Note: These truths we (Linda and I) hold as husband and wife
We are Bible Believing Baptists. A
Bible Believing Baptist is one who believes in a supernatural Bible preserved
for us in the King James Version, 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 power, Who ascended in supernatural splendor, Who
intercedes as a supernatural priest and Who will one day return in supernatural
glory to establish a supernatural kingdom on the earth.
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. We further hold that the Authorized
Version is the preserved Word of God for English speaking people, and that it
is without error. We do not hold to double inspiration.
1. By "The Holy Bible" we
mean that collection of sixty-six books, from Genesis to Revelation, which 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 men 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.
Psalm 12:6-7; 19:7-11; 119:89,105,130,160; Proverbs 30:5-6;
Isaiah 8:20; Luke 16:31; 24:25-27,44-45; John 5:39,45-47; 12:48; 17:17; Acts
1:16; 28:25; Romans 3:4; 15:4; Ephesians 6:17; 2Timothy 3:16-17; 1Peter 1:23;
2Peter 1:19-21; Revelation 22:19
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. Further, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit
are of one essence, yet separate in Person.
Genesis 17:1; Exodus 20:2-3; 15:11; Psalm 83:18; 90:2;
147:5; Jeremiah 10:10; Matthew 28:19; Mark 12:30; John 4:24; 10:30; 15:26;
17:5; Acts 5:3-4; Romans 11:23; 1Corinthians 12:10-11; 8:6; 12:4-6;
2Corinthians 13:14; Ephesians 2:18; 4:6; Philippians 2:5-6; 1Timothy 1:17;
1John 5:7; Revelation 4:11
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
and essence; 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.
Genesis 1:13; Matthew 3:11; 28:19; Mark 1:8; Luke 1:35;
3:16; 24:49; John 1:33; 3:5-6; 14:16-17,26; 15:26-27; 16:8-11,13; Acts 5:30-32;
11:16; Romans 8:14,16,26-27; Ephesians 1:13-14; 2Thessalonians 2:7,13; Hebrews
9:14; 1Peter 1:2
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.
Isaiah 14:12-15; Ezekiel 28:14-17; Matthew 4:1-3; 13:25;
25:41; 27:39; Mark 13:21-22; Luke 22:3-4; John 14:30; Ephesians 2:2;
2Corinthians 11:13-15; 1Thessalonians 3:5; 2Thessalonians 2:8-11; 1Peter 5:8;
2Peter 2:4; 1John 2:22; 3:8; 4:3; 2John 7; Jude 6; Revelation 12:7-10; 13:13-14;
19:11,16,20; 20:1-3,10
Of The Creation
We believe in the Genesis account of creation and that it is to be accepted literally, and not allegorically or figuratively; that the “days” of Genesis chapters 1 and 2 are literal 24 hour days; that God creative work was accomplished in 6 literal 24 hour days; we do not accept the “Gap” theory; we hold 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 was made directly and God’s established law was that they should bring for only "after their kind." Since God created mankind into genders distinctly male and female, we believe that the only legitimate marriage is that between a man and a woman. He has commanded that no intimate sexual activity be engaged in outside of marriage. We believe that any form of homosexuality, lesbianism, bisexuality, bestiality, incest, fornication, adultery and pornography are sinful perversions of God’s gift of sex. We believe that God rejects any attempt to alter one’s gender by surgery or appearance.
Genesis 1:1,11,24,26-27; 2:21-23; Exodus 20:11; Nehemiah 9:6; Jeremiah 10:12; John 1:3; Acts 4:24; 17:23-26; Romans 1:20; Colossians 1:16-17; Hebrews 11:3; Revelation 10:6
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.
Genesis 3:1-6,24; Ezekiel 18:19-20; Romans 1:18,20,28,32;
3:10-19; 5:12,19; Galatians 3:22; Ephesians 2:1,3
Of The Virgin Birth
We believe that Jesus Christ was
begotten of the Holy Ghost in a miraculous manner, not by sexual contact; born
of Mary, a virgin, as no other man was ever born or can ever be born of a
woman, and that He is both the Son of God, and God, the Son.
Genesis 3:15; Psalm 2:7; Isaiah 7:14; Matthews 1:18-25; Mark
1:1; Luke 1:35; John 1:14; Galatians 4:4; 1Corinthians 15:47; 1John 5:20
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 tenderest sympathies with divine perfection, He is in every way
qualified to be a suitable, a compassionate and an all sufficient Savior.
Isaiah 53:4-7,11-12; Matthew 18:11; John 3:16; 10:18; Acts
15:11; Romans 3:24-25; Galatians 1:4; Ephesians 2:8; Philippians 2:7-8; Hebrews
2:14; 7:25; 9:12-15; 12:2
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 fruits of
repentance and faith and newness of life.
Luke 5:27; John 1:12-13; 3:3,6-7; Acts 2:41; Romans 6:23;
2Corinthians 5:17,19; Galatians 5:22; Ephesians 2:1; 5:9; Colossians 2:13;
1John 5:1
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 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.
Isaiah 55:1; Matthew 11:28; John 3:15-18,36; 5:40; 6:37;
Acts 2:38; Romans 8:29-30; 10:13; 1Corinthians 15:10; Ephesians 2:4-5;
Colossians 3:12; 1Thessalonians 1:4; 1Timothy 1:15; Titus 1:1; 1Peter 1:2;
Revelation 22:17
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.
Isaiah 53:11; Habakkuk 2:4; Zechariah 13:1; Acts 13:39;
Romans 1:17; 4:1; 5:1-9; 8:1; Galatians 3:11; Titus 3:5-7; Hebrews 10:38
Of Repentance And Faith
We believe that Repentance and Faith
are solemn obligations, and also inseparable graces, wrought in our souls by
the quickening Spirit of God; thereby, being deeply convicted of our guilt,
danger and helplessness, and of the way of salvation by Christ, we turn to God
with unfeigned contrition, confession and supplication for mercy; at the same
time heartily receiving the Lord Jesus Christ and openly confessing Him as our
only and all-sufficient Savior. We hold that the Holy Spirit does not indwell a
person until immediately after he receives Jesus Christ as his Savior.
Psalm 51:1-4,7; Isaiah 55:6-7; Mark 1:15; Luke 12:8; 18:13;
Acts 2:37-38; 20:21; Romans 10:9-11,13; Romans 8:9
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 that men and women are
spiritually equal in position before God but that God has ordained distinct and
separate spiritual functions of men and women in the home and in the church.
The husband is to be the leader of the home and men are to hold the leadership
positions (pastors and deacons) in the church. Accordingly, only men are
eligible of licensure and ordination for pastor or deacon by the church.
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. We hold that there is no Universal Church
operating on earth.
Leviticus 27:31; Malachi 3:10; Matthew 28:19-20; Acts
2:41-42; 6:5-6; 14:23; 15:22-23; 20:17-28; 1Corinthians 5:11-13; 6:1-3; 11:2;
12:4,8-11; 16:1-2; Ephesians 1:22-23; 4:11; 5:23-24; Colossians 1:18; 1Timothy
3:1-13
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 prerequisite 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.
Matthew 3:6; 3:16; 28:19-20; John 3:23; Acts 2:41-42;
8:36-39; Romans 6:3-5; 1Corinthians 11:23-28; Colossians 2:12
Of The Preservation Of
The Saints
We hold to the eternal security of all true believers in our Lord Jesus Christ. However, for those who are
professors of salvation, but not receivers of such salvation, they have no
claim to such eternal security.
Psalm 121:3; Matthew 6:20; 13:19-21; John 8:31-32; 10:28-29;
16:8; Romans 8:28,35-39; Philippians 1:6; Colossians 1:21-23; Hebrews 1:14;
1Peter 1:5; 1John 2:19
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.
Genesis 18:23; Proverbs 11:31; 14:32; Malachi 3:18; Matthew
7:13-14; 25:34; Luke 9:26; 16:25; John 8:21; 12:25; Acts 10:34-35; Romans 1:17;
6:16-18,23; 7:6; 1Corinthians 15:22; Galatians 3:10; 1Peter 4:18; 1John 2:7,29;
5:19
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.
Exodus 18:21-22; 2Samuel 23:3; Psalm
72:11; Daniel 3:17-18; Matthew 10:28; 22:21; 23:10; Acts 4:19-20; 23:5; Romans
13:7; Philippians 2:10-11; Titus 3:1; 1Peter 2:13-14,17
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 ascended "to the right hand of the throne
of God"; 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 visibly; 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."
Psalm 72:8; Isaiah 11:4-5; Matthew 24:27,42; Matthew 28:6-7;
Mark 16:6,19; Luke 1:32; Luke 24:2,4-6,39,51; John 14:3; John 20:27; Acts
1:9,11; 1Corinthians 15:4; Philippians 4:20; 1Thessalonians 4:16; 1Timothy 2:5;
Hebrews 2:17; 5:9; 8:1; 9:28; 12:2
Of Missions
The command to give the gospel to
the world is clear and unmistakable and this Commission was given to the
churches.
Matthew 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 observe all
things whatsoever I have commanded you and, lo I am with you alway, 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, "As my Father hath
sent me, even so send I you."
Acts 1:8, "But ye shall receive
power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you; and ye shall be witnesses
unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the
uttermost part of the earth."
Romans 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!"
Of The Grace Of Giving
Scriptural giving is one of the
fundamentals of the Faith.
2 Corinthians 8:7, "Therefore,
as ye abound in every thing, 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.
1Corinthians 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 ought ye to have
done", Matthew 23:23.
We are commanded to bring the tithe
into the common treasury of the church.
Leviticus 27:30, "The tithe ...
is the Lord's."
Malachi 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."