I. Beliefs pertaining to the Bible:
1. We believe the whole Bible and accept nothing but the Bible as our guide in matters of faith and practice.
(Matt. 28:18-20; Luke 6:46; II Tim. 2:15-17)
2. As a Baptist we do not accept any other gospel whether preached by men or angels. (Gal. 1:8-9)
3. We believe the Bible to be the inspired word of God. ( II Tim 3:16; II Peter 1:20,21)
4. We believe the Bible is to be searched and studied by every believer.
(John 5:39; II Tim. 2:15)
5. We do not believe in adding or taking away from the scriptures. (Rev. 22:18-19)
6. We believe the gospel to be the power of God unto Salvation. (Rom. 1:16)
II. Beliefs pertaining to God and Man:
1. We believe that God is (a) Spirit. (John 4:24)
2. We believe that God created the heavens and the earth, and after everything else that He created man last (Why?) (Gen. 1:26, 31) (1) No claim (2) Goodness
3. We believe that man voluntarily transgressed God’s holy law. (Gen. 3:15)
4. We believe that (Adam’s) man’s fall affected him and all of his children forever.
(Rom 5: 19)
5. We believe all men to be sinners. (Rom. 3:9,10; Isa. 53:6; Rom. 3:23)
6. We believe that Christ was man’s promised redeemer (Gen. 3:15)
7. We believe in the ‘virgin’ birth of Jesus. (Matt. 1:20)
8. We believe in the sinless perfection of the life of Jesus.
(Heb. 4:15.)
9. We believe in the miraculous resurrection of Jesus. (Matt. 28:2-6)
10. We believe in ceaseless intercession of Jesus. (Heb. 7:25;
1 Jn. 2:1)
11. We believe Christ to be the end and fulfillment of the law. (Rom. 10:4; Mt. 5:17)
12. We accept Christ as Prophet, Priest, and King. (Acts 3:22;
Heb. 5:6; Rev. 19:16)
13. We denounce the worship of Mary and all other saints. (Mt. 4:10)
14. We believe totally in the Lordship of Christ. (Lk. 6:46; Rev. 19:16)
III. Beliefs pertaining to Salvation:
1. We believe that sinners are lost because they do not believe in Christ Jesus.
(Jn 3:18; Acts 4:12)
2. We believe we are saved because we do believe in Christ. (Jn. 3:15,16; Rom. 10:9
3. We believe that salvation is wholly of God. (Jn.1:12, 13)
· We believe that we are saved by grace not by works. (Eph. 2:8,9)
· We believe that we must believe and confess. (Rom. 10:9-10)
4. We believe that once you are saved you cannot be lost.
(Eph. 1:13; 4:30; Jn. 3:14-18; 10: 27-30; Rom. 8:1, 33-39)
5. We believe that the only way you can enter the Kingdom of God is by New Birth. (Jn. 3:3; Jn. 14:6)
6. We believe that all who would be saved must repent and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. (Lk 13:3; Jn. 3:18; Acts 16:30-31)
7. We believe that God’s invitation included all. (Isa. 55:1; Rev. 22:17)
8. We believe that we are saved by grace and that salvation is wholly a gift of God. (Eph. 2:8,9; Jn. 1:13; Jn. 3:16; Rom. 6:23)
9. We believe that justification is an act of God. (Rom 8:33)
· Thereafter no one can condemn. (Rom. 8:34)
10. We believe that we are justified by faith in Christ and His righteousness.
(Rom 4:5; 5:1)
· We are heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ. (Rom 8:16-17)
11. We believe in sanctified saints. (Jn. 17:17)
12. We believe our primary battle against Satan must be fought with spiritual weapons. (Eph. 6:10-20)
IV. Beliefs pertaining to God’s Eternal Judgment
1. We believe that every person must appear before the judgment seat of Christ. (Rom.14:10)
2. We believe that every person will be justly rewarded according to their deeds
(Rom 2:6; 14:12)
3. We believe that the unfaithful believer will be chastised in this life for all his/her unfaithfulness. (Heb. 12:5-12) (rewards)
4. We believe that the wicked will be separated from the righteous
(Ps. 1:5; Matt. 25:31,33)
5. We believe that the wicked will be driven from the presence of God.
(Ps. 9:17; Thes. 1:8, 9)
6. We believe that the sinner’s punishment will be conscious suffering.
(Matt. 13:42; Rev. 1:17)
7. We believe in: the second coming of the Christ (Acts 1:11)
8. We believe in the immortality of the soul. (Gen. 2:7; 1 Cor. 15:42, 52)
9. We believe in the resurrection of the body. (1 Cor. 15:44)
10. We believe the Bible to be the final verdict for man’s eternal home.
(Jn. 12:48; Matt. 25: 45-46
V. Beliefs pertaining to the Church
1. We believe in the democracy of the church concerning equal rights for
all members. (Matt. 20: 24-28; Matt 23:5-8)
2. We believe the church to be a democracy within a theocracy. Ultimately God should rule. (Eph. 5:23-24)
3. We believe in a Spiritual church. (Acts 1:8, 2:4; Jn. 4:24)
VI. Beliefs pertaining to the Church Ordinances:
There are but two scriptural ordinances in the Baptist church and these were ordained by Jesus Christ himself:
A. BAPTISM (Mt. 28:19; Mk. 16:16; Mt. 3:13-15)
B. LORD’S SUPPER (1 Cor. 11:23-26)
A. Baptism
1. We believe in baptism by immersion because Jesus was baptized (Matt. 3:13-17) by John the Baptist who was prepared in heaven (Lk 1:44) and sent from God. (John 1:6)
2. We believe baptism to be a symbol of death with Christ. (Rom. 6:3)
3. We believe baptism to be a symbol of burial and resurrection with Christ. (Rom. 6:4)
4. We believe that Christian baptism must be preceded by a New Birth and followed by a New Life . (Jn. 3:3; Rom. 6:4)
5. We do not believe that baptism is essential to salvation. (Lk. 23:42-43)
7. We believe in children coming to Christ, but we do not believe in infant baptism. (Mt. 18:1-6; Rom. 10:9-10; I Jn. 1:9)
8. We believe that baptism should always precede the Lord’s Supper. (Mt. 28:19-20
B. The Lord Supper
1. We believe that the Lord’s Supper was given to the church and not passed from house to house or served in hospitals. (Lk. 22:17-20, 1 Cor. 11:17-22)
2. We believe the Lord’s Supper to be a memorial to the death of our Lord. (Lk. 22:19)
3. We believe the bread and the cup to be symbols of His broken body and His shed blood. (1 Cor. 11:24-25)
4. We believe that each individual of the church is to examine himself before taking the Lord’s Supper. (1 Cor. 11: 18, 28)
5. We believe in certain acts that disqualify one’s self from taking the Lord’s Supper (1 Cor. 1: 18-19)
VI. Beliefs pertaining to Leadership and Ministry:
1. We believe Our Pastor to be an under shepherd and an overseer. (Acts 20:28)
2. We believe that the scriptural office of deacon is the pastor’s helper, and that the Deacon’s final and definite appointment comes from the pastor.
(Acts 6:2-4)
3. We believe that the deacons’ home should be a Christian one as exemplified by the Qualifications set down for both the deacon and his wife. (I Tim. 3:8-13)
4. We believe in a spiritual or God called Ministry. (Rom 11:29)
A. We believe in a God-sent ministry. (Rom 10:15; Jer. 23:21)
B. We believe in a God-appointed ministry. (Acts 20-28; Eph. 4-11)
C. We believe in a Spirit-directed ministry. (Acts 13:2-6)
5. We believe in Missions. Mt. 28:19, 20; Mk. 16:15
6. We believe in promoting the rights, of the individual:
- To seek God for ourselves (Acts 17:27)
- To repent for ourselves (Acts 17:30)
- We must confess for ourselves (Jn. 1:9)
- To see God for ourselves (Rom. 14:11, 12)
7. We believe in the first day of the week as the Lord’s Day after the resurrection
of our Lord (Jn.20:19; Acts 20:3)
8. We believe in bringing our offering to God on the first day of the week. (1 Cor. 16: 1,2)
VII. Beliefs pertaining to Tithing:
1. First example of paying tithes – (Gen. 14:20) – this was 430 years before the law
(See also – Gen. 28:22; Heb. 7:1-11)
2. Tithing under the law of Moses
A. Commanded. (Lev. 27:30; Mal. 3:10)
B. Five purposes
1. For Levites. (Num. 18:21-24)
2. Tithes of tithes for priests. (Num. 18:2; Neh. 10:37; 12:44)
3. Tithes of tithes every three years for the poor and for ministers. (Dt.14:27- 29; 26: 12-14)
4. To supply God’s house. (Mal 3:10)
5. To honor God. (Pr. 3:9-10)
C. When brought: yearly along with all other offerings for the feast.
(Dt. 12:6-7; 14:22-26)
D. The tithes belonged to God not the people who paid them.
(Lev. 27:30-34;Mal. 3:8)
E. There were the tithes to be brought. (2 Chr. 31:12; Neh. 10:38;
12:44; 13:5-12; Mal. 3:8)
F. If borrowed 20% interest had to be added when paid. (Lev. 27:31)
G. If exchanged both it and the exchange must be paid. (Lev. 27:33)
3. Tithing in the New Testament
A. Christ taught it. (Mt. 23:23; Lk. 11:42; Mt. 5:20 with Lk.18:11-12; See Mt. 10:10;
Lk. 10:7-8. This was teaching for kingdom of heaven. Mt. 11:11-14; Lk. 16:16)
B. Paul taught it:
1. Condemned sacrilege (Rom. 2:12) or robbing temples (Mal. 3:3-10) and using holy things (Lev. 27)
2. Teachers to be paid (Gal. 6:6)
3. God ordained support of ministers. (1 Cor. 9:7-14; 1 Tim. 6:11-18.)
4. Christians to give as God has prospered us. (1 Cor. 16:1-2)
5. The Melchisedec priesthood is eternal and must be supported by the children of Abraham. (Heb. 6:20; 1: 1-11,21)
6. Children of Abraham in faith must walk in his steps. (Rom. 4:12; Heb. 1)
7. Tithing is proof of obedience and appreciation of God’s blessings. (Rom. 4:12; Heb. 7:6-10; 1 Cor. 9:7-14; I Tim 6:17-18; Cp. Mal. 3:8-10; Pr. 3:9-10; Gen. 14:10; Dt. 8:10-20)
4. The Blessing of Tithing
A. Blessing for Obedience. (See B7) above
B. God’s house will not want (Mal. 3:8-10)
C. God’s ministers will not want (1 Cor. 9:7-14; 1 Tim. 5:17-18; Neh. 13:10; Mal. 3:8- 10)
D. Material and spiritual blessings. (Mal 3:8-10; Pr. 3:9-10; Chr. 31; Neh. 13)
5. Examples of Paying Tithes
A. Abraham (Gen 14, Heb 7:1-11)
B. Jacob (Gen. 28:22)
C. Levi in Abraham (Heb. 7:9)
D. Hezekiah and Israel (2 Chr. 31)
E. Nehemiah and Israel (Neh. 13)
F. Hypocrites (Mt. 23:23; Lk. 11:42; 18:12)
G. Christians (1 Cor. 9:7-14; 16:12, 2 Cor 7:11; 8:1-15; Gal. 6:6; 1
Tim. 5:17- 8; Heb.7)
6. Familiar Terms Associated with Giving
A. Alms and offering (GK Eloise) Acts 24:17
B. Contributions (GK Koinonia) = Fellowship. Rom. 15:26
C. Service (GK Diakonia) meetings needs through fellowship. Rom 15:31
D. Collection (GK Logia) = words= money talks. 1 Cor. 16:3
E. Liberality (GK Cbaris) = grace. 1 Cor. 16:23
F. Grace (GK Charis) 1 Cor. 16:23
G. Bountifully (GK Eulogia) = good words