or Word), and God the Holy Spirit. This is not three gods, But God Himself manifested in three different persons. Jesus Christ is eternal, from everlasting to everlasting, having no beginning and no end.
Jesus Christ was conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of a Virgin, Mary, the espoused of Joseph.
The Bible is the inerrant (or without error) and complete Word of God. It was written over a period of 1500 years and by 36 authors. Each author was inspired of God to write the EXACT words of God, and in the original languages it is accurate to the letter. We believe in the verbal and plenary inspiration of the Word of God and the divine preservation of the Scriptures throughout history. Here are a few verses supporting this statement:
Psa 12:6-7 The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. {7} Thou shalt keep them, O LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever.
Psa 119:105 Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.
Ps 119:89 For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven.
Ps 119:152 Concerning thy testimonies, I have known of old that thou hast founded them for ever.
Ps 119:160 Thy word is true from the beginning: and every one of thy righteous judgments endureth for ever.
Isa 40:8 The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever.
Isaiah 55:11 “So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.”
Matthew 24:35 “Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.”
John 17:17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.
2 Tim 2:15 Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
2 Tim 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
1Pe 1:23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.
1Pe 1:25 But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.
2 Pet 1:21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.
We believe that the Holy Spirit gives spiritual gifts to individuals as He determines. Not all believers have the same gifts nor is there one specific spiritual gift that signifies that we are saved. As an example, not all believers are given the gifts of teaching, or ministering, etc. All gifts are given to edify the church and to accomplish the work of the church, which is to make disciples of all. All gifts are necessary for the church and each believer must work with others who have different gifts to accomplish the work of the church. The church is the body of Christ and all parts of the body are needed. When one believer forsakes his gift or gifts, the body suffers.
We believe in what some denominations call “the priesthood of the believer.” It is based on 1 Pet 2:5: “Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.“ What it means is this. Believers are equal with each other before God, Who is the “One God and Father of all, Who is above all, and through all, and in all” (Eph 4:6). Each believer has direct access to the Father, and believers are responsible to minister according to their Spiritual gifts. Accordingly, all believers may study the Word of God for themselves with the leading of the Holy Spirit.
We believe that Jesus now sits at the right hand of the Father and that He will return again to the earth and gather His church from the four winds and they will remain with Him forever.
We believe in the resurrection of the dead in an incorruptible body, the saved to eternal life and the unsaved to eternal damnation.
We believe that there is a coming Day of Judgment when God will judge all and they whose names are not found in the Book of Life will be cast into the Lake of Fire.
We believe in fellowship, in person, and face to face, on a regular basis. Such fellowship is necessary in order that we may hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering, and consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works (Heb 10:23-24). The Bible Church is a virtual church that necessarily does not allow us to fellowship in person and face to face. Therefore it is necessary for us to find fellowship and a local body of believers. See How to Find a Church.
If you have questions about any of our beliefs, either those listed here or others not listed here, please ask that question on our Contact Page.
OTHER BELIEFS:
Life begins at conception and the unborn is a living human being. Abortion kills that life, therefore legalized abortion is legalized murder.
Homosexuality, including lesbianism and bisexuality, is a perversion of sexuality in the way that God ordained it. Sexual intercourse outside of marriage is a perversion of God’s purpose for sexuality. The only legitimate marriage is between one man and one woman. Fornication, adultery, incest, bestiality, pornography and other types of aberrant sexuality are also perversions of God’s purpose for sexuality.
However, such perversions of God’s purpose for sexuality are not unforgivable sins. Those sins will be forgiven if one places one’s faith and trust in Jesus Christ as one’s Savior. See How to Be Saved.
Satan, The Devil, Lucifer, Baal, Beelzebub, The Great Dragon, etc. is a very real person. He was created by God and is now the enemy of God and His people. He is already judged to eternal damnation in the Lake of Fire (Mat 25:41).
God has ordained all government authority and thus we are to be subject to such authority. We are to obey the laws of Government so long as they do not infringe upon God’s authority. For as the Apostle Peter said, ” We ought to obey God rather than men.” (Acts 5:29)
We believe in the Constitution of the United States as it was understood by our founding fathers. We believe in freedom of speech, freedom of the press, freedom of religion, freedom of assembly, and the right to bear arms. Freedom of religion is the right to practice our religion and to speak about our religion in any setting to include government institutions. The “separation of church and state” is not a constitutional term. The sentiment “separation of church and state” as used by Thomas Jefferson is that a wall of separation exists to prevent the government from interfering in religion and not vice versa. So all government attempts to regulate religion and to keep it out of government institutions are unconstitutional. Here is the First Amendment:
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
The freedom to express our religious views is just as inviolate as, and according to the constitution has the same standing as, the freedom of the press and the freedom of speech and the freedom to assemble peaceably and the freedom to petition the Government.
About the Pastor
My name is Mark Oaks and I was ordained as and have served as a Southern Baptist pastor. I have been in Christian ministry for over thirty years. My credentials are that I have been called by God to preach and teach His Word. I have the following institutional credentials as well: I have been ordained as a minister of the Gospel for the past thirty plus years; I am an ordained deacon as well. I hold a from Andersonville Theological Seminary (Th.D.).
I am retired from the United States Air Force (1990) where I spent the first half of my career as an Aircraft Mechanic and the second half in Air Force Recruiting Service. My wife, Cheryl and I have raised two children and several of our eight grandchildren. We also have eight great grandchildren. I like to sing, play guitar, and piano (I do not play piano well enough to play publicly), and I like to garden and to fish (when I have time); I also enjoy the arts. I am a Pensacola, Florida native, and am living in the country near Milton, Florida.
I am a retired Pastor, having served in several smaller churches during the last thirty-plus years. However, even though retired, I will accept the call to pastor another church if and when God calls me back into that ministry. I am currently a member of New Life Baptist Church (SBC) in Milton, FL, and am presently acting as the Worship Leader.
I am a Southern Baptist, yet The Bible Church Online is not aligned with any denomination because this site is for everyone. While I personally know that most of the doctrinal (though not necessarily the traditional) teachings of Southern Baptists are Biblically correct, I do not wish to preclude anyone from visiting this site for any reason. It is here to share the Word of God with all who wish. I strive to be Biblically correct in all the works at this site.
God has given me the gift of teaching and preaching and he has called me into public ministry. While I usually teach the Bible chapter and verse I do not copy the teachings of anyone. After careful study and prayer and with guidance from the Holy Spirit, I form my own conclusions and teach God’s Word. For as Peter says, we are a “holy priesthood” (1 Peter 2:5, 9) able to discern what the Scriptures tell us.
Being human, and not divine, I sometimes make mistakes. That is why you must also read and study the scriptures on your own, and read and digest what other commentators have written before you accept what I have written. Always use the Scriptures themselves to verify what I and others have written before accepting as true what we may say or write.
About the Pastor’s Credentials
I will begin by telling you that I am not a Greek, Hebrew, or Aramaic scholar. My knowledge of these languages is rudimentary. Therefore, I depend on the works of true scholars as sources for my studies. As previously stated, I have a Doctorate in Theology. The elementary knowledge of the original Bible languages I gained through my studies in Theology is small. Hence, I maintain a variety of resources to aid in my studies. I have many lexicons, several grammars, some interlinear Bibles, many Bible translations, word studies, and concordances. Additionally, I have several very good and detailed software titles at my disposal. I endeavor, with the help of my study resources, to maintain grammatical correctness when I attempt to expose those languages to you. In fact, in my study workplace, all these resources surround me within easy reach. My real world experience as a rural pastor complements these things as well.
Yet, all the resources in the world are useless in Bible study without the guidance of the Holy Spirit. He is instrumental in my studies. I pray for guidance when studying and God gives it to me. I heavily depend on Him to help me to be correct in my studies.
Having said that, I am far from perfect and I make many mistakes. Sometimes they are simple mistakes like typos; sometimes they are errors of judgment; and sometimes my expositions are just plain wrong. However, when I become aware of a mistake I attempt to remedy it with haste.
One last thing. As I mature in Christ, my knowledge of the things of God increases. My studies reflect this as it occurs. Some of my earlier studies confirm this. Nevertheless, I leave them there as a testament that God indeed does help all of us to “go on unto perfection,” as stated in Hebrews 6:1.
Mark Oaks
