P E R S O N A L  D O C T R I N A L  S T A T E M E N T :

1. I N T R O D U C T I O N:

It has been said that to be “religious” means to be devoted. As human beings, we are all devoted to something. Whether it be family, a relationship, a job, education, sports, partying, or a particular faith, we are all devoted to one thing or another in our lives. I have come to find that true, life-transforming devotion lies in walking with and knowing Jesus Christ.

Growing up, I never gave the Bible or the Christian faith much thought, if any at all. I was glad Jesus taught we should love our neighbors, follow the “golden rule,” and turn the other cheek, that was good enough for me! But it was during my senior year of high school that I first began to think about the Person of Jesus and questions relating to eternity. I remember my best friend, who lived down the street, telling me that I needed Jesus in my life so my sins would be forgiven. I remember saying, “Why? I don’t have any sins. I’m a good person.” As far as I was concerned, I was a great guy because I didn’t get drunk, do drugs, or take advantage of girls.

Little did I know how profoundly this conversation was going to aspect and transform my life. Not until college did I read the Bible cover-to-cover and begin to think more about Jesus. Well, what is the Bible about anyway? Not only is the Bible the title of the world’s best-selling book of all time, but it actually consists of 66 individual books written over a period of 1,600 years by more than 40 writers from all walks of life. Some were fishermen; some were politicians. Others were generals, kings, shepherds, or historians. They were from three different continents and wrote in three different languages (Hebrew, Greek, and Aramaic). They wrote in dungeons, in temples, on beaches, and on hillsides, during peacetime and during war.

The Bible claims to be inspired by God through human authors and the very means that God has chosen to reveal Himself to us most clearly. Its title actually comes from a term stemmed from the Greek words ta biblia ta hagia, meaning “the holy books.” From what archaeologists can tell, around 223 A.D., this title was given to the compilation of the Old and New Testament Scriptures. The Bible’s authors, speaking under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, writes one unfolding story from Genesis to Revelation: the redemption of all mankind from every tribe, tongue, and nation.

The Old Testament consists of God establishing a covenant (agreement) with the Jews so that they could be a light to the nations and God giving them prophets to foretell the coming of the Messiah, the One who would redeem the world back to God. This redemption all has to do with a single Person’s life upon the earth in which we establish our calendar system. His entrance into humanity is divided by His birth, B.C. (Before Christ) and A.D. (Anno Domini), a Latin term for “The Year of our Lord.” The New Testament paints a unique portrait of Jesus as both fully God and fully man. Our Creator steps into time and takes on a human body for 33 years in the Person of Jesus Christ.

Specifically, the New Testament presents Jesus’ death and resurrection as the pivotal event in human history. The Scriptures teach that Jesus’ death was God’s chosen way to reveal and demonstrate His love to humanity. It was an act by which God waves the penalty away from the guilty party (us), because the real penalty has been paid by another, His Son. This is all a part of God’s judgment, wrath, and, curiously enough, mercy. The Scriptures also teach that after we die, there will be a resurrection of what the Bible calls “the just and the unjust.” A person cannot be made “just” by their good works. Rather, the Scriptures tell us that a person is made “just” before God by the shed blood of Jesus Christ. The life of Jesus has had more of an impact on human history than any other person to ever exist. History is really “His Story.” The question I would ask you is not what difference Jesus has made in human history but in your “history?”

The writings of the New Testament can be categorized as follows:

1. The gospel accounts (Matthew - John). The word “gospel” means “good news.” Covering a period from approximately 5 B.C. to 30 A.D., the primary purpose of the gospel accounts is to define Jesus’ birth, teachings, death, and resurrection. Each gospel account is written from a unique perspective (Jesus as King, Jesus as Servant, Jesus as fully Man, and Jesus as fully God) and for a different audience (Jews and Gentiles). Thus, each gospel has distinctive features. One third of the content of the four gospels focuses upon the last week of Jesus’ life. The New Testament presents Jesus’ death and resurrection as the culminating aspect of His life and ministry on earth. We also know that the authors were not able to record all things Jesus did in His earthly ministry. And there are also many other things that Jesus did, which if they were written one by one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that would be written” (John 21:25).

2. A history of the early church (Acts of the Apostles). Covering a period from approximately 30 to 60 A.D., the book of Acts reads as a story chronicling the events that took place within the early church. This book is filled with adventure and insight into the life of the early church. In this book we see the transformation of the apostles from cowards to martyrs and the historic emergence of the Christian church. Recording through their travels, we will see healings of the lame and sick, resurrections from the dead, exorcisms, appearances of angels, prison escapes, shipwrecks, and even a snakebite given to the well-known Saint Paul. Approximately 31 miracles take place in the narrative. It seems that the early church so heavily impacted their culture with the gospel message, it was said of them that they “turned the world upside down” (Acts 17:6).

3. The Letters (Romans – Jude). Comprising 21 of the 27 books in the New Testament, these books are letters written to both churches and certain believers to tell them about the Person and work of Jesus and how believers are to live their lives until He returns. The struggles and problems of various believers are addressed in these letters. Saint Paul wrote the majority of these letters, making him the chief author of the New Testament. The words found in these letters were intended for more than their generation. They were intended for believers both past and present to be able to read and understand the truth of God’s will for their lives.

4. The book of prophecy (Revelation). The word “revelation” in the Greek language is apocalypse and means “unveiling.” The book of Revelation is an abbreviation for the book’s full name The Revelation of Jesus Christ. This book paints an “unveiling” or a revelation about the glory of Jesus Christ returning to the planet that He created for Himself and His creation. This physical kingdom of God has not come in that fullness of recognition yet. Revelation is the only book in the Bible that is entirely composed of prophetic literature. Out of the 404 verses in this book, 278 contain Old Testament references. The majority of this book is written using Old Testament verses, and therefore it is only to be understood through the Old Testament.

2. G O D    T H E    F A T H E R :

16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life (John 3:16). What I love from this text is that the Gospel begins with God, not you nor me. I often preach in México that the gospel is Cristo-céntrico (Christ-Centered), not man centered. Scripture defines God as Abba Father, a term taken from the Arabic language, spoken by Jesus and Paul, as an intimate term to characterize a personal relationship with God, as “Daddy”. From what I understand about the Old Testament, this was not a customary way to refer to God. It was unusual and unprecedented. Of all the names God chooses to reveal Himself by, how amazing is it that he chooses Father. We don’t need a force, we need a Father, a Dad. We don’t need more power, but rather we need a Father to give us a new life. The affection the Father has for us is perfect and infinite. God made us, not because He needs but, but because He wants us. What is better than being “needed” is being “wanted”… the love us, to raise us, to encourage us, and to provide for us. To me, the following verses bring out the character of God the Father:

5 Father to the fatherless, defender of widows—

  this is God, whose dwelling is holy (Psalm 68:5).

6 But for us, there is one God, the Father,

  by whom all things were created,

  and for whom we live.

And there is one Lord, Jesus Christ,

  through whom all things were created,

  and through whom we live (1 Corinthians 8:6).

6 one God and Father of all,

who is over all, in all, and living through all (Ephesians 4:6).

17 Whatever is good and perfect is a gift coming down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. He never changes or casts a shifting shadow (James 1:17).

3. G O D    T H E    S O N :

Jesus is fully God, but lives as fully human, born into a poor family, worked as a carpenter for 30 years, did ministry for 3 years, was single, poor, his friends abandoned him, Judas betrayed him, and the crowds screamed “crucify Him”. Jesus was arrested, beaten, had his beard plucked, a crown of thorns put on his head, whipped, and then was crucified and nailed to a Roman cross bar in between 2 thieves, enduring excruciating and horrendous and horrific suffering in my place. In addition, he had some much stress and anxiety that in the Garden of Gethsemane, he sweated drops of blood… unbelievable anxiety. I want to make sure that whatever definition of life I have is big enough to include God. I often suffer from incredible anxiety and look to Jesus (and

proper medication) for help and relief. Jesus and the Father are One. One God in a Trinitarian form. Jesus is the second Person of the Trinity and the bedrock and foundation of my faith. I see Jesus primarily as God, the Good Shepherd. He has called my name and I have run to him in faith and trust, and thus I am one of his sheep. Jesus revealed Himself to us on earth in two primary ways: (1) By Works and (2) By Words.

By Works: Jesus performed 7 great miracles in John’s gospel… (1) Changing water into wine at the wedding at Cana (John 2:1-11), (2) Healing the royal official’s son in Capernaum (John 4:46-54), (3) Healing the paralytic at Bethesda (John 5:1-15), (4) Feeding the 5,000 men (John 6:5-14), (5) Walking on water (John 6:16-24), (6) Healing the man blind from birth (John 9:7) and (7) Raising his friend Lazarus from the death (John 11:1-45). What brought me to Jesus was his works in my life. I saw the Passion of the Christ when I was about to graduate high school. I had never imagined before His work on the cross and all that He did to obtain freedom, pay my ransom, and buy my redemption.

By Words: No one says what Jesus said. He said, “The Father and I are One” (John 10:30). Jesus was not just a good teacher, but God in the flesh. “ 5 For there is one God and one Mediator who can reconcile God and humanity—the man Christ Jesus” (1 Timothy 2:5).

5 You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.

6 Though he was God,

  he did not think of equality with God

  as something to cling to.

7 Instead, he gave up his divine privileges;

  he took the humble position of a slave

  and was born as a human being.

When he appeared in human form,

8   he humbled himself in obedience to God

  and died a criminal’s death on a cross (Philippians 2:5-8).

17 Therefore, it was necessary for him to be made in every respect like us, his brothers and sisters, so that he could be our merciful and faithful High Priest before God. Then he could offer a sacrifice that would take away the sins of the people. 18 Since he himself has gone through suffering and testing, he is able to help us when we are being tested (Hebrews 2:17-18).

27 My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one can snatch them away from me, 29 for my Father has given them to me, and he is more powerful than anyone else. No one can snatch them from the Father’s hand. 30 The Father and I are one.” (John 10:27-30).

“Without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins” (Hebrews 9:22). Blood is mentioned 362 times in the Old Testament and 92 times in the New Testament, more often than the cross or death of Jesus… it is the most common means by which the Bible refers to the death of Jesus. Blood is connected with sin for two primary reasons: (1) shed blood reminds us that sin results in death. (2) God is sickened by sin, which causes death, a connection first made in Genesis 2:17. In fact, it was God who shed the first blood in human history in response to sin. In Genesis 3, when our first parents, Adam and Eve, committed the original human sin, it was God who slaughtered an animal to make clothes to cover their nakedness. From then on blood sacrifices were the standard way to worship God.

11 for the life of the body is in its blood. I have given you the blood on the altar to purify you, making you right with the LORD. It is the blood, given in exchange for a life, that makes purification possible (Leviticus 17:11).

Every person has sinned against God, and hell is the eternal prison for spiritual debtors who have stolen from God by living sinful lives. First, we need a mediator to stand between us and God to establish our total debt and come up with a resolution that God the Father, to whom we are indebted, will find acceptable:

1. Jesus is our Mediator. “For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus” (1 Timothy 2:5).

2. Jesus is our Redeemer. Jesus intercedes for us and pays our debt to God the Father. A redeemer is a person who pays the debt of someone else. 13 But Christ has rescued us from the curse pronounced by the law. When he was hung on the cross, he took upon himself the curse for our wrongdoing. For it is written in the Scriptures, ‘Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.’” (Galatians 3:13).

3. Jesus is our Ransom. A repayment sufficient to erase our debt to God the Father. “6 who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time” (1 Timothy 2:6). Jesus saves. “25 I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying. 26 Everyone who lives in me and believes in me will never ever die.” (John 11:25-26). Apart from the resurrection of Jesus Christ, there is no savior, no salvation, no forgiveness of sin, and no hope of resurrected eternal life. Because Jesus rose from death physically, we learn that God through Christ intends to reclaim and restore all that he made in creation and saw corrupted through the fall. Our eternity will be spent in a world much like the one enjoyed by our first parents in Eden, because the earth has been reclaimed and restored by God through Jesus’ resurrection.

4. G O D    T H E    H O L Y    S P I R I T :

We know who God the Father is and we who God the Son is, but the third Person of the Trinity, God the Holy Spirit, can be a bit ambiguous. We understand fatherhood and son-ship, but the theological concept of spirit is complex. Most Christians seem to completely steer away from it or go head on into it, which both may not be biblical. I try to bridge the gap. Understanding God the Spirit is an issue of discipleship. I want to know all that God revels to us about Himself. We don’t want to be uninformed, but the irony is that is exactly what we are. The theme of 1st Corinthians is corrective, in response to a series of letters from Christians living in Corinth that were complaining and asking questions and telling Paul stories about things that were going on in the church. Paul writes back in what we know and 1st Corinthians. The ongoing theme is disunity in the church. Kind of ironic because I would say that the most divisive teaching within the church is on the Holy Spirit.

Aside from salvation and paying our ransom on the cross, the purpose of Jesus coming was to give us the Holy Spirit. Jesus told the disciples to wait for the promise of the Father. What does that mean? Well, keep reading… the Bible explains itself. In the next verse, Jesus further explains to the apostles “You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8). The promise of the Father would allow His followers to:

(1) Receive Power (vs. 8). The Greek word for “power” is dunamis, meaning “strength and boldness”. This is carried out as people live in grace and go out in the power of the Spirit. Jesus was “baptizing” them (and all who follow Him), into His life. It’s all about grace. If you trust in Jesus, the Spirit of God will fall upon you. We are desperately in need of the cross and of salvation. The Spirit of God will indwell your life if you call upon the name of the Lord.

(2) Be His Witnesses (vs. 8). The word “witness” comes from the Greek word martus, where we get the English word “martyr”. In the ancient Greek language, this word was used to describe some who lived in such a way of uniformity to their faith that they would die for it. Later in church tradition, a martyr came to be associated with a person who was murdered for their faith in Christ. As you see in the book of Acts of the Holy Spirit through the Apostles, God will empower His church to boldly declare the gospel to the whole world. Verse 8 provides an outline

for the works of the Holy Spirit…

-Acts 2-7. The gospel message is preached only in Jerusalem to Jews.

-Acts 8-9. The gospel message is preached in Judea and Samaria (the outer regions of Jerusalem).

-Acts 10-28. The gospel message is preached to the Gentile (non-Jewish) world, ending in Rome.

Jews would also have known from Old Testament writings that there would come a day when the Spirit of God would fall upon God’s people:

25 “Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean. Your filth will be washed away, and you will no longer worship idols. 26 And I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart. 27 And I will put my Spirit in you so that you will follow my decrees and be careful to obey my regulations (Ezekiel 35:25).

33 “But this is the new covenant I will make with the people of Israel after those days,” says the LORD. “I will put my instructions deep within them, and I will write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people (Jeremiah 31:33).

There was going to come a day where God would modify His relationship with humanity. Acts 2 records how God took individual people, rather than a nation (Israel) and descended upon them with the power of His Word, causing them to be witnesses of His greatness and His glory and His Gospel.

The Gifts. How does the Holy Spirit work through believers? The Greek word neuma means Spirit. The Holy Spirit is at work. 4 There are different kinds of spiritual gifts, but the same Spirit is the source of them all. 5 There are different kinds of service, but we serve the same Lord. 6 God works in different ways, but it is the same God who does the work in all of us (1 Corinthians 12:4-6).

There are “different kinds of gifts”, the Greek word charismata or charismatic. There are also “different kinds of service” the Greek word deakonia, where we get the word deacon. There are a variety of gifts and service, but the same God who does the work in all of us. Spiritual energy is for a purpose. We often feel we lack energy to love our neighbor, serve others, preach the gospel, disciple believers, serve in the church, and extend forgiveness to others.

Externally from me, there is an eternal amount available that God gives to His people. The idea

behind God making His presence manifest is ultimately for the common good of the community and church.

A spiritual gift is an endowment or extraordinary power given by the Holy Spirit. There are over 25 types of gifts mentioned in the New Testament – “ 10 God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another.” – (1 Peter 4:10). We are supposed to use them well to serve one another within the church and outside the four walls of the church. I believe I have the following gifts…

Missionary (Ephesians 3:6-8). To be able to minister in another culture, learning a foreign language, adapt to the culture, and boldly reach out to lost people for Christ, extending the gospel among the nations. After hearing a group called The Traveling Team speak where I attended college at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, I knew the Lord was calling me to be sent out by the local church to the mission field for the rest of my life.

Service (Romans 12:7). To identify undone tasks in God’s word and get the job done. There is a great lack of service in the church and outside the church today. There are millions of orphans, children sex-trafficked, young boys sold as slave and tribal warriors, thousands of homeless, people in emotional need. I love serving others. I truly get joy out of other people being served and cared for.

Evangelism (Ephesians 4:11). To be a messenger of the good news of the Gospel.

“How beautiful on the mountains

  are the feet of the messenger who brings good news,

the good news of peace and salvation,

  the news that the God of Israel reigns!” (Isaiah 52:7).

A few years back, at a MMA (Mixed Martial Arts) event in Guadalajara, I went up to the special guest fighter for the evening, who is currently Mexico’s champion #1 fighter. I went up to Mahatma, presented myself, and asked him a very simple question: “What do you think happens after you die?” That’s a free-bee for you in personal evangelism. I love that question and have been using it for the past 16 years since I was a freshman in college doing personal evangelism. I’d say, an effective evangelist (someone who just loves sharing with others Jesus Christ). Over the years, we have become very good “amigos” and have developed a friendship, and is plugged into the local church here (Mas Vida). It’s exciting to see Mahatma grow in his faith and share his faith with others.

Encouragement (Romans 12:8). To come along side of someone with words of encouragement, comfort, consolation, and counsel to help them be all God wants them to be.

Celibacy (1 Corinthians 7:7-8). To voluntarily remain single without regret and with the

ability to maintain controlled sexual impulses so as to serve the Lord without distraction. I

love working for Jesus and as of now feel led to remain single, focusing completely on

serving the Lord.

Faith (1 Corinthians 12:8-10). To firmly be dedicated to accomplish God’s promises and His will and His purpose that circumstances and obstacles do no shaken that conviction. It was a leap to say to move permanently to Mexico and believe God to start a kids orphanage (Casa Hogar y Comedor Niños en Victoria A.C.), a youth program (Horizonte México, Jóvenes en Éxito, A.C.), and a gymnasium (Gimnasio Cora Fighters), reaching out to the community for Christ, all through the ministry Enfoque Ciudad 501c3 Nonprofit.

Giving (Romans 12:8). To share what material resources you have with liberality and cheerfulness without thought of return.

Helps (1 Corinthians 12:28). To render support or assistance to others in the body so as to free them up for ministry.

Hospitality (1 Peter 4:9-10). To warmly welcome people, even strangers, into one’s home or church as a means of serving those in need of food or lodging, coming from the Greek word philoxenos, meaning love of strangers.

Knowledge (1 Corinthians 12:8). To see to learn as much about the Bible as possible through the gathering of much information and the studying of that data.

Leadership (Romans 12:8). To stand before the people in such a way as to attend to the direction of the body with such care and diligence so as to motivate others to get involved in the accomplishment of these goals. Spiritual gifts aren’t for “super” Christians. All of us have a gift and something to contribute to the body of Christ for its strength and expansion. The emphasis isn’t on me, but rather for the Church and the Body of Christ for the purpose of blessing and encouraging others. 31 “So you should earnestly desire the most helpful gifts…” (1 Corinthians 12:31)

1 “Let love be your highest goal! But you should also desire the special abilities the Spirit gives—especially the ability to prophesy.” (1 Corinthians 14:1).