The Godhead
Austin believes that that God is the creator and ruler of the universe. He has eternally existed as the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. The three are coequal and one God, having precisely the same nature, attributes, and perfections. Further, all three as one God are worth of precisely the same homage, confidence, and obedience.
"In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth." -Genesis 1:1 (ESV)"Then God said, 'Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.'"-Genesis 1:26 (ESV)"So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them."-Genesis 1:27 (ESV)"Then the Lord God said, 'Behold, the man has become like one of us in knowing good and evil. Now, lest he reach out his hand and take also of the tree of life and eat, and live forever—'"-Genesis 3:22 (ESV)
"Before the mountains were brought forth,or ever you had formed the earth and the world,from everlasting to everlasting you are God."-Psalm 90:2 (ESV)
"Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age."-Matthew 28:19-20 (ESV)
"The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all."-2 Corinthians 13:14 (ESV)
Jesus is the Son of God.
He is coequal with the Father and Holy Spirit. Austin believes that Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God, became man without ceasing to be God (simultaneously fully human and fully God), having been conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary in order that He might reveal God and redeem sinful men. Austin believes that the Lord Jesus Christ accomplished our redemption through His death on the cross at Calvary as a representative, vicarious, substitutionary sacrifice, and that our justification is made complete and sure by His literal, physical resurrection from the dead. Further, he believes Christ ascended into heaven and is now seated and exalted at the right hand of God the Father, where, as our High Priest, He fulfills the ministry of Representative, Intercessor, and Advocate.
"All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet:'Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son,and they shall call his name Immanuel'"-Matthew 1:22-23 (ESV)
"For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."-Isaiah 9:6 (ESV)
"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it."-John 1:1-5 (ESV)
"Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin."-Hebrews 4:14-15 (ESV)
"For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures,"-1 Corinthians 15:3-4 (ESV)
"concerning his Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh and was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord,"-Romans 1:3-4 (ESV)
"And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, and said, 'Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.'"-Acts 1:9-11 (ESV)
"For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority."-Colossians 2:9-10 (ESV)
"to keep the commandment unstained and free from reproach until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, which he will display at the proper time—he who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords,"-1 Timothy 6:14-15 (ESV)
The Holy Spirit lives in each Christian from salvation.
The Holy Spirit is coequal with the Father and the Son of God. He is present in the world to make people aware of their need for Jesus Christ. We affirm the present ministry of the Holy Spirit by whose indwelling the Christian is enabled to live a godly life. Austin affirms the fullness of the Holy Spirit is the empowerment of the Christian for witness and service. He provides Christians with power for living, understanding of spiritual truth, and guidance in doing what is right. He gives every believer spiritual gifts when they are saved. As Christians we seek to live under His control daily.
Acts 1:8
John 14:16-17, 16:7-13
Galatians 5:25
1 Corinthians 2:12, 3:16
Ephesians 1:13
2 Corinthians 13:14
1 Peter 1:2
The Bible is God’s Word to us.
The Bible was written by human authors, under the supernatural guidance of the Holy Spirit. Austin believes that all Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and we understand these words apply to the whole of the book called the Bible. It is the supreme source of truth for all. Because it is inspired by God, and breathed out by the Holy Spirit, it is truth without error, not in different degrees, but extends equally and fully to all parts of these writings.
2 Timothy 3:16
2 Peter 1:20-21
Psalm 119:105, 160, 12:6
Proverbs 30:5
Isaiah 55:11
People are the supreme object of God’s creation.
People are made in the spiritual image of God, to be like Him in character. Although every person has tremendous potential for good, all of us are marred by an attitude of disobedience toward God called “sin.” Austin believes that in Adam’s sin the human race fell, inherited a sinful nature, and became alienated from God. We believe that man is totally depraved, guilty before God, and (of himself) utterly incapable to remedy this fallen condition without Christ’s atonement and sacrifice in our place on the cross.
Genesis 1:27
Isaiah 53:6
Romans 3:23
Isaiah 59:1-2
Psalm 139:13-16
Colossians 2:13-15
Salvation is God’s free gift to us, but we must accept it.
We can never make up for our sin by self-improvement or good works. Only by trusting in Jesus Christ as God’s offer of forgiveness can anyone be saved from sin’s penalty. When we turn from our self-ruled life and turn to Jesus in faith and accept Him as our Lord and Savior are we saved. Eternal life beings the moment one receives Jesus Christ into His life by faith.
Romans 6:23
Ephesians 2:8-9
John 14:6
Romans 5:1, 5:8, 10:9-10
People will exist eternal with or without God.
People were created to exist forever. Austin affirms the resurrection of both the saved and the lost. We will either exist eternally separated from God by sin or eternally with God through forgiveness and salvation. To be eternally separated from God is hell. To be eternally in union with Him is eternal life in Heaven. Heaven and hell are real places of eternal existence.
John 3:16-17
Romans 6:23
Revelation 20:15
Philippians 2:5-11
Matthew 25:31-34, Matthew 25:41
Baptism is symbolic of the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ.
Once we have accepted Jesus as our Lord and Savior, baptism is a way for us to publicly declare our new life in Christ. It is also a step of obedience based on God’s commands and allows us to follow the example of Jesus, who submitted himself to baptism to “fulfill all righteousness.”
Matthew 3:16-17, 28:18-20
Acts 2:41, 8:12
Romans 6:4
Colossians 2:12
For a more detailed breakdown of Austin’s specific beliefs, click the button below to view Austin W. Duncan Ministries’ Constitution.