Statement of Faith
This church accepts the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments as the inspired, inerrant, and infallible Word of God, which authoritatively states the guiding principles of our Christian faith and practice.
The Scriptures: We believe the Holy Bible, written by divinely inspired men, is a perfect treasure of heavenly instruction. It is authored by God, aimed at salvation, and contains truth without error. It reveals the principles by which God will judge us, and therefore, it remains the true center of Christian unity and the supreme standard for testing human conduct, creeds, and opinions. (2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:21; Matthew 5:18-19; Proverbs 30:5-6; Revelation 22:18-19; Romans 2:12; Psalm 119:4)
God: We believe the Scriptures teach that there is one God, the maker and supreme ruler of heaven and earth, existing eternally in three persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, each equal in divine perfection. (Nehemiah 9:6; Deuteronomy 6:4-7; Revelation 4:8, 11; Matthew 28:19; John 15:26).
Jesus Christ: We believe the Scriptures teach that Jesus Christ is truly the Son of the Living God. Conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary, He was fully God and fully man, He lived a perfect and sinless life on earth, was crucified, and died on the cross, accepting God’s judgment upon our sins for our redemption. He was resurrected on the third day for our eternal salvation. After revealing Himself to His followers, He returned to heaven and now lives as our advocate before God. (Matthew 1:18-21; 16:16; 28:1-10; John 1:1-14; 14:1-6, 9; 1 Peter 2:22-24; Isaiah 9:6-7; 53:4-6; Acts 1:9-11; Hebrews 4:15-16; 7:25; Acts 17:31; 1 Corinthians 15:20-58).
Humanity: We believe that all men are by nature and choice sinful and lost and have within themselves no possible means of salvation; (Ephesians 2:1-3; Romans 3:10-19 & 23).
Salvation: We believe in salvation by grace through faith; that salvation is the free gift of God, not by any virtue or works of man, but received only by personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ; that all true believers possess the gift of eternal life, a perfect righteousness, son-ship in the family of God, and the divine guarantee that they shall never perish. (Ephesians 2:8-9; Titus 3:5; Romans 4:5; John 3:16-18; 5:24; 10:27-29; I John 5:12, 13; John 1:12; Romans 8:14-17).
The Holy Spirit: The Holy Spirit is a Person whose ministry is to teach the world of sin, righteousness and judgment, John 16:8; and to be a Comforter to the believer, John 16:7; He indwells the believer, Romans 8:9; He instructs the believer and glorifies Christ, John 16:13-15.
The Church: We believe the Scriptures teach that the church is the body of Christ, composed of believers who gather for worship, instruction, fellowship, and service, and to proclaim the gospel to all nations. We observe two ordinances: believers' baptism by immersion as a testimony to our faith in the crucified, buried, and risen Savior; and the Lord’s Supper, in remembrance of Christ’s body, which was broken, and His blood, which was shed for us until He comes again. (Matthew 28:19-20; Romans 6:3-4; Acts 4:32-33; 2:42; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26; Hebrews 10:25; Exodus 20:8-10; Matthew 24:27, 36, 42).
Last Things: God, in His own time and way, will bring the world to its appropriate end. According to His promise, Jesus Christ will return personally and visibly in glory to the earth; the dead will be raised; and Christ will judge all people in righteousness. The unrighteous will be consigned to Hell, the place of everlasting punishment. The righteous, in their resurrected and glorified bodies, will receive their reward and will dwell forever in Heaven with the Lord. (Matthew 24:27, 30, 36, 44; 25:31-46; 26:64; Mark 8:38; 9:43-48; Luke 12:40, 48; 16:19-26; 17:22-37; 21:27-28; John 14:1-3; Acts 1:11; 17:31; Romans 14:10; 1 Corinthians 15:24-28, 35-58; 2 Corinthians 5:10; Philippians 3:20-21; Colossians 1:5; 3:4; 1 Thessalonians 4:14-18; Thessalonians 1:7; 2; 1 Timothy 6:14; 2 Timothy 4:1, 8; Titus 2:13; Hebrews 9:27-28; James 5:8; 2 Peter 3:7; 1 John 2:28; 3:2; Jude 14; Revelation 1:18; 3:11; 20:1-22:13).
8 Historic Baptist Distinctives
1. Biblical Authority: The Bible is the final authority in all matters of belief and practice because it is inspired by God and bears the absolute authority of God Himself. Whatever the Bible affirms, this body accept as true. No human opinion or church decree can override the Bible. Even creeds and confessions of faith, while attempting to articulate biblical theology, do not carry the inherent authority of Scripture. (2 Timothy 3:15-17; 1 Thessalonians 2:13; 2 Peter 1:20-21).
2. Autonomy of the Local Church: The local church is an independent body, accountable to the Lord Jesus Christ, the head of the church. All human authority for governing the local church resides within the church itself. Thus, the church is autonomous and self-governing. No religious hierarchy outside the local church may dictate its beliefs or practices. Autonomy does not mean isolation; a Baptist church may fellowship with other churches around mutual interests and in an associational tie, but it cannot be a “member” of any other body. (Colossians 1:18; 2 Corinthians 8:1-5, 19, 23).
3. Priesthood of the Believer: A priest is defined as one authorized to perform sacred rites, acting as a mediator between humans and God. Every believer today is a priest of God and may enter His presence in prayer directly through our Great High Priest, Jesus Christ. No other mediator is needed between God and people. As priests, we can study God's Word, pray for others, and offer spiritual worship to God. All believers have equal access to God, regardless of their role in the church. (1 Peter 2:5, 9; Revelation 5:9-10).
4. Two Ordinances: The local church practices two ordinances: (1) baptism of believers by immersion, identifying the individual with Christ in His death, burial, and resurrection, and (2) the Lord's Supper, or communion, commemorating His death for our sins. (Matthew 28:19-20; 1 Corinthians 11:23-32).
5. Individual Soul Liberty: Every individual, whether a believer or an unbeliever, has the liberty to choose their beliefs in the religious realm. No one should be forced to assent to any belief against their will. Historically Baptist churches have opposed religious persecution. However, this liberty does not exempt one from responsibility to the Word of God or from accountability to God Himself. (Romans 14:5, 12; 2 Corinthians 4:2; Titus 1:9).
6. Saved, Baptized Church Membership: Local church membership is restricted to individuals who give a credible testimony of personal faith in Christ and have publicly identified with Him through believer's baptism. When members of a local church are believers, a unity in Christ exists, and the members can strive to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. (Acts 2:41-47; 1 Corinthians 12:12; 2 Corinthians 6:14; Ephesians 4:3).
7. Two Offices: The Bible mandates only two offices in the church: pastor and deacon. The terms “pastor,” “elder,” and “bishop,” or “overseer” all refer to the same office. These two offices exist within the local church, not as a hierarchy outside or over the local church. (1 Timothy 3:1-13; Acts 20:17-38; Philippians 1:1).
8. Separation of Church and State: God established both the church and the civil government, giving each its own distinct sphere of operation. The government’s purposes are outlined in Romans 13:1-7, and the church’s purposes in Matthew 28:19-20. Neither should control the other, nor should there be an alliance between them. Christians in a free society can influence government toward righteousness, which is not the same as a denomination or group of churches controlling the government. (Matthew 22:15-22; Acts 15:17-29).