Statement of Faith
A printed Doctrinal Statement will only tell you what we "say" we believe. This Statement of Faith will do just that. This is not all that we claim to believe, but it is the basis and foundation for the many other Biblical areas of belief and practice to which we desire to be faithful.
Many ministries of this day and time are hesitant to put in print what they really believe for fear of scaring someone away. Our purpose in printing this statement is just the opposite. Our goal is to let seeking souls know exactly what we believe, teach and preach. We believe that if a person is saved, has the Holy Spirit sealed in them, and desires to "...know of the doctrine, whether it be of God," (John 7:17) that they will be drawn to the truth.
The Bible
We believe that all 66 books from Genesis to Revelation, and no others, to be the inspired, only infallible, authoritative Word of God.
II Timothy 3:16-17 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.
Psalms 12: 6-7 The words of the Lord are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. Thou shalt keep them, O Lord, thou shalt preserve them from this generation forever.
God
We believe that God is three distinct persons, yet one in the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. God has always been in existence in and of Himself.
Psalms 90:2 Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hast formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God.
Matthew 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.
Isaiah 44:6-8 ... I am the first, and I am the last, and beside me there is no God... Is there a God beside me? yea, there is no God; I know not any.
The Deity of Christ
We believe that Jesus Christ is God. We believe in His virgin birth; in His sinless life; in His miracles; in His vicarious and atoning death for all mankind; in His shed blood; in His bodily resurrection; in His ascension to the Father's right hand; in His personal, Pre-tribulation return for His saints at the Rapture, and His personal, Pre-millennial return with His saints at His second coming.
Isaiah 9:6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counseller, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
Matthew 28:18 All power is given unto me in heaven and earth.
Revelation 1:8 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.
Revelation 1:18 I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.
The Shed Blood of Jesus
The blood of Jesus Christ is under attack more than ever today. Many seem to think that His blood has little importance in our salvation, but we firmly believe in the power and the absolute necessity of the blood of Jesus Christ being shed for our sins! It is not just His death that covers our sin, but His precious blood!
Hebrews 9:22 And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.
Ephesians 1:7 In whom we have redemption through his blood the forgiveness of sins...
Colossians 1:14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins.
I Peter 1:18-19 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold...: But with the precious blood of Christ.
His Bodily Resurrection
We believe that Jesus rose from the grave after three days, in an actual body.
Matthew 20:19... and the third day he shall rise again.
Matthew 26:32 But after I have risen again...
John 2:19-22 ... destroy this temple, and in three days I will rise it up, But he spake of the temple of his body.
Acts 10:40 Him God raised up the third day, and shewed him openly.
His Second Coming for His Saints
We believe that Jesus will call true believers to heaven at the word of the Father. At that point in time the second coming will begin to take place. The rapture (to transport from one place to another, to snatch away, or out) will be before the 7-year tribulation period. This is know as Pre-Tribulation, Pre-Millennial doctrine.
I Thessalonians 4:15-17 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent [go before] them which are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
I Corinthians 15:51-53 Behold, I shew you a mystery: we shall not all sleep, [die] but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruptible, and this mortal must put on immortality.
The Humanity of Christ
We believe that Jesus Christ was and is 100% God, yet is also 100% Man. He is the pre-existent one, yet came in flesh to be the perfect substitute that was necessary to atone for the sin of man. We believe that as a man Jesus Christ did not sin, nor could He have sinned. We believe that He took on the form of a man in order to relate to us in a very personal way.
I Timothy 3:16 And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.
I Timothy 2:5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;..
I John 3:5 And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin.
The Holy Spirit
We believe that the Holy Spirit is an actual person of the Trinity. He is not just an influence. We believe that he has a ministry at the present time of convicting the sinner, regenerating all who believe in Christ for salvation. He indwells, seals, instructs, reproves and guides the believer. He fills and controls every life that is yielded to him.
John 14:16-18 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another comforter, that he [Holy Spirit] may abide with you forever; Even the Spirit of Truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.
Ephesians 1:13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,
John 3:3-5 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, be cannot see the kingdom of God. Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can be enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born. Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water [physical birth] and of the Spirit, [regeneration] he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
Salvation
We believe salvation is a free gift from God. It is offered to all men by His grace, (unmerited favor) and received through repentence and personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.
We believe that salvation is offered to any sinner who believes in Jesus Christ by faith and faith alone.
Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life...
Ephesians 2:8-9 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.
Titus 3:5-7 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; That being justified by his grace we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
II Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
John 3:16 For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Salvation from Jesus is Eternal
We believe that once a person truly repents, believes and is saved, that person can never lose the salvation that Jesus gave as a gift.
Romans 6:23 But the gift of God is eternal life...
John 10:27-28 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish...
Baptism
We believe in water baptism by immersion for believers only after salvation. This is only to be to be administered by a local New Testament Church. This word "baptize" is a transliterated word from the Greek word "baptizo." By its only usage the word means, "to immerse," never to sprinkle.
Baptism is to be by Emersion in Water.
Matthew 3:16-17 And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him:
Note: The Lord Jesus has now set us an example as to the mode of baptism. He gives us no other means than that which He Himself practiced.
Acts 8:36-38 And as they went on their way, they came unto certain water: and the eunuch said, see, here is water: what doth hinder me to be baptized? And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. And he commanded the chariot to be still: and they went down both in to the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.
Separation from the World
We believe that a born again believer has a Biblical responsibility to the Lord to be different in their manner of life then that of the rest of the world in their attitude, actions, and appearance. While we are not to present ourselves as pharisaical in dealing with those who do not know or understand, we are to present ourselves as a holy and peculiar people before the eyes of The God who saved us from the penalty of the sin in which we used to live.
Romans 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
Romans 8:29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.
II Corinthians 6:14-17 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,
I Corinthians 6:19-20 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.
Secondary or Ecclesiastical Separation
We believe that as a New Testament Church we must not join in with organizations of this world or with churches that do not hold true to New Testament Doctrine as was once given to the saints.
Romans 16:17-18 Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.
I Timothy 1:3-6...that thou mightest charge some that they teach no other doctrine, Neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questions, rather than godly edifying which is in faith: so do. Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned: From which some having swerved have turned aside unto vain jangling;
II Timothy 4:2-4 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.
II John 10-11 If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.
Jude 3-4 Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints. For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.
Acts 2:42 And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine
The Resurrections
We believe in the bodily resurrection of all those who have been saved unto "eternal life." All those who reject salvation will resurrect to the judgment at the Great White Throne and sentenced to everlasting damnation and torment in the Lake of fire.
The First Resurrection to Life - This is the resurrection of all the saved.
Revelation 20:6 Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.
John 5:28-29 Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in graves shall bear his voice, and shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life: and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.
The Second Resurrection - This is the resurrection and judgment of the unsaved that have not trusted in Jesus.
John 5:29 ... and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.
Revelation 20:5 But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years [millennial reign] were finished.
Revelation 20:11-13 And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God, and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.
The Family of God
We believe that every person who is truly born again becomes a member of the Family of God the moment they by faith trust and ask Jesus to save them from the penalty of their sin. We believe that of these saved individuals must then be Scripturally Baptized in deep water by a Biblically sound New Testament Church in order to become a member of a New Testament Church. We do not believe in a "universal church."
John 1:12-13 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. Ephesians 3:14-15 For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named,..
The Church
We believe in the Local Bible Believing Baptist Church. This Church will be identified by its doctrine. Unfortunately in our modern age, just because a church carries the name Baptist, does not make it a New Testament Church. We believe that a Church ought to be in doctrine, practice and belief structure, a Biblical Baptist Church.
Matthew 16:18 And I say also unto thee, that thou art Peter, [small stone] and upon this rock [cornerstone] I will build my church; and the gates of bell shall not prevail against it.
I Timothy 3:14-15 These things write I unto thee, hoping to come unto thee shortly: But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know bow thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.
We believe that the Church that Jesus said he would build is a Local New Testament Assembly of called-out (saved and baptized) believers who have united together for the sole purpose of carrying out the Great Commission. We believe this command was first given to His Church, and is to be obeyed by the "members in particular" (I Cor. 12:27) of each New Testament Church. This Church is to be in a physical, local area. It is to hold to the "faith that was once delivered unto the saints" (Jude 1:3)
Each Church has only Two Scriptural Offices
1. Pastor (elder, bishop, and overseer).
2. Deacons (servants).
Each Church has only Two Scriptural Ordinances
1. Baptism - By emersion in water for believers only.
2. The Lord's Supper - a memorial, not a sacrament.
Church Membership
We believe that members of a Local New Testament Church shall be a man, woman, or child who has a clear testimony of salvation in accordance with the Scriptures, and after salvation, be baptized in deep water under the authority of a Biblical New Testament Church.
I Corinthians 12:12-14 For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body being many, are one body: so also is Christ. For by one Spirit we are all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. For the body is not one member but many.
I Corinthians 12:27 Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.
Colossians 1:24 Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body's sake, which is the church:
Ephesians 1:22-23 And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.