Europe: Scotland

Mark MacLeod
36 Moraypark Gardens,
Culloden,
Inverness,
IV2 7FY

Tel. 07979 053059 & 01463 793053

Websites: http://www.myspace.com/austinpowers86
http://groups.myspace.com/biblebrothersandsisters

Email: marcasmacleoid@yahoo.co.uk

Mark MacLeod is a young Minister from Skye off the West Coast of Scotland. He has a great passion for the Word of God in its uncorrupted form authorized by King James.

He is pictured here in Scotland with Sons of God Intercessors Margaret and Sheila

Doctrinal Statement

The Bible is our all-sufficient rule for faith and practice. This Statement of Fundamental Truths is intended as a basis of fellowship among us, that we all speak the same thing, (I Corinthians 1:10; Acts 2:42).

1. The Scriptures Inspired

The Scriptures, both the Old and New Testaments, are verbally inspired of God and are the revelation of God to man, the infallible, authoritative rule of faith and conduct (II Timothy 3:15-17; I Thessalonians 2:13; II Peter 1:21). I will expand on this point later, particularly in relation to the Authorised King James Version of the Bible.

2. The One True God (In Three Persons)

The one true God has revealed himself as the eternally self existent "I AM", the Creator of heaven and earth and the Redeemer of mankind. He has further revealed himself as embodying the principles of relationship and association as Father, Son, and Holy Ghost (Deuteronomy 6:4; Isaiah 43:10; Matthew 28:19; Luke 3:22).

3. The Deity of the Lord Jesus Christ

The Lord Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God. The Scriptures declare:
a. His virgin birth (Matthew 1:23; Luke 1:33)
b. His sinless life (Hebrews 7:26; I Peter 2:22)
c. His miracles (Acts 2:22; 10:38)
d. His substitutionary work on the cross (I Corinthians 15:3; II Corinthians 5:21)
e. His bodily resurrection from the dead (Matthew 28:6; Luke 24:39; I Corinthians 15:4)
f. His exaltation to the right hand of God (Acts 1:9,11; 2:33; Philippians 2:9-11; Hebrews 1:3)

4. The Fall of Man

Man was created good and upright; for God said, "Let us make man in our image, after our likeness." However, man by voluntary transgression fell and thereby incurred not only physical death but also spiritual death, which is separation from God (Genesis 1:26; 2:17; 3:6; Romans 5:12-19).

5. The Salvation of Man

Man's only hope of redemption is through the shed blood of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

1. Conditions of Salvation. Salvation is received through repentance toward God and faith toward the Lord Jesus Christ, (Luke 24:47; John 3:3; Romans 10: 13-15; Ephesians 2:8; Titus 2:11; 3:5-7)

2. The Evidences of Salvation. The inward evidence of salvation is the direct witness of the Spirit (Romans 8:16). The outward evidence to all men is a life of righteousness and true holiness, (Ephesians 4:24; Titus 2:12).

6. The Ordinances of the Church

1. Baptism in Water. The ordinance of baptism by immersion is commanded in the Scriptures. All who repent and believe on Christ as Saviour and Lord are to be baptized, (Matthew 28:19; Mark 16:16; Acts 10:47, 48; Romans 6:4).

2. Holy Communion. The Lord's Supper, consisting of the elements bread and the fruit of the vine is the symbol expressing our sharing the divine nature of our Lord Jesus Christ (II Peter 1:4); a memorial of His suffering and death (I Corinthians 11:26); and a prophecy of His second coming (I Corinthians 11:26); and is enjoined on all believers "till He come!"

7. The Baptism in the Holy Ghost

All believers are entitled to and should ardently expect and earnestly seek the promise of the Father, the baptism in the Holy Ghost and fire, according to the command of our Lord Jesus Christ, (Luke 24:49; Acts 1:4,8).

8. Sanctification

Sanctification is realized in the believer by recognizing his identification with Christ in His death and resurrection, and by faith reckoning daily upon the fact of that union, and by offering every faculty continually to the dominion of the Holy Spirit (Romans 6:1-11; 8:1-2,8; Galatians 2:20; I Peter 1:5).

9. The Church and Its Mission

The Church is the Body of Christ, the habitation of God through the Spirit, with divine appointments for the fulfilment of her Great Commission. In addition the Church is:

1. To be an agency of God for evangelising the world (Acts 1:8; Matthew 28:19,20)

2. To be a corporate body in which man may worship God (I Corinthians 12:13)

3. To be a channel of God's purpose to build a Body of saints being perfected in the image of His Son (Ephesians 4:11-16; I Corinthians 12:28; 14:12)

10. The Ministry

There are four main Ministries in operation in the church: Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists and Pastor-Teachers. Normally, the Pastor-Teacher is one individual. In the Greek Received Text of Ephesians 4, Pastor and Teacher are not two distinct offices, but one. A divinely called and scripturally ordained ministry has been provided by our Lord for the threefold purpose of leading the Church in:

1. Evangelisation of the world (Mark 16:15-20)
2. Worship of God (John 4:23,24)
3. Building a Body of saints being perfected in the image of His Son (Ephesians 4:11, 16).

11. Divine Healing

Divine healing is an integral part of the gospel. Deliverance from sickness is provided for in the Atonement and is the privilege of all believers (Isaiah 53:4, 5; Matthew 8:16, 17; James 5:14-16).

12. The Blessed Hope

The resurrection of those who have fallen asleep in Christ and their translation together with those who are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord is the imminent and blessed hope of the Church (I Thessalonians 4:16,17; Romans 8:23; Titus 2:13; I Corinthians 15:51,52).

13. The Millennial Reign of Christ

The second coming of Christ includes the rapture of the saints, which is our blessed hope, followed by the visible return of Christ with His saints to reign on the earth for one thousand years (Zechariah 14:5; Matthew 24:27,30; Revelation 1:7; 19:11-14; 20:1-6).

14. The Final Judgment

There will be a final judgment in which the wicked dead will be raised and judged according to their works. Whosoever is not found written in the Book of Life, together with the devil and his angels, the beast and the false prophet, will be consigned to everlasting punishment in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone, which is the second death (Matthew 25:46; Mark 9:43; Revelation 19:20; 20:11-15; 21:8).

15. The New Heavens and the New Earth

"We, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness" (II Peter 3:13; Revelation 21:22).

The Inspiration and Authority of the Authorised King James Bible

Psalms 12:6 & 7: "The words of the LORD are pure words, as silver refined in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. Thou shalt KEEP them, O LORD, Thou shalt PRESERVE them from this generation FOR EVER."

I quoted those verses from the King James Bible. The New International Version reads, "And the words of the LORD are flawless, like silver refined in a furnace of clay, purified seven times. O LORD, you will keep us safe and protect us from such people forever."

In the modern translations, the subject is changed in verse 7 to speak about "the oppressed" (NLT) or about God's people (NIV), that they would be kept and preserved by God. The Hebrew is very clearly speaking about the words of the LORD. We must ask ourselves why it has been changed in the modern versions.

How many times does this Scripture say that God would purify His words: Once? Twice? Thrice? No, SEVEN times. In the flesh, we would say that the more times something is translated, the more meaning is lost. We think that a translation must be less pure than what God originally said. O ye of little faith! Why do we limit our God thus? He is the God who can do that which is impossible with man. We think too that God didn’t promise to preserve His words in English, just in Hebrew and Greek. Does the Scripture teach this? I think not! I’ve heard a Pastor say, “There are fewer errors in the Bible than any book ever written!” Of course, this sounds quite good, but the Pastor is tearing the flock’s faith to pieces, not building it up! If there are a few errors in the Bible, how can I decide what is error and what isn’t? I can’t! We have God’s SEVEN times purified Word in English! Here is a table of the English translations that preceded the AKJV:

Guess what the SEVENTH translation was? Yes, you guessed right; our beloved Authorised King James Version: SEVEN TIMES PURIFIED!

Another Scripture that clearly speaks about the sheer awesomeness of God's Word is Psalms 138:2: "I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy name for thy loving-kindness and for thy truth: for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name."

Now, this passage (in the King James, at least) tells us that God has magnified His Word above His Name. Now, this would've been very significant to the Jewish Reader. The Jews will not utter God's Name (what is commonly called the Tettragramaton) YHVH Yehovah. They believed that His Name was to be so revered that they wouldn't dare utter it.

But here God turns their thinking on its head: You think that God's Name is too sacred to be uttered, but God says that His Word is magnified above His Name. Wait a minute! That means that we are to revere His Word more than His Name. If His Name is too sacred to utter, so is His Word, but He has entrusted us with both!! HalleluJah!

This Revelation is completely lost in the modern versions: "I will bow down toward your holy temple and will praise your name for your love and your faithfulness, for you have exalted above all things your name and your word." (NIV) Wait a minute: this says that both His Name and His Word He has put on the same level. But God's Word says He magnified His Word above all His Name!!

The Importance and Privilege of Fellowship

When we're talking about fellowship, it's important to keep focussed on Jesus.

1st John 1:3 says, "That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ." So, the basis for fellowship with others is JESUS ONLY!!

Many people choose (for one reason or another) not to commit themselves to fellowship in a local congregation of believers. However, we have a clear pattern worth following in Acts 2, "Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the LORD our God shall call. And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation. Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles. And all that believed were together, and had all things common; And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need. And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved." (Verses 38 through 47)

Other folks may think that being a member of a Computer/Internet Forum is just as good as being in a local church. Friends, don't be fooled. Having repented, they were baptised and added to the number of believers. They taught the Bible, observed the Lord's Supper and prayed - all together! They shared what they had with their needy brothers and sisters. I believe that it is because of these things I've just mentioned that the Lord added to their number every day.

It's important that we as believers meet together. This is God's unique provision for His people. When we meet, we can encourage one another and grow together in Jesus through the Word of God. It's important that we worship with other Christians because there's something special about corporate worship.

Hebrews 10:24 & 25: "And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching."

Psalm 22:22 & 25: "I will declare thy name unto my brethren: IN THE MIDST OF THE CONGREGATION will I praise thee....My praise shall be of thee in the great congregation: I will pay my vows before them that fear him."

Psalm 35:18: "I will give thee thanks IN THE GREAT CONGREGATION: I will praise thee among much people."

Psalm 107:31 & 32: "Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men! Let them exalt him also in THE CONGREGATION of the people, and praise him in THE ASSEMBLY of the elders."

Psalm 111:1: "Praise ye the LORD. I will praise the LORD with my whole heart, in THE ASSEMBLY of the upright, and in THE CONGREGATION."

Psalm 149:1: "Praise ye the LORD. Sing unto the LORD a new song, and his praise in THE CONGREGATION of saints."

So much talk about "THE CONGREGATION"! Guess what? God delights in the praises of His people! Wherever they gather, Jesus is there!

Often Matthew 18:20 is mis-quoted: "For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them." Tear the verse out of its context, and you could say "Oh yeah, wherever there are 2 or 3 Christians, that's church!" I've got news for you, the TEXT DOESN'T SAY THAT!!! The context first was church discipline, and the writer goes on to speak about AGREEING IN PRAYER! There it is!! That could be on a bus, on the pavement, in your bedroom, anywhere!! It's not talking about CHURCH MEETINGS!! I can tell you now; I've been in Church Meetings where I was unaware of the presence of God. One sign of Jesus' absence is when He's hardly mentioned and when there is no sense of order or unity in the meeting.

Where Jesus is, God's Word is honoured, and He is honoured with the Father. Often, people wonder if we should just pray to the Father. Or should we pray to Jesus? Or both the Father and the Son? Jesus said, "I and My Father are One," and "He that honoureth Me honoureth the Father." So, it doesn't matter. For a long time I only prayed to the Father, but now I realise that if the Father and the Son and the Spirit are One, whether I address God as "Lord Jesus," "Father," or "Holy Ghost," I'm still praying to the One True and Living God!!

Find a Pit Stop for your pilgrimage: a place where Jesus is honoured and worshipped, a place where the Word is faithfully preached and most of all, a place where you're shown the love of God through the Believers, a place where you know Jesus is present in His Fulness to meet your needs!!