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INTRODUCTION:  This statement of faith and doctrine is not exhaustive in content, but does state forth the basic tenets of Bible-believing Baptist theology as we understand it.  No one shall be allowed to teach contrary to these doctrines.  Any officer or staff member of the church who willfully and publicly denies or violates these teachings and beliefs will have to tender his resignation if requested by the Pastor, since such denials or violations would be damaging to the faith, practice, testimony and unity of the church body, and would constitute a breach of leadership duties.



I.  THE BIBLE.  We believe the Bible to be the literal Word of God, inspired by God word for word, preserved to all generations, infallible, inerrant, and authoritative in it’s entire content.  It‘s principles shall be the sole authority for the faith and practice of our church, and although some of it’s members may wander from it at times due to human frailty and human weakness, it shall remain the standard for our behavior, and binding upon all members with respect to the church order, discipline, and doctrine. (Matthew 4:4;  Psalm 12:6-7; Psalm 119:89;  II Timothy 3:16-17;  Isaiah. 8:20).



II.  GOD.   There is only one true and living God, existing in three persons, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.  He is all powerful, all knowing and wise, all present at all times, and eternal in existence.  He alone shall be worshipped, and prayer shall be offered to no other. He is a jealous God, forbidding graven images (statues) to be bowed before or honor bestowed upon them. (Ex. 20:4-5;  Deut. 6:4-5;  Isa. 44:6;  I John 5:7;  I John 3:20; Jer. 32:17).



III.  JESUS CHRIST.  Jesus Christ is the Almighty God, manifest in the flesh, and is the Creator of all things.  He is virgin born, sinless, eternal, and physically and bodily rose from the dead after his crucifixion.  He is coming again in the clouds to rule and reign bodily on the earth for one thousand years. He alone is a mediator between God and men.  (Col. 1:14-16;  Heb. 4:15; Rev. 20:6;  Isa. 7:14; Rev. 1:7; John 2:19-21;  I Timothy 2:5).



IV.  THE HOLY SPIRIT.  He is the third person of the Godhead possessing all the attributes of deity.  He indwells the believer and shall keep him saved and secure until the day of his death.  We believe in the perseverance of the saints (eternal security) through His power.  (I John 5:17; I Cor. 6:19; Jude 1:24; II Cor. 1:22).



V.  THE SINFULNESS OF MAN.  All men are sinners, and no man shall ever live completely above and without sin until he receives his glorified body in heaven.  We have all inherited a fallen nature from Adam as a result of the fall of man, and therefore all become guilty before God upon reaching the age of accountability. (Romans 3:10, 12, 23;  Romans 3:19; Romans 13:14, I Cor. 15:22).



VI.  SALVATION AND BAPTISM.  Salvation is provided by the grace of God, appropriated by faith in the shed blood of Jesus Christ, without any works, merit, or payment from man, and because of the substitutionary atoning death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.  Salvation is extended to all men by God’s grace, and no man is predestined to Hell except by the foreknowledge of God who knows which men will reject Christ, but only go there by a voluntary and willful choice.  Salvation takes place prior to baptism, and is only symbolized by immersion in water.  Salvation is instantaneous not progressive or gradual. (Eph. 2:8-9, John 3:16; Eph. 1:7; Titus 2:11; Acts 4:12).



VII.  HEAVEN.  Heaven is a literal and physical place reserved for those who received Christ as their personal Savior. (John 14:1-3; Acts 1:10; Rev. 20:11-15).



VIII.  HELL.  Hell is a literal place of literal fire and brimstone reserved for all who die in their sins without Christ.  It is inescapable and those that go there suffer eternally.  Those who die without Christ go directly to Hell.  We do not believe in the doctrine of purgatory, limbo, nor the suffering of infants in such places. (Rev. 20:14-15; Matt. 5:29; Rev. 14:10-11; Luke 16:22-31).



IX.  HUMAN SEXUALITY.  We believe that God has commanded that no intimate sexual activity should be engaged in outside of a marriage between a man and woman.  Therefore, we also believe that any form of homosexuality, lesbianism, fornication, incest, adultery, and viewing pornography are sinful perversions of God’s sacred gift of intimate relations between husband and wife, and therefore corrupt the heart and mind of all who do them. However we believe that such individuals should be treated charitably and equally, being permitted to attend the church services so long as they remain orderly, in order that they may learn repentance.  (Gen. 2:24; Lev. 18:1-30; Romans 1:26-29; I Cor. 5:1; I Cor. 6:9; I Thes. 4:1-8).



X.  ABORTION.  We believe that human life begins at conception and that the unborn child is a living human being.  Abortion is murder, and we believe any teachings that abortions of pregnancies are justified due to rape, incest, birth defects, gender selection, population control, or the mental well being of the mother is contrary to the sanctity of human life beliefs and the sovereign power of God.  We believe that unwanted babies should be carried until birth, made possible by prayer and the power of the grace of God, and then if still unwanted, placed in the care of adoption parents.  (Job 3:16; Psalms 51:5; 139:14-16; Isa. 44:24; 49:1,5; Jer. 1:5; 20:15-18; Luke 1:44).



XI.  LAWSUITS BETWEEN BELIEVERS.  We believe that Christians should not bring civil lawsuits against other Christians or the church in public courts in order to resolve personal disputes.  We believe the Church possesses all the resources necessary to resolve personal disputes between members through church mediators and courts.  We do believe, however, that a Christian may seek compensation for injuries or loss from another Christian’s insurance company in a public court as long as the claim is pursued without malice. ( I Cor. 6:1-8: Eph. 4:31-32).



XII.  CIVIL GOVERNMENT.  We believe that God has created and ordained all authority consisting of three basic institutions:  1) The home;  2) The Church;  3) The Civil Government (the state).  Every person is to be in subjection to these authorities, and is answerable to God for any breach of this duty.  We believe the home, the Church and the state are equal and sovereign in their respective Biblical assignments and responsibilities. We also believe that God has given to these institutions a balance of power such that none of these institutions has a right to infringe upon the other’s duty, as given by the Word of God. (Romans 13:1-7;  Eph. 5:22-24;  Heb. 13:17;  I Peter 2:13-14).



XIII.  SOULWINNING.  We believe that it is our right and our obligation to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ according to the commands of the Bible, and to do so door to door, house to house, person to person, as God leads us, according to our faith and practice. We believe the state has no right to infringe upon this duty if it is being carried out in an orderly and respectful manner.  (Acts 20:20; Acts 5:27-29, 42; Mark 16:15).