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 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 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 | 2 Timothy 3:16-17 |
1 Peter 1:23 | 2 Peter 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.
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 | 1 Corinthians 12:10-11; 8:6; 12:4-6 |
2 Corinthians 13:14 | Ephesians 2:18; 4:6 | Philippians 2:5-6 |
1 Timothy 1:17 | 1 John 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; 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 | 2 Thessalonians 2:7,13 |
Hebrews 9:14 | 1 Peter 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 |
2 Corinthians 11:13-15 | 1 Thessalonians 3:5 | 2 Thessalonians 2:8-11 |
1 Peter 5:8 | 2 Peter 2:4 | 1 John 2:22; 3:8; 4:3 | 2 John 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 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; 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 |
1 Corinthians 15:47 | 1 John 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 | 2 Corinthians 5:17,19 | Galatians 5:22 |
Ephesians 2:1; 5:9 | Colossians 2:13 | 1 John 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 | 1 Corinthians 15:10 |
Ephesians 2:4-5 | Colossians 3:12 | 1 Thessalonians 1:4 |
1 Timothy 1:15 | Titus 1:1 | 1 Peter 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.
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
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
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.
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 |
1 Corinthians 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 |
1 Timothy 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 |
1 Corinthians 11:23-28 | Colossians 2:12
Of The Perseverance Of The Saints
We believe that such only are real believers as
endure unto the end; that their persevering
attachment to 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.
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 |
1 Peter 1:5 | 1 John 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 |
1 Corinthians 15:22 | Galatians 3:10 | 1 Peter 4:18 |
1 John 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 | 2 Samuel 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 | 1 Peter 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 | 1 Corinthians 15:4 | Philippians 4:20 |
1 Thessalonians 4:16 | 1 Timothy 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.
1 Corinthians 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."
