What We Believe

OF THE SCRIPTURES

 

We believe the Holy Bible is divinely inspired, originating from the mind of God and guided by the Holy Spirit. It is the complete and final revelation of God's will, entirely free from error. The Bible is the true center of Christian unity and the supreme standard for all human conduct, creeds, and opinions.

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We believe that all scripture includes both the Old and New Testament. It is given by God and is profitable for mankind, by means of doctrine (divine instruction or teachings of sacred writ), for reproof (rebuke or an exposure of sin and error), for correction (restoration, to bring us back to God) and for instruction in righteousness (the way to live a godly life). That the man of God may be mature and complete, thoroughly equipped and enabled to live godly in life and in ministry (2 Tim 3:16, 17). 
 

• By the 'Holy Bible,' we mean the sixty-six books from Genesis to Revelation, which, as originally written, not only contain but is the Word of God. 

• By 'inspiration,' we mean that the books of the Bible were written by holy men of old, guided by the Holy Spirit, making their writings supernaturally free from error and “God breathed.” 

• Our convictions are that the King James Version, based on the Textus Receptus, is the superior translation in the English language today. It is used as the standard for our personal lives. It will be used in our ministry.
   

II Sam. 23:2; Psa. 19: 7-11; Psa. 119:89, 105, 130, 160; Prov. 30:5-6; Isa. 8:20; Luke16:31; Luke 24:25-27, 44-45; John 5:39, 45-47; John 12:48; John 17:17; Acts 1:16; Acts 3:21; Acts 28:25; Rom. 3:4; Rom.15:4; Eph. 6:17;
II Tim. 3:16-17; 1 Peter: 1:23; II Pet. 1:19-21; Rev. 22:19. 

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OF THE TRUE GOD

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We believe in one true God, an all sufficient, infinite, true, living, eternal, all-knowing, all-powerful, always present, self-existing Spirit, who is the creator and sovereign ruler of heaven and of earth. He is gloriously holy and worthy of all worship, honour, confidence, devotion and love. We believe in the unity of the Godhead, consisting of three persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, equal in divine perfection, yet performing distinct but harmonious roles in the work of redemption.

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Gen. 17:1; Ex. 15:11; Ex. 20:2-3; Deut. 6:4-5; Psa. 83:18; Psa. 90:2; Psa. 147:5; Jer. 10:10; Matt. 28:19; Mark 12:30; John 4:24; John 10:30; John 15:26; John 17:5; Acts 5:3-4; Rom. 11:33; I Cor. 2:10-11; I Cor. 8:6;
I Cor. 12:4-6; II Cor. 13:14; Eph. 2:18; Eph. 4:6; Phil. 2:5-6; I Tim. 1:17; James 1:17; I John 5:7; Rev. 14:10, 12. 

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OF JESUS CHRIST

 

We believe in Jesus Christ, the eternal and only begotten Son of God, co-equal with the Father and Holy Spirit. The Old Testament scriptures prophesized about His coming, His death and resurrection, as well as His coming Glory. Conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary, He assumed a sinless human nature and lived a perfect life. He shed His blood on the cross as payment for sin, rose bodily from the grave, and ascended to reign in heaven. We believe He is both the Son of God and God the Son.

 

Gen. 3.15; Isa. 7:14; Isa. 53; Psalms 22, 23 and 24; Matt. 1:18-25; Mark1:1; Luke 1:35; John 1:14; Psa. 2:7;
Gal. 4:4; I John 5:20; I Cor. 15:47. 

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OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

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We believe the Holy Spirit is a divine person, co-equal with God the Father and God the Son, and of the same nature. He was active in creation and restrains the evil one until God's purpose is fulfilled. He convicts of sin, righteousness and judgment, bears witness to the Gospel, and is the agent in the New Birth. He seals, indwells, empowers, guides, teaches, comforts, sanctifies, and helps believers.

 

We believe the Scriptures teach that believers receive spiritual gifts from the Holy Spirit for the edification of the local church. Initially, temporary gifts provided oral revelation until the New Testament was completed. These included apostleship, discerning of spirits, tongues, interpretation of tongues, knowledge, wisdom, and prophecy. The gifts of tongues, healing, and miracles confirmed God's word while the New Testament was being completed. While God still can perform healing and miracles, they are wrought through the power of prayer and the working of the Holy Spirit. We believe that there are other important spiritual gifts, such as pastoring, teaching, evangelism, helps, ministry, exhortation, mercy, giving, faith, administration, and organization, which are to be operative in the local church today.

 

Gen. 1:1-3; Matt. 3:11; Matt. 28:19; Mark 1:8; Luke 1:35; Luke 3:16; Luke 24:49; John 1:33; John 3:5-6;
John 14:16-17, 26; John 15:26-27; John 16:8-11, 13; Acts 5:30-32; Acts 11:16; Rom. 8:14; Rom. 8:16, 26-27; Rom. 12:3-8; I Cor. 12:1-14:40; Eph 1:13-14; Eph. 4:11; II Thess. 2:7, 13; I Pet. 1:2; Heb. 9:14. 

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OF ANGELS AND SATAN

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We believe that God created a multitude of holy angels before the earth's creation. Satan, once an honoured angel, fell due to pride and ambition, drawing a host of demons with him. He is now the Prince of the Power of the Air and the unholy god of this world, the tempter of mankind, the enemy of God, and the accuser of the saints. Though powerful, Satan and his demons are limited by God, were defeated at the cross of Christ, and destined for final judgment in the lake of fire.

 

Isa. 14:12-15; Ezek. 28:14-17; Zech. 1:3; Matt. 4:1-3; Matt. 13:25; Matt. 25:41; Mark 13:21-22; Luke 22:3-4; John 14:30; II Cor. 11:13-15; Eph. 2:2; I Thess. 3:4; II Thess. 2:8-11; I Pet. 5:8; II Pet. 2:4; I John 2:22; I John 3:8; I John 4:3; II John 7; Jude 6; Rev.12:7-10; Rev. 13:13-14; Rev. 19:11, 16, 20; Rev. 20:1-3, 10. 

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OF THE CREATION

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We believe in the literal six-day creation account in Genesis. We reject the theory of evolutionary definition of change and believe that man, animals, and plant life were created directly by God to reproduce according to their kinds.

 

Gen. 1:1, 11; Gen. 1:24-27; Gen. 2:21-23; Ex. 20:11; Neh. 9:6; Jer. 10:12; John 1:3; Acts 4:24; Acts 17:23-26; Rom. 1:20; Col. 1:16-17; Heb. 11:3; Rev. 10:6. 

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OF THE FALL OF MAN

 

We believe that man was created innocent under God's law but fell from this state through a voluntary transgression, willingly violating God’s Word. Consequently, all of mankind are now inherently sinful by nature, birth and choice and as a result are under just condemnation without defense or ability within their own efforts to change their condition, save through the grace of God.

 

Gen. 1:31; Gen. 3:1-6, 24; Ezek. 18:19-20; Rom. 1:18, 20, 32; Rom. 3:10-23; Rom. 5:12, 19; Gal. 3:22;
Eph. 2:1, 3. 

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OF THE ATONEMENT FOR SIN

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We believe that the salvation of sinners is entirely by grace through the mediatorial work of the Son of God. By the Father's appointment, He took on our nature without sin, honoured the divine law through His obedience, and fully satisfied God's righteous demands by His death, making a complete payment for our sins. Christ's atonement was not just an example but a voluntary substitution, the just dying for the unjust. He bore our sins on the cross, rose from the dead, and now reigns in heaven, perfectly uniting divine perfection with tender sympathies, making Him a suitable, compassionate, and all-sufficient Saviour.

 

Isa. 53:4-7, 11-12; Matt. 18:11; John 3:16-19, 36; John 10:18; Acts 15:11; Rom. 3:24-25; I Cor. 15:3, 20;
II Cor. 5:21; Gal.1:4; Eph. 2:8-9; Phil. 2:7-8; Heb. 2:14; Heb. 7:25; Heb. 9:12-15; Heb.12:2; I Pet. 2:24;
I Pet. 3 18; I John 2:2; I John 4:10. 

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OF GRACE IN THE NEW CREATION

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We believe that to be saved, sinners must be born again. This new birth is a creation in Jesus Christ, instantaneous and not a process. In this new birth, those dead in trespasses and sins become partakers of the divine nature and receive eternal life as a free gift from God. This new creation is brought about solely by the power of the Holy Spirit in connection with divine truth, ensuring our voluntary obedience to the gospel. The evidence of salvation appears in the holy fruits of repentance, faith, and newness of life.

 

Luke 5:27; John 1:12-13; John 3:3, 6-7, 9; Acts 2:41; Acts 16:30-33; Rom. 6:23; II Cor. 5:17-19; Gal. 5:22;
Eph. 2:1; Eph. 5:9; Col. 2:13; II Pet. 1:4; I John 5:1. 

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OF THE FREENESS OF SALVATION

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We believe in God's grace, that salvation's blessings are freely offered to all through the gospel. It is the immediate duty of everyone to accept them with sincere, penitent, and obedient faith. The only barrier to any sinner's salvation is their own inherent depravity and voluntary rejection of the gospel, leading to eternal condemnation.

 

Isa. 55:1, 6-7; Matt. 11:28; John 3:15-16, 18, 36; John 5:40; John 6:37; Acts 2:38; Rom. 8:29-30; Rom. 10:13;
I Cor. 15:10; Eph. 2:4-5, 8-9; Col. 3:12; I Thess. 1:4; I Tim. 1:15; Titus 1:1; I Pet. 1:2; Rev. 22:17. 

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OF JUSTIFICATION

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We believe that all who receive Jesus Christ as Saviour through the gospel are justified by God. Justification is God's declaration that the believer, through faith in Jesus' substitutionary death, is now and forever righteous in His sight. It includes the pardon of sins and the gift of eternal life, based solely on Christ's righteousness, not on our works.

 

Isa. 53:11; Hab. 2:4; Zech. 13:1; Acts 13:39; Rom. 1:17; Rom. 4:23, 24; Rom. 5:1, 9; Rom. 8:1; Gal. 3:11;
Titus 3:5-7; Heb. 10:38. 

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OF REPENTANCE AND FAITH

 

We believe that repentance and faith are essential and inseparable graces, instilled in our souls by the Holy Spirit, who convicts us of our guilt and our need for salvation. Believing that salvation is through Jesus Christ alone, we turn to Him in sincere contrition, confessing our sins and seeking His mercy. We accept His substitutionary death as payment for our sins and confess the risen Lord Jesus as our all-sufficient Saviour.

 

Psa. 51:1-4, 7; Isa. 55:6-7; Mark 1:15; Luke 12:8, 18:13; Acts 2:37-38; Acts 20:21; Rom. 7:13; Rom. 10:9-11, 13. 

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OF THE CHURCH
 

We believe that all regenerated persons of this age belong to the spiritual body of Christ, called the bride of Christ, and will be gathered at the rapture to be with Christ at the judgment seat.

 

We also believe the New Testament emphasizes the importance of the local church, a congregation of baptized believers united by faith and fellowship in the gospel, observing Christ's ordinances, governed by His laws, and exercising the gifts and privileges given by His Word. The church's officers are pastors (elders, bishops) and deacons, with qualifications and responsibilities defined in the Scriptures.

 

The mission of the church, as found in the Great Commission, is to make disciples through preaching the Gospel, baptize and add them to the church, and instruct them in all things commanded by Christ. A second aspect of that mission is to send forth labourers from the local church into the harvest as missionaries.

 

We believe the local church should be self-supporting, self-propagating, and self-governing, free from external interference, with Christ as the Chief Shepherd. True churches should cooperate in contending for the faith and furthering the gospel, with each church being the sole judge of its cooperation and matters of membership, governance, discipline, and benevolence.

 

Matt. 28:19-20; Acts 2:41-42; Acts 6:5-6; Acts 14:23; Acts 15:22-23; Acts 20:17-28; I Cor. 5:11-13; I Cor. 6:1-3;
I Cor. 11:2; I Cor. 12:4, 8-11; I Cor. 16:1-2; II Cor. 8:23-24; Eph 1:22-23; Eph. 4:11; Eph. 5:23, 24; Col. 1:18;
I Tim. 3:1-13; Titus 1:5-9; I Pet. 5:1-4; Jude 3-4. 

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OF BAPTISM AND THE LORD'S TABLE

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We believe that Christian baptism is the immersion of a believer in water, in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. It symbolizes personal faith in the crucified, buried, and risen Saviour, representing death to sin and resurrection to new life. Baptism is a prerequisite for church membership and participation in the Lord's Table. It is the first step of obedience to the Lord’s commands after salvation.

 

We believe the Lord's Table, instituted by our Lord, is a symbolic and commemorative ordinance of His blood and body. Each church member should regularly observe the Lord's Table, remembering His suffering and death until He returns, preceded by solemn self-examination.

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Matt. 3:6, 16; Matt. 28:19-20; John 3:23; Acts 2:41-42; Acts 8:36-39; Rom. 6:3-5; I Cor.11:23-28; Col. 2:12;
I Pet. 3:21. 

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OF THE RIGHTEOUS AND THE WICKED

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We believe there is an essential difference between the righteous and the wicked. Those justified by faith in the Lord Jesus and sanctified by the Holy Spirit are truly righteous, while those who remain in impenitence and unbelief are wicked and under the curse. These distinctions persist both in life and after death, resulting in the everlasting holiness and joy of the saved and the everlasting conscious suffering of the lost.

 

Gen. 18:23; Prov. 14:32; Prov. 21:31; Mal. 3:18; Matt. 7:13–14; Matt. 25:34, 41; Luke 9:26; Luke 16:25;
John 8:21; John 12:25; Acts 10:34-35; Rom.1:17; Rom. 6:16-18; Rom. 6:23; Rom. 7:6; I Cor. 15:22; Gal. 3:10;
I Pet. 4:18; I John 2:29; I John 3:7; I John 5:19; Rev. 20:15. 

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OF CIVIL GOVERNMENT

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We believe that civil government is divinely appointed for the good order of society. Magistrates should be prayed for, honoured, and obeyed, except in matters that clearly violate the Scriptures. Obedience to the will of our Lord Jesus Christ, the only Lord of the conscience and the coming King, should follow His non-threatening, compassionate, and blameless example for the sake of testimony.

 

II Sam 23:3; Psa. 72:11; Dan. 3:17,18; Matt. 10:28; Matt. 22:21; Matt. 23:10; Acts 4:19-20; Acts 5:29; Acts 23:5; Rom. 13:1-7; Phil. 2:10-11; Titus 3:1; I Pet. 2:13-14, 17; I Pet. 3:12-17; I Pet. 4:14-19; Rev.10:6. 

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OF THE RESURRECTION, RETURN OF CHRIST, AND RELATED FUTURE EVENTS

 

We believe that Christ rose bodily from the grave on the third day, ascended to the right hand of God, and is our merciful and faithful High Priest. He will return bodily, personally, and visibly as He ascended back into Heaven.

 

We believe that the Lord Jesus will rapture the saints of this age, with the dead in Christ rising first and the living saints being changed in an instant. God's righteous judgments will be poured out during the Great Tribulation, culminating in Christ's glorious return to establish His millennial reign. Satan will be bound, the curse lifted, and after a brief release, Satan will wage a final war, be judged, and cast into the Lake of Fire with all unbelievers. The present heavens and earth will be destroyed, and new heavens and a new earth will be created as the eternal abode of righteousness.

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Psa. 72:8; Isa.9:6-7; Isa.11:4-10; Isa.32:1; Matt. 24:27, 42; Matt. 25:13; Matt. 28:6-7; Mark 16:6, 19; Luke 1:32; Luke 24:2-6, 39, 51; John 14:3; John 20:27; Acts 1:9, 11; Acts 2:29-30; 1 Cor. 15:4, 25, 42, 51-53; Phil. 3:20-21;
I Thess. 4:16-17; Heb. 5:9-10; Heb. 9:28; Jas. 5:8; Rev. 2:17; Rev.19:11-16; Rev. 20:1-6, 11-15. 

 
OF GIVING

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We believe the Scriptures teach that believers should give voluntarily, sacrificially, and regularly as an act of worship and gratitude. From Abraham's gifts to the tithes and offerings of the law, and into the present church age, giving should be proportionate to our income. We should prayerfully respond to the Holy Spirit's guidance in determining our giving and serve Him with what remains.

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Gen. 14:20; Mal. 3:8-10; Matt. 23:23; II Cor. 8:2-8; II Cor. 9:7-14; II Cor.16:2; Phil. 4:19; Heb. 7:5-9. 
 

OF MISSIONS

 

We believe our mission is to witness Christ to all people locally, nationally, and internationally. It is essential to evangelize the lost, teach believers the principles of Scripture, and develop local, independent, indigenous churches worldwide.

 

Matt. 28:18-20; Mark 16:15; John 20:21; Acts 1:8; Rom. 10:13-15. 
 

OF THE FAMILY

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We believe that God established the family with the husband as the head, the wife in subjection to the husband, and the children in subjection to the parents. Believers in Christ should marry only other believers, and marriage cannot be dissolved except by death.  
 
Parents should raise their children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord, aiming to bring them to a saving knowledge of Christ early and encouraging lifelong obedience to God's will. Every Christian home should have regular spiritual family devotional time. 
 
Gen. 2:24; Psa. 68:6; Prov. 22:6, 15; Prov. 23:13, 14; Amos 3:3; Rom. 7:2-3; I Cor. 7:39; II Cor. 6:14-16;
Eph. 5:28-33; Eph. 6:1-4; Col. 3:17-21. 

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OF SEPARATION

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We believe in obeying Biblical commands to separate ourselves unto the Lord Jesus Christ from worldly practices forbidden in Scripture, which dishonour our Lord or discredit the church.

 

We believe the church should remain separate from those who deny true Biblical doctrine or endorse compromising alliances that ignore Scriptural injunctions or damage the Gospel of Christ and the purity of the faith. All acts of separation should be practiced with devotion to Christ, humility, compassion, and conviction to maintain His glory and create a proper condition for the salvation of the lost.

 

Rom. 16:17; II Cor. 6:14-7:1; Eph. 5:11; I Thess. 1:9-10; I Tim. 6:3-5; II John 9-11. 

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THE AUTHORITY OF THIS STATEMENT OF FAITH

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This statement of faith does not cover the entirety of our beliefs. We believe the Bible is the sole, complete, and final authority for all we believe and practice. This statement accurately represents Scriptural truth and will bind our members together.  

 

As a Baptist, in the acronym B-A-P-T-I-S-T-S

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Biblical Authority or Authority of Scripture  

Autonomy of the Local Church 

Priesthood of the Believer 

Two Ordinances – Lord’s Supper and Baptism; 

Individual Soul Liberty 

Separation of the Believer 

Two Offices – Pastor and Deacon 

Separation of Church and State