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A Bible-believing Church is one which believes in a supernatural
Bible, which tells of a supernatural Christ Who had a supernatural
birth, Who spoke supernatural words, Who performed supernatural
miracles, Who lived a supernatural life, Who died a supernatural
death, Who rose in supernatural splendor, Who intercedes as a
supernatural priest, and Who will one day return in supernatural
glory to establish a supernatural kingdom on the earth.
Section1 - 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.
* By "The Holy Bible", we mean that
collection of sixty-six books, from Genesis to Revelation, which as
originally written does not only contain and convey the Word of God,
but IS the very Word of God.
* 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 their writings were
supernaturally and verbally inspired and free from error, as no
writings have ever been or will ever be inspired.
II Tim. 3:16-17; II Pet.
1:19-21; Acts 1:16; Acts 28:25; Psa. 119:39,105,130,160; Luke
24:25-27,44-45; John 17:17; Prov. 30:5-6; Rom. 3:4; I Pet. 1:23; Rev.
22:19; John 12:48; Isa. 8:20; Eph. 6:17; Rom. 15:4; Luke 16:31; Psa.
19:7-11; John 5:30,45-47.
Section2 - Of the 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 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.
Ex. 20:23; Gen. 17:1; 1 Cor.
8;6; Eph. 4:6; John 4:24; Psa. 83:18; 90:2; 147:5; Jer. 10:10; Ex.
15:11; Rev. 4:11; 1 Tim. 1:17; Rom. 11:33; Mark 12:30; Matt. 28:19;
John 15:26; 1 Cor. 12:4-6; 1 John 5:7; John 10:30; John 17:5; Acts
5:3-4; 1 Cor. 2:10-11; Phil. 2:5-6; Eph. 2:18; 2 Cor. 13:14.
Section3 - 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 in His relation to the unbelieving world, He restrains the evil
one until God's purpose is fulfilled; that He convicts of sin, of
righteousness, and of judgment; that He bears witness to the truth of
the Gospel in preaching and testimony; that He is the agent in the
New Birth; that He seals, endues, guides, teaches, witnesses,
sanctifies, and helps the believer.
John 14:16-17,26; Matt. 28:19;
Heb. 9:14; Luke 1:35; Gen. 1-3; 2 Thess. 2:7,13; John 16:8-11; John
15:26-27; Acts 5:30-32; John 3:5-6; Eph. 1:13-14; Matt. 3:11; Mark
1:8; Luke 3:16; John 1:33; Acts 11:16; Luke 24:49; John 16:13; Rom.
8:14,16,26-27; 1 Pet. 1:2.
Section4 - Of the Devil, or Satan
We believe that Satan was once holy and 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 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; 2 Pet. 2:4; Eph. 2:2; John 14:30; 1 Thess. 3:5; Matt.
4:1-3; 1 Pet. 5:8; 1 John 3:8; Matt. 13:25,37,39; Mark 13:21-33; Luke
22:3-4; Rev. 12:10; 2 Cor. 11:13-15; 1 John 4:3; 2 John 7; 1 John
2:22; Rev. 13:13-14; 2 Thess. 2:8-11; Rev. 19:11,16,20; Rev. 12:7-9;
Rev. 20:1-3; Rev. 20:10; Matt. 25:41.
Section5 - 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; that all
animal and vegetable life was made directly and God's established law
was that they should bring forth only "after their kind."
Gen. 1:1; Ex. 20:11; Acts 4:24;
Col. 1:16-17; Heb. 11:3; John 1:3; Rev. 10:6; Rom. 1:20; Acts
17:23-27; Gen. 2:21-23; Gen. 1:24
Section6 - 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 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. 1:18,20,28,32;
3:10-19; 5:12,19; Eph. 2:1-3; Ezek. 18:19-20; Gal. 3:22
Section7 - Of the Virgin Birth
We believe that Jesus Christ was begotten of the Holy
Spirit, in a miraculous manner; born of Mary, a virgin, as no other
man was ever born, or can ever be born of woman, and that He is both
the Son of God, and God the Son.
Gen. 3:15; Isa. 7:14; Matt.
1:18-25; Luke 1:35; Mark 1:1; John 1:14; Psa. 2:7; Gal. 4:4; 1 John
5:20; 1 Cor. 15:47
Section8 - Of the Atonement for Sin
We believe that the salvation of sinners is wholly of
grace; through the mediatorial offices of the Son of God, Who by
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 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.
3:24-25; John 3:16; Matt. 18:11; Phil. 2:7; Heb. 2:14; Isa. 53:4-7; 1
John 4:10; 1 Cor. 15:3; 2 Cor. 5:21; John 10:18; Phil. 2:8; Gal. 1:4;
1 Pet. 2:24; 3:18; Isa. 53:11; Heb. 12:2; 1 Cor. 15:20; Isa. 53:12;
Heb. 9:12-15; Heb. 7:25; 1 John 2:2
Section9 - Of Grace in the New Creation
We believe that in order to be saved, sinners must be
born again; that the new birth is a new creation 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 divine truth, so as to secure our voluntary obedience
to the Gospel; that its proper evidence appears in the holy fruits
of repentance and faith and newness of life.
John 3:3; 2 Cor. 5:17; Luke
5:27; 1 John 5:1; John 3:6-7; Acts 2:41; 2 Pet. 1:4; Rom. 6:23; Eph.
2:1, 2 Cor. 5:19; Col. 2:13; John 1:12-13; Gal.5:22; Eph. 5:9
Section10 - Of the Freeness 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
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.
1 Thess. 1:4; Col. 3:12; 1 Pet.
1:2; Titus 1:1; Rom. 8:29-30; Matt. 11:28; Isa. 55:1; Rev. 22:17;
Rom. 10:i3; John 6:37; Isa. 53:6; Acts 2:38; Isa. 55:7; John 3:15-16;
1 Tim. 1:15; 1 Cor. 15:l0; Eph. 2:4, John 3:18,36; 5:40
Section11 - 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, His righteousness is
imputed unto us.
Acts 13:39; Isa. 53:11; Zech.
13:l; Rom. 1:17; 4:1-8; 5:1,9; 8:1; Tit. 3:5-7; Hab. 2:4; Gal. 3:11;
Heb. 10:38
Section12 - Of 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 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 and openly confessing Him as our only and all-sufficient
Saviour.
Acts 20:21; Mark 1:15; Acts
2:37-38; Luke 18:13; Rom. 10:13; Psa. 51:1-4,7; Isa. 55:6-7; Luke
12:8; Rom. 10:9-11
Section13 - Of the Church
We believe that a 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 the Divine and Eternal Grace; observing the ordinances
of Christ; governed by His laws; exercising the gifts, rights, and
privileges vested in them by His Word; that its officers of
ordination are pastors or elders whose qualifications, claims and
duties are clearly defined in the Scriptures. We believe that the
true mission of the Church is found in the Great Commission: first,
to make individual disciples; second, to build up the Church; 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
absolute right of self-government, free from the interference of any
hierarchy of individuals or organizations; and 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 sole 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; on all matters of membership, of policy,
of government, of discipline, of benevolence, the will of the local
Church is final.
Acts 2:41-42; 6:5-6; 14:23;
15:22-24; 1 Cor. 6:1-3; 1l:2; 12:4,8-11; 16:1-2;Eph. 1:22-23; 4:11; 1
Pet. 5:1-4; Jude 3; 2 Cor. 8:23-24; Mal. 3:10; Lev. 27:32
Section14 - 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 of 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 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-examinations.
Acts 8:36-39; Matt. 3:6,16; John
3:23; Rom. 6:3-5; Matt. 28:19; Col. 2:12; Acts 2:41-42; Matt.
28:l,9-20; I Cor. 11:23-28
Section15 - Eternal Security of the Saints
We believe that every born again person is saved
forever; they are kept by the power of God, sealed by the Holy
Spirit, and hid in Christ. In addition, a saint can never lose his
salvation.
John 8:31-32; Col. 1:21-23; 1
John 2:19; Matt. 13:19-21; Matt. 6:20; Psa. 121:3; Heb. 1:14; 1 Pet.
1:5; Phil. 1:6; John 10:28,29; 16:8; Rom. 8:28,35-39
Section16 - 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 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 life 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.
1:17; 6:16-18,23; 7:6; Prov. 11:31; 1 Pet. 1:18; 1 Cor. 15:22; Acts
10:34-35; 1 John 2:7,29; 5:19; Gal. 3:10; Prov. 14:32; Luke 16:25;
Matt. 25:34,41; John 8:21; Luke 9:26; John 12:25; Matt. 7:13-14
Section17 - Of Civil Government
We believe that civil government is of divine
appointment, for the interests and good order of human society; 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 coming Prince of the
kings of the earth.
Rom 13:7; II Sam. 23:3; Ex.
18:21-22; Acts 23:5; Tit. 3:1; 1 Pet. 2:17; Acts 4:19-20; Dan.
3:17-18; Matt. 10:28; 22:21; 23:10; Phil. 2:10-11; Psa. 72:11
Section18 - Of the Resurrection and Return of Christ
We believe in and accept the sacred Scriptures upon
these subjects at their face and full 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 was taken up
into heaven shall so come in like manner as He went into
heaven--bodily, personally and visible; that the dead in Christ shall
rise first; that the living saints shall all be changed in a moment,
in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump; that the Lord God
shall give unto Him the throne of His father David; 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; Mark 16:6; Luke 24:2,4-6,51; Acts 1:9,11; Mark 16:19; Rev.
3:21; Heb. 2:17; 5:9-10; 8:1,6; 9:28; 12:2; 1 Tim. 2:5; 1 John 2:1;
John 14:3; 1 Thess. 4:16; Matt. 24:27,42; 1 Cor. 15:4,25,42-44,51-53;
1 Thess. 4:17; Phil. 4:20-21; Luke 1:32; 1 Cor. 15:25; Isa. 11:4-5;
Psa. 72:8; Rev. 20:1-4,6
Section19 - Of Missions
The command to give the Gospel to the world is clear
and unmistakable, and this Commission was given to the churches.
* Matt. 28:16-20 - And Jesus
came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in
heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations,
baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the
Holy Ghost, teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have
commanded you; and, lo, I am with you always even unto the end of the
world. Amen.
* Mark 16:15 - And he said unto
them, Go ye unto all the world, and preach the Gospel to every
creature.
* John 20:21 - Then said Jesus
to them again, Peace be unto you; as my Father hath sent me, even so
send I you.
* Rom. 10:13-15 - For whosoever
shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. How then shall
they call upon him in whom they have not believed7 And how shall they
believe in him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they preach
except they be sent? As it is written, how beautiful are the feet of
them that preach the gospel of peace and bring glad tidings of good
things!
Section20 - Of the Grace of Giving
Scriptural giving is one of the fundamentals of the
faith.
* 1 Cor. 16:2 - Upon the first
day of the week, let every one of you lay by him in store, as God
hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come.
* Heb. 7:2-4 - Abraham gave
Melchizedek the tenth of the spoils. (This was four hundred years
before the Law and is confirmed in the New Testament.)
* Matt. 23:23 - Jesus said
concerning the tithe: These ye ought to have done.
We are commanded to bring the
tithe into the common treasury of the Church. * Lev. 27:30 - The
tithe . . . is the Lord's.
* Mal. 3:10 - Bring ye all the
tithes into the storehouse, that here may be meat in mine house, and
prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open
you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing that there
shall not be room enough to receive it.
In the New Testament it was the common treasury of the
Church.
* Acts 4:34-35,37 - And brought
the prices of the things that were sold, and laid them down at the
apostles' feet. . . . Having land, sold it and brought the money, and
laid it at the Apostles' feet.
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