Church
Statement of Faith
1. Of
the Holy Bible
We
believe that the Holy Bible was written by men divinely inspired, and is a
perfect treasure of heavenly instruction; that it has God for its author,
salvation for its end, and truth without any mixture of error for its matter;
that it reveals the principles by which God will judge us; and therefore is, and
shall remain to the end of the world, the true center of Christian union, and
the supreme standard by which all human conduct, creeds, and opinions shall be
tried. We believe the King James Version of the Bible is the preserved Word
of God for English speaking people. II Tim. 3:16-17; II Pet. 1:21; I Sam.
23:2; Acts 1:16; 3:21; John 10:35; Luke 16:29-31; Ps. 119:11; Rom. 3:1-2; II
Tim. 3:15; I Pet. 1:10-12; Acts 11:14; Rom. 1:16; Mark 16:16; John 5:38-39; Prov.
30:5-6; John 17:17; Rev. 22:18-19; Rom. 3:4; Rom. 2:12; John 12:47-48; I Cor.
4:3-4; Luke 10:10-16; 12:47-48; Phil. 3:16; Eph. 4:3-6; Phil. 2:1-2; I Cor.
1:10; I Pet. 4:11.
2. Of
the True God
We
believe that there is one, and only one, living and true God, an infinite,
intelligent Spirit, whose name is Jehovah, the Maker and Supreme Ruler of Heaven
and earth; inexpressibly glorious in holiness, and worthy of all possible honor,
confidence and love; 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.
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.
We
believe the Lord Jesus Christ accomplished our redemption through His death and
shed blood on the cross as a representative, vicarious, substitutionary
sacrifice; and, that our justification is made sure by His literal, physical
resurrection from the dead.
We
believe 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.
We
believe the Holy Spirit is a person who convicts the whole world of sin, of
righteousness, and of judgment; and that He is the Supernatural Agent in
regeneration, indwelling and sealing all true believers unto the day of
redemption.
We
believe the Holy Spirit is the divine teacher who assists believers to
understand and appropriate the Scriptures and that it is the privilege and duty
of all the saved to be filled with the Spirit. John 4:24; Ps. 147:5; 83:18;
Heb. 3:4; Rom. 1:20; Jer. 10:10; Ex. 15:11; Isa. 6:3; I Pet. 1:15-16; Rev.
4:6-8; Mark 12:30; Rev. 4:11; Matt. 10:37; Jer. 2:12-13;Matt. 28:19; John 15:26;
I Cor. 12:4-6; I John 5:7; John 10:30; 5:17; 14:23; 17:5, 10; Acts 5:3-4; I Cor.
2:10-11; Phil. 2:5-6; Eph. 2:18; II Cor. 13:14; Rev. 1:4-5; comp. 2, 7; Isa.
7:14; 9:6; Luke 1:35; John 1:1-2; II Cor. 5:19-21; Gal. 4:4-5; Phil. 2:5-8; Acts
2:18-36; Rom. 3:24-25; I Pet. 2:24; Eph. 1:7; I Pet. 1:3-5; Acts 1:9-10; Heb.
9:24; 7:25; Rom. 8:34; I John 2:1-2; John 16:8-11; Rom. 8:9; I Cor. 12:12-14; II
Cor. 3:6; Eph. 1:13-14; Eph. 1:17-18; 5:18; I John 2:20, 27.
3. Of
Satan
We
believe that Satan is a real person, the author of sin and the cause of the Fall
of Man; that he is the open and declared enemy of God and man; and, that he
shall be eternally punished in the
4. Of
Creation
We
believe that God created the heavens and earth in six literal 24-hour days. We
reject evolution, the gap theory, the day-age theory, theistic evolution, and
every other theory of creation except the six literal 24-hour days, as recorded
by God in Genesis. Genesis 1-2; Ex. 20:11; Col. 1:16-17; John 1:3; Heb.
11:3; I Cor. 8:6; Eph. 3:9.
5. Of
the Fall of Man
We
believe that man was created in innocence, under the law of his Maker; but by
voluntary transgression fell from that sinless and happy state; in consequence
of which all men are now sinners; being by nature utterly void of that holiness
required by the law of God, positively inclined to evil; and therefore under
just condemnation to eternal ruin, without defense or excuse. Gen. 1:27,
31; Eccl. 7:29; Acts 16:26; Gen. 2:16; Gen. 3:6-24; Rom. 5:12; Rom. 5:19; John
3:6; Ps. 51:5; Rom. 5:15-19; 8:7; Isa. 53:6; Gen. 6:12; Rom 3:9-18; Eph.
2:1-3; Rom. 1:18, 32; 2:1-16; Gal. 3:10; Matt. 20:15; Ezek. 18:19-20; Rom. 1:20;
3:19; Gal. 3:22.
6. Of
the Way of Salvation
We
believe that the salvation of sinners is wholly of grace, through the
mediatorial offices of the Son of God; who by the appointment of the Father,
freely took upon him our nature, yet without sin; honored the divine law by his
personal obedience, and by his death made a full atonement for the Elect; that
having risen from the dead, he is now enthroned in heaven; and uniting in his
wonderful person the tenderest sympathies with divine perfections, he is every
way qualified to be a suitable, a compassionate, and an all-sufficient Savior. Eph.
2:5; Matt. 18:11; I John 4:10; I Cor. 3:5-7; Acts 15:11; John 3:16; 1:1-14; Heb.
4:14; 12:24; Phil. 2:6-7; Heb. 2:9, 14; II Cor. 5:21; Isa. 42:21; Phil. 2:8;
Gal. 4:4-5; Rom. 3:21; Isa. 53:4-5; Matt. 20:28; Rom. 4:25; 3:21-26; I John
4:10; 2:2; I Cor. 15:1-3; Heb. 9:13-15; Heb. 1:8, 3; 8:1; Col. 3:1-4; Heb. 7:25;
Col. 2:9; Heb. 2:18; 7:26; Ps. 89:19; Ps. 14.
7. 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
promise 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; 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. John 1:16; Eph. 3:8; Acts 13:39; Isa. 3:11-12; Rom.
8:1; Rom. 5:9; Zech. 13:1; Matt. 9:6; Acts 10:43; Rom. 5:17; Titus 3:5-6; I Pet.
3:7; I John 2:25; Rom. 5:21; Rom 4:4-5; 5:21; 6:28; Phil. 3:7-9; Rom. 5:19;
3:24-26; 4:23-25; I John 2:12; Rom. 5:1-3, 11; I Cor. 1:30-31; Matt. 6:33; I
Tim. 4:8.
8. Of
the Freeness of Salvation
We
believe 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
obedient faith; and that nothing prevents the salvation of the greatest sinner
on earth but his own inherent depravity and voluntary rejection of the gospel,
which involves him in an aggravated condemnation. Isa. 55:1; Rev. 22:17;
Luke
9. Of
Grace in Regeneration
We
believe that in order to be saved, sinners must be regenerated, or born again;
that regeneration consists in giving a holy dispensation to the mind; that it is
effected in a manner above our comprehension by the power of the Holy Spirit, in
connection with 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, 6-7; I Cor. 1:14; Rev. 8:7-9;
21:27; II Cor. 5:17; Ezek. 36:26; Deut. 30:6; Rom. 2:28-29; 5:5; I John 4:7;
John 3:8; 1:13; James 1:16-18; I Cor. 1:30; Phil. 2:13; I Pet. 1:22-25; I John
5:1; Eph. 4:20-24; Col. 3:9-11; Eph. 5:9; Rom. 8:9; Gal. 5:16-23; Eph. 3:14-21;
Matt. 3:8-10; 7:20; I John 5:4, 18.
10. Of
Repentance and Faith
We
believe that Repentance and Faith are sacred duties, and also inseparable
graces, wrought in our souls by the regenerating, irresistible power of the
Spirit of God; whereby being deeply convinced of our guilt, danger, and
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 as our Prophet, Priest, and King, and
relying on him alone as the only and all-sufficient Savior. Mark 1:15; Acts
11:18; Eph. 2:8; I John 5:1; John 16:8; Acts 2:37-38; 16:30-31; Luke 18:13;
15:18-21; James 4:7-10; II Cor. 7:11; Rom. 10:12-13; Ps 51; Rom. 10:9-11; Acts
3:22-23; Heb. 4:14; Ps. 2:6; Heb. 1:8; 8:25; II Tim. 1:12.
11. Of
God’s Purpose of Grace
We
believe that Election is the eternal purpose of God, according to which he
graciously regenerates, sanctifies, and saves His people; that being perfectly
consistent with the free agency of man, it comprehends all the means in
connection with the end; that it is a most glorious display of God’s sovereign
goodness, being infinitely free, wise, holy, and unchangeable; that it utterly
excludes boasting, and promotes humility, love, prayer, praise, trust in God,
and active imitation of his free mercy; that it encourages the use of means in
the highest degree; that it may be ascertained by its effects in all who truly
believe the gospel; that it is the foundation of Christian assurance; and that
to ascertain it with regard to ourselves demands and deserves the utmost
diligence. II Tim. 1:8-9; Eph. 1:3-14; I Pet. 1:1-2; Rom. 11:5-6; John
15:15; I John 4:19; Hosea 12:9; II Thess. 2:13-14; Acts 13:48; John 10:16; Matt.
20:16; Acts 15:14; Ex. 33:18-19; Matt. 20:15; Eph. 1:11; Rom. 9:23-24; Jer.
31:3; Rom 11:28-29; James 1:17-18; II Tim. 1:9; Rom 11:32-36; I Cor. 4:7;
1:26-31; Rom. 3:27; 4:16; Col. 3:12; I Cor. 3:5-7; 15:10; I Pet. 5:10; Acts
1:24; I Thess. 2:13; I Pet. 2:9; Luke 18:7; John 15:16; Eph. 1:16; I Thess.
2:12; II Tim. 2:10; I Cor. 9:22; Rom. 8:28-30; John 6:37-40; II Pet. 1:10; I
Thess. 1:4-10; Rom. 8:28-30; Isa. 42:16; Rom. 11:29; II Pet. 1:10-11; Phil.
3:12; Heb. 6:11.
12. Of
Sanctification
We
believe that sanctification is a divine work of grace; that it is not a state of
sinless perfection attained through a “second blessing” or through a special
“Baptism of the Holy Ghost;” that it is an act of grace by which the
believer is separated unto God and dedicated unto His righteous purpose; that by
it we enter into divinely appointed privileges and thus become larger partakers
of His holiness; that it is also a progressive work, begun in regeneration, and
carried on in the life of every believer by the presence and the power of the
Holy Spirit and the Word of God; and that it is nurtured only by Heaven’s
appointed means, especially by the Holy Spirit, the Word of God, and the saved
through his self-examination, obedience, self-denial, watchfulness, and prayer. I
Thess. 4:3;
13. Of
the Perseverance of Saints
We
believe that such only are real believers as endure unto the end; that their
persevering attachment to Christ is the grand mark which distinguishes them from
superficial professors; that a special
14. Of
the Harmony of the Law and the Gospel
We
believe that the Law of God is the eternal and unchangeable rule of His moral
government; that it is holy, just, and good; and that the inability which the
Scriptures ascribe to fallen men to fulfill its precepts arises entirely from
their love of sin; to deliver them from which, and to restore them through a
Mediator to unfeigned obedience to the holy Law, is one great end of the Gospel,
and of the means of grace connected with the establishment of the visible
Church. Rom. 3:31; Matt. 5:17; Luke 16:17; Rom. 3:20; 4:15; Rom. 7:12,
7, 14, 22; Gal. 3:21; Ps. 119; Rom. 8:7-8; Josh. 24:19; Jer. 13:23; John 6:44;
5:44; Rom. 8:2, 4; 10:4; I Tim. 1:5; Heb. 8:10; Jude 20-21; Heb. 12-14; Matt.
16:17-18; I Cor. 12:28.
15. Of
the
We
believe that a New Testament Baptist Church, according to divine purpose and
plan, is a visible, local, organized body; that it is composed of baptized
believers associated together by a covenant of faith and fellowship in the
Gospel; that New Testament validity flows from strict obedience to essential
principles of the New Testament; that it is a sovereign, independent,
democratic, and militant body; that its ministry is gloriously blessed with the
presence and leadership of the Holy Spirit and the light and revelation of the
Written Word; that its work should ever be from within to without and never from
without to within; that it is a self-governing body and is the sole judge, under
the limitations of the Scriptures, of the measure and method of cooperation;
that it is the only ecclesiastical tribunal the Lord has on earth; that its
judgment concerning membership, missions, benevolence, cooperative alignments,
and support is final; that it was personally founded by Christ Jesus during His
ministry on earth; that it is subject to His laws and is the custodian of His
ordinances; that the perpetuity of our faith, our doctrines and practices,
ordinances and ordinations has been effected through the Holy Spirit personally
planting and preserving local Baptist churches of like faith and order down
through the centuries by a continual line of authority. Matt. 28:19-20; I
Cor. 1:1-3; Acts 2:31-42; II Cor. 8:5; Matt. 16:19; 18:15-17; John 14:16-17, 26;
Acts 1:8; 13:1-4; Matt. 18:17-18; 16:18-19; 26:26-29; 28:19-20; I Tim. 3:15;
Mark 3:13-14; Luke 6:12-13.
16. Of
Baptism and the Lord’s Supper
We
believe that Baptism and the Lord’s Supper are ordinances personally set in
the Church of the living God by the Lord Jesus Christ. We believe that
Baptism is the burial of a believer in water by the authority and instruction of
the local Baptist Church; that it symbolizes the death and the burial and the
resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ; that it also typifies the believer’s
death to sin, the burial of his old nature, and his resurrection unto a new
life; and that it is administered in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and
of the Holy Spirit. We believe the Lord’s Supper is a memorial table of
unleavened bread and fermented wine administered by the authority and
instruction of the local Baptist Church and observed by its members; that it
symbolizes the broken body and the shed blood of the Son of God; that its
observance points backward to the crucified Lord on Calvary and forward to the
returning Lord in glory. We believe that these ordinances are not
sacraments, but are sacred symbols, pointing to the world’s only Savior, and
bidding the sons of men look unto an everlasting fellowship with the King of
kings and Lord of lords when He shall return to take over the reins of all
government. Matt. 26:26-29; 28:19;
17. Of
the Lord’s Day
We
believe the Scriptures teach that the first day of the week is the Lord’s Day;
and is to be kept sacred to religious purposes, by abstaining from all secular
labor and recreations, except works of mercy and necessity, by the devout
observance of all the means of grace, both private and public; and by
preparation for that rest that remaineth for the people of God. Acts 20:7;
Gen. 2:3; Col. 2:16-17; Mark 2:27; John 20:19; I Cor. 16:1-2; Ex. 20:8-11; Rev.
1:10; Ps. 118:24; . 58:13-14; 56:2-8; Ps. 119:15; Heb. 10:24-25; Acts
18. Of
Civil Government
We
believe that the local church and the State should be kept completely separate;
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. Rom. 13:1-7; Eph. 5:22-24; Heb. 13:17; I Pet. 2:13-14; Rom.
13:1-7; Deut. 16:18; I Sam. 23:3; Ex. 18:23; Jer. 30:21; Matt. 22:21; Titus 3:1;
I Pet. 2:13; I Tim. 2:1-8; Acts 5:29; Matt. 10:28; Dan. 3:15-18; 6:7-10; Acts
4:18-20.
19. 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 by and through faith are justified in the name
of the Lord Jesus Christ, and sanctified by the Spirit of our 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 happiness of the saved and the
everlasting conscious suffering of the lost. Mal. 3:18; Prov. 12:26; Isa.
5:20; Gen. 18:23; Jer. 15:19; Acts 10:34-35; Rom. 6:16; Rom. 1:17; 7:6; I John
2:29; 3:7; Rom. 6:18, 22; I Cor. 11:32; Prov. 11:31; I Pet. 4:17-18; I John
5:19; Gal. 3:10; John 3:36; Isa. 57:21; Ps. 10:4; Isa. 55:6-7; Prov. 14:32; Luke
16:25; John 8:21-24; Prov. 10:24; Luke 12:4-5; 9:23-26; John 12:25-26; Eccl.
3:17; Matt. 7:13-14.
20. Of
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; Acts 4:34-37; I Cor. 16:2; II Cor. 9:6-7; Gal. 6:6; Eph. 4:28; I Tim.
5:17-18; I John 3:17.
21. Of
Human Sexuality
We
believe God has commanded that no intimate sexual activity should be engaged in
outside of a marriage between one man and one woman. We believe that any
form of homosexuality, lesbianism, bisexuality, bestiality, incest, fornication,
adultery, polygamy, and pornography are sinful perversions of God’s gift of
sex. Gen. 2:24; 19:5, 13; 28:8-9; Lev. 18:1-30; Rom. 1:26-29; I Cor. 5:1;
6:9; I Thess. 4:1-8; Heb. 13:4.
22. Of
Divorce and Remarriage
We
believe that marriage is a sacred institution ordained by God and is intended to
last until one of the spouses dies and that divorce is a sin. Divorce and
remarriage is regarded as adultery. Although divorced and remarried persons
or divorced persons may be members of
23. Of
the Sanctity of Life
We
believe that human life begins at conception and ends at death. We believe
that assisting in the ending of life under any circumstances is sin. We
further believe that an unborn child is a living human being. Abortion
constitutes the unjustified, unexcused taking of unborn human life. Abortion
is murder. We reject any teaching that abortions of pregnancies due to
rape, incest, birth defects, gender selection, birth or population control, or
the mental well being of the mother are acceptable. Job 3:16; Ps. 51:5;
139:14-16; Isa. 44:24; 49:1, 5; 20:15-18; Luke 1:44.
24. Of
the Return of Christ
We
believe in the bodily, personal, imminent return of Jesus Christ; that He will
first come in the air to catch away His Saints ushering in the seven year
tribulation period; and that He will return all the way to the earth with His
Saints at the close of the tribulation to judge the living nations and to set up
His literal 1,000-year millennial kingdom on earth; following this the lost will
be judged at the Great White Throne after which God will usher in eternity with
a new heaven and new earth. I Thess. 4:13-18; Matt. 25:31-46; Rev.
19:11-21; 20:1-7; 21:1; I Cor. 15:51-54; II Pet. 3:10-13.
25. Of
the Resurrection
We
believe in the resurrection of the bodies of the dead, both saved and lost; that
the bodies of the saved shall be resurrected at the coming of Christ and
reunited with their souls that are with the Lord; and that the lost shall be
resurrected, after the millennial reign of Christ, from their present state of
torment, to appear bodily before the Great White Throne to be eternally judged
and cast into the lake of fire. John 5:21-30; I Thess. 4:13-18; I Cor.
15:51-54; II Tim. 4:1; Rev. 7:9-17; 20:5-6, 11-15.