From the Pastors Desk
We're Not Just Any Church
Standing on the Shoulders of Giants
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Hello, I’m Pastor Del Wray
Our church is an old fashioned, Bible believing, Independent, Fundamental, King James only, Baptist Church.
We simply believe the Bible, preach the Bible, teach the Bible, and by God’s grace obey the Bible.
We believe in doing things God’s way, that’s why we are Independent.
If you are looking for the Truth, you will find it in the Bible, ( KJV 1611 AV ) and at
Victory Bible Baptist Church
"...Thy Word is Truth." John 17:17
Dear Visitor,
Thank you again for visiting our site. "Not just any church or denomination" is a recent study which we at VBBC are going through on Sunday Morning. We thought it would be good to share this study with you. There are some who might say that it does not matter where you go to church or which religion you believe, because it's all the same God, only being reached in different ways. A quick look at the teachings will show that there is a difference - that all are not worshipping the same God. The Bible, being the only true judge of what is true, is therefore being used to prove what we believe about God, His desires and plans for man. If there is something that we hold to which is not in the Word of God, then we have no reason to hold to it.
We are historical Baptists not because it is a good denomination but because of the historical Baptist doctrine, the only one which is absolutely consistent with the revealed truth of God's Word. Hence our study. We will learn in this study, first of all why we are Baptist, and then why we are not another denomination. It is important for us to know and to convey why we are not Roman Catholics, Mormons, Jehovah's Witnesses, etc. It is not our intent to share this with any kind of malice. As Baptist, we are not against anybody choosing to worship God differently than ourselves, but to convey that there are differences, and to show from the Word of God, how the Heavenly Father wants man to approach the subject of God. This study is meant to be a defense of the true faith that was once delivered to the saints, and to reveal some of the common errors which have since crept in (Jude 1:3-4).
May God bless you and please read further closing section of this page!
Del Wray, Pastor Victory Bible Baptist Church
Is there anyway I can help you? If you need counseling free of charge of course or if you would like a visit, or if you just want further information about Victory Bible Baptist Church
Greetings in the name of our wonderful Saviour and the only true and living God.
who has so graciously blessed us with the greatest of all gifts His Holy Word., The King James Bible
Conscience in man says "Thou shalt! Thou shalt not! I ought! I ought not!" These mandates are not self-imposed. They imply the existence of a Moral Governor to whom we are responsible. Conscience,--there it is in the breast of man, an ideal Moses thundering from an invisible Sinai the Law of a holy Judge. Were it not for the voice speaking so clearly in my conscience and my heart, I should be an atheist, or a pantheist, when I looked into the world. Some things are wrong, others right, love is right, hatred is wrong. Nor is a thing right because it pleases or wrong because it displeases. Where did we get this standard of right and wrong Morality is obligatory, not optional. Who made it obligatory? Who has a right to command my life? We must believe that there is a God, or believe that the very root of our nature is a lie. That being so, we publish this web site, declaring the truth of the Word of God
and exposing falsehood by the light and plumb line of only one book, the King James Bible.
This domain is designed to reinforce biblical truth and stores resources, free for christians and preachers alike, who bear the soul saving testimony of Jesus Christ. Originality is not claimed for these materials and sermon outlines. It would be impossible to give every man credit for every thought, for no matter what you have thought or said, some other man of God in the past or even today has said, written, or thought whatever you may think you are originating. May these sermons and material prove to be a blessing to you and to your ministries as we serve our blessed and wonderful Lord. I am going to seek to provide for you some of the best materials, as well as sermon helps from some of the greatest men of God with which I am acquainted. Remember, these are just men and their sermon material. It will take the Lord burning these truths into your heart to make them come alive as real life changing facts. Jeremiah the prophet said. "But his word was in mine heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I was weary with forbearing, and I could not stay." Jeremiah
If you enjoy this website, send us an e-mail and let us know where you are from and something about yourself. The material on this site is for personal use not for financial gain. Feel free to use this material to spread the Word of God.
The Bereans heard Paul and Silas preaching in the synagogue, and they were commended for listening and searching the scripture as to whether or not the things that they had heard were true Acts 17:10-11 With that in mind, there are many things that Christians do that don’t always line up with the Bible. It is the responsibility of every Christian to see if what they are doing is glorifying to God, so if a Christian who is honestly mistaken hears the truth, they will either quit being mistaken or cease to be honest. Since most Christians react with hostility to information that contradicts what they know to be true. It is our hope that you would re-examine your assumptions of truth through the clear lens of a sincere Biblical analysis. One of the most wonderful aspects of the Good News is the fact that, "God is not mocked for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap." Galatians 6 The truth is, the Strong Delusion the LORD promised he would bring is closely related to the lies that have been told and God warned them that I will choose their delusion Isaiah 66:4 because they received not the love of the truth. 2 Thessalonians 2:11-12
" When a man who is honestly mistaken hears the truth, he will either quit being mistaken or cease to be honest." That said, you will find a list of cults, false religions and false teachers on this site. I do not propose to publish the entire list. My purpose is to admonish truth seekers and exhort God's people to desire decernment and knowledge, in obedience to the Word of God. For all willl give an account! I’m not saying that these are bad people or that I hate them, I do not. On the contrary I love them in the name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ and hope by exposing their error to win them over to the saving knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ and Him alone. These folks, do much good in society helping people, and I’m not denying that. I do deny that they are leading people to the truth and to Jesus Christ alone for salvation. I respect all of these people and they each certainly have a right to their own beliefs and religions. And, I certainly would not raise my hand against any of those persons. As all of these religious sects and their forefathers have done, martyring and murdering millions of my Bible believing ancestors. Yet at the same time I have a right as a child of God to warn others against false teachers and false religions. In fact, I have been commanded to do so from the Word of God. Much harm has been brought upon the true church of Jesus Christ by their counterfeit traditions and false religious teachings. As Jesus Christ warned us, we are now living in the last days of the church age, the dispensation named in the Bible as the Age of Grace. Awaiting the rapture and soon return of our Saviour Jesus Christ. Just before the world is thrown into the Great Tribulation under a one world dictator, the Antichrist. A time of suffering never before known to mankind, when over two-thirds of the people on earth will lose their lives. Closing with the Battle of Armageddon and Christ reigning as King of Kings over planet earth. Rev. 21
GOD’S SIMPLE PLAN OF SALVATION by Ford Porter
Disclaimer:
Some of the resources in the categories below are local to this server and have been carefully reviewed before posting. Other resources include links to www sites which may or may not be entirely consistent with the Doctrinal Statement (i.e., Bible Versions, Biblical Separation, Creation, etc.) for this page. They are provided for your reference and individual consideration. In all things, Pastor Del Wray
Some of the resources in the categories below are local to this server and have been carefully reviewed before posting. Other resources include links to www sites which may or may not be entirely consistent with the Doctrinal Statement (i.e., Bible Versions, Biblical Separation, Creation, etc.) for this page. They are provided for your reference and individual consideration. In all things, Pastor Del Wray
Click to go to
Resting in His Righteousness
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The Bible makes me what I am and that's a Baptist!
Hope these articles are a help to someone.
Great book, highly recommend:
"We see many Baptists, so-called Baptists, in our day of compromise,
saying the name Baptist is not important.
If it’s not, why is our history full of Baptists? If it’s not important, why did God call John,
“The Baptist”?
Take away the name Baptist, and you take away history.
Multitudes died because they were Baptist, not members of some no-name church.
The name Baptist tells the world who we are and what we believe.
If there was ever a time that Baptists needed to know their history,
or where they came from, it's today.
Secular history would have us believe we came out of the Reformation. Sad!
To say the average Baptist is ignorant concerning our heritage,
would be an understatement.
In the words of the prophet Jeremiah—"
Our Articles of Faith
We believe the entire Bible! Even the scriptures where the Devil lies, down to each jot and title!
1. God
We believe that there is one, and only one, true and living God; that He is absolute in nature, perfect in attributes, holy in character, the maker and supreme ruler of heaven and earth; that He is infinite in wisdom, marvelous in power, and amazing in love; that He is holy, righteous, and true, worthy of all confidence and love; that He unites in Himself the infinite, the eternal, and the Almighty Three – God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit; that the three persons of the Godhead subsist in the same divine nature, essence and being; and that they are co-existent and co-equal in every divine attribute, each one executing distinct but harmonious offices in the great work of redemption.
Gen. 1:1; Deut. 4:39; Mark 12:29; Gen. 17:1; Matt. 5:48; Isa. 6:3; 1Chronicles 29:11-12; Psalms 103:19; Rom. 11:33-34; Matt. 19:26; Psalms 19:9; Matt. 28:19; 1Peter 1:2-3; 1John 5:7; Ex. 3:14; Gen. 1:26; Titus 3:3-7.
2. The Divine Trinity
A. God the Father: We believe that God the Father is the first person set forth in the Divine Trinity; that He is almighty, merciful, and just; that He is holy, righteous, and true; that He is eternally existent, glorious in nature, possessing the attributes of omnipotence, omniscience, and omnipresence; and that He, in harmony with His divine office, loves, provides, and protects, thus exercising providential watchcare over the sons of men, and especially a fatherly care over the children of God.
Matt. 28:19; Gen. 17:1; Matt. 19:26; Psalms 19:9; Isaiah 19:23; Psalms 100:5; Proverbs 15:3; Psalms 139:1-4; Psalms 103:13; Matt. 6:25-28; Matt. 10:29-31; Matt. 7:11.
B. God the Son: Virgin Born: We believe that god the Son is the second person set forth in the Divine Trinity; that He is Very God of Very God; that He is almighty, merciful, and just; that He is holy, righteous, and true; that He is eternally existent, glorious in nature, possessing the attributes of omnipotence, omniscience, and omnipresence; that God the Father, through the Holy Spirit, is actually and eternally His divine father, and Mary the Virgin is actually and innocently His human mother; and that He, in harmony with His divine office, mediates, seeks, and saves, thus exercising the mediatorial office of redemption.
Matt. 28:19; John 1:1-3; Isa. 9:6; Matt. 28:18; Titus 3:5-6; John 8:15-16; II Cor. 5:21; Heb. 13:8; Phil. 2:6; John 2:24; Matt. 28:20; Luke 1:35; Luke 2:7-14; I Tim. 2:5-6; Luke 19:10; John 3:16.
C. God the Holy Spirit: We believe that God the Holy Spirit is the third person set forth in the Divine Trinity: that He is almighty, merciful, and just; that He is holy, righteous, and true; that He is eternally existent, glorious in nature, possessing the attributes of omnipotence, omniscience, and omnipresence; that He restrains the world, the flesh and the devil; that He witnesses to the Truth, convicts the lost, extols the Christ, and testifies to the righteous judgments of God; that He, in harmony with His divine office, comforts, teaches, testifies, preaches, guides; regenerates, empowers, sanctifies, and anoints, thus exercising the quickening role in the works of saving the lost and the supervising role in the life of the saved.
John 14:16-17 and John 14:26; John 15:26; John 16:7-10; Hebrews 9:14; 1Peter4:14; Isaiah 40:14-15; 1Cor. 2:10-12; Psalms 139:7-10; 2Thess. 2:6-7, John 3:6; Eph. 1:13-14; Acts 1:8; 1Peter 1:2; Isa. 61:1.
3. The Devil
We believe that Satan is an actual being, and not an imaginary influence; that he once enjoyed high heavenly honors and glorious heavenly privileges; that he, through pride, ambition, and self-will attempted to betray the Almighty and brought down upon his head the judgment of God; that he operates today as the god of this world and the prince of the power of the air; that he is a diabolical inventor, and arch-deceiver, and the father of all lies; that he is the greatest enemy, the mightiest tempter, and the most relentless accuser of the saints; that he shall one day be incarnated in the person of the Anti-Christ and in that role will finally meet the Christ in the battle of Armageddon; that there "The seed of woman shall bruise the serpents' head;" and that he shall eventually be cast into the lake of fire, the eternal place of punishment, prepared for the devil and his angels.
Job 1:6-9; Ezek. 28:12-15; Isa. 14:12-15; Gen. 3:14; II Cor. 4:4; Eph. 2:2; Matt. 24:11; 2Thess. 2:7; John 8:44; 1Peter 5:8; Gen. 3:1-6; Rev. 12:10; Dan. 7:8; Rev. 19:20; Gen. 3:15; 2Cor. 11:13-15; John 14:30.
4. The Holy Bible
We believe that the Holy Bible is a supernatural Book; that it is the very God-breathed Word; that it is the full, the final, and the complete revelation of God's will to man; that it has God the Holy Spirit for its author, salvation for its end, and truth without any admixture of error for its matter; that it was written by holy men of old as they were moved by the Holy Spirit; that it is verbally inspired and a perfect treasure of holy instruction; and that it reveals the principles by which God will judge us, and is, therefore, the true center of Christian union, and the supreme standard by which all human conduct, creeds, and opinions shall be tried. We believe the Authorized King James Version of 1611 to be the preserved Word of God for the English speaking people, faithful and true to the original autographs; that other versions are inferior and flawed, with some being outright perversions of God's Word; that other versions are totally unnecessary, as the King James is not only faithful, but an absolutely effective conveyance of God's message to mankind.
Ps. 119:89; 2Tim. 3:16-17; Rev. 22:18-19; John 17:17; John 3:32-34; 2Peter 1:20-21; 1Peter 1:10-12; Zeph. 1:1; Psalms. 19:7-10; Ex. 20:3-6 and thru verse 17; Psalms. 1:2; John 12:48.
5. Creation
We believe that the Genesis record of creation is literal, and not allegorical or figurative; that God personally created the heaven and the earth in six literal days; that He miraculously brought forth all original matter out of nothing; that He actually fashioned all organic forms as specific creations subject to limited changes within the specie; that He definitely ordained each specie to bring forth after its kind; that He finally formed man out of the dust of the ground, not by any process of evolution but by instant action, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life and man became immediately a living soul; that He created man in the image and likeness of God; that His every creative act was complete and perfect in itself; and that not one of His creations was conditioned upon antecedent changes naturally wrought during interminable periods of time.
Gen. 1:1; John 1:1-3; John 1:14; Heb. 11:3; Gen. 1:21; Gen. 1:24-27; Gen. 2:7; Col. 1:16.
6. The Fall of Man We believe that man, originally created in holiness and actually associated with God in innocence under His law, did, by voluntary transgression of the Lord's command, fall from the high and happy state in which he was created, and as a consequence, became a sinner alienated from God and brought upon himself and all mankind just condemnation; and that he is now, by virtue of his fallen nature, utterly devoid of holiness, positively inclined to evil, and actually condemned to eternal ruin, without defense or excuse.
Gen. 1:26-27; Ecc. 7:29; Gen. 3:6; Gen. 3:23-24; Ezek. 18:4; Rom. 5:12; Rom. 1:21-24; Rom. 3:21-23 Rom. 3:14-17; Rev. 21:8.
7. The Blood Atonement
We believe that the lost sinner is guilty and already under just condemnation; that he is by nature alien to God and because of sin condemned to die; that atonement for sin was effected through the mediatorial office of the Son who by divine appointment, freely took upon Himself our nature, yet without sin; that He, through obedience during His earthly walk, personally honored the divine Law by keeping it, and, through His death on the cross, actually satisfied the penalty of the offended Law by suffering in the sinner's stead; that He, through His obedience and sacrificial death, made full and vicarious atonement for all sin; that He died, the just for the unjust, bearing our sins in His body on the tree; and that His blood shed on the cross of Calvary provides for eternal cleansing, for pardon, for peace and rest.
Isa. 53:6; Rom. 6:7; Rom. 8:23; I Tim. 2:5-6; Heb. 2:17; II Cor. 5:21 Matt. 5:17-18; I Pet. 2:24; Heb. 10:10-12; I Pet. 3:18; Rev. 1:5; Isa. 55:7;John 14:27; Matt. 11:28; I John 1:7; Eph. 1:7; Heb. 9:22.
8. Repentance and Faith
We believe that repentance and faith are solemn and inseparable prerequisites of salvation; that they are inseparable graces wrought in the heart by the quickening Holy Spirit; that the alien sinner, being deeply convicted of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment to come by the personal ministry of the Holy Spirit, and by Him having his understanding enlightened so that he can see the way of salvation through Christ, does actually repent, turning to God with unfeigned contrition, confession, and supplication, and does actually believe, surrendering himself wholeheartedly to the Lord Jesus, immediately receiving Him as personal and all-sufficient Saviour and openly confessing Him before all men.
Acts 20:21-22; Mark 1:15; Acts 11:18; Eph. 2:8; John 6:44; John 16:8-11; Matt. 3:1-2; Matt. 3:8; Acts 3:19; Luke 13:3; Luke 18:9-12; Acts 9:6; Rom. 10:10.
9. Salvation by Grace
We believe that grace is elective and saving; that it embraces the personal triune and redemptive ministry of God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; that it comprehends all of the labors put forth by the Almighty in the interest of perfect righteousness and the salvation of the lost soul; that it and it alone, saves even unto the uttermost all who repent toward God and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ; and that salvation thus wrought is wholly by grace, "The free gift of God." requiring neither culture nor works in any form to secure it or to keep it; that it is God's plan that those who are saved be "Holy and without blame before him in love;" that ALL who believe will receive the adoption, which is related to the redemption of the body (cf. Rom. 8:22-23), when all our inheritance based upon sonship is received; that predestination pertains to God's plan that we be conformed to the image of Christ; that we are to begin that process in this life, but God's sovereign purpose will be performed in perfection when all who have been saved are changed and are in the presence of Christ.
II Tim. 1:8-9; Eph. 2:8-9; Titus 3:3-7; I Pet. 1:2-5; Matt. 23:37; Rom. 8:28-30; Heb. 7:25; Acts 20:20-21; Rom. 6:23; Rom. 11:6; Rom. 5:20; Isa. 1:18; Isa. 55:1.
10. Regeneration
We believe that in order to be saved lost sinners must be regenerated, or born again; that regeneration is a recreative act, far beyond comprehension, wrought in the believer's heart by the direct personal ministry of the Holy Spirit; that it is instantaneous, miraculous, and not evolutionary or cultural; that it embraces the divine acts of cleansing the heart from all inward sins and of pardoning the soul of all outward guilt, in connection with the work of begetting a new creature in Christ Jesus; that the dead sinner is made to live through the new birth, becoming thereby a regenerated spirit, possessing eternal life, the gift of God; that the new birth comes after the Holy Spirit secures voluntary repentance and belief in the gospel; that it is the actual impartation of the divine life, not a mere transformation of the human life; and that the proper evidence of regeneration appears in the holy fruits of obedient followers of the Lord Jesus.
John 3:3-5; John 3:7; II Cor. 5:17; John 3:8; John 3:16; John 1:12-13; Isa. 1:18; Titus 3:5-7; Eph. 2:1, 5; Rom. 6:23; John 16:8-11; Matt. 7:16-18; James 2:17-20.
11. Justification
We believe that justification is one of the great gospel blessings secured through Christ for all who trust Him; that it is a legal and divine decree, declaring the believing sinner just; that it is thus a state of being free from condemnation, including forgiveness for inward sins and pardon from outward sins; that it secures through faith freedom from legal bondage, exemption from the wrath of God, and possession of peace which passes all understanding; that it is bestowed, not in consideration of any works of righteousness which we have done, but solely upon the evidence of faith in God and the Redeemer's blood; and that it brings us into a state of unchanging peace and favor with God and secures every other blessing needful for time and for eternity.
Rom. 3:24-25, Rom. 3:28; Rom. 8:33; Rom. 8:1; John 5:24; Rom. 4:3-6; Rom. 6:6; Rom. 5:9; Rom. 5:1; Phil. 4:7; Rom. 8:31-33; Gen. 15:6; Heb. 2:4.
12. Security of the Believer
We believe that salvation wrought by grace is everlasting; that the saved soul journeying through the valley of the shadow of death need fear no evil; that the Holy Spirit-begotten and born are kept by the power of God; that the believer in Christ Jesus shall not be brought into judgment; that no one can lay anything to the charge of God's elect; that they are securely held in both the hand of the Father and the Son; and that the age-old Baptist doctrine, "Once saved, always saved," is heavenly and gloriously true.
John 3:16; John 3:36; John 5:24; John 6:35, John 6:44; Ps. 23:4; Isa. 37:23-24; Phil. 1:6; 1Pet. 3:5; John 5:24; Rom. 8:1; John 10:27-29; Rom. 8:35-38; Rom. 8:39; II Tim. 1:12.
13. 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 a progressive work, begun in regeneration, and carried on in the life of every believer by the presence and the power 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.
1Thes. 4:3; 1Thess. 5:23; Rom. 15:16; Jer. 1:5; Prov. 4:18; John 17:17; 2Cor. 3:18; 1John 2:29; Rom. 8:5; 1Tim. 4:5; Luke 9:23; Matt. 24:42; Matt. 7:7-10.
14. The Resurrection
We believe that Christ Jesus arose bodily from the grave on the first day of the week, which day we now observe as the Lord's Day, a day of worship; that His miraculous emergence from the tomb forecasted a like bodily resurrection for every member of the Adamic race; that the dead in Christ, those of the first resurrection, shall be raised, and we which are alive and remain shall be changed and taken out of this world preceding the seven years of tribulation; that those who are of the Bride of Christ will be united to the Bridegroom at the marriage to be witnessed by the friends of the Bridegroom (John 3:29; Rev. 19:9) who will share in the marriage supper of the Lamb after being rewarded at the Judgment Seat of Christ, and await completion of the first resurrection as the dead Tribulation saints are rewarded at the close of the seven years; that all the saved will then rule and reign with Christ in His Millennial Kingdom; that the Bride of Christ is the local Baptist church; that those who are saved and not members of a local Baptist church will be present as "Friends of the Bridegroom;" that the dead in trespasses and sins, or the dead out of Christ, shall rise at the close of the Millennium; and that they shall be brought before the Great White Throne Judgment and there face the Judge of the quick and the dead.
Matt. 28:6; Luke 24:1-12; I Cor. 15:12-22; I Thes. 4:13-18; Rev. 20:5-6; Rev. 11:15; Dan. 12:3; 1Sam. 2:6; Isa. 26:19; Hosea 13:14; Isa. 25:6-8.
15. The Lord's Return
We believe that Christ Jesus is coming back again; that His return shall be personal, audible, visible, and bodily and that the saved shall be caught up together with Him in the clouds; that this return shall precede the tribulation and millennium; that He shall return to earth at the end of the tribulation; and He shall at that time turn the tables on Satan, take up the throne of David, put down all His enemies, rule with a rod of iron, triumph over sin, and give the world an example of righteous government during His thousand years of personal reign on earth.
Job 18:25-26; Isa. 9:6-7; Zech. 14:4; Mal. 4:2; Luke 1:31-33; Matt. 25:31-34; Rev. 19:11-14 thru Rev. 19:21; Acts 1:11; 1Thes. 4:16-17; Rev. 1:7; 2Pet. 3:10; Rev. 20:4-6; Rev. 19:20; Rev. 20:1-3, Rev. 20:10; Isa. 9:7; 1Cor. 15:25-27; Ps. 2:9; Rev. 12:5; Rev. 19:15; 1John 3:8; Ps. 72:1-4; thru Ps. 72:20.
16. The Righteous and the Wicked
We believe that there is a radical and essential difference between the righteous and the wicked. We believe the righteous are they who believe in Christ Jesus, are justified by faith, and sanctified by the Holy Spirit and the Word; that the righteous are heirs of God and joint-heirs with the Lord Jesus Christ; and that eternal life, the gift of God, is the matchless possession of the just. We believe that the wicked are they who do not believe in Christ Jesus, condemned because of unbelief and corrupted by the god of this world; that the unjust spurn the privileges of God's grace, choosing the life of sin and rebellion; and that eternal damnation is the inescapable portion of the unjust.
Mal. 3:16-18; John 3:6; Rom. 3:22; Rom. 3:24; Rom. 4:3; Rom. 1:17; Rom. 8:1-4 thru Rom. 8:17; Acts 20:32; John 15:3; Rom. 8:17; Rom. 6:23; 2Cor. 4:4; Rev. 21:8; Matt. 23:37;Prov. 29:1; Matt. 25:41.
17. The Local Church
We believe that a 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 New Testament Law; 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 co-operation; that it is the only ecclesiastical tribunal the Lord has on earth; that its judgment concerning membership, missions, benevolence, and support is final; that it was personally founded by Christ Jesus during His ministry on earth; that it is the only organization with authority to administer the Lord's Supper and Baptism; 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 even until now; that the local Church is the only body with authority to carry out the Lord's work upon the earth in this age, and as such, all authority over membership, affairs, and missions is autonomous to the local Church; that the only organization authorized to do mission work is the local Church, and that the pattern of Acts 13 is the only one sanctioned and permitted by God; that the authority to send out missionaries is not in name or formality only, but is a matter of the practical aspects of sending, supervising, and authorizing missionaries to win souls, baptize, and teach, with the goal of establishing a New testament Baptist church; that no place in Scripture allows for mission boards, fellowships, or conventions to do this work; that a sponsoring church is responsible for the activities and doctrine of missionaries authorized by her, and is responsible to the missionary for his needs and well-being; that the Local church cannot surrender this authority and responsibility to any organization and remain faithful to Scripture. We believe that the Bride of Christ is comprised of only, and all the members who have been scripturally baptized into a New Testament Baptist Church, and that Christ will present this Bride to Himself at the Marriage Supper of the Lamb. We totally reject the false doctrine of the universal invisible church.
Matt. 28:19-20; 1Cor. 1:1-3; Acts 2:41-42; 2Cor. 8:5; Matt. 16:19; Matt. 18:15-17; John 14:16-17, John 14:26; Acts 1:8; Acts13:1-4; Matt. 18:17-18; Matt. 26:19-20; 1Tim. 3:15; Mark 3:13-14; Luke 6:12-13; Eph. 5:27; Rev. 19:21; Rev.21:9
18. The Ordinances
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; that Baptism places a believer into the membership of a New Testament Baptist Church. We believe the Lord's Supper is a memorial spread and administered by the authority and instruction of the local Baptist church; that participation in the observance of the Lord's supper is restricted to a closed communion within the membership of our local Baptist church; 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; that the elements of the Lord's Supper are unleavened bread and grape juice, referred to as "The cup" and "The fruit of the vine;" We believe that these ordinances are not sacraments, but are sacred symbols, pointing to the world's only Saviour, and bidding the sons of men to look unto and 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; Matt. 28:19; Rom. 6:3-5; Matt. 16:19; Acts 10:47; Acts 2:41-42; 1Cor. 11:23-26; Prov. 20:1; Isa. 28:7; Lev. 10:9-10.
19. Church Administration
We believe that the local Baptist church and the State should be kept completely separate; that civil officers should be prayed for, conscientiously honored and obeyed; that diligence should be had in seeking the will of God in all church matters; that missionary endeavor should ever be executed from within the local church to without; that pastors and deacons are the only divinely appointed church officers; that the Lord's Day, the first day of the week should be honored by the saints; that the Bible teachings should be constantly and consistently fostered by local Baptist churches; that members should be voted into the fellowship of the local body by the local body; that unruly church members should be prayerfully and Scripturally disciplined by the local Baptist church; and that letters of membership should be granted to sister local Baptist churches of the same faith and practice.
Acts 1:8; Acts 13:1-4 thru Acts 13:35; Rom. 13:1-4; Acts 14:23; Acts 6:1-4; Acts 2:42; Rev. 1:10; Matt. 16:19; Acts 10:47; Matt. 18:15-17; Acts 15:19-23; Acts 18:27; Rom. 16:1-2; Matt. 28:19-20.
20. Church Co-operation
We believe that it is the privilege and the right of local Baptist churches to co-operate with each other in carrying out the commission of the Lord; that such co-operation is righteously effected only when the principles of Christ are preserved in the work fostered; and that all associated endeavors of local Baptist Churches should be carried on in such a way as to preserve the sovereign integrity of each local Baptist Church in all matters of faith and practice.
2Cor. 8:1-6, 2Cor. 8:16-19 thru 2Cor. 8:24; 2John 1:1-4; Matt. 16:18-19; Acts 15:19-23.
21. Civil Government and Religious Liberty
We believe that civil government is of divine appointment, for the interests and good order of human society; and that all civil authorities are to be prayed for, conscientiously honored and obeyed; except only in the things opposed by the Word of God which reveals the will of our Lord Jesus Christ, who is the only Lord of the conscience, and the Prince of the kings of the earth. That church and state should be separate, the state owing the church protection and full freedom. No ecclesiastical group or denomination should be preferred above another by the state. The state should not impose taxes for the support of any form of religion. A free church in a free state is the Christian ideal.
22. Heresy and Apostasy
We believe in total and complete separation as taught in the Word of God, from all heresy and ecclesiastical apostasy. We believe the Scripture teaches that we are to:
Try them, I John 4:1. Mark them, Rom. 16:17. Rebuke them, Titus 1:13. Have no fellowship, Eph. 5:11. Withdraw ourselves, II Thes. 3:6.Receive them not, 2John 1:10-11. Have no company with them, II Thes. 3:14. Reject them, Titus 3:10. Separate ourselves, II Cor. 6:17.
23. Missions
The command to give the gospel to the world is clear and unmistakable and this Commission was given to the churches, not individuals.
Mat. 28:18-20, Mark 16:15, John 20:21, Rom. 10:13-15
24. Giving
Scriptural giving is one of the doctrines of the faith. II Cor. 8:7
We are commanded to bring our gifts into the storehouse (common treasury of the church) upon the first day of the week. I Cor. 16:2
We are commanded to bring the tithe into the common treasury of the church. Jesus said concerning the tithe "these ye ought to have done".Mat. 23:23.
"Abraham gave the tenth of the spoils" Heb. 7:2 and Heb. 7:4 this was four hundred years before the law.
Lev. 27:30. "The tithe ... is the Lord's".
Mal.3:10. "Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there 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."
We believe the entire Bible! Even the scriptures where the Devil lies, down to each jot and title!
1. God
We believe that there is one, and only one, true and living God; that He is absolute in nature, perfect in attributes, holy in character, the maker and supreme ruler of heaven and earth; that He is infinite in wisdom, marvelous in power, and amazing in love; that He is holy, righteous, and true, worthy of all confidence and love; that He unites in Himself the infinite, the eternal, and the Almighty Three – God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit; that the three persons of the Godhead subsist in the same divine nature, essence and being; and that they are co-existent and co-equal in every divine attribute, each one executing distinct but harmonious offices in the great work of redemption.
Gen. 1:1; Deut. 4:39; Mark 12:29; Gen. 17:1; Matt. 5:48; Isa. 6:3; 1Chronicles 29:11-12; Psalms 103:19; Rom. 11:33-34; Matt. 19:26; Psalms 19:9; Matt. 28:19; 1Peter 1:2-3; 1John 5:7; Ex. 3:14; Gen. 1:26; Titus 3:3-7.
2. The Divine Trinity
A. God the Father: We believe that God the Father is the first person set forth in the Divine Trinity; that He is almighty, merciful, and just; that He is holy, righteous, and true; that He is eternally existent, glorious in nature, possessing the attributes of omnipotence, omniscience, and omnipresence; and that He, in harmony with His divine office, loves, provides, and protects, thus exercising providential watchcare over the sons of men, and especially a fatherly care over the children of God.
Matt. 28:19; Gen. 17:1; Matt. 19:26; Psalms 19:9; Isaiah 19:23; Psalms 100:5; Proverbs 15:3; Psalms 139:1-4; Psalms 103:13; Matt. 6:25-28; Matt. 10:29-31; Matt. 7:11.
B. God the Son: Virgin Born: We believe that god the Son is the second person set forth in the Divine Trinity; that He is Very God of Very God; that He is almighty, merciful, and just; that He is holy, righteous, and true; that He is eternally existent, glorious in nature, possessing the attributes of omnipotence, omniscience, and omnipresence; that God the Father, through the Holy Spirit, is actually and eternally His divine father, and Mary the Virgin is actually and innocently His human mother; and that He, in harmony with His divine office, mediates, seeks, and saves, thus exercising the mediatorial office of redemption.
Matt. 28:19; John 1:1-3; Isa. 9:6; Matt. 28:18; Titus 3:5-6; John 8:15-16; II Cor. 5:21; Heb. 13:8; Phil. 2:6; John 2:24; Matt. 28:20; Luke 1:35; Luke 2:7-14; I Tim. 2:5-6; Luke 19:10; John 3:16.
C. God the Holy Spirit: We believe that God the Holy Spirit is the third person set forth in the Divine Trinity: that He is almighty, merciful, and just; that He is holy, righteous, and true; that He is eternally existent, glorious in nature, possessing the attributes of omnipotence, omniscience, and omnipresence; that He restrains the world, the flesh and the devil; that He witnesses to the Truth, convicts the lost, extols the Christ, and testifies to the righteous judgments of God; that He, in harmony with His divine office, comforts, teaches, testifies, preaches, guides; regenerates, empowers, sanctifies, and anoints, thus exercising the quickening role in the works of saving the lost and the supervising role in the life of the saved.
John 14:16-17 and John 14:26; John 15:26; John 16:7-10; Hebrews 9:14; 1Peter4:14; Isaiah 40:14-15; 1Cor. 2:10-12; Psalms 139:7-10; 2Thess. 2:6-7, John 3:6; Eph. 1:13-14; Acts 1:8; 1Peter 1:2; Isa. 61:1.
3. The Devil
We believe that Satan is an actual being, and not an imaginary influence; that he once enjoyed high heavenly honors and glorious heavenly privileges; that he, through pride, ambition, and self-will attempted to betray the Almighty and brought down upon his head the judgment of God; that he operates today as the god of this world and the prince of the power of the air; that he is a diabolical inventor, and arch-deceiver, and the father of all lies; that he is the greatest enemy, the mightiest tempter, and the most relentless accuser of the saints; that he shall one day be incarnated in the person of the Anti-Christ and in that role will finally meet the Christ in the battle of Armageddon; that there "The seed of woman shall bruise the serpents' head;" and that he shall eventually be cast into the lake of fire, the eternal place of punishment, prepared for the devil and his angels.
Job 1:6-9; Ezek. 28:12-15; Isa. 14:12-15; Gen. 3:14; II Cor. 4:4; Eph. 2:2; Matt. 24:11; 2Thess. 2:7; John 8:44; 1Peter 5:8; Gen. 3:1-6; Rev. 12:10; Dan. 7:8; Rev. 19:20; Gen. 3:15; 2Cor. 11:13-15; John 14:30.
4. The Holy Bible
We believe that the Holy Bible is a supernatural Book; that it is the very God-breathed Word; that it is the full, the final, and the complete revelation of God's will to man; that it has God the Holy Spirit for its author, salvation for its end, and truth without any admixture of error for its matter; that it was written by holy men of old as they were moved by the Holy Spirit; that it is verbally inspired and a perfect treasure of holy instruction; and that it reveals the principles by which God will judge us, and is, therefore, the true center of Christian union, and the supreme standard by which all human conduct, creeds, and opinions shall be tried. We believe the Authorized King James Version of 1611 to be the preserved Word of God for the English speaking people, faithful and true to the original autographs; that other versions are inferior and flawed, with some being outright perversions of God's Word; that other versions are totally unnecessary, as the King James is not only faithful, but an absolutely effective conveyance of God's message to mankind.
Ps. 119:89; 2Tim. 3:16-17; Rev. 22:18-19; John 17:17; John 3:32-34; 2Peter 1:20-21; 1Peter 1:10-12; Zeph. 1:1; Psalms. 19:7-10; Ex. 20:3-6 and thru verse 17; Psalms. 1:2; John 12:48.
5. Creation
We believe that the Genesis record of creation is literal, and not allegorical or figurative; that God personally created the heaven and the earth in six literal days; that He miraculously brought forth all original matter out of nothing; that He actually fashioned all organic forms as specific creations subject to limited changes within the specie; that He definitely ordained each specie to bring forth after its kind; that He finally formed man out of the dust of the ground, not by any process of evolution but by instant action, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life and man became immediately a living soul; that He created man in the image and likeness of God; that His every creative act was complete and perfect in itself; and that not one of His creations was conditioned upon antecedent changes naturally wrought during interminable periods of time.
Gen. 1:1; John 1:1-3; John 1:14; Heb. 11:3; Gen. 1:21; Gen. 1:24-27; Gen. 2:7; Col. 1:16.
6. The Fall of Man We believe that man, originally created in holiness and actually associated with God in innocence under His law, did, by voluntary transgression of the Lord's command, fall from the high and happy state in which he was created, and as a consequence, became a sinner alienated from God and brought upon himself and all mankind just condemnation; and that he is now, by virtue of his fallen nature, utterly devoid of holiness, positively inclined to evil, and actually condemned to eternal ruin, without defense or excuse.
Gen. 1:26-27; Ecc. 7:29; Gen. 3:6; Gen. 3:23-24; Ezek. 18:4; Rom. 5:12; Rom. 1:21-24; Rom. 3:21-23 Rom. 3:14-17; Rev. 21:8.
7. The Blood Atonement
We believe that the lost sinner is guilty and already under just condemnation; that he is by nature alien to God and because of sin condemned to die; that atonement for sin was effected through the mediatorial office of the Son who by divine appointment, freely took upon Himself our nature, yet without sin; that He, through obedience during His earthly walk, personally honored the divine Law by keeping it, and, through His death on the cross, actually satisfied the penalty of the offended Law by suffering in the sinner's stead; that He, through His obedience and sacrificial death, made full and vicarious atonement for all sin; that He died, the just for the unjust, bearing our sins in His body on the tree; and that His blood shed on the cross of Calvary provides for eternal cleansing, for pardon, for peace and rest.
Isa. 53:6; Rom. 6:7; Rom. 8:23; I Tim. 2:5-6; Heb. 2:17; II Cor. 5:21 Matt. 5:17-18; I Pet. 2:24; Heb. 10:10-12; I Pet. 3:18; Rev. 1:5; Isa. 55:7;John 14:27; Matt. 11:28; I John 1:7; Eph. 1:7; Heb. 9:22.
8. Repentance and Faith
We believe that repentance and faith are solemn and inseparable prerequisites of salvation; that they are inseparable graces wrought in the heart by the quickening Holy Spirit; that the alien sinner, being deeply convicted of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment to come by the personal ministry of the Holy Spirit, and by Him having his understanding enlightened so that he can see the way of salvation through Christ, does actually repent, turning to God with unfeigned contrition, confession, and supplication, and does actually believe, surrendering himself wholeheartedly to the Lord Jesus, immediately receiving Him as personal and all-sufficient Saviour and openly confessing Him before all men.
Acts 20:21-22; Mark 1:15; Acts 11:18; Eph. 2:8; John 6:44; John 16:8-11; Matt. 3:1-2; Matt. 3:8; Acts 3:19; Luke 13:3; Luke 18:9-12; Acts 9:6; Rom. 10:10.
9. Salvation by Grace
We believe that grace is elective and saving; that it embraces the personal triune and redemptive ministry of God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; that it comprehends all of the labors put forth by the Almighty in the interest of perfect righteousness and the salvation of the lost soul; that it and it alone, saves even unto the uttermost all who repent toward God and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ; and that salvation thus wrought is wholly by grace, "The free gift of God." requiring neither culture nor works in any form to secure it or to keep it; that it is God's plan that those who are saved be "Holy and without blame before him in love;" that ALL who believe will receive the adoption, which is related to the redemption of the body (cf. Rom. 8:22-23), when all our inheritance based upon sonship is received; that predestination pertains to God's plan that we be conformed to the image of Christ; that we are to begin that process in this life, but God's sovereign purpose will be performed in perfection when all who have been saved are changed and are in the presence of Christ.
II Tim. 1:8-9; Eph. 2:8-9; Titus 3:3-7; I Pet. 1:2-5; Matt. 23:37; Rom. 8:28-30; Heb. 7:25; Acts 20:20-21; Rom. 6:23; Rom. 11:6; Rom. 5:20; Isa. 1:18; Isa. 55:1.
10. Regeneration
We believe that in order to be saved lost sinners must be regenerated, or born again; that regeneration is a recreative act, far beyond comprehension, wrought in the believer's heart by the direct personal ministry of the Holy Spirit; that it is instantaneous, miraculous, and not evolutionary or cultural; that it embraces the divine acts of cleansing the heart from all inward sins and of pardoning the soul of all outward guilt, in connection with the work of begetting a new creature in Christ Jesus; that the dead sinner is made to live through the new birth, becoming thereby a regenerated spirit, possessing eternal life, the gift of God; that the new birth comes after the Holy Spirit secures voluntary repentance and belief in the gospel; that it is the actual impartation of the divine life, not a mere transformation of the human life; and that the proper evidence of regeneration appears in the holy fruits of obedient followers of the Lord Jesus.
John 3:3-5; John 3:7; II Cor. 5:17; John 3:8; John 3:16; John 1:12-13; Isa. 1:18; Titus 3:5-7; Eph. 2:1, 5; Rom. 6:23; John 16:8-11; Matt. 7:16-18; James 2:17-20.
11. Justification
We believe that justification is one of the great gospel blessings secured through Christ for all who trust Him; that it is a legal and divine decree, declaring the believing sinner just; that it is thus a state of being free from condemnation, including forgiveness for inward sins and pardon from outward sins; that it secures through faith freedom from legal bondage, exemption from the wrath of God, and possession of peace which passes all understanding; that it is bestowed, not in consideration of any works of righteousness which we have done, but solely upon the evidence of faith in God and the Redeemer's blood; and that it brings us into a state of unchanging peace and favor with God and secures every other blessing needful for time and for eternity.
Rom. 3:24-25, Rom. 3:28; Rom. 8:33; Rom. 8:1; John 5:24; Rom. 4:3-6; Rom. 6:6; Rom. 5:9; Rom. 5:1; Phil. 4:7; Rom. 8:31-33; Gen. 15:6; Heb. 2:4.
12. Security of the Believer
We believe that salvation wrought by grace is everlasting; that the saved soul journeying through the valley of the shadow of death need fear no evil; that the Holy Spirit-begotten and born are kept by the power of God; that the believer in Christ Jesus shall not be brought into judgment; that no one can lay anything to the charge of God's elect; that they are securely held in both the hand of the Father and the Son; and that the age-old Baptist doctrine, "Once saved, always saved," is heavenly and gloriously true.
John 3:16; John 3:36; John 5:24; John 6:35, John 6:44; Ps. 23:4; Isa. 37:23-24; Phil. 1:6; 1Pet. 3:5; John 5:24; Rom. 8:1; John 10:27-29; Rom. 8:35-38; Rom. 8:39; II Tim. 1:12.
13. 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 a progressive work, begun in regeneration, and carried on in the life of every believer by the presence and the power 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.
1Thes. 4:3; 1Thess. 5:23; Rom. 15:16; Jer. 1:5; Prov. 4:18; John 17:17; 2Cor. 3:18; 1John 2:29; Rom. 8:5; 1Tim. 4:5; Luke 9:23; Matt. 24:42; Matt. 7:7-10.
14. The Resurrection
We believe that Christ Jesus arose bodily from the grave on the first day of the week, which day we now observe as the Lord's Day, a day of worship; that His miraculous emergence from the tomb forecasted a like bodily resurrection for every member of the Adamic race; that the dead in Christ, those of the first resurrection, shall be raised, and we which are alive and remain shall be changed and taken out of this world preceding the seven years of tribulation; that those who are of the Bride of Christ will be united to the Bridegroom at the marriage to be witnessed by the friends of the Bridegroom (John 3:29; Rev. 19:9) who will share in the marriage supper of the Lamb after being rewarded at the Judgment Seat of Christ, and await completion of the first resurrection as the dead Tribulation saints are rewarded at the close of the seven years; that all the saved will then rule and reign with Christ in His Millennial Kingdom; that the Bride of Christ is the local Baptist church; that those who are saved and not members of a local Baptist church will be present as "Friends of the Bridegroom;" that the dead in trespasses and sins, or the dead out of Christ, shall rise at the close of the Millennium; and that they shall be brought before the Great White Throne Judgment and there face the Judge of the quick and the dead.
Matt. 28:6; Luke 24:1-12; I Cor. 15:12-22; I Thes. 4:13-18; Rev. 20:5-6; Rev. 11:15; Dan. 12:3; 1Sam. 2:6; Isa. 26:19; Hosea 13:14; Isa. 25:6-8.
15. The Lord's Return
We believe that Christ Jesus is coming back again; that His return shall be personal, audible, visible, and bodily and that the saved shall be caught up together with Him in the clouds; that this return shall precede the tribulation and millennium; that He shall return to earth at the end of the tribulation; and He shall at that time turn the tables on Satan, take up the throne of David, put down all His enemies, rule with a rod of iron, triumph over sin, and give the world an example of righteous government during His thousand years of personal reign on earth.
Job 18:25-26; Isa. 9:6-7; Zech. 14:4; Mal. 4:2; Luke 1:31-33; Matt. 25:31-34; Rev. 19:11-14 thru Rev. 19:21; Acts 1:11; 1Thes. 4:16-17; Rev. 1:7; 2Pet. 3:10; Rev. 20:4-6; Rev. 19:20; Rev. 20:1-3, Rev. 20:10; Isa. 9:7; 1Cor. 15:25-27; Ps. 2:9; Rev. 12:5; Rev. 19:15; 1John 3:8; Ps. 72:1-4; thru Ps. 72:20.
16. The Righteous and the Wicked
We believe that there is a radical and essential difference between the righteous and the wicked. We believe the righteous are they who believe in Christ Jesus, are justified by faith, and sanctified by the Holy Spirit and the Word; that the righteous are heirs of God and joint-heirs with the Lord Jesus Christ; and that eternal life, the gift of God, is the matchless possession of the just. We believe that the wicked are they who do not believe in Christ Jesus, condemned because of unbelief and corrupted by the god of this world; that the unjust spurn the privileges of God's grace, choosing the life of sin and rebellion; and that eternal damnation is the inescapable portion of the unjust.
Mal. 3:16-18; John 3:6; Rom. 3:22; Rom. 3:24; Rom. 4:3; Rom. 1:17; Rom. 8:1-4 thru Rom. 8:17; Acts 20:32; John 15:3; Rom. 8:17; Rom. 6:23; 2Cor. 4:4; Rev. 21:8; Matt. 23:37;Prov. 29:1; Matt. 25:41.
17. The Local Church
We believe that a 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 New Testament Law; 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 co-operation; that it is the only ecclesiastical tribunal the Lord has on earth; that its judgment concerning membership, missions, benevolence, and support is final; that it was personally founded by Christ Jesus during His ministry on earth; that it is the only organization with authority to administer the Lord's Supper and Baptism; 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 even until now; that the local Church is the only body with authority to carry out the Lord's work upon the earth in this age, and as such, all authority over membership, affairs, and missions is autonomous to the local Church; that the only organization authorized to do mission work is the local Church, and that the pattern of Acts 13 is the only one sanctioned and permitted by God; that the authority to send out missionaries is not in name or formality only, but is a matter of the practical aspects of sending, supervising, and authorizing missionaries to win souls, baptize, and teach, with the goal of establishing a New testament Baptist church; that no place in Scripture allows for mission boards, fellowships, or conventions to do this work; that a sponsoring church is responsible for the activities and doctrine of missionaries authorized by her, and is responsible to the missionary for his needs and well-being; that the Local church cannot surrender this authority and responsibility to any organization and remain faithful to Scripture. We believe that the Bride of Christ is comprised of only, and all the members who have been scripturally baptized into a New Testament Baptist Church, and that Christ will present this Bride to Himself at the Marriage Supper of the Lamb. We totally reject the false doctrine of the universal invisible church.
Matt. 28:19-20; 1Cor. 1:1-3; Acts 2:41-42; 2Cor. 8:5; Matt. 16:19; Matt. 18:15-17; John 14:16-17, John 14:26; Acts 1:8; Acts13:1-4; Matt. 18:17-18; Matt. 26:19-20; 1Tim. 3:15; Mark 3:13-14; Luke 6:12-13; Eph. 5:27; Rev. 19:21; Rev.21:9
18. The Ordinances
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; that Baptism places a believer into the membership of a New Testament Baptist Church. We believe the Lord's Supper is a memorial spread and administered by the authority and instruction of the local Baptist church; that participation in the observance of the Lord's supper is restricted to a closed communion within the membership of our local Baptist church; 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; that the elements of the Lord's Supper are unleavened bread and grape juice, referred to as "The cup" and "The fruit of the vine;" We believe that these ordinances are not sacraments, but are sacred symbols, pointing to the world's only Saviour, and bidding the sons of men to look unto and 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; Matt. 28:19; Rom. 6:3-5; Matt. 16:19; Acts 10:47; Acts 2:41-42; 1Cor. 11:23-26; Prov. 20:1; Isa. 28:7; Lev. 10:9-10.
19. Church Administration
We believe that the local Baptist church and the State should be kept completely separate; that civil officers should be prayed for, conscientiously honored and obeyed; that diligence should be had in seeking the will of God in all church matters; that missionary endeavor should ever be executed from within the local church to without; that pastors and deacons are the only divinely appointed church officers; that the Lord's Day, the first day of the week should be honored by the saints; that the Bible teachings should be constantly and consistently fostered by local Baptist churches; that members should be voted into the fellowship of the local body by the local body; that unruly church members should be prayerfully and Scripturally disciplined by the local Baptist church; and that letters of membership should be granted to sister local Baptist churches of the same faith and practice.
Acts 1:8; Acts 13:1-4 thru Acts 13:35; Rom. 13:1-4; Acts 14:23; Acts 6:1-4; Acts 2:42; Rev. 1:10; Matt. 16:19; Acts 10:47; Matt. 18:15-17; Acts 15:19-23; Acts 18:27; Rom. 16:1-2; Matt. 28:19-20.
20. Church Co-operation
We believe that it is the privilege and the right of local Baptist churches to co-operate with each other in carrying out the commission of the Lord; that such co-operation is righteously effected only when the principles of Christ are preserved in the work fostered; and that all associated endeavors of local Baptist Churches should be carried on in such a way as to preserve the sovereign integrity of each local Baptist Church in all matters of faith and practice.
2Cor. 8:1-6, 2Cor. 8:16-19 thru 2Cor. 8:24; 2John 1:1-4; Matt. 16:18-19; Acts 15:19-23.
21. Civil Government and Religious Liberty
We believe that civil government is of divine appointment, for the interests and good order of human society; and that all civil authorities are to be prayed for, conscientiously honored and obeyed; except only in the things opposed by the Word of God which reveals the will of our Lord Jesus Christ, who is the only Lord of the conscience, and the Prince of the kings of the earth. That church and state should be separate, the state owing the church protection and full freedom. No ecclesiastical group or denomination should be preferred above another by the state. The state should not impose taxes for the support of any form of religion. A free church in a free state is the Christian ideal.
22. Heresy and Apostasy
We believe in total and complete separation as taught in the Word of God, from all heresy and ecclesiastical apostasy. We believe the Scripture teaches that we are to:
Try them, I John 4:1. Mark them, Rom. 16:17. Rebuke them, Titus 1:13. Have no fellowship, Eph. 5:11. Withdraw ourselves, II Thes. 3:6.Receive them not, 2John 1:10-11. Have no company with them, II Thes. 3:14. Reject them, Titus 3:10. Separate ourselves, II Cor. 6:17.
23. Missions
The command to give the gospel to the world is clear and unmistakable and this Commission was given to the churches, not individuals.
Mat. 28:18-20, Mark 16:15, John 20:21, Rom. 10:13-15
24. Giving
Scriptural giving is one of the doctrines of the faith. II Cor. 8:7
We are commanded to bring our gifts into the storehouse (common treasury of the church) upon the first day of the week. I Cor. 16:2
We are commanded to bring the tithe into the common treasury of the church. Jesus said concerning the tithe "these ye ought to have done".Mat. 23:23.
"Abraham gave the tenth of the spoils" Heb. 7:2 and Heb. 7:4 this was four hundred years before the law.
Lev. 27:30. "The tithe ... is the Lord's".
Mal.3:10. "Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there 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."
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From the Pastor's Desk Hello, I'm Pastor Del Wray “Our church is an old fashioned, Bible believing, Independent, Fundamental, Baptist, Church. We simply believe the Bible, preach the Bible, teach the Bible, and by God’s grace obey the Bible. We believe in doing things God’s way, that’s why we are Independent. If you are looking for the Truth, you will find it at Victory Bible Baptist Church “Thy Word is Truth.” John 17:17  Is there anything I can do for you? If you need counseling (free of charge of course), or if you would like a visit, or if you just want further information about Victory Bible Baptist Church: Please click our "Contact Us" page tab at the top of the page for information on how to contact me, Pastor Del Wray and the only true and living God. (I John 5: 20) Who has so graciously blessed us with the greatest of all gifts, His Holy Word, The King James Bible! mandates are not self-imposed. They imply the existence of a Moral Governor to whom we are responsible. Conscience,--there it is in the breast of man, an ideal Moses thundering from an invisible Sinai the Law of a holy Judge. "Were it not for the voice speaking so clearly in my conscience and my heart, I should be an atheist, or a pantheist, when I looked into the world." Some things are wrong, others right:, love is right, hatred is wrong. Nor is a thing right because it pleases, or wrong because it displeases. Where did we get this standard of right and wrong? Morality is obligatory, not optional. Who made it obligatory? Who has a right to command my life? We must believe that there is a God, or believe that the very root of our nature is a lie. This domain is designed to reinforce biblical truth and stores resources, free for christians and preachers alike, who bear the soul saving testimony of Jesus Christ. Originality is not claimed for these materials and sermon outlines. It would be impossible to give every man credit for every thought, for no matter what you have thought or said, some other man of God in the past or even today has said, written, or thought whatever you may think you are originating. May these sermons and material prove to be a blessing to you and to your ministries as we serve our blessed and wonderful Lord. I am going to seek to provide for you some of the best materials, as well as sermon helps from some of the greatest men of God with which I am acquainted. Remember, these are just men and their sermon material. It will take the Lord burning these truths into your heart to make them come alive as real life changing facts. Jeremiah the prophet said," But his word was in mine heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I was weary with forbearing, and I could not stay" (Jeremiah 20:9). If you enjoy this website, send us an e-mail and let us know where you are from and something about yourself. The material on this site is for personal use not for financial gain. Feel free to use this material to spread the Word of God. The Berean's heard Paul and Silas preaching in the synagogue, and they were commended for listening and searching the scripture as to whether or not the things that they had heard were true. (Acts 17:10-11) With that in mind, there are many things that Christian's do that don't always line up with the Bible. It is the responsibility of every Christian to see if what they are doing is glorifying to God, so if a Christian who is "honestly mistaken hears the truth, they will either quit being mistaken or cease to be honest!" Since most Christians react with hostility to information that contradicts what they know to be true. It is our hope that you would re-examine your assumptions of truth through the clear lens of a sincere Biblical analysis. One of the most wonderful aspects of the Good News is the fact that “God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap”. (Galatians 6:7) The truth is, the Strong Delusion the LORD promised he would bring is closely related to the lies that have been told – and God warned them that “I will choose their delusion” (Isaiah 66:4), “…because they received not the love of the truth…” 2 Thessalonians 2:10
That said, you will find a list of cults, false religions and false teachers on this site. I do not by Ford Porter GOD'S PLAN OF SALVATION  |
Closing Section
Why We Are Not Another Denomination
To understand why we are not some other denomination, religion or faith - We must first understand what we believe - At least the core beliefs - Held thru the centuries!
As far as the Christian religion is concerned, all but two of the denominations that are known today had their beginning in the last four hundred years. Only two denominations of faith can trace their roots all the way back to the NT times - One is Catholicism - The church from Rome started from real Baptist churches. Beginning around the 200s heresy began to creep in - they began perverting the Scriptures and by 350 A.D. they became fully apostate (Ceased to be truly Biblical or possibly even Christian). The other branch is the Baptist - historical Biblical Baptist - Not the Freewill Baptist (they were an off shoot of the Protestants)
Every other denomination that is known today, had its beginning in the last four hundred years. Everyone of the them - whether it be the Church of Christ; the Church of England; the Lutheran; Anglican; Methodist; Episcopal; Church of God; Christian Church and right down through the line - who have all claimed to have the only correct doctrine - this raise some serious question. If their doctrine is the only correct doctrine - why were they only recently established? Was the Biblical truth not known before that time? - Gee I wander how people got saved before they were established - A legitimate question to ask these other groups - But yet we know people have continued to be saved, long before.
The roots of the Baptist can be traced back to apostolic times, not just by Baptist, but by the enemies of the Baptists - Historians testify that "local churches: which hold doctrine, beliefs, and practices of today’s Bible believing, separatist Baptist; have had a continuous existence since the days of Christ. This can not be said of any other church, churches, or religious organization."
Here are a few statements by historians and religious leaders (only one of them a Baptist): These are people who have no particular sympathy for the Baptist:
Sir Isaac Newton said, "The Baptist are the only body of known Christians that have never symbolized with Rome."
Ypeij and Dermount, eminent historians of the Dutch Reformed Church said, "The Baptist may be considered as the only Christian community that has stood since the days of the Apostles, and as a Christian society has preserved pure the doctrine of the Gospel through all the ages."
Alexander Campbell, founder of the Campbellites / Church of Christ who rigulously opposed Baptist during the 19th century, wrote, "The sentiment of Baptist and their practice of Baptism from the Apostolic age to the present have had a continued chain of advent and public monuments of their existence in every century can be produced."
Robert Barkley a Quaker historian says "We shall afterwards show that the rise of the Anna-Baptist took place prior to the reformation of the Church of England and there are also reasons for believing that the continent of Europe small hidden Christian societies who have held many of the opinions of the Anna-Baptist have existed from the times of the Apostles. In the since of the direct transmission of Divine truth and the true nature of spiritual religion it seems probable that these church have a lineage or succession more ancient than that the Roman church. All Christian were then Baptist."
John Clark Rippath said "I should not readily admit that there was a Baptist church as far back as 100 A.D. Although without doubt there were Baptist Churches then, as all Christian were then Baptist."
Mosheim said "Before the rise of the Lutheran Calvin, there lay secreted in almost of the countries of Europe persons who adhered tenacious to the principle to the modern Dutch Baptist. The origin of Baptist is lost in the remote depths of antiquity, the first century was a history of Baptist."
Zwingli said, "An institution of the Ana-Baptist is no novelty, but for thirteen hundred years has caused great trouble in the church (the Catholic and Presbertirian) Baptist are known as trouble maker because we hold to the purity of doctrine of the NT and we don’t apologize for it - If you spend any time witnessing you’ve witnessed it."
Catholic Cardinal Hoseios President of counsel of Trent from 1545 - 1564 said, "were it not for the fact that the Baptist have been grievously tormented and cut off with the knife during the past 1200 years, they would swarm greater than all the Reformers. If the truth of religion were to be judged by the readiness and boldness of which a man or any sect shows in suffering, than the opinion and persuasions of no sect can be truer and surer than those of the Anna-Baptist. Since there have been none for the 1200 years past that have been more generally punished or have been more cheerfully and steadfastly undergone and have offered themselves in the most cruel sort of punishment than these people."
It is unlikely that the Reformers stumbled upon the great truth of "justification by faith" on their own - these were men who were well aware of Anna-Baptist. If they were not directly involved with some of the tortures, they certainly witnessed the testimonies of those people as they were tortured and died. It is more likely that the Holy Spirit used it and worked in their hearts as they studied the Word of God and they concluded that what the Anna-Baptist were saying was true.
Baptist Christians must understand why they believe what they believe, then they will see the error of the other denominations and religions as such. We believe that God has maintained a church in every age that has held to the pure doctrine of the Scripture. History shows that it is the Baptist.
Spurgeon said, "history has hitherto been written by our enemies, who never would have kept a single fact about us upon record if they could have helped it. And yet it leaks out every now and then the a certain poor people called Anna Baptist - Anna-Baptist a name given to the Baptist before the sixteenth century. "Anna" means again - but the entire name was applied what Bible believing separatist Baptist do today. They were brought for condemnation ... heretics who were hated of all men for the true sake that was in them ... burned for the crime of Anna-Baptistism ... were protesting for the one Lord, one faith, one baptism. No sooner did the visible church begin to depart from the Gospel than these men arose to keep fast then by the good old way ... calling men to the errors of their ways ... our histories forbid discouragements."
We know that the Baptist were very much involved in the founding of this nation - especially as to religious freedom. Those Baptist founding Fathers understood this, given the freedom of the gospel of grace some people might be saved - we have a superior message that changes life. Through the history of Baptist the enemy (Satan) has always tried to coerce and hold down and stifle the true preaching of the Word of God - Given the opportunity through the reasoning of the Scriptures, God will have the victory.
Baptist Perpetuity (Permanence)
I. The Origin and History of the Baptist:
A. Origin: Started with Jesus (Not at Pentecost as many have been taught) Mark 3:14-18 - This
is a principle - the church began right here - You see all the mixture that establishes a church,
the head Jesus Christ; a called out assembly; a treasure is appoint; they sent out to preach;
(the church didn’t start at either Matt 28 or Acts 2) to establish and organized them into His
church.
1. Forerunner was John the Baptist (Luke 3:1-4).
2. Jesus Christ
B. History:
1. Baptist can be easier traced by blood than by baptism.
2. They were named by their enemies - Anabaptist from infant baptism).
a. Montanists g. Petrobrussians
b. Novations h. Henricians
c. Donatists i. Arnoldists
d. Paulicians j. Waldenses
e. Albigigenses k. Anabaptist
f. Paterins l. Baptist (in England before the Reformation)
C. Sources of History
1. Trail of Blood - J.M. Carroll
2. Baptist Church Perpetuity or History - W.A. Jarrell
3. A History of the Baptist - Armitage (Classic)
II. Distinctive:
A. Doctrinal.
1. The Bible is the complete Word of God (the final authority for faith and practice) Matt. 24:35;
Rev 22:18-19.
2. Salvation is thru Christ alone. Eph. 2:5-8; Acts 4:12; Rom. 5:1-8
3. Assurance of salvation now - Eternal Security. 1 John 3:2
4. Jesus Christ
a. He is God - Deity of Christ (1 Tim. 3:16).
b. He arose bodily from the dead - The Resurrection (Luke 24:39).
c. He is coming back literally - The Second Coming (Acts 1:11).
B. Organizational
1. Christ the author, originator, and Head of the Church (Matt. 16:18; Col. 1:18).
2. Two kinds of officers and only two - Pastors and Deacons (1 Tim. 3:1-13).
3. Only the saved are to be received as members (Acts 2:47; Eph. 2:21; 1 Pet. 2:5).
4. Churches in their governments & discipline to be entirely separate and independent of each
other (Matt. 16:18; Rev. 22:16).
5. It’s polity - Congregational - all members are equal (Matt. 20:24).
6. Two ordinances and only two - Baptism and the Lord’s Supper - They are memorial only
(Matt. 28:19-20).
7. The inspired Scriptures to be the only guide of faith and practice for the church organization
(2 Tim. 3:15-17).
8. The churches to be executive only in carrying out the Lord’s commands, never legislative - to
make new ones (Matt. 16:18; Col. 1:18).
9. Converts to be made purely voluntarily or through persuasion; never physical or
governmental compulsion (Rom. 10:13).
10. Complete separation of Church and State - In their respective administrations - "Religious
Liberty" (Matt. 22:21).
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