Fundamentals of the Faith
On Target Ministry holds to the historic Christian faith that was once delivered to the saints and for which
we are to earnestly contend (Jude 3). The London Confession of Faith of 1689, often called the Second London Confession, articulates sound biblical doctrine in a fashion that has been well-accepted
by Bible-believing groups worldwide. While not perfect—no man-made document is—this doctrinal confession of the
Christian faith has withstood the test of time. In the words of Charles Haddon Spurgeon,
“This ancient document is the most excellent epitome of the things most surely believed among us.
It is not issued as an authoritative rule or code of faith, whereby you may be fettered, but as a means of edification in
righteousness. It is an excellent, though not inspired, expression of the teaching of those Holy Scriptures by which all confessions
are to be measured. We hold to the humbling truths of God's sovereign grace in the salvation of lost sinners. Salvation is
through Christ alone and by faith alone.”
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We are committed to the doctrines of ...
- The Scriptures Alone
- Grace Alone
- Faith Alone
- Christ Alone
- The Glory of God Alone
We believe in the ...
- Verbal Inspiration of Scripture
- Virgin Birth of our Lord Jesus Christ
- Vicarious Atonement of Jesus Christ
- Victorious Resurrection of Jesus Christ
- Visible Second Coming of Jesus Christ
We also believe and teach the ...
- Total Depravity of all Mankind
- Unconditional Election by God in Eternity Past
- Particular Redemption of the Elect
- Irresistible Grace of God in the Salvation of the Elect
- Preservation by God and Perseverance of the Saints
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Testimony of the Founder
At
age seven, I was concerned about my eternal destination. I was frightened by the certainty of hell, and I knew that my sins were taking me there. I had responded to the gospel invitation many times before, but that
night was special. When I received Christ that night, December 28, 1958, I knew it was real, and the issue was settled for
me forever. I knew that Christ had called me, and I was determined to follow Him faithfully.
When I was 24,
and fully settled into a career as a Life Insurance Actuary, the Lord called me into full-time gospel ministry.
I responded to that call in 1975 by joining an evangelistic team. Later, I founded my own ministry that
served as the evangelistic outreach of the Ripon Baptist Church
(Wisconsin). I was ordained into the gospel ministry there
September 19, 1978.
My Bible education began at the Moody Bible Institute
and Trinity Theological Seminary, graduating with a Masters Degree in 1984 and a Doctorate in Theology in 1986. Later, I entered
the Doctor of Ministry program in Preaching at the Westminster Theological Seminary in California,
graduating in 1996. Through all of this, the Lord has confirmed in me the gift of teaching. After
pastoring three churches over 20 years, the Lord has expanded my teaching ministry to reach around the world.
Dr. Jim Bearss
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