What we believe

 THE SCRIPTURES   We believe that the Holy Bible was written by men supernaturally inspired; that it has truth without any admixture of error for its matter; and therefore is, and shall remain to the end of the age, the only complete and final revelation of the will of God to man; the true center of Christian union and the supreme standard by which all human conduct, creeds, and opinions should be tried.  2 Timothy 3:16-17; 1 Peter 1:23; 2 Peter 1:19-21; Revelation 22:19  

THE HOLY SPIRIT   We believe that the Holy Spirit is a divine person; equal with God the Father and God the Son and of the same nature; that He was active in the creation; that in His relation to the unbelieving world He restrains the evil one until God’s purpose is fulfilled; that He convicts of sin, of judgment and of righteousness; that He bears witness to the Truth of the Gospel in preaching and testimony; that He is the agent in the New Birth; that He seals, endues, guides, teaches, witnesses, sanctifies and helps the believer.   Genesis 1:13; Matthew 3:11; Matthew 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, John 26; John 15:26-27; John 16:8-11, John 16:13; Acts 5:30-32; Acts 11:16; Romans 8:14, Romans 8:16, Romans 8:26-27; Ephesians 1:13-14; 2 Thessalonians 2:7, 2 Thessalonians 13; Hebrews 9:14; 1 Peter 1:2  

THE FALL OF MAN   We believe that man was created in innocence under the law of his Maker, but by voluntary transgression fell from his sinless and happy state, in consequence of which all mankind are now sinners, not by constraint, but of choice; and therefore under just condemnation without defense or excuse.  Genesis 3:1-6, Genesis 3:24; Ezekiel 18:19-20; Romans 1:18, Romans 1:20, Romans 1:28, Romans 1:32; Romans 3:10-19; Romans 5:12,19; Galatians 3:22; Ephesians 2:1, Ephesians 2:3  

THE ATONEMENT OF SIN   We believe that the salvation of sinners is wholly of grace; through the mediatorial offices of the Son of God, Who by appointment of the Father, freely took upon Him our nature, yet without sin, honored the divine law by His personal obedience, and by His death made a full and vicarious atonement for our sins; that His atonement consisted not in setting us an example by His death as a martyr, but was the voluntary substitution of Himself in the sinner’s place, the Just dying for the unjust, Christ, the Lord, bearing our sins in His own body on the tree; that, having risen from the dead, He is now enthroned in heaven and uniting in His wonderful person the tenderest sympathies with divine perfection, He is in every way qualified to be a suitable, a compassionate and an all sufficient Savior.  Isaiah 53:4-7, Isaiah 53:11-12; Matthew 18:11; John 3:16; John 10:18; Acts 15:11; Romans 3:24-25; Galatians 1:4;

THE FREENESS OF SALVATION   We believe in God’s electing grace; that the blessings of salvation are made free to all by the gospel; that it is the immediate duty of all to accept them by a cordial, penitent and obedient faith; and nothing prevents the salvation of the greatest sinner on earth but his own inherent depravity and voluntary rejection of the gospel; which rejection involves him in an aggravated condemnation. Isaiah 55:1; Matthew 11:28; John 3:15-18, John 3:36; John 5:40; John 6:37; Romans 8:29-30; Romans 10:13; 1 Corinthians 15:10; Ephesians 2:4-5; Colossians 3:12; 1 Thessalonians 1:4; 1 Timothy 1:15; Titus 1:1; 1 Peter 1:2; Revelation 22:17  

REPENTANCE AND FAITH   We believe that Repentance and Faith are solemn obligations, and also inseparable graces, wrought in our souls by the quickening Spirit of God; thereby, being deeply convicted of our guilt, danger and helplessness, and of the way of salvation by Christ, we turn to God with unfeigned contrition, confession and supplication for mercy; at the same time heartily receiving the Lord Jesus Christ and openly confessing Him as our only and all-sufficient Savior.  Psalm 51:1-4, Psalm 51:7; Isaiah 55:6-7; Mark 1:15; Luke 12:8; Luke 18:13; Acts 2:37-38; Acts 20:21; Romans 10:9-11, Romans 10:13  

THE CHURCH We believe that a Baptist church is a congregation of baptized believers associated by a covenant of faith and fellowship of the Gospel, said church being understood to be the citadel and propagator of the divine and eternal grace; observing the ordinances of Christ; governed by His laws; exercising the gifts, rights, and privileges invested in them by His Word; that its officers of ordination are pastors or elders whose qualifications, claims, and duties are clearly defined in the scriptures. We believe that men and women are spiritually equal in position before God but that God has ordained distinct and separate spiritual functions of men and women in the home and in the church.  The husband is to be the leader of the home and men are to hold the leadership positions (pastors and deacons) in the church.  Accordingly, only men are eligible of licensure and ordination for pastor by the church. We believe the true mission of the church is found in the Great Commission: first, to make individual disciples; second, to build up the church; third, to teach and instruct as He has commanded.  We do not believe in the reversal of this order; we hold that the local church has the absolute right of self government, free from the interference of any hierarchy of individuals or organizations; and that the one and only superintendent is Christ through the Holy Spirit; that it is scriptural for true churches to cooperate with each other in contending for the faith and for the furtherance of the Gospel; that every church is the sole and only judge of the measure and method of its cooperation; on all matters of membership, of policy, of government, of discipline, of benevolence, the will of the local church is final. Leviticus 27:31; Malachi 3:10; Matthew 28:19-20; Acts 2:41-42; Acts 6:5-6; Acts 14:23; Acts 15:22-23; Acts 20:17-28; 1 Corinthians 5:11-13; 1 Corinthians 6:1-3; 1 Corinthians 11:2; 1 Corinthians 12:4, 1 Corinthians 12:8-11; 1 Corinthians 16:1-2; Ephesians 1:22-23; Ephesians 4:11; Ephesians 5:23-24; Colossians 1:18; 1 Timothy 3:1-13  

THE RESURRECTION AND RETURN OF CHRIST AND RELATED EVENTS   We believe in and accept the sacred Scriptures upon these subjects at their face and full value. Of the Resurrection, we believe that Christ rose bodily “The third day according to the Scriptures”; that He ascended “to the right hand of the throne of God”; that He alone is our “merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God”; “that this same Jesus which is taken up from you into heaven shall so come in like manner as ye have seen Him go into heaven,” bodily, personally, and visibly; that the “dead in Christ shall rise first”; that the living saints “shall all be changed in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump”; “that the Lord God shall give unto Him the throne of His father David”; and that “Christ shall reign a thousand years in righteousness until He hath put all enemies under His feet.” Psalm 72:8; Isaiah 11:4-5; Matthew 24:27, Matthew 24:42; Matthew 28:6-7; Mark 16:6, Mark 16:19; Luke 1:32; Luke 24:2, Luke 24:4-6, Luke 24:39, Luke 24:51; John 14:3; John 20:27; Acts 1:9,11; 1 Corinthians 15:4; Philippians 4:20; 1 Thessalonians 4:16; 1 Timothy 2:5; Hebrews 2:17; Hebrews 5:9; Hebrews 8:1; Hebrews 9:28; Hebrews 12:2  

MISSIONS   The command to give the gospel to the world is clear and unmistakable and this Commission was given to the churches. Matthew 28:18-20, “And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.  Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you and, lo I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” Mark 16:15, “And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.” Acts 1:8, “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you; and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.”  

THE GRACE OF GIVING   Scriptural giving is one of the fundamentals of the Faith. 2 Corinthians 8:7, “Therefore, as ye abound in every thing, in faith, and utterance, and knowledge, and in all diligence, and in your love to us, see that ye abound in this grace also.” We are commanded to bring our gifts into the storehouse (common treasury of the church) upon the first day of the week. 1 Corinthians 16:2, “Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come.” Under Grace we give, and do not pay, the tithe – “Abraham GAVE the tenth of the spoils,” – Hebrews 7:2-4 – and this was four hundred years before the law, and is confirmed in the new Testament; Jesus said concerning the tithe, “these ought ye to have done”, Matthew 23:23.  We are commanded to bring the tithe into the common treasury of the church. Leviticus 27:30, “The tithe … is the Lord’s.”  Malachi 3:10, “Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.”  In the New Testament it was the common treasury of the church. Acts 4:34-37, “And brought the prices of the things that were sold and laid them down at the apostles’ feet … Having land, sold it, and brought the money, and laid it at the apostles’ feet.”  

SANCTITY OF HUMAN LIFE   We believe that all human life is sacred from fertilization throughout the entire natural human life; that human beings are created in His image and, as such, are to be protected; that the weak, vulnerable, infirm, handicapped, pre-born and needy deserve our respect and our care.  Genesis 1:26; 9:6; Psalm 51:5; 82:3-4; 139:13-16; Jeremiah 1:5; Luke 1:41