Doctrine and Constitution, Calvary Baptist Church, Alachua, Florida

Having received the Lord Jesus Christ as our Savior,[1] and, on the profession of our faith, having been baptized in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit,[2] we do now, in the presence of God, angels, and this assembly, most solemnly and joyfully enter into covenant with one another as one body in Christ.[3] We determine, therefore, by the aid of the Holy Spirit to walk together in Christian love,[4] to work together for the advancement of this local assembly,[5] to promote its prosperity and spirituality,[6] to sustain its worship, ordinances, discipline, and doctrines,[7] to contribute cheerfully and regularly to the support of its ministry,[8] and to be zealous in our efforts to advance the work of our Savior.[9]

We also determine to maintain family and personal devotions,[10] to train up our children according to the Scriptures,[11] to be careful to maintain good works and be exemplary in our daily conduct,[12] to abstain from anything which would rob us of our freedom in Christ or destroy our personal testimony,[13] to seek the salvation of the lost wherever we find them.[14]

We further determine to watch over one another in brotherly love,[15] to remember each other in prayer,[16] to aid each other in sickness and distress,[17] to cultivate Christian sympathy in attitude and courtesy in speech,[18] to be slow to take offense, but always ready for reconciliation, and mindful of the laws of our Savior, to secure it without delay.[19]

We, moreover, determine that when we move from this place, we will, as soon as possible, unite with some other assembly where we can carry out the spirit of this covenant and the principles of God’s Word.[20]

We believe that the Holy Bible, consisting of the Old and New Testaments alone, is verbally, plenarily inspired of God without error in the original writings and is the sole authority of faith and practice.[21]

We believe that the Scriptures interpreted in their natural, literal sense reveal divinely determined dispensations or rules of life which define man’s responsibilities in successive ages. These dispensations are not ways of salvation, but rather are divinely ordered stewardships by which God directs man according to His purpose. Three of these dispensations—the law, the church, and the kingdom—are the subjects of detailed revelation in Scripture.[22]

We believe that there is only one living and true God, infinite in every excellence; that in the unity of the Godhead there are three personal distinctions—the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit—yet one in essence and equal in every divine perfection.[23]

We believe in the absolute deity of the Son, the Lord Jesus Christ; that He is divine as no other man can be, being very God of very God, existing from all eternity, co-equal with the Father and the Spirit; that He never ceases to be God for one instant; and that His humiliation did not consist in laying aside His deity but only the laying aside of the independent exercise of His divine attributes except as led by the Holy Spirit; that as man He was miraculously conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary.[24]

We believe that the Holy Spirit is a divine Person, equal with the Father and the Son and of the same essence and nature; that He convicts of sin, righteousness, and judgment, bears witness to the truth, and is the agent of the new birth; and that He seals, endues, guides, teaches, witnesses to, sanctifies, and helps the believer, indwelling every true child of God at the moment of salvation.[25]

We believe that the sign gifts of the Holy Spirit, such as speaking in tongues and the gift of healing, were temporary. Speaking in tongues was not and is not the common or necessary sign of the baptism or filling of the Holy Spirit, and ultimate deliverance of the body from sickness or death awaits the consummation of our salvation in the resurrection, though God frequently chooses to answer the prayers of believers for physical healing.[26]

We believe in the distinct personality of Satan; that he was an angel created perfect by God; that he rebelled and became the god of this age and the arch-enemy of both God and man and is doomed to eternal judgment in the lake of fire.[27]

We believe that God created the heavens and the earth, including all life, “each after its own kind,” by direct and immediate act, and not by the process of evolution; that man was created in the image of God by a direct work of God and not from previously existing forms of life; and that all men are descended from the historical Adam and Eve, first parents of the entire human race.[28]

We believe that man, in the person of the first Adam, was created in innocence, but by voluntary transgression fell into sin, thus plunging the whole race into condemnation and death, so that now all mankind is born in sin and shapen in iniquity and become willful sinners with the first expression of personal choice, and so are without excuse before God and condemned to eternal punishment.[29]

We believe that the only escape from the condemnation of sin is through the redemption wrought by Jesus Christ when He voluntarily took upon Him a human body and nature, yet without sin, and, by His suffering, death by the shedding of His blood, and bodily resurrection made full satisfaction to the justice of God for the sin of man; that the blessings of this salvation are given on the grounds of grace to all who believe and confess; and that it is the immediate duty of all to accept these offers of mercy.[30]

We believe that faith in the finished work of the Lord Jesus Christ is the only condition of salvation from sin and that this salvation is wholly by grace; that no works, however good, make that salvation more secure.[31]

We believe that all who take Christ as their Savior are born again from above and are eternally secure in Christ.[32]

We believe that the Church is the company of all those who have been born of the Spirit of God and baptized by the Holy Spirit into the Body of Christ; that this Church is the Body of Christ, the temple of the Holy Spirit, and the Bride of Christ; that during this dispensation all regenerated Jews and Gentiles are united in one true Church in Christ; and that someday Christ will present this Church to Himself without blemish.[33]

We believe that a local church is a group of immersed (baptized) believers, called together by the Holy Spirit for the worship of God, edification of the saints, and worldwide dissemination of the Gospel, and is the only organization established by the Lord Jesus Christ for this purpose. It observes the ordinances of Christ, is governed by His laws, and exercises the gifts, rights, and privileges invested in it according to His Word. Its officers are pastor (bishop, elder) and deacons. It has the absolute right of self-government directed by the Holy Spirit, and it is answerable only to Christ, and, in all matters of membership, policy, government, discipline, and benevolence, the will of the local church is final.[34]

We believe that all the saved should live in such a manner as not to bring reproach upon their Savior and Lord. God commands His people to separate from all religious apostasy; all worldly and sinful pleasures, practices, and associations; and to refrain from all immodest and immoderate appearances.[35]

We believe that there are two church ordinances: baptism and the Lord’s Supper. Baptism is the immersion of a believer in water and is properly called “believer’s baptism.” It sets forth in a beautiful and solemn way our faith in a crucified, buried, and risen Savior, with the effects of that faith in our lives as it produces death to sin and resurrection to a new life. Baptism is a prerequisite to the privileges of church membership. The Lord’s Supper is the commemoration of our Lord’s death until He comes and our continual fellowship with Him; it should be preceded by baptism and always by careful self-examination.[36]

We believe that there is a radical and essential difference between the righteous and the wicked; that only such as through faith are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ are truly righteous in God’s sight; while all such who continue in unbelief are in His sight wicked and under condemnation; and that this distinction holds among men both during life and after death in the everlasting conscious happiness of the saved and the everlasting conscious suffering of the lost.[37]

We believe in the bodily, personal, pre-millennial return of Jesus Christ; that He will come before the seven-year tribulation period to catch away His Church, coming only into the air, and that He will come with His Church at the close of the tribulation to judge the living nations and to set up His Kingdom on earth.[38]

We believe in the bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ. We also believe in the resurrection of the bodies of the dead; that the dead in Christ will be raised at His coming for His own and caught up with transformed living saints to meet the Lord in the air; and that the wicked dead will be raised at the close of the Millennial Kingdom and stand in their bodies at the Great White Throne of Judgment to receive their final doom.[39]

We believe that God has commanded that no sexual activity be engaged in outside of marriage between a man and a woman. We believe that any form of homosexuality, lesbianism, bisexuality, bestiality, incest, fornication, adultery, or pornography is sinful perversion of God’s gift of sex. We believe that God disapproves of and forbids any attempt to alter one’s gender by surgery or appearance.[40]

We believe that the only legitimate marriage is the joining of one man and one woman.[41]

We believe that men and women are spiritually equal in position before God but that God has ordained distinct and separate spiritual functions for men and women in the home and the Church. The husband is to be the leader of the home, and men are to be the leaders (pastors and deacons) of the Church. Accordingly, only men are eligible for licensure and ordination by the Church.[42]

We believe that God has ordained the family as the foundational institution of human society. The husband is to love his wife as Christ loves the Church. The wife is to submit herself to her husband as the Church submits to the headship of Christ. Children are a heritage from the Lord. Parents are responsible for teaching their children spiritual and moral values and leading them through consistent lifestyle example and appropriate discipline, including Scriptural corporal correction.[43]

We believe that human life begins at conception and that the unborn child is a living human being. Abortion constitutes the unjustified, unexcused taking of unborn human life. Abortion is murder. We reject any teaching that abortions of pregnancies due to rape, incest, birth defects, gender selection, birth or population control, or the physical or mental well-being of the mother are acceptable.[44]

We believe that God has made music an important part of the believer’s life and that it emanates from the Spirit-filled heart.[45] Therefore, the believer associates himself only with music that is consistent with God’s character as revealed in His Word. This Church uses music that is Biblical in content, edifying to the believer in message and presentation, and glorifying to God in intent and result. We strive to keep a Biblical standard of music in our homes, as well as all Church activities, and we reject as unbiblical and ineffective that type of music which imitates the music of the unbelieving world while claiming to be a song of the Word.

The name of this organization shall be Calvary Baptist Church, Incorporated; Alachua, Florida.

Its objective shall be to promote the worship of God by the preaching of the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ at home and abroad, trusting that as a result sinners shall be saved and believers edified. Its objective is further expressed in our Church Covenant.

Its doctrines shall be in conformity with those generally accepted as orthodox by Baptist churches and expressed in our Statement of Faith. Furthermore, we stand for separation from, and opposition to, not only theological liberalism and modernism, but the more recent subtleties of pseudo-Christian thinking known as Neo-Evangelicalism, Neo-Orthodoxy, unscriptural Ecumenical Evangelism, the Ecumenical Movement, and the modern Charismatic Movement.

As a church, we cannot join anything outside ourselves but only affiliate therewith on the ground of fellowship.

Section 1 – Present Membership
All whose names appear upon the rolls of this church are members, but only those upon the active list are considered in good and regular standing. Those whose names appear upon the inactive list have no right to vote and may not be granted a letter of good and regular standing. Members who have not reached their sixteenth birthday shall not have the right to vote.

Section 2 – Reception of Members
Paragraph A: Anyone professing faith in the Lord Jesus Christ as personal Savior, giving evidence of a change of heart and declaring himself or herself in accord with the principles, practices, and doctrines of this Church, may become a candidate for church membership.

Paragraph B: Candidates for church membership shall appear personally before the Pastor and Deacons who shall evaluate their qualifications and prescribe any restrictions they may deem advisable for the best interests of the Church. Having been recommended by the Deacons, the name shall then be submitted to the Church for acceptance or rejection.

Paragraph C: Candidates may become members of the Church in one of three ways:
        1. By Scriptural immersion;
        2. By statement of Christian experience, having been previously
             baptized in a church of like faith and practice; or
        3. By restoration.

Paragraph D: All members are expected, first of all, to be faithful in all the spiritual duties essential of the Christian life; second, to habitually attend the services of the Church, to regularly give to its support and to its ministries “as the Lord hath prospered,” and to share in its organized work.

Paragraph E: All members who are in full fellowship and good and regular standing according to the above paragraphs and Section 1 shall be eligible to vote in all transactions of the Church.

Paragraph F: Any member entering full-time Christian service, the armed forces, or another place for school, but desires continued connection with this Church, may, by request and at the discretion of the Pastor and Deacons, be placed on a special roll. Such persons will remain members in good standing but will not have right to vote. Right to vote will be restored only as they move back to our fellowship on a regular basis. All members called home to be with the Lord will be placed on the Glory Roll.

Paragraph G: Anyone meeting the aforementioned requirements for church membership, but who for certain reasons is not a permanent resident (i.e., students), may apply for associate membership. Associate members will have the advantage of full fellowship and privilege, but will not have right to vote.

Section 3 – Dismissal of Members
Paragraph A: Letters of transfer may be granted any member in good and regular standing. Such letters must be addressed to some particular church of the same faith and practice.

Paragraph B:
(1) The matter of discipline of the membership shall be in the hands of the Pastor assisted by the Deacons; but in cases of expulsion from membership, final action must be taken by the Church. No member shall be expelled until every effort has been made, including, if physically possible, personal visits to reclaim him or her for Christ and the Church.

(2) Members failing to support the Church by their attendance within a period of three (3) months without a legitimate excuse (such support and excuse to be defined by the Pastor and Deacons) may be placed on the inactive list and so lose the right to vote. Names continuing upon the inactive list for an additional nine (9) months may be removed from the Church membership roll subject to item (1) of this paragraph.

Section 1 – Baptism
Those professing saving faith in Jesus Christ as personal Savior shall, by the Pastor or some person authorized by the Church, be immersed in water in accordance with the Scriptural teaching. Immersion shall be a prerequisite to Church membership. Baptism shall be administered only to those who apply for membership in the Church; exceptions may be made by a vote of the congregation.

Section 2 – Lord’s Supper
The Lord’s Supper (communion) shall normally be served to the assembled Church by the Pastor (or some person designated by the Church) and the Deacons. It shall be served regularly (at least once a quarter), scheduled at the discretion of the Pastor and Deacons. The Pastor shall frequently state the Scriptural order, which places baptism as a prerequisite to communion, and shall explain the meaning of the ordinance.

The officers of the Church shall consist of Pastor, Deacons, Treasurer, Clerk, and Bible School Superintendent, all of whom except the Pastor and the charter members shall have been a member of this Church for a period of at least six (6) months before being placed in nomination; and their terms of office shall begin on the first of the month following the Annual meeting. Retiring officers shall hold office until the terms of the newly elected officers begin. Other minor offices may be created from time to time as may be deemed necessary. No person shall hold more than two (2) major offices at one time, and no member on the inactive list is eligible to hold office in the Church or any of its organizations. All officers and teachers must subscribe to the following Official’s Covenant.

OFFICIAL’S COVENANT
In assuming this office, I agree to be loyal to the interests of the Church, to seek its purity and prosperity, and to be subject to its discipline. Furthermore, I cheerfully accept and subscribe to the following covenant for officers and teachers:

(1) All officers and teachers must be members of this Church in good standing according to this Constitution.

(2) All officers and teachers must be in full agreement with the doctrinal position of the Church.

(3) All officers and teachers must be in harmony with the administration of the Church as long as that administration is consistent with God’s Word.

(4) All officers and teachers are expected to be total abstainers from the use of tobacco in any form and alcohol in any form as a beverage.

(5) All officers and teachers must maintain the right attitude concerning worldliness[46] and abstain from every appearance of evil,[47] applying the principles of I Corinthians 10:23-11:1 and Colossians 3:17. (This is to be interpreted in regard to types of clothing, recreation, hobbies, amusements, etc.).

(6) Officers and teachers must not belong to, or must sever all connections with, such worldly organizations as lodges, clubs, and societies where a yoke of fellowship exists with unbelievers. (This is to be interpreted as meaning those organizations claiming a religious base.)

(7) Persons who were divorced and remarried prior to their salvation or who have been divorced and remarried on Scriptural grounds since their salvation may hold office or teach if so recommended by the Pastor and Deacons. The Scriptural grounds are defined in Matthew 5:32, 19:9, and I Corinthians 7.

(8) As the work of the Church is dependent upon prayer, each officer and teacher is expected to conscientiously attend and participate in the regular prayer meetings of the Church unless providentially hindered.

(9) The Pastor, all officers of the Church, and all teachers shall be required to subscribe yearly, as soon as possible after the Annual meeting, to the Articles of Faith and Covenant of this Church. If any officer or teacher refuses to do so, his tenure of office shall immediately and automatically cease. If at any time during the term of office any officer or teacher feels that he can no longer support the position of this Church, he will be expected to turn in his resignation immediately.

Section 1 – Pastor
Paragraph A: The Pastor shall be elected for an indeterminate term. Notice of the proposed choice of Pastor shall be given from the pulpit for two (2) successive Sundays preceding the election; voting shall be by secret ballot, and two-thirds (2/3) of the votes cast shall be required for election.

Paragraph B: The Pastor shall give the Church a notice in writing not to exceed sixty (60) days and not less than thirty (30) days of his intention to discontinue as Pastor. The Church may, by a two-thirds (2/3) vote at a special business meeting (see Article XI, Section 2) declare the pulpit vacant, provided a notice of not less than sixty (60) days from the time this action is taken be given the Pastor occupying the pulpit to vacate the same.

In the unlikely event of a moral failure on the part of the Pastor, the Church may, by a two-thirds (2/3) vote at a special business meeting, declare immediate dismissal. Because of the need for urgency, the requirement for public notice would be waived. In such a case, severance pay shall be at the discretion of the Deacons.

Paragraph C: The Pastor shall be the moderator of the Church and a member ex officio of the Deacon Board and all committees.

Section 2 – Deacons
Paragraph A: The Deacons shall be six (6) in number, if possible. Each shall be elected for a term of three (3) years. Two (2) shall go out of office yearly. In case of any vacancy occurring on the Deacon Board, the unexpired term shall be filled until the next Annual meeting by appointment of the Pastor and Deacons. Paragraph (5) below shall apply if necessary. No Deacon shall succeed himself unless there are lacking insufficient qualified candidates to fill all vacant offices. Deacons shall be chosen in the following manner:

(1) Four weeks previous to the Annual Business Meeting, the Pastor shall prepare and submit to each family on the active roll a letter stating the Scriptural qualifications for the office of Deacon.

(2) Each voting member shall then prepare a list of those men whom the members believe to be so qualified. Any number of names may be listed.

(3) The member shall then sign the list and place it in a locked collection box located in the church building no later than the Wednesday previous to the Annual Business Meeting.

(4) The Pastor and Deacons shall then review the nominations and determine the names of the scripturally qualified candidates appearing the greatest number of times and offer to the Church two (2) names for each office of Deacon to be filled by election. These men shall be notified of their nomination and shall signify their willingness to serve if elected. There shall be no nominations from the floor. The vote will be by secret ballot.

(5) In the event an unexpired term or terms are to be filled, those nominees not elected in the balloting for full-term offices will be candidates for separate election to such unexpired terms, additional names to be provided from the above lists to assure two (2) candidates for each such unexpired term.

(6) As soon as possible after the annual election, but not later than December 31 of that year, the Pastor and the newly elected Deacons shall meet for the purpose of electing among the Deacons their positions of chairman of the Deacon Board, Church Treasurer, Church Clerk, and other positions deemed necessary. The Pastor and the Deacons shall also appoint the musical accompanists for the coming year.

Paragraph B: The qualifications for Deacon shall be such as prescribed and set forth in the New Testament.[48]

Paragraph C: It shall be the duty of the Deacons to:
(1) Prepare the elements and table for the Lord’s Supper and assist in serving the same.

(2) Assist the Pastor in administering baptism and in the spiritual supervision of the Church, carefully examining all candidates for church membership, recommending to the Church such as they consider eligible for membership.

(5) It shall be the duty of the Deacons to care for the property of the Church, to hold, repair, invest, and preserve the same, including hiring and supervising the janitor; to superintend any improvements that are not entrusted to a special committee; and to perform such business concerns of the Church as shall from time to time be assigned to them by the Church. The Deacons are at all times servants of the Church and subject to its corporate action.

(6) The Deacons shall not have authority to sell, lease, give away, or dispose of Church property in any manner to exceed two hundred, fifty dollars ($250.00) in value nor to mortgage or encumber the same with debt to exceed the above amount except as the Church shall order the same by corporate act.

(7) The Board of Deacons shall act as the Pulpit Committee when the office of the Pastor is vacant and shall continue to function until a new Pastor is on the field. The Chairman of the Board of the Deacons shall be Chairman of the Pulpit Committee and Moderator of the Church while it is without a Pastor. Additional qualified men may be asked to serve with the Pulpit Committee as necessary.

Section 3 – Treasurer
He shall receive all monies of the Church from all sources and apply the same as directed by the Church; keep a true and fair record of accounts; and make a full report to the Church at each annual meeting and when otherwise directed by the Church.

Section 4 – Clerk
He shall keep a fair and complete record of the proceedings of the Church, have charge of all records, keep a register of all members of the Church, write letters of transfer or dismissal, give notice of Church business meetings, announce the offices to be filled at an annual meeting, and perform such other particular duties as may be prescribed by the Church. He shall also assist the Treasurer in verifying and recording Church income.

Section 5 – Bible School Superintendent
He shall be in charge of the administration and promotion of the Church Bible School and shall work in close cooperation with the Pastor. He shall call, by public announcement, a business meeting of the school for the election of other necessary officers for carrying on the school. These officers, with the Pastor and Superintendent, shall form an Executive Committee. The duties of this committee shall be such as pertain to the operation of the school, including securing proper teachers for the various classes.

Section 1 – Fiscal Year
The fiscal year shall begin on January 1 and end on December 31.

Section 2 – Fund-Raising
No monies shall be raised by the Church or any auxiliary organization except by freewill giving.

Section 3 – Financial Obligations
No financial obligation shall be placed upon the Church either as a mortgage, note, or outstanding bill, or in any other form unless money is in hand to meet the same, except as stated in Article VII, Section 2, Paragraph C (6), or by corporate act of the Church.

Section 4 – Auditing
An Auditing Committee selected annually consisting of two (2) members who are unrelated to the Treasurer and his family shall carefully examine the records, receipts, and vouchers of the Treasurer for the past fiscal year and report their findings to the Church.

Section 5 – Disbursement of Funds
With the exception of a petty cash fund not to exceed fifty dollars ($50.00), all disbursements shall be made by checks signed by two authorized persons.

It shall be the policy of this Church to support only missions and missionaries engaged principally in evangelization and the establishment of indigenous Baptist churches. They shall be known to be in hearty agreement with our Statement of Faith, both in doctrine and practice, and be Baptist in name, as well as policy. This church has a separate missions policy which clarifies our direction in missions.

Section 1 – Church Bible School
This organization shall be considered as the Church studying the Bible; it shall be under the general supervision and control of the Church.

Section 2 – Other Organizations
There shall be such other organizations as the most efficient prosecution of our object shall demand, but none shall be started without the approval of the Church. These organizations shall be self-governing but finally subject to the control of the Church through its Constitution and voted Church policy.

Section 3 – Requirement of Officers
All major officers of auxiliary organizations and all regular teachers in the Bible school must be members of the Church in good and regular standing.

Section 1 – Annual Meeting
There shall be an annual meeting of the Church on the second Wednesday of December to elect Deacons and other officers and standing committees and transact any other business. In case of any omission in holding the election as above, the meeting shall be called and held no later than thirty (30) days thereafter.

Section 2 – Special Business Meetings
Special business meetings may be called at any time, provided public notice is given of the same on the Lord’s Day preceding. At such meetings, thirty percent (30%) of the active members shall constitute a quorum. Routine business may be done, however, when necessary at any stated meeting of the Church without regard to the above requirements. Pastor and Deacon Board must be present or represented.

Section 3 – Quarterly Business Meetings
Quarterly business meetings are to be held primarily to handle the routine financial and business affairs of the church. Special topics can be considered at the quarterly meeting. When expedient and possible, the annual meeting and the quarterly meeting for that particular quarter could be a simultaneous meeting. The Pastor and Deacon Board must be present or represented.

Section 4 – Deacon Board Meetings
At any properly called meeting, a majority and the Pastor shall constitute a quorum. If a Deacon Board meeting becomes necessary while the Pastor is unavailable, a quorum will consist of a majority of the Deacon Board with the Pastor’s approval. If the pulpit is vacant, then a majority of the Deacon Board shall constitute a quorum.

Section 5 – Order of Meetings
In the conduct of business, rules contained in Robert’s Rules of Order shall govern all cases to which they apply. In exceptions, a majority vote shall establish the rule.

This Constitution may be amended by a two-thirds vote of the active members present at any annual business meeting or at a called business meeting, provided that the notice of proposed amendment shall have been given from the pulpit for the two (2) Sundays prior to the meeting at which action is desired.

The ratification of this Constitution by members present at the time it was drafted shall be sufficient for the establishment of this Constitution. This was done at a business meeting of the Church by unanimous consent of the members present on the 9th day of May, 1976.

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[1] John 3:16; Acts 16:31; Ephesians 2:8

[2] Matthew 28:19; Acts 2:38, 10:48, 16:31-34

[3] I Corinthians 12:12-27; Romans 12:4-8

[4] Romans 15:5-6; I Corinthians 1:10; II Corinthians 3:5

[5] Hebrews 10:24; Galatians 5:13

[6] Ephesians 4:11-16; I Thessalonians 5:14

[7] Acts 2:42; Hebrews 10:25

[8] II Corinthians 9:7; Galatians 6:6

[9] I Corinthians 15:58; II Corinthians 5:20

[10] II Timothy 2:15; Jude 20

[11] Deuteronomy 6:7-12; Proverbs 22:6; Ephesians 6:4; II Timothy 3:15

[12] Titus 3:8; I Thessalonians 5:15; I John 2:15; I Peter 2:12; Philippians 3:16-18; Ephesians 4:17-6:9; Colossians 3:17

[13] Ephesians 5:18; I Thessalonians 5:22; Romans 6:11-14; I Corinthians 10:23-11:1

[14] Matthew 28:18-20; II Corinthians 5:20

[15] Romans 14:7; Galatians 6:1-2; I John 4:7; II Thessalonians 5:14-15

[16] Ephesians 6:8; James 5:16

[17] Romans 12:10, 15

[18] Colossians 3:17, 4:6; I John 3:17-18

[19] I Corinthians 6:7; Matthew 18:15-22; Romans 14:19

[20] Acts 9:19, 18:27; Romans 16:1-2; Hebrews 10:25; Galatians 1:9

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[21] II Timothy 3:16-17; II Peter 1:19-21

[22] Genesis 1:28; I Corinthians 9:17; II Corinthians 3:9-18; Galatians 3:13-25; Ephesians 1:10, 3:2-10; Colossians 1:24-25, 27; Revelation 20:2-6

[23] Exodus 20:2-3; I Corinthians 8:6; I John 5:7; Matthew 28:19; II Corinthians 13:14

[24] John 1:1-2; I John 5:20; Matthew 1:20; Luke 1:26-38

[25] II Corinthians 13:14; John 14:16-17; Romans 8:14-27

[26] I Corinthians 1:22, 13:8, 14:21-22

[27] Matthew 4:1-3; II Corinthians 4:4; Revelation 20:10; Ezekiel 28; Isaiah 14:12-14

[28] Genesis 1:2; Colossians 1:16-17; John 1:3

[29] Genesis 3; Romans 5:10-19

[30] John 1:1-3, 1:14, 3:1-7; Hebrews 10:14; Acts 16:30-33

[31] Acts 16:31; Ephesians 2:8-9; Titus 3:5-7; Romans 10:9-13

[32] John 10:28-29; Romans 8:35-39; Philippians 1:6

[33] I Corinthians 12:12-28; Ephesians 1:22-23, 5:25-27

[34] Matthew 18:15-17; I Corinthians 1:2, 6:4-5, 7:17, 11:16: I Timothy 3:1-16

[35] Romans 12:1-2, 14:13; I Corinthians 6:19-20; II Corinthians 6:14-7:1; II Timothy 3:1-5; I John 2:15-17; II John 9-11

[36] Acts 8:36-39; Romans 6:3-5; I Corinthians 11:23-32

[37] Malachi 3:18; Romans 6:17-23; Matthew 25:34-41; Luke 6:25; John 8:21

[38] I Thessalonians 4:13-18; Matthew 25:31-46; Revelation 19:11-21

[39] John 5:21-30; I Thessalonians 4:16; Revelation 7:9-17, 20:11-15

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[40] Genesis 2:24, 19:5, 19:13, 26:8-9; Leviticus 18:1-30; Romans 1:26-29; I Corinthians 5:1, 6:9; I Thessalonians 4:1-8; Hebrews 13:4

[41] Genesis 2:24; Romans 7:2; I Corinthians 7:10; Ephesians 5:22-23

[42] Galatians 3:28; Colossians 3:18; I Timothy 2:8-15; 3:4-5,12

[43] Genesis 1:26-28; Exodus 20:12; Deuteronomy 6:4-9; Psalm 127:3-5; Proverbs 19:18, 22:15, 23:13-14; Mark 10:6-12; I Corinthians 7:1-16; Ephesians 5:21-33; Colossians 3:18-21; Hebrews 13:4; I Peter 3:1-7

[44] Job 3:16; Psalm 51:5, 139:14-16; Isaiah 44:24, 49:1, 49:5; Jeremiah 1:5, 20:15-18; Luke 1:44

[45] Ephesians 5:18-21; Colossians 3:16-17

[46] I John 2:15

[47] I Thessalonians 5:22

[48] Acts 6:34, I Timothy 3:8-13.

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