What We Believe

STATEMENT OF FAITH

SECTION 1 -- The Foundational Doctrines and Basis of Polity for This Church:

I. 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.

A. By the “Holy Bible” we mean: that collection of sixty-six books, from Genesis to Revelation, which was originally written, not only contains and conveys the Word of God, but is the very Word of God.

B. By “inspiration” we mean: 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 free from error; as no other writings ever have or ever will be inspired.

C. The interpretation of the Holy Bible (the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments) is to be according to normal grammatical - historical meaning. 

II Timothy 3:16-17; II Peter 1:19-21; Acts 1:16; Psalm 119:160; Psalm 119:105; Psalm 119:130; Luke 24:25, 27; John 17:17; Luke 24:44-45; Psalm 119:89; Proverbs 30:5- 6; Romans 3:4; 1 Peter 1:23; Revelation 22:19; John 12:48; Isaiah 8:20; Ephesians 6:17; Romans 15:4; Luke 16:31; Psalm 19:7-11; John 5:45-57; John 5:3

II. THE TRUE GOD

We believe that there is one, and only one, living and true God, and infinite, intelligent Spirit, the Maker and Supreme Ruler of Heaven and Earth; inexpressibly glorious in holiness and worthy of 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 and harmonious offices in the great work of redemption. 

Exodus 20: 2-3; Genesis 17:1; I Corinthians 8:6; Ephesians 4:6; John 4: 24; Psalm 147:5; Psalm 83:18; Psalm 90: 3; Jeremiah 10:10; Exodus 15:11; Revelation 4:11;  I Timothy 1:17; Romans 11:33; Mark 12:30; Matthew 28:19; John 15:26; I Corinthians 12:4-6; I John 5:7; John 10:30; John 17:5; I Corinthians 2:10-11; Philippians 2:5-6; Ephesians 2:18;  II Corinthians 13:14

III. THE PERSON AND WORK OF CHRIST 

We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God, became a 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 to and redeem man from sin. He accomplished our Redemption through His death on the cross as a representative, vicarious, substitutionary sacrifice; and that our Justification before God is made sure by His Literal, Physical Resurrection from the dead. We further 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.

Isaiah 7: 14, 9:6; Luke 1:35; John 1:1-2; II Corinthians 5:19-21; Galatians 4:4-5; Philippians 2:5-8; Acts 2:18-36; Romans 3:24-25; I Peter 2:24; Ephesians 1:7; I Peter 1:3-5; Acts 1:9-10; Hebrews 9:24, 7:25; Romans 8:34; 1 John 2:1-2

IV. THE VIRGIN BIRTH

We believe that Jesus was begotten of the Holy Ghost; in a miraculous manner; born of Mary, a virgin, as no other man ever was or can ever be born of a woman; and that He is both the Son of God, and God the Son.

Genesis 3:15; Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:18-25; Luke 1:35; Mark 1:1; John 1:14; Psalm 2:7; Galatians 4:4; 1 John 5:20; I Corinthians 15:47

V. 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 He was active in the creation; 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 judgment, and righteousness; that He bears witness of the Gospel in preaching and testimony, that He is the agent in the New Birth; that He seal, endues with Spiritual gifts, guides, teaches, witnesses, sanctifies, and helps the believer.

We further believe that the sign gifts of the Holy Spirit, such as speaking in tongues and the gifts of healing, were temporary; that speaking in tongues was never the common or necessary sign of the baptism or filling of the Holy Spirit, and that Ultimate deliverance of the body from sickness or death awaits the consummation of our salvation in the Resurrection, though God frequently chooses to answer the prayer of believers for physical healing.

John 14:16-17; Matthew 28:19; Hebrews 9:14; John 14:26; Luke 1:35; II Thessalonians 2:7; Genesis 1:1-3; John 16:8-11; John 15:26-27; Acts 5:30-32;  John 3:5-6; Ephesians 1:13-14; Matthew 3:11; Mark 1:8; Luke 3:16; John 1:33; Acts 11:16; Luke 24:49; Romans 8:14; Romans 8:16; John 16:13; 11 Thessalonians 2:13; 1 Peter 1:2; Romans 8:26-27;  1 Corinthians 1:22, 13:8, 14:21-22

VI. CREATION

We believe in the Genesis account of creation, and that it is to be accepted literally, not allegorically or figuratively; that man was created 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 indeterminable periods of time from lower to higher forms; that all animal and vegetable life was made; directly and that God's established law was that they should bring forth only “after his kind.”

Genesis 1:1; Exodus 20:11; Acts 4:24; Colossians 1:16-17; Hebrews 11:3; John 1:3; Revelation 10:6; Romans 1:20; Acts 17:23-26; Jeremiah 9:6; Genesis 1:26-27; Genesis 2:21-23; Genesis 1:11; Genesis 1:24

VII. THE DEVIL, OR SATAN

We believe that Satan was once holy and enjoyed heavenly honors; but through pride and ambition to be as the Almighty, fell and drew after him a host of the 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 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 and eternal justice in the Lake of Fire, burning with brimstone, a place prepared for him and his angels by God.

Isaiah 14:14-15; Ezekiel 28:14-17; Revelation 12:9; Jude 6; 11 Peter 2:4; Ephesians 2:2; John 14:30; 

1 Thessalonians 3:5; Matthew 4:1-3; 1 Peter 5:8; 1 John 3:8; Matthew 3:39; Luke 22:3-4; Mark 13:21; 11 Corinthians 11:13-15; Revelation 12:10; Revelation 13:13-14; 1 John 4:3; 11 John 7; 1 John 2:22; 11 Thessalonians 2:8-11;  Revelation 19:11, 16, 20; Revelation 12:7-9; Revelation 20:1-3; Revelation 20:10; Matthew 25:41

XIII. 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 sinners, not by constraint, but of choice, and therefore under just condemnation without defense or excuse.

Genesis 3:1-6; Genesis 3:24; Romans 5:12; Romans 5:19; Romans 3: 10-19; Ephesians 2:1-3; Romans 1:28; Galatians 3:22 

IX. THE ATONEMENT FOR SIN

We believe that the salvation of sinners is wholly of grace; though the mediatorial office of the Son of God, Who by appointment of the Father, freely took upon Himself our nature, yet without sin, that He 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 a voluntary substitution of Himself in the sinner’s place, the Just dying for the unjust, Jesus Christ the Lord, bearing our sins in His own body on the tree; that subsequently, having risen from the dead, He is now enthroned in Heaven and uniting in His wonderful person the tenderest sympathies with divine perfection, He is every way qualified to be a suitable, a compassionate, and an all-sufficient Savior. 

Ephesians 2:8; Acts 15:11; Romans 3:24; John 3:16; Matthew 18:11; Philippians 2:7; Hebrews 2:14; Isaiah 53:4-7; Romans 3:25; 1 John 4:10; 1 Corinthians 15:3; John 10:18; 11 Corinthians 5:21; Philippians 2:8; Galatians 1:4;  1 Peter 3:18; Isaiah 53:11; Hebrews 12:2; Isaiah 53:12; Hebrews 9:12-15; 1 John 2:2; Hebrews 7:25

X. THE RIGHTEOUS AND 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 death, in the everlasting felicity of the saved and the everlasting conscious suffering of the lost.

Malachi 3:18; Genesis 18:23; Romans 6:17-18; Proverbs 11:31; 1 Peter 1:18; Romans 1:17; 1 Corinthians 15:2; Acts 10:34-35; Romans 6:16; 1 John 5:19; Galatians 3:10; Romans 7:6; Romans 6:23; Proverbs 14:32; Luke 16:25; Matthew 25:34-41; John 8:21; Luke 9:26; John 12:25; Matthew 7:13-14

XI. THE FREEDOM 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 in which rejection involves him in an aggravated condemnation. 

1 Thessalonians 1:4; Colossians 3:12; 1 Peter 1:18; Romans 1:17; 1 Corinthians 15:2; Acts 10:34-35; 1 John 2:29;

Romans 6:16; 1 John 5:19; Galatians 3:10; Romans 7:6; Romans 6:23; Proverbs 14:32; Luke 16:25; Matthew 25:34-41; John 8:21; Luke 9:26; John 12:25; Matthew 7:13-14 

XII 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 Savior. 

Acts: 20:21; Mark 1:15; Acts 2:37-38; Luke 18:13; Romans 10:13; Psalm 51: 7; Isaiah 55:6-7; Luke 12:8;  Romans 10:9-11

XIII. 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 sin is made a partaker of the divine nature and instantaneously receives irrevocable 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; II Corinthians 5:17; Luke 5:27; 1 John 5:1; John 3:6-7; Acts 2:41; 11 Peter 1:4; Romans 6:23;  Ephesians 2:1; 11 Corinthians 5:19; Colossians 2:13; John 1:12-13; Galatians 5:22; Ephesians 5:9

XIV. 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; that it is bestowed not in consideration of any work of righteousness which we have done; but solely through faith in the blood sacrifice of Jesus Christ, the Righteous Redeemer, imputing His righteousness unto us. 

John 3:3; 11 Corinthians 5:17; Luke 5:27; 1 John 5:1; John 3:6-7; Acts 2:41; 11 Peter 1:4; Romans 6:23;  Ephesians 2:1; 11 Corinthians 5:19; Colossians 2:13; John 1:12-13; Galatians 5:22; Ephesians 5:9

XV. THE ETERNAL STATE

We believe in the bodily resurrection of all men, the saved to eternal life, and the unsaved to judgment and everlasting punishment.

1. We believe that the souls of the Redeemed are, at death, absent from the body and present with the Lord, where in conscious bliss they await the first Resurrection; when the spirit, soul and body are reunited, to be glorified forever with the Lord. 

2. We believe that the souls of unbelievers remain, after death, in conscious punishment and torment until the second Resurrection, when with soul and body reunited, they shall appear at the great White Throne Judgment, and shall be cast into the Lake of fire, not to be annihilated, but to suffer everlasting conscious punishment and torment.

Matthew 25:46; John 5: 28-29, 11:25-26; Revelation 20:5-6, 12-13; Luke 20:43; 11 Corinthians 5:8; Philippians 1:23, 3:21; 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17; Revelation 20:4-6; Matthew 25:41-46; Mark 9:43-48; Luke 16:19-26; 11 Thessalonians 1:7-9; Jude 6-7; Revelation 20:11-15

XVI. 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 is 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 invested 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 evangelize the World; Second, to baptize those who believe; Third, to teach and train them in the commandments of our Lord; 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 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 polity, of practice, of discipline, or of benevolence, the will of the local Church in accordance with Scripture is final. 

Acts 2:41-42; 1 Corinthians 11:2; Ephesians 1:22-23; Ephesians 4: 11; 1 Corinthians 12:4; 1 Corinthians 12:8-11; Acts 1

XVII. BAPTISM

We believe that Christian Baptism is the immersion in water, only of a believer, in the name of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: an act in obedience to God’s command, showing forth in a solemn and beautiful emblem, our faith in the Crucified, Buried, and Risen Savior, along with its effect in our Death To Sin and Resurrection To a New Life; that it is prerequisite to the privileges of Church membership and to participation in the observance of the Lord’s Supper (Communion). 

John 3:23; Matthew 3:6; Matthew 3:13-17; Matthew 28:19; Acts 8:36-39; Colossians 2:12; Romans 6:3-5;  Acts 2:41-42; Matthew 28:19-20 

XVIII. THE LORD’S SUPPER

The Lord’s Supper is a sacred act of remembrance instated by Christ Himself as He and His Twelve Disciples together celebrated the last Passover Meal (Supper), in the Upper room. This Ordinance of the Church, in which the members of the Church, by the sacred use of unleavened bread and juice of the fruit of the vine are to commemorate together the love of Christ, expressed by His willing death for us on the cross. As directed by Scripture, it is preceded always by instruction and by solemn self-examination.

Matthew 26:17-25; Matthew 26:26-30; Mark 14:22-26; Luke 22:7-20; 1 Corinthians 11:23-28 

XIX. CHRIST’S RESURRECTION, RETURN, AND RELATED EVENTS

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 was seen to go into heaven- bodily, personally, and visibly; that the “dead in Christ shall rise first,” that the living saints “ shall be changed in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump;” that the Lord God shall give unto Him the throne of His father David;” and that "Christ shall reign a thousand years in righteousness until He hath put all His enemies under His feet.”

Matthew 28:6-7; Luke 24:39; John 20:27; 1 Corinthians 15:4; Mark 16:6; Luke 24:2-7; Acts 1:9,11; Luke 24:51; Mark 16:19; Revelation 3:21; Hebrews 8:1; Hebrews 12:2; Hebrews 8:6; 1 Timothy 2:5; 1 John 2:1; Hebrews 2:17; Hebrews 5:9-10; John 14:3; 1 Thessalonians 4:16; Matthew 24:27; Matthew 24:42; Hebrews 9:28; 1 Corinthians 15:42-44, 15:51-53; 1 Thessalonians 4:17; Philippians 3:20-21; Luke 1:32; 1 Corinthians 15:25; Isaiah 11:4-5; Psalm 72:8; Revelation 20:1-4; Revelation 20:6 

XX. HEAVEN AND HELL

We believe in the literal interpretation of the Bible and therefore fully believe and teach the literal existence of both Heaven and Hell. Heaven being the abode of God, and containing the Host of Heaven, along with the saints of God. Hell being a temporary, but inescapable holding place that came into existence because of man’s sin, totally separated from the presence of God; a place of everlasting torment and punishment, reserved for those of mankind who are not Redeemed by faith and must suffer the punishment ordained by God for their sin; which God will cast, along with Death, Satan, and his angels, for whom it was created, into the final and eternal place of punishment: the Lake of Fire and Brimstone. 

Deuteronomy 4:39; Deuteronomy 26:15; 1 Kings 8:26; Psalm 11:4; Matthew 5:34; Matthew 22:30;  Revelation 19:1; Palm 9:17; Luke 16:19-31; 11 Peter 2:4; Revelation 20:11-14

XXI. CIVIL GOVERNMENT

We believe that God has ordained and created all authority consisting of three basic institutions: 

1) The Home

2) The church

3) The State

Every person is subject to these authorities, but all (including the authorities themselves) are answerable to God and governed by His Word. God has given each institution specific Biblical responsibilities with the understanding that no institution has the right to infringe upon the other. The home, the Church, and the state are equal and sovereign in their respective Biblically assigned sphere of responsibility under God. 

Romans 13:1-7; Ephesians 5:22-24; Hebrews 13:17; 1 Peter 2:13-14

CHURCH COVENANT

Having been led, as we believe, by the Spirit of God to receive the Lord Jesus Christ as our Savior, and on profession of faith, having been baptized by immersion, in the name of the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit, we do now in the presence of God, His holy angel and this assembly, most solemnly and joyfully enter into covenant with one another, as one body in Christ. 

We engage, therefore, by the aid of the Holy Spirit, to walk together in Christian love; to strive for the advancement of the church in knowledge, holiness, and comfort; to promote its prosperity and spirituality; to sustain its worship, ordinances, discipline, and doctrines; to contribute cheerfully and regularly to the support of the ministry, the expenses of the church, the relief of the poor, and the spreading of the Gospel through all nations. 

Further, we engage to maintain family and secret devotions; to educate our children spiritually; to seek the salvation of our kindred and acquaintances; to walk circumspectly in the world; to be just in our dealings, faithful in our engagements and exemplary in our deportment; to avoid all tattling, backbiting, and excessive anger; to abstain from the sale and use of intoxicating drink as a beverage; and to be zealous in our efforts to advance the Kingdom of Our Savior.

Further, we engage to watch over one another in brotherly love; to remember each other in prayer; to aid each other in sickness and distress; to cultivate Christian sympathy in feeling and courtesy in speech; to be slow to take offense, but always ready for reconciliations, and mindful of the rules of our Savior to secure it without delay. 

Finally, we engage that when we remove from this place, we will, as soon as possible, unite with some other church where we can carry out the spirit of this covenant and the principles of God’s Word.