Our Statement of Faith
THE SCRIPTURES
We believe the Holy Bible is a supernatural book, that it is the very Word of God, that in the sixty-six books, the full, final and complete will of God is revealed to man. We believe the Author of the Bible is God the Holy Spirit and by inspiration, we mean the plenary verbal inspiration; that holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit. We believe that God preserved the Hebrew text called the Masoretic text and the Greek manuscripts called the Textus Receptus from which the King James Bible was translated as the Word of God for English speaking peoples without error and therefore trustworthy. As such we reject the modern paraphrased versions, the common language versions and all others as they delete the pure meaning of redemption and do injustice to the deity of Christ. We believe and teach that the Bible is the final authority in all matters of faith and practice. II Timothy 3:16, 17; Psalm 119:89; II Peter 1:19-21; Hebrews 4:12
THE GODHEAD
We believe in one God, eternally existing in three persons - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit - yet one in substance and equal in every divine perfection. John 14:7-12, 26; John 16:7; Matthew 28:19
1. God the Father
We believe in God the Father, perfect in Holiness, infinite in wisdom, measureless in power. We rejoice that He concerns Himself mercifully in the affairs of men, that he hears and answers prayer, and that He saves from sin and death all who come to Him through Jesus Christ. I Timothy 1:17
2. God the Son
We believe in Jesus Christ, the eternal and only begotten Son of God, conceived of the Holy Spirit, of virgin birth, sinless in life, and that he became the eternal sacrifice for the sins of the world by His death. We believe in His bodily resurrection, His ascension and visible return to the world according to His promise. Matthew 1:18-25; John 1:14, 18; 3:16, 18; 14:1-6; Acts 1:10, 11; I Corinthians 15:1-4; I Thessalonians 4:13-18; I John 4:9
3. God the Holy Spirit
We believe in the Holy Spirit who is the third person of the Trinity. We believe that among His ministries are included the following:
We also believe that some gifts of the Holy Spirit were temporary. We believe that speaking in tongues was never the common or necessary sign of the filling or baptism of the Spirit. We believe that God, in accord with His own will, does hear and answer prayer for the sick and afflicted. I Corinthians 12:1, 11, 30; 13:8; James 5:14-16
THE TOTAL DEPRAVITY OF MAN
We believe that man was created in the image and likeness of God, but that in Adam's sin the race fell and thereby incurred not only physical death, but also spiritual death, which is separation from God. We believe all mankind have inherited a sinful nature and have become willful sinners with the first expression of personal choice, are unable to regain their former position without faith, John 1:9, "That was the true light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world." and are without excuse before God. Genesis 1:26; 3:1-24; Romans 1:20; 3:23; 5:12; Ephesians 2:1-6, 12; John 1:9
SALVATION
We believe that salvation is a gift of God brought to men by grace and received by personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, whose blood was shed on Calvary for the forgiveness of sins. Salvation is solely through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ who shed His blood and presented it in the "holy place" in heaven for the forgiveness of our sins and, being a gift, is not earned by any good works whatsoever. All those who receive Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour are regenerated and become Sons of God. Ephesians 1:7; 2:8, 9; John 1:12; 3:5-7; Hebrews 9:12
REGENERATION
We believe that the Scriptures teach that regeneration, or the new birth, is that change in the soul by the Holy Spirit by which a new nature and spiritual life, not before possessed, are imparted, and the person becomes a new creation in Christ Jesus; and without it salvation is impossible. John 3:3-6; II Corinthians 5:17; I Peter 1:23; Titus 3:5
ETERNAL SECURITY
We believe that all the elect of God, once saved, are kept by God's power and are secure in Christ forever. John 10:27-30; Romans 8:31-39; I John 5:11-13
JUSTIFICATION
Justification consists in the pardon of sin and the promise of eternal life on the principle of righteousness; that it is bestowed not in consideration of any works of righteousness which we have done, but solely through His own redemption and righteousness, (by virtue of which faith His perfect righteousness is freely imputed to us of God;) that it brings us into a state of most blessed peace and favor with God, and secures every other blessing needful for time and eternity. Romans 3:24-5:21
SANCTIFICATION
We believe sanctification is in three tenses: every saved person has been sanctified through the death of Christ, is being sanctified by the Holy Spirit, and will be sanctified completely when he goes to be with Christ. Every believer has two natures, an old and a new, and the old cannot be eradicated during this life. Hebrews 10:10; John 17:17; Ephesians 5:25-27
SEPARATION
We Believe in the Biblical doctrine of separation which encompasses three things:
1. The separation of the local church from all affiliation and fellowship with those who deny the verities of the "faith once delivered to the saints". Believing in the sovereignty of the local church as an autonomous body of believers under the leadership of the Holy Spirit, this church by official action shall be an independent Baptist church. No financial support is to be given to a work or workers whose doctrinal position is not in keeping with the preamble and statement of faith of this constitution.
2. The separation of the individual believer from all worldly practices that would dishonor the Saviour; and
3. The separation of church and state. Romans 12:1, 2; 14:13; II Corinthians 6:11-7:1; II Timothy 3:1-5; I John 2:15-17; II John 9-11
THE CHURCH
We believe that the New Testament church is an organized body of baptized believers practicing scriptural ordinances of baptism and the Lord's supper. We believe that the local, visible assembly of called out believers into a public place of worship and service is the church Jesus said he would build. This church is the only church Jesus spoke of in the New Testament. We do not believe in an invisible or universal invisible church. We believe that the local New Testament church was founded by Jesus Christ during His own personal ministry and that entrance into His church is by way of salvation and scriptural baptism. We believe that each New Testament church is an independent congregation and is not governed or controlled by an ecclesiastical hierarchy. Matthew 16:18; Acts 2:42-47; 8:1; 16:5; Ephesians 3:21; Colossians 1:24; I Timothy 3:15; Revelation 1-3
1. Baptism
We believe that baptism is a scriptural ordinance requiring immersion of believers only, tobe administered by a New Testament church. Matthew 3:7, 16; 28:18-20; John 3:23; 4:1-2; Acts 2:41
2. The Lord's Supper
We believer that the Lord's supper is partaking of unleavened bread and the fruit of the vine, as symbols of Christ's body and blood, commemorating His suffering and death for us and our continual benefit therefrom; that participation should be limited to those who have been born again and have unitedwith the local church by baptism and testimony, or to those who are baptized members of Baptist churches of like faith and practice, and that participation should be preceded by careful self-examination. I Corinthians 11:23-32
THE GREAT COMMISSION
We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ has commissioned the church to take the Gospel to the world, and that evangelism at home and abroad should be primary in the program of the local church. Matthew 28:19-20; Acts 1:8
CREATION AND THE FLOOD
We believe that God created the heavens and the earth, including all life, "Each after its own kind," by direct act, and not by any process of evolution. We further believe that the Genesis Flood in the days of Noah was universal. Genesis 1 & 2; 7:11-24 John 1:3; Colossians 1:16, 17
LAST THINGS
We believe in the imminent return of Christ to take those in Christ to heaven. Following this shall be a period of tribulation upon all the earth. At the end of this seven year tribulation period, Jesus Christ shall come back to earth in power and glory with His church to establish the promised Davidic kingdom. He shall reign for one thousand years, during which time peace and righteousness will cover the earth, Satan shall be bound and Israel shall be established in her own land. At the end of this glorious reign Satan shall lead a rebellion against Christ, but shall be forever banished to the lake of fire. The wicked dead shall be judged at the Great White Throne, and shall be condemned to everlasting conscious punishment in the lake of fire. The righteous shall enjoy the eternal conscious blessedness of presence with the Lord. Ezekiel 39:25-29; Matthew 24:21; John 14:3; I Thessalonians 4:17; Revelation 19:11-16; 20:1-15
CIVIL GOVERNMENT
We believe that civil government is of divine appointment, for the interests and good order of human society; and that magistrates are to be prayed for, conscientiously honored, and obeyed, except only in things opposed to the will of our Lord Jesus Christ, who is the only Lord of the conscience, and the Prince of the kings of the earth. Romans 13:1-7; I Timothy 2:1-4
We believe the Holy Bible is a supernatural book, that it is the very Word of God, that in the sixty-six books, the full, final and complete will of God is revealed to man. We believe the Author of the Bible is God the Holy Spirit and by inspiration, we mean the plenary verbal inspiration; that holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit. We believe that God preserved the Hebrew text called the Masoretic text and the Greek manuscripts called the Textus Receptus from which the King James Bible was translated as the Word of God for English speaking peoples without error and therefore trustworthy. As such we reject the modern paraphrased versions, the common language versions and all others as they delete the pure meaning of redemption and do injustice to the deity of Christ. We believe and teach that the Bible is the final authority in all matters of faith and practice. II Timothy 3:16, 17; Psalm 119:89; II Peter 1:19-21; Hebrews 4:12
THE GODHEAD
We believe in one God, eternally existing in three persons - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit - yet one in substance and equal in every divine perfection. John 14:7-12, 26; John 16:7; Matthew 28:19
1. God the Father
We believe in God the Father, perfect in Holiness, infinite in wisdom, measureless in power. We rejoice that He concerns Himself mercifully in the affairs of men, that he hears and answers prayer, and that He saves from sin and death all who come to Him through Jesus Christ. I Timothy 1:17
2. God the Son
We believe in Jesus Christ, the eternal and only begotten Son of God, conceived of the Holy Spirit, of virgin birth, sinless in life, and that he became the eternal sacrifice for the sins of the world by His death. We believe in His bodily resurrection, His ascension and visible return to the world according to His promise. Matthew 1:18-25; John 1:14, 18; 3:16, 18; 14:1-6; Acts 1:10, 11; I Corinthians 15:1-4; I Thessalonians 4:13-18; I John 4:9
3. God the Holy Spirit
We believe in the Holy Spirit who is the third person of the Trinity. We believe that among His ministries are included the following:
- The restraining of evil in the world to the measure of divine will,
- The convicting of the world regarding sin, righteousness and judgement,
- The regeneration of all believers,
- The indwelling of all who are saved, and
- The continued filling for power, teaching, and service of all among the saved who are yielded to Him. John 3:6; 16:7-11; Romans 8:9; Ephesians 4:30; 5:18; II Thessalonians 2:7; I John 2:20-27
We also believe that some gifts of the Holy Spirit were temporary. We believe that speaking in tongues was never the common or necessary sign of the filling or baptism of the Spirit. We believe that God, in accord with His own will, does hear and answer prayer for the sick and afflicted. I Corinthians 12:1, 11, 30; 13:8; James 5:14-16
THE TOTAL DEPRAVITY OF MAN
We believe that man was created in the image and likeness of God, but that in Adam's sin the race fell and thereby incurred not only physical death, but also spiritual death, which is separation from God. We believe all mankind have inherited a sinful nature and have become willful sinners with the first expression of personal choice, are unable to regain their former position without faith, John 1:9, "That was the true light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world." and are without excuse before God. Genesis 1:26; 3:1-24; Romans 1:20; 3:23; 5:12; Ephesians 2:1-6, 12; John 1:9
SALVATION
We believe that salvation is a gift of God brought to men by grace and received by personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, whose blood was shed on Calvary for the forgiveness of sins. Salvation is solely through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ who shed His blood and presented it in the "holy place" in heaven for the forgiveness of our sins and, being a gift, is not earned by any good works whatsoever. All those who receive Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour are regenerated and become Sons of God. Ephesians 1:7; 2:8, 9; John 1:12; 3:5-7; Hebrews 9:12
REGENERATION
We believe that the Scriptures teach that regeneration, or the new birth, is that change in the soul by the Holy Spirit by which a new nature and spiritual life, not before possessed, are imparted, and the person becomes a new creation in Christ Jesus; and without it salvation is impossible. John 3:3-6; II Corinthians 5:17; I Peter 1:23; Titus 3:5
ETERNAL SECURITY
We believe that all the elect of God, once saved, are kept by God's power and are secure in Christ forever. John 10:27-30; Romans 8:31-39; I John 5:11-13
JUSTIFICATION
Justification consists in the pardon of sin and the promise of eternal life on the principle of righteousness; that it is bestowed not in consideration of any works of righteousness which we have done, but solely through His own redemption and righteousness, (by virtue of which faith His perfect righteousness is freely imputed to us of God;) that it brings us into a state of most blessed peace and favor with God, and secures every other blessing needful for time and eternity. Romans 3:24-5:21
SANCTIFICATION
We believe sanctification is in three tenses: every saved person has been sanctified through the death of Christ, is being sanctified by the Holy Spirit, and will be sanctified completely when he goes to be with Christ. Every believer has two natures, an old and a new, and the old cannot be eradicated during this life. Hebrews 10:10; John 17:17; Ephesians 5:25-27
SEPARATION
We Believe in the Biblical doctrine of separation which encompasses three things:
1. The separation of the local church from all affiliation and fellowship with those who deny the verities of the "faith once delivered to the saints". Believing in the sovereignty of the local church as an autonomous body of believers under the leadership of the Holy Spirit, this church by official action shall be an independent Baptist church. No financial support is to be given to a work or workers whose doctrinal position is not in keeping with the preamble and statement of faith of this constitution.
2. The separation of the individual believer from all worldly practices that would dishonor the Saviour; and
3. The separation of church and state. Romans 12:1, 2; 14:13; II Corinthians 6:11-7:1; II Timothy 3:1-5; I John 2:15-17; II John 9-11
THE CHURCH
We believe that the New Testament church is an organized body of baptized believers practicing scriptural ordinances of baptism and the Lord's supper. We believe that the local, visible assembly of called out believers into a public place of worship and service is the church Jesus said he would build. This church is the only church Jesus spoke of in the New Testament. We do not believe in an invisible or universal invisible church. We believe that the local New Testament church was founded by Jesus Christ during His own personal ministry and that entrance into His church is by way of salvation and scriptural baptism. We believe that each New Testament church is an independent congregation and is not governed or controlled by an ecclesiastical hierarchy. Matthew 16:18; Acts 2:42-47; 8:1; 16:5; Ephesians 3:21; Colossians 1:24; I Timothy 3:15; Revelation 1-3
1. Baptism
We believe that baptism is a scriptural ordinance requiring immersion of believers only, tobe administered by a New Testament church. Matthew 3:7, 16; 28:18-20; John 3:23; 4:1-2; Acts 2:41
2. The Lord's Supper
We believer that the Lord's supper is partaking of unleavened bread and the fruit of the vine, as symbols of Christ's body and blood, commemorating His suffering and death for us and our continual benefit therefrom; that participation should be limited to those who have been born again and have unitedwith the local church by baptism and testimony, or to those who are baptized members of Baptist churches of like faith and practice, and that participation should be preceded by careful self-examination. I Corinthians 11:23-32
THE GREAT COMMISSION
We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ has commissioned the church to take the Gospel to the world, and that evangelism at home and abroad should be primary in the program of the local church. Matthew 28:19-20; Acts 1:8
CREATION AND THE FLOOD
We believe that God created the heavens and the earth, including all life, "Each after its own kind," by direct act, and not by any process of evolution. We further believe that the Genesis Flood in the days of Noah was universal. Genesis 1 & 2; 7:11-24 John 1:3; Colossians 1:16, 17
LAST THINGS
We believe in the imminent return of Christ to take those in Christ to heaven. Following this shall be a period of tribulation upon all the earth. At the end of this seven year tribulation period, Jesus Christ shall come back to earth in power and glory with His church to establish the promised Davidic kingdom. He shall reign for one thousand years, during which time peace and righteousness will cover the earth, Satan shall be bound and Israel shall be established in her own land. At the end of this glorious reign Satan shall lead a rebellion against Christ, but shall be forever banished to the lake of fire. The wicked dead shall be judged at the Great White Throne, and shall be condemned to everlasting conscious punishment in the lake of fire. The righteous shall enjoy the eternal conscious blessedness of presence with the Lord. Ezekiel 39:25-29; Matthew 24:21; John 14:3; I Thessalonians 4:17; Revelation 19:11-16; 20:1-15
CIVIL GOVERNMENT
We believe that civil government is of divine appointment, for the interests and good order of human society; and that magistrates are to be prayed for, conscientiously honored, and obeyed, except only in things opposed to the will of our Lord Jesus Christ, who is the only Lord of the conscience, and the Prince of the kings of the earth. Romans 13:1-7; I Timothy 2:1-4