I. GOD
There is only one living and true God. He is an intelligent, spiritual, and personal Being, the Creator, Redeemer, Preserver, and Ruler of the universe. God is infinite in holiness and all other perfections. To Him we owe the highest love, reverence, and obedience. The eternal God reveals Himself to us as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, with distinct personal attributes, but without division of nature, essence or being.
A. God the Father
God as the Father reigns with providential care over His universe, His creatures, and human history according to the purposes of His grace. He is all powerful, all loving, and all wise. God is the spiritual Father of those who become His children through faith in Jesus Christ.
Genesis 1:1; 2:7; Exodus 3:14; 6:2-3; 15:11ff.; Deuteronomy 6:4; Isaiah 43:3,14-21; Matthew 6:9ff.; 7:11; 23:9; John 4:24; Acts 1:7; Romans 8:14-15; 16:27; 1 Corinthians 8:6; 2Corinthians 9:8; Galatians 4:6; Colossians 1:15; 1 Peter 1:17.
B. God the Son
Christ is the eternal Son of God. In His incarnation as Jesus Christ, He was conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. Jesus perfectly revealed and did the will of God, taking upon Himself the demands and necessities of human nature and identifying Himself completely with mankind yet without sin. He honored the divine law by His personal obedience, and in His death on the cross He made provision for the redemption of mankind from sin. He was raised from the dead with a glorified body and appeared to His disciples as the person who was with them before His crucifixion. He ascended into heaven and is now exalted at the right hand of God where He is the Mediator between God and man. He will return in power and glory to judge the world and to consummate His redemptive mission. He now dwells in all believers as the living and ever-present Lord.
Psalms 22:1ff.; 110:1ff.; Isaiah 7:14; 53; Matthew 1:18-23; 3:17; 8:29; 11:27; 16:16,27; 28:1-6,19; Luke 1:35; John 1:1-18; 11:25-27; 12:44-50; 16:15-16,28; Acts 1:9; 2:22-24; 7:55-56; Romans 3:23-26; 5:6-21; 8:1-3,34; 10:4; 1 Corinthians 15:1-8,24-28; Ephesians 1:20; Philippians 2:5-11; 1 Timothy 2:5-6; Hebrews 4:14-15; 7:14-28; 12:2; 1 Peter 2:21-25; 1 John 4:14-15.
C. God the Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of God. He inspired holy men of old to write the Scriptures. Through illumination He enables men to understand Truth. He exalts Christ. He convicts of sin, of righteousness and of judgment. He calls men to the Savior, and effects regeneration. He cultivates Christian character, comforts believers, and bestows the spiritual gifts by which they serve God through His church. He seals the believer unto the day of final redemption. His presence in the Christian is the assurance of God to bring the believer into the fullness of the stature of Christ. He enlightens and empowers the believer and the church in worship, evangelism, and service.
Genesis 1:2; Psalms 51:11; 139:7ff.; Matthew 1:18; 3:16; 4:1; John 4:24; Acts 1:8; 2:1-4,38; 4:31; 7:55; 10:44; 15:28; 16:6; 19:1-6; Romans 8:9-11,14-16,26-27; 1 Corinthians 2:10-14; 3:16; 12:3-11,13; Ephesians 1:13-14; 4:30; 1 Timothy 3:16; 2 Timothy 3:16; 1 John 4:13; 5:6-7.
II. THE SCRIPTURES
The Holy Bible was written by men divinely inspired and is the record of God’s revelation of Himself to man. It is a perfect treasure of divine instruction. It has God as its author, salvation for its end, and truth, without any mixture of error, for its matter. It reveals the principles by which God judges us, and, therefore, is, and will remain to the end of the world, the true center of Christian union, and the supreme standard by which all human conduct, creeds, and religious opinions should be tried. The criterion by which the Bible is to be interpreted is Jesus Christ.
Deuteronomy 4:1-2; Joshua 8:34; Psalms 19:7-10; 119:11,89,105,; Isaiah 40:8; Matthew 5:17-18; 22:29; Luke 8:21; 21:33; 24:44-46; John 5:39; 17:17; Acts 2:16ff.; 17:11; Romans 16:25-26; 2 Timothy 3:15-17; Hebrews 1:1-2; 4:12; 2 Peter 1:19-21.
III. MANKIND
Man was created by the special act of God, in His own image, and is the crowning work of His creation. In the beginning man was innocent of sin and was endowed by his Creator with freedom of choice. By his free choice, man sinned against God and brought sin into the human race. Through the temptation of Satan man transgressed the command of God and fell from his original innocence. Consequently, Adam’s heirs inherit a nature and an environment inclined toward sin resulting in physical and spiritual death. Only the grace of God can bring man into His holy fellowship and enable man to fulfill the creative purpose of God. The sacredness of human personality is evident in that God created man in His own image, and in that Christ died for man; therefore, every man possesses dignity and is worthy of respect and Christian love.
Genesis 1:26-30; 2:5,7,18-22; 3; 9:6; Psalms 8:3-6; 51:5; Isaiah 6:1-10; Matthew 16:26; Acts 17:26-31; Romans 1:19-32; 5:6,12,19; 8:14-18,29; Ephesians 2:1-22; Colossians 3:9-11.
IV. SALVATION
In its broadest sense, salvation includes the believer’s past, present, and future as explained below:
A. Past—Regeneration: Regeneration, or “new birth”, is a work of God’s grace whereby a believer becomes a new creation in Christ Jesus. It is a change of heart wrought by the Holy Spirit through conviction of sin, to which the sinner responds in repentance toward God and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.
B. Present—Sanctification: Sanctification is the process, beginning in regeneration, by which the believer is set apart to God’s purposes, and is enabled to progress toward moral and spiritual perfection through the presence and power of the Holy Spirit dwelling in him. Growth in grace should continue throughout the regenerate person’s life.
C. Future—Glorification: Glorification is the culmination of salvation and is the final blessed and abiding state of the redeemed.
Matthew 1:21; 4:17; 16:21-26; John 3:3-21,36; 5:24; 15:1-16; 17:17; Acts 15:11; 20:32; Romans 3:23-25; 5:8-10; 6:1-23; 8:1-18,29-39; 1 Corinthians 15:41-48; Philippians 3:21; 1Thessalonians 4:16-17; 1 John 3:2; Revelation 3:20; 21:1-22:5.
V. GOD’S GRACE AND THE SECURITY OF THE BELIEVER
Salvation is the free gift of God. It cannot be earned. It cannot be lost. It is a glorious display of God’s sovereign goodness. It excludes boasting and promotes humility. All true believers endure to the end. Those who God accepted in Christ, and sanctified by His Spirit, will never fall away from the state of grace, but shall persevere to the end. While a believer’s sin may grieve the Spirit, bring reproach on the cause of Christ, and consequences on themselves, they cannot be separated eternally from the love of God.
Luke 1:68-79; 2:29-32; 13:1-23; John 1:12-14; 3:16; 6:44-45,65; 10:27-29; 15:16; Romans 2:4; 8:28-39; Galatians 6:7; Ephesians 1:4-23; 2:1-10; 4:30.
VI. BELIEVER’S BAPTISM
Baptism is an act of obedience. Much like the wedding ring, it is an outward symbol of an inward commitment. Baptism is a public symbol of the inward change, which follows salvation. Scriptures indicate that baptism by immersion is the clearest representation of the salvation experience. Baptism clearly represents Christ’s death, burial and resurrection and our spiritual transformation through Jesus Christ. Baptism does not save; it is a witness of salvation.
Matthew 3:13-17; 28:19-20; Mark 1:9-11; Luke 3:21-22; 23:39-43; John 3:23; Acts 8:35-39; 16:30-33; Romans 6:3-5; Colossians 2:12.
VII. LORD’S SUPPER
The Lord’s Supper is a memorial and celebration of the death, burial and resurrection of Christ, and proclaims the hope of His immediate return. Only those who have been saved and are walking in obedient fellowship with Him should partake of it. The elements symbolize the body and blood of Jesus Christ.
Matthew 26:26-30; Mark 14:22-26; Luke 22:19-20; Acts 2:41-42; 20:7; 1 Corinthians 10:16,21; 11:23-29.
VIII. THE CHURCH AND ITS PURPOSE
The church is the body of Christ and the family of God who worship, fellowship, pray, and minister together in the name of Jesus Christ. The church is the autonomous body operating under the Lordship of Jesus Christ, guided by the Holy Spirit, led by the Pastor(s) and other servant leaders in cooperation with its members.
The church exists to exalt the Savior through personal and corporate worship. The church is responsible to equip the saints through scriptural instruction and Christian fellowship. It is called and privileged to evangelize the sinner(s). This is accomplished through personal and church-wide evangelism, missions and in cooperation with other bodies of believers.
Matthew 16:15-19; 28:19-20; Acts 1:8; 2:41-47; 6:3-6; 14:23,27; 15:1-30; 20:28; Romans 1:7; 1 Corinthians 1:2; 9:13-14; Ephesians 1:22-23; 2:19-22; 3:8-11,21; Colossians 1:18; 1 Timothy 3:1-15; 4:14.
IX. STEWARDSHIP
God is the source of all blessings temporal and spiritual. All that we are, we owe to Him. Our time, talents, and material possessions belong to Him. We are to use them for His glory and for helping others. Christians should contribute cheerfully, regularly, freely, proportionately, and liberally to advance the cause of Christ. A lifestyle of giving is clearly taught in the Bible. (Matt. 6:33) In the Old Testament, God’s people gave 10%, known as a tithe, as well as other freewill offerings. In the New Testament, Jesus modeled a lifestyle of giving by giving His all. In following His example, the New Testament church contributed sacrificially to meet any and every need. Christians today are expected to live a lifestyle of giving that is clearly illustrated throughout the Bible.
Genesis 14:20; Leviticus 27:30-32; Deuteronomy 8:18; Malachi 3:8-12; Matthew 6:1-4,19-21; 19:21; 23:23; 25:14-29; Luke 12:16-21,42; 16:1-13; John 15:12-13; Acts 2:44-47; 17:24-25; 20:35; Romans 6:6-22; 12:1-2; 1 Corinthians 6:19-20; 16:1-4; 2 Corinthians 8-9; Philippians 4:10-19.
X. SPIRITUAL GIFTS
Spiritual gifts are given and distributed by the Holy Spirit as He wills for the edification of the Body and to reach the lost. There is much confusion today about the existence of some of the spiritual gifts. However, Scripture does not declare that any of the gifts have ended. Conversely, Scripture is very clear about the use and purpose of the various gifts. Tongues, for example, are not to be practiced unless there is an interpreter present, that it edifies the body, that lost people are reached, and that God is glorified. Lack of these characteristics dictate that it is not being Biblically practiced.
The Bible also teaches that Spiritual gifts are given to all believers, regardless of gender; therefore, the use of these gifts are to be practiced within the church and are under the guidance and the distribution of the Holy Spirit. The proper use of Spiritual gifts always brings forth unity in the Body.
Exodus 15:20-21; Acts 16:1-16; 18:24-28; Romans 12:6-21; 15:5; 1 Corinthians 1:5-7; 7:7; 11:5; 12:1ff.; 13:1ff.; 14:1ff.; Galatians 3:21-29; Ephesians 4:1-16; Philemon 1:15-17; James 1:17; 1 Peter 4:10-11.
For issues not covered in this doctrinal statement, we adhere to and support the doctrines as stated in the 1963 Baptist Faith and Message.