Of the Scriptures
We believe the Holy Bible is a supernatural book, that it is the very Word of God, that it is in the sixty-six books the full, final and complete revelation of God's will to man. We believe the author of the Bible is God the Holy Spirit and by inspiration we mean the plenary verbal inspiration, that Holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit as revealed in Second Peter Chapter One. We believe the King James Version is the preserved Word of God in the English language. We reject the modern paraphrased versions, the modern common version and others which delete the pure meaning of redemption and do injustice to the Deity of Christ. We believe and teach that the Bible is the final authority in all matters of faith and practice.
Psalm 119:89; Isaiah 8:20; Romans 15:4; II Timothy 3:16-17; Hebrews 4:12; II Peter 1:19-21
The True God
We believe and teach that there is one, and only one, true and living God. He is absolute in nature, perfect in attributions, holy in character, and is revealed in the Trinity, which is the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. The three persons of the Trinity subsist in the same divine nature, essence and being. They are co-existent and co-equal and each one has a distinct office in the work of Redemption.
Exodus 20:2-3; Psalm 90:2; John 4:24; Romans 11:33; Ephesians 4:6; I Timothy 1:17
The Lord Jesus Christ
We believe that Jesus Christ is co-eternally existent as the second person of the Trinity, is co-equally existent with the Father, and thus, has neither beginning nor end. He manifested God visibly to the world, through the theophanies (Christophanies) in the Old Testament, and through the Incarnation in the New Testament. He was born of a virgin, who was called Mary, and He is the only Saviour for this lost world. His death on the cross was voluntary, substitutionary and sufficient for the salvation of all men of all times. He is coming again to rapture the saints at a time in the future known only by God.
Genesis 18:1-22,33; Isaiah 53:5-6; Matthew 28:19; Luke 23:46; John 1:1-2, 14; 3:16; 10:17-18; II Corinthians 5:21; I Timothy 4:10; II Peter 2:1; I John 2:2
The Holy Spirit
We believe the Holy Spirit is a divine person; equal with God the Father and God the Son and of the same nature and was active in the creation. In relation to the unbelieving world He restrains the evil one until God's purpose is fulfilled; that He convicts of sin, judgment and righteousness. He is the agent of the New Birth and indwells, seals, guides and directs the Believer.
John 14:13-17; 26; 15:26-27; 16:8-11 Romans 8:16; 26-27; Ephesians 1:13-14
The Devil or Satan
We believe that the Devil is an actual being and not an imaginary influence; that he once enjoyed high heavenly honors and glorious heavenly privileges; that he through pride, ambition and self will betrayed God and as a result brought down upon his head the judgment of God. He operates today as the god of this world and the Prince of the Power of the air; that he is the arch deceiver, and father of all lies, that he is the greatest enemy, the biggest tempter and the greatest opposition to the saints. His final abode shall be the Lake of Fire, which is the eternal place of punishment, prepared for the Devil and his angels.
Isaiah 14:12-15; Ezekiel 28:14-17; John 8:43-44; I Peter 5:8; I John 3:8; Jude 6
The Creation
We believe the Genesis record of the creation is literal, and not allegorical or figurative. God personally created the Heaven and the earth in a direct act, that He brought forth all original matter out of nothing. We believe that man was created directly in God's own image and not by the hypothesis of any kind of evolution. God's established law says that all species shall bring forth “after their kind.”
Genesis 1:1; 26-27; John 1:1-3; Acts 17:23-26; Romans 1:20; Hebrews 11:3
The Fall of Man
We believe that man was created in innocence and holiness, and by voluntary transgression of the Lord's command, fell from the state in which he was created and as a consequence became a sinner alienated from God and brought upon himself and all mankind just condemnation. Man is now, by virtue of his fallen nature, void of holiness, positively inclined to evil and actually condemned to eternal ruin without excuse.
Genesis 3:6-24; Romans 1:18, 28; 5:12,19; Ephesians 2:1-3
The Virgin Birth
We believe that our Lord Jesus Christ was conceived by the Holy Spirit in a miraculous manner; born of the virgin Mary as no other man was born or can be born of woman. He is both the Son of God and God the Son.
Genesis 3:15; Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:18-25; Mark 1:1; Luke 1:35; John 1:14
The Atonement for Sin
We believe that the lost sinner is guilty and under just condemnation and is by nature alien to God and because of sin condemned to die. The atonement for sin was provided through the mediatorial office of the Son of God who by divine appointment freely took upon Himself our nature, yet without sin, that He through obedience during His earthly walk personally honored the divine law by keeping it, and through His death on the cross actually satisfied the Law for the penalty of sin. His obedience and sacrificial death made full and vicarious atonement for all sin.
Isaiah 53:12; John 10:17-18; Romans 3:25; Hebrews 9:22; 12:22; I John 1:7
The Grace of Salvation
We believe and teach that salvation is by God's grace and that salvation is free to all through the Gospel; that it is the duty of all to accept, by faith, that salvation. Those who voluntarily reject salvation will face eternal separation from God in a literal place of punishment called Hell. When a sinner repents and receives Jesus Christ as his personal Saviour he receives eternal life. The eternal purpose of God in Salvation is first of all to preserve the believer forever in Christ; the believer is saved eternally. It is also the eternal purpose of God that the believer will conform to the image of His Son. This salvation wrought by grace then assures us that we are preserved in Christ by the power of God and no man can pluck the saved from the Father's hand. Salvation is everlasting and the glorious truth “once in Grace, always in Grace,” is true.
John 1:12; 3:15-16; 5:24; 10:27-30; Romans 10:1-13; I Peter 1:5
Repentance and Faith
We believe that repentance and faith are solemn and in separable prerequisites for salvation; that they are inseparable graces wrought in the heart by the quickening power of the Holy Spirit, and as the sinner is deeply convicted of his guilt and helplessness he turns in repentance to the Lord Jesus Christ, surrendering himself wholeheartedly and receiving Him as personal Saviour and Lord, he is immediately born again.
Matthew 3:1-2; Mark 1:15; Acts 2:37-38; 3:19; 20:21; II Corinthians 7:9-10
The Church
We believe and teach that the local, visible assembly of called out believers into a public place of worship and service is the only one found in the New Testament. We do not believe in an invisible or universal church. The local New Testament Baptist Church is the only one authorized to carry out the Great Commission. The first New Testament Baptist Church was founded by Jesus Christ during His own personal ministry and entrance into the local church is by scriptural baptism. We believe and teach the Local New Testament Baptist Church is an independent congregation and is not governed or controlled by an Ecclesiastical Hierarchy. The will of the Local Church is final.
Matthew 16:18; Acts 2:47; 8:1; 11:22; 16:5; Ephesians 1:22; 3:21; Colossians 1:24; I Timothy 3:15
The Church Ordinances
We believe that Baptism and the Lord's Supper are the only two local church ordinances set forth in the local church by Jesus Christ. Scriptural Baptism began with John the Baptist. John's Baptism was not O.T. dispensation or an intermediate dispensation but New Testament Baptism. Our Lord Jesus Christ accepted this Baptism Himself and accepted those that John baptized into the church that He organized during His own personal ministry.
Baptism: Believers Baptism to be scriptural must be: THE PROPER CANDIDATE, the one who has been Born Again. It must also be THE PROPER MODE or method which is immersion. It must also be THE PROPER DESIGN or motive. This design is to show forth a truth which is the property of the believer and the local church into which the believer is Baptized, which sets forth the death, burial and resurrection of the believer to a new life in Christ. It is also THE PROPER ADMINISTRATOR or authority, and the Local New Testament Baptist Church is the only church with the authority to administer scriptural baptism.
The Lord's Supper: We believe the Lord's Supper is a memorial supper administered by the authority and instruction of the local Baptist Church; it symbolizes the broken body of and the shed blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, that only members of the local church whose spiritual lives in a right relationship are qualified participants in the Lord's Supper service. We also teach and believe that there is no saving power or grace in either Baptism or the Lord's Supper.
Matthew 3:13-17; 26:17-30; 28:19-20; Acts 8:36-39; Romans 6:3-5; I Corinthians 11:23-34
Separation of Church and Government
We believe that churches and governments should be completely separate; that civil officers should be prayed for and conscientiously honoured and obeyed; that diligence should be exercised in seeking the will of God in all local church matters; that all missionary endeavor should be carried on within the confines of the local church; that mission boards and mission hierarchies tend to corrupt and usurp the authority of the local church. We believe that it is the privilege and right of the local churches to cooperate with each other in carrying out the Great Commission. This cooperation, however, should be carried on in such a manner as to preserve the sovereignty of each local body in all matters of faith and practice.
Proverbs 8:15; Romans 13:1-7; I Peter 2:9-20
Of the Resurrection and Return of Christ and Related Events
We believe and teach that Jesus Christ arose bodily from the grave. We also believe and teach that this resurrection assures all believers the same bodily resurrection when the Lord returns for the Saints at the time of the Rapture. There will also be a resurrection of the unsaved to stand in judgment before the Lord, known in the Scriptures as the great white throne judgment.
Matthew 28:6-7; John 20:27; I Corinthians 15:1-11,42-52; I Thessalonians 4:13-18; Hebrews 9:27-28
We believe and teach that Jesus Christ shall catch away all believers before the great Tribulation Period. At the close of the great Tribulation Period the Saints will return with Christ to the earth and shall live and reign with Him 1000 years. The Rapture of the Saints is an imminent truth.
Zechariah 14:1-5; I Corinthians 15:51-55; I Thessalonians 3:13; 4:13-18; Titus 2:13; Jude 14-15; Revelation 19:11-16; 20:1-6
CHRIST'S RETURN: John 14:3; Acts 1:11; I Corinthians 15:51-55; Philippians 3:20-21; I Thessalonians 4:16-17; James 5:8
THE RAPTURE: Zechariah 14:1-8; Matthew 24:1-51; Mark 13:27 -31; Luke 21:8-19; 25-31; II Thessalonians 2:1-12
THE TRIBULATION PERIOD: Daniel 12:1; Matthew 24:21; Luke 21:25-26; II Thessalonians 2:1-12; Revelation 6:16-17; 14:10-16; 16:11-21
THE CONVERSION OF THE JEWS: Zechariah 12:10-14; 13:6-9; Matthew 24:38; Romans 11:1-26
THE BATTLE OF ARMAGEDDON: Ezekiel 38:1-23; Zechariah 12:1-4; Revelation 16:12-16; 19:11-21
THE MILLENNIUM: Isaiah 2:1-5; 11:9; 32:1; Jeremiah 23:5; Revelation 11:15-17; 20:1-6
THE GREAT WHITE THRONE JUDGMENT: Revelation 20:11-15
Missions
We believe that the command to give the Gospel to the world is clear and unmistakable and this commission was given to the Local Churches.
Matthew 28:1-20; Mark 16:15; John 20:21; Acts 1:8; Romans 10:13-15.
The Grace of Giving
We believe and teach that God's method of financing His work of spreading the Gospel is by the tithes and offerings of His people in and through the local New Testament Baptist Church which is the storehouse. The time to tithe is upon the first day of the week and that everyone is accountable to the Lord for one-tenth of his income and that tithing was instituted before the law and by Christ in the New Testament Baptist Church.
Genesis 14:17-20; Leviticus 27:28-34; Malachi 3:7-10; Matthew 23:23; Luke 6:38; I Corinthians 16:1-2; II Corinthians 8:1-8; 9:6-15
