| Scriptures The True God The Lord Jesus The Holy Spirit The Devil Creation Fall of Man Virgin Birth Atonement for Sin Grace of Salvation Repentance/Faith The Church Ordinances Resurrection Rapture Grace of giving Separation Last Things Salvation Church Covenant |
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The Scriptures
We believe the Holy Bible is a
supernatural book, that it is the very Word of God, that
it is in the sixty-six books the full, final and
complete revelation of God's will to man. We believe the
author of the Bible is God the Holy Spirit and by
inspiration we mean the plenary verbal inspiration, that
Holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy
Spirit as revealed in Second Peter Chapter One. We
believe the King James Version is the preserved Word of
God in the English language. We reject the modern
paraphrased versions, the modern common version and
others which delete the pure meaning of redemption and
do injustice to the Deity of Christ. We believe and
teach that the Bible is the final authority in all
matters of faith and practice.
(2 Timothy 3:16-17) (Hebrews 4:12) (2
Peter 1:19-21) (Isaiah 8:20) (Psalm 119:89) (Romans
15:4)
The True God
We believe and teach that there is one,
and only one, true and living God. He is absolute in
nature, perfect in attributions, holy in character, and
is revealed in the Trinity which is the Father, Son and
Holy Spirit. The three persons of the Trinity subsist in
the same divine nature, essence and being. They are
co-existent and co- equal and each one has a distinct
office in the work of Redemption.
(Ephesians 4:6) (1 Timothy 1:17) (Exodus 20:2-3)
(Romans
11:33) (John 4:24) (Psalm 90:2)
The Lord Jesus Christ
We believe that Jesus Christ is
co-eternally existant as the second person of the
Trinity, is co-equally existant with the Father, and
thus, has neither beginning nor end. He manifested God
visibly to the world, through the theophanies (Christophanies)
in the Old Testament, and through the Incarnation in the
New Testament. He was born of the virgin Mary and is the
only Saviour for this lost world. His death on the cross
was voluntary, substitutionary and sufficient for the
salvation of all men of all times. He is coming again to
rapture the saints at a time in the future known only by
God.
(Matthew 28:19) (Isaiah 53:5-6) (John 1:1-2) (2
Corinthians 5:21) (Genesis 18:1-22,33)
1 Timothy 4:10)
(John 1:14) (2 Peter 2:1) (Luke 23:46) (1 John 2:2)
(John 10:17-18) (John 3:16)
The Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit is a divine person; equal
with God the Father and God the Son and of the same
nature and was active in the creation. In relation to
the unbelieving world He restrains the evil one until
God's purpose is fulfilled; that He convicts of sin,
judgment and righteousness. He is the agent of the New
Birth and indwells, seals, guides and directs the
Believer.
(John 14:16-17) (John 14:26)
(John
15:26-27) (Romans 8:16) (Ephesians 1:13-14) (Romans
8:26-27)
The Devil and Satan
We believe that the Devil is an actual being and not an
imaginary influence; that he once enjoyed high heavenly
honors and glorious heavenly privileges; that he through
pride, ambition and self will betrayed God and as a
result brought down upon his head the judgment of God.
He operates today as the god of this world and the
Prince of the Power of the air; that he is the arch
deceiver, and father of all lies, that he is the
greatest enemy, the biggest tempter and the greatest
opposition to the saints. His final abode shall be the
Lake of Fire , which is the eternal place of punishment,
prepared for the Devil and his angels.
(Isaiah 14:12-15) (Jude 6) (1 John 3:8) (Ezekiel
28:14-17)
(1 Peter 5:8) (John 8:43-44)
The Creation
We believe the Genesis record of the creation is
literal, and not allegorical or figurative; that God
personally created the Heaven and the earth in a direct
act, that He brought forth all original matter out of
nothing. We believe that man was created directly in
God's own image and not by the hypothesis of any kind of
evolution. God's established law says that all species
shall bring forth "after their kind"
(Genesis 1:1) (Acts 17:23-26) (Romans 1:20) (John 1:1-3)
(Hebrews 11:3)
(Genesis 1:26-27)
The Fall of Man
We believe that man was created in
innocence and holiness and by voluntary transgression of
the Lord's command, fell from the state in which he was
created and as a consequence became a sinner alienated
from God and brought upon himself and all mankind just
condemnation. Man is now, by virtue of his fallen
nature, void of holiness, positively inclined to evil
and actually condemned to eternal ruin without excuse.
(Genesis 3:6-24) (Romans 5:19)
(Ephesians 2:1-3) (Romans
5:12) (Romans 1:18) (Romans 1:28)
The Virgin Birth
We believe that our Lord Jesus Christ was conceived by
the Holy Spirit in a miraculous manner; born of the
virgin Mary as no other man was born or can be born of
woman. He is both the Son of God and God the Son.
(Luke 1:35) (Genesis 3:15) (Isaiah 7:14) (Matthew
1:18-25) (John 1:14) (Mark 1:1)
The Atonement for Sin
We believe that the lost sinner is
guilty and under just condemnation and is by nature
alien to God and because of sin condemned to die; that
the atonement for sin was provided through the
mediatorial office of the Son of God who by divine
appointment freely took upon Himself our nature, yet
without sin, that He through obedience during His
earthly walk personally honored the divine law by
keeping it, and through His death on the cross actually
satisfied the Law for the penalty of sin. His obedience
and sacrificial death made full and vicarious atonement
for all sin.
(Romans 3:25)
(1 John 1:7) (Isaiah 53:12) (Hebrews 9:22)
(John 10:17-18) (Hebrews 12:2)
The Grace of Salvation
We believe and teach that salvation is by
God's grace and that salvation is free to all through
the Gospel; that it is the duty of all to accept, by
faith, that salvation and those who voluntarily reject
salvation will face eternal separation from God in a
literal place of punishment called Hell in the
Scriptures. When a sinner repents and receives Jesus
Christ as his personal Saviour he receives eternal life.
The eternal purpose of God in Salvation is first of all
to preserve the believer forever in Christ; the believer
is saved eternally. It is also the eternal purpose of
God that the believer will conform to the image of His
Son. This salvation wrought by grace then assures us
that we are preserved in Christ by the power of God and
no man can pluck the saved from the Father's
hand. Salvation is everlasting and the glorious truth
"once in Grace, always in Grace," is true.
(John
3:15-16) (1 Peter 1:5) (John 1:12) (John 10:27-30)
(Romans 10:1-13) (John 5:24)
Repentance and Faith
We believe that repentance and faith are
solemn and in separable prerequisites for salvation;
that they are inseparable graces wrought in the heart by
the quickening power of the Holy Spirit, and as the
sinner is deeply convicted of his guilt and helplessness
he turns in repentance to the Lord Jesus Christ,
surrendering himself wholeheartedly and receiving Him as
personal Saviour and Lord, he is immediately born again.
(Acts 3:19 )
(2 Corinthians 7:9-10) (Mark 1:15 ) (Acts
2:37-38) (Acts 20:21 ) (Matthew 3:1-2)
The Church
We believe and teach that the local,
visible assembly of called out believers into a public
place of worship and service is the only one found in
the New Testament. We do not believe in an invisible or
universal church. The local New Testament Baptist Church
is the only one authorized to carry out the Great
Commission. The first New Testament Baptist Church was
founded by Jesus Christ during His own personal ministry
and entrance into the local church is by scriptural
baptism. We believe and teach the Local New Testament
Baptist Church is an independent congregation and is not
governed or controlled by an Ecclesiastical Hierarchy.
The will of the Local Church is final.
(Ephesians 3:21)
(Acts 2:47 )(1 Timothy 3:15)(Matthew 16:18)
(Colossians 1:24) (Ephesians 1:22) (Acts 16:5) (Acts
11:22 ) (Acts 8:1)
The Church Ordinances
We believe that Baptism and the Lord's
Supper are the only two local church ordinances set
forth in the local church by Jesus Christ. Scriptural
Baptism began with John the Baptist. John's Baptism was
not O.T. dispensation or an intermediate dispensation
but New Testament Baptism. Our Lord Jesus Christ
accepted this Baptism Himself and accepted those that
John baptized into the church that He organized during
His own personal ministry.
Baptism:
Believers Baptism to be scriptural must be: THE PROPER
CANDIDATE, the one who has been Born Again. It must also
be THE PROPER MODE or method which is immersion. It must
also be THE PROPER DESIGN or motive. This design is to
show forth a truth which is the property of the believer
and the local church into which the believer is
Baptized, which sets forth the death, burial and
resurrection of the believer to a new life in Christ. It
is also THE PROPER ADMINISTRATOR or authority, and the
Local New Testament Baptist Church is the only church
with the authority to administer scriptural baptism.
The Lord's Supper:
We believe the Lord's Supper is a memorial supper
administered by the authority and instruction of the
local Baptist Church; it symbolizes the broken body of
and the shed blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, that only
members of the local church whose spiritual lives in a
right relationship are qualified participants in the
Lord's Supper service. We also teach and believe that
there is no saving power or grace in either Baptism or
the Lord's Supper.
(Matthew 3:13-17) (Matthew 28:19-20) (1 Corinthians
11:23-34) (Acts 8:36-39) (Romans 6:3-5)
(Matthew
26:17-30)
The Resurrection
We believe and teach that Jesus Christ
arose bodily from the grave. We also believe and teach
that this resurrection assures all believers the same
bodily resurrection when the Lord returns for the Saints
at the time of the Rapture. There will also be a
resurrection of the unsaved to stand in judgment before
the Lord, known in the Scriptures as the great white
throne judgment.
(Matthew 28:6-7) (John 20:27) (1
Corinthians 15:42-52) (Hebrews 9:27-28)
(1 Thessalonians
4:13-18) (1 Corinthians 15:1-11)
The Rapture and Return of Christ
We believe and teach that Jesus Christ
shall catch away all believers before the great
Tribulation Period. At the close of the great
Tribulation Period the Saints will return with Christ to
the earth and shall live and reign with Him 1000 years.
The Rapture of the Saints is an imminent truth.
(1
Thessalonians 4:13-18) (1 Thessalonians 3:13) (1
Corinthians 15:51-55) (Revelation 19:11-16)
(Jude 14-15) (Revelation 20:1-6) (Zechariah 14:1-5)
(Titus 2:13)
The Grace of Giving
We believe and teach that God's method of
financing His work of spreading the Gospel is by the
tithes and offerings of His people in and through the
local New Testament Baptist Church which is the
storehouse. The time to tithe is upon the first day of
the week and that everyone is accountable to the Lord
for one-tenth of his income and that tithing was
instituted before the law and by Christ in the New
Testament Baptist Church .
(Matthew 23:23) (Leviticus 27:28-34) (1 Corinthians
16:1-2)
(Luke 6:38) (2 Corinthians 9:6-15) (Genesis
14:17-20) (Malachi 3:7-10) (2 Corinthians 8:1-8)
Separation of Church and State
We believe that churches and governments
should be completely separate; that civil officers
should be prayed for and conscientiously honored and
obeyed; that diligence should be exercised in seeking
the will of God in all local church matters; that all
missionary endeavor should be carried on within the
confines of the local church; that mission boards and
mission hierarchies tend to corrupt and usurp the
authority of the local church. We believe that it is the
privilege and right of the local churches to cooperate
with each other in carrying out the Great Commission.
This cooperation, however, should be
carried on in such a manner as to preserve the
sovereignty of each local body in all matters of faith
and practice.
(Proverbs 8:15) (1 Peter 2:9-20) (Romans 13:1-7)
Last Things
CHRIST'S RETURN
(John 14:3;
Acts 1:11;
1 Thessalonians 4:16-17;
1 Corinthians 15:51-55;
James 5:8;
Philippians 3:20-21)
THE RAPTURE (Matthew 24:1-51; 2 Thessalonians 2:1-12; Luke 21:25-31; Zechariah 14:1-8; Mark 13:27 -31; Luke 21:8-19) THE TRIBULATION PERIOD (Daniel 12:1; Matthew 24:21; Luke 21:25-26 2; Thessalonians 2:1-12; Revelation 6:16-17; Revelation 14:10-16; Revelation 16:11-21) THE CONVERSION OF THE JEWS (Zechariah 12:10-14; Matthew 24:38; Zechariah 13:6-9; Romans 11:1-26) THE BATTLE OF ARMAGEDDON (Revelation 16:12-16; Ezekiel 38:1-23; Revelation 19:11-21; Zechariah 12:1-4) THE MILLENNIUM (Revelation 20:1-6; Revelation 11:15-17; Isaiah 11:9; Jeremiah 23:5; Isaiah 32:1; Isaiah 2:1-5) THE GREAT WHITE THRONE JUDGMENT (Revelation 20:11-15) Plan of Salvation You need to be saved; "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;" Romans 3:23 . You cannot save yourself; "Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us," Titus 3:5. God has provided for your salvation; "Wherefore he is able to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them." Hebrews 7:25 Jesus Christ is the only way of salvation; "Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." John 14:6 God wants to save you; "The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance." 2 Peter 3:9 God can save you now; "For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." Romans 10:13 Church Covenant Having been led, as we believe, by the Spirit of God to receive the Lord Jesus Christ as our Saviour (John 1:12 ; Ephesians 2:8; 2 Thessalonians 2:13 ; Isaiah 12:2; John 3:16 ; Acts 16:31 ), And on the profession of our faith, having been baptized in the name of the Father, and the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, (Acts 2:38 ; Acts 8:36 -38; Matthew 28:19; Mark 16:16 ; Acts 10:48 ; 16:31 -34) We do now, in the presence of God, angels, and this assembly, most solemnly and joyfully enter into covenant with one another, as one body in Christ. (1 Corinthians 12:14-27; Romans 12:4-8; Ephesians 2:19-22) We engage, therefore, by the aid of the Holy Spirit, to walk together in Christian Love; (1 Corinthians 1:10; Romans 15:5-6; 2 Corinthians 3:5; Amos 3:3; 1 John 2:10) To strive for the advancement of this New Testament Baptist Church in knowledge, holiness and comfort; (Hebrews 10:24 ; Galatians 5:13 ; 1 Samuel 12:23 ; James 5:16; 2 Peter 3:18) To promote its prosperity and spirituality; (1 Thessalonians 5:14 ; Matthew 18:17; 2 Corinthians 16:2; Ephesians 4:11-12) To sustain its worship, ordinances, discipline, and doctrines; (Hebrews 10:25 ; Acts 2:42; Romans 6:3-14; 1 Peter 2:9; Matthew 18:15-17) To contribute cheerfully and regularly to the support of the ministry, the expenses of the church, the relief of the poor, and the spread of the Gospel to all nations. (2 Corinthians 8:14; 9:7; 1 Thessalonians 5:14; Malachi 3:8-10; Hebrews 13:17; Galatians 6:6; Luke 10:7) We also engage to maintain family and secret devotion; (2 Corinthians 8:5; Matthew 6:6; 7:7; Luke 18:1) To religiously educate our children; (Ephesians 6:4; Deuteronomy 6:7-12; Proverbs 22:6; 2 Timothy 3:15 ) To seek the salvation of our kindred and acquaintances; (Matthew 5:16 ; 28:19-20; Romans 9:3; Romans 10:1) To walk circumspectly in the world; (Ephesians 4:1-3; 1 Thessalonians 5:15 ; 1 John 2:15 ; Colossians 3:17 ) To be just in our dealings, faithful in our engagements, and exemplary in our deportment; (1 Peter 2:12 ; Hebrews 13:21 ; Philippians 3:16 - 18) To avoid all tattling, backbiting, and excessive anger; (Matthew 12:36 ; Proverbs 26:20; Romans 1:30 ; Ephesians 4:26; Proverbs 6:16-19) To abstain from the sale and use of intoxicating drinks as a beverage; (Proverbs 20:1; 23:29 -32; Ephesians 5:18 ; 1 Thessalonians 5:22 ) To abstain from membership in Lodges and secret organizations and to avoid taking secret oaths which are contrary to Scripture; (2 Corinthians 6:14-18; Psalm 1:1; Ephesians 5:11-12; 2 John 9-11; Matthew 5:34-37; James 5:12; Exodus 20:7; Leviticus 5:4-6) And to be zealous in our efforts to advance the work of the Saviour. (John 15:16; 1 Corinthians 15:58; 2 Corinthians 5:20) We further engage to watch over one another in brotherly love; (Galatians 6:2; 1 Corinthians 5:13 ; Romans 14:7; 2 Thessalonians 3:14 -15) To remember each other in prayer; (Hebrews 13:18 ; Ephesians 6:18 ) To aid each other in sickness and distress; (Romans 12:15 ; Philippians 4:16 ) To cultivate Christian sympathy in feeling and courtesy in speech; (1 John 3:17 -18; James 3:13 ; Colossians 3:17 ; 4:6) To be slow to take offense, but always ready for reconciliation, and mindful of the laws of our Saviour, to secure it without delay. (1 Corinthians 6:7; Matthew 18:15,21-22; Romans 14:19) We moreover engage, that when we remove from this place, we will as soon as possible unite with some other New Testament Baptist Church of like faith and practice, where we can carry out the spirit of this covenant and the principles of God's Word. (Acts 9:19 ; 18:27 ; Romans 16:1-2; Hebrews 10:25; Galatians 1:9) |
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