Statement of Faith

        The adoption of a Statement of Faith, as a standard about which our Baptist people may rally, is consistent with the practice of our fathers from the early days of our history. Living in a day of doubt, unbelief, and irreligion, we feel that the time has come for Baptists to publicly reaffirm their faith in the great fundamentals. As Baptists we desire to restate the foundational doctrines of our faith in the following confession:

SECTION I - THE SCRIPTURES

WE BELIEVE that the Holy Bible was (a) written by men controlled by the Holy Spirit; (b) 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.

a)  II Timothy 3:16,17; II Peter 1:19-21; Acts 1:16; 28:2
b)  Psalms 119:105,130,160; Luke 24:25-27; John 17:17
c)  Psalms 19:7-11; 119:89; Proverbs 30:5-6; Romans 4:4; 15:4; I Peter 1:23; Revelation 22:19; Isaiah 8:20; Ephesians 6:17; Luke 16:31; John 12:48; 5:39,45-47.

(EXPLANATORY)

1.  By "The Holy Bible" we mean that the sixty-six books from Genesis to Revelation which, as originally written, does not contain and convey the Word of God but is the very Word of God.
2.  By "inspiration" we mean that the Books of the Bible were written by Holy men of old as they were moved by the Holy Spirit in such an infinite way that their writings were supernaturally inspired and free from error as no other writings have ever been or ever will be inspired.

SECTION II - THE TRUE GOD

WE BELIEVE (a) that there is one and only one living and true God, an infinite, intelligent Spirit, the maker and supreme ruler of heaven and earth; (b) that He is inexpressibly glorious in holiness and worthy of all possible honor, confidence, and love; and (c) 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 efficacies in the great work of redemption.

a)  Exodus 20:2,3; Genesis 17:1; I Corinthians 8:6; Ephesians 4:6; John 4:24; Psalms 90:2; 83:18; 147:5; Jeremiah 10:10
b)  Exodus 15:11; Revelation 4:11; I Timothy 1:17; Romans 11:33; Mark 12:30
c)  Matthew 28:19; John 10:30; 15:26; I Corinthians 2:10,11; 12:4-6; I John 5:7; Acts 5:33,34; Philippians 2:5,6; II Corinthians 13:14

SECTION III - THE HOLY SPIRIT

WE BELIEVE that the Holy Spirit is a divine person; (a) equal with God the Father and (b) God the Son and (c) of the same nature; (d) that He was active in the creation; (e) that in His revelation to the unbelieving world He restrains the evil one until God's purpose is fulfilled; (f) that He convicts of sin, of judgment, and of righteousness; (g) that He bears witness to the truth of the Gospel in preaching and testimony; (h) that He seals, baptizes, endues, guides, teaches, witnesses, sanctifies, and helps the Believer.

a)  John 14:16,17
b)  Matthew 28:19
c)  Hebrews 9:14; John 14:26; Luke 1:35
d)  Genesis 1:1-3
e)  II Thessalonians 2:7
f)  John 16:8-11
g)  John 15:26,27; Acts 5:30-32
h)  John 3:5,6
i)  Matthew 3:11; Mark 1:8; Luke 3:16; 24:49; John 1:33; 14:26; 16:13; Acts 11:16; Romans 8:14; 16:26,27; II Thessalonians 2:13; I Peter 1:2; Galatians 5:22-23; Ephesians 1:13,14; 5:18-21

SECTION IV - SANCTIFICATION

WE BELIEVE that sanctification has a two-fold meaning; (a) that of setting apart of things, days, or persons specifically for God and that the believer at the time of his regeneration is set apart, by God the Father; and (b) the progressive work of the Holy Spirit whereby the believer, obedient to the Word of God, experiences the power of the indwelling Christ for holiness of life and victory over the old nature which work will be completed when the believer stands in Christ's presence.

a)  I Corinthians 1:30; Hebrews 10:10,14
b)  Colossians 1:26-28; John 17:17; I Thessalonians 5:23; II Corinthians 3:18

SECTION V - THE DEVIL OR SATAN

WE BELIEVE that Satan was once (a) holy and enjoyed heavenly honors but through pride and ambition to be as the Almighty fell and (b) drew after him a host of angels; that he is now (c) the malignant prince of the power of the air and the unholy god of this world. We hold him to be (d) man's great tempter; (e) the enemy of God and His Christ; (f) the accuser of the saints; (g) the author of all false religions, the chief power in back of the present day apostasy; (h) the lord of the anti-Christ, (i) the author of all powers of darkness destined however (j) to find defeat at the hands of God's Son, and (k) to the judgment of an eternal justice in hell, a place prepared for him and his angels.

a)  Isaiah 14;12-15; Ezekiel 28:14-17
b)  Revelation 12:9; Jude 1:6; II Peter 2:4; Ephesians 2:4; John 14:3
c)  I Thessalonians 3:5; Matthew 4:1,3
d)  I Peter 5:8
e)  Zechariah 1:3; I John 3:8; Matthew 13:25; 37-39; Luke 22
f)  Revelation 12:10
g)  II Corinthians 11:13-15; Mark 13:21-22
h)  II John 7; I John 2:22; 4:3
i)  Revelation 13:13,14; II Thessalonians 2:8-11
j)  Revelation 19:11,16,20; 12:7-9; 20:1-3
k)  Revelation 20:10; Matthew 25:41

SECTION VI - THE CREATION

WE BELIEVE in the Genesis account of creation and (a) that it is to be accepted literally and not allegorically or figuratively; (b) that man was created directly in God's own image and after His own likeness; (c) 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; (d) that all animals and vegetable life was made directly and God's established law was that they should bring forth only "after their kind".

a)  Genesis 1:1; Exodus 20:11; Acts 4:24; 17:23-26; Colossians 1:16; Hebrews 11:3; John 1:3; Revelation 10:6; Romans 1:20; Jeremiah 10:12; Nehemiah 9:6
b)  Genesis 1:26,27; I Corinthians 11:7
c)  Genesis 1:11,24

SECTION VII - THE FALL OF MAN

WE BELIEVE (a) that man was created in innocence under the law of his Maker but (b) by voluntary transgression fell from his sinless and happy state, (c) in consequence of which all mankind are now sinners, not by constraint, but of choice, and (d) therefore under just condemnation without defense or excuse.

a)  Genesis 3:1-6,24
b)  Romans 5:12,19
c)  Ephesians 2:1,3; Romans 1:18; 3: 9,10; Ezekiel 18:19,20
d)  Romans 1:20,28,32; Galatians 3:22

SECTION VIII - THE ATONEMENT FOR SIN

WE BELIEVE (a) that the salvation of sinners is wholly of grace (b) through the mediatorial offices of the Son of God who by the 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; (c) 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; (d) 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, compassionate and an all-sufficient Savior.

a)  Ephesians 2:8; Acts 15:11; Romans 3:24
b)  John 3:16; Matthew 18:11; Philippians 2:7; Hebrews 2:14; Isaiah 53:4-7; Romans 3:25; I John 4:10; I Corinthians 15:3; II Corinthians 5:21
c)  John 10:18; Philippians 2:8; Galatians 1:4; I Peter 2:24; 3:18; Isaiah 53:11; Hebrews 12:2
d)  I Corinthians 15:20; Isaiah 53:12; Hebrews 7:25; 9:12-15; I John 2:2

SECTION IX - THE VIRGIN BIRTH

WE BELIEVE (a) that Jesus Christ was begotten of the Holy Spirit in a miraculous manner; (b) born of Mary, a virgin, as no other man was ever born or can ever be born of woman; and (c) that He is both the Son of God and God the Son.

a)  Genesis 3:15
b)  Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:18-25; Luke 1:35; Mark 1:1; John 1:14; Psalms 2:7; Galatians 4:4
c)  I John 5:20; I Corinthians 15:47

SECTION X - GRACE IN THE NEW CREATION

WE BELIEVE(a) that in order to be saved sinners must be born again (b) that the new birth is a new creation in Christ Jesus; (c) that it is instantaneous and not a process; (d) 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; (e) that the new creation is wrought about in a manner above our comprehension, not by culture, not by character, not 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; (f) that its proper evidence appears in the holy fruits of repentance and faith and newness of life.

a)  John 3:3
b)  II Corinthians 5:17
c)  Luke 5:27; I John 5:1; John 3:6,7; Acts 2:41; 16:30-33
d)  II Peter 1:4; Romans 6:23; Ephesians 2:1; II Corinthians 5:19; Colossians 2:13
e)  John 1:12,13; 3:8
f)  Galatians 5:22; Ephesians 5:9 

SECTION XI - THE FREENESS OF SALVATION

WE BELIEVE (a) in God's electing grace; (b) that the blessings of salvation are made free to all through the Gospel; (c) that it is the immediate duty of all to accept them by a cordial, penitent, and obedient faith; and (d) that nothing prevents the salvation of the greatest sinner on earth but his own inherent depravity and voluntary rejection of the Gospel; (e) which rejection involves him in an aggravated condemnation.

a)  I Thessalonians 1:4; Colossians 3:12; I Peter 1:2; Titus 1:1; Romans 8:29-30
b)  Matthew 11:28; Isaiah 55:1; Revelation 22:17; Romans 10:13; John 6:37
c)  Isaiah 55:6
d)  Isaiah 55:7; I Timothy 1:15; I Corinthians 15:10; Ephesians 2:4,5; John 3:15-16; 5:40
e)  John 3:18,36

SECTION XII - JUSTIFICATION

WE BELIEVE that the great Gospel blessing which Christ secures to such as believe in Him is Justification; (a) that Justification includes the pardon of sin and the gift of eternal life on principles of righteousness; (b) 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 is His righteousness imputed unto us.

a)  Acts 13:39; Isaiah 53:11; Zechariah 13:1; Romans 5:1,9
b)  Titus 3:5-7; Galatians 3:11; Romans 1:17; 4:1-8; Hebrews 2:4; 10:38

SECTION XIII - REPENTANCE AND FAITH

WE BELIEVE that repentance and faith are (a) solemn obligations and (b) also inseparable graces (c) wrought in our souls by the quickening Spirit of God (d) thereby being deeply convicted of our guilt, danger, and helplessness, and with unfeigned contrition, confession, and supplication for mercy, (e) at the same time heartily receiving the Lord Jesus Christ and openly confessing Him as our only and all-sufficient Savior.

a)  Acts 20:20
b)  Mark 1:15
c)  Acts 2:27-38
d)  Luke 18:13; Romans 10:13; Psalms 51:1-4,7; Isaiah 55:6,7
e)  Luke 12:8; Romans 10:9-11

SECTION XIV - THE CHURCH

WE BELIEVE that a Church of Christ is a congregation of baptized believers (a) associated by a covenant of faith and fellowship of the Gospel (b) observing the ordinances of Christ (c) governed by His laws and (d) exercising the gifts, rights, and privileges invested in them by His Word; (e) that its scripturally designated officers are pastors and deacons whose qualifications, claims, and duties are clearly defined in the Scriptures. (f) 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. (g) We hold that the local Church has the absolute right of self-government, free from interference of any hierarchy of individuals or organizations, and that the one and only Superintendent is Christ, through the Holy Spirit; (h) 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. (i) In all matters of membership, of polity, of government, of discipline, of benevolence, the will of the local Church is final.

a)  Acts 2:41,42
b)  I Corinthians 11:2
c)  Ephesians 1:22-23
d)  Ephesians 4:11; I Corinthians 12:4,8-11
e)  Acts 6:5,6; 14:23; 15:23; 20:17-22; I Timothy 3:1-13
f)  Matthew 28:19,20
g)  Colossians 1:18; Ephesians 5:23,24; I Peter 5:1-4
h)  Acts 15:22; Jude 3,4; II Corinthians 8:23,24
i)  I Corinthians 5:11-13; 6:1-13

SECTION XV - BAPTISM AND THE LORD'S SUPPER

WE BELIEVE that Christian Baptism is (a) the believer's immersion in water (b) into the name of the Father, the Son, and Holy Ghost; (c) 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; (d) that in the scriptural order baptism precedes the .privileges of church membership and is the public recognition of the Lordship of Jesus Christ. (e) The Lord's Supper is a memorial service in which the elements of bread and wine remind us of the love of God in Christ Jesus "Who spared not His own Son but delivered Him up for us all"; that this ordinance is to be observed in anticipation of His coming and preceded always by solemn self-examination.

a)  Acts 8:36-38; Matthew 1:16; 3:6; John 3:23; Romans 6:4,5
b)  Matthew 28:19
c)  Romans 6:3,4; Colossians 2:12
d)  Acts 2:41,42; Matthew 28:19,20
e)  I Corinthians 11:23-28; Romans 8:32

SECTION XVI - THE PERSEVERANCE OF THE SAINTS

WE BELIEVE (a) that such only are real believers as endure unto the end; (b) that their persevering attachment to Christ is the grand mark which distinguishes them from the superficial professors; (c) that a special Providence watches over their welfare; and (d) that they are kept by the power of God through faith unto eternal salvation.

a)  John 8:31,32; Colossians 1:21-23
b)  I John 2:19; Matthew 13:19,20
c)  Matthew 6:30; Psalms 121:3; Hebrews 1:14
d)  I Peter 1:5; Philippians 1:6; John 10:28,29; 16:8; Romans 8:35-39

SECTION XVII - THE RIGHTEOUS AND THE WICKED

WE BELIEVE that (a) there is a radical and essential difference between the righteous and the wicked; (b) 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 (c) while all such as continue in impenitence and unbelief are in His sight wicked and under the curse (d) 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.

a)  Malachi 3:18; Genesis 18:23; Romans 6:17,18; Proverbs 11:31; I Peter 4:18
b)  Romans 1:17; 6:16; I Corinthians 15:22; Acts 10:34,35; I John 2:29; 3:7
c)  Matthew 7:13,14; 25:34,41; John 8:21; Luke 9:26; 10:25; I John 5:19

SECTION XVIII - CIVIL GOVERNMENT

WE BELIEVE that civil government is (a) of divine appointment for the interests of good order of human society; (b) that magistrates are to be prayed for, conscientiously honored and obeyed (c) except only in things opposed to the will of our Lord Jesus Christ (d) who is the only Lord of the conscience and the coming Prince of the kings of the earth.

a)  Romans 13:7; II Samuel 23:3; Exodus 18:21,22
b)  Acts 23:5; Matthew 22:21; Titus 3:1; I Peter 2:13,14,17
c)  Acts 4:19,20; 5:29; Daniel 3:17,18
d)  Matthew 10:28; 23:10; Revelation 10:6; Philippians 2:10,11; Psalms 72:11

SECTION XIX - THE RESURRECTION, RETURN OF CHRIST, AND RELATED EVENTS

WE BELIEVE in the accepted and sacred Scriptures upon these subjects at their face and full value:

1.  The Bodily Resurrection: Matthew 28:6,7; John 20:27; I Corinthians 15:4; Mark 16:6; Luke 24:4-6,39
2.  The Ascension: Acts 1:9,11; Luke 24:51; Mark 16:19; Revelation 3:21; Hebrews 8:1; 12:2
3.  The High Priesthood: I Timothy 2:5; I John 2:1; Hebrews 2:17; 5:9,10; 8:6
4.  The Second Coming: John 14:3; Acts 1:11; I Thessalonians 4:16; Matthew 24:27,42; James 5:8
5.  The Resurrection of the Righteous Dead: I Thessalonians 4:16; I Corinthians 15:42-44,52
6.  The Change of the Living in Christ: I Corinthians 15:51-53; I Thessalonians 4:17; Philippians 3:20,21
7.  On the Throne of David: Luke 1:32; Isaiah 9:6,7; Acts 2:29,30
8.  His Reign on Earth: I Corinthians 15:25; Isaiah 32:1; 11:4,5; Psalms 7:8; Revelation 20:1-4,6