A
Baptist is one who believes in a supernatural Bible, which tells of a supernatural Christ,
Who had a supernatural birth, Who spoke supernatural words, Who performed supernatural miracles,
Who lived a supernatural life, Who died a supernatural death, Who rose in supernatural splendor,
Who intercedes as a supernatural priest, and Who will one day return in supernatural glory to
establish a supernatural kingdom on the earth.
We believe that the
Holy Bible was written by men supernaturally inspired; that it has truth
without any admixture of error for its matter; and therefore is, and shall remain to the end
of the age, the only complete and final revelation of the will of God to man, the true center
of the Christian union and the supreme standard by which all human conduct, creeds and opinions
should be tried.
- A. By "The Holy Bible" we mean that collection of sixty-six books from Genesis to The
Revelation, which does not only contain the Word of God, but IS the very Word of God.
- B. By "Inspiration" we mean that the books of the Bible were written by holy men of old,
as they were moved by the Holy Spirit, in such a definite way that their writings were
supernaturally and verbally inspired and free from error, as no other writings have ever
been or ever will be inspired.
-
C. We further believe that God, through the Holy Spirit, has committed Himself to the
divine and providential preservation in English of the "pure words" of God.
(Psalm 12:6,7;
119:89;
Proverbs 30:5.)
We further believe that the
King James Bible published
in 1611 is that providentially preserved Word of God to the exclusion of all other English
versions. (
II Timothy 3:16-17;
II Peter 1:19-21;
Psalm 119:89,
140,
160.)
6 The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.
7 Thou shalt keep them, O LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this generation forever.
89 Forever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven.
5 Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him.
16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
17 That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.
19 We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take
heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:
20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the Scripture is of any
private interpretation.
21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of
God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.
140 Thy word is very pure: therefore thy servant loveth it. -
160 Thy word is true from the beginning: and every one of thy righteous judgments endureth forever. -
We believe that there is one, and only one, living and true God, an infinite intelligent
Spirit, the maker and supreme ruler of heaven and earth, inexpressibly glorious in holiness
and worthy of all possible honor, confidence and love; that in the unity of the Godhead
there are three persons"the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost" equal in every divine
perfection and executing distinct but harmonious offices in the great work of redemption.
(
Exodus 20:2-3;
Genesis 17:1;
Revelation 4:11;
Colossians 2:9;
Philippians 2:5-6;
I John 5:7.)
2 I am the LORD thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt,
out of the house of bondage.
3 Thou shalt have no other gods before me.
1 And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the LORD appeared to Abram, and
said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect.
11 Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and
honor and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are
and were created.
9 For in him dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily.
5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
7 For there are three that bear record in heaven,
the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.
We believe that the Holy Spirit is a divine person, equal with God the Father and God the
Son and of the same nature; that He was active in the creation; that in His relation to the
unbelieving world He restrains the Evil One until God's purpose is fulfilled; that He convicts
of sin, of judgment and of righteousness; that He bears witness to the truth of the Gospel
in preaching and testimony; that He is the agent in the New Birth; that He seals, endues,
guides, teaches, witnesses, sanctifies and helps the believer. (
Genesis 1:2;
Matthew 28:19;
John 3:5-6;
14:16-17,
26.)
2 And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was
upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.
19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the
name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a
man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which
is born of the Spirit is spirit.
16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another
Comforter, that he may abide with you forever;
17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world
cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he
dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.
26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the
Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your
remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
We believe that Satan was once holy, and enjoyed heavenly honors, but through pride and
ambition to be as the Almighty, fell and drew after him a host of angels; that he is now
the malignant prince of the power of the air, and the unholy god of this world. We hold
him to be man's great tempter, the enemy of God and his Christ, the accuser of the saints,
the author of all false religions, the author of all the powers of darkness�destined, however,
to final defeat at the hands of God's own Son and to the judgment of an eternal justice in hell,
a place prepared for him and his angels. (
Isaiah 14:12-15;
Revelation 12:9;
I Peter 5:8;
II Corinthians 4:4;
11:13-15;
Ezekiel 28:14-17.)
12 How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the
morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!
13 For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I
will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the
congregation, in the sides of the north:
14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like
the most High.
15 Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit.
9 And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent,
called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the
earth, and his angels were cast out with him.
8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil,
as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds
of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the
image of God, should shine unto them.
13 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers,
transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.
14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an
angel of light.
15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers
also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according
to their works.
14 Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have
set thee so: thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the
midst of the stones of fire.
15 Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast
created, till iniquity was found in thee.
16 By the multitude of thy merchandise they have
filled the midst of thee with violence, and thou hast sinned: therefore I will cast thee
as profane out of the mountain of God: and I will destroy thee, O covering cherub, from
the midst of the stones of fire.
17 Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty, thou
hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness: I will cast thee to the ground,
I will lay thee before kings, that they may behold thee.
We believe in the Genesis account of creation, and that it is to be accepted literally, and
not allegorically or figuratively; that man was created directly in God's own image and after
His own likeness; that man's creation was not a matter of evolution or evolutionary change of
species, or development through interminable periods of time from lower to higher forms; that
all animal and vegetable life was made directly and God's established law was that they should
bring forth only "after their kind." (
Genesis 1:1,
24,
26,
27;
Colossians 1:16-17;
Hebrews 1:1-3;
John 1:1-3.)
1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.
24 And God said, Let the earth bring forth the living creature after
his kind, cattle, and creeping thing, and beast of the earth after his kind: and it was so.
26 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our
likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the
air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that
creepeth upon the earth.
27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of
God created he him; male and female created he them.
16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven,
and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or
principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:
17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.
1 God who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in
time past unto the fathers by the prophets,
2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his
Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;
3 Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express
image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he
had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God,
and the Word was God.
2 The same was in the beginning with God.
3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any
thing made that was made.
We believe that man was created in innocence under the law of his Maker, but by voluntary
transgression fell from his sinless and happy state, in consequence of which all mankind are
now sinners, not by constraint but of choice; and therefore, under just condemnation without
defense or excuse. (
Genesis 3:1-6,
Genesis 3:24;
Romans 3:10-19;
5:12;
Ephesians 2:1-3.)
1 Now the serpent was more subtle than any beast of the field
which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat
of every tree of the garden?
2 And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of
the trees of the garden:
3 But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden,
God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die.
4 And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die:
5 For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof,
then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.
6 And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and
that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took
of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.
24 So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the
garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the
tree of life.
10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and
with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
11 For the Scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
12 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the
same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.
13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed?
and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear
without a preacher?
15 And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written,
How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings
of good things!
16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah saith, Lord,
who hath believed our report?
17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
18 But I say, Have they not heard? Yes verily, their sound went into
all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world.
19 But I say, Did not Israel know? First Moses saith, I will
provoke you to jealousy by them that are no people, and by a foolish nation I will anger you.
12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world,
and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:
1 And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins
2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world,
according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children
of disobedience:
3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the
lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature
the children of wrath, even as others.
We believe that Jesus Christ was begotten of the Holy Ghost, in a miraculous manner; born of
Mary, a virgin, as no other man was ever born or can ever be born of woman; and that He is
both the Son of God, and God, the Son. (
Genesis 3:15;
Isaiah 7:14;
Matthew 1:18-25.)
15 And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and
between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his
heel.
14 Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign;
Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.
18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as
his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child
of the Holy Ghost.
19 Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to
make her a public example, was minded to put her away privily.
20 But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of
the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take
unto thee Mary thy wife; for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.
21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name
JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.
22 Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was
spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying,
23 Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a
son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.
24 Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord
had bidden him, and took unto him his wife:
25 And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son:
and he called his name JESUS.
We believe that the salvation of sinners is wholly of grace through the mediatorial offices
of the Son of God, who by appointment of the Father, freely took upon Him our nature, yet
without sin, honored the divine law by His personal obedience, and by His death made a full
and vicarious atonement for our sins; that His atonement consisted not in setting us an example
by His death as a martyr but was the voluntary substitution of Himself in the sinner's place,
the Just dying for the unjust, Christ the Lord, bearing our sins in His own body on the tree;
that having risen from the dead, He is now enthroned in heaven and uniting in His wonderful
person the tenderest sympathies with divine perfection. He is in every way qualified to be a
suitable, and compassionate, and an all-sufficient Saviour. (
Ephesians 2:8;
Romans 3:24;
John 3:16;
Philippians 2:7;
II Corinthians 5:21;
Hebrews 1:1-3.)
2 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of
yourselves: it is the gift of God:
3 Being justified freely by his grace through the
redemption that is in Christ Jesus:
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only
begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting
life
7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon
him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew
no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
1 God who at sundry times and in divers manners
spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,
2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath
appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;
3 Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express
image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he
had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on
high;
We believe that in order to be saved, sinners must be born again; that the new birth is a
miraculous transaction whereby the sinner becomes a new creature in Christ Jesus; that it
is instantaneous and not a process; that in the new birth the one dead in trespasses and
in sins is made a partaker of the divine nature and receives eternal life, the free gift
of God; that the new birth is brought about in a manner above our comprehension, not by
culture, not by character, nor by the will of man, but wholly and solely by the power of
the Holy Spirit in connection with divine truth, so as to secure our voluntary obedience
to the gospel; that its proper evidence appears in the holy fruits of repentance and faith
and newness of life. (
John 3:3-5;
II Corinthians 5:14-18;
Colossians 2:12-13;
John 1:11-13.)
3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I
say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
4 Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when
he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?
5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except
a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
14 For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we
thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead:
15 And that he died for all, that they which live should not
henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.
16 Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though
we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more.
17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things
are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself
by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;
12 Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen
with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.
13 And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your
flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;
11 He came unto his own, and his own received him not.
12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become
the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the
flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
We believe in the Freeness of God's grace; that the blessings of salvation are made free
to all by the gospel; that it is the immediate duty of all to accept them by a cordial,
penitent and obedient faith; and nothing prevents the salvation of the greatest sinner on
earth but his own inherent depravity and willful rejection of the gospel, which rejection
involves him in an aggravated condemnation. (
I Thessalonians 1:4;
Colossians 3:12;
Romans 8:29;
John 3:15-16,
18,
36;
Revelation 22:17;
Isaiah 55:1-3.)
4 Knowing, brethren beloved, your election of God.
12 Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and
beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;
29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to
be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.
15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have
eternal life.
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever
believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth
not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten
Son of God.
36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that
believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.
17 And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that
heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the
water of life freely.
1 Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and
he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money
and without price.
2 Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your
labor for that which satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is
good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness.
3 Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall
live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David.
We believe that Repentance and Faith are solemn obligations and also inseparable graces,
wrought in our souls by the quickening Spirit of God; that they occur when we willfully
and knowingly turn from our sin and by faith receive the Lord Jesus Christ as Saviour and
Lord. (
Acts 2:37-38;
20:21;
Romans 10:9-13;
II Corinthians 7:10.)
37 Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart,
and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?
38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of
you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift
of the Holy Ghost.
21 And how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you,
but have showed you, and have taught you publicly, and from house to house,
9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus,
and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with
the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
11 For the Scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
12 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for
the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.
13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
10 For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not
to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.
We believe that a Baptist Church is a congregation of baptized believers associated by
a covenant of faith and fellowship of the gospel, said church being understood to be the
"pillar and ground of the truth," observing the ordinances of Christ, governed by His
laws, and exercising the gifts, rights, and privileges invested in them by His Work;
that its officers are pastors or elders and deacons whose qualifications, claims, and
duties are clearly defined in the Scriptures. We believe the true mission of the church
is found in the Great Commission: First, to make indiv idual disciples; Second, to build
up the church; Third, to teach and instruct as He has commanded. We hold that the local
church has the absolute right of self-government, free from the interference of any
hierarchy of indiv iduals or organizations; and that the one and only leader is Christ
through the Holy Spirit; that it is scriptural for true churches to cooperate with each
other in contending for the faith and for the furtherance of the Gospel; that every church
is the sole and only judge of the measure and method of its cooperation; and that on all
matters of membership, of policy, of government ,of discipline, of benevolence the will
of the local church is final. (
Acts 2:41;
5:42;
18:8;
I Timothy 3:1-13;
3:15;
Ephesians 4:11-12.)
41 Then they that gladly received his word were baptized:
and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.
42 And daily in the temple, and in every house, they
ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.
8 And Crispus, the chief ruler of the synagogue, believed
on the Lord with all his house; and many of the Corinthians hearing believed, and were
baptized.
1 This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of
a bishop, he desireth a good work.
2 A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife,
vigilant, sober, of good behavior, given to hospitality, apt to teach;
3 Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre;
but patient, not a brawler, not covetous;
4 One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in
subjection with all gravity;
5 (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall
he take care of the church of God?)
6 Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into
the condemnation of the devil.
7 Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without;
lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.
8 Likewise must the deacons be grave, not doubletongued, not
given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre;
9 Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience.
10 And let these also first be proved; then let them use the
office of a deacon, being found blameless.
11 Even so must their wives be grave, not slanderers, sober,
faithful in all things.
12 Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their
children and their own houses well.
13 For they that have used the office of a deacon well purchase
to themselves a good degree, and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.
15 But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to
behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and
ground of the truth.
11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some,
evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work
of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
We believe that Christian baptism is the immersion in water of a believer, in the name
of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, to show forth in a solemn and beautiful
emblem our faith in the crucified, buried and risen Saviour; that it pictures our death
to sin and resurrection to a new life and is the obedient submission of the child of God
and does not constitute, in part or in whole, salvation or redemption; that it is
prerequisite to the privileges of a church relationship and to the Lord's Supper, in
which the members of the church, by the sacred use of unleavened bread and the unfermented
fruit of the vine, are to commemorate together the undying love of Christ, preceded always
by solemn self-examination. (
Acts 8:36-39;
Matthew 3:6,
16;
28:19;
John 3:23;
I Corinthians 11:23-28.)
36 And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain
water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?
37 And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart,
thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.
38 And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went
down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.
39 And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of
the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way
rejoicing.
6 And were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their
sins.
16 And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway
out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of
God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him:
19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing
them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
23 And John also was baptizing in Aenon near to Salim,
because there was much water there: and they came, and were baptized.
23 For I have received of the Lord that which also I
delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread:
24 And when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said,
Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me.
25 After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped,
saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in
remembrance of me.
26 For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do
show the Lord's death till he come.
27 Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup
of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord.
28 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread,
and drink of that cup.
We believe that those who are born again become "new creatures in Christ Jesus" and because
of the "operation made without hands," are eternally secure in the Grace of God and have been
given eternal salvation. We believe that they are forever sealed and shall never "come into
condemnation;" that their grand attachment to Christ is the mark which distinguishes them
from superficial professors; that a special Providence watches over their welfare; and that
they are kept by the power of God through faith unto eternal salvation. (
II Corinthians 5:17;
Colossians 2:11, 12;
Romans 8:35-39;
John 10:27-29;
Romans 8:1;
I Peter 1:3-5.)
17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new
creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
11 In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision
made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the
circumcision of Christ:
12 Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with
him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the
dead.
35 Who shall separate us from the love of
Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or
nakedness, or peril, or sword?
36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all
the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.
37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors
through him that loved us.
38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life,
nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able
to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them,
and they follow me:
28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither
shall any man pluck them out of my hand.
29 My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to
pluck them out of my Father's hand.
1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which
are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus
Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively
hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
4 To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth
not away, reserved in heaven for you,
5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation
ready to be revealed in the last time.
We believe that there is a radical and essential difference between the righteous and the
wicked; that such only as through faith are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and
sanctified by the Spirit of our God are truly righteous in His esteem; while all such as
continue in impenitence and unbelief are in His sight wicked, and under the curse, and this
distinction holds among men both in and after death, in the everlasting joy of the saved in
heaven and the everlasting conscious suffering of the lost in hell. (
I Peter 1:18-19;
Romans 1:17;
6:23;
Luke 16:25;
Revelation 20:15;
II Corinthians 5:1-8;
Matthew 7:13-14;
I John 5:12.)
18 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with
corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition
from your fathers;
19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish
and without spot:
17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from
faith to faith: as it is written. The just shall live by faith.
23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is
eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
25 But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy
lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is
comforted, and thou art tormented.
15 But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy
lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is
comforted, and thou art tormented.
1 For we know that if our earthly house of this
tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, a house not made with hands,
eternal in the heavens.
2 For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed
upon with our house which is from heaven:
3 If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked.
4 For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened:
not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed
up of life.
5 Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God,
who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit.
6 Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we
are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord:
7 (For we walk by faith, not by sight:)
8 We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from
the body, and to be present with the Lord.
13 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the
gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which
go in thereat:
14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth
unto life, and few there be that find it.
12 He that hath the Son hath life: and he that
hath not the Son of God hath not life.
We believe that civil government is of divine appointment, for the interests and good order
of human society; that magistrates are to be prayed for, conscientiously honored and obeyed,
except only in things opposed to the will of our Lord Jesus Christ, Who is the only Lord of
the conscience and the coming Prince of the Kings of the earth. (
Romans 13:1;
I Peter 2:13;
14,
17;
Philippians 2:10-11;
Luke 20:22-25.)
1 Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there
is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.
13 Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the
Lord's sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme;
14 Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him
for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well.
17 Honor all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God.
Honor the king.
10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;
11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus
Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
22 Is it lawful for us to give tribute unto Caesar,
or no?
23 But he perceived their craftiness, and said unto them, Why tempt ye me?
24 Show me a penny. Whose image and superscription hath it? They
answered and said, Caesar's.
25 And he said unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things
which be Caesar's and unto God the things which be God's.
We believe in and accept the sacred Scriptures upon these subjects at their face and full
value. Of the Resurrection we believe that Christ rose bodily the third day according to
the Scriptures; that He alone is our "merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining
to God;" and "that this same Jesus which is taken up from you into Heaven shall so come in
like manner as ye have seen Him go into heaven" bodily, personally and visibly; that the
"dead in Christ shall rise first;" "that the living saints" shall all be changed in a moment,
"in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump;" "that the Lord God shall give unto Him the
throne of His Father David;" and that "Christ shall reign a thousand years in righteousness
until He hath put all enemies under His feet." We are therefore pre-millennial, and
pre-tribulational as it pertains to the return of Christ. (
Matthew 28:1-7;
I Corinthians 15;
I Thessalonians 4:13-17;
Revelation 19:11-16;
20:1-6;
Acts 1:3,
11.)
1 In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first
day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulcher.
2 And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the
Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it.
3 His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow:
4 And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men.
5 And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I
know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified.
6 He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place
where the Lord lay.
7 And go quickly, and tell his disciples that he is risen from the
dead; and, behold, he goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see him: lo, I have told you.
1 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;
2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.
3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures;
4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the Scriptures:
5 And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve:
6 After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep.
7 After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles.
8 And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time.
9 For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.
10 But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.
11 Therefore whether it were I or they, so we preach, and so ye believed.
12 Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead?
13 But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen:
14 And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain.
15 Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not.
16 For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised:
17 And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.
18 Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished.
19 If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.
20 But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.
21 For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead.
22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.
23 But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming.
24 Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power.
25 For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet.
26 The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.
27 For he hath put all things under his feet. But when he saith all things are put under him, it is manifest that he is excepted, which did put all things under him.
28 And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all.
29 Else what shall they do which are baptized for the dead, if the dead rise not at all? why are they then baptized for the dead?
30 And why stand we in jeopardy every hour?
31 I protest by your rejoicing which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily.
32 If after the manner of men I have fought with beasts at Ephesus, what advantageth it me, if the dead rise not? let us eat and drink; for tomorrow we die.
33 Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.
34 Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame.
35 But some man will say, How are the dead raised up? and with what body do they come?
36 Thou fool, that which thou sowest is not quickened, except it die:
37 And that which thou sowest, thou sowest not that body that shall be, but bare grain, it may chance of wheat, or of some other grain:
38 But God giveth it a body as it hath pleased him, and to every seed his own body.
39 All flesh is not the same flesh: but there is one kind of flesh of men, another flesh of beasts, another of fishes, and another of birds.
40 There are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial: but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another.
41 There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one star differeth from another star in glory.
42 So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption:
43 It is sown in dishonor; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power:
44 It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.
45 And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.
46 Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual.
47 The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven.
48 As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly.
49 And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.
50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.
51 Behold, I show you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.
55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?
56 The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.
57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.
13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them
which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.
14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also
which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are
alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.
16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with
the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with
them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
11 And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat
upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.
12 His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns;
and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself.
13 And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is
called The Word of God.
14 And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses,
clothed in fine linen, white and clean.
15 And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should
smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress
of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.
16 And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING
OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.
1 And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless
pit and a great chain in his hand.
2 And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil,
and Satan, and bound him a thousand years,
3 And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal
upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled:
and after that he must be loosed a little season.
4 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto
them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the
word of God, and which had not worshiped the beast, neither his image, neither had received
his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a
thousand years.
5 But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years
were finished. This is the first resurrection.
6 Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection:
on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and
shall reign with him a thousand years.
1 To whom also he showed himself alive after his passion by many
infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining
to the kingdom of God:
11 Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up
into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in
like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.
The command to give the gospel to the world is clear and unmistakable, and this Commission
was given to the churches. (
Matthew 28:18-20;
Mark 16:15;
John 20:21;
Romans 10:13-15.)
18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto
me in heaven and in earth.
19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name
of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded
you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the
gospel to every creature.
21 Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father
hath sent me, even so send I you.
13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and
how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a
preacher?
15 And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written,
How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings
of good things!
Scriptural giving is one of the fundamentals of the faith. (
II Corinthians 8:1-7.)
We are commanded to bring our gifts into the storehouse (common treasury of the church) upon
the first day of the week. (
I Corinthians 16:2;
Acts 4:34,
35,
37.)
Under grace we give, and do not pay, the tithe. (
Hebrews 7:2,
4;
Leviticus 27:30;
Malachi 3:10.)
1 Moreover, brethren, we do you to wit of the grace of God bestowed
on the churches of Macedonia;
2 How that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy
and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality.
3 For to their power, I bear record, yea, and beyond their power they
were willing of themselves;
4 Praying us with much entreaty that we would receive the gift, and
take upon us the fellowship of the ministering to the saints.
5 And this they did, not as we hoped, but first gave their own selves
to the Lord, and unto us by the will of God.
6 Insomuch that we desired Titus, that as he had begun, so he would
also finish in you the same grace also.
7 Therefore, as ye abound in every thing, in faith, and utterance, and
knowledge, and in all diligence, and in your love to us, see that ye abound in this grace also.
2 Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him
in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come.
34 Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as
were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the
things that were sold,
35 And laid them down at the apostles' feet: and distribution
was made unto every man according as he had need.
37 Having land, sold it, and brought the money, and
laid it at the apostles' feet.
2 To whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all; first
being by interpretation King of righteousness, and after that also King of Salem,
which is, King of peace;
4 Now consider how great this man was, unto whom even the
patriarch Abraham gave the tenth of the spoils.
30 And all the tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the
land, or of the fruit of the tree, is the LORD's: it is holy unto the LORD.
10 Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there
may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I
will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall
not be room enough to receive it.