On Sunday, July 3rd, 2005, I sat for an ordination exam. Several pastors questioned me about my doctrine, ministry philosophy and personal life, in front of members of New Covenant Baptist Church, who were invited to listen and observe. In God’s kindness, the pastors recommended to the church that I be ordained to the ministry.
Twenty years is a fair bit of time. I have over the years adjusted and added to the statement of faith that I submitted for examination that day, as my own views have been refined, shaped, and challenged. I asked ChatGPT to compare my original ordination statement with my current statement of faith. I’m hopeful the changes represent growth in fidelity to Scripture and less error.
| Doctrine/Topic | 2005 Ordination Statement of Faith | Revised Statement of Faith |
|---|---|---|
| Statement of Belief for Ordination Council | ||
| Revelation | General and special revelation summarized briefly. | Expanded: defines general/special, includes conscience, indictment, theophanies, and Christ as ultimate revelation. |
| Inspiration | Verbal and plenary defined; men wrote using distinct styles. | More theological: explains superintendence, vocabulary, compilation of data, Christ’s view of Scripture. |
| Inerrancy | No error in autographs; modern difficulties negligible. | Adds rationale: God is truth; links inspiration and inerrancy to God’s nature. |
| Sufficiency of Scripture | Entirely reliable, needs no supplementation. | Adds epistemological role: Bible is ultimate standard for all knowledge. |
| Canon | Recognized by Christ and the apostles; church recognized inspiration. | Expanded: defines self-authentication, marks of canonicity, corporate reception. |
| Preservation | Through text families and textual criticism. | Similar, but adds preference for Byzantine-Priority method. |
| Translation Method | Only formal equivalence acceptable. | Prefers formal equivalence; acknowledges idioms and nuance. |
| Illumination | Needed for understanding; without it, Scripture is mere info. | Described as Spirit’s work to enable spiritual perception, tied to regeneration. |
| Doctrine of God | Emphasizes attributes, names, and Trinitarian structure. | Much deeper: discusses essence, attributes, unity, Trinity, eternal generation and procession. |
| Doctrine of Christ | Describes deity, humanity, kenosis, impeccability. | Expanded: dual wills, divine self-consciousness, hypostatic union, economic vs ontological roles. |
| Kenosis | Christ veiled glory; submitted to Spirit and Father. | Christ surrendered independent exercise of divine attributes to Spirit. |
| Impeccability | Christ could not sin; affirmed as sinless. | Same conclusion; adds distinction between Person and nature, theological precision. |
| Death & Resurrection | Describes substitutionary atonement and vindication. | Matches core content but adds more theological implications and significance. |
| Return of Christ | Literal 1000-year reign; premillennial view. | Same, but with more detail: Millennial sacrifices, judgment of nations, temple worship, Israel restored. |
| Holy Spirit – Personhood | Has intellect, emotion, will; is God. | Same content, more precise references and stronger distinction between OT and NT ministry. |
| Holy Spirit – Ministries | Lists conviction, regeneration, indwelling, gifts, illumination, sealing. | Same functions but deeper theological description (e.g., theocratic anointing, progressive sanctification). |
| Spiritual Gifts | Sign gifts ceased after apostolic era. | Same cessationist view, more detailed criteria for what defines temporary vs. permanent gifts. |
| Angels | Created beings; some fell and became demons. | Expanded: seraphim, cherubim, archangels, living creatures, spiritual forces detailed. |
| Demons | Can possess humans; believers cannot be possessed. | More detailed: demons classified, opposed through gospel, exorcism not NT practice. |
| Satan | Created cherub who fell; has names and tactics. | Same outline; adds theological strategy of Satan to subvert God’s justice and kingdom. |
| Man | Body and soul/spirit distinction; created in image. | Mostly unchanged; slight rewording for clarity in newer statement. |
| Sin | Defined as violating or missing God’s standard. | Same structure; new statement includes more on inherited guilt and epistemic darkness. |
| Salvation – Election | Election is based on foreknowledge; foreknowledge undefined. | Similar; slightly clearer articulation of compatibilist perspective. |
| Salvation – Atonement | Christ’s death is sufficient for all, efficient for believers. | Same; maintains universal provision with particular application. |
| Security & Assurance | Eternal security affirmed; based on God’s promises. | Same position; adds that perseverance is God’s means of keeping the believer. |
| Church – Nature | Church is spiritual organism; local and universal forms. | Same view; elaborates on universal church including all saints from Pentecost onward. |
| Church – Ordinances | Believer’s baptism by immersion; Lord’s Supper as memorial. | Similar; adds specificity on single immersion and church-administered ordinances. |
| Church Government | Congregational polity under elder leadership. | Same; slight rephrasing and clarification of elder-deacon roles. |
| Church and Israel | Church is continuation of God’s plan; not identical with Israel. | Reaffirmed with greater emphasis on future national restoration of Israel. |
| Eschatology – General | Premillennial; tribulation precedes Second Coming. | Same, with more attention to Antichrist, global rebellion, and judgment. |
| Eschatology – Resurrection | First and second resurrection differentiated. | Same doctrine; clarified sequencing and theological implications. |