Statement of Faith
A. THE HOLY SCRIPTURES.
We believe the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testament to be the verbally and plenarily inspired words of God. The Scriptures are inerrant, infallible and God-breathed and, therefore, are the final authority for faith and life. The sixty-six books of the Old and New Testament are the complete and divine revelation of God to man. The Scriptures shall be interpreted according to their normal grammatical-historical meaning, and all issues of interpretation and meaning shall be determined by the pastor. The King James Version of the Bible shall be the official and only English Bible used and believed by the church. 2 Tim. 3:16-17; 2 Pet. 1:20-21; Psalm 12:6,7: 119:89; Isaiah 8:20; I Thessalonians 2:13; 5:21; II Timothy 3:15,16.
B. 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; that He is 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 Spirit – equal in every divine perfection and executing distinct but harmonious offices in the great work of redemption.
Exodus 15: 11; Psalm 83:18; Matthew 28:19; Mark 12:30; John 1: 1-3; John 4:24; John 10: 30; Ephesians 2:18; 1 John 5:7.
C. THE LORD 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; 2 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; Eph. 1:7; 1 Pet. 2:24; 1 Pet. 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; Rom. 8:34; Heb. 9:24; 7:25; 1 John 2:1-2)
D. THE HOLY SPIRIT
We believe in the Holy Spirit of God; co-equal with God, He is a person, the third member of the Trinity. His present ministries include magnifying the Lord Jesus Christ, convincing the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment, comforting and teaching believers, and edifying the Body of Christ. The present-day charismatic movement is a dangerous counterfeit of the real ministries of the Holy Spirit, and we of Bible Baptist Church are totally opposed to it.
John 16:7-14; Acts 5:1-4.
E. SATAN
We believe that Satan was once holy, and enjoyed heaven; 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. 1 9:11, 16, 20; Rev. 12:7-9; Rev. 20:10; Matt. 25 :41
F. MAN
We believe that man was created in the image of God, that he sinned and thereby incurred spiritual and physical death. We believe that without exception all men are sinners and have need of the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ.
Genesis 1:26; Genesis 2:7; Romans 5:12-18; 1 Corinthians.
G. 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. DISPENSATIONALISM
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. Three of these dispensations – the law, the church, and the kingdom – are the subjects of detailed revelation in Scripture.
(Gen. 1:28; 1 Cor. 9:17; 2 Cor. 3:9-18; Gal. 3:13-25; Eph.
1:10; 3:2-10; Col. 1:24-25, 27; 2 Tim. 2:15; Rev. 20:2-6)
I. SALVATION
We believe that salvation is the gift of God brought to man by grace and received by personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, Whose precious blood was shed on Calvary in order to forgive our sins. We believe that all sins, except the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit, are forgivable.
(Matt.12:31-32; John 1:12; Eph. 1:7; 2:8-10; 1 Pet. 1:18-19; 1 John1:9)
J. 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 is 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
K. SANCTIFICATION
We believe that sanctification is the process by which, according to the will, of God, we are made partakers of His holiness; that it is a progressive work; that it is begun in regeneration; and that it is carried on in the hearts of believers by the presence and power of the Holy Spirit, the Sealer and Comforter, in the continual use of the appointed means – especially the word of God, self-examination, self-denial, watchfulness, and prayer.
I Thessalonians 4:3; 1 John 2:29.
L. SEPARATION
We believe the believer should be separated from the world while being present in the world; that he should abstain from all appearances of evil as a testimony to the saving grace of our Lord Jesus Christ; that the local church should maintain a position of separation from all forms of apostasy, modernism, ecumenism and any other departure from the written principles of the word of God. We believe that II Corinthians 6:14-18 and II John verse 10 prohibits the joining together of believers with unbelievers in the Lord’s work, such as in ecumenical organizations or in cooperative evangelistic efforts. It shall continue to be free from any government outside of itself whatsoever, excepting legal requirements necessary to lawful operation not contrary to the nature of an independent Baptist church.
I Corinthians 10:20; I Thessalonians 5:22; II Timothy 2:15-18;
II Timothy 4:1-3; Titus 1:9-11; Titus 2:10-15.
M. THE RETURN OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST
We believe in Christ’s personal, imminent, pre-tribulation return for the church. This rapture removes the church before God’s wrath is poured out on the earth during the great tribulation. We also believe in the pre-millennial return of Christ after the tribulation to set up His 1000 year reign on earth.
John 14:1-3; Philippians 3:20; I Thessalonians 4:13-18.
N. DISPENSATIONS
We believe in the dispensational division of the Scriptures as a basis for study.
II Timothy 2:15.
O. THE LOCAL CHURCH
We believe that a visible church of Christ is a congregation of baptized believers, associated by covenant in the faith and the fellowship of the Gospel, observing the ordinances of Christ, governed by His laws, and exercising the gifts, rights and privileges invested in them by His word; that its only Scriptural officers are bishops or pastors and deacons, whose qualifications, claims, and duties are defined in the epistles to Timothy and to Titus. This church is an independent local autonomy, governed internally and responsible only to the Lord Jesus Christ. Its ministries include glorifying the Saviour, edifying the saints, and evangelizing the world for Christ.
Matthew 16:18; Matthew 28:19,20; Acts 2:47; Acts 14:23; Acts 20:28: Romans 16:5;
Ephesians 1:22; Ephesians 5:23; 1 Timothy 3.
P. 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 ultimate use of the tithe or offering once the gift has been made.
Genesis 14:20; Proverbs 3:9-10; Acts 4:34-37; 1 Corinthians 16:2;
II Corinthians 9:6-7; Galatians 6:6; Ephesians 4:28;
1 Timothy 5:17-18; 1 John 3:17.
Q. MISSIONS
We believe that God has given’ the Church a Great Commission to proclaim the Gospel to all nations so that there might be a great multitude from every nation, tribe, ethnic group, and language group who believe on the Lord Jesus Christ., As ambassadors of Christ we must use all available means to go to the foreign nations and not wait for them to come to us. Our ambassadorship must include an effort to win the lost locally as well. Matthew 28:19-20; Mark 16:15; Luke 24:46-48; John 20:2 ,1;
Acts 1: 8; II Corinthians 5:20.
R. 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, the Son, and Holy Ghost 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. We believe that the Lord’s Supper, in which the members of the church by the use of bread and new wine are to commemorate together the dying love of Christ, is to be preceded always with solemn self-examination.
Matthew 28:19; Acts 2:41,42; Acts 8:36-39; Romans 6:4,5; 1
Corinthians 11:26-28.
S. THE LORD’S DAY
We believe that the first day of the week is the Lord’s Day and is to be kept sacred to Biblical practices by abstaining from secular labor, except works of mercy and necessity, and is a day of spiritual activity to set the pace for the rest of the week.
Psalm 118:24; Acts 20:7; Hebrews 10:24,25.
T. 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, as set forth in His word, who is the only Lord of the kings of the earth.
Matthew 22:21; Matthew 23:9,10; Acts 5:28,29;
Romans 13:1-7.
U. 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; that all such as continue in impenitence and unbelief are in His sight wicked and under the curse; and that this distinction holds among men both in and after death and throughout all eternity.
Malachi 3:18; Luke 16; 19-3 1; John
3:14-21,36; Romans 1: 17,18; 1 John 5:19.
We believe the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testament to be the verbally and plenarily inspired words of God. The Scriptures are inerrant, infallible and God-breathed and, therefore, are the final authority for faith and life. The sixty-six books of the Old and New Testament are the complete and divine revelation of God to man. The Scriptures shall be interpreted according to their normal grammatical-historical meaning, and all issues of interpretation and meaning shall be determined by the pastor. The King James Version of the Bible shall be the official and only English Bible used and believed by the church. 2 Tim. 3:16-17; 2 Pet. 1:20-21; Psalm 12:6,7: 119:89; Isaiah 8:20; I Thessalonians 2:13; 5:21; II Timothy 3:15,16.
B. 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; that He is 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 Spirit – equal in every divine perfection and executing distinct but harmonious offices in the great work of redemption.
Exodus 15: 11; Psalm 83:18; Matthew 28:19; Mark 12:30; John 1: 1-3; John 4:24; John 10: 30; Ephesians 2:18; 1 John 5:7.
C. THE LORD 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; 2 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; Eph. 1:7; 1 Pet. 2:24; 1 Pet. 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; Rom. 8:34; Heb. 9:24; 7:25; 1 John 2:1-2)
D. THE HOLY SPIRIT
We believe in the Holy Spirit of God; co-equal with God, He is a person, the third member of the Trinity. His present ministries include magnifying the Lord Jesus Christ, convincing the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment, comforting and teaching believers, and edifying the Body of Christ. The present-day charismatic movement is a dangerous counterfeit of the real ministries of the Holy Spirit, and we of Bible Baptist Church are totally opposed to it.
John 16:7-14; Acts 5:1-4.
E. SATAN
We believe that Satan was once holy, and enjoyed heaven; 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. 1 9:11, 16, 20; Rev. 12:7-9; Rev. 20:10; Matt. 25 :41
F. MAN
We believe that man was created in the image of God, that he sinned and thereby incurred spiritual and physical death. We believe that without exception all men are sinners and have need of the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ.
Genesis 1:26; Genesis 2:7; Romans 5:12-18; 1 Corinthians.
G. 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. DISPENSATIONALISM
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. Three of these dispensations – the law, the church, and the kingdom – are the subjects of detailed revelation in Scripture.
(Gen. 1:28; 1 Cor. 9:17; 2 Cor. 3:9-18; Gal. 3:13-25; Eph.
1:10; 3:2-10; Col. 1:24-25, 27; 2 Tim. 2:15; Rev. 20:2-6)
I. SALVATION
We believe that salvation is the gift of God brought to man by grace and received by personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, Whose precious blood was shed on Calvary in order to forgive our sins. We believe that all sins, except the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit, are forgivable.
(Matt.12:31-32; John 1:12; Eph. 1:7; 2:8-10; 1 Pet. 1:18-19; 1 John1:9)
J. 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 is 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
K. SANCTIFICATION
We believe that sanctification is the process by which, according to the will, of God, we are made partakers of His holiness; that it is a progressive work; that it is begun in regeneration; and that it is carried on in the hearts of believers by the presence and power of the Holy Spirit, the Sealer and Comforter, in the continual use of the appointed means – especially the word of God, self-examination, self-denial, watchfulness, and prayer.
I Thessalonians 4:3; 1 John 2:29.
L. SEPARATION
We believe the believer should be separated from the world while being present in the world; that he should abstain from all appearances of evil as a testimony to the saving grace of our Lord Jesus Christ; that the local church should maintain a position of separation from all forms of apostasy, modernism, ecumenism and any other departure from the written principles of the word of God. We believe that II Corinthians 6:14-18 and II John verse 10 prohibits the joining together of believers with unbelievers in the Lord’s work, such as in ecumenical organizations or in cooperative evangelistic efforts. It shall continue to be free from any government outside of itself whatsoever, excepting legal requirements necessary to lawful operation not contrary to the nature of an independent Baptist church.
I Corinthians 10:20; I Thessalonians 5:22; II Timothy 2:15-18;
II Timothy 4:1-3; Titus 1:9-11; Titus 2:10-15.
M. THE RETURN OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST
We believe in Christ’s personal, imminent, pre-tribulation return for the church. This rapture removes the church before God’s wrath is poured out on the earth during the great tribulation. We also believe in the pre-millennial return of Christ after the tribulation to set up His 1000 year reign on earth.
John 14:1-3; Philippians 3:20; I Thessalonians 4:13-18.
N. DISPENSATIONS
We believe in the dispensational division of the Scriptures as a basis for study.
II Timothy 2:15.
O. THE LOCAL CHURCH
We believe that a visible church of Christ is a congregation of baptized believers, associated by covenant in the faith and the fellowship of the Gospel, observing the ordinances of Christ, governed by His laws, and exercising the gifts, rights and privileges invested in them by His word; that its only Scriptural officers are bishops or pastors and deacons, whose qualifications, claims, and duties are defined in the epistles to Timothy and to Titus. This church is an independent local autonomy, governed internally and responsible only to the Lord Jesus Christ. Its ministries include glorifying the Saviour, edifying the saints, and evangelizing the world for Christ.
Matthew 16:18; Matthew 28:19,20; Acts 2:47; Acts 14:23; Acts 20:28: Romans 16:5;
Ephesians 1:22; Ephesians 5:23; 1 Timothy 3.
P. 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 ultimate use of the tithe or offering once the gift has been made.
Genesis 14:20; Proverbs 3:9-10; Acts 4:34-37; 1 Corinthians 16:2;
II Corinthians 9:6-7; Galatians 6:6; Ephesians 4:28;
1 Timothy 5:17-18; 1 John 3:17.
Q. MISSIONS
We believe that God has given’ the Church a Great Commission to proclaim the Gospel to all nations so that there might be a great multitude from every nation, tribe, ethnic group, and language group who believe on the Lord Jesus Christ., As ambassadors of Christ we must use all available means to go to the foreign nations and not wait for them to come to us. Our ambassadorship must include an effort to win the lost locally as well. Matthew 28:19-20; Mark 16:15; Luke 24:46-48; John 20:2 ,1;
Acts 1: 8; II Corinthians 5:20.
R. 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, the Son, and Holy Ghost 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. We believe that the Lord’s Supper, in which the members of the church by the use of bread and new wine are to commemorate together the dying love of Christ, is to be preceded always with solemn self-examination.
Matthew 28:19; Acts 2:41,42; Acts 8:36-39; Romans 6:4,5; 1
Corinthians 11:26-28.
S. THE LORD’S DAY
We believe that the first day of the week is the Lord’s Day and is to be kept sacred to Biblical practices by abstaining from secular labor, except works of mercy and necessity, and is a day of spiritual activity to set the pace for the rest of the week.
Psalm 118:24; Acts 20:7; Hebrews 10:24,25.
T. 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, as set forth in His word, who is the only Lord of the kings of the earth.
Matthew 22:21; Matthew 23:9,10; Acts 5:28,29;
Romans 13:1-7.
U. 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; that all such as continue in impenitence and unbelief are in His sight wicked and under the curse; and that this distinction holds among men both in and after death and throughout all eternity.
Malachi 3:18; Luke 16; 19-3 1; John
3:14-21,36; Romans 1: 17,18; 1 John 5:19.