Beliefs

I originally intended to give just a brief outline of the beliefs system of this ministry and of its minister Ryan Dalgliesh. I have since decided that it would better serve us as people to fully explore the beliefs of Higher Rock ministries so that we might be reminded once again of the depth, and wonder of God’s Gospel. You may want to scroll the bold headings to see if there is something particular that you would like to read. If there is anything that you feel is not addressed as thoroughly as it should be or not at all then please feel free to write Ryan (you will find his e-mail address on the contact page) and he will respond as quickly as possible.

GOD
There is only one! ( 1 Sam 2:2)It is not true that all religions worship the same God with different names. Nor is it true that Allah is really the same God as is our YHWH. We hear a lot these days that would couple our God, the one true God, with powerless idols and false deities. There is no room for tolerance when it comes to the discussion of God. There is one and He is Sovereign and The I AM. To make God more or less than what He is or to make many gods synonymous with GOD is to break the first two commandments: “You shall have no other gods before Me. You shall not make for yourself an idol, or any likeness of what is in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the water under the earth.” Exodus 20:3,4
God was before all time! (Gen 1:1, Job 41:11, Psalm 93:2, Ps 102:27, Isaiah 41:4, Is 43:10 )He is fully Holy (1 Sam 2:2) , fully sovereign, fully right and righteous. He does not lie. He does not change nor does He change His mind. (Num 23:19) He alone builds up and He alone lays low. He is opposed to the proud and gracious to the Humble. (1Peter 5:5) He has wrath for sin which has already been poured out on His Son for those who are in Christ and is being stored up for the Day of Judgment for those who are not in Christ. (Romans 2:5, 5:9) He is compassionate and slow to anger and abounding in love.(Ex 34:6,7) His presence is terrifying to those who know Him and to those who don’t. His voice is so powerful it sounds like trumpets or an army or rushing water. (Rev 1:10-17) It is also able to twist tall cedar trees in two. (Ps 29:5) At His utterance He created everything we know and all that we are continuing to know. (Genesis 1:3,6,9,11,14,20,24) In fearing Him there is much wisdom.(Pr 1:7, Psalm 111:10) He desires that all men come to know Him and even makes ways for them to come to Him but will still separate the sheep from the goats, the wheat from the tares.(1 Tim 2:4, 2 Sam 14:14, Matt 25:31-33, Mt 13:24-30) He disciplines those He loves as a father that we might bear the peaceful fruit of righteousness. (Hebrews 12:4-13) He chooses who will be His people. (DT 7:6, 1 Ptr 2:4-9)He is eternal and His dominion is never ending and has never been surrendered. There is much more to say but we would be here all year. So let us move on.

JESUS
Is the only begotten Son of God. (Jn3:16) He was before all time began and is equal to God in power, wisdom, existence and all substance. (Jn1:1-18 Heb 1:3 Phil 2:5-10) He is fully God and fully man. He was born of a virgin. (Mt 1:18-25) He was crucified to bear the sins of many people and to justify those whose sins He bore. (Isaiah 53:10-12) He was laid in a borrowed tomb and was raised from the dead after three days.(Mt 27:57-28: 15) He is now in Heaven having ascended there and is sitting at the right hand of God. (Acts 1:1-11) He will remain there until the last trumpet when He shall return to the earth with a shout and with glory and He will then call all those that belong to Him to Himself, namely those who are dead in Him first then those who are alive in Him. (1 Cor 15: 50-53, 1 Thes 4: 13-18)

Nothing has been created which has been created apart from Him. (Col 1:15-16) Further there is no other name given by which men must be saved. (Acts 4:12) He is not only a prophet or merely a good man, rather He is the very image and glory, in fact the exact representation, of God. (Heb 1:3, Col 1:15) He surrendered some of His glory to come to earth.(Jn 17: 5) He is in very form God but humbled Himself and took the nature of a servant and was obedient to death on the cross because of the Joy which was set before Him. (Phil 2:5-10, Heb 12:1-3) Further, He has set for us an example of how we should live. (1 Ptr 2: 21-25)

HOLY SPIRIT
Ten days after Christ’s ascension Holy Spirit was given to the 120 in the upper room.(Acts 2:1-4) As per Christ’s own words The Holy Spirit is a counselor and is given for instruction and helps. (Jn 16:5-15) The Holy Spirit is fully God and has been active since before creation and was even present at creation. (Gen 1:2)In the Old Testament the Holy Spirit “came on” people to enable them to do things for God. In the age of The Church the Holy Spirit indwells all who believe and bears witness with our spirit that we are sons of God. (Rom 8:16,17) Further God gives us gifts as He sees fit through the Holy Spirit.(1Cor 12:4-31, Rom 12:3-6) The gifts are not all given to a single person as they are dispersed through the whole church such that the church may work as a single body using each of their individual gifts for the mutual edification and building up of the body of believers.(Eph 4:11-12) Holy Spirit works in our lives will produce fruit, namely love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self-control.(Gal 5:22,23) The Holy Spirit knows all of the deep things of God and is able to teach us all things. (1 Cor 2:10, 1JN 2;27) It is His presence in our lives that enables us to live according to the righteousness of God. The Holy Spirit prays for us and speaks to God interceding on our behalf. (Rom 8:26) The ways of the Holy Spirit are at odds with the ways of the flesh.(Gal 5;17)

BIBLE
The Bible is the wholly inspired word of God and there is no fault in it as we find it written in the original languages. (2Tim 3:16,17)No other book can come beside it and be called scripture. It does not require proofs to be valid or accurate. We know that if any word comes that is apart from the words of Scripture it has no Christ in it.(Isaiah 8:20) It is living and active and is able to determine the thoughts and motives of men’s hearts. (Heb 4:12) It is useful for teaching and rebuke and correction and training in righteousness. It is able to rescue and keep one from sin. It teaches us and guides us in the way that we should go. (Pr 6;20-24)  It is not mere idle words but our very life. (DT 32:47)  It is perfect and rives the soul.  It makes wise those who are simple.  It causes the heart to rejoice. It gives light to the eyes.  By God’s word we are warned.  And there is great reward in keeping God’s word.  (Psalm 19: 7-11)  The unfolding of God’s word gives light and gives understanding. (Psalm 119:130)  There is a limit to all perfection, but God’s commandment is exceedingly broad. (Ps 119:96)  Literally I could write pages and pages on the importance of the word of God, but I will end with this: Blessed is the one who finds “his delight in the law of the LORD, and on His law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither.  In all that He does, he prospers.” (Psalm 1:2,3)

SALVATION
Salvation is found in no one else but Christ Jesus. (Acts 4:12) It is only through His blood that people can be saved. You can not be saved on the basis of works. It is by grace alone that we are saved. (Eph 2:8,9) Once you are saved you can not lose salvation. No one can snatch you out of God’s hands neither can anything separate you from God’s love. (Rom 8:35-39, Jn10:28,29) You are not saved because you go to church, neither are you saved because you read the Bible, nor is there any who is good. In fact the Bible is clear that none are good, none are righteous and none seeks after God. (Rom 3:10-12, PS 14:1-3, 53:1-3) Furthermore, by nature we are enemies of the Cross of Christ and objects of wrath. (Eph 2:3, Rom 5:10) Apart from Christ we are dead in our sins and trespasses and we have all fallen short of God’s glory. ( Rom 3:23)There is therefore no “free ride” to heaven on the basis of merit or any thing which may be counted or attributed to man. God must draw men unto Himself as we are not naturally prone to seeking Him out. Not all will be saved though God is clear that He desires none to perish and even makes ways for those who are separate from Him to come to Him, namely Jesus Christ.

RESURRECTION FROM THE DEAD
Without the resurrection of Christ there is no hope for us. (1 Cor 15:12-19) Therefore it is vital to our faith that we believe Christ was raised from the dead and is the firstborn among many brethren. That is to say that we also will follow Him in resurrection. On the last day at the trumpet’s sound the dead in Christ will be raised first. We eagerly look for and await the coming of Christ that we may have our bodies redeemed and then receive our imperishable bodies. All who are dead will be raised to Judgement, some to life with God in heaven and others to eternal death in Hell. (John 5:25-29)(See notes on Jesus Above)

JUDGMENT
This is where all men will stand before God and will be reckoned as sheep or goats, wheat or tares. Those who are goats and tares are will be cast into the eternal lake of fire as they never received Christ as their Lord and Savior. The sheep and wheat (Those who are in Christ Jesus) will be taken into heaven for all eternity. The basis on which men will stand or fall is none other than Jesus Christ.

BAPTISM
The biblical example of Baptism is clearly immersion. It is not necessary for salvation in that it would fall under works and not under grace and we know that salvation is based on grace alone. It is only for believers and not for infants or for show. It is done to follow the example set before us by Christ and can also be symbolic of the work of the Holy Spirit in us as we are buried with Christ and raised from the dead with Him to walk in newness of life. (Mt 28:19,20 ,Acts 2:38-42,10:47,48)