The following is part of the interview process I went through with Community Bible Church of Olathe. After the initial 3-hour conversation, they sent me a list of questions to respond to. These were necessarily brief, but I hope you find them helpful.
Q1: What is your view of Scripture?
- Let me start here: I love the Bible! Other than God Himself and His gift of salvation, it is the greatest gift imaginable. It is God’s explanation of reality!
- I believe that all Scripture is verbally (every word) and plenarily (all parts) inspired (God-breathed), inerrant (without error in the original documents), infallible (completely trustworthy), sufficient (complete and final authority for faith and practice), and centered on Christ and His work of reconciling all things to Himself. (Mark 12:26, 36; 13:11; Luke 24:27, 44; John 5:39; Acts 1:16; 17:2–3; 18:28; 26:22–23; 28:23; Romans 15:4; 1 Corinthians 2:13; 10:11; 2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:21).
- I believe that the Scriptures should be interpreted plainly (literally), using the grammatical, historical, contextual method.
Q2: What is your understanding of God’s plan of salvation?
- Summaries:
- Salvation as revealed in Scripture alone, is by grace alone, through faith alone in Christ alone for the glory of God alone.
- Heart of the Gospel: Christ died for our sins and rose from the dead (1 Corinthians 15:1-11).
- Metanarrative (God’s Plan from Genesis to Revelation):
- The “kerygma” (gospel) as proclaimed by the Apostles (See Acts 10:34-43 and 13:16-41):
- This gospel was prophesied beforehand in the Scriptures as part of God’s unfolding plan to bless the families of the earth through the seed of David. It was given in the form of a New Covenant, promising forgiveness of sins, and placing God’s Spirit within man.
- This gospel was fulfilled in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the seed of David, the King of Kings, born of the Holy Spirit. He came in the flesh, lived a sinless life, died, was buried and rose again on the third day according to the Scriptures, and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
- This Jesus will come again to judge the earth and set up the kingdom of God for all time. After abolishing all rule and authority, He will reign forever and ever.
- Those who hear this message and believe will receive forgiveness of sins. They will be given the Spirit of God as a pledge of their inheritance, as they eagerly await the Savior who will return for them. (Acts 2:14-22; 3:11-26; 10:23-48; Acts 9:1-43; 26:1-32; Acts 17:16-34; 1 Corinthians 15:1-11)
Q3: What is your view on the security of the believer in salvation?
- Since salvation is a gift of God and is unearned, and it is eternal by nature, those who believe in Christ alone are “secure” in Christ forever. (John 5:24; 10:28; 13:1; 14:16-17; 17:11; Romans 1:1-3; 8:29; 1 Corinthians 6:19; Titus 1:2; Hebrews 7:25; 1 John 2:1-2; 5:13; Jude 24)
- “Assurance” is based on what Christ has done, not on what we have done (or will do). The fruit in our lives provides us with assurance that we are in fellowship with God and truly disciples of Jesus, but is not the basis upon which we have assurance of salvation. There will be change. There will be fruit. But that fruit is not always immediate or obvious.
