Statement of Faith

What We Believe

The Doctrine of Scripture 

God has inspired the original Scriptures perfectly with no error (inerrancy), and has preserved these very Scriptures without error, as He promised (II Tim. 3:16-17; Ps. 12:6-7).

These inspired and preserved words of God are found in the Hebrew Masoretic Text of the Old Testament and the Greek Received Text of the New Testament (Mt. 4:4; 5:18), as well as in accurate and faithful renderings of these inspired and preserved Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek words. I believe that the accurate and faithful rendering of these inspired and preserved Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek words occur in the King James Bible (Rom. 16:25-26). By conviction I use exclusively the King James Version (also known as the Authorized Version) as the only English Bible for rule and faith. 

The Doctrine of God

I believe in the Triune God of the Bible as Scripture states: “These three are one” (1 John 5:7).

The Three Persons of the Godhead include God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit (1 John 5:7; Matthew 3:16-17; 28:19-20).

There is One God and therefore the Members of the Trinity are co-equal, co-eternal, co-powerful, and co-existent (2 Corinthians 13:14).

The Members of the Godhead are all deity in nature and attributes, and equally involved in their respective roles in creation, inspiration, and redemption.

The Triune Godhead created the heavens and earth in six literal days, which creation included Adam and Eve (Genesis 1:1-2; 27).

The Triune Godhead created the angelic realm perfect during the creation week, after which Lucifer (now known as “the great dragon,” “the old serpent,” the “Devil” and “Satan”) fell along with one third of the angels (Genesis 2:1; Job 38:7; Isaiah 14:12-14; Revelation 12:9). 

The Triune Godhead inspired and preserved His words which are forever settled in heaven (1 Corinthians 2:13; 2 Peter. 1:21; Psalm 119:89). 

God the Father sent His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, as God manifest in the flesh, to redeem fallen mankind through His bloody, substitutionary sacrifice on the cross, which Gospel work, when believed, commences salvation and subsequent sanctification through the work of the Holy Spirit (John 3:16; 1 Timothy 3:16; Mark 10:45; Romans 3:24-25; 1 Peter 1:2).

The Doctrine of Salvation

All mankind is depraved, sinful, and lost (Ecclesiastes 7:20; Isaiah 64:6; Romans 3:9-19). 

The Lord Jesus Christ provided salvation for all mankind through His death, burial, and resurrection (1 John 2:1-2; 1 Corinthians 12:1-4).

The Scriptures require sinners to meet the conditions for conversion which are repentance and faith (Luke 13:3; Acts 16:30-31). I reject Calvinism and the possibility of losing one’s salvation.

Christians may have full assurance of salvation as they grow in sanctification (Romans 10:13; 1 John 5:11-12; 2 Peter 3:18).

The Doctrine of the Church

The Lord Jesus Christ founded His ekklesia (assembly, congregation, or church) prior to Pentecost, and built it up with church discipline, the Lord’s Supper, and the Great Commission (Matthew 16:18; 18:16-18; 26:24-26; 28:19-20).

He guaranteed the perpetuity of immersionist assemblies by promising to be with those who carry out the Great Commission, until the end of the local church age (Matthew 28:19-20).

The two ordinances for the local church are believer’s baptism (full immersion) and the memorial of the Lord’s Table (Acts 2:41, 47; 1 Corinthians 11:23-32). 

The Christian must serve the Lord faithfully in the local church by obeying all commands to believers as well as using his or her spiritual gift by which the believer will be judged (Romans 12:4-8; 1 Peter 4:8; 1 Corinthians 3:11-15).

The only two offices for the assembly are the Bishop (Elder or Pastor) and Deacon (1 Timothy 3:1-13; Titus 1:6-9). 

The Doctrine of Last Things

I believe in the imminent return of Christ prior to the Tribulation and known as the Pre-Tribulation Rapture (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18).

The seventieth week of Daniel’s prophecy is the yet-to-come seven year Tribulation which will be followed by the one thousand year Millennium (Daniel 9:24-27; Revelation 4-19; 20:1-6). 

Christ will judge all mankind with respect to salvation and service (1 Corinthians  3:11-15; Revelation 20:12-15; Heb. 9:28).

The Lord will raise all mankind, some to the resurrection of life and some to the resurrection of damnation (John 5:28-29; Colossians 3:20-21 Revelation 20:12-15). 

I reject as unscriptural the notions of a Mid-Tribulation, Pre-Wrath, Post-Tribulation, Post-Millennial, A-Millennial eschatological positions. 

The righteous dead go immediately to be with Christ forever in heaven, and the lost who die go immediately to hell and will suffer in the lake of fire forever (Philippians 1:21; Luke 16:22-23; 2 Corinthians 5:8; Mark 9:43-48; Matthew 25:46).

Further, as a Baptist by conviction, I hold to the following tenets of Scripture:

Biblical authority in all matters of faith and practice 

The Bible is inspired and infallible and is the final authority. It is from God’s Word that we understand and teach the doctrines of our faith as well as pattern our church polity ( 2 Timothy 3:16; John 17:17; Acts 17:11; Hebrews 4:12; 2 Peter 1:20–21).

Autonomy (self-governing) responsibility of the local church

Every local church should be independent of a hierarchical framework or outside governmental structure (Colossians 1:18; Acts 13–14, 20:19–30; Ephesians 1:22–23).

Priesthood of believers

 God’s Word assures believers that we have direct access to God through our relationship with Christ. The priesthood of the believer is the privilege of every child of God (Hebrews 4:14–16; 1 Timothy 2:5–6; 1 Peter 2:5–10).

Two offices within the church

Scripture only mentions two church offices—pastor (also referred to as elder or bishop) and deacon. These offices are to be filled by godly men of integrity in each local church (Philippians 1:1; Acts 6:1–7; 1 Timothy 3:1–13; Titus 1:6–9; 1 Peter 5:1–4).

Individual soul liberty

Each person must make a personal decision of repentance and faith in Christ (Romans 10:9–17, 14:1–23).

Separation 

Of church and state. The state should have no power to intervene in the free expression of religious liberty (Matthew 22:21; Acts 5:29–31; Romans 13:1–4).

Both from sin and to God in daily conduct. Christ’s ultimate sacrifice demands complete surrender, and so our daily living should reflect the holiness of God. Distinctives in both modesty as well as distinction of apparel between men and ladies is Scriptural. Music fully distinct from the both the words and the sound of the world’s music is Scriptural ( 2 Corinthians 6:14; 1 Peter 1:16).

From all affiliation and fellowship with those who deny the verities of the “faith once delivered to the saints.” We believe in the sovereignty of the local church as an autonomous body of believers under the leadership of the Holy Spirit. 

Two ordinances—Baptism and the Lord’s Supper (communion)

These ordinances serve as pictures of what Christ did for us. They have no part in salvation (Matthew 28:19; 1 Corinthians 11:23–26; Acts 2:38–43, 8:36–38; Romans 6:1–6).