Declaration of Faith

The Word of God: (Bibliology)

We believe the Bible is the Canon of Scripture containing the sixty-six Old and New Testament books. It is the verbal and plenary inspired revelation of God. As such, it is without error and is God’s final authority. (Matthew 5:18; II Timothy 3:16-17; II Peter 1:20-21)

The Trinity: (Theology Proper)

We believe there is one God who eternally exists in three distinct persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. All three Persons have the exact same nature. (Deut. 6:4; Job 33:4; Psalm 104:29-30; Matt. 28:19; John 1:1,14; John 10:30; Acts 5:3,4; Colossians 2:8-10)

God The Father: (Theology Proper)

We believe God the Father is the sovereign architect of the universe, and decrees all things to come to pass as He wills. (Ephesians 1:3-11)

God The Son: (Christology)

We believe Jesus Christ is the unique Son of God. Being fully God, He has eternally existed with the Father. Prior to incarnation, He appeared as The Angel of the Lord and in various theophanies. (John 1:1-3; John 8:58; I Cor. 10:4)

In His incarnation, He became undiminished deity and perfect humanity united in one Person forever. (John 1:14; Phil. 2:6-8)

Jesus was virgin born, experienced a sinless life, volunteered a sufficient and sacrificial death, was bodily resurrected from the dead and ascended into heaven. He presently intercedes for believers, and is literally retuning to this world to judge and rule. (Matt. 1:18-25; Acts 1:9; I Cor. 15:20; Titus 2:13; Hebrews 4:15; I Peter 3:18; I John 2:1)

God the Spirit: (Pneumatology)

We believe the Holy Spirit is the third Person of the Trinity. He has the very nature and essence of God. He has distinct personality. (Matt. 28:19; I Acts 5:3-4; II Cor. 13:14)

The Spirit was active in creation, inspiration of Scripture, and empowering people for ministries before the church age. (Gen. 1:2; Exodus 31:3; Psalm 51:11; II Peter 1:21)

Presently, the Holy Spirit is restraining sin and the Antichrist. He also convicts the world through the ministry of the church. (John 16:7-11; II Thess. 2:6-7)

The Spirit glorifies the Son through performing the following ministries for believers: saving grace, regeneration, indwelling, baptizing, sealing, filling, illumining, anointing, interceding, comforting, gifting and quickening. (I Thess. 4:7-8; II Thess. 2:13; John 3:3-5, John 14:6; Rom. 6:8-9; Rom. 6:26-27; Matt. 3:11;I Cor. 2:12-15; I Cor. 12:7; I Cor. 12:13; I Cor. 12:29-31; I Cor. 13:8, I Cor. 14:27-40; Eph. 1:13; Eph. 4:30;Eph. 5:18; Gal. 5:16; Col. 3:16-17; I John 2:20-27)

Angels and Satan: (Angelology)

We believe that Angels are spirit beings created by God to serve Him and His people. Satan is an angel who sought to be equal in rank with God. As a result, God sentenced him and his angelic followers to the Lake of Fire. These followers of Satan are known as demons. (Isaiah 14:12-17; Ezekiel 28:12-19; Matt. 25:41; Heb. 1:13-14)

Man and Sin: (Anthropology and Hamartiology)

We believe that human beings were created in the image of God, and chose to sin. As a result, all men and women are sinners because of nature, choice, and deeds. The penalty for sin is eternal separation from God. (Gen. 1:27; Rom. 3:23; Rom. 5:12, Rom. 6:23; I John 1:7-10)

Salvation: (Soteriology)

We believe that a person can only be saved through faith in the person and work of Jesus Christ. Trusting in the fact that God’s Son took the penalty for one’s sin makes a person justified with God. Sanctification is the process of growing in Christ-like maturity through yielding to the Holy Spirit. Ultimate sanctification and glorification are guaranteed for the believer in the age to come. (John 3:16; Rom. 5:1; Rom. 8:30; Eph. 1:22-23; I Tim. 2:5)

The Church: (Ecclesiology)

We believe in the following Baptist distinctives:

The Bible is the sole authority for faith and practice. (II Tim. 3:16-17)

Every Believer has direct access to God through Jesus Christ, and has the freedom to worship, preach, pray, and study God’s Word. (I Cor. 7:22; I Tim. 2:5; I Peter 2:4-5; Rev. 1:6)

Each local church is to be autonomous in its government while remaining in fellowship with other churches of like faith. (Matt. 18:17; I Cor. 5:4; Col. 4:15,16)

The Church and State are separate institutions. One is not to dictate the affairs of the other. Christians should influence the State through prayer, submission, evangelism, social concern, and uncompromising political involvement. (Acts 5:29; I Tim. 2:1-4; Rom. 13:1-8)

Baptism is a symbolic ordinance of the church and is to be restricted to professing Believers. Immersion is the Biblical mode of baptism. Baptism is the outward declaration that one is a disciple of Jesus Christ. (Matt. 3:16; Matt. 28:19-20; Acts 8:39; Rom. 6:3-4)

As Baptists we seek to support and promote only those missionaries and organizations that hold to orthodox teachings of the Bible. (II Cor. 6:17; II Tim. 4:1-5)

Future Things: (Eschatology)

We believe that upon death a believer’s spirit goes immediately to be with Christ. At the believer’s resurrection, his body will be transformed and united eternally with his spirit. Upon death, an unbeliever’s spirit goes immediately to a literal place of torment call Hades or Hell. At the second resurrection, the unbeliever will be reunited with his body and sent to the eternal lake of fire. (Luke 16:19-24; Rev. 20:7-15)