We Believe

We Believe In

The Divine authorship, supernatural preservation, unparalleled infallibility

and supreme authority of the King James Bible.

The Church is Local and Visible only.

Salvation is by grace through faith.

Salvation in Christ is available for ALL no matter who you are or where you come from

and God deems all equal at the foot of the cross.

God is sovereign but man has a responsible will and must choose.

The Eternal security of the believer in Christ.

The parameters of the family are set forth by God and are not subject to governments or public opinion.

There is an Eternal Heaven for those who are redeemed

and an eternal Hell for those who reject Christ as Saviour.

We are unapologetically BAPTIST.

We believe that there is one, and only one,

true and living God,

and that He is thrice holy, righteous, and true

(Deut. 4:39 / Isa. 6:3 / Psa. 19:9).

We believe that God is the supreme ruler and creator of heaven and earth

(1 Chron. 29:11,12 / Ps. 103:19 / Gen. 1:1-26).

As He himself tells Abram in Genesis 17:1, "I am the Almighty God…".

Furthermore, we believe that God is perfect and sinless

(Deut. 32:4 / 2 Sam. 22:31).

As clearly indicated in 1 John 5:7,

God is one God who exists in three distinct persons (Mark 12:29).

This holy Trinity is God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost

(Matt. 28:19).

Each of the distinct persons of the Trinity are equal in every divine attribute,

and each execute distinct, but harmonious offices in the great work of redemption

(1 Peter 1:2,3).

Romans 11:33,34 tells us, "O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God..."

With God, we believe that, "…all things are possible…" (Matt. 19:26).

We also know that God is kind, loving, and merciful

(Titus 3:4-7 / 1 John 4:7-10 / Eph. 2:4,5).

As God said unto Moses, "…I AM THAT I AM…" (Ex. 3:14).

He is the great, wonderful, eternal, all powerful...I AM.

God the Father

We believe that God the Father is the first person set forth in the Divine Trinity.

God the Father is almighty, merciful, just, holy, righteous, and true

(Gen. 17:1 / Ps. 100:5 / Deut. 32:3,4).

We believe that He is eternally existent and possesses the attributes of omnipotence (all powerful),

omniscience (all knowing), and omnipresence (He is everywhere)

(Prov. 15:3 / JOB 42:2 / Ps. 139:1-12).

God the Father provides for, protects, and loves His children

(Ps. 103:13 / Matt. 6:25-30 / Matt. 10:29-31 / Matt. 7:11).

God the Son

We believe that God the Son is the second person set forth in the Divine Trinity.

His name is Jesus Christ.

He is the Mighty God and is Lord of all (Isa. 9:6).

We believe that He shares the same attributes as God the Father (Phil. 2:6).

He is holy, righteous, almighty, merciful, loving, and eternal

(Matt. 28:18-20 / Heb. 7:24-26 / Heb. 13:8).

John 1:1-3 tells us that it is through Jesus Christ (the Word)

that all things were created,

and that He is from the beginning.

Furthermore, we believe that He was born of a virgin,

and that God the Father, through the Holy Spirit, is His divine Father (Luke 1:35).

God the Son died for all the sins of the world,

was buried, and rose again the third day

(1 Cor. 15:3,4 / Titus 3:5,6 / Luke 19:10 / John 3:16).

He now sits at the Father’s right hand,

where He intercedes for us (1 Tim. 2:5,6 / Rom. 8:34).

Jesus Christ is the Cornerstone of the church,

and the loving Bridegroom of the same (Eph. 2:19-21 / John 3:29).

He will return one day for the saved (1 Thess. 4:16-18).

God the Holy Spirit

We believe that God the Holy Spirit is the third person set forth in the Divine Trinity.

We believe that He shares all the same attributes that God the Father and God the Son have

(Ps. 139:7).

The Holy Spirit was and is and always will be Almighty God (Isa. 40:12-15).

We believe the work of the Holy Spirit is to restrain the world, the flesh, and the devil,

and that He witnesses to the truth, convicts the lost,

and testifies to the righteous judgments of God

(John 15:26 / John 16:7-13 / 2 Thess. 2:6,7).

The Holy Spirit comforts, teaches, guides, regenerates, empowers, and anoints the child of God

(John 14:16,17,26 / Titus 3:5 / Acts 1:8 / 1 Cor. 2:10-13 / 1 John 2:27).

He exercises a sanctifying role in salvation,

and a supervising role in the life of the saved

(1 Peter 1:2 / Isa. 61:1 / John 3:6 / 1 Peter 4:14).

He is the Holy Spirit of Promise that seals us unto the day of redemption.

(Eph. 1:13,14 / Eph. 4:30)

The Devil

We believe that Satan is an actual being,

and not an imaginary influence.

The Bible tells us that he was created as an angel with the name of Lucifer,

and through pride he betrayed God and attempted to rise to the position of the Almighty.

Because of this action,

God cast Lucifer from heaven to the ground,

where he became the god of this world and the prince of the power of the air

(Isa. 14:12-15 / Eze. 28:13-17 / 2 Cor. 4:4 / Eph. 2:2).

He is the deceiver of the world, father of all lies,

the tempter and accuser of the brethren, and the enemy of Jesus Christ

(John 8:44 / Gen. 3:1-6 / Rev. 12:7-10).

1 Peter 5:8 says, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil,

as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:” (Job 1:7)

He shall one day be completely defeated and cast into the lake of fire and brimstone

where he will be tormented day and night for all eternity

(Rev. 20:10 / Matt. 25:41).

The Holy Bible

We believe the Bible is a supernatural book.

The Bible is the very God-breathed Word,

and is the full, final, and complete revelation of God's will to man

(Ps. 119:89 / 2 Tim. 3:16,17 / Rev. 22:18,19).

2 Peter 1:21 says, "For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man:

but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost."

The 66 books of the Bible, written by many different men,

over the course of approximately 1,500 years,

all fit perfectly together and point to God as the Author.

Furthermore, we believe that the Bible, being God's Holy Word,

is perfect and has no errors, contradictions, or mistakes (John 17:17).

God tells us that He will preserve His Word forever (Matt. 5:18).

The Bible is a treasure of holy instruction and reveals the principles by which God will judge us.

(Ps. 19:7-11 /Ps. 1:2 / John 12:48)

It is the true center of Christian union,

and the supreme standard by which all human conduct, creeds, and opinions shall be tried.

(Ps. 119:105)

We believe that the Authorized King James Version of 1611

is the preserved Word of God for the English-speaking people,

and that it is faithful and true to the original autographs (Ps. 12:6-7).

As such, we believe the KJV has no errors and is the perfect Word of God.

The KJV is the only English Bible that is God’s Word

and all others are an inadequate conveyance of God's Word to man.

Creation

We believe that the Genesis record of creation is literal

and that God the Father, through The Word, personally created the heaven, the earth,

and all that is therein, in six literal days

(Gen. 1:1 / John 1:1-3 / Heb. 11:3 / Col. 1:16 / Neh. 9:6 / Ex. 20:11).

The Bible tells us that man was created in the image and likeness of God

(Gen. 1:26,27).

Gen. 2:7 says, “And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground,

and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life;

and man became a living soul.”

Rev. 4:11 tells us that God created all things for His pleasure.

The Fall of Man

We believe that the first man, Adam,

was created sinless and innocent before God.

He then transgressed the commandment of the Lord in eating of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil

(Gen. 2:16,17 / Gen. 3:6).

As a consequence of his transgression,

he brought upon himself and all mankind the curse of sin and condemnation.

(Gen. 3:11-19 / Rom. 5:12-21)

Mankind is now by virtue of his fallen sinful nature,

alienated from God, utterly devoid of holiness, inclined to evil, and justly condemned to death

(Rom. 3:10-12 / Rev. 21:8).

Romans 3:23 says, “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” (Rom. 6:26).

Blood Atonement

Ephesians 1:7 says, “In whom we have redemption through his blood,

the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;”.

We believe that mankind is guilty and under condemnation (Rom. 5:18).

By nature we are separated from God and because of sin condemned to die (Isa. 59:2 / Rom. 5:12).

The Bible says that without shedding of blood there is no remission for our sins (Heb. 9:22).

The atonement for sin was accomplished through Jesus Christ,

who freely took upon himself our nature,

yet without sin (Heb. 2:17).

He honoured God’s Law by living a perfect life,

and through his death on the cross satisfied the penalty of the offended law

by suffering in the sinners stead (Matt. 5:17,18).

Through his obedience and sacrificial death,

Jesus made full atonement for all sin.

He died, the just for the unjust,

bearing our sins in His own body on the tree

(Isa. 53:6 / 2 Cor. 5:21 / 1 Pet. 2:24 / 1 Pet. 3:18).

His blood shed, on the cross of calvary,

provides eternal cleansing for our sins

(Heb. 10:10-12 / 1 John 1:7).

Revelation 1:5 tells us that Jesus Christ, “…loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,”.

Repentance and Faith

We believe that repentance and faith are solemn and inseparable prerequisites of salvation;

that they are inseparable graces wrought in the heart by the quickening Holy Spirit;

that the alien sinner, being deeply convicted of sin, of righteousness,

and of judgment to come by the personal ministry of the Holy Spirit,

and by Him having his understanding enlightened so that he can see the way of salvation through Christ,

does actually repent, turning to God with unfeigned contrition, confession, and supplication,

and does actually believe, surrendering himself wholeheartedly to the Lord Jesus,

immediately receiving Him as personal and all-sufficient Saviour

and openly confessing Him before all men.

Acts 20:21-22; Mark 1:15; Acts 11:18; Eph. 2:8; John 6:44; John 16:8-11; Matt. 3:1-2, 8;

Acts 3:19; Luke 13:3; 18:9-14; Acts 9:6; Rom. 10:10.

Salvation

We believe that salvation is by grace through faith

and is a gift of God that is extended to all mankind.

(Eph. 2:8,9 / Rom 6:23 / John 3:16).

Furthermore, we believe repentance and faith are prerequisites for salvation,

and that these inseparable graces are wrought in the heart by the quickening of the Holy Spirit

(Acts 20:21 / Mark 1:15 / Acts 11:18 / Luke 13:3).

The Holy Spirit convicts the sinner and leads him to repentance (John 6:44 / John 16:8-11)

To repent means to sorrow or be pained for sin as a violation of God’s Holy Law

(Zach. 12:10).

When a sinner repents he turns to God with a sincere and broken heart

and, through faith, he truly believes in the saving grace of Jesus Christ,

making Him Lord of his life

(Matt. 3:1,2,8 / Luke 18:9-14 / Acts 9:6).

Faith comes through hearing the Word of God,

and is how we come to believe on Jesus Christ.

When we repent and believe on Jesus Christ,

God, through His grace, saves us and cleanses us from all sin

(Acts 3:19 / Rom. 5:20).

“For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,”

Titus 2:11.

This grace is God’s undeserved favour to mankind,

and is given to us in salvation which is the forgiveness of sins

and is wholly the work of God

(Titus 3:3-5).

Through the blood of Christ our sins are washed away and we are redeemed from iniquity

(Isa. 1:18).

He saves to the uttermost those that come unto God by Him

(Heb. 7:25)

Those who are saved become the adopted children of God and are joint heirs with Christ

(Rom. 8:17 / Titus 3:7).

God promises that salvation is eternal and He will keep us by His power

(1 Peter 1:5).

Salvation is truly a wonderous work of God,

and there is nothing we can do to earn or keep our salvation,

it is wholly through His power

(2 Tim. 1:8).

Romans 10:13 says, “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

The Bible is clear that God wants all men to be saved

(2 Peter 3:9).

Salvation's Work in You

We believe that when a sinner is saved,

Jesus becomes not only Saviour, but Lord of his life.

Salvation is a miraculous work that is instantaneous in nature.

The Bible says, "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature:

old things are passed away;

behold, all things are become new."

(2 Cor. 5:17).

Christ begins a good work in you, and will continue to work in you until He returns

(Phil. 1:6 / Titus 2:14).

There are several things that we believe happen when a person is saved.

A. Regeneration -

"to generate or produce anew;

to reproduce; born anew;

renovated in heart;

changed from a natural to a spiritual state" *

Regeneration is to be born again!

Jesus said in John 3:3 "...Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God."

All who are saved are born of the Spirit of God.

(John 1:12,13 / John 3:3-7)

Regeneration is an instantaneous cleansing from all sins by the blood of Jesus,

and gives the saved a new heart and a new spirit.

(Titus 3:5,6 / 1 John 1:7 / Eze. 36:25-27).

The evidence of this regeneration appears in holy fruits of obedience towards Christ

(Luke 6:43-46 / Gal. 5:22,23).

B. Justification -

"an act of free grace by which God pardons the sinner and accepts him as righteous,

on account of the atonement of Christ" *

"Just as if I’d never sinned."

We believe that when a sinner is saved,

God pardons his sins and casts those sins into the depths of the sea

(Micah 7:19). Psalm 103:12

"As far as the east is from the west,

so far hath he removed our transgressions from us."

We are justified by the grace of God through the redemptive work of Jesus Christ

(Rom. 3:24 / Rom. 5:8,9 / 1 Cor. 6:11 / Titus 3:7).

C. Sanctification -

"the act of making holy or of consecrating or of setting apart for a sacred purpose" *

In the beginning God sanctified the seventh day.

He set it aside and made it holy (Gen. 2:3).

Later, He sanctified the children of Israel for His purpose (Ex. 19:10).

The temple, altar, and the priests were all sanctified,

or set apart and made holy for His purpose.

In the New Testament we are shown that all who are saved,

are sanctified for His purpose

(1 Cor. 1:2 / Heb. 10:10,14).

We are to be wholly set apart for God (1 Thess. 5:23).

We believe that God sets us apart for His purpose when we are saved,

and we, through the Holy Spirit, are to live a life that is pleasing to God

(2 Tim. 2:21 / 2 Cor 6:17,18 / 2 Cor. 7:1 ).

We are to be ready for the Master's use (Rom. 12:1).

1 Thessalonians 4:7 "For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness."

(Eph. 2:10 / Eph 4:24)

D. Confession -

"the act of acknowledging; profession" *

We believe when a sinner is saved, he will confess with his mouth, the Lord Jesus.

Jesus said, "Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men,

him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven." (Matt. 10:32)

If Christ has saved your soul,

you will tell others what He did for you

(1 John 4:2,3,15 / Luke 8:39).

• Definition found in Webster’s 1828

Security of the Believer

We believe that salvation is everlasting (John 3:16,36).

The saved are securely held in both the hand of the Father and the Son

and are sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise

( John 10:27-29 / Eph. 1:13 / Eph. 4:30).

We are kept by the power of God,

and the age-old Baptist doctrine, “Once saved, always saved”, is gloriously true

(2 Tim. 1:12 / Phil. 1:6).

Those who believe on Christ Jesus shall not be brought into condemnation,

and no one can lay anything to the charge of God’s elect

(John 5:24 / Rom. 8:1,33,34).

Romans 8:35-39 tells us that nothing shall be able to separate us from the love of God,

which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

The Resurrection

We believe that after Jesus died on the cross He was buried in a borrowed tomb,

where He lay for three days and three nights

(Luke 23:44-56 / Matt. 12:40).

The Bible tells us that He arose bodily from the dead.

When the women came very early in the morning they found the stone rolled away and the tomb empty.

An angel said unto them, “Why seek ye the living among the dead?

He is not here, but is risen”

(Luke 24:1-12 / Matt 28:6).

He was on the earth after His resurrection for forty days,

and was seen by over five hundred people

(Acts 1:3 / 1 Cor 15:3-8).

Jesus said in Matthew 28:18 “All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.”

He then says in Revelation 1:17,18 “Fear not;

I am the first and the last:

I am he that liveth, and was dead;

and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen;

and have the keys of hell and of death.”

It was after His resurrection He gave the great commission to the (church) apostles

(Matt. 28:19,20 / Mark 16:15 / Acts 1:8).

He then ascended to heaven to sit on the right hand of the Father,

where He ever liveth to make intercession for us

(Acts 1:9 / Rom. 8:34 / Heb. 7:25).

There is resurrection and new life in Jesus Christ.

He says in John 11:25 “I am the resurrection, and the life:

he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:”

The Lord's Return

We believe that the Lord will return for His children as was promised in 1 Thess. 4:16,17,

“For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout,

with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God:

and the dead in Christ shall rise first:

Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds,

to meet the Lord in the air:

and so shall we ever be with the Lord.” (Luke 17:26-37)

We call this the rapture, which will precede the seven year tribulation

(Acts 1:11 / 1 Thess. 5:9 / Dan. 12:1,2).

These seven years are when God will pour out His wrath on the earth.

This tribulation period will end when Christ returns to the earth

and sets up His kingdom where He will rule for one thousand years with a rod of iron (Rev. 19:15).

This is called The Millennial Reign of Christ

(Rev. 19:11-21, 20:1-6 / Ps. 72).

At the close of this period,

Satan will be loosed for a season and will deceive the nations into attacking God’s kingdom

(Rev. 20:7,8).

God will destroy those people, will cast Satan into the lake of fire,

and after the great white throne judgment will cast all the unsaved into the lake of fire

to be tormented day and night forever (Rev. 20:9-15).

God will then bring about a new heaven and a new earth for the believers to enjoy for eternity

(Matt. 25:31-34,46 / Rev. 21, 22:1-5 / Isa. 9:7).

The Righteous and the Wicked

We believe that there is a radical and essential difference between the righteous and the wicked.

We believe the righteous are they who believe in Christ Jesus,

are justified by faith, and sanctified by the Holy Spirit and the Word;

that the righteous are heirs of God and joint-heirs with the Lord Jesus Christ;

and that eternal life, the gift of God, is the matchless possession of the just.

We believe that the wicked are they who do not believe in Christ Jesus,

condemned because of unbelief and corrupted by the god of this world;

that the unjust spurn the privileges of God's grace,

choosing the life of sin and rebellion;

and that eternal damnation is the inescapable portion of the unjust.

Mal. 3:16-18; John 3:6; Rom. 3:22, 24; 4:3; 1:17; 8:1-17; Acts 20:32; John 15:3;

Rom. 8:17; 6:23; II Cor. 4:4; Rev. 21:8; Matt. 23:37; Prov. 29:1; Matt. 25:41.

The Church

We believe the church is a local, visible, organized body composed of baptized believers,

who have covenanted together for the work of the Lord.

Furthermore, the Bible teaches that the church is a sovereign, independent, democratic body,

with Christ as its head, and it is to be led by the Holy Spirit

(John 14:16,17,26 / Acts 13:1-4 / 1 Cor 2:13 / Eph 5:23).

It’s doctrine is to only be from the Word of God,

and it’s decisions are to be based on those doctrines,

and are made by a democratic vote of the body

(Matt. 16:19 / Acts 1:15-26, 6:1-6).

Jesus Christ himself started the first church during his earthly ministry

and gave the authority to teach and baptize to that first church

(Matt. 28:18-20 / Mark 3:13,14 / Luke 6:12,13 / 1 Cor 12:28 / Matt. 16:18).

That authority was passed on from that first church in Jerusalem to subsequent churches,

{through ordained men}, all the way till this present age

(Matt. 28:18-20 / Act 1:8 / Tit 1:5).

Many independent Baptist churches of today still hold true to those original doctrines

and still carry the authority to teach and baptize (Matt 16:18,19).

The local church is God's only approved way by which ordination, baptism, and the Lord's Supper

are to be given, and all authority over membership, internal affairs, and missions is autonomous to it

(Acts 2:41,42 / Matt. 18:15-17).

1 Tim. 3:15 says that the church is the house of God, the pillar and ground of the truth.

The Word of God teaches that the church is a body of believers (1 Cor. 1:1-3).

"For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body,

being many, are one body:

so also is Christ.

But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body,

as it hath pleased him.

Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular."

(1 Cor. 12:12,18,27)

We are also told that the church is the Bride of Christ (Eph. 5:22-33 / 2 Cor. 11:2).

The Bride will be presented to Christ at the Marriage Supper of the Lamb (Eph 5:27 / Rev. 19:7-9).

Based on the preceding verses we believe only those who have been saved,

baptized and are members of a local New Testament church are part of the bride of Christ.

The only two scriptural offices of the church are those of bishop (pastor) and deacon.

These offices are to fulfill the qualifications found in 1 Timothy 3:1-13.

The pastors are to be spiritual overseers and examples to the flock,

and are servants of the church. (1 Pet. 5:2,3 / Acts 20:28)

Deacons are servants of the church

who are to assist in promoting the spiritual welfare of the body (Acts 6:1-6).

The doctrine of the universal church, in which all the saved are part,

is not found in the scripture and goes directly against the teachings of Local Church doctrine.

We reject universal church doctrine.

The Ordinances

We believe that there are certain ordinances, or rules established by God,

that have been given to the church to observe.

These ordinances are to be carried out specifically as we see them in the Scriptures (1 Cor. 11:2).

Baptism

We believe that baptism is an ordinance given to the local church.

Baptism is a symbol of the death, burial, and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ.

It typifies the believer's death to sin, the burial of his old nature,

and his resurrection unto newness of life (Rom. 6:3-5 / Col 2:12).

It is to be administered in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,

and is an outward testimony of our salvation.

Baptism is only for those who have been saved

and is a prerequisite for membership in a New Testament Baptist Church

(Acts 2:41,42 / Acts 8:36-39 / Matt. 3:7-9).

We believe that baptism is by full immersion in water,

and is done by an ordained man, under the authority of a local church (Matt.3:13-17).

Philip was ordained in Acts 6:5,6, and then baptized the Ethiopian in Act 8:38.

Paul was ordained in Acts 13:3, and then baptized Lydia in Act 16:14,15

and the jailor in Acts 16:33.

We do not accept baptism by other denominations,

as they do not have the authority to baptize.

This authority was given by Jesus Christ, to His first church in Jerusalem,

and has been passed down from church to church, through the ages (Matt. 28:19,20 / Matt. 16:18).

The Lord’s Supper

We believe the Lord’s Supper is to be administered by the local church

for the local church and is to be done in remembrance of the Lord’s death.

1 Cor. 11:26 says, “For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup,

ye do shew the Lord's death till he come.”

The unleavened bread and {unfermented grape juice}, referred to as the fruit of the vine,

symbolize the broken body and shed blood of the Son of God

(Matt. 26:26-29 / 1 Cor. 11:23-26 / Prov. 20:1 / Lev. 10:9-10).

The observance of the Lord’s Supper is restricted to the membership of that local church.

Those who partake of the Lord’s Supper are commanded to examine themselves

and ensure that they are not taking unworthily (1 Cor. 11:27-32).

Church Administration

We believe that diligence should be had in seeking the will of God in all church matters

and all major decisions are to be decided upon democratically by a vote of the body

(Acts 13:1-3 / Acts 6:1-6 / Acts 15:19-27).

The Lord’s Day, the first day of the week, should be honoured by the saints

(Acts 20:7 / Rev. 1:10).

The doctrines of the Word of God are to be constantly and consistently taught by the local church

(Acts 2:42 / Matt. 28:19-20).

We believe that members are to be voted into membership of the local body by the local body,

and that unruly church members should be prayerfully and scripturally disciplined by the church

(Matt. 18:15-18).

For members in good standing,

we believe that a letter of transfer of membership should be granted

upon request to sister Baptist churches of like faith and practice

(Acts 18:27 / Rom. 16:1-2).

In all decisions and actions of the church,

we should observe these things without preferring one before another,

doing nothing by partiality (1 Tim 5:21 / Acts 10:34).

Actions that the church takes are very serious and are considered by God to be binding (Matt 16:19).

Civil Government and Religious Liberty

We believe that the powers that be are ordained of God and therefore we should be subject unto them (Romans 13:1-5 / Titus 3:1 / 1 Peter 2:13-17). The exception to this rule is if the powers that be contradict what we are taught in the Word of God. In such a case, "We ought to obey God rather than men.” (Acts 5:29). We are also to pray for those that are in authority (1 Tim. 2:1-3). The Bible teaches that we are to pay our taxes. In Luke 20:25 Christ says, "Render therefore unto Caesar the things which be Caesar's, and unto God the things which be God's." (Rom. 13:6-7).

We believe the government should stay out of the business of the church. No church or religion should be preferred above another by the government, and no taxes should be imposed for the support of any form of religion. A free church in a free state is the Christian ideal.

Heresy and Apostasy

We believe in total and complete separation as taught in the Word of God, from all heresy and ecclesiastical apostasy. The Bible tells us in 1 John 4:1, “Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world." Galatians 1:6-9 warns us to reject any who would pervert the gospel of Christ. We believe the scriptures teach us to "mark them which cause divisions and offenses contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them." (Rom. 16:17,18). We are to rebuke those that believe and teach false doctrine (Titus 1:13,14 / Eph. 5:11). 2 Thessalonians 3:6,14 tells us to withdraw ourselves from and have no company with those that do not follow the teachings of the Bible. 2 John 10,11 tells us not to receive those that don't believe the doctrine of Christ. Furthermore, we are not to keep company with those who call themselves Christians if they lead immoral lifestyles (1 Cor. 5:11). Titus 3:10 tells us to reject hereticks after the first and second admonition. 2 Cor. 6:17 " Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,"

Missions

We believe the command and responsibility to give the Gospel to the world was given solely to the church (Acts 1:8). Jesus Christ gave this commission to His Apostles in Matthew 28:19,20 “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…” (Mark 16:15). The local church is to send out missionaries as is shown in the pattern of Acts 13:1-4. The goal of the local church in sending out missionaries is to win souls, baptize, teach, and establish New Testament Baptist churches (Rom. 10:13-15). There is no place in the Scriptures that allows for mission boards, fellowships, or conventions to do this work. The sending church is responsible for the activities and doctrine of the missionaries that have been authorized by her, and furthermore is responsible for the needs and well being of that missionary (Acts 15:19-27). It is, however, the privilege and responsibility of local Baptist churches to cooperate with each other in carrying out the commission of the Lord and help sister churches in time of need (2 Cor. 8 / Acts 11:28-30). All cooperation of local Baptist churches should be carried out in such a way as to preserve the sovereign integrity of each local Baptist church.

Giving

We believe that giving to the church for the work of the ministry is taught by the Word of God.

2 Corinthians 9:7

"Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give;

not grudgingly, or of necessity:

for God loveth a cheerful giver."

We are to give cheerfully, and not because we have to, but because we want to.

Giving to God will be blessed by God

(2 Cor. 9:6 / Luke 6:38 / Prov. 3:9,10).

Jesus taught us that it is not the amount that is given that matters (Mark 12:41-44).

He also told us that we are not to give to be seen of men,

but are to give in secret (Matt. 6:1-4).

The practice of giving to God has happened all through the Bible.

Abraham gave a tenth of the spoils to Melchisedec,

priest of the most high God, 400 years before the law (Heb. 7:1-4).

The law said that a tithe (a tenth) of the fruit of the land should be given to God (Lev. 27:30).

The Jews were told to give offerings unto the Lord (Ex. 35:5).

In Malachi 3:8-10 the Jews were accused of robbing God for not giving what they were supposed to,

but God promised great blessings if they did give.

The offerings given to the church are to be used for the work of the ministry.

Churches in Corinth, Macedonia, and Antioch all gave to other churches to help in time of need

(Acts 11:27-30 / 2 Cor. 8:1-7).

The man of God is to be supported by the giving of the saints (1 Cor. 9:7-14).

Giving for this purpose is “a sacrifice acceptable, well-pleasing to God” (Phil. 4:14-19).

The Christian Home

We believe our church and society will be no stronger than the home.

The home is where Biblical principles are to be applied first (Deut. 6:6-7).

Children should obey their parents,

wives should submit and be obedient to their own husbands,

and husbands should love their wives as Christ loves the church

( Eph. 6:1-4 / Eph. 5:22-25,28-31,33 / Col. 3:18-20).

The younger women should be taught by the older women to be keepers at home,

love their children and husbands,

and to guide the house

(Col. 3:21 / 1 Tim. 5:14 / Titus 2:3-5 / Prov 31:10-31).

The husbands are to provide for the wife and children in all areas

i.e. spiritual leadership, physical needs, and emotionally.

(1 Tim. 5:8 / Eph 6:4)

We believe in the sanctity of marriage and that Biblical and natural marriage

is between one man and one woman, and is till death parts them

(Gen. 2:21-24 / Rom. 7:2,3).

We believe that if spouses separate, remarriage is seen by God as an act of adultery

(Matt. 5:31-32 / Matt. 19:3-9 / Mark 10:2-12 / Luke 16:18).

God, however, forgives the repentant heart,

and we believe that those that have remarried can still serve God.

The exception to this is in the office of a pastor or deacon.

We believe that a saved person should not seek to be married to an unsaved person

(2 Cor. 6:14-18).

If in the case where a saved person is married to an unsaved person,

in such a situation the saved is to live peaceably and seek the salvation of the unsaved spouse

(1 Cor 7:10-16,27 / 1 Peter 3:1-9)

Ordination

We believe that in order for men to fulfil the work of the ministry

they must be scripturally ordained.

Jesus Christ ordained the apostles and sent them forth as shown in Mark 3:13,14.

The ordination of men for the work is accomplished by the laying on of hands by other ordained men.

The seven who were chosen by the church in Acts 6 had hands laid on them by the apostles (Acts 6:3-6).

We also see in Acts 13:1-4 that Barnabas and Saul(Paul) had hands laid on them

by certain prophets and teachers in the church at Antioch,

and were then sent forth.

Paul and Barnabas later continued this practice by ordaining elders in churches (Acts 14:21-23).

Paul later tells Titus in Titus 1:5

that he had appointed him to ordain elders in every city.

Ordination is a serious matter and is only to be done to men

who meet the qualifications found in 1 Timothy 3.

The Bible states clearly that pastors are not to be novices

and deacons are to be proven and that we should lay hands suddenly on no man

(1 Tim 3:6,10 / 1 Tim. 5:22).

Ordination is truly a gift given by God and is to be fully utilized by men in the ministry

(1 Tim. 4:14).

--