About Us
About Maranatha Online Bible Institute
Maranatha Online Bible Institute was formed to fill a need in the Christian community for a deeper understanding of the Bible and Theology. We hope to help take our students further into their faith and biblical understanding to better equip them to whatever work the Lord may call them to. Our position is considered as independent, conservative evangelical, dispensational but we welcome students of all denominations and backgrounds.
Our online courses are designed to be as brief and ‘to the point’ as each topic allows so that the average person may progress through the material in an accelerated manner. Each lesson is in PDF format for easy downloading and portable accessibility.
Every course at Maranatha Online Bible Institute is free. You must enroll to have access to the courses but enrollment is free. We are a non-denominational totally not-for-profit ministry that charges students nothing to learn and accepts no financial gifts.
Meet Our Founder
Maranatha Online Bible Institute was founded by Ernest J Geeting, B.Min, D.Min, D.D. in the Spring of 2023. Mr. Geeting began his education in Bible, Theology, with an emphasis in Christian Education in 1981 at Grand Rapids School of the Bible and Music (Bible Institute), whose founder Dr. John Miles was educated at Dallas Theological Seminary. Over the years Dr. Ernie continued with his education eventually receiving his degrees.
In recent years Mr. Geeting has felt led to ministry online, particularly in the areas of increasing biblical and theological knowledge among believers and guiding brothers and sisters in Christ to living out their faith in every aspect of life.
Ernest J. Geeting
Our Doctrinal Statement
We believe in the Holy Trinity, there is only one true God existing eternally in three persons, the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. (Matt 3:16, Matt 28:19)
We believe the Holy Bible (66 books) is the true Word of God and is perfect for instruction, reproof, correction, training in righteousness, equipping believers for God’s good work. We believe scripture is to be read, respected, studied and meditated upon by everyone claiming faith in Christ. We believe the Holy Bible is the ultimate standard, surpassing any instruction by men and transcending any denominational differences. (2 Tim 3:16-17, Heb 4:12)
We believe God the Father is altogether holy, righteous, just, loving, all gracious and merciful. He is the originator or all life, wisdom and knowledge. He is all knowing, all powerful and everywhere present. (John 17:11, John 17:25, 1 John 4:7-8, John 3:16, Acts 17:24-25, Matt 19:26, Jer 32:27, Psalm 138:7-10)
We believe Jesus Christ is the Son of God, the second person of the Trinity and “God with us” and that it is by His sacrificing of His life shedding His blood that mankind can be saved. We believe Jesus Christ in His death took the sins of the whole world upon Him and paid the sin debt for mankind and that salvation is found in no other. We believe that after His death Jesus was buried in a borrowed tomb and resurrected 3 days later and walked this earth for 40 more days before ascending to heaven where He now advocates for the believer and prepares a place for His children. We believe in the literal, visible return (Second Coming) of Jesus Christ to gather His children (the saved) unto Himself. (John 3:16, Rom 5:8, Acts 4:12, 1 Peter 2:24, Acts 2:24, Acts 1:9-11, John 14:2-3)
We believe in the total depravity of man meaning that every human is born into sin, thus having a sin nature that separates him/her from a holy and righteous God. That humans are sinful by born nature and by personal choice and the wages of this sin is death, eternal separation from God. (Rom 5:12, Rom 3:23, Rom 6:23)
We believe in a literal heaven and hell. The saved will spend eternity with God in heaven the unsaved will experience eternal damnation. (Matt 6:9, Matt 10:28, Matt 10:32)
We believe that salvation is the free gift of God. Man cannot save himself. It is only by God’s grace and through one’s faith in the shed blood of Jesus Christ (His sacrificial atoning death on the cross) alone and not by any good works that man is redeemed. All are not saved, only those who have come to Christ in faith. (Eph 2:8-9, 1 John 5:11-12)
We believe the Holy Spirit works within the heart of a person to convict them of sin to lead them to repentance and assurance of salvation, produces spiritual fruit in the heart of the believer, empowers the believer for God’s work, guides a believer to godly living and worship, instructs and applies the Bible to the heart of the reader/hearer, gives spiritual gifts to believers for the edification of the church, intercesses in the prayers of believers, comforts and encourages the child of God. (John 14:26, John 15:26, Gal 5:22-25, Rom 8:16, I Cor 12:4-7, Rom 8:26-27, Eph 5:18-20)
We believe Satan is an actual being who with along with his demons are at enmity with God and at war with God’s people. (Gen 3:14-15, 1 Peter 5:8, Eph 6:16)
We believe in evangelism, that Christ clearly commanded believers to share the Gospel of salvation with a spiritually lost and condemned world. We believe It is not God’s will that any should perish but that all may come to true faith in Him. (Matt 28:19-20, 2 Peter 3:9)
We believe two ordinances were given by God to the church, Water Baptism and the Lord’s Supper (communion). Both are symbols and remembrances and not instruments of salvation. (Matt 28:19, I Cor 11:23-26, Luke 22:17-20)
We believe that the saved are called unto good works that God has prepared in advance for them to do. And that one’s salvation is to be lived out daily wherever the believer may be and whatever he/she may do for a living. That true Christianity is a lifestyle thing, not living by legalism and ritual but as a natural expression from within emanating from a grateful and worshipful heart devoted to God. We believe God can use a believer’s gifts, talents, skills, personality traits and even wholesome hobbies and interests to bring honor and glory to Himself. (Eph 2:10, 1 Cor 10:31).