1611 AV King James Bible
 |
 |
 |
We Believe All of the Holy Bible "Scriptures" Literally
NoticeThe Scripture verses on this web page; Slide mouse over to see popup of verses
Click for full chapter and verse rendering. Thanks to AV1611
Some servers do not use this function. We use Google Chrome works well.
Is There Really A Difference In Being A Baptist?
by William L. Brown
Pastor, Carmichael Baptist Church
Pastor, Carmichael Baptist Church
Someone once asked why we do not join together with other faiths in some common cause. There is a good reason. Baptists differ from them in doctrine and practice. This is not to cast doubt upon their sincerity or salvation. Our job is not to inter-mingle with other churches but to maintain the purity and defense of the faith that was once delivered unto the saints. Some find this to be an arrogant position to take. We do not but find it to be a biblically based position. If we did not disagree practically or doctrinally we should and would join with others. Most of the time we find that "common cause" to be a common error and a call to unite on the lowest common denominator among differingbrethren. With a call to unite so prevalent among so many today why do Baptists stand opposed to this unity? Why do we feel we have a right, and even a calling, to stand separate from other faiths? I agree with Dr. J. L. McCurry who stated "No religious denomination has a moral right to a separate existence unless it differs essentially from others. Nothing short of the truth of revelation, the authoritative force of God's word, rising above passion or prejudice can justify a distinct organization." Baptists do indeed differ in constitution, membership, ordinances, and other doctrines authorized by the word of God and once delivered unto the saints. We cannot join with those who stand in direct opposition to what we understand are the clear teachings of God's word. What makes Baptists different from other denominations? What identifies us as Baptists? The following are but a few of the areas in which we see a primary difference and identifying marks. These points are not intended to be exhaustive dissertations on each subject but points of declaration of our biblical persuasions. They are also not intended to be the only definitive marks ofBaptists for they are many in number and nature.
Baptists Believe Baptism is by Immersion only!
The only biblical method of administering the ordinance of baptism is by immersion. The actual Greek word found throughout the New Testament is "baptizo." It literally means to immerse or to dip. This is the only baptism practiced by John and by Christ (yes we know Christ himself did not baptize) and his disciples. They did not immerse their fingers. They did not dip a cup into the water. They immersed or dipped the individual into the water fully. If the meaning the word were to sprinkle we would find the Greek word "rhantizo" used in its place. If God intended us to pour water he would have used the word "ekcheo." These are not the words God used and it clearly teaches us that to sprinkle an individual, or pour water upon them, and call it baptism is following man's doctrine and not God's. To accept a practice of sprinkling or pouring would be in direct violation of the command of God.
(Matthew 28:19-20). Anyone who is sprinkled or has water poured upon them is not baptized. Violate the mode of baptism and you have violated the biblical validity of baptism.
(Matthew 28:19-20). Anyone who is sprinkled or has water poured upon them is not baptized. Violate the mode of baptism and you have violated the biblical validity of baptism.
Baptists Believe in a Suitable Subject for Baptism!
The only suitable subjects for baptism are those who have truly been born again. Baptism does not save but declares the subject's faith in God's provided salvation. Anyone who has not exercised saving faith in Christ or has not conscientiously exercised faith in Christ is an unsuitable and unbiblical subject for baptism. How many denominations continue to practice the unbiblical method of baptizing infants? There are many and the reason they do this is because they believe in baptismal regeneration. They may call it "washing away of original sin" but it is still heresy. Infants cannot express faith in Christ and you cannot find one infant being baptized in the New Testament. The reformers stopped short in their reformation. They sought freedom from the hierarchy of the Catholic church but not from its unscriptural practices. Baptists still ask the same question we find in Phillip asking in Acts 8:36-37 And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? (37) And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. A qualified confession of faith by the subject must precede the act of baptism.
Baptists Believe in a Proper Administrator of Baptism!
While many may agree with us on the previous two points it is herethe difference begins to be made clear. The proper administrator of baptism is a scriptural New Testament Baptist church. Elders or pastors are not the administrators of baptism. They are the agents acting in the place of the church by their authority. The authority to baptize was not given to individuals but to the church Christ organized Himself and then left with a commission before his assent into heaven. The authority does not lie in just any church. The authority was given to one church which then passed it on to another, and then another, until we find it existing today in many qualified churches. While I may know what it takes, and have all the information to make someone a citizen of the United States I am not an authorized agent to act on behalf of the government of the United States of America. No matter how sincere I or the individual desiring to become a citizen may be, whatever we do will not qualify them as a citizen. The reformers again fell short in seeking out a qualified agent with the authority to Baptize. There were Baptists to whom they should have gone to submit to scriptural baptism. Instead they chose to retain the link to Catholicism and persecute our Baptist forefathers because of their stand on the subject of baptism.
Baptists Believe in a Proper Design in Baptism!
Baptism that has a design of washing away sin is unscriptural and nothing short of heresy. Baptism that has a design of bringing the Holy Spirit into ones life is unscriptural and a complete heresy. Baptism that has any other design than the one designated in the New Testament is extra-scritpural and unbiblical. The Bible clearly states that baptism is a declaration of one's personal faith that has already been exercised in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. It declares to all that we have (past tense) been united with Christ in his death, burial, and resurrection. It also qualifies us to be scriptural candidates for membership in a local New Testament church. It is sad to see how many so-called "churches" seem to despise the ordinance of baptism.
Baptists Believe in Proper Candidates for Church Membership!
The only biblical candidates for church membership are those who have been regenerated and scriptually baptized. To receive an unregenerate individual into the fellowship of a local church would destroy the distinction between the world and the church. To receive an unbaptized individual into the fellowship of a local church violates the order we find through out the New Testament. Look at Acts 2:41, Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. They believed then they were baptized and then they were added unto the church that was at Jerusalem. While some churches may look at your ability to tithe, your personal talents, or your personal background, these are not the
qualifications God intended us to abide by. The churches of the New Testament were filled with individuals whose former lives were vile and surely objectionable. The difference is that this was their former life. They were no longer children of disobedience. They no longer walked according to the lust of the flesh. Those added to local churches were born again, baptized believers. Nothing less or more should be accepted as a biblical standard.
qualifications God intended us to abide by. The churches of the New Testament were filled with individuals whose former lives were vile and surely objectionable. The difference is that this was their former life. They were no longer children of disobedience. They no longer walked according to the lust of the flesh. Those added to local churches were born again, baptized believers. Nothing less or more should be accepted as a biblical standard.
Baptists Believe in Closed Communion!
The Lord's Supper was instituted during the Lord's personal ministry with the church he had organized. It is a perpetual church ordinance to be observed by a local New Testament church until Christ comes again. Baptists believe it to be a church ordinance. Baptist believe a church to be a local and visible body of baptized believers who have covenanted together to obey the great commission. They do not believe the church is some universal and invisible body made up all the regenerate. We do not confuse the family of God with the church of God. Since the church is a local visible body it is they who are to observe and keep the ordinance of the Lord's supper. Some people find it offensive that we do not include visitors to observe the Lord's Supper with us. We find it much more offensive to be called upon to violate such a serious command. It is odd how these same folks do not find it offensive when we do not invite them to vote in our business meetings.
Baptists Believe in a Local Church Government!
Each church is a separate, autonomous or self-governing body. We are not part of some larger denomination. Each church in entirely independent of all other churches, persons, and bodies of men. It is to be governed by it's members alone guided by its one and only head, Jesus Christ. Churches governed by popes, synods, presbyteries, conferences, associations, fellowships, and even boards are not constituted after the model we have been given in the Bible. Our only rule of faith and practice is the Bible. The church is to be free from all civil government. Baptists have always protested against the union of church and state but have equally protested against the state's invasion into our affairs. We do not and will not seek governmental approval to exist since that right has been clearly granted by Almighty God.
Baptists Believe in only Two Church Officers!
The only officers given to a New Testament church is that of deaconmand pastor. The office of pastor is also called elder and/or bishop. The deacon is a servant of the church and not a ruling or guiding body within a church. They were set aside to free the apostles for study and prayer not for the purpose of conducting the business of the church. The elder, bishop, pastor, or overseer is not to be a dictator but a spiritual caretaker under the leadership of the Lord Jesus Christ. He is to feed the flock over which he has been made an overseer.
Baptists Believe in Soul Liberty!
Baptists have longed held to the fact that each man and woman has the freedom to worship God according to the dictates of his or her heart. If each human soul is alone responsible to God for the discharge of it's biblical duties then no human authority has a right to come between that soul and its God. Any interference with the faith and practice designated by God is a direct violation of the sacred and biblical right and is not to be tolerated. One American historian wrote, "freedom of conscience, unlimited freedom of mind, was from the first the trophy of Baptists." Read back through history and you will find all other denominations often sought to destroy this principle while Baptists alone have held it in high esteem. What does your church believe? Does it make a difference what we believe? We believe it does and therefore we are Baptist by conviction. What are your convictions?
What Baptist Believe
We believe the whole Bible, the King James Bible is the Word of God, the Holy Scriptures which were "...given by inspiration..." (2Tim. 3:16) and we believe the Bible was not meant to be interpreted but believed. The Scripture interprets itself! We believe God is testing man in regards to wheather he believes it or not as He has in past or previous dispensations. We believe every man, individually, will be held accountable to God for what he does with the Scriptures. We also believe that the attitude with which man approaches God's Word will be a determing factor as to man's spiritual condition. The Bible is a two-edged Sword which either gives life or takes life away, a divider of men. It will either give light or bring darkness, save or damn a man. We can believe or choose not to believe. God has left the choice to the individual. We simple here take God at His Word! Below, please read more of a description as to what Baptist believe:
The Scriptures
Without apology and without hesitation, we believe that the God who inspired the Scriptures is powerful enough to preserve them in the manner for which He intended us to have them. We believe that the providential preservation of the New Testament concentrated itself on the Greek text within the sphere of the Greek church through Antioch of Syria; and that the text of the majority of manuscripts from that area are the providentially preserved and Authorized text; in fact, the text of the majority is the standard text. This is the Textus Receptus of the Syrian (Byzantine) extraction coming to the English speaking people through the Reformation of the Balkans and Germany. The final and outstanding representative of this text is the AUTHORIZED VERSION of 1611, otherwise known as the King James Bible, which represents a purified, neutral text, without proven error [Beza’s fifth edition with improvements over Erasmus] (Psalms 12:6-7; 2Tim. 3:16 and 2Pet. 1:21)
The Nature of God
We believe the only true and living God is a Triune God, eternally existing in three persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The Father is omnipotent, omniscient and omnipresent, the Ruler of all things. He has been revealed to man only through the Son, the Word made flesh. The Lord Jesus Christ is the Son of God, equally divine and eternal with the Father, and is also the Son of Man, truly human, but without sin. The Holy Spirit is a person, one with the Father and Son in the Godhead, whose work is to glorify God in Christ, convicting men and regenerating those who believe on Him, and, there is no other name given among men whereby we can be saved. (1Tim. 2:4; 2Pet. 3:9; Gen. 1:1; Mt. 28:19; John 3:17-18, John 10:30 and John 10:37-38; Rom. 5:10 and Acts 4:12).
The Work of Jesus Christ
We believe the eternal Son became flesh in the person of Jesus of Nazareth, born of the Virgin Mary by miraculous conception and virgin birth. He lived a sinless life, perfectly fulfilling the divine law. He then offered himself as a sacrifice for the sins of everyman. He died on the Cross, shed His precious blood, in full substitution and atonement for the sins of all men everywhere. He was buried, and on the third day He arose bodily from the grave, alive forevermore. He later ascended bodily into Heaven where, at the right hand of the Father, He now continually intercedes for those who put their trust in Him ( Isa. 7:14; Mt. 1:23; Luke 1:35; Heb. 4:15, Heb. 7:26;John 2:11; 1 Cor. 15:3; Eph. 1:7; Col. 1:14;Heb. 2:9, Heb. 2:9-12; John 11:25; 1 Cor. 15:4; Mk. 1: 19; Acts 1:11 and Rev. 19:11-16).
The Origin and Nature of man
We believe all things where created and are sustained by God; man in particular was created for the purpose of mutual love and fellowship between him and his Creator. The Genesis account of creation is a true and historical record, revealing that man came by direct creation of God, not by a process of evolution. Though created in the image of God, man willfully sinned against God bringing sin and death into the world. Through Adam, all men have inherited a sin-nature, evidenced by willful acts of sin; therefore, all men are guilty sinners under the just condemnation of a Holy God(Gen.1:26-28; Gen. 5:1-2; Col. 1:16; Rom. 3:23; 1Cor. 3:16, 1Cor.6:19-20; Eph. 4:40; Eph. 5:18 and Titus 3:5-7).
Salvation
We believe man is utterly unable to save himself from the power or penalty of sin. Each man must be saved wholly on the basis of the work Jesus Christ has done in dying for his sins and rising for his justification. This salvation is received instantly and appropriated by simple faith in Jesus Christ as the Son of God and personal Saviour. A true Christian is one who has been “saved” or “born again,” being regenerated by the Holy Spirit through the gospel of Jesus Christ. The reality of this experience as well as one’s personal assurance of salvation will be evidenced by a life characterized by Christ-like motives and standards. Salvation thus includes deliverance from the penalty of sin, from the power of sin in one’s life, and ultimately from the presence of sin (John 20:31; John 3:36,16,18; John 1:12; John 1:29;Isa. 53:5; 1Pet. 2:24; Gal. 2:13; Gal. 3:22; Eph. 2:8-9; 1Tim. 2:5-6; 1Pet. 3:18; 2Cor. 5:21; Titus 3: 5-6; 1Cor. 15:1-4 and Rom.10:9-13).
Resurrection of the Saved and Lost
We believe in the resurrection of both the saved and the lost: they who are save are resurrected to eternal life in the presence of the Lord Gog Almighty, and the lost will be resurrected to eternal damnation (John 5:28-29).
The Institution of the Family
We believe that the family is the first God-given institution established in the Garden of Eden, and that God has given parents stewardship and primary authority over their own children (Deut. 6:4-9; Psa. 127:3-5 and Eph. 6:1-5). We believe that government is not responsible for the education of welfare of our families or our children; rather, it is the responsibility of the government to reward good and to punish evil judiciously (Rom. 13:1-4).
The Scriptures
Without apology and without hesitation, we believe that the God who inspired the Scriptures is powerful enough to preserve them in the manner for which He intended us to have them. We believe that the providential preservation of the New Testament concentrated itself on the Greek text within the sphere of the Greek church through Antioch of Syria; and that the text of the majority of manuscripts from that area are the providentially preserved and Authorized text; in fact, the text of the majority is the standard text. This is the Textus Receptus of the Syrian (Byzantine) extraction coming to the English speaking people through the Reformation of the Balkans and Germany. The final and outstanding representative of this text is the AUTHORIZED VERSION of 1611, otherwise known as the King James Bible, which represents a purified, neutral text, without proven error [Beza’s fifth edition with improvements over Erasmus] (Psalms 12:6-7; 2Tim. 3:16 and 2Pet. 1:21)
The Nature of God
We believe the only true and living God is a Triune God, eternally existing in three persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The Father is omnipotent, omniscient and omnipresent, the Ruler of all things. He has been revealed to man only through the Son, the Word made flesh. The Lord Jesus Christ is the Son of God, equally divine and eternal with the Father, and is also the Son of Man, truly human, but without sin. The Holy Spirit is a person, one with the Father and Son in the Godhead, whose work is to glorify God in Christ, convicting men and regenerating those who believe on Him, and, there is no other name given among men whereby we can be saved. (1Tim. 2:4; 2Pet. 3:9; Gen. 1:1; Mt. 28:19; John 3:17-18, John 10:30 and John 10:37-38; Rom. 5:10 and Acts 4:12).
The Work of Jesus Christ
We believe the eternal Son became flesh in the person of Jesus of Nazareth, born of the Virgin Mary by miraculous conception and virgin birth. He lived a sinless life, perfectly fulfilling the divine law. He then offered himself as a sacrifice for the sins of everyman. He died on the Cross, shed His precious blood, in full substitution and atonement for the sins of all men everywhere. He was buried, and on the third day He arose bodily from the grave, alive forevermore. He later ascended bodily into Heaven where, at the right hand of the Father, He now continually intercedes for those who put their trust in Him ( Isa. 7:14; Mt. 1:23; Luke 1:35; Heb. 4:15, Heb. 7:26;John 2:11; 1 Cor. 15:3; Eph. 1:7; Col. 1:14;Heb. 2:9, Heb. 2:9-12; John 11:25; 1 Cor. 15:4; Mk. 1: 19; Acts 1:11 and Rev. 19:11-16).
The Origin and Nature of man
We believe all things where created and are sustained by God; man in particular was created for the purpose of mutual love and fellowship between him and his Creator. The Genesis account of creation is a true and historical record, revealing that man came by direct creation of God, not by a process of evolution. Though created in the image of God, man willfully sinned against God bringing sin and death into the world. Through Adam, all men have inherited a sin-nature, evidenced by willful acts of sin; therefore, all men are guilty sinners under the just condemnation of a Holy God(Gen.1:26-28; Gen. 5:1-2; Col. 1:16; Rom. 3:23; 1Cor. 3:16, 1Cor.6:19-20; Eph. 4:40; Eph. 5:18 and Titus 3:5-7).
Salvation
We believe man is utterly unable to save himself from the power or penalty of sin. Each man must be saved wholly on the basis of the work Jesus Christ has done in dying for his sins and rising for his justification. This salvation is received instantly and appropriated by simple faith in Jesus Christ as the Son of God and personal Saviour. A true Christian is one who has been “saved” or “born again,” being regenerated by the Holy Spirit through the gospel of Jesus Christ. The reality of this experience as well as one’s personal assurance of salvation will be evidenced by a life characterized by Christ-like motives and standards. Salvation thus includes deliverance from the penalty of sin, from the power of sin in one’s life, and ultimately from the presence of sin (John 20:31; John 3:36,16,18; John 1:12; John 1:29;Isa. 53:5; 1Pet. 2:24; Gal. 2:13; Gal. 3:22; Eph. 2:8-9; 1Tim. 2:5-6; 1Pet. 3:18; 2Cor. 5:21; Titus 3: 5-6; 1Cor. 15:1-4 and Rom.10:9-13).
Resurrection of the Saved and Lost
We believe in the resurrection of both the saved and the lost: they who are save are resurrected to eternal life in the presence of the Lord Gog Almighty, and the lost will be resurrected to eternal damnation (John 5:28-29).
The Institution of the Family
We believe that the family is the first God-given institution established in the Garden of Eden, and that God has given parents stewardship and primary authority over their own children (Deut. 6:4-9; Psa. 127:3-5 and Eph. 6:1-5). We believe that government is not responsible for the education of welfare of our families or our children; rather, it is the responsibility of the government to reward good and to punish evil judiciously (Rom. 13:1-4).
Baptist Distinctives
We believe that the local (New Testament) church is a called-out assembly of Bible believing peoples, separated from the world system, to testify to the following
“Baptist Distinctive”:
“Baptist Distinctive”:
1. A Regenerated church membership
2. The autonomy and independence of the local church; Absolute freedom from any and all outside interference from the state, government, churches, other religious bodies or other individuals.
3. No infant baptism of any kind, for any reason.
4. The eternal security of the believer.
5. The priesthood of all believers.
6. Soul liberty for all believers.
2. The autonomy and independence of the local church; Absolute freedom from any and all outside interference from the state, government, churches, other religious bodies or other individuals.
3. No infant baptism of any kind, for any reason.
4. The eternal security of the believer.
5. The priesthood of all believers.
6. Soul liberty for all believers.
We believe the local (New Testament) should be engaged in three essential tasks:
1. Glorifying the Saviour (Eph. 3:21).
2. Edifying the saint (Eph. 4:11-12).
3. Evangelizing the sinner (Mt. 28:19-20).
2. Edifying the saint (Eph. 4:11-12).
3. Evangelizing the sinner (Mt. 28:19-20).
We believe, according to Acts 6:4, the Pastor of the local church should be engaged in two Primary endeavors:
1. Prayer.
2. The ministry of the Word.
2. The ministry of the Word.
We believe, Bible believers throughout the centuries have been marked by certain general characteristics. These general characteristics of a Biblical “called-out assembly” are as follows:
1. The Pauline revelation is taken ahead of Matthew, Acts and Hebrews as the standard by which Christian doctrines are to be judged.
2. There is a freedom and liberty in the assembly which produces “joy” and “power”.
3. There is thirsting for Heaven and the Second Coming of Christ that is never found in worldly assemblies.
4. There is toleration (not a promotion) of science and education, with no trust put in the flesh.
5. There is an absolute, unshakable belief in the power and authority of the Bible as the supreme authority and judge of all
opinions of teachers, scholars and religious leaders of any kind.
6. Absolute rejection of infant baptism of any kind.
7. Rejection of any form of religious ritual or “sacrament” as a means of obtaining salvation.
8. An open, public testimony that without Jesus Christ Himself (not a cookie or wafer), there is no salvation for civilized heathen
anymore than uncivilized heathen.
9. A separation from the world and a non-conformity where “acceptable practices” are condoned by the world, that is interpreted
by educators, scientists, and church leaders to be “hatred for humanity” or “heresy.”
10. Opposition and persecution from the Roman Catholic institution, and from educators who profess to be “Christian.”
2. There is a freedom and liberty in the assembly which produces “joy” and “power”.
3. There is thirsting for Heaven and the Second Coming of Christ that is never found in worldly assemblies.
4. There is toleration (not a promotion) of science and education, with no trust put in the flesh.
5. There is an absolute, unshakable belief in the power and authority of the Bible as the supreme authority and judge of all
opinions of teachers, scholars and religious leaders of any kind.
6. Absolute rejection of infant baptism of any kind.
7. Rejection of any form of religious ritual or “sacrament” as a means of obtaining salvation.
8. An open, public testimony that without Jesus Christ Himself (not a cookie or wafer), there is no salvation for civilized heathen
anymore than uncivilized heathen.
9. A separation from the world and a non-conformity where “acceptable practices” are condoned by the world, that is interpreted
by educators, scientists, and church leaders to be “hatred for humanity” or “heresy.”
10. Opposition and persecution from the Roman Catholic institution, and from educators who profess to be “Christian.”
God
The Self-existing One:
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;
I Chron. 29:11-12; Ps. 103:19; Rom. 11:33-34;Matt. 19:26; Ps. 19:9; Matt. 28:19; 1 Pet. 1:2-3;
1 John. 5:7; Ex. 3:14; Gen. 1:26; Titus 3:3-7.
The Divine Trinity
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; Ps. 19:9; Isa. 6:3; Ps. 100:5; Prov. 15:3; Ps. 139:1-6; Ps. 139:13-14; Ps. 103:13; Matt. 6:25-30; Matt. 10:29-31; Matt. 7:11.
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; Jn. 1:1-3; Isa. 9:6; Matt. 28:18; Titus 3:5-6;Jn. 8:15-16; II Cor. 5:21; Heb. 13:8; Phil. 2:6; Jn. 2:24; Matt. 28:20; Luke 1:35; Luke 2:7-14; I Tim. 2:5-6; Luke 19:10; Jn. 3:16.
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. Jn. 14:16-17; Jn. 14:26; Jn. 15:26; Jn. 16:7-13; Heb. 9:14; I Pet. 4:14; Isa. 40:12-15; 1Cor. 2:10-12;Ps. 139:7-12; 2Thes. 2:6-7; Jn. 3:6; Eph. 1:13-14; Acts 1:8; 1Pet. 1:2; Isa. 61:1.
The Devil
We believe that Satan is an actual person, 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 1:6-12; Job 2:1-7; Ezek. 28:12-19; Isa. 14:12-27; Gen. 3:14; II Cor. 4:4; Eph. 2:2;Matt. 24:11; II Thes. 2:7-11; Jn. 8:44; I Pet. 5:8; Gen. 3:1-6; Rev. 12:10; Dan. 7:8; Rev. 19:20; Gen. 3:15; II Cor. 11:13-15; Jn. 14:30.
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; II Tim. 3:16-17; Rev. 22:18-19; Jn. 17:17; Jn. 3:32-34; II Pet.1:20-21;I Pet.1:10-12; Zeph. 1:1; Ps. 19:7-11; Ex. 20:3-17; Ps. 1:2; Jn. 12:48.
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; Jn. 1:1-3, Jn. 1:14; Heb. 11:3; Gen. 1:21, Gen. 1:24-27; Gen. 2:7;Col. 1:16.
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. 1:21-23; Rom. 3:10-18; Rev. 21:8.
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; Jn. 14:27;Matt. 11:28; 1Jn. 1:7; Eph. 1:7; Heb. 9:22.
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; Jn. 6:44; Jn. 16:8-11; Matt. 3:1-2, Matt. 3:8; Acts 3:19;Luke 13:3; Luke 18:9-14; Acts 9:6; Rom. 10:10.
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 ( 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.
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. Jn. 3:3-5, Jn. 3:7; II Cor. 5:17; Jn. 3:8, Jn.3:16; Jn. 1:12-13; Isa. 1:18; Titus 3:5-7; Eph. 2:1, Eph. 2:5; Rom. 6:23; Jn. 16:8-11; Matt. 7:16-18; James 2:17-20.
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; Jn. 5:24;Rom. 4:3-8;Rom. 6:6; Rom. 5:9; Rom. 5:1; Phil. 4:7; Rom. 8:31-33; Gen. 15:6; Heb. 2:4.
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. Jn. 3:16; Jn. 3:36; Jn. 5:24; Jn. 6:35, Jn. 6:44; Ps. 23:4; Isa. 37:23-24; Phil. 1:6; I Pet. 3:5; Jn. 5:24; Rom. 8:1; Jn. 10:27-29; Rom. 8:35-39; II Tim. 1:12.
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;Jn. 17:17; II Cor. 3:18; 1Jn. 2:29; Rom. 8:5;
I Tim. 4:5; Luke 9:23; Matt. 24:42; Matt. 7:7-11.
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 (Jn. 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; I Sam. 2:6; Isa. 26:19; Hosea 13:14; Isa. 25:6-8.
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. 19:11-21; Acts 1:11; I Thes. 4:16-17; Rev. 1:7; II Pet. 3:10; Rev. 20:4-6; Rev. 19:20; Rev. 20:1-3, Rev. 20:10; Isa. 9:7; I Cor. 15:25-27; Ps. 2:9; Rev. 12:5; Rev. 19:15; 1Jn. 3:8; Ps. 72:1-20.
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; Jn. 3:6; Rom. 3:22, Rom. 3:24; Rom. 4:3; Rom. 1:17; Rom. 8:1-17; Acts 20:32; Jn. 15:3; Rom. 8:17;Rom. 6:23; II Cor. 4:4; Rev. 21:8; Matt. 23:37; Prov. 29:1; Matt. 25:41.
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; I Cor. 1:1-3;Acts 2:41-42; II Cor. 8:5; Matt. 16:19; Matt. 18:15-17; Jn. 14:16-17, Jn. 14:26; Acts 1:8; Acts 13:1-4; Matt. 18:17-18; Matt. 26:19-20; I Tim. 3:15; Mark 3:13-14; Luke 6:12-13. Eph.5:27; Rev.19:21; Rev.21:9
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 to 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.
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 13:1-35; Rom. 13:1-7; Acts 14:23; Acts 6:1-6; Acts 2:42; Rev. 1:10; Matt. 16:19; Acts 10:47; Matt. 18:15-17; Acts 15:19-27; Acts 18:27; Rom. 16:1-2; Matt. 28:19-20.
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. II Cor. 8:1-6, 2Cor.13:1; 2Jn. 1:4; Matt. 16:18; Acts 15:19-27.
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.
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, IIJohn 10, 2John 10:11. Have no company with them, II Thes. 3:14. Reject them, Titus 3:10. Separate ourselves, II Cor. 6:17.
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
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.7:2,4, 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."
The Self-existing One:
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;
I Chron. 29:11-12; Ps. 103:19; Rom. 11:33-34;Matt. 19:26; Ps. 19:9; Matt. 28:19; 1 Pet. 1:2-3;
1 John. 5:7; Ex. 3:14; Gen. 1:26; Titus 3:3-7.
The Divine Trinity
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; Ps. 19:9; Isa. 6:3; Ps. 100:5; Prov. 15:3; Ps. 139:1-6; Ps. 139:13-14; Ps. 103:13; Matt. 6:25-30; Matt. 10:29-31; Matt. 7:11.
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; Jn. 1:1-3; Isa. 9:6; Matt. 28:18; Titus 3:5-6;Jn. 8:15-16; II Cor. 5:21; Heb. 13:8; Phil. 2:6; Jn. 2:24; Matt. 28:20; Luke 1:35; Luke 2:7-14; I Tim. 2:5-6; Luke 19:10; Jn. 3:16.
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. Jn. 14:16-17; Jn. 14:26; Jn. 15:26; Jn. 16:7-13; Heb. 9:14; I Pet. 4:14; Isa. 40:12-15; 1Cor. 2:10-12;Ps. 139:7-12; 2Thes. 2:6-7; Jn. 3:6; Eph. 1:13-14; Acts 1:8; 1Pet. 1:2; Isa. 61:1.
The Devil
We believe that Satan is an actual person, 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 1:6-12; Job 2:1-7; Ezek. 28:12-19; Isa. 14:12-27; Gen. 3:14; II Cor. 4:4; Eph. 2:2;Matt. 24:11; II Thes. 2:7-11; Jn. 8:44; I Pet. 5:8; Gen. 3:1-6; Rev. 12:10; Dan. 7:8; Rev. 19:20; Gen. 3:15; II Cor. 11:13-15; Jn. 14:30.
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; II Tim. 3:16-17; Rev. 22:18-19; Jn. 17:17; Jn. 3:32-34; II Pet.1:20-21;I Pet.1:10-12; Zeph. 1:1; Ps. 19:7-11; Ex. 20:3-17; Ps. 1:2; Jn. 12:48.
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; Jn. 1:1-3, Jn. 1:14; Heb. 11:3; Gen. 1:21, Gen. 1:24-27; Gen. 2:7;Col. 1:16.
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. 1:21-23; Rom. 3:10-18; Rev. 21:8.
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; Jn. 14:27;Matt. 11:28; 1Jn. 1:7; Eph. 1:7; Heb. 9:22.
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; Jn. 6:44; Jn. 16:8-11; Matt. 3:1-2, Matt. 3:8; Acts 3:19;Luke 13:3; Luke 18:9-14; Acts 9:6; Rom. 10:10.
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 ( 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.
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. Jn. 3:3-5, Jn. 3:7; II Cor. 5:17; Jn. 3:8, Jn.3:16; Jn. 1:12-13; Isa. 1:18; Titus 3:5-7; Eph. 2:1, Eph. 2:5; Rom. 6:23; Jn. 16:8-11; Matt. 7:16-18; James 2:17-20.
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; Jn. 5:24;Rom. 4:3-8;Rom. 6:6; Rom. 5:9; Rom. 5:1; Phil. 4:7; Rom. 8:31-33; Gen. 15:6; Heb. 2:4.
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. Jn. 3:16; Jn. 3:36; Jn. 5:24; Jn. 6:35, Jn. 6:44; Ps. 23:4; Isa. 37:23-24; Phil. 1:6; I Pet. 3:5; Jn. 5:24; Rom. 8:1; Jn. 10:27-29; Rom. 8:35-39; II Tim. 1:12.
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;Jn. 17:17; II Cor. 3:18; 1Jn. 2:29; Rom. 8:5;
I Tim. 4:5; Luke 9:23; Matt. 24:42; Matt. 7:7-11.
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 (Jn. 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; I Sam. 2:6; Isa. 26:19; Hosea 13:14; Isa. 25:6-8.
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. 19:11-21; Acts 1:11; I Thes. 4:16-17; Rev. 1:7; II Pet. 3:10; Rev. 20:4-6; Rev. 19:20; Rev. 20:1-3, Rev. 20:10; Isa. 9:7; I Cor. 15:25-27; Ps. 2:9; Rev. 12:5; Rev. 19:15; 1Jn. 3:8; Ps. 72:1-20.
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; Jn. 3:6; Rom. 3:22, Rom. 3:24; Rom. 4:3; Rom. 1:17; Rom. 8:1-17; Acts 20:32; Jn. 15:3; Rom. 8:17;Rom. 6:23; II Cor. 4:4; Rev. 21:8; Matt. 23:37; Prov. 29:1; Matt. 25:41.
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; I Cor. 1:1-3;Acts 2:41-42; II Cor. 8:5; Matt. 16:19; Matt. 18:15-17; Jn. 14:16-17, Jn. 14:26; Acts 1:8; Acts 13:1-4; Matt. 18:17-18; Matt. 26:19-20; I Tim. 3:15; Mark 3:13-14; Luke 6:12-13. Eph.5:27; Rev.19:21; Rev.21:9
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 to 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.
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 13:1-35; Rom. 13:1-7; Acts 14:23; Acts 6:1-6; Acts 2:42; Rev. 1:10; Matt. 16:19; Acts 10:47; Matt. 18:15-17; Acts 15:19-27; Acts 18:27; Rom. 16:1-2; Matt. 28:19-20.
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. II Cor. 8:1-6, 2Cor.13:1; 2Jn. 1:4; Matt. 16:18; Acts 15:19-27.
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.
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, IIJohn 10, 2John 10:11. Have no company with them, II Thes. 3:14. Reject them, Titus 3:10. Separate ourselves, II Cor. 6:17.
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
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.7:2,4, 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."
What We Further Believe
We have been asked many times concerning the doctrine and beliefs of our Church. Of course the simplest statement of faith that we could make is this: "We believe the whole Bible from Genesis 1:1 to Revelation 22:21." However, we believe that it would be good to set forth some of the things which are most surely believed among us. The following statements are not made in an effort to establish a new set of articles of faith, but rather to make plain some of the things that we believe. There are five words that fairly set forth what we believe. Those five words are: Baptist, Fundamental, Premillennial and Independent.
We Are Baptist
By this we mean that we hold to the historic beliefs and practices which have prevailed among Baptists from the time of Jesus. In every period of time, since Christ established His church during His earthly ministry, there have been churches who were Baptist in faith and practice. They did not always wear the name Baptist, but they believed and practiced Baptist doctrine, which is none other than Bible doctrine. Baptists did not come out of the Reformation under Martin Luther, for they were never a part of the Catholic Church. In fact Baptists were on the scene long before the Catholic Church ever came into existence. For those who are interested in studying more on this subject we highly recommend The Trail of Blood, by J.M. Carroll. We do not believe in a so-called "Universal Invisible Church." We believe that Jesus established a local, visible church, and we are sure that this is the only kind of true church that is in existence today.
We Are Fundamental
By this we mean, that we accept the so-called fundamentals of the faith as opposed to modernism which denies the fundamentals of the faith. We believe in the verbal inspiration of the Scriptures, the Genesis account of the creation, the Virgin Birth of Christ, His sinless life, His blood atonement, His glorious bodily resurrection, His ascension, and His second coming. When we say that we are fundamental, we do not mean that this is all that we believe; because we do believe every doctrine and truth in the Word of God without any reservation. No Church or Christian has any right to single out any doctrine of the Word of God and say that it is non-essential. If any of it was non-essential, then God would not have wasted the space by putting it in the Bible.
We Are Premillennial
We believe that Jesus Christ is coming back before the Millennial Kingdom is established. Under the government of man, the world is growing worse and worse morally. This is a fulfillment of the Scriptures which says, "But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived." (2Timothy 3:13). When Christ shall come in the air, "the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain (the living christian) shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord." (1Thess. 4:16-17). Then the Anti-Christ will be manifested here upon the earth and the seven years of tribulation shall begin. At the end of the seven years of tribulation, the Lord will return with His saints and utterly defeat the armies of the Anti-Christ. Satan will be bound and cast into the bottomless pit, and then the Lord will establish his kingdom here on earth and reign for a thousand years. (See Revelation chapters 19 thru 21).
We Are Missionary
Every true new Testament Baptist Church should be missionary. Jesus gave the command to His Church in Matt. 28:18-29, that they were to "teach all nations." He also said, "Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature" (Mark 16:15). He also said, "Ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and n all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth" (Acts1:8). If people are to be saved, they must hear the Word of God. "For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. How then shall they call on him in whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!... So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." Rom. 10:13-15,17). To be obedient to Christ, we must send missionaries to the foreign field, while we are missionaries on the home field. It is not enough to be missionary in name, but we must be missionary in practice. This means that we should pray for missions, and support missions with the finances that God has placed in our hand. We receive a mission offering every week. We practice Faith Promise Mission giving. We support sound Bible believing missionaries. Instead of sending the money to some denominational headquarters where 80% or 90% of it is used up in administration costs, we send it direct to the missionary, through their home church. This way he gets 100% of the money and not just 10 % or 20%. We have recently raised the monthly support for our missionaries, and by God’s grace we intend to continue to raise it.
We Are Independent
We are not independent to do as we please, but we are independent and unaffiliated, in order that we might do as God pleases. God forbid that we should ever want to be independent from God. We are not "affiliated with" nor do we "belong to" any association or convention. Jesus established the local New Testament Church, and we do not believe that He established any convention or association to lord it over the churches. It is our contention that a true church cannot scripturally join anything nor become affiliated with any outside religious organization.
Churches may work together in the work of Christ, but should beware of entangling alliances which bring them under the domination of boards and denominational secretaries. Conventions, associations, and other like denominational organizations are usually started by men of good faith, but they enter into such organizations without one verse of Scriptural authority. Eventually these extra-Scriptural organizations become the citadels of compromise and doctrinal laxness, with an insatiable desire to dominate and lord it over the churches.
During the period of time covered in the book of Acts the greatest evangelistic missionary effort in the history of Christianity may be seen. In those days travel was slow, radio, television, and even the printing press was unheard of, yet the gospel spread like a flame. In no other period of Church history was so much done by so few. In 30 short years greater progress was made than in any other period of history, in establishing churches and carrying out the Great Commission. Yet, there was no convention, association, or outside the church denominational organization. The plan used in the book of Acts worked, and it is working today among churches who are trying to use it. It is our desire to contend for the faith without being contentious. We can disagree without being disagreeable. We can stand for the faith without kicking. We do rejoice when the gospel is preached and when souls are saved, even though we might not agree completely with the method that is used. Criticism of another man’s method does not constitute obedience to Christ’s command to carry the gospel to the ends of the earth. We must not only believe in the right way, but we must demonstrate the right way. The church of the living God does not have time for petty arguments, foolish and unlearned questions and the like. This is not the time for factions, frictions, and foolish divisions. This is the time for action. We are approaching the zero hour when we shall soon face Christ. Let us gird up the loins of our mind, put on the whole armor of God and press forward in the battle for Christ.
By E.L. Bynum
By clicking below you will be redirected to more Baptist Material.
To return to Victory Baptist website press the back arrow top of page.
To return to Victory Baptist website press the back arrow top of page.
Articles and Writings by and for Baptists
Divorce is a Sin
Homosexuality Perversion of God's Order
Husband of one Wife?
What We Believe
Should Christian be Cremated
The Truth about Hell
What the Bible says about suicide
Divorce is a Sin
Homosexuality Perversion of God's Order
Husband of one Wife?
What We Believe
Should Christian be Cremated
The Truth about Hell
What the Bible says about suicide
Click to send us an email!
