I. ABOUT THE HOLY BIBLE
(1) We believe in the
infallible, verbal inspiration of the whole Bible consisting of
39 books in the Old Testament and 27 books in the New Testament
and that the Holy Bible is the all-sufficient rule of faith and
practice.(Psalms 119:160; 11 Timothy 3:15-17; 11 Peter 1:19-21.)
(2) We believe that the
Holy Bible was written by men divinely inspired and is God's
revelation of Himself to man. It is a perfect treasure of divine
instruction. It has God for its author, salvation in Hell and
Lake of Fire for its end, and truth, without any mixture of
error, for its matter. Therefore, all Scripture is totally true
and trustworthy. It reveals the principles by which God judges
us, and therefore is, and will remain to the end of the world,
the true center of Christian union, and the supreme standard by
which all human conduct, creeds, and religious opinions should
be tried. All Holy Scripture is a testimony to Christ, who is
Himself the focus of divine revelation. (Exodus 24:4;
Deuteronomy 4:1,2; Deuteronomy 17:19; Joshua 8:34; Psalms
19:7-10; Psalms 119:11,89,103,140; Isaiah 34:16; Isaiah 40:8;
Jeremiah 15:16,36; Matthew 5:17,18; Matthew 22:29; Luke 21:33;
Luke 24:44-46; John 5:39; John 16:13-15; John 17:17; Acts 2:16;
Acts 17:11; Romans 15:4; Romans 16:23-26; Hebrews 1:1,2; Hebrews
4:12; 1 Peter 1:23; 11 Peter 1:19-21; Luke 16:19-31; Revelation
20:10-15.
II. ABOUT GOD
(1) We believe in the
personal triune God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, equal in
divine perfection. (Matthew 28:19; Matthew 3:16,17; 11
Corinthians 13:14; 1 John 5:7; Isaiah 6:3; Genesis 18:1,2.)
(2) We believe in
Genesis account of Creation. (Genesis 1:1-31; Genesis 2:1-25.)
(3) We believe that
there is one and only one living and true God. He is an
intelligent, spiritual, and personal Being. God is a person,
infinite, all powerful and all knowing and He is present
everywhere; and His perfect knowledge extends to all things,
past, present, and future, including the future decisions of His
free creatures. To Him we owe the highest love, reverence, and
obedience. God as Father reigns with providential care over His
universe, His creatures, and the flow of the stream of human
history according to the purposes of His grace. (Genesis 1:1;
Genesis 2:7; Exodus 3:14; Exodus 6:2,3; Exodus 15:11; Exodus
20:1; Leviticus 23:2; Deuteronomy 6:4; Deuteronomy 32:6; 1
Chronicles 29:10; Psalms 19:1-3; Psalms 139:1-9; Isaiah 43:3,15;
Isaiah 64:8; Jeremiah 10:10; Jeremiah 17:13; Matthew 6:9;
Matthew 7:11; Matthew 23:9; Matthew 28:19; Mark 1:9-11; John
4:23; John 5:26; John 14:6-13; John 17:1-8; Acts 1:7; Romans
8:14,15; 1 Corinthians 8:6; Galatians 4:6; Ephesians 4:6;
Colossians 1:15; 1 Timothy 1:17; Hebrews 11:6; Hebrews 12:9; 1
Peter 1:17.)
III. ABOUT JESUS CHRIST
(1) We believe in the
deity of Jesus Christ. (John 10:30; John 1:1,14; 11 Corinthians
5:19; Isaiah 9:6; John 2;19-21; Romans 9:5; Titus 2:13; Hebrews
1:8; 1 John 5:20; Revelation 1:7,8,17,18; Revelation
22:12,13,16; John 17:5.)
(2) We believe in the
virgin birth and sinless humanity of Jesus Christ. (Matthew
1:18-20; 11 Corinthians 5:21; 1 Peter 2:22.)
(3) We believe that the
suffering and death of Jesus Christ was a substitution for all
mankind and is efficacious only to those who believe. (Isaiah
53:6; Hebrews 2:9; 1 Peter 2:24; 1 Peter 3:18; 11 Peter 3:9; 1
John 2:2.)
(4) We believe in the
bodily resurrection and ascension of Christ and the bodily
resurrection of His saints (Matthew 28:1-7; Acts 1:9-11; 1
Corinthians 15:42-58; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18.)
(5) We believe that
Christ is God and as God the Son is the eternal Son of God. In
His incarnation as Jesus Christ He was conceived of the Holy
Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. Jesus perfectly revealed and
did the will of God, taking upon Himself human nature with its
demands and necessities and identifying Himself with mankind yet
without sin. He honored the divine law by His personal
obedience, and in His substitution death on the cross He made
provision for the redemption of men from sin. He was raised from
the dead with glorified body and appeared to His disciples as
the person who was with them before His crucifixion. He ascended
into heaven and is now exalted at the right hand of God the
Father where He is the One Mediator, truly God, and truly man,
in whose Person is effected the reconciliation between God and
man. He will return in power and glory to judge the world and to
consummate His redemptive mission. He now dwells in all
believers as the living and ever present Lord. (Genesis 18:11;
Psalms 2:7; Psalms 110:1; Isaiah 7:14; Isaiah 53:1-12; Matthew
1:18-23; Matthew 3:17; Matthew 8:29; Matthew 11:27; Matthew
14:33; Matthew 16:16,27; Matthew 28:1-6,19; Mark 1:1; Mark 3:11;
Luke 1:35; Luke 4:41; Luke 22:70; Luke 24:46; John 1:1-18,29;
John 10:30,38; John 11:25-27; John 12:44-50; John 14:7-11; John
16:15,16,28; John 17:1-5,21,22; John 20:1-28; Acts 1:9; Acts
2:22,24; Acts 7:55,56; Acts 9:4,5,20; Romans 1:3,4; Romans
3:23-26; Romans 5:6-21; Romans 8:1-3,34; Romans 10:4; 1
Corinthians 1:30; 1 Corinthians 2:2; 1 Corinthians 8:6; 1
Corinthians 15:1-8,24,28; 11 Corinthians 5:19-21; 11 Corinthians
8:9; Galatians 4:4,5; Ephesians 1:20; Ephesians 3:11; Ephesians
4:7-10; Philippians 2:5-11; Colossians 1:13-22; Colossians 2:9;
1 Thessalonians 4:14-18; 1 Timothy 2:5,6; 1 Timothy 3:16; Titus
2:13,14; Hebrews 1:1-3; Hebrews 4:14,15; Hebrews 7:14-28;
Hebrews 9:12-15,24-28; Hebrews 12:2; Hebrews 3:8; 1 Peter
2:21-25; Hebrews 3:22; 1 John1:7-9; 1 John 3:2; 1 John 4:14,15;
1 John 5:9; 11 John 7-9; Revelation 1:13-Revelation 16; 5:9-14;
Revelation 12:10,11; Revelation 13:8; Revelation 19:16.)
IV.
ABOUT THE HOLY SPIRIT
(1) We believe the Holy
Spirit is the divine Administrator for Jesus Christ in the
churches. (Luke 24:49; John 14:16,17; Acts 1:4,5,8; Acts 2:1-4;
Revelation 1:10; Revelation 22:17.)
(2) 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 creation
of all things; that Jesus Christ baptized the believers in the
Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost only once and cannot be
repeated. (Genesis 1:2; Judges 14:14:6; Job 26:13; Psalms 51:11;
Psalms 139:7; Isaiah 61:1-3; Joel 2:28-32; Matthew 1:18; Matthew
3:16; Matthew 4:1; Matthew 12:28-32; Matthew 28:19; Mark 1:10;
Luke 1:35; Luke 4:1,18,19; Luke 11:13; Luke 12:12; Acts 5:3,4;
Acts 2:1-4,38; Acts 1:8; Acts 4:31; Acts 6:3; Acts 7:55; Acts
8:17,39; Acts 10:44; Acts 15:28; Acts 16:6; Acts 19:1-6; 1
Corinthians 2:10-14; 1 Corinthians 3:16; 1 Corinthians
12:3-11,13; Galatians 4:6; Ephesians 1:13,14; Ephesians 4:30;
Ephesians 5:18; 1 Thessalonians 5:19; 1 Timothy 3:16; 1 Timothy
4:1; 11 Timothy 1:14; 11 Timothy 3:16; Hebrews 9:8,14; 1 Peter
1:21; 1 John 4:13; 1 John 5:6,7.)
(3) We believe that the
Holy Spirit fills, teaches, sanctifies and helps the believer.
(John 14:16,17,26; John 15:26; John 16:7,14; Acts 1:16; Acts
1:8; Acts 7:31; Acts 8:29; Acts 10:19; Acts 13:2; Acts 20:28;
Acts 9:31; Romans 8:16,26,27; Romans 13:15;16,19,30; 1 Peter
3:18.)
V. ABOUT ANGELS
(1) We believe that
angels were created by God to glorify Him and obey His
commandments. Those who have kept their first state He employs
in ministering blessings to the heirs of salvation and in
executing judgment upon the world. (Luke 16:22; Hebrews 1:14;
Isaiah 6:2-8: Psalms 91:11; Revelation 7:1; Genesis 2:1;
Colossians 1:16; Luke 20:36; Nehemiah 9:6.)
(2) We believe that
Satan is a fallen angel the arch enemy of God and man, the
unholy god of this world, and that his destiny is the eternal
lake of fire in hell. (Isaiah 14:12-15; Ezekiel 28:11-19;
Matthew 25:41; 11 Corinthians 4:4; Ephesians 6:1-17; Revelation
20:10.)
VI.
ABOUT MAN
(1) We believe that man
was created in the image of God. (Genesis 1:1-31.)
(2) We believe that all
animal and vegetable life was made directly by God and God's
established law was they should bring forth only after their
kind. (Genesis 2:1-25.)
(3) We believe 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. (11
Corinthians 5:1-8; 1 Corinthians 2:11; 1 Corinthians 6:20; 1
Corinthians 7:34; 1 Thessalonians 5:23; 11 Timothy 4:6-8;
Hebrews 4:12; Deuteronomy 4:32; Job 31:13; Job 33:4; Isaiah
17:7; Isaiah 42:3; Isaiah 43:12; Isaiah 64:8 Acts 17:26; Acts
7:59; Ecclesiastes 12:7; Romans 9:19,20; Luke 16:19-31; 1 Kings
17:19-21; Matthew 17:1-8; Matthew 10:28.)
VII.
ABOUT SIN
(1) We believe that man
lived in innocence until he fell by voluntary transgression from
his sinless state, the result being that all mankind are
sinners. (Genesis 3:6-24; Romans 5:12,19.)
(2) We believe that man
was created in holiness, under the law of his Maker; but by
voluntary transgression fell from that holy and happy state; in
consequence of which all mankind are now sinners, not by
constraint, but of choice; being by nature utterly void of that
holiness required by the law of God, positively inclined to
evil; and therefore under just condemnation to eternal ruin
without defense or excuse. (Genesis 3:6-24; Romans 5:12; Romans
3:9-19; John 3:6; Psalms 51:3-5; Isaiah 53:6; Ephesians 2:13;
Romans 1:18-31; Romans 2:1-10; Ezekiel 18:19,20; Ephesians
2:1-5.)
(3) We believe that
because of the Fall of Man from sin, man is unable of himself to
believe the gospel. The sinner is dead, and deaf to the things
of God; he cannot understand, cannot come to Christ, cannot
receive the things of the Spirit, cannot seek Christ; his heart
is deceitful and desperately corrupt. His will is not free, it
is in bondage to his evil nature, therefore, he will not-indeed
he cannot choose good over evil in the spiritual realm.
Consequently, it takes much more than the Spirit's assistance to
bring a sinner to Christ.-It takes regeneration by which the
Spirit makes the sinner alive and gives him a new nature.
Repentance and Faith are not something man contributes to
salvation but are part of God's gift of salvation. These are
God's gift to the sinner, not the sinner's gift to God.
(Ephesians 2:1-5; 1 Timothy 5:6; 11 Corinthians 3:3,4; Romans
11:8; 1 Corinthians 2:14; Romans 3:9-19; John 5:40; John
6:44,65; 1 Corinthians 1:18; Jeremiah 17:9; John 8:32-36; John
8:44; Romans 7:14-23; 11 Peter 2:19; Job 14:4; Jeremiah 13:23;
Psalms 14:1-3; Ezekiel 36:25-27; John 3:3-8; Acts 5:31; Acts
11:18; 11 Timothy 2:25; John 6:29; Acts 13:48; 1 Corinthians
3:5; Ephesians 2:8,9; Galatians 2:16; Galatians 5:16-23; Hebrews
12:2; Hebrews 11:1-40.)
VIII.
ABOUT SALVATION
(1) We believe 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 that 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; Romans
16:26; John 5:40; John 3:19; Luke 14:17; Mark 1:15; Romans
1:15-17; Matthew 23:37; Romans 9:32; Proverbs 1:24; Acts 13:46;
Matthew 11:20; Luke 19:27; 11 Thessalonians 1:8.)
(2) We believe that
Repentance and Faith are sacred duties, and also inseparable
graces, wrought in our souls by the regenerating Spirit of God;
whereby 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
as our God, Prophet, Priest, and King, and relying on Him alone
as the only and all-sufficient Savior. (Mark 1:15; Acts 11:18;
Ephesians 2:8; 1 John 5:1; John16:8; Acts 2:37-41; Acts
16:29-31; Luke 18:13; Luke 15:18-21; James 4:7-10; 11
Corinthians 7:11; Romans 10:12,13; Psalms 51:1-19; Romans
10:9-17; Acts 3:22,23; Hebrews 4:14; Psalms 2:6; Hebrews 1:8;
Hebrews 8:25; 11 Timothy 1:12.)
(3) We believe that the
Holy Scriptures teach that Adoption is a gracious act by which
the Father, for the sake of Christ, places believers in the
estate and condition of sons. This sons God established by
sending the Spirit of adoption into their hearts, whereby they
become members of the family of God and are thus entitled to all
the rights, privileges and promises of sons and are therefore
heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Jesus Christ. (John 1:11-13;
Romans 8:14-16; Galatians 3:26; Galatians 4:6; Ephesians 1:5; 1
John 3:1; Hebrews 12:7; 1 Peter 2:9.)
(4) We believe that, in
order to be saved sinners must be regenerated, or born again,
that regeneration consists in giving a holy disposition to the
mind; that it is effected in a manner above our comprehension by
the power of the Holy Spirit, in connection with divine truth,
so as to secure our voluntary obedience to the gospel; and that
the proper evidence appears in the holy fruits of repentance,
and faith, and newness of life. (John 3:3-8; 1 Corinthians 1:14;
Revelation 8:7-9; Revelation 21:27; 11 Corinthians 5:17; Ezekiel
36:25-27; Deuteronomy 30:6; Romans 2:28-29; Romans 5:5; 1 John
4:7; James 1:16-18; 1 Corinthians 1:30; Philippians 2:13; 1
Peter 1:22-25; 1 John 5:1; Ephesians 4:20-24; Colossians 3:9-11;
Ephesians 5:9; Romans 8:9; Galatians 5:16-23; Ephesians 3:14-21;
Matthew 3:8-10; Matthew 7:20; 1 John 5:4,18.)
(5) We believe that
Election is the eternal purpose of God, according to which He
graciously regenerates, sanctifies, and saves sinners; that
being perfectly consistent with the free agency of man, it
comprehends all the means in connection with the end; that it is
a most glorious display of God's sovereign goodness, being
infinitely free, wise, holy, and unchangeable; that it utterly
excludes boasting, and promotes humility, love, prayer, praise,
trust, in God, and active imitation of his free mercy; that it
encourages the use of means in the highest degree; that it may
be ascertained by its effect in all who truly believe the
gospel; that it is the foundation of Christian assurance; and
that to ascertain it with regard to ourselves demands and
deserves the utmost diligence. (11 Timothy 1:8,9; Ephesians
1:3-14,16; 1 Peter 1:1,2; Romans 11:5,6,28,29,32-36; John
15:15-19; 1 John 4:19; Hosea 12:9; 11 Thessalonians 2:13,14;
Acts 13:48; John 10:16; Matthew 20:15,16; Acts 15:14; Exodus
33:18,19; Romans 9:23,24; Jeremiah 31:3; James 1:17,18; 11
Timothy 1:9; 1 Corinthians 4:7; 1 Corinthians 1:26-31; Romans
3:27; Romans 4:16; Colossians 3:12; 1 Corinthians 3:5-7; 1
Corinthians 15:10; 1 Peter 5:10; Acts 1:24; 1 Peter 2:9; Luke
18:7; Romans 8:28-30; John 6:37-40; 11 Peter 1:10,11; 1
Thessalonians 1:4-10; Isaiah 42:16; Hebrews 6:11.)
(6) 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 promise 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; by virtue of faith, His perfect
righteousness is freely imputed to us of God; that it brings us
into a state of most blessed peace and favor with God, and
secures every other blessing needful for time and eternity.
(John 1:16; Ephesians 3:8; Acts 13:39; Isaiah 3:11,12; Romans
8:1; Romans 5:1-3,9,11,17,21,19; Zechariah 13:1; Matthew 9:6;
Acts 10:43; Titus 3:5,6; 1 Peter 3:7; 1 John 2:12,25; Romans
4:4,5,23-25; Romans 6:28; Romans 3:24-26; 1 Corinthians 1:30,31;
Matthew 6:33; 1 Timothy 4:8.)
(7) We believe that
Sanctification is the process by which, according to the will of
God, we are made partakers of His holiness; that it is a
progressive work; that it is begun in regeneration; and that it
is carried on in the hearts of believers by the presence and
power of the Holy Spirit, the Sealer and Comforter, in the
continual use of the appointed means-especially the Word of God,
self-examination, self-denial, watchfulness, and prayer. (1
Thessalonians 4:3 1 Thessalonians 5:23; 11 Corinthians 7:1; 11
Corinthians 13:9; Ephesians 1:4,13,14; Proverbs 4:18; 11
Corinthians 3:18; Hebrews 6:1,2; 11 Peter 1:5-8; Philippians
3:12-16; John 2:29; Romans 8:5; John 3:6; Philippians 1:9-11;
Philippians 2:12,13; Ephesians 4:11,12,30; 1 Peter 2:2; 11 Peter
3:18; 11 Corinthians 13:5; Luke 11:35; Luke 9:23; Matthew 26:41;
Ephesians 6:18.)
(8) We believe that
Glorification refers especially to the time when at the Second
Coming of Christ those who died in Christ and the living
believers will be given the resurrection of the body-a final and
full "redemption of our body" preparatory for and suited for the
final state of the Christian believer. Glorification, therefore,
is only for believers, and it consists of the redemption of the
body. At that time "this perishable" will put on the
imperishable," and "this mortal." the body, will "put on
immortality." Then death, the Christian's last enemy, will be
swallowed up in victory. (Romans 8:23; 1 Corinthians 15:53; 1
Corinthians 15:56; 1 Corinthians 15:54; Romans 8:19-21.)
(9) We believe that the
depraved sinner is saved wholly by grace through faith in Jesus
Christ, and the requisites to regeneration are repentance toward
God and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. (Luke 13:3-5; John
3:16-18; Acts 20:21; Romans 6:23; Ephesians 2:8,9), and that the
Holy Spirit convicts sinners, regenerates, seals, secures, and
indwells every believer. (John 3:6; John 16:8,9; Romans 8:9-11;
1 Corinthians 6:19,20; Ephesians 4:30; Titus 3:5.)
(10) We believe that
all who trust Jesus Christ for salvation are eternally secure in
Him and shall not perish; 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. (John 3:36: John 5:24; John 10:27-30; Romans 8:35-37;
Hebrews 10:39; 1 Peter 1:5; John 8:31; 1 John 2:27,28; 1 John
3:9; 1 John 5:18; 1 John 2:18,19; John 13:18; Matthew 13:20,21;
John 6:66-69; Job 17:9; Romans 8:28; Matthew 6:30-33; Jeremiah
32:40; Psalms 121:3; Psalms 91:11,12; Philippians 1:6; Jude
24,25; Hebrews 1:14; 11 Kings 6:16; Hebrews 13:5; 1 John 4:4;
Psalms 51:12; Isaiah 49:15,16.)
IX.
ABOUT THE CHURCH
(1) We believe that
Jesus Christ established His church during His ministry on earth
and that it is always a local visible assembly of Scripturally
baptized believers in covenant relationship to carry out the
commission of the Lord Jesus Christ, and each church is an
independent, self-governing body, and no other ecclesiastical
body may exercise authority over it. (Matthew 4:18-22; John
1:40-44; Matthew 10:1-6; 1 Corinthian 12:27,28; Matthew
18:15-20; Matthew 16:18; 1 Corinthians 3:11; Ephesians 5:22-33;
(2) We believe that
Jesus Christ gave the Great Commission to the New Testament
churches only, and that He promised the perpetuity, succession,
and continuity of His churches. The local assembly that was to
become a perpetual institution and it will continue to work to
the end of the world. it would be perpetuated as an institution
through other institution of like faith and order. It could be
dismissed and re-assembled as often as necessary, and as the
Lord commanded, in carrying out its work. When it dismisses or
disassembled, it then existing as an institution or
organization, though it is not in an actual assembly all the
time. (Matthew 4:18-22; Matthew 16:18; Matthew 28:19,20; Mark
1:14-20; John 1:35-51; Ephesians 3:21.)
(3) We believe that
there are two pictorial ordinances in the Lord's churches:
Baptism and the Lord's Supper. Scriptural baptism is the
immersion of penitent believers in water, administered by the
authority of a New Testament church in the name of the Father,
Son, and Holy Spirit. The Lord's Supper is a memorial ordinance,
restricted to the members of the church observing the ordinance.
(Matthew 28:19,20; Acts 8:12,38; Romans 6:4; 1 Corinthians
5:11-13; 1 Corinthians 11:1,2,17-20,26.)
(4) We believe that
there are two divinely appointed offices in a church, pastors
and deacons, to be filled by men whose qualifications are set
forth in Titus and 1 Timothy.
(5) We believe that all
associations, fellowships, and committees are, and properly
should be servants of and under control of the churches.
(Matthew 20:25-28.)
(6) We believe that the
first day of the week is the Lord's Day. It is a Christian
institution for regular observance. It commemorates the
resurrection of Christ from the dead and should include
exercises of worship and spiritual devotion, both public and
private. Activities on the Lord's Day should be commensurate
with the Christian's conscience under the Lordship Jesus Christ.
(Exodus 20:8-11; Matthew 12:1-12; 28:11; Mark 2:27,28; 16:1-7;
Luke 24:1-333-36; John 4:21-24; John 20:1,19-28; Acts 20:7;
Romans 14:5-10; 1 Corinthians 16:1,2; Colossians 2:16; 3:16;
Revelation 1:10; Hebrews 4:7-11.)
(7) We believe that
Missions, the endeavor to reach all the world with the gospel,
is a charge to, and the responsibility of the church; that the
church is debtor to those who have never heard the gospel; that
the Lord Jesus Christ has commanded the gospel to be preached at
home and abroad to the uttermost part of the earth; and that the
magnitude of the Great Commission constrains autonomous New
Testament Baptist churches to cooperate together for the
accomplishment of the task. (Psalms 96:3; Proverbs 11:30; Isaiah
6:8; Daniel 12:3; Matthew 9:36-38; Matthew 24:14; Matthew
28:18-20; Mark 16:15; Luke 24:45-47; John 4:35-38; John 20:21;
Acts 1:8; Acts 8:14-18; Acts 11:19-26; Acts 13:1-4; Acts
16:9,10; Romans 1:14-16; Romans 9:22-26; Romans 10:9-17; 11
Corinthians 5:18-20; 11 Corinthians 10:13-16; Philippians
4:14-18; 11 Peter 3:9; Revelation 14:6.)
(8) We believe that the
Law of God is the eternal and unchangeable rule of His moral
government; that it is holy, just, and good; and that the
inability which the Holy Scriptures ascribe to fallen men to
fulfill its precepts arises entirely from their love of sin; to
deliver them from which, and to restore them through a Mediator
to unfeigned obedience to the holy Law, is one great end of the
Gospel, and of the means of grace connected with the
establishment of the visible Church. (Romans 3:31; Matthew 5:17;
Luke 16:17; Romans 3:20; Romans 4:15; Romans 7:7,12,14,23;
Galatians 3:21; Psalms 119; Romans 8:,2,4,7,8 Joshua 24:19;
Jeremiah 13:23; John 6:44; John 5:44; Romans 10:4; 1 Timothy
1:5; Hebrews 8:10; Jude 20,21; Hebrews 12:14; Matthew 16:17,18;
1 Corinthians 12:28.)
(9) We believe that the
Family of God includes all the children of God in heaven and on
earth; while the Kingdom of God includes all the saved on earth
at any given time; while the Church of God is never used of any
institution, except of an assembly or congregation of saved
baptized believers in some given locality. and that the
executive of the Kingdom of God is the Church of God. (Ephesians
3:13-15; Colossians 1:13; John 3:3; 1 Corinthians 1:2; Acts
2:41,47; Acts 8:1; Acts 13:1-4; Revelation 1:4.)
(10) We believe that
the Baptist name is as divine as a Baptist Church. Both came
from heaven. Both came from God. John was the name given the
forerunner of the Lord Jesus Christ. At the birth of John, he
was called "The Baptist" because of his mission to preach,
baptize, teach those materials he prepared for the Lord church
that Christ will establish later on after His baptism in the
river Jordan by immersion in the hands of John, the first
missionary Baptist preacher. God called John "The Baptist"
before he started preaching and baptizing. God sent him to
baptize only one class of people, namely, those who were made
disciples or Christian before their baptism. That those, whom he
baptized were saved before their baptism is clearly proven by
his demanding "fruits meet for repentance." They confessed their
sins before their baptism. John taught them to believe on Christ
before he baptize them. (Isaiah 56:5; 1 Timothy 3:15; Isaiah
40:3-5; Matthew 3:1-17; Matthew 11:9-12; Acts 19:4; John
1:6-8,35-37; Luke 1:17,77-80; Acts 1:21,22; Luke 7:29,30;
Matthew 21:23-27; Acts 2:41,47; 1 Corinthians 1:18; Ephesians
2:8-10; 1 Titus 3:5; John 10:27-29; 1 John 5:1-13; Romans
8:1,29-39; Romans 10:9-17; Romans 6:3,4; Colossians 2:12; Romans
4:1-6.)
(11) We believe that
all the saved baptized believers by immersion in water and
members of the Lord's true local churches around the world that
will be fused into one church at the second coming of Christ
will be the future glory bride. This is not only exclusive for
those who are faithful members of true churches of our Lord
Jesus Christ while here on earth during the Church Age beginning
from the time of John the Baptist ministry and of our Lord
Jesus-Christ personal ministry on earth until the second coming.
Being a saved, baptized believers and members of a local true
New Testament Baptist church automatically make you a part of
the Lord's future glory bride. There will be a multitude of
saved people in heaven who are not members of the future glory
bride of Christ according to the book of Revelation 19:1-9:
Hebrews 12:23. additional Scriptures: Matthew 3:1-17; Acts
2:41,42,47; Matthew 11:9-12; Luke 7:29-31; Acts 1:21,22; Matthew
4:18-22; Matthew 16:18; Matthew 18:15-20; Matthew 28:19,20; Acts
1:8; Acts 8:14; Acts 11:22; Acts 13:1-3; Acts 14:23-28; Romans
10:9-17; Ephesians 3:21; Acts 8:1; Acts 9:31; 1 Corinthians
1:2.)
X. ABOUT CHRISTIAN LIFE
(1) We believe that
love one for another as Jesus loves the believer manifests our
discipleship, proves our love for God and symbolizes our
authority as New Testament churches. Love is therefore the great
commandment of the Lord Jesus Christ upon which all others are
dependent. (Matthew 22:35-40; John 13:34,35: John 15:12; 1 John
4:7-21; 1 John 5:1-3; Revelation 2:4,5.)
(2) We believe in
freedom of worship without interference from the government and
affirm our belief in civil obedience, unless the laws and
regulations of civil government run contrary to the Holy
Scriptures. God alone is Lord of the conscience, and He has left
it free from the doctrines and commandments of men which are
contrary to His Word or not contained in it. Church and state
should be separate. The state owes to every church protection
and full freedom in the pursuit of its spiritual ends. In
providing for such freedom no ecclesiastical group or
denomination should be favored by the state or civil government
more than others. Civil government being ordained of God, it is
the duty of Christians to render loyal obedience thereto in all
things not contrary to the revealed will of God. The church
should not resort to the civil power to carry on its work. The
gospel of Christ contemplates spiritual means alone for the
pursuit of its ends. The state has no right to impose penalties
for religious opinions of any kind. The state has no right to
impose taxes for the support of any form of religion. A free
church in a free state is the Christian ideal, and this implies
the right of free and unhindered access to God on the part of
all men, and the right to form and propagate opinions in the
sphere of religion without interference by the civil power.
(Genesis 1:27; Genesis 2:7; Matthew 6:6,724; Matthew 16:26;
Matthew 22:21; John 8:36; Acts 4:19,20; Romans 6:1,2; Romans
13:1-7; Galatians 5:1,13; Philippians 3:20; 1 Timothy 2:1,2;
James 4:12; 1 Peter 2:12-17; 1 Peter 3:11-17; 1 Peter 4:12-19.)
(3) We believe it is
the duty and privilege of every follower of Christ and of every
church of the Lord Jesus Christ to endeavor to make disciples of
all nations. The new birth of man's spirit by God's Holy Spirit
means the birth of love for others. Missionary effort on the
part of all rests thus upon a spiritual necessity of the
regenerate life, and is expressly and repeatedly commanded in
the teachings of Christ. The Lord Jesus Christ has commanded the
preaching of the gospel to all nations. It is the duty of every
child of God to seek constantly to win the lost to Christ by
verbal witness undergird by a Christian lifestyle, and by other
methods in harmony with the gospel. (Genesis 12:1-3; Exodus
19:5,6; Isaiah 6:1-8; Matthew 9:37,38; Matthew 10:5-15; Matthew
13:18-30, 37-43; Matthew 16:19; Matthew 22:9,10; Matthew 24:14;
Matthew 28:18-20; Luke 10:1-18; Luke 24:46-53; John 14:11,12;
John 15:7,8,16; John 17:15; John 20:21; Acts 1:8; Acts 8:26-40;
Acts 10:42-48; Acts 13:2,3; Romans 10:9-17; Ephesians 3:1-11; 1
Thessalonians 1:8; 11 Timothy 4:5; Hebrews 2:1-3; Hebrews 11:39;
Hebrews 12:2; 1 Peter 2:4-10; Revelation 22:17.)
(4) We believe that
Christianity is the faith of enlightenment and intelligence. In
Jesus Christ abide all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
All sound learning is, therefore, a part of our Christian
heritage. The new birth opens all human faculties and creates a
thirst for knowledge. Moreover, the cause of education in the
Kingdom of Christ is co-ordinate with the causes of missions and
general benevolence, and should receive along with these the
liberal support of the churches. An adequate system of Christian
education is necessary to a complete spiritual program for
Christ's people. In Christian education there should be a proper
balance between academic freedom and academic responsibility.
Freedom in any orderly relationship of human life is always
limited and never absolute. The freedom of a teacher in a
Christian school, college, or seminary is limited by the
pre-eminence of Jesus Christ, by the authoritative nature of the
Scriptures, and by the distinct purpose for which the school
exists. (Deuteronomy 4:1,5,9.14; Deuteronomy 6:1-10; Deuteronomy
31:12,13; Nehemiah 8:1-8; Job 28:28; Psalms 19:7; Psalms 119:11;
Proverbs 3:13; Proverbs 4:1-10; Proverbs 8:1-7,11; Proverbs
15:14; Ecclesiastes 7:19; Matthew 5:2; Matthew 7:24; Matthew
28:19,20; Luke 2:40; 1 Corinthians 1:18-31; Ephesians 4:11-16;
Philippians 4:8; Colossians 2:3,8,9; 1 Timothy 1:3-7; 11 Timothy
2:15; 11 Timothy 3:14-17; Hebrews 5:12; Hebrews 6:3; James 1:5;
James 3:17.)
(5) We believe that God
is the source of all blessings, temporal and spiritual; all that
we have and are we owe to Him. The Christians have spiritual
debtors to the whole world, the holy trustees in the gospel, and
a binding stewards in their possessions. They are therefore
under obligation to serve Him with their time, talents, and
material possessions; and should recognize all these as
entrusted to them to use for the glory of God and for helping
others. According to the Scriptures, Christians should
contribute of their means cheerfully, regularly, systematically,
proportionately, and liberally for the advancement of the
Redeemer's cause on earth. God's program for financing the
execution of His Great Commission is the program by which every
believer gives tithes and offering to God in and through the New
Testament storehouse; His Church; that the institution of
tithing predates and is separate from the Law; and that
cheerful, obedient, sacrificial giving presents for God
opportunities to manifest His grace and His inexhaustible bounty
of blessings. (Genesis 14:20; Leviticus 27:30-32; Deuteronomy
8:18; Malachi 3:8-12; Matthew 6:1-4,19-21; Matthew 19:21;
Matthew 23:23; Matthew 25:14-29' Luke 12:16-21,42; Luke 16:1-13;
Acts 2:44-47; Acts 5:1-11; Acts 17:24,25; Acts 20:35; Romans
6:6-22; Romans 12:1,2; 1 Corinthians 4:1,2; 1 Corinthians
6:19,20; 1 Corinthians 16:1-4; 11 Corinthians 8:1-9; 11
Corinthians 12:15; Philippians 4:10-19; 1 Peter 1:18,19; 1
Chronicles 29:3; 11 Chronicles 31:10; Proverbs 3:9,10; Proverbs
11:25; Luke 6:38; Acts 4:33-35,37; Acts 11:29,30; 11 Corinthians
9:6,7; 1 Timothy 6:17,18; Hebrews 7:1,2,4; Hebrews 13:16.)
(6) We believe that all
Christians are under obligation to seek to make the will of
Christ supreme in our own lives and in human society. Means and
methods used for the improvement of society and the
establishment of righteousness among men can be truly and
permanently helpful only when they are rooted in the
regeneration of the individual by the saving grace of God in
Jesus Christ. In the spirit of Christ, Christians should oppose
racism, every form of greed, selfishness, and vice like drinking
of alcoholic beverages, gambling, smoking, eating of blood, and
all forms of sexual immorality, including adultery,
homosexuality, and pornography. We should work to provide for
the orphaned, the needy, the abused, the aged, the helpless, and
the sick. We should speak on behalf of the unborn and contend
for the sanctity of all human life from conception to natural
death. Every Christian should seek to bring industry,
government, and society as a whole under the sway of the
principles of righteousness, truth, and brotherly love. In order
to promote these ends Christians should be ready to work with
all men of good will in any good cause, always being careful to
act in the spirit of love without compromising their loyalty to
Christ and His truth. (Exodus 20:3-17; Leviticus 6:2-5;
Deuteronomy 10:12; Deuteronomy 27:17; Psalms 101:5; Micah 6:8;
Zechariah 8:16; Matthew 5:13-16,43-48; Matthew 22:36-40; Matthew
25:35; Mark 1:29-34; Mark 2:31; Mark 10:21; Luke 4:18-21; Luke
10:27-37; Luke 20:25; John 15:12; John 17:15; 1 Corinthians
5:9,10; 1 Corinthians 6:1-7; 1 Corinthians 7:20-24; Galatians
3:26-28; Ephesians 6:5-9; Colossians 3:12-17; 1 Thessalonians
3:12; James 1:27; James 2:8; Job 41:19-21; Proverbs 16:27;
Proverbs 23:29-31; Habakkuk 2:15; Leviticus 17:10-14; Leviticus
7:26,27; Deuteronomy 12:15,16,23,24; Genesis 9:4; Acts
15:19,20,28,29; Acts 21:25.)
(7) We believe that it
is the duty of Christians to seek peace with all men on
principles of righteousness. In accordance with the spirit and
teachings of Christ they should do all in their power to put an
end to war. The true remedy for the war is the gospel of our
Lord. The supreme need of the world is the acceptance of His
teachings in all affairs of men and nations, and the practical
application of His law of love. Christian people throughout the
world should pray for the reign of the Prince of Peace. (Isaiah
2:4; Matthew 5:9,38-48; Matthew 6:33; Matthew 26:52; Luke
22:36,38; Romans 12:18,19; Romans 13:1-7; Hebrews 12:14; James
4:1,2.)
(8) We believe that God
has ordained the family as the foundational institution of human
society. It is composed of persons related to one another by
marriage, blood, or adoption. Marriage is the uniting of one man
and one woman in covenant commitment for a lifetime. It is God's
unique gift to reveal the union between Christ and His church
and to provide for the man and the woman in marriage the
framework for intimate companionship, the channel of sexual
expression according to biblical standards, and the means for
procreation of the human race. The husband and wife are of equal
worth before God, since both are created in God's image. The
marriage relationship models the way God relates to His people.
A husband is to love his wife as Christ loved the church. He has
the God-given responsibility to provide for, to protect, and to
lead his family. A wife is to submit herself graciously to the
servant leadership of her husband even as the church willingly
submits to the headship of Christ. She, being in the image of
God as is her husband and thus equal to him, has the God-given
responsibility to respect her husband and to serve as his helper
in managing the household and nurturing the next generation.
Children, from the moment of conception, are a blessing and
heritage from the Lord. Parents are to demonstrate to their
children God's pattern for marriage. Parents are to teach their
children spiritual and moral values and to lead them through
consistent lifestyle example and loving discipline, to make
choices based on biblical truth. Children are to honor and obey
their parents.(Genesis 1:26-28; Genesis 2:15-25; Genesis 3:1-20;
Exodus 20:12; Deuteronomy 6:4-9; Joshua 24:15; 1 Samuel 1:26-28;
Psalms 51:5; Psalms 78:1-8; Psalms 139:13-16; Proverbs 1:8;
Proverbs 5:15-20; Proverbs 6:20-22; Proverbs 12:4; Proverbs
13:24; Proverbs 14:1; Proverbs 17:6; Proverbs 18:22; Proverbs
22:6,15; Proverbs 23:13,14; Proverbs 24:3; Proverbs 29:15,17;
Proverbs 31:10-31; Ecclesiastes 4:9-12; Ecclesiastes 9:9;
Malachi 2:14-16; Matthew 5:31,32; Matthew 18:2-5; Matthew
19:3-9; Mark 10:6-12; Romans 1:18-32; 1 Corinthians 7:1-16;
Ephesians 5:21-33; Ephesians 6:1-4; Colossians 3:18-21; 1
Timothy 1:3-5; Titus 2:3-5; Hebrews 13:4; 1 Peter 3:1-7.)
(9) We believe that God
deals with believers as His children, that He chastises the
disobedient, and that He rewards the obedient. (Matthew 16:27;
Matthew 25:14-23; John 1:12; Hebrews 12:5-11; 11 John 8;
Revelation 22:12.
(10) We believe that
the Holy Bible teaches of a personal dedication of individual,
saved, baptized believer, member of the Lord's church, but not
of a dedication of child or infant who is not yet capable to
make a profession of faith the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation
and Lord of his life and follow Him in baptism and become a
member of the Lord's church. Acts 2:38-42; Romans 10:9-17;
Colossians 3:1-25. The dedication of Jesus Christ in the temple
is not for His church to follow because it belongs to the Jewish
religion and tradition. Luke 2:21-24; Leviticus 12:8.)
XI. ABOUT FALSE DOCTRINE
AND RELIGION
(1) We believe that
miraculous spiritual manifestation gifts were done away when the
Holy Bible was completed. Faith, Hope and Love are vital abiding
Spiritual gifts. (1 Corinthians Chapters 12-14.)
(2) We believe that
Satan was the author of False Doctrine and Religion since man
was in the Garden of Eden down to this day. Satan very cunningly
conceals his work in ecumenism and in the charismatic
Pentecostal movements. With the rise of Romanism, Protestantism
and Cults, we have seen the rise of seducing spirits, teaching
doctrines of devil. As Missionary Baptists, we will not join in
union meeting with other denomination which held false
doctrines. By doing this it would indicate that we are in
agreement with their false teachings. These doctrines of devils
will eventually culminate in the rising of anti-Christ the man
of sin, who is to be destroyed with the brightness of the Second
Coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.(Genesis 3:1-6; Genesis 4:1-7;
Exodus 20:3-23; Leviticus 20:1; Deuteronomy 27:13; Deuteronomy
4:13-23; Psalms 97:7; Isaiah 42:17; Isaiah 40:19,20; Isaiah
44:9-17; Jeremiah 10:11-53; 1 Timothy 4:1-3; 11 Peter 2:1-3; 1
John 2:18,19; 11 John 7-11; Galatians 1:6-8; 11 Corinthians
11:13-15; Mark 7:7; Romans 16:17,18; 11 Timothy 4:1-5; 11
Corinthians 6:14-18; Revelation 17:1-13.
XII. ABOUT SECOND COMING OF
CHRIST AND RELATED EVENTS
(1) We believe in the
Premillennial, personal, bodily return of Christ as the crowning
event of the Gentile age. This event will include the
resurrection of the righteous to eternal heaven and the
Millennium will be followed by the resurrection of the
unrighteous unto eternal punishment in the lake of fire and that
the righteous shall enter into the heaven age. (John 14:1-6; 1
Thessalonians 4:13-18; 11 Thessalonians 2:8; Revelation 19;
Revelation 20:4-6; Revelation 20:11-15; Revelation 21:8.)
(2) 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 Christ, 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. (Malachi 3:18; Proverbs
12:26; Isaiah 5:20; Genesis 18:23; Jeremiah 15:19; Acts
10:34,35; Romans 6:16,18,22; Romans 1:17; Romans 7:6; 1 John
2:29; 1 John 3:7; 1 Corinthians 11:32; Proverbs 11:31; 1 Peter
4:17,18; 1 John 5:19; Galatians 3:10; John 3:36; Isaiah 57:21;
Psalms 10:4; Isaiah 55:6,7; Proverbs 14:32; Luke 16:25; John
8:21-24; Proverbs 10:24; Luke 12:4,5; Luke 9:23-26; John
12:25,26; Ecclesiastes 3:17; Matthew 7:13,14.)
