Doctrinal Statement
Concerning the Scriptures
I believe in THE HOLY SCRIPTURE: accepting the writings of the Old and New Testaments as the very Word of God, verbally inspired in all parts and therefore wholly without error and altogether sufficient in themselves as our only infallible and authoritative rule of faith and practice. I believe that God has preserved His Word for English speaking people in the King James Version.
A. I believe the Bible is the divinely inspired Word of God
2 Timothy 3:15-17; 2 Peter 1:20-21
B. I believe the Bible is the divinely preserved Word of God
Psalm 119:160; Psalm 12:6-7
C. I believe the Bible is the divinely finished Word of God
Psalm 119:89; Revelation 22:18-19
D. I believe the Bible is the sole and final source of authority for faith and practice
Deuteronomy 13:4; John 14:15
Concerning the True God
I believe in THE ONE TRUE GOD: who is an intelligent, sovereign, spiritual and personal Being; perfect, infinite, and eternal in His being, holiness and love, wisdom and power; absolutely separate from and above the world as its Creator, yet everywhere present in the world as the Upholder of all things. He is revealed to us as Father, Son and Holy Spirit, three distinct persons but without division of nature, essence or being, and each having a distinct ministry in God’s relation to His creation and people.
A. I believe in the one Triune God
Deuteronomy 6:4-5; Isaiah 46:9-10; Matthew 3:16-17; John 1:1-14; 2 Corinthians 13:14
B. I believe that God is the Sovereign Ruler of the Universe
Genesis 1:1, 26-27, 31; Hebrews 7:25; James 1:17
Concerning the Lord Jesus Christ
I believe in THE LORD JESUS CHRIST: who is the second Person of the Triune God, the eternal Word and Only Begotten Son; that without any change in His divine Person. He became man by miracle of the Virgin Birth, and continues forever as both true God and true Man, one Person with two natures. As Man He was tempted in all points as we are, yet without sin and that as the perfect Lamb of God He gave Himself in death upon the cross, bearing the sin of the world, and suffering its full penalty of divine wrath in our stead. He arose from the grave in a glorified body; and as our great High Priest He ascended into Heaven, there to appear before the face of God as our Advocate and Intercessor.
Matthew 1:20-23; John 1:1-18; 1 Corinthians 15; Revelation 1, 5, 19
A. I believe that Jesus is the Son of God
Isaiah 7:14, 9:6; Luke 1:30-35; John 8:58; Galatians 4:4-7; Colossians 2:9; Hebrews 7:23-28
B. I believe that Jesus is the Savior of Men
Isaiah 53; Luke 2:11; John 10:17-18, 14:1-11; Acts 5:31, 13:23; Philippians 2:5-11; 1 Timothy 2:5; 2 Timothy 1:7-10; Titus 2:13, 3:4-6; Hebrews 9:24-28; 1 Peter 1:18-21, 3:18
C. I believe that Jesus is the Sustainer of Believers
Colossians 1:15-19; Ephesians 5:23; Hebrews 1:3, 4:14-16; 1 Peter 2:21-25; 1 John 2:1
D. I believe that Jesus is the Sovereign of the Millennial Kingdom
Acts 1:9-11; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; Hebrews 10:10-14; Revelation
Concerning the Holy Spirit
I believe in THE HOLY SPIRIT: who is the third Person of the Trinity, and the divine Person in nature, revelation, and redemption. He convicts the world concerning sin, righteousness and judgment and He regenerates, indwells, seals, and anoints all who become children of God through Christ. He further empowers, guides, teaches, sanctifies, and fills believers who daily surrender to Him. Using Acts 1:8 as our criteria for evaluation, we believe that the evidence of the fullness of the Holy Spirit in the life of the believer is boldness to witness for our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
Romans 8:1-27; 1 Corinthians 12; Revelation 2, 3; Psalm 51:11-12; Acts 2
A. I believe that the Holy Spirit is a member of the God-head
Gen 1:26; Matthew 28:19; 2 Corinthians 13:14; 1 John 5:7
B. I believe that the Holy Spirit operated in the Old Testament
Genesis 1:2; 1 Samuel 10:9-10; Judges 13:25; 14:6; Job 33:4; Exodus 31:1-3; 1 Chronicles 28:11-12
C. I believe that the Holy Spirit ministered in the New Testament
Matthew 3:16; Matthew 4:1; Luke 1:15-45; Acts 1:4-8; Romans 1:4; 2 Corinthians 3:17-18; 2 Peter 1:21
D. I believe that the Holy Spirit ministers in this present Church Age
John 7:37-39, 14:16-17, 26; 16:8-14; Acts 5:1-12; 1 Corinthians 12:12-13; Ephesians 1:13; Ephesians 5:18
Concerning Satan
I believe in THE EXISTENCE OF SATAN: who originally was created a holy and perfect being, but through pride and wicked ambition rebelled against God, thus becoming utterly depraved in character. Satan is the great adversary of God and His people, leader of all other evil angels and wicked spirits, the deceiver and god of this present world: and his powers are vast, but strictly limited by the permissive will of God who overrules all his wicked devices for good. He was defeated and judged at the cross, and therefore his final doom is certain; and we can resist and overcome him only in the armor of God, by the blood of the Lamb and through the power of the Holy Spirit.
Genesis 3; Revelation 12, 20
A. I believe that Satan is a literal person
Job 1:6-12; Isaiah 14:12-14; Ezekiel 28:12-17; Matthew 4:1-11; John 8:44; 2 Corinthians 11:3; 2 Thessalonians 2:8-9
B. I believe that Satan will be judged and condemned to the Lake of Fire for all eternity by Jesus Christ the Lord
Isaiah 14:15, 19; Ezekiel 28:18-19; Revelation 20
Concerning Creation
I believe in A LITERAL SIX DAY CREATION: and that each day is a literal 24-hour evening and morning. Everything upon and including the earth was formed by a direct act of God and not by the process of evolution or each day represented by a long time of years. The six days were consecutive and there is no gap in between the six days of creation.
Genesis 1, 2; See Concerning The True God; See Concerning Man
A. We believe that God created the universe and all that is in it in six literal, twenty-four hour days
Exodus 20:11; Psalm 8, 139:13-18; Mark 10:6, 13:19; John 1:1-3; Romans 1:20; Colossians 1:15-17; 2 Peter 3:4-5
B. We reject the Evolution Theory, the Gap Theory, the Day-Age Theory, the Theistic Evolution Theory, and any other theory that conflicts with the Genesis account of creation
Concerning Man
I believe ALL MEN ARE BY NATURE AND CHOICE SINFUL AND LOST: that man was the direct creation of God, made in His image and likeness. By personal disobedience to the revealed will of God, man became a sinful creature, the father of a fallen race which is universally sinful in both nature and practice. He is thus alienated from the life and family of God, under the righteous judgment and wrath of God, and has within himself no possible means of salvation.
Genesis 3; Romans 1-3
A. I believe that man was created in God's image and likeness by the direct act of God
Genesis 1:26-27, 9:6; Job 35:10; Isaiah 43:7; Ephesians 2:10; James 3:9
B. I believe that man is a responsible creature
Genesis 6:5; Deuteronomy 30:19-20; Joshua 24:14-24; Matthew 12:36; Acts 2:37-41, 16:29-31
C. I believe that man is a depraved sinner
Psalm 51:5, 58:3; Ecclesiastes 7:20-21; Isaiah 64:6; Jeremiah 17:9; Romans 3:23, 5:12-19
Concerning Salvation
I believe in SALVATION BY GRACE THROUGH FAITH: that salvation is the free gift of God, neither merited nor secured in part or in whole by any virtue or work of man, but received only by personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. All true believers have as a present possession the gift of eternal life, a perfect righteousness, deliverance and security from all condemnation. Every spiritual resource needed for life and godliness, and the divine guarantee that they shall never perish is included at the moment of salvation. This salvation affects the whole man and apart from Christ there is no possible salvation.
John 3, 17; Romans 4, 5
A. I believe that man is separated from God because of his sin
See Concerning Man
B. I believe that God designed a plan for man's salvation before the worlds were framed
1 Corinthians 15:3-4; 2 Timothy 1:9; Titus 1;2; 1 Peter 1:2
C. I believe that salvation is the primary the work of God
John 10:27-30; Romans 3:19-26; Philippians 1:6; Titus 3:4-6
D. I believe that salvation is the responsibility of man
Luke 13:3-5; Acts 20:21; Romans 10:8-13; Hebrews 7:25
Concerning Separation
I believe in SEPARATION FROM THE WORLD: that it is a command of God that all believers separate from all forms of godlessness, apostasy, compromise and worldliness. I am against short skirts, long hair on men, rock music, drugs, mixed swimming, drinking alcohol, and all things the Bible teaches against. In addition, the policy of neutralism is just as Scripturally untenable.
I believe in RIGHTEOUS LIVING AND GODLY WORKS: not as a means of salvation in any sense, but as its proper evidence and fruit; and therefore, as a Christian I should obey the Word of our Lord, seek the things which are above, and walk as He walked. I am to accept as my solemn responsibility the duty and privileges of bearing the Gospel to a lost world; remembering that a victorious and fruitful Christian life is possible only for those who in gratitude for the infinite and undeserved mercies of God have presented themselves wholly to Christ.
A. I believe that as the Bride of Christ, the Church is His purchased possession
Romans 16:17-18; Ephesians 5:25-27; 2 Thessalonians 3:6-16; 2 Timothy 3:1-15
B. I believe that as members of the Body of Christ, each believer is His purchased possession
Romans 14:13; 2 Corinthians 6:14-18; 2 Corinthians 7:1; Ephesians 5:11; 1 Peter 1:13-16; 1 John 2:15-17
Concerning the Local Church
I believe in THE IMPORTANCE OF THE LOCAL CHURCH: I believe that a New Testament church is a congregation of baptized believers associated by a covenant of faith and fellowship of the gospel observing the ordinances of Christ, governed by His Laws, and exercising the gifts, rights, and privileges invested in them by His Word. Its officers or ordination are pastors or elders and deacons, whose qualifications, claims and duties are clearly defined in the Scriptures. I believe the true mission of the church is found in the "Great Commission": first, to make individual disciples; second, to baptize the converts; third, to teach and instruct as He commanded.
I 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. 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 sole and only judge of the measure and method of its cooperation, on all matters of membership, policy, or government, of discipline, of benevolence, and that the will of the local church is final.
My local church is a Baptist institution that holds to the historic Baptist distinctives in its doctrinal position.
Matthew 28:18-20; Acts 2:41-47, 14:21-28, 15; 1 Timothy 3
A. I believe the New Testament Church is a distinct entity from the Nation of Israel and do not accept Replacement Theology
Romans 9:6-8; Romans 11:1-5, 15
B. I believe the Church was instituted during a transitional period that began with Jesus Christ and completed with the Day of Pentecost
Matthew 16:13-19; 18:15-20; Colossians 1:17-18
C. I believe the Church is presented in Scripture in two forms
1. The Church is the body of Christ. It is an organism, universal, invisible, and future with no authority on earth.
2. The Church is the local assembly. It is an organization, local, visible, and the instrument in which God uses today to spread His gospel until the Rapture of His saints.
D. I believe the church is the body of Christ
Hebrews 12:23; Ephesians 1:10-11
E. I believe the Local Church is ordained by God
Acts 6:1-7; Acts 11:19-26; Acts 13:1; 1 Corinthians 1:2; Titus 1; Hebrews 13:7, 17; 1 Peter 5:1-4
F. I believe the local church is governed by God
Acts 13:1-5; Romans 13:1-7; Galatians 6:1-2; Ephesians 5:23-27
G. I believe the local church is identified by its ordinances
Matthew 26:26-29; Acts 8:26-40; Romans 6:1-6; 1 Corinthians 11:17-34; Galatians 3:26-28
1. Baptism
2. Lord's Supper
Concerning the Second Coming of Christ
I believe in THE SECOND COMING OF CHRIST: that His coming in the air to rapture all born-again believers, which is our blessed Hope, is always imminent; that when He has first by the resurrection of the dead and translation of the living removed from the earth those trusting Christ, He will then pour out the righteous judgments of God upon the unbelieving world and afterwards descend with His bride and establish His glorious and literal kingdom over all the nations for a thousand years.
Revelation 6-22; Daniel 2, 9; Ezekiel 37; Matthew 24, 25; 1 Corinthians 15:49-57; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, 5:1-10; 2 Thessalonians 1:6-9
A. I believe that after the Rapture of the Church, a seven-year Tribulation Period will take place
B. I believe that all the unsaved dead of all the ages will be judged at the Great White Throne
C. I believe that the Saints of all the ages will dwell with God and Jesus Christ forever
Concerning Eternity
I believe in FUTURE LIFE, BODILY RESURRECTION AND ETERNAL JUDGMENT: that the sprits of the saved at death go immediately to be with Christ in Heaven, that their works shall be brought before the Judgment of Christ for the determination of rewards which will take place at the time when Christ comes for His own. The spirits of the unsaved at death descend immediately into Hell where they are kept under punishment until the final day of judgment, at which time their bodies shall be raised from the grave, that they shall be judged and cast into the lake of fire, the place of final and everlasting punishment.
Luke 16:19-31; Romans 8:14-39; Revelation 4, 5, 19, 21-22
A. I believe in the bodily resurrection of all men
John 5:25-29; 1 Corinthians 15
B. I believe that the souls of the redeemed, at the moment of death, are:
1. Absent from the body and present with the Lord.
2. In a state of conscious bliss.
3. Awaiting the First Resurrection when spirit, soul, and body are reunited to be glorified forever with the Lord.
John 14:1-3; 2 Corinthians 5:1-9; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
C. We believe that the souls of the unbelievers, at the moment of death, are:
1. Doomed to hell, a place of conscious punishment and torment, which burns with literal fire
2. Awaiting the Second Resurrection when spirit, soul, and body, shall be reunited to appear at the Great White Throne Judgment
3. Found not to be written in the Book of Life and, consequently, shall be cast into the Lake of Fire to suffer everlasting, conscious punishment and torment
Luke 16:19-31; John 5:25-29; John 14:1-3; Romans 8:14-39; 1 Corinthians 15; 2 Corinthians 5:1-9; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; Revelation 4; 5; 19; 21; 22 Revelation 20:4-6; 11-15
Concerning the Scriptures
I believe in THE HOLY SCRIPTURE: accepting the writings of the Old and New Testaments as the very Word of God, verbally inspired in all parts and therefore wholly without error and altogether sufficient in themselves as our only infallible and authoritative rule of faith and practice. I believe that God has preserved His Word for English speaking people in the King James Version.
A. I believe the Bible is the divinely inspired Word of God
2 Timothy 3:15-17; 2 Peter 1:20-21
B. I believe the Bible is the divinely preserved Word of God
Psalm 119:160; Psalm 12:6-7
C. I believe the Bible is the divinely finished Word of God
Psalm 119:89; Revelation 22:18-19
D. I believe the Bible is the sole and final source of authority for faith and practice
Deuteronomy 13:4; John 14:15
Concerning the True God
I believe in THE ONE TRUE GOD: who is an intelligent, sovereign, spiritual and personal Being; perfect, infinite, and eternal in His being, holiness and love, wisdom and power; absolutely separate from and above the world as its Creator, yet everywhere present in the world as the Upholder of all things. He is revealed to us as Father, Son and Holy Spirit, three distinct persons but without division of nature, essence or being, and each having a distinct ministry in God’s relation to His creation and people.
A. I believe in the one Triune God
Deuteronomy 6:4-5; Isaiah 46:9-10; Matthew 3:16-17; John 1:1-14; 2 Corinthians 13:14
B. I believe that God is the Sovereign Ruler of the Universe
Genesis 1:1, 26-27, 31; Hebrews 7:25; James 1:17
Concerning the Lord Jesus Christ
I believe in THE LORD JESUS CHRIST: who is the second Person of the Triune God, the eternal Word and Only Begotten Son; that without any change in His divine Person. He became man by miracle of the Virgin Birth, and continues forever as both true God and true Man, one Person with two natures. As Man He was tempted in all points as we are, yet without sin and that as the perfect Lamb of God He gave Himself in death upon the cross, bearing the sin of the world, and suffering its full penalty of divine wrath in our stead. He arose from the grave in a glorified body; and as our great High Priest He ascended into Heaven, there to appear before the face of God as our Advocate and Intercessor.
Matthew 1:20-23; John 1:1-18; 1 Corinthians 15; Revelation 1, 5, 19
A. I believe that Jesus is the Son of God
Isaiah 7:14, 9:6; Luke 1:30-35; John 8:58; Galatians 4:4-7; Colossians 2:9; Hebrews 7:23-28
B. I believe that Jesus is the Savior of Men
Isaiah 53; Luke 2:11; John 10:17-18, 14:1-11; Acts 5:31, 13:23; Philippians 2:5-11; 1 Timothy 2:5; 2 Timothy 1:7-10; Titus 2:13, 3:4-6; Hebrews 9:24-28; 1 Peter 1:18-21, 3:18
C. I believe that Jesus is the Sustainer of Believers
Colossians 1:15-19; Ephesians 5:23; Hebrews 1:3, 4:14-16; 1 Peter 2:21-25; 1 John 2:1
D. I believe that Jesus is the Sovereign of the Millennial Kingdom
Acts 1:9-11; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; Hebrews 10:10-14; Revelation
Concerning the Holy Spirit
I believe in THE HOLY SPIRIT: who is the third Person of the Trinity, and the divine Person in nature, revelation, and redemption. He convicts the world concerning sin, righteousness and judgment and He regenerates, indwells, seals, and anoints all who become children of God through Christ. He further empowers, guides, teaches, sanctifies, and fills believers who daily surrender to Him. Using Acts 1:8 as our criteria for evaluation, we believe that the evidence of the fullness of the Holy Spirit in the life of the believer is boldness to witness for our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
Romans 8:1-27; 1 Corinthians 12; Revelation 2, 3; Psalm 51:11-12; Acts 2
A. I believe that the Holy Spirit is a member of the God-head
Gen 1:26; Matthew 28:19; 2 Corinthians 13:14; 1 John 5:7
B. I believe that the Holy Spirit operated in the Old Testament
Genesis 1:2; 1 Samuel 10:9-10; Judges 13:25; 14:6; Job 33:4; Exodus 31:1-3; 1 Chronicles 28:11-12
C. I believe that the Holy Spirit ministered in the New Testament
Matthew 3:16; Matthew 4:1; Luke 1:15-45; Acts 1:4-8; Romans 1:4; 2 Corinthians 3:17-18; 2 Peter 1:21
D. I believe that the Holy Spirit ministers in this present Church Age
John 7:37-39, 14:16-17, 26; 16:8-14; Acts 5:1-12; 1 Corinthians 12:12-13; Ephesians 1:13; Ephesians 5:18
Concerning Satan
I believe in THE EXISTENCE OF SATAN: who originally was created a holy and perfect being, but through pride and wicked ambition rebelled against God, thus becoming utterly depraved in character. Satan is the great adversary of God and His people, leader of all other evil angels and wicked spirits, the deceiver and god of this present world: and his powers are vast, but strictly limited by the permissive will of God who overrules all his wicked devices for good. He was defeated and judged at the cross, and therefore his final doom is certain; and we can resist and overcome him only in the armor of God, by the blood of the Lamb and through the power of the Holy Spirit.
Genesis 3; Revelation 12, 20
A. I believe that Satan is a literal person
Job 1:6-12; Isaiah 14:12-14; Ezekiel 28:12-17; Matthew 4:1-11; John 8:44; 2 Corinthians 11:3; 2 Thessalonians 2:8-9
B. I believe that Satan will be judged and condemned to the Lake of Fire for all eternity by Jesus Christ the Lord
Isaiah 14:15, 19; Ezekiel 28:18-19; Revelation 20
Concerning Creation
I believe in A LITERAL SIX DAY CREATION: and that each day is a literal 24-hour evening and morning. Everything upon and including the earth was formed by a direct act of God and not by the process of evolution or each day represented by a long time of years. The six days were consecutive and there is no gap in between the six days of creation.
Genesis 1, 2; See Concerning The True God; See Concerning Man
A. We believe that God created the universe and all that is in it in six literal, twenty-four hour days
Exodus 20:11; Psalm 8, 139:13-18; Mark 10:6, 13:19; John 1:1-3; Romans 1:20; Colossians 1:15-17; 2 Peter 3:4-5
B. We reject the Evolution Theory, the Gap Theory, the Day-Age Theory, the Theistic Evolution Theory, and any other theory that conflicts with the Genesis account of creation
Concerning Man
I believe ALL MEN ARE BY NATURE AND CHOICE SINFUL AND LOST: that man was the direct creation of God, made in His image and likeness. By personal disobedience to the revealed will of God, man became a sinful creature, the father of a fallen race which is universally sinful in both nature and practice. He is thus alienated from the life and family of God, under the righteous judgment and wrath of God, and has within himself no possible means of salvation.
Genesis 3; Romans 1-3
A. I believe that man was created in God's image and likeness by the direct act of God
Genesis 1:26-27, 9:6; Job 35:10; Isaiah 43:7; Ephesians 2:10; James 3:9
B. I believe that man is a responsible creature
Genesis 6:5; Deuteronomy 30:19-20; Joshua 24:14-24; Matthew 12:36; Acts 2:37-41, 16:29-31
C. I believe that man is a depraved sinner
Psalm 51:5, 58:3; Ecclesiastes 7:20-21; Isaiah 64:6; Jeremiah 17:9; Romans 3:23, 5:12-19
Concerning Salvation
I believe in SALVATION BY GRACE THROUGH FAITH: that salvation is the free gift of God, neither merited nor secured in part or in whole by any virtue or work of man, but received only by personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. All true believers have as a present possession the gift of eternal life, a perfect righteousness, deliverance and security from all condemnation. Every spiritual resource needed for life and godliness, and the divine guarantee that they shall never perish is included at the moment of salvation. This salvation affects the whole man and apart from Christ there is no possible salvation.
John 3, 17; Romans 4, 5
A. I believe that man is separated from God because of his sin
See Concerning Man
B. I believe that God designed a plan for man's salvation before the worlds were framed
1 Corinthians 15:3-4; 2 Timothy 1:9; Titus 1;2; 1 Peter 1:2
C. I believe that salvation is the primary the work of God
John 10:27-30; Romans 3:19-26; Philippians 1:6; Titus 3:4-6
D. I believe that salvation is the responsibility of man
Luke 13:3-5; Acts 20:21; Romans 10:8-13; Hebrews 7:25
Concerning Separation
I believe in SEPARATION FROM THE WORLD: that it is a command of God that all believers separate from all forms of godlessness, apostasy, compromise and worldliness. I am against short skirts, long hair on men, rock music, drugs, mixed swimming, drinking alcohol, and all things the Bible teaches against. In addition, the policy of neutralism is just as Scripturally untenable.
I believe in RIGHTEOUS LIVING AND GODLY WORKS: not as a means of salvation in any sense, but as its proper evidence and fruit; and therefore, as a Christian I should obey the Word of our Lord, seek the things which are above, and walk as He walked. I am to accept as my solemn responsibility the duty and privileges of bearing the Gospel to a lost world; remembering that a victorious and fruitful Christian life is possible only for those who in gratitude for the infinite and undeserved mercies of God have presented themselves wholly to Christ.
A. I believe that as the Bride of Christ, the Church is His purchased possession
Romans 16:17-18; Ephesians 5:25-27; 2 Thessalonians 3:6-16; 2 Timothy 3:1-15
B. I believe that as members of the Body of Christ, each believer is His purchased possession
Romans 14:13; 2 Corinthians 6:14-18; 2 Corinthians 7:1; Ephesians 5:11; 1 Peter 1:13-16; 1 John 2:15-17
Concerning the Local Church
I believe in THE IMPORTANCE OF THE LOCAL CHURCH: I believe that a New Testament church is a congregation of baptized believers associated by a covenant of faith and fellowship of the gospel observing the ordinances of Christ, governed by His Laws, and exercising the gifts, rights, and privileges invested in them by His Word. Its officers or ordination are pastors or elders and deacons, whose qualifications, claims and duties are clearly defined in the Scriptures. I believe the true mission of the church is found in the "Great Commission": first, to make individual disciples; second, to baptize the converts; third, to teach and instruct as He commanded.
I 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. 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 sole and only judge of the measure and method of its cooperation, on all matters of membership, policy, or government, of discipline, of benevolence, and that the will of the local church is final.
My local church is a Baptist institution that holds to the historic Baptist distinctives in its doctrinal position.
Matthew 28:18-20; Acts 2:41-47, 14:21-28, 15; 1 Timothy 3
A. I believe the New Testament Church is a distinct entity from the Nation of Israel and do not accept Replacement Theology
Romans 9:6-8; Romans 11:1-5, 15
B. I believe the Church was instituted during a transitional period that began with Jesus Christ and completed with the Day of Pentecost
Matthew 16:13-19; 18:15-20; Colossians 1:17-18
C. I believe the Church is presented in Scripture in two forms
1. The Church is the body of Christ. It is an organism, universal, invisible, and future with no authority on earth.
2. The Church is the local assembly. It is an organization, local, visible, and the instrument in which God uses today to spread His gospel until the Rapture of His saints.
D. I believe the church is the body of Christ
Hebrews 12:23; Ephesians 1:10-11
E. I believe the Local Church is ordained by God
Acts 6:1-7; Acts 11:19-26; Acts 13:1; 1 Corinthians 1:2; Titus 1; Hebrews 13:7, 17; 1 Peter 5:1-4
F. I believe the local church is governed by God
Acts 13:1-5; Romans 13:1-7; Galatians 6:1-2; Ephesians 5:23-27
G. I believe the local church is identified by its ordinances
Matthew 26:26-29; Acts 8:26-40; Romans 6:1-6; 1 Corinthians 11:17-34; Galatians 3:26-28
1. Baptism
2. Lord's Supper
Concerning the Second Coming of Christ
I believe in THE SECOND COMING OF CHRIST: that His coming in the air to rapture all born-again believers, which is our blessed Hope, is always imminent; that when He has first by the resurrection of the dead and translation of the living removed from the earth those trusting Christ, He will then pour out the righteous judgments of God upon the unbelieving world and afterwards descend with His bride and establish His glorious and literal kingdom over all the nations for a thousand years.
Revelation 6-22; Daniel 2, 9; Ezekiel 37; Matthew 24, 25; 1 Corinthians 15:49-57; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, 5:1-10; 2 Thessalonians 1:6-9
A. I believe that after the Rapture of the Church, a seven-year Tribulation Period will take place
B. I believe that all the unsaved dead of all the ages will be judged at the Great White Throne
C. I believe that the Saints of all the ages will dwell with God and Jesus Christ forever
Concerning Eternity
I believe in FUTURE LIFE, BODILY RESURRECTION AND ETERNAL JUDGMENT: that the sprits of the saved at death go immediately to be with Christ in Heaven, that their works shall be brought before the Judgment of Christ for the determination of rewards which will take place at the time when Christ comes for His own. The spirits of the unsaved at death descend immediately into Hell where they are kept under punishment until the final day of judgment, at which time their bodies shall be raised from the grave, that they shall be judged and cast into the lake of fire, the place of final and everlasting punishment.
Luke 16:19-31; Romans 8:14-39; Revelation 4, 5, 19, 21-22
A. I believe in the bodily resurrection of all men
John 5:25-29; 1 Corinthians 15
B. I believe that the souls of the redeemed, at the moment of death, are:
1. Absent from the body and present with the Lord.
2. In a state of conscious bliss.
3. Awaiting the First Resurrection when spirit, soul, and body are reunited to be glorified forever with the Lord.
John 14:1-3; 2 Corinthians 5:1-9; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
C. We believe that the souls of the unbelievers, at the moment of death, are:
1. Doomed to hell, a place of conscious punishment and torment, which burns with literal fire
2. Awaiting the Second Resurrection when spirit, soul, and body, shall be reunited to appear at the Great White Throne Judgment
3. Found not to be written in the Book of Life and, consequently, shall be cast into the Lake of Fire to suffer everlasting, conscious punishment and torment
Luke 16:19-31; John 5:25-29; John 14:1-3; Romans 8:14-39; 1 Corinthians 15; 2 Corinthians 5:1-9; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; Revelation 4; 5; 19; 21; 22 Revelation 20:4-6; 11-15
