Feel free to contact me if you think I could add to this list or clarify any of the points. This is not meant to be an exhaustive list or a detailed defense. It is simply a way for you to know what I believe. To see a more exhaustive overview of my beliefs, I hold to most of what is in the 1689 London Baptist Confession of Faith.
- The traditional 66 books of the canon to be the infallible, inerrant Word of God as contained in their original autographs.
- The one God is the Father/YHWH alone, from whom all things derive their existence. And there is one Lord, Jesus Christ, the Son of God who is eternally distinct from the Father. And there is the Holy Spirit, who proceeds from the Father and likewise eternally distinct.
- Salvation comes only through Jesus and His atoning work. It is by faith alone (which necessarily includes repentance) in Jesus that results in eternal life.
- Works are essential for the Christian in demonstrating that Christ has saved them. However, it is not the works that save, but Christ’s atonement and imputed righteousness.
- The Bible is the sole, infallible rule of faith for the church.
- The man Jesus Christ will return again physically to this earth and will establish His kingdom here.
- There will also be a physical resurrection of the dead, just as Christ’s resurrection was physical.
- I believe what is commonly referred to as “Reformed Soteriology.” That is, God is fully sovereign and will accomplish salvation for all those for whom He intends.
- The Genesis creation account describes events that took place in an undefined period of time (i.e. the creation of the heavens and the earth) followed by 6 literal days of proclamations. The fulfillment of these proclamations are an undefined period of time. Therefore, I do not believe the age of the earth can be determined by the Biblical text.
- I am an orthodox preterist in that I believe most of the Olivet Discourse and the book of Revelation was fulfilled in the events leading up to the destruction in 70 A.D. Events yet to be fulfilled include the physical resurrection and final judgment.
- The New Covenant consists of both Jews and Gentiles. Therefore, there is currently no distinct plan of salvation for the Jews. Therefore, all Christians (whether ethnic Jew or Gentile) are “true Jews” and Abraham’s true descendants through faith in Christ.
- Final punishment is eternal in duration and may include a period of conscious torment for some.
MJF APOLOGETICS 
Do I understand you to say you believe in the Trinity?
Yes, I do
I agree with the trinty and I am Catholic… any time you want to talk about this contact me many issues I am looking forward to hearing back from you…
Hello Liz, thanks for your comment. What would you like to discuss specifically as it relates to the Trinity?
Hi Michael,.How was Matthew 24 completed when Jesus is asked about the signs of the end of the world?
Hello Michael, thanks for your question. Regarding Matthew 24, that’s the very thing in question isn’t it? In other words, was Jesus being asked about the end of the world or the destruction of the temple? To be fair, to the Jew, the destruction of the temple may have been equivalent to the “end of the world.” But whichever the case, Jesus’ answers following clears up the misunderstandings; namely, that the events leading up to the destruction of the temple were to happen in their lifetime. i.e. “this generation” (Matt. 24:34)
Enjoyed you video and the spirit in which you approach Jehovah’s Witnesses. Since every doctrine which is unique/original to Watchtower religion is in fact extra-biblical, these are the teachings most effectively questioned. I noticed you did not mention your view of final punishment in your belief section. Do you believe in the immortality of the soul?
Hello Rick,
Thank you for your comments. There are many things that I didn’t mention in my list, and that’s why I linked to the 1689 London Baptist Confession. But to answer your question directly, I don’t prefer to use the phrase “immortality of the soul.” Rather, I would like to just say that i’m a dualist who believes that there is an immaterial component of man separate from his physical body that survives death and awaits judgment or eternal life.
Hi again Michael,
Interesting answer.
I believe the scriptural position is:
– God alone has immortality (I Timothy 6: 15-16)
– Although we have eternal life/Jesus now, we seek immortality (Romans 2:7)
– True believers will be raised immortal (I Corinthians 15: 53-54)
Hi Rick-
Thank you for your thoughts, and I would agree with you in how you stated it.
Hi Michael
Based on your full preterist understanding of Matthew 24, Jesus’ parousia occured in the first century. So how do you see history wrapping up without a future parousia?
I believe that Jesus warned that the second coming would not happen during the siege and the aftermath, that unlike the destruction of Jerusalem, no man would know the timing, it would happen during normal times, no running would be necessary, the saints would be taken, it would be a snare on the whole earth rather than a local catastrophe. (Verse 36 on)
Hi Rick-
I still believe in a future parousia per the resurrection in 1 Cor. 15. But I don’t think that is necessarily the same parousia as mentioned in Matt. 24. I just don’t see any good reason to think that Matt. 24 has anything to do with the 2nd coming. Instead, I use other texts to establish the 2nd coming.
Hello Michael,
Are you a Young-Earth-creationist?
I don’t take a position on the age of the earth. I don’t believe the Bible teaches a young or old earth. That’s something only science can determine.
But in your beliefs section you state that God made all things around 6000 years ago.
Yes, I need to change that. I didn’t realize I still had that on there. I do believe the days are literal 24 hour days though.