Our Statements
Articles of Faith
A Bible Baptist is one
who believes in a supernatural Bible, which tells
of a supernatural Christ, Who had a supernatural
birth, Who spoke supernatural words, Who performed
supernatural miracles, Who lived a supernatural
life, Who died a supernatural death, Who rose in
supernatural splendor, Who intercedes as a supernatural
priest and Who will one day return in supernatural
glory to establish a supernatural kingdom on earth.
I. Of the Scriptures
We believe that the Holy
Bible was written by men supernaturally inspired;
that it has truth without any admixture of error
for its matter; and therefore is, and shall remain
to the end of the age, the only complete and final
revelation of the will of God to man; the true
center of Christian union and the supreme standard
by which all human conduct, creeds, and opinions
should be tried.
1. By “The Holy bible” we
mean that collection of sixty-six books, from Genesis
to Revelation, which as originally written does
not only contain and convey the Word of God, but
IS the very Word of God.
2. By “inspiration” we
mean that the books of the Bible were written by
holy man of old, as they were moved by the Holy
Spirit, in such a definite way that their writings
were supernaturally and verbally inspired and free
from error, as no other writings have ever been
or ever will be inspired.
II Timothy 3:16-17; II
Peter 19-21; Acts 1:16; Acts 28:25; Psalm 119:160;
Psalm 119:105; Psalm 119:130; Luke 24:25-27; John
17:17; Luke 24:44-45; Psalm 119:89; Proverbs 30:5-6;
Romans 3:4; I Peter 1:23; Rev. 22:19; John 12:48;
Isa. 8:20; Eph. 6:17; Rom. 15:4; Luke 16:31; Psalm
19:7-11; John 5:45-47; John 5:39.
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II. Of the True God
We believe that there
is one, and only one, living and true God, an infinite,
intelligent Spirit, the maker and supreme ruler
of heaven and earth; inexpressibly glorious in
holiness and worthy of all possible honor, confidence
and love; that in the unity of the Godhead there
are three persons: the Father, the Son, and the
Holy Ghost, equal in every divine perfection, and
executing distinct but harmonious offices in the
great work of redemption.
Ex. 20:2-3; Gen. 17:1;
I Cor. 8:6; Eph. 4-6; John 4:24; Psalm 147:5; Psalm
83:18; Psalm 90:2; Jer. 10:10; Ex. 15:11; Rev.
4:11; I Tim. 1:17; Rom. 11:33; Mark 12:30; Matt.
28:19; John 15:26; I Cor. 12:4-6; I John 5:7; John
10:30; John 17:5; I Cor. 2:10-11; Phil. 2:5-6;
Eph. 2:18; II Cor. 13:14.
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III. Of the Holy Spirit
That the Holy Spirit is
a divine person; equal with God the Father and
God the Son and of the same nature; that He was
active in the creation; that in His relation to
the unbelieving world He restrains the evil one
until God’s purpose is fulfilled; that He
convicts of sin, of judgment and of righteousness;
that He bears witness to the Truth of the Gospel
in preaching and testimony; that He is the agent
in the New Birth; that He seals, endues, guides,
teaches, witnesses, sanctifies, and helps the believer.
John 14:16-17; Matt. 28:19;
Heb. 9:14; John 14:26; Luke 1:35; Gen. 1:1-3; II
Thess. 2:7; John 16:8-11; John 15:26-27; Acts 5:30-32;
John 3:5-6; Eph. 1:13-14; Matt. 3:11; Mark 1:8;
Luke 3:16; John 1:33; Acts 11:16; Luke 24:49; John
16:13; Rom. 8:14; Rom. 8:16; II Thess. 2:13; I
Pet. 1:2; Rom. 8:26-27.
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IV. Of the Devil, or Satan
We believe that Satan
was once holy, and enjoyed heavenly honors; but
through pride and ambition to be as the Almighty,
fell and drew after him a host of angels; that
he is now the malignant prince of the power of
the air, and the unholy god of this world. We hold
him to be man’s great tempter, the enemy
of God and His Christ, the accuser of the saints,
the author of all false religions, the chief power
back of the present apostasy; the lord of the antichrist,
and the author of all the powers of darkness—destined,
however, to final defeat at the hands of God’s
own Son, and to the judgment of an eternal justice
in hell, a place prepared for him and his angels.
Isa. 14:12-15; Ezek. 28:14-17;
Rev. 12:9; Jude 6; II Pet. 2:4; Eph. 2:2; John
14:30; I Thess. 3:5; Matt. 4:1-3; I Pet. 5:8; I
John 3:8; Matt. 13:39; Luke 22:3-4; Rev. 12:10;
II Cor. 11:13-15; Mark 13:21-22; I John 4:3; II
John 7; I John 2:22; Rev. 13:13-14; II Thess. 2:8-11;
Rev. 19:11, 16, 20; Rev. 12:7-9; Rev. 20:1-3; Rev.
20:10; Matt. 25:41.
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V. Of Creation
We believe in the Genesis
account of creation, and that it is to be accepted
literally, and not allegorically or figuratively;
that man was created directly in God’s own
image ad after His own likeness; that man’s
creation was not a matter of evolution or evolutionary
change of species, or development through interminable
periods of time from lower to higher forms; that
all animal and vegetable life was made directly
and God’s established law was that they should
bring forth only “after their own kind.”
Gen. 1:1; Ex. 20:11; Acts
4:24; Col. 1:16-17; Heb. 11:3; John 1:3; Rev. 10:6;
Rom. 1:20; Acts 17:23-26; Jer. 10:12; Neh. 9:6;
Gen. 1:26-27; Gen. 2:21-23; Gen. 1:11; Gen. 1:24.
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VI. Of the Fall of
Man
We believe that man was
created in innocence under the law of his Maker,
but by voluntary transgression fell from his sinless
and happy state, in consequence of which all mankind
are now sinners, not by constraint, but of choice;
and therefore, under just condemnation without
defense or excuse.
Gen. 3:1-6, 24; Rom. 5:12;
Rom. 5:19; Rom. 3:10-19; Eph. 2:1,3; Rom. 1:18;
Ezek. 8:19-20; Rom. 1:32; Rom. 1:20; Rom. 1:28;
Gal. 3:22.
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VII. Of the Virgin
Birth
We believe that Jesus
Christ was begotten of the Holy Ghost, in a miraculous
manner; born of Mary a virgin, as no other man
was ever born or can ever be born of woman, and
that He is both the Son of God, and God, the Son.
Gen. 3:15; Isa. 7:14;
Matt. 1:18-25; Luke 1:35; Mark 1:1; John 1:14;
Psa. 2:7; Gal. 4:4; I John 5:20; I Cor. 15:47.
VIII. Of the Atonement for Sin
We believe that the salvation
of sinners is wholly of grace; through the mediatorial
offices of the Son of God, who by appointment of
the Father, freely took upon Him our nature, yet without
sin, honored the divine law by His personal obedience,
and by His death made a full and vicarious atonement
for our sins; that His atonement consisted not
in setting us an example by His death as a martyr,
but was the voluntary substitution of Himself in
the sinner's place, the Just dying for the unjust,
Christ the Lord, bearing our sins in His own body
on the tree; that, having risen from the dead,
He is now enthroned in heaven and uniting in His
wonderful person the most tender sympathies with
divine perfection, He is every way qualified to
be a suitable, a compassionate and an all-sufficient
Savior.
Eph. 2:8; Acts 15:11;
Rom. 3:24; John 3:16; Matt. 18:11; Phil. 2:7; Heb.
2:14; Isa. 53:4-7; Rom. 3:25; I John 4:10; I Cor.
15:3; a Car. 5:21: John 10:18; Phil. 2:8; Gal.
1:4; I Pet. 2-M; I Pet. 3:18: Isa. 53:11: Heb.
12£: I Car. 15^0: fa. 53:12: Mb. 5
9:1215; Hcb. 7:25. : .John 2.2.
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IX.
Of Grace in the New Creation
We believe that in order to be
saved, sinners must be born again; that the new birth
is a new creation in Christ Jesus; that it is instantaneous
and not a process; that in the new birth the one
dead in trespasses and in sins is made a partaker
of the divine nature and receives eternal life, the
free gift of God; that the new creation is brought
about in a manner above our comprehension, not by
culture, not by character, nor by the will of man,
but wholly and solely by the power of the Holy Spirit
in connection with divine truth, so as to secure
our voluntary obedience to the gospel; that its proper
evidence appears in the holy repentance and faith
and newness of life.
John 3:3; II Cor. 5:17; Luke
5:27; I John 5:1; John 3:6-7; Acts 2:41; 2 Pet. 1:4;
Rom. 6:23; Eph. 2:1; II Cor. 5:19; Col. 2:13; John
1:12-13; Gal. 5:22; Eph. 5:9.
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X. Of the Freeness of Salvation
We believe in God's electing
grace; that the blessings of salvation are made free
to all by the gospel; that it is the immediate duty
of all to accept them by a cordial, penitent and
an obedient faith; and nothing prevents the salvation
of the greatest sinner on earth but his own inherent
depravity and voluntary rejection of the gospel;
which rejection involves him in an aggravated condemnation.
Thess. 1:4; Col. 3:12; I Pet.
1:2; Titus 1:1; Rom. 8:29-30; Matt. 6
11:28; Isa. 55:1; Rev. 22:17; Rom. 10:13, John 6:37; Isa. 55:6; Acts 2:38;
Isa. 55:7; John 3:15-16; I Tim. 1:15; I Cor. 15-W; Eph. 2:4-5; John 5:40;
John 3:18; John 3:36
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XI. Of Justification
We believe that the great gospel
blessing which Christ secures to such as believe
in Him is Justification; that Justification includes
the pardon of sin, and the gift of eternal life on
principles of righteousness; that it is bestowed
not in consideration of any works of righteousness
which we have done; but solely through faith in the
Redeemer's blood, His righteousness is imputed unto
us.
Acts 13:39; Isa. 53:11; Zech.
13:1; Rom. 8:1; Rom. 5:9; Rom. 5:1; Tit. 3:5-7; Rom.
1:17; Hab. 2:4; Gal. 3:11; Rom. 4:1-8; Heb. 10:38
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XII. Of Repentance and Faith
We believe that Repentance and
Faith are solemn obligations, and also inseparable
races, wrought in our souls by the quickening Spirit
of God; thereby, being deeply convicted of our guilt,
danger and helplessness, and of the way of salvation
by Christ, we turn to God with unfeigned contrition,
confession and supplication for mercy; at the same
time heartily receiving thee Lord Jesus Christ and
openly confessing Him as our only and all-sufficient
Savior.
Acts 20:21; Mark 1:15; Acts
2:37-38; Luke 18:13; Rom. 10:13; Psa. 51:1-4; Psa.
51:7; Isa. 55:6-7; Luke 12:8; Rom. 10:9-11.
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XIII.
Of the Church
We believe that a Baptist Church
is a congregation of baptized believers associated
by a covenant of faith and fellowship of the gospel,
said church being understood to be the citadel and
propagator of the Divine and Eternal Grace; observing
the ordinances of Christ; governed by His laws; exercising
the gifts, rights, and privileges invested in them
by His Word; that its officers of ordination are
pastors or elders whose qualifications, claims and
duties are clearly defined in the scriptures; we
believe the true mission of the church is found in
the Great Commission: First, to make individual disciples;
Second, to build up the church; Third, to teach and
instruct as He has commanded. We do not believe in
the reversal of this order; we hold that the local
church has the absolute right of self government,
free from the interference of any hierarchy of individuals
or organizations; and that the one and only superintendent
is Christ through the Holy Spirit; that it is scriptural
for true churches to cooperate with each other in
contending for the faith and for the furtherance
of the Gospel; that every church is the sole and
only judge of the measure and method of its cooperation;
on all matters of membership, of policy, of government,
of discipline of benevolence, the will of the local
church is final.
Acts 2:41; Acts 2:42; I Cor.
11:2; Eph. 1:22-23; Eph. 4:11; I Cor. 12:4, 8-11;
Acts 14:23; Acts 6:5-6; Acts 15:23; Acts 20:17-28;
I Tim. 3:1-13; Matt. 28:19-20; Col. 1:18; Eph. 5:23-24;
I Pet. 5:1-4; Acts 15:22; Jude 3, 4; II Cor. 8:23-24;
I Cor 16:1; Mal. 3:10; Lev. 27:32; I Cor 16:2; I
Cor 6:1-3; I Cor. 5:11-13.
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XIV. Of Baptism and the Lord’s
Supper
We believe that Christian baptism
is the immersion in water of a believer; in the name
of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost,
with the authority of the local church, to show forth
in a solemn and beautiful emblem our faith in the
crucified, buried and risen Savior, with its effect
in our death to sin and resurrection to a new life;
that it is pre-requisite to the privileges of a church
relation and to the Lord’s supper; in which
the members of the church, by the sacred use of bread
and the fruit of the vine are to commemorate together
the dying love of Christ; preceded always by solemn
self-examination.
Acts 8:36-39; Matt. 3:6; John
3:23; Rom 6:4-5; Matt. 3:16; Matt. 28:19; Rom. 6:3-5;
Col. 2:12; Acts 2:41-42; Matt. 28:19, 20; I Cor.
11:23-28.
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XV.
Of the Eternal Security of the Saints
We believe that real believers
are kept by the Savior unto the end; That their preservation
in Christ is the grand mark which distinguishes them
from superficial professors; that a special Providence
watches over their welfare; and that they are kept
by the power of God through faith unto eternal salvation.
John 8:31-32; Col. 1:21-23;
I John 2:19; Matt. 13:19-21; Rom. 8:28; Psa. 121:3;
Heb. 1:14; I Pet. 1:5; Phil. 1:6; John 10:28, 29;
Rom. 8:35-39.
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XVI.
Of the Righteous and the Wicked
We believe that there is a radical
and essential difference between the righteous and
the wicked; that such only as through faith are justified
in the name of the Lord Jesus, and sanctified by
the Spirit of our God, are truly righteous in His
esteem; while all such as continue in impenitence
and unbelief are in His sight wicked, and under the
curse, and this distinction holds among men both
in and after death, in the everlasting felicity of
the saved and the everlasting conscious suffering
of the lost.
Mal. 3:18; Gen. 18:23; Rom.
6:17-18; Prov. 11:31; I Pet. 1:18; Rom. 1:17; I Cor.
15:22; Acts 10:34-35; I John 2:29; Rom. 6:16; I John
5:19; Gal. 3:10; Rom. 7:6; Rom. 6:23; Prov. 14:32;
Luke 16:25; Matt. 25:34, 41; John 8:21; Luke 9:26;
John 12:25; Matt. 7:13-14.
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XVII.
Of Civil Government
We believe that civil government
is of divine appointment, for the interests and good
order of human society; that magistrates are to be
prayed for, conscientiously honored and obeyed; except
only in things opposed to the will of our Lord Jesus
Christ; who is the only Lord of the conscience, and
the coming Prince of the kings of the Earth.
Rom. 13:7; II Sam. 23:3; Ex.
18:21-22; Acts 23:5; Matt 22:21; Tit. 3:1; I Pet.
2:13, 14; I Pet. 2:17; Acts 4:19-20; Dan. 3:17-18;
Matt. 10:28; Matt. 23:10; Phil. 2:10-11; Psa. 72:11.
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XVIII.
Of the Resurrection and Return of Christ and Related
Events
We believe in and accept the
sacred Scriptures upon these subjects at their face
and full value. Of the Resurrection, we believe that
Christ rose bodily “The third day according
to the Scriptures” that He alone is our “merciful
and faithful high priest in things pertaining to
God;” “that this same Jesus which is
taken up from you into heaven shall so come in like
manner as ye have seen Him go into heaven” –bodily,
personally and visible; that the ‘dead in Christ
shall rise first,” that the living saints “shall
all be changed in a moment, in the twinkling of an
eye, at the last trump;” “that the Lord
God shall give unto Him the throne of His Father
David;” and that “Christ shall reign
a thousand years in righteousness until He hath put
all enemies under His feet.”
Matt. 28:6-7; Luke 24:39; John
20:27; I Cor. 15:4; Luke 24:2-7; Acts 1:9, 11; Luke
24:51; Mark 16:19; Heb. 8:1; Heb. 12:2; Heb. 8:6;
I Tim 2:5; I John 2:1; Heb. 5:9-10; John 14:3; I
Thess. 4:16; Matt. 24:27; Heb. 9:28; I Cor. 15:42-44,
51-53; I Thess. 4:17; Luke 1:32; I Cor. 15:25; Isa.
11:4-5; Psa. 72:8; Rev. 20:1-4; Rev. 20:6.
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XIX.
Of Missions
The command to give the gospel
to the world is clear and unmistakable and this Commission
was given to the churches.
Matt. 28:18-20, “And Jesus
came and spake unto them saying All power is given
unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore,
and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name
of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost;
Teaching them to serve all things whatsoever I have
commanded you and, lo I am with you always, even
unto the end of the world. Amen.”
Mark 16:15, “And he said
unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the
gospel to every creature.”
John 20:21, “Then said
Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father
hath sent me, even so send I you.”
Rom. 10:13-15, “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 believed? and how shall they believe in him of
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!”
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XX.
Of the Grace of Giving
Scriptural giving is a fundamental
part of the faith.
II Cor. 8:7, “ Therefore
as ye abound in everything, in faith, and utterance,
and knowledge, and in all diligence, and in your
love to us, see that ye abound in this grace also.”
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, “Upon the
first day of the week let every one of you lay by
him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there
be no gatherings when I come.” Under Grace
we give, and do not pay, the tithe—“Abraham
gave the tenth of the spoils”—
Hebrews 7:2, 4—and this
was four hundred years before the law, and is confirmed
in the New Testament; Jesus said concerning the tithe, “These
ye ought to have done”—
Matt. 23:23. We are commanded
to bring the tithe into the common treasury of the
church.
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.”
In the New Testament it was
the common treasury of the church.
Acts 4:34, 35, 37, “And
brought the prices of the things that were Sold and
laid them down at the apostles’ feet . . .Having
land, sold It, and brought the money, and laid it
AT THE APOSTLES’ FEET.”
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GOD'S PLAN OF SALVATION
1. YOU ARE A SINNER - ROMANS
3:10.
2. YOU ARE LOST NOW - ROMANS 3:23.
3. IN YOUR PRESENT SINFUL CONDITION YOU WILL SPEND ETERNITY IN HELL– ROMANS
6:23.
4. GOD LOVES YOU - ROMANS 6:8; JOHN 3:16.
5. YOU CAN BE SAVED NOW - ROMANS 10:9-10. 13.
6. YOU CAN KNOW YOU ARE SAVED - 1 JOHN 5:13; JOHN 3:36.
Now, simply bow your head and
ask Christ to come into your heart, forgive you of
your sins, and be Lord of your life.
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