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Statement of Faith |
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Introduction
On introducing this very important "Statement of Faith and Beliefs"
of the Loyal Orange Institution of England, we believe that they are not only
the mainstay of the Orange Institution, but of the Protestant Reformed faith. Our membership is drawn from a far wider
group of churches than the Ecumenical Movement. We agree on the main doctrinal beliefs, which differentiates us from a great many who have
turned their backs on them. This Statement of Faith is of sound doctrine, and
grounded in Holy Scripture.
The Authorised Version of the Bible
We believe in the Bible, the King James (Authorised Version) of the Bible,
because we believe that it is the true word of God. The critics of this version
of the Bible say, that the language is archaic, and should be written so that
it is easier to understand. This has been done but, all the modern versions
have achieved is a weakening of the Word Of God.
This version (A.V) keeps very close to the original text, or received text,
(TEXTUS RECEPTUS), which the translators agreed upon. We not only believe that
the A.V. should be retained, but we continue to pray that it will again take
its rightful place in all churches professing the Reformed Faith.
A strength of the A.V. is in the beauty of the
language. Although it is Shakespearian in construction, it contains this
tremendous reverence for God. It also speaks with authority, which is essential
in that, a believer or especially anyone reading it for the first time, should know that it is God who is speaking to them.
This is why we feel that language, and how it is used, is so very important to
us.
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SUPREMACY OF SCRIPTURE |
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We, as
an Institution, believe, as the Reformers did, in the Supremacy Of Holy Scripture. This was the cause of the
Reformation. The reformers read their Bibles, and believed that what
they read, with the help of the Holy Spirit, was the truth. Martin Luther, at
the Diet of Worms, in 1521 said "unless I am convinced by testimonies
of scripture, or evident reason, for I believe neither the Pope, nor Councils
alone, since it was established that they have erred and contradicted
themselves. I am a prisoner of the scriptures, cited by me and my conscience,
and my conscience was being taken captive by the Word of God"
2 Timothy, Chap 3 ,
Verse 16:
All scripture is given by inspiration of
the word of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction,
for instruction in righteousness.
The only interpreter the Bible needs, is the Holy Spirit. As an Institution, we believe in
an open Bible, in that it is for everyone to read. Those who read will be
prompted by the Holy Spirit to believe that Jesus died for sinners on the
cross. Jesus himself said "search the scriptures, they are they, which
testify of me.".
We believe that anyone who is a true Protestant, who has believed that the
scriptures are their sole rule of faith, is being faithful to God's purpose for
all true believers. In today's Christian climate, a great many Protestants have
turned their backs on the supremacy of Holy Scripture, which will ultimately
lead to belief in the traditions of men upon which the Roman Catholic church is founded, and continues to believe. This is why we,
as an Institution, continue to uphold the standard of the OPEN BIBLE, so
that men and women will come to know that the Word of God is true, and that
superstition and ignorance will be for ever eradicated.
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JUSTIFICATION BY FAITH
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We believe that we are justified by faith,
which relies on Christ Jesus alone for Salvation, which is clearly in the Gospels.
John Bunyan received by Revelation, this
justification by faith, when he felt this sentence fall on his soul, Thy
righteousness is in heaven, and then
he saw that his righteousness was Jesus Christ Himself, being justified by God.
We are absolved from guilt and punishment of sin, through the imputation of
Christ's righteousness. We are saved by GRACE, through FAITH.
Romans Chap 3 Verse
24:
Being justified freely
by his grace, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.
The Romish church
teaches that Christ did die for our sins, but also that his sacrifice was not
enough. we must have sufferings added to us, otherwise
we cannot properly be saved, with the result that there are those who have
tried to earn salvation by good works of many kinds, by rituals and by fastings. They ultimately discover that it is an
impossibility to earn salvation in this way.
Galatians Chap 3 verse 11:
The just shall live by faith.
Romanism denies the complete sacrifice of
Christ on the cross. That which he did on
Hebrews Chap 9 verse 12:
Neither 'by the blood
of goats and calves, but by his own blood, he entered in once into the
The Jailer, in Acts 16, in desparation, said to Paul, "What must I do to be
saved", Paul said "believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou
shall be saved". The Roman Catholic church,
at the Council of Trent in 1545 rejected completely what the reformers held to
be true in justification by faith. They said that this doctrine was nothing but
being confident in Divine Mercy, which sets aside sins for Christ alone. This
was a rejection that Christ suffered for us on the Cross. He took our sins and
nailed them with him, on the Cross. Justification is an act of God's free
grace, when he pardons all our sins and we are rightous
in his sight. Christ's righteousness is imputed to us, which is received by
faith alone. This is what was on the mind of Martin Luther when, as a monk on a
pilgrimage to
The truth suddenly dawned upon him. The
Just shall live by faith. (Galatians Chap 3 Verse
11). He got up to his feet, and walked down the
steps. It was wrong that anyone could earn salvation by works. These thoughts
began a process which was to shake the world in the Reformation.
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The Priesthood Of All Believers
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In the Old Testament, the priest was called
by God to be His spokesman to the people to explain His will, and to offer
sacrifices for them also, to intercede for them with God. They inquired for the
people concerning God's law. The council of
As the resurrected Lord, He intercedes for
them, with the Father. He is the only mediator between God and Man, Christ
Jesus. The word priest is applied to every true believer who is enabled to
offer up spiritual sacrifices of prayer and praise to God, through Jesus
Christ.
Hebrews Chap 9 V 24.
Christ is not entered into the holy
places made with hands, but into heaven itself now to appear in the presence of
God for us.
In effect, we become the Priests of God.
This is the priesthood of all believers. This is the belief of Protestantism in
regard of the doctrine of the priesthood.
Peter 1 Chap 2 Verse
9:
For Ye are a
chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's people.
Peter was clearly saying it was not a
priestly caste he was talking to, but all who are true believers.
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The trinity
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The Trinity , or
Triune God, is this very important doctrine we believe in; in the reformed
faith. We use this word Trinity, meaning Father, Son and Holy Spirit
Dueteronomy Chap 6 Verse 4:
The Lord our God is one Lord.
but in this one God, is Father, Son and Holy Spirit. It
can be very difficult to understand that the three can be as one. In a triangle
there are three sides, each is equal, and essential to one another. Father, Son
and Holy Spirit have different functions, but all are in the God head or Triune
God. In Genesis Chap 1 Verse 6 God said "Let us make man in our own image". also in Genesis chap 3 verse 22. "Behold the man
has now become one of us, to know good and evil." God is talking about
more than one person, so it is very important to see that the meaning is
plural. Jesus said to the disciples, in Matthew Chap 28 verse 19 "Go ye
therefore and teach all nations, baptizing in the name of the Father, Son and
Holy Spirit". In our prayers, we pray to the Father through the Son,
Jesus who has told us to trust in the Holy Spirit. Our Lord Jesus was also
there at the creation. The critics of the Christian faith are ever asking, Can
you explain the trinity". The only answer is "It is a
wonderful mystery that only God can answer".
Isaiah Chap 55 verse 8
For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways.
The Trinitarian hymn says, "Glory to
thee o God most high, Father we praise thy majesty, the Son the Spirit we
adore, one Godhead blest for ever more".
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The
(Christ The
Head)
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We believe that the Church is a religious
assembly, selected and called out of the world, by the doctrine of the Gospels.
Christ is the Head of the Church, as the Son of God. The Father has given all
things into His hands, thus, God is the Head of Christ as Mediator. His
authority comes from God.
Colossians Chap 1 Verse 18
And he is the head of the body, the
church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things
he might have the preeminence
To rest also in the Holy Spirit that God has
given to his people. The many gifts which fellowship of a church needs to grow
and, as new opportunities arise, to forward the work of the Gospels. The place
where the unsaved can be born again, and where Christ, through the Holy Spirit
can reign and rule each life.
This is different from the Roman Catholic
Church, which claims to be the only true church, but it places a man, the Pope,
at its head and invests him with absolute power. It has developed ritualism and
the mass. All who are its members depend for salvation on total obedience to
the Church, where canon law rules. The priesthood is where the Roman Church is centered. There is a place in heaven promised, dominated by
a place of torment, called purgatory. The Roman Catholic tries to shorten this suffering
by his/her purchase of indulgences, and by doing works of penance. No
evidence is to be found anywhere in the Bible to substantiate such claims.
The Bible says all who are redeemed go straight to heaven.
Thessalonians I Chap 4 Verse
14
For if we believe that Jesus died for our
sins and rose again , even so they also which sleep in
Jesus Christ, will God bring with him.
The first Anglican Bishop of
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The
Ecumencial Movement
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We believe that the Ecumencial
Movement is a threat to the Reformed faith, because it seeks to compromise
doctrine. There is a great war of words to water down what was established in
the Reformation through such men as Luther, Calvin and Knox. In other words,
the intention is clear; it is to establish one church, that is all the
Protestant denominations, together with the Roman Catholic church under one head., the Pope. The Roman church has not changed its
unscriptural dogmas. They are as their motto claims, Semper
Eadem (always the same). We in the Loyal Orange
Institution are not taken in by the smokescreen being set up by the Ecumencial Movement. We believe that if the unthinkable
takes place, and the unscriptural alliance comes to pass, then those outside it
will be persecuted. The "Bill of Rights" of 1689 and the Act of
Settlement of 1701, which safeguard our Protestant Throne and Constitution are
set to change. There are plans being put into operation to change the law for
future monarchs to be able to marry Roman Catholics. We see the Ecumenical
Movement as a group which compromises truth and in itself will become a
religion, but nothing like the Reformed faith which was established for us by
the Reformers. Within the churches who are part of the Ecumenical movement, all
criticism of the Roman Catholic church has been
silenced, because, all are told, to do so would be unchristian.