Our Beliefs

The Holy 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 truth center of the Christian union and the supreme standard by which all human conduct, creeds and opinions should be tried.

A. By “The Holy Bible: we mean the collection of sixty-six books from Genesis to The Revelation, which does not only contain the Word of God, but IS the very Word of God.

B. 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.

C. We further believe that God, through the Holy Spirit, has committed Himself to the divine and providential preservation in English of the “pure words” of God. (Psalm 12:6,7; 119:89; Proverbs 30:5). We further believe that the Authorized Version published in 1611 is that providentially preserved Word of God to the exclusion of all other English versions. (II Timothy 3:16-17; II Peter 1:19-21; Psalm 119:89, 140, 160.)

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 and perfection and executing distinct but harmonious offices in the great work of redemption. (Exodus 20:2-3; Genesis 17:1; Revelation 4:11; Colossians 2:9; Philippians 2:5-6; 1 John 5:7.)

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 1:2; Matthew 28:19, John 3:5-6; 14:16-17, 26.)

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 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; Revelation 12:9; 1 Peter 5:8, 2 Corinthians 4:4, 11:13-15; Ezekiel 28:14-17.)

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 forth only “after their kind.” (Genesis 1:1, 11, 24, 26, 27; Colossians 1:16-17; Hebrews 1:1-3; John 1:1-3.)

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: Romans 3:10-19, 5:12, Ephesians 2:1-3.)

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 woman; and that He is both the Son of God, and God, the Son. (Genesis 3:15; Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:18-25.)

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 most tender sympathies with divine perfection. He is in every way qualified to be a suitable, and compassionate, and an all-sufficient Saviour. (Ephesians 2::8, Romans 3:24; John 3:16; Philippians 2:7; II Corinthians 5:21; Hebrews 1:1-3.)

The Grace in the New Birth

We believe that in order to be saved, sinners must be born again; that the new birth is a miraculous transaction whereby the sinner becomes a new creature in Christ Jesus; that it is instantaneous and not a process; that in the new birth 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 birth 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 3:3-5; II Corinthians 5:17; I John 5:11-13; Colossians 2:12-13; John 1:11-13.)

The Freeness of Salvation

We believe in the freeness of God’s 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 the cordial, penitent and obedient faith; and nothing prevents the salvation of the greatest sinner on earth but his own inherent depravity and willful rejection of the gospel, which rejection involves him in an aggravated condemnation. (I Thessalonians 1:4; Colossians 3:12; Romans 8:29; John 3:15-16, 18, 36; Revelation 22:17; Isaiah 55:1-3.)

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; that they occur when we willfully and knowingly turn from our sin and by faith receive the Lord Jesus Christ as Saviour and Lord. (Acts 2:37-38; 20:21, Romans 10:9-13; II Corinthians 7:10.)

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 “pillar and ground of the truth,” observing the ordinances of Christ, governed by His laws, and exercising the gifts, rights, and privileges, invested in them by His Word; that its officers are pastors or elders and deacons whose qualifications, claims, and duties are clearly defined in the Scriptures. We believe the true mission of the church is found in the Great Commission: First, to make individual disciples; Second, to baptize them; Third, to teach and instruct as He has commanded. 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 leader 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 furtherance of the Gospel; that every church is the sole and only judge of the measure and method of its cooperation; and that on all matters of membership of policy, of government, of discipline, of benevolence, the will of the local church is final. (Acts 2:41; 5:42; 18:8; I Timothy 3:1-13, 3:15; Ephesians 4:11.)

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, to show forth in a solemn and beautiful emblem our faith in the crucified, buried and risen Saviour; that it pictures our death to sin and resurrection to a new life and is the obedient submission of the child of God and does not constitute, in part or in whole, salvation or redemption; that it is prerequisite to the privileges of a church relationship and to the Lord’s Supper, in which the members of the church, by the sacred use of unleavened bread and the unfermented fruit of the vine, are to commemorate together the undying love of Christ preceded always by solemn self-examination. (Acts 8:36-39; Matthew 3:6; 16; 28:19; John 3:23; I Corinthians 11:23-28.)

The Eternal Security of the Believer

We believe that those who are born again become “new creatures in Christ Jesus” and because of the “operation made without hands,” are eternally secure in the Grace of God and have been given eternal salvation. We believe that they are forever sealed and shall never “come into condemnation,” that their grand attachment to Christ is the 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. (II Corinthians 5:17; Colossians 2:11, 12; Romans 8:35-39; John 10:28-29; Romans 8:1; I Peter 1:3-5.)

The Righteous and the Wicked

We believe that there is a radical and essential difference between the righteous 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 such as continue in impenitence and unbelief are in His sight wicked, and under the curse, and this distinction hold among men both in and after death, in the everlasting joy of the saved in heaven and the everlasting conscious suffering of the lost in hell. (I Peter 1:18; Romans 1:17; 6:23; Luke 16:25; Revelation 20:15; II Corinthians 5:1-8; Matthew 7:13-14; I John 5:12.)

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 Kings of the earth. (Romans 13:1; I Peter 2:13, 14 & 17; Philippians 2:10-11.)

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 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.” We are therefore PRE-millennial, and pre-tribulational as it pertains to the return of Christ. (Matthew 28:1-7; I Corinthians 15; Thessalonians 4:13-16; Revelation 19:11-16; 20:1-6; Acts 1:3, 11.)

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; Mark 16:15; John 20:21; Romans 10:13-15.)

The Grace of Giving

Scriptural giving is one of the fundamentals of the faith. (II Corinthians 8:7). We are commanded to bring our gifts into the storehouse (common treasury of the church) upon the first day of the week. (I Corinthians 16:2; Acts 4:34, 35, 37). Under grace we give, and do not pay, the tithe. (Hebrews 7:2, 4; Leviticus 27:30; Malachi 3:10.)

The Family

We believe marriage was ordained by God as one male and one female becoming one flesh. We believe it was God’s design that a man and woman enter the marriage union for life. (Genesis 2:18-25; Matthew 19:3-9; Romans 7:2; Ephesians 5:22-32.)

We believe God provided for intimate sexual relations between man and woman within the covenant of marriage, sexual relations outside the bonds of marriage, including homosexuality, bisexuality, bestiality, incest, adultery, fornication, pedophilia, among others alluded to in God’s Word, are a sin. We believe acts that defile God’s human creation, such as gender modification, through medical procedures or by appearance, and participation in the sexual degradation of others through pornography, are attacks against the family unit, are against the will of God, and are sins. (Genesis 2:24, 19:5, 13; Leviticus 18:1-30; Romans 1:18-32; I Corinthians 6:6-10; 7:3-5; Hebrews 13:4; Ephesians 5:3-5; I Thessalonians 4:8)

We believe in the sanctity of human life. We believe human life begins at conception, and from the conception through the elderly adult years should be respected as a creation of God. We believe abortion, infanticide, euthanasia, suicide, assisted suicide, and other similar acts are acts of murder and therefore against the will of God. (Genesis 1:27; Exodus 20:13; Leviticus 19:32; Job 12:12; Psalms 139:13-14; Isaiah 44:2, 24; Jeremiah 1:5; Romans 9:20-22; Timothy 5:1-2)

We believe children are a blessing from God and are to be taught spiritual and moral values by their parents, who are to rear them with loving discipline, following the example and instruction of our Lord. (Deuteronomy 6:6-7; Psalm 78:4-7; 127:3; Proverbs 22:6; Ephesians 6:4.)