Preamble
Receiving by faith, the Lord Jesus for our salvation; believing the Bible to be the divinely inspired, plenary, infallible, and authoritative Word of God; accepting the historic distinctive Baptist principles, and knowing that all things should be done decently and in order; we, therefore band ourselves together as a body of immersed believers in Jesus Christ. WE BELIEVE IN...
Church Government
The Church acknowledges Jesus Christ as the Supreme Head of the Church; and claims the Scriptural right of complete autonomy and self-government; and undertakes to manage all of its affairs according to New Testament teaching; and recognizes the sole authority of the Holy Scriptures in all matters of faith and practice.
Doctrine of the Scriptures
We believe that the Holy Bible was written by men supernaturally
inspired; that it has truth without the 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 supreme standard by which all human conduct, creeds, and opinions
should be tried.
(2 Peter 1:20; Luke 16:29-31; Acts 1:16; Acts 3:21; Psalm 119:160; Psalm
12:6-7; Luke 16:17; 2 Timothy 3:16-17)
By "The Holy Bible" we mean that collection of 66 books, from Genesis to Revelation, which as originally inspired and eternally preserved does not only contain and convey the Word of God, but IS the very Word of God.
By "inspiration" we mean that the 66 books of the Bible were written by holy men of old, as they were moved by
the Holy Spirit, in such a definite way that their writings were verbally
(the very words, not just ideas), and plenarily (completely) inspired and
free from error, as no other writings have been or ever will be inspired.
(2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:19-21; Acts 1:16; 28:25; Psalms 119:105, 160;
Luke 24:25-27; John 17:17; Luke 24:44, 45; Psalms 119:89; Proverbs 30:5-6;
Romans 3:4; 1 Peter 1:23; Revelation 22:19; John 12:48; Isaiah 8:20;
Ephesians 6:17; Romans 15:4; Luke 16:31; Psalms 19:7-11; John 5:45; John
5:39)
We believe that the Bible is the complete and sole revelation of God to
man and that all modern pretence of revelation through tongues, prophecy,
dreams, knowledge, visions, special people or angels, or churches are
unscriptural.
(Psalm 119:89; Jude 3; Proverbs 30:6; Revelation 22:19, 19; Isaiah 8:20;
Deuteronomy 18:20; Jeremiah 23:28-36)
The Masoretic Text of the Old Testament and the Received Text of the New Testament (Textus Receptus) are those texts of the original languages we accept and use. The King James Bible is the only English version we accept, use, or endorse. The Bible is our sole authority for faith and practice.
Doctrine of the Tri-Unity of 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; inexpressible, 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 executive distinct but harmonious offices in the great work
of redemption.
(Exodus 20:2, 3; Genesis 17:1; 1 Corinthians 8:6; Ephesians 4:6; John 4:24;
Psalm 147:5; 83:18; 90:2; Jeremiah 10:10; Exodus 15:11; Revelation 4:11; 1
Timothy 1:17; Romans 11:33; Mark 12:30; Matthew 28:19; John 15:26; 1
Corinthians 12:4-6; 1 John 10:30; John 17:5; Acts 5:3-4; 1 Corinthians
2:10-11; Philippians 2:5-6; Ephesians 2:18; 1 Corinthians 13:14)
Doctrine of God
We believe that God is the eternal, self-existent, personal Spirit, He is
infinite in knowledge (omniscient); infinite in wisdom, and infinite in
power (Omnipotent). He is everywhere (omnipresent); He is the sovereign
Creator and Sustainer. We believe that God is absolutely holy, perfect,
righteous, loving, and just.
(John 4:24; 1 John 3:20; Acts 15:18; Genesis 1:1; Ephesians 1:20; James
1:17; 1 John 4:8-16; Psalms 139:1-18; 1 Timothy 1:16; Deuteronomy 33:27)
Doctrine of Jesus Christ
We believe in the eternal deity of our Lord Jesus Christ, that He is
equal with God the Father and God the Holy Spirit and of the same nature;
that He was active in the Creation; that He was begotten by the Holy Spirit,
born of the virgin Mary, not having human father, and is true God and true
man, that He was sinless, fulfilling all the righteous commandments of the
Law; that He is man's only hope of salvation from sin, being the only
mediator between God and man; that He was God manifest in the flesh; that He
offered Himself a sacrifice unto death; that He was buried, that He rose
again the third day for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He is
now seated on the right hand of God the Father.
(Isaiah 7:14; Luke 1:35; John 1:1-4; John 10:30; John 14:6; 1 Timothy 2:5,
6; Revelation 20:4-6, Hebrews 7:26, 27; John 1:14; 1 Corinthians 15:3, 4;
Hebrews 12:2)
Doctrine of the Holy Spirit
We believe that the Holy Spirit is a Divine Person equal with God the
Father and God the Son and of the same nature; that He was active in the
Creation; that in His relation to the unbelieving world He restrains the
Evil one until God's purpose is fulfilled, that He convicts of sin, of
judgment and 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 indwells, seals, endues, guides, teaches, witnesses, sanctifies, and
helps the believer.
(John 14:16, 17; Matthew 28:19; Hebrews 9:14; John 14:26; Luke 1:35; Genesis
1:1-3; 2 Thessalonians 2:7; John 16:8:11; John 15:26, 27; Acts 5:30-32; John
3:5, 6; Ephesians 1:13-14; Matthew 3:11; Mark 1:8; John 1:33; Luke 24:49;
John 16:13; John 14:26; Romans 8:14, 16; 2 Thessalonians 2:13; 1 Peter 1:2;
Romans 8:26, 27)
Doctrine of Satan and Fallen Angels
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 an
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 behind the present apostasy; the lord of
the antichrist, and the author of all the powers of darkness; that he is
destined to final defeat at the hands of God's own Son, and to the judgment
of an eternal justice in the Lake of Fire, a place prepared for him and his
angels.
(Isaiah 14:12-15; Ezekiel 28:14-17; Revelation 12:9; 2 Peter 2:4; Ephesians
2:2; John 14:30; 1 Thessalonians 3:5; Matthew 4:1-3; 1 Peter 5:8; 1 John
3:8; Matthew 13:25, 37-39; Luke 22:3, 4; Revelation 12:10; 1 Corinthians
11:13-15; Mark 13:21, 22; 1 John 4:3; 1 John 2:22; Revelation 13:13, 14; 2
Thessalonians 2:8-11; Revelation 19:11, 16, 20; Revelation 12:7-9; 20:1-3;
20:10; Matthew 25:41)
Doctrine of Creation
We believe in the Genesis account of Creation and other historical
events, including the world-wide, universal Flood, and that it is to be
accepted literally, and not allegorically, or figuratively; that the days of
creation were literal 24-hour days; that man was created directly in God's
own image and after His own likeness; that man's creation was not a matter
of evolution or evolutionary change of species, or development through
interminable periods of time from lower to higher forms; that all animal and
vegetable life were made directly and that God's established law was that
they should bring forth only "after their kind." We believe that Adam and
Eve were the first humans, and that Genesis chapter 1, verses one and two,
are to be understood without imagining indeterminate gaps of time.
(Genesis 1; Exodus 20:11; Acts 4:24; Colossians 1:16-17; Hebrews 11:3;
Revelation 10:6; Romans 1:20; Acts 17:23-26; Jeremiah 10:12; Nehemiah 9:6;
Genesis 1:26, 27; Genesis 2:21-23; Genesis 1:11; Genesis 1:24; Genesis 7:19)
Doctrine 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, by nature and of choice; and therefore are under just condemnation without defense or excuse; that through the transgression of this "... one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned."; we take "for all have sinned" to mean that in Adam existed the entire race, thus as the branch shares in the root, so the whole of mankind share in the guilt, penalty, death, and corrupts nature springing from that first transgression.
We believe in the total depravity of man, and that while all men may not
be as bad as they could be, all are as bad off as they can be; for all are
dead in trespasses and sins; there may be degrees of sinfulness, but there
are no degrees of deadness. Thus man is utterly helpless to redeem his lost
condition apart from the grace of God.
(Genesis 3:1-6, 24; Romans 5:12; Romans 5:19; Romans 10:3-19; Ephesians 2:1,
3; Romans 1:18; Ezekiel 18:19-20; Romans 1:32; Romans 1:20; Romans 1:28;
Galatians 3:22; Colossians 2:13; Isaiah 64:6; Romans 3:23; Romans 6:23;
Ephesians 2:8, 9)
Doctrine of Salvation
We believe the salvation of sinners is wholly of grace; through the
mediatory offices of the Son of God who by appointment of the Father,
freely took upon Him the likeness of sinful flesh, yet without sin, honoring
the divine Law by His personal obedience. His atonement consisted not in
setting us an example by His death as a martyr, but in voluntarily
substituting Himself in the sinners place, the Just dying for the unjust,
Christ the Lord bearing our sins in His own body on the tree. We believe
that He has risen from the dead and that He is now enthroned on the right
hand of the Father. He is qualified in every way to be a suitable, a
compassionate, and an all-sufficient Savior.
(Ephesians 2:8; Acts 15:11; Romans 3:24; John 3:16; Matthew 18:11;
Philippians 2:7; Hebrews 2:14; Isaiah 53:4-7; Romans 3:25; 1 John 4:10; 1
Corinthians 15:3; 1 Corinthians 5:21; John 10:18; Philippians 2:8; Galatians
1:4; 1 Peter 2:24; 1 Peter 3:18; Isaiah 53:11; Hebrews 12:2; 1 Corinthians
15:20; Isaiah 53:12; Hebrews 9:12-15; Hebrews 7:25; 1 John 2:2; 1 Timothy
2:5; Romans 8:3; Hebrews 4:15)
We believe that the blessings of salvation are made free to all by the
Gospel; therefore, we believe in an unlimited atonement and that whosoever
will may come to Christ for salvation. We believe that a person is saved
when he repents of his sin and exercises his faith by accepting Jesus Christ
as his personal Savior. The believer is kept by the power of God and is
eternally secure in Christ. The basis of our salvation is the
substitutionary death of Christ and the shedding of His precious blood. We
are redeemed "... with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without
blemish and without spot."
(Romans 3:24; Romans 10:13; Luke 13:3, 5; Revelation 2:22; Mark 6:12; Acts
3:19; Acts 16:31; Romans 8:1; Jude 24; Romans 8:38, 39; John 10:28, 29; 1
Peter 1:18, 19)
We believe that the scope of salvation includes the forgiveness of all
sins, past, present, and future; in Jesus Christ we stand perfect before
God; and the changing of our earthly body to be conformed like unto the
resurrected body of our Lord at His return for His own.
(Acts 13:39; Ephesians 1:6, 7; Romans 8:33, 34; 1 Corinthians 15:52; 1
Thessalonians 4:16, 17)
We believe that persevering obedience to Christ is the grand mark which
distinguishes true believers from superficial professors; that a special
Providence watches over true believers' welfare; and that they are kept by
the power of God through faith unto eternal salvation.
(John 8:31, 32; Colossians 1:21-23; 1 John 2:19; Matthew 13:19-21; Romans
8:28; Psalm 121:3; Hebrews 1:14; 1 Peter 1:5; Philippians 1:6; John 10:28,
29; John 16:8; Romans 8:35-39)
We believe that the state, either of reconciliation or enmity toward God,
is eternally fixed at death. We further believe that there is an appointed
day for the judgment of the wicked when they will be cast into the Lake of
Fire, there to remain in everlasting conscious punishment and torment.
(John 1:12; John 5:24; John 10:28, 29; Romans 6:23; 2 Corinthians 5:21;
Ephesians 2:8, 9; 1 John 5:17; Romans 8:19-23; 1 John 3:2; 2 Thessalonians
2:7-9; Hebrews 9:27; 2 Peter 2:9; Revelation 20:12-15; Revelation 21:8, 27;
John 3:36; John 5:29; Psalms 9:17)
Doctrine of Church
DEFINITION
We believe that a Christian Church is a congregation of regenerated
persons, baptized by immersion on a profession of faith in Christ; united in
covenant for the observance of Christian ordinances, for worship, for
instruction, for edification, and for the evangelization of the world;
recognizing and accepting Christ as its Supreme Head, Lord and Lawgiver, and
taking His Word as its only sufficient rule of faith and practice in all
matters of conscience and religion; said Church being understood to be the
pillar, ground, and propagator of the Truth.
(Acts 2:41-42; 6:5-6; 20:17-28; 1 Corinthians 12:4, 8-12; 1 Timothy 3:1-13)
OFFICERS
We believe that its officers of ordination are pastors and deacons whose
qualifications, claims, and duties are clearly defined in the Scriptures. We
believe that the titles pastor, elder, and bishop refer to different aspects
of the same office.
(Acts 20:17, 28; Titus 1:5-7)
MISSION
We believe the true mission of the individual is found in the Great
Commandment.
(Matthew 22:36-40; Deuteronomy 6:5; Leviticus 19:18; Luke 10:27)
We believe the true mission of the Church is found in the Great
Commission.
(Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:15; Luke 24:46-47; Acts 1:8)
SELF-GOVERNMENT
We believe 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. We believe that in all matters of membership, of policy, of
government, of discipline, of benevolence, the will of the local church is
final.
(Matthew 18:15-20)
FELLOWSHIP
We believe that it is scriptural for true churches to co-operate with each other in contending for the faith and for the furtherance of the Gospel, and that every church is the sole and only judge of the measure and method of its co-operation.
- We believe that it is scriptural for true churches to be separate from all forms of apostasy and heresy. We believe that there are many movements which fit under the umbrella of "Christianity" which need to be identified and rejected as opposed to biblical teaching.
- We reject the ecumenical movement which seeks the organizational unity of all "Christianity" and ultimately all religions because it encourages the emphasis of unity at the expense of true Biblical doctrine.
- We reject modernism (theological liberalism) which denies or questions fundamental doctrines of the faith, such as the inerrancy of the Scripture, the virgin birth, the deity of Christ, the creation of Man by God, the judgment of God upon unredeemed humanity, the substitutionary death of Christ, etc.
- We reject neo-orthodoxy which, while affirming the transcendence of God, the finiteness and sinfulness of man, and the necessity of supernatural divine revelation of the truth, seriously departs from orthodoxy, redefines biblical terminology, accepts the views of destructive higher criticism, denies the inerrancy of the Scriptures as historic revelation, accepts religious experience as the criterion of truth, and abandons other important truths of the Christian faith.
- We reject neo-evangelicalism which, for the sake of evangelism, co-operates with modernists, liberals, churches and/or organizations who deny fundamental doctrines of the faith.
- We believe that it is Scriptural for this Church to avoid
ecclesiastical association with any person who associates with false
doctrine or any organization which tolerates false doctrine among its
members.
(2 Corinthians 6:14-18; Revelation 18:4; 2 John 7-11; Jude 3, 4; Philippians 3:2, 3; Matthew 7:15-21; Acts 20:28-31; 1 Corinthians 5:11-13)
Doctrine of Church Ordinances
BAPTISM
We believe that Christian baptism is the immersion in water of a believer
in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, with the
authority of the local Church, to show forth in a solemn and beautiful way
our faith in the crucified, buried and risen Saviour. We believe it
symbolizes our death to sin and resurrection to a new life in Christ.
Baptism has no merit in salvation, but is a step of obedience by the saved
person.
(Matthew 28:18-20; Acts 2:41; 8:12, 36-39; 10: 47, 48; 16:30-34; John 3:23;
Matthew 3:6; Matthew 3:16; Romans 6:4, 5; Mark 16:16; Colossians 2:12)
THE LORD'S SUPPER
We believe that the bread and fruit of the vine in the Lord's Supper are
symbols of the body and blood of Christ and that the Supper should be
observed as a remembrance of Christ until He comes. We believe that in no
sense is the Lord's Supper a sacrifice or continuation of the sacrifice of
Christ or that there is any change in the nature of the elements during
their administration. Observance of the Lord's Supper is for believers only
and should be preceded by solemn self-examination.
(Matthew 26:26-29; Mark 14:22-25; Luke 22:15-20; Acts 2:42, 46; 1
Corinthians 10:16; 1 Corinthians 11:17-34)
Doctrine 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.
(Genesis 9:5, 6; Romans 13:7; 2 Samuel 23:3; Exodus 18:21, 22; Acts 23:5;
Matthew 22:21; Titus 3:1; 1 Peter 2:13, 14; 1 Peter 2:17; Acts 4:19, 20;
Daniel 3:17, 18; Matthew 10:28; Matthew 23:10; Philippians 2:10, 11; Psalms
72:11)
Doctrine of Future Events
We believe in the pre-millennial return of Christ; that His return from
heaven will be personal, visible, glorious, and pretribulational, a blessed
hope for which we should constantly watch and pray; that the time is
unrevealed but always imminent; that when He comes He will first remove from
the earth His believers by the resurrection of the dead in Christ and the
translation of the living (commonly referred to as the Rapture). He will
then pour out the righteous judgments of God upon the unbelieving world, and
afterwards descend with His bride (commonly referred to as the Revelation)
and establish His glorious and literal kingdom over all nations for a
thousand years (Commonly referred to as the Millennium).
(1 Thessalonians 5:2-9; 1 Thessalonians 1:10; Acts 1:11; Titus 2:13; Mark
13:32-37; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; Matthew 24:21; Jude 14, 15; Revelation
19:11-16; Zechariah 14:4-21; Revelation 20:1-9; Isaiah 9:6-7)
We believe that the spirits of the saved at death go immediately to be
with Christ in heaven; that their works shall be brought before the Judgment
Seat of Christ for the determination of rewards.
(2 Corinthians 5:8-10; 1 Corinthians 3:13-15)
We believe that the spirits of the unsaved at death descend immediately
to Hades where they are kept under punishment until the final day of
judgment, at which time their bodies shall be raised from the grave, they
shall be judged at the Great White Throne and cast into the Lake of Fire to
suffer everlasting, conscious punishment.
(Daniel 12:2; Luke 16:19-31; 2 Peter 1-9; Jude 6, 7; Revelation 20:11-15;
Revelation 21:8; Mark 9:43-48)
Church Covenant
Having been led, as we believe, by the Spirit of God, to receive the Lord Jesus Christ as our Savior and on the profession of our faith, having been baptized in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, we do now in the presence of God, angels, and this assembly, most joyfully enter into covenant with one another, as one body in Christ. We engage therefore, by the aid of the Holy Spirit, to walk together in Christian love; to strive for the advancement of this Church, in knowledge, holiness and comfort; to promote its prosperity and spirituality; to sustain its worship, ordinances, discipline and doctrine; to give it a sacred pre-eminence over all institutions of human origin; to contribute cheerfully and regularly to the support of the ministry, the expenses of the Church, the relief of the poor, and the spread of the Gospel through all nations. We also engage to maintain family and secret devotions; to religiously educate our children; to seek the salvation of our kindred and acquaintances; to walk circumspectly in the world; to be just in our dealings, faithful in our engagements and exemplary in our deportment; to avoid all tattling, backbiting and excessive anger; and to abstain from the use of intoxicating drinks. We further engage to watch over one another in brotherly love; to remember each other in prayer; to aid each other in sickness and distress; to cultivate Christian sympathy in feeling and courtesy in speech; to be slow to take offence, but always ready for reconciliation, and mindful of the rule of our Savior to secure it without delay.
We moreover, engage that when we remove from this place we will as soon as possible unite with some other Church, where we can carry out the spirit of this covenant and the principles of God's Word.
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