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 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.
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.
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.
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.
II Tim. 3:16-17; II Peter. 1:19-21; Acts 1:16; Acts 28:25; Psa. 119:105,
130, 160; Luke 24:25-27; John 17:17; Luke 24:44-45; Psa. 119:89; Prov.
30:5-6; Rom. 3:4; I Peter 1:23; Rev. 22:19; John 12:48; Isa. 8:20; Eph.
6:17; Rom. 15:4; Luke 16:31; Psa. 19:7-11; John 5:45-47; John 5:39
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; Psa. 147:5; Psa.
83:18; Psa. 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
III. 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.
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;
John16:13; Rom. 8:14; Rom. 8:16; II Thess. 2:13; I Peter 1:2; Rom. 8:26-27
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 Peter2:4; Eph. 2:2;
John 14:30; I Thess. 3:5; Matt. 4:1-3; I Peter.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
John7; 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, 10; Matt. 25:41.
V. 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.
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.
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, 19; Rom. 3:10-19; Eph. 2:1, 3; Rom. 1:18; Ezek.18:19-20;
Rom. 1:20, 28, 32; Gal. 3:22
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 a 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 tenderest sympathies with divine perfection, He is in 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; II Cor. 5:21; John
10:18; Phil. 2:8; Gal. 1:4; I Pet. 2:24; I Pet. 3:18; Isa. 53:11; Heb.
12:2; I Cor. 15:20; Isa. 53:12; Heb. 9:12-15; Heb. 7:25; I John 2:2
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 fruits of 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; II
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.
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 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.
I Thess. 1:4; Col. 3:12; I Pet. 1:2; Titus 1:1; Rom. 8:29-30; Matt. 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. 15:10; Eph. 2:4-5; John 5:40; John
3:18; John 3:36
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. 5:1, 9; Titus 3:5-7;
Rom. 1:17; Hab. 2:4; Gal. 3:11; Rom. 4:1-8; Heb. 10:38.
XII. 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.
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. 10:9-11 157
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 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.
Acts 2:41-42; 1 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 Peter 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
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 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.
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
XV. 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.
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 Peter. 1:5; Phil. 1:6; John 10:28-29; Rom. 8:35-39
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 Peter 1:18; Rom.1:17;
I Cor. 15:22; Acts 10:34-25; 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
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; Titus 3:1;
I Peter 2:1-14; Acts 4:19-20; Dan. 3:17-18; Matt. 10:28; Matt. 23:10; Phil.
2:10-11; Psa.72:11, I Peter 2:17
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 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.”
Matt. 28:6-7; Acts 24:39; John 20:27; 1 Cor. 15:4; Mark 16:6; Luke 24:2-7;
Acts 1:9, 11; Luke 24:51; Mark 16:19; Rev. 3:21; Heb. 8:1; Heb. 12:2; Heb.
8:6; I Tim. 2:5; I John 2:1; Heb. 2:17; Heb. 5:9-10; John 14:3; I Thess.
4:16; Matt.24:27, 42; Heb. 9:28; I Cor. 15:42-44, 51-53; I Thess. 4:17;
Phil. 3:20-21; Luke 1:32; I Cor. 15:25; Isa. 11:4-5; Psa. 72:8, Rev. 20:1-4;
Rev. 20:6
XIX. 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!”
XX. 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.”