Our Beliefs
A. OF THE SCRIPTURES
We believe that the Holy Bible was written by men supernaturally inspired; that it has truth without any admixture of error for its matter; and therefore is, and shall remain to the end of the age, the only complete and final revelation of the will of God to man, the true center of Christian union and the supreme standard by which all human conduct, creeds, and opinions should be tried.
1. By “The Holy Bible” we mean the collection of sixty-six books, from Genesis to Revelation, which as originally written and providentially preserved does not only contain and convey the Word of God, but IS the very Word of God.
2. By “inspiration” we mean that the books of the Bible were written by holy men of old, as they were moved by the Holy Spirit, in such a definite way that those writings are as certainly the words of God as they would be if God had penned them Himself. No other writings can claim to be inspired as the Bible is inspired.
3. As God inspired His Word, we believe that God preserved His Word in the form of the Authorized Version or Authorized King James Version of the Bible. We believe the Authorized King James Version to be the infallible and inerrant Word of God.
II Tim. 3:16-17; II Peter 1:19-21; Acts 1:16; Acts 28:15; Psalm 119:89, 105, 130, 160; Luke 24:25-27; John 17:17; Luke 24:44-45; Prov. 30:5-6; Rom. 3:4; I Peter 1:23; Rom. 15:4; Luke 16:31; Ps. 19:7-11; John 5:45-47; John 5:39
B. OF DISPENSATIONS
We believe that the Scriptures interpreted in their natural, literal sense reveal divinely determined dispensations or rules of life which define man´s responsibilities in successive ages. These dispensations are divinely ordered stewardships by which God directs man according to His purpose. Among these dispensations, three of them—the law, the church, and the kingdom—are the subjects of detailed revelation in Scripture.
Gen. 1:28; I Cor. 9:17; 2 Cor. 3:9-18; Gal. 3:13-25; Eph. 1:10; 3:2-10; Col. 1:24-25, 27; Rev. 20:2-6
C. OF THE ONE TRUE GOD
We believe that there is one, and only one, living and true God, an infinite, intelligent Spirit, the maker and supreme ruler of heaven and earth; inexpressibly glorious in holiness and worthy of all possible honour, confidence, and love; and that in the unity of the Godhead, there are three persons, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, equal in every divine perfection, and executing distinct but harmonious offices in the great work of redemption.
Ex. 20:2-3; Gen. 17:1; I Cor. 8:6; Eph. 4:6; John 4:24; Ps. 147:5; Ps. 83:18; Ps. 90:2; Jer. 10:10; Ex. 15:11; Rev. 4:11; I Tim. 1:17; Rom. 11:33; Mark 12:30; Matt. 28:19; John 15:26; I Cor. 12:4-6; I John 5:7; John 10:30; John 17:5; Acts 5:3-4; I Cor. 2:10-11; Phil. 2:5-6; Eph. 2:18; II Cor. 13:14
D. OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
We believe that the Holy Spirit is a divine person; equal with God the Father and God the Son, and of the same nature; that He was active in the creation; that in His relation to the unbelieving world He restrains the Evil One until God´s purpose is fulfilled; that He convicts of sin, of judgment, and of righteousness; that He bears witness to the Truth of the Gospel in preaching and testimony; that He is the agent in the New Birth; and that He seals, endures, guides, teaches, witnesses, sanctifies, and helps the Believer.
John 14:16-17; Matt. 28:19; Heb. 9:14; John 14:26; Luke 1:35; Gen. 1:1-3; II Thess. 2:7; John 16:8-11; John 15:26-27; Acts 5:30-32; John 3:5-6; John 1:33; Acts 11:16; Luke 24:49; John 16:13; John 14:26; Rom. 8:14; Rom. 8:16; II Thess. 2:13; I Pet. 1:2; Rom. 8:26-27
E. OF THE SON JESUS CHRIST
We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God, became man, without ceasing to be God, having been conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary, in order that He might reveal God and redeem sinful men.
Isa. 7:14; 9:6; Luke 1:35; John 1:1-2, 14; II Cor. 5:19-21; Gal. 4:4-5; Phil. 2:5-8
We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ accomplished our redemption through His death on the cross as a representative, vicarious, substitutionary sacrifice; and, that our justification is made sure by His literal, physical resurrection from the dead.
Acts 2:18-36; Rom. 3:24-25; I Pet. 2:24; Eph. 1:7; I Peter 1:3-5
We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ ascended to Heaven and is now exalted at the right hand of God where, as our High Priest, He fulfills the ministry of Representative, Intercessor, and Advocate.
Acts 1:9-10; Heb.9:24; 7:25; Rom. 8:34; I John 2:1-2
F. OF THE DEVIL OR SATAN
We believe that Satan as Lucifer was once a holy cherub, God's angelic choir leader, the most beautiful of all angels, and that he enjoyed heavenly honours; but through pride and ambition to be as the Almighty, fell and drew after him a host of angels; that he is now the malignant prince of the power of the air, and the unholy god of this world. We hold him to be man´s great tempter, the enemy of God and His Christ, the accuser of the saints, the author of all false religions, the chief power back of the present apostasy; the lord of the antichrist, and the author of all the powers of darkness - destined, however, to final defeat at the hands of God´s own Son, and to the judgment of an eternal justice in hell, a place prepared for him and his angels.
Isa. 14:12; Ezek. 28:14-17, Rev. 12:9; Jude 6:11; I Pet. 2:4; Eph. 2:2; John 14:30; I Thess. 3:5; Matt. 4:1-3; I Pet. 5:8; I John 3:8; Matt. 13:25; Matt. 13:37-39; Luke 22:3-4; Rev. 12:10; II Cor. 11:13-15; Mark 13:21-33; I John 4:3; II John 7; I John 2:22; Rev. 13:13-14; II Thess. 2:8-11; Rev. 19:11, 16, 20; Rev. 12:7-9; Rev. 20:10; Matt. 25:41
G. OF CREATION
We believe in the Genesis account of creation, and that it is to be accepted literally, and not allegorically or figuratively; that man was created directly in God´s own image and after His own likeness; that man´s creation was not a matter of evolution or evolutionary change of species, or development through interminable periods of time from lower to higher forms; and that all animal and vegetable life was made directly and God´s established law was that they should bring forth only “after their kind.”
H. OF MAN
We believe that man was created in innocence under the law of his Maker, but by voluntary transgression fell from his sinless and happy state, in consequence of which all mankind are now sinners, not by constraint, but of choice; and therefore under just condemnation without defense or excuse.
Gen. 3:1-6; Rom. 5:12; Rom. 5:19; Rom. 3:10-19; Eph. 2:1-3; Rom. 1:18; Ezek. 18:19-20; Rom. 1:32; Rom. 1:20; Rom. 1:28; Gal. 3:22
I. OF THE ATONEMENT FOR OUR SIN
We believe that the salvation of sinners is wholly of grace; through the mediatorial office of the Son of God, who by appointment of the Father, freely took upon Himself our nature, yet without sin, honoured the Divine law by His personal obedience, and by His death made a full and vicarious atonement for our sins; that His atonement consisted not in setting us an example by His death as a martyr, but was the voluntary substitution of Himself in the sinner´s place, the just dying for the unjust, Christ, the Lord, bearing our sins in His own body on the tree; that, having risen from the dead, He is now enthroned in heaven and uniting in His wonderful person the most tender sympathies with Divine perfection. He is in every way qualified to be a suitable, a compassionate, and an all-sufficient Saviour.
Eph. 2:8; Acts 15:11; Rom. 8:24; John 3:16; Matt. 18:11; Phil. 2:7; Heb. 2:14; Isa. 53:4-7; Rom. 3:25; I John 4:10; I Cor. 15:3; II Cor. 5:21; John 10:18; Phil. 2:8; Gal. 1:4; I Pet. 2:24; I Pet. 3:18; Isa. 53:11; Heb. 12:2; I Cor. 15:20; Isa. 53:12; Heb. 9:12-15; Heb. 7:25; I John 2:2
J. OF GRACE AND THE NEW CREATURE IN CHRIST
We believe that in order to be saved, sinners must be born again; that the new birth is a new creation of a new creature in Christ Jesus; that it is instantaneous and not a process; that in the new birth the one dead in trespasses and in sins is made a partaker of the Divine nature and receives eternal life, the free gift of God; that the new creation is brought about in a manner above our comprehension, not by culture, not by character, nor by the will of man, but wholly and solely by the power of the Holy Spirit in connection with the divine truth, so as to secure our voluntary obedience to the gospel; and that its proper evidence appears in the holy fruits of repentance and faith and newness of life.
John 3:3; II Cor. 5:17; I John 5:1; John 3:6-7; Acts 2:41; II Pet. 1:4; Rom. 6:23; Eph. 2:1; II Cor. 5:19; Col. 2:13; John 1:12-13; Gal. 5:22; Eph. 5:9
K. OF THE AVAILABILITY OF SALVATION
We believe in God´s electing grace; that the blessings of salvation are made free to all by the gospel; that it is the immediate duty of all to accept them by a cordial, penitent and an obedient faith; and nothing prevents the salvation of the greatest sinner on earth but his own inherent depravity and voluntary rejection of the gospel; which rejection involves him in an aggravated condemnation.
I Thess. 1:4; I Pet. 1:2; Titus 1:1; Rom. 8:29-30; Matt. 11:28; Isa. 55:1; Rev. 22:17; Rom. 10:13; John 6:37; Isa. 55:6; Acts 2:38; Isa. 55:7, John 3:15-16; I Tim. 1:15; I Cor. 15:10; Eph. 2:4; John 5:40, John 3:18; John 3:36
L. OF JUSTIFICATION
We believe that the great gospel blessing which Christ secures to such as believe in Him is justification; that justification includes the pardon of sin, and the gift of eternal life on principles of righteousness; that it is bestowed, not in consideration of any works of righteousness which we have done, but solely through faith in the Redeemer´s blood is His righteousness imputed to us.
Acts 13:39; Isa; 53:11; Zech. 13:1; Rom. 8:1; Rom. 5:9; Rom. 5:1; Titus 3:5-7; Rom. 1:17; Hab. 2:4; Gal. 3:11; Rom. 4:1-8; Heb. 10:38
M. REPENTANCE AND FAITH
We believe that repentance and faith are solemn obligations, and also inseparable graces, wrought in our souls by the quickening Spirit of God, thereby; being deeply convicted of our guilt, danger, helplessness, and of the way of salvation by Christ, we turn to God with unfeigned contrition, confession, and supplication for mercy; at the same time heartily receiving the Lord Jesus Christ and openly confessing Him as our only and all-sufficient Saviour.
Acts 20:39; Mark 1:15; Acts 2:37-39; Luke 18:13; Rom. 10:13; Ps. 51:1-4; Ps. 51:7; Isa. 55:6-7; Luke 12:8; Rom. 10:9-11
N. OF THE CHURCH
We believe that a local Baptist church is a congregation of baptized believers associated by a covenant of faith and fellowship of the gospel, said church being understood to be the citadel and propagator of Divine and Eternal Grace; observing the ordinances of Christ; governed by His laws; exercising the gifts, rights, and privileges invested in them by His Word; that its officers of ordination are pastors or elders, and deacons, whose qualifications, claims, and duties are clearly defined in the Scriptures; and we believe the true mission of the church is found in the Great Commission: First, to make individual disciples; Second, to build up the church; and Third, to reach and instruct as He has commanded. We do not believe in the reversal of this order; we hold that the local church has the right of self-government, free from the interference of any hierarchy of individuals or organizations; that the one and only Superintendent is Christ through the Holy Spirit; that it is scriptural for true churches to cooperate with each other in contending for the faith and for the furtherance of the Gospel; that every church is the sole and only judge of the measure and method of its cooperation; and on all maters of membership, of policy, of government, of discipline, of benevolence, the will of the local church is final.
Acts 2:41-42; I Cor. 11:2; Eph. 4:11; I Cor. 12:4; I Cor. 12:8-11; Acts 14:23; Acts 6:5-6; Acts 20:17-28; I Tim. 3:1-13; Matt. 28:19-20; Col. 1:18; Eph. 5:23-24; I Pet. 5:1-4; Acts 15:22; Jude 3:4; Lev. 27:32; II Cor. 8:23-24; I Cor. 16:1; Mal. 3:10; I Cor. 16:2; I Cor. 6:1-3; I Cor. 5:11-13
O. OF BAPTISM AND THE LORD'S SUPPER
We believe that Christian baptism is the immersion in water of a believer; in the name of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, with the authority of the local church, to show forth in a solemn and beautiful emblem our faith in the crucified, buried, and risen Saviour, with its effect in our death to sin and resurrection to a new life; that it is the prerequisite to the privileges of a church relation and to the Lord´s supper; in which the members of the church, by the sacred use of bread and the fruit of the vine are to commemorate together the dying love of Christ, preceded always by solemn self-examination.
Acts 8:36-39; Matt. 3:6; John 3:23; Rom. 6:4-5; Matt. 3:16; Matt 28:19; Rom. 6:3-5; Col. 2:12; Acts 2:41-42; Matt. 28:1; Matt. 28:9-20; I Cor 11:23-28
P. THE SECURITY AND ASSURANCE OF THE BELIEVER
We believe that all the redeemed, once saved, are kept by God´s power and are thus secure in Christ forever.
We believe that it is the privilege of Believers to rejoice in the assurance of their salvation through the testimony of God´s Word, which, however, clearly forbids the use of Christian liberty as an occasion to the flesh.
John 6:37-40; 10:27-30; Rom. 8:1; 38-39; I Cor. 1:4-8; I Pet. 1:4-5; Rom. 13:13-14; Gal. 5:13; Titus 2:11-15
Q. OF THE RIGHTEOUS AND THE WICKED
We believe that there is a radical and essential difference between the righteous and the wicked; that such only as through faith are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and sanctified by the Spirit of God, are truly righteous in His esteem; while all such as continue in impenitence and unbelief are in His sight wicked, and under the curse, and this distinction holds among men both in and after death, in the everlasting felicity of the saved and the everlasting conscious suffering of the lost.
Mal. 3:18; Gen 12:23; Rom. 6:17-18; Prov. 11:31; I Pet. 1:18; Rom. 1:17; I Cor. 15:22; Acts 10:34-35; I John 2:29; I John 2:7; Rom. 6:16; I John 5:19; Gal. 3:10; Rom. 7:6; Rom. 6:23; Prov. 14:32; Luke 16:25; Matt. 25:34,41; John 8:21; Luke 9:26; John 12:25; Matt. 7:13-14
R. OF PATRIOTISM AND THE CIVIL GOVERNMENT
We believe that God has ordained and created all authority consisting of three basic institutions: 1) the home, 2) the church, and 3) the state. Every person is subject to these authorities, but all (including the authorities themselves) are answerable to God and governed by His Word. God has given each institution specific Biblical responsibilities and balanced those responsibilities with the understanding that no institution has the right to infringe upon the other. The home, the church, and the state are equal and sovereign in their respective Biblically assigned spheres of responsibility under God.
II Sam. 23:3; Ex. 18:21; Matt. 22:21; Acts 4:19-21; Rom. 13:1-7; Eph. 5:22-24; Heb. 13:17; I Pet. 2:13-14; Ps. 71:11
S. OF THE RESURRECTION, RAPTURE, AND RETURN OF CHRIST
We believe in and accept the sacred Scriptures upon these subjects at their full face value. Of the resurrection, we believe that Christ rose bodily the third day according to the Scriptures; that He alone is our merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God; that this same Jesus which is taken up from you into heaven shall so come in like manner as ye have seen Him go into heaven - bodily, personally, and visible; that there will be a calling out of the saved before the Great Seven Year Tribulation where the dead in Christ shall rise first and the living saints shall all be changed in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump; that at the end of the Tribulation the Lord God shall give unto Christ the throne of His father David; and that Christ shall reign a thousand years in righteousness until He hath put all enemies under His feet.
Matt. 28:6-7; Luke 24:39; John 20:27; I Cor. 15:4; Mark 16:6; Luke 24:2; Luke 24:4-6; Acts 1:9-11; Luke 24:51; Mark 16:19; Rev. 3:21; Heb. 8:1; Heb. 12:2; Heb. 8:6; I Tim. 2:5; I John 2:1; Heb. 2:17; Heb. 5:9-10; John 14:3; I Thess. 4:16; Matt. 24:27; Matt. 24:42; Heb. 9:28; I Cor. 15:42-44, I Cor. 15:51-53; I Thess. 4:17; Phil. 4:20-21; Luke 1:32; I Cor. 15:25; Isa. 11:4-5; Ps. 72:8; Rev. 20:1-4; Rev. 20:6
T. OF MISSIONS AND MISSIONARIES
We believe the command to give the gospel to the world is clear and unmistakable and this commission was given to the church. It is the church´s clear responsibility to carry out this commission by sending forth those whom God has called. The equipping and supply of these “missionaries” is the sole duty of the local church.
Matt. 28:18-20; Mark 16:15; John 20:21; Rom. 10:13-15; Acts 13:1-3
U. OF STEWARDSHIP AND GIVING
We believe that every Christian, as a steward of that portion of God´s wealth entrusted to him, is obligated to support his local church financially. We believe that God has established the tithe as a basis for giving, but that every Christian should also give other offerings sacrificially and cheerfully to the support of the church, the relief of those in need, and the spread of the Gospel. We believe that a Christian relinquishes all rights to direct the use of the tithe or offering once the gift has been made.
Gen. 14:20; Prov. 3:9-10; I Cor. 16:2; II Cor. 9:6-8; Heb. 7:2-4; Matt. 23:23; Lev. 27:3
V. OF SPIRITUAL GIFTS, MIRACLES, SIGNS, AND WONDERS
We believe the gifts of the Spirit in 1 Corinthians 12 are given, today, for the ministry to all parts of the body of Christ with the exception of those gifts which are specifically called "signs". Those gifts which are signs, wonders, of miracles were given by the Spirit during the beginning of the church in the book of Acts for these purposes: 1) to identify and "apostle" who had to be an eye witness of the earthly ministry of Jesus Christ, 2) to get the Jews to listen to the Gospel, 3) to confirm the Word of God as spoken by the apostles by Divine revelation. Since there are no apostles today, and the Gospel ministry is primarily directed at the Gentile during this dispensation, and since we have a complete Bible, we reject and shun the modern Charismatic movement along with its "speaking in tongues", "faith healers", "prosperity doctrines", and "visions" as heresy, false doctrine, and the "lying signs and wonders" used of Satan in the last days to deceive the world and condition the lost to receive the coming Antichrist.
Matt. 24:5, 11, 14; Mark 16:17, 18, 20; Acts 2:4, 5, 43, 3:7, 5:12; 1 Cor. 12:1-11, 21, 22, 13:8-10, 14:21-22; 2 Cor. 12:12; 2 Thess. 2:8-9; 1 Tim. 4:1-2; Hebrews 2:3, 4; James 5:14-16
W. OF ISRAEL AS GOD'S PEOPLE
We believe in the sovereign selection of the nation of Israel, the Jewish people, as God's eternal covenant people, that she is now dispersed because of her disobedience and rejection of Christ, and that she is being regathered to Palestine as we speak to take her rightful place in her rightful land, and fulfill the prophesies concerning her in the last days. After the rapture of the Church, she will turn to Christ and be saved as a nation during the persecution of the Great Tribulation here on earth, and restored to her rightful place at the second advent of Christ.
