About the Church
Purpose
The purpose of this church is to glorify God by conducting a Baptist Church in accordance with the Word of God and our constitution. We shall promote the worship of God and the edification of believers by teaching the whole counsel of God. We will administer the ordinances, seek to win the lost to Christ through personal witnessing, preach the gospel, carry on a vigorous missionary program around the world, establish other fundamental Baptist churches, and defend the faith while maintaining a good testimony for Christ in our local community.
COVENANT
Having been born again by the Holy Spirit of God, by grace through faith, having been baptized in obedience to the Lord’s command, and having united with this local church, we do solemnly and joyfully enter into this covenant with one another as one body in Christ.
Therefore, we shall purpose in our hearts to walk together in Christian love, teaching, exhorting, and admonishing one another. We shall pray for one another and help one another during sickness and distress, loving one another as we love ourselves. We shall purpose to live righteously, and to be faithful examples and witnesses before men, and to reflect a constant expectancy of the soon return of Christ.
We shall purpose in our hearts to be faithful in attendance at all services of the church and to practice scriptural giving regularly and cheerfully in proportion to our ability in order that we may properly take care of our pastor, church finances, local and foreign ministries. We desire, further, to love, honor, and esteem our pastor as God’s appointed shepherd for the church. We will pray for him and regard his reputation. We will use the Lord’s Table as a time of serious and sober self-examination. We will search our hearts for sin, bitterness, and malice toward God or man, and then confess and forsake it.
We shall further purpose to have personal and family devotions. We shall teach our children Christian morals, reverence for God and the Bible, and to teach respect for the church, family, and civil government. It shall be our desire to have a Christ-centered home where love and harmony shall prevail.
We further purpose to live as Christian examples before others. We will sincerely desire to avoid backbiting, tattling, holding grudges, or anything that would hurt our Lord and our testimony. We will endeavor to be patient and kind toward all men. May the Lord help us to carry out the spirit of this covenant and the principles of God’s Word.
ARTICLES OF FAITH
The Bible
We believe that the Bible, as originally written, was verbally inspired and the product of Spirit-controlled men. Therefore, it is totally true and without error. The Bible is, therefore, the supreme standard by which all human conduct, creeds, and opinions shall be tried.
(2 Tim. 3:16,17; 2 Pet. 1:10-21)
The True God
We believe that there is only one living and true God. He is an infinite and sovereign Spirit, the maker and ruler of heaven and earth. He is inexpressibly holy and righteous and therefore worthy of all possible praise, honor, confidence, and love. In the unity of the Godhead, there are three persons revealed to us as the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. These three persons are all equally divine and execute distinct but harmonious offices.
(Ex. 20:3; 1 Cor. 8:5; Rev. 4:4)
Jesus Christ
We believe that Jesus Christ, the second person of the Godhead, is totally God. He existed with God the Father from eternity and voluntarily laid aside the use of some of His divine attributes when He became man. He was begotten by the Holy Spirit in the womb of the virgin Mary in a miraculous manner such as no other man ever was or could be conceived. He came to earth to pay the penalty for our sins by dying and shedding His blood for us upon the cross as the sinless Lamb of God. Three days later He arose bodily from the tomb and is now ascended to the Father where He is making intercession for the saints and preparing a place for them. He will return one day for His Church and then literally reign on this earth for one thousand years. After this, He will live with His saints in eternity on new heavens and earth.
(Gen. 3:15; Isa. 7:14; Mat. 1:18-25; Lk. 1:35; Lk. 24:1-53; Jn.1:1,14; Jn. 5:18; Jn. 14:1-3, 7-11; Rom.5:8; Rom. 6:23; 2 Cor. 5:21; Phil. 2:5-11; 1 Pet. 1:19-20)
The Holy Spirit
We believe the Holy Spirit to be the third person of the Godhead, co-equal with God the Father and God the Son. He was active in creation and inspiring the Holy Bible. He is presently restraining sin, convicting men of sin, righteousness, and judgment. At the moment of a person’s salvation, He immediately indwells them and baptizes them into the body of Christ. He seals, endues, guides, teaches, witnesses to, sanctifies, and helps them in their Christian walk.
We further believe that certain spiritual gifts such as tongues, interpretation of tongues, and healings were spiritual sign-gifts (1 Cor. 14:22) in operation until the Scriptures were complete and since that time have passed away.
(Gen. 1:2; Jn.14:16,17,26; Jn. 15:7-15; Acts 5:3,4; 1 Cor. 12-14; Eph. 1:13,14; 1 Pet. 1:21,22)
Satan
We believe in the person of Satan and that he is the unholy god of this world. He was once a holy angel, but through pride fell from his lofty position. He is now active on the earth leading men astray and in all ways opposing the work of God. He will eventually be confined to eternal punishment in hell (Gehenna), the Lake of Fire.
(Isa. 14:12-17; Ezek. 29:11-19; Mat. 4:1-3; 2 Cor. 4:4; Eph. 6:12)
Angels
We believe in the existence of spirit beings known as angels who were created as a company by a direct act of God.
–Evil Angels
These angels were once good but rebelled against God along with Satan and were cast to earth. In Scripture they are called demons (KJV, devils) and are presently working to thwart the plan of God. Along with Satan, they will eventually be cast into hell.
–Good Angels
Good angels act as ministers to God and as His messengers. They guard God’s people and minister to them. Compared to men, they are superior in power and intelligence.
(Isa. 6:2,3; Mat. 25:41; Heb. 1:13,14; 1 Pet. 1:2; 2 Pet. 2:1; Jude 5-9; Rev. 12:3,4)
Man
We believe that man was created in the image of God by a divine act of God on the sixth day of creation as recorded in the book of Genesis. He was created in innocence, but through a voluntary act of disobedience against God, he fell from his untried sinless state. When Adam fell, all mankind fell with him, so that all men are by nature sinners and are under the just penalty for sin.
(Gen. 1:26-31; Gen. 2:7, 15-25; Gen. 3; Rom. 1:18-32; Rom. 5:10-19; Rom. 6:23)
Sin
We believe that sin is any lack of conformity unto, or any transgression of, any law of God given as a rule to the reasonable creature. Sin originated in the person of Lucifer, who through pride, revolted against God. Sin entered the human race as a result of disobedience on the part of Adam. Sin is universal in nature and it separates man from God.
(Isa. 14:12-17; Rom. 4:23; Rom. 5:12; Gal. 3:10; 1 Jn. 1:3-10; 1 Jn. 3:4)
Salvation
We believe that God’s penalty for sin was satisfied when Jesus Christ voluntarily went to the cross and died, shedding His blood in our place. He was the perfect sacrifice for our sins, the Just One dying for the unjust ones. Salvation is obtained as a gift from God, given by grace through faith, and is not obtained by any system of works on our part. It is received by any individual who will: A) acknowledge that they are a sinner, totally alienated from God and deserving of eternal punishment, B) believe that Jesus Christ died for their sins, and C) confess their sin and trust Jesus Christ as their personal Savior and Lord. At the moment of salvation, the believer is born again and this is evidenced in the believer by a changed life.
(Jn. 3:16; Acts 16:30,31; Ro. 3:23; Rom. 5:8; Rom. 6:23; Rom. 10:9,10,13; 2 Cor. 5:17; Eph. 2:8,9; Phil. 2:7; Heb. 2:14; Heb. 9:11-14; 1 Pet. 3:18)
The Church
Universal Church We believe that all genuinely born-again individuals are part of the universal church–the church which is His Body. This church was established on the day of Pentecost and all believers from Pentecost to the rapture are added to the church by baptism of the Holy Spirit at the moment of salvation.
Local Church We believe the local New Testament church to be an organized body of believers immersed upon a credible confession of faith in Jesus Christ, having two offices (pastor and deacon), sovereign in polity, and bonded together for work, worship, fellowship, observances of the ordinances, and the world-wide proclamation of the gospel. The local church is God’s organization for carrying out His program in the world.
(Acts 2:41,42; Mat. 28:19,20; Acts 16:25-34; 1 Tim. 3:1-13)
LAST THINGS
–The Rapture
We believe that Jesus Christ will return in the air to receive His Bride, the Church, at any moment.
(Jn. 14:41,42; 1 Cor. 15:51-57: 1 Thes. 4:13-18; 1 Thes. 5:9; Rev. 3:10)
–The Tribulation
We believe that following the rapture, a seven year period of unparalleled chaos and destruction will come upon the earth. The Antichrist will be revealed and the Holy Spirit will no longer restrain sin as He had done during the church age. However, many will still be saved during this period, but most will suffer martyr’s deaths. This period will culminate with the Battle of Armageddon in which Jesus Christ and all the hosts of angels will return to earth in victory over the world’s armies.
(Dan. 9:25-27; Mat. 24:15-28; 2 Thes. 2; The Book of Revelation)
–The Revelation
Jesus Christ will be revealed from heaven at the end of the tribulation period. This is commonly called the Second Coming. He will judge the living to determine who will enter the Millennium with Him. Satan will be bound for one thousand years.
(Rev. 19:11-20:6; Mat. 24:29-25:46)
–The Millennium
As the name suggests, this will be a period of one thousand years during which Christ will reign upon the earth in fulfillment of Old Testament promises. Great peace such as the earth has never known will prevail during this time. Christians from the church age will rule and reign with Christ. This period will come to a close with Satan being released, whereby he will once more be allowed to go forth to deceive the nations. This will result in one final battle after which Satan will be cast into the lake of fire to undergo eternal punishment.
(Ezek. 40-46; Isa. 65:66; 2 Tim. 2:12; Rev. 5:10; Rev. 20:7-9)
Final Judgment
All the unsaved individuals from all ages will appear before the Great White Throne to be judged according to their works. They will be cast into hell, the Lake of Fire, where they, along with Satan and his angels, will undergo eternal punishment.
(Rev. 20:11-15)
Eternity
New heavens and earth will be created where Christ and the saved of all ages will live forever.
(Rev. 21 & 22)
Creation
We believe in the Genesis account of creation that man, animals, and the world came into being by a direct act of God in six literal 24-hour days and not by a process of evolution.
(Gen. 1:2; Jn. 1:3; Col. 1:16,17)
Civil Government
We believe that civil government is of divine appointment for the interest and good order of human society. Magistrates and officials are to be prayed for, consciously honored and obeyed, except in things opposed to the revealed Word of God.
(Dan. 3:17,18; Mat. 22:31; Acts 4:19; Acts 23:5; Rom. 13:1-7)
Israel
We believe in the sovereign selection of Israel as God’s eternal covenant people, and that she is now in dispersion because of her disobedience and rejection of Christ, and that she will be regathered in the Holy Land and will be saved as a nation at the second coming of Christ.
(Gen. 13:14-17; Ezek. 37; Rom. 11:1-32)
Separation
We believe in obedience to the Biblical commands to be separate entirely from worldliness and ecclesiastical apostasy unto God.
(2 Cor. 6:14-7:1; 1 Thes. 1:9,10; 1 Tim. 6:3-5; Rom. 16,17; 2 Jn. 9-11)
Security of the Believer
We believe that all who are born again are kept by God the Father for Jesus Christ.
(Jn. 10:28,29; Rom. 8:35-39; Eph. 1:13,14; Eph. 4:30; Phil. 1:6)
Ordinances
–Baptism
We believe that Christian baptism is the single immersion of a believer in water to show forth in a solemn and beautiful emblem our identification with the crucified, buried, and risen Savior, through whom we died to sin and arose to a new life. Baptism is to be performed under the authority of the local church.
(Mat. 28:19,20; Acts 2:41,42; Acts 6:36-39; Acts 16:32-34)
–Lord’s Supper
We believe the bread and grape juice are symbols of Christ’s body and blood and that the Lord’s Supper is the commemoration of His death until He comes, and should be preceded by solemn self-examination. Participants in the Lord’s Supper should be saved individuals who are walking in obedience to His commands.
(Mat. 26:27-30; Acts 2:42-46; Acts 20:7,11; 1 Cor. 11:23-34)
Marriage and the Family
1. We believe that marriage of a man to a woman is the only plan of God and is sacred in His sight. (Gen 2:18-25; Mat. 19:3-9; Eph. 5:18-32; 1 Tim. 3:4-5, 12; Mal. 2:13,14)
2. We believe that the roles of husband, wife, parent, and child are clearly defined in Scripture. (Eph. 5:21-32; Col. 3:16-21; 1 Pet. 3:1-7)
3. We believe that the sexual relationship is sacred and fulfilling only within the bonds of marriage, and is condemned outside the marriage relationship. (1 Cor. 7:3,4; Heb. 13:4)
4. We believe that children are a blessing from God and the responsibility for them rests solely upon the parents. Children are to be brought up in a loving structured environment with conscientious instruction and nurture in the truths of God and His principles for life. (Ps. 127:3; Eph. 6:4; Deut. 6:6,7; Ps. 78:4-7; Prov. 22:6; Prov. 17:6)
ASSOCIATIONS
Autonomy
This church shall be an independent autonomous church subject only to Jesus Christ, the head of the church. It has a right to cooperate and associate with other Biblical groups on a voluntary basis. However, it shall not cooperate with any groups that permit the presence of apostates or apostasy or any group that encourages other groups that permit the presence of apostates or apostasy.
Fellowships
This church is in fellowship with the General Association of Regular Baptist Churches (GARBC). If the GARBC ever forsakes its present Biblical position, this church shall take appropriate action to withdraw from its fellowship.
MEMBERSHIP
The conditions for membership shall be three:
1. A profession of faith (Eph. 2:8,9; Jn. 3:16; Rom. 10:9,10,13).
2. Baptism by immersion (Mat. 28:19,20; Acts 3:41; Acts 9:18; Acts16:33; Rom. 6:4,5).
3. Affirm acceptance of and adherence to this constitution (2 Cor.13:11; Phil. 1:27; Phil. 2:2; 1 Thes. 5:13).
More information about what we believe as a church family can be found in the written constitution.
