Bible Baptist Church
Statement of Faith
1- THE SCRIPTURES
We believe the Holy Bible, as originally written, was verbally inspired and the product of Spirit-filled men and has been divinely preserved to date in the Authorised Version of 1611, and therefore, is the truth without any admixture of error for its matter. We believe the Bible to be the true centre of Christian union and the supreme standard by which all human conduct, creeds, and opinions shall be tried. We believe the Bible to have only one interpretation which may be revealed to any believer by the Holy Spirit.
A- By “The Holy Bible”, we mean that collection of sixty-six books, from Genesis to Revelation, which as written and preserved in the Authorized Version of 1611, does not only contain and convey the Word of God but IS the 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 preserved, free from error, as no other writings have ever been or ever will be. II Tim 3:16-17 II Pet 1:19-21 John 17:17 Psalm 12:6-7
C- Whereas there are a number of other versions of the Bible in circulation, all of which are not reliable due to their omission of words and their being translated from corrupt manuscripts, we consider it, therefore, a necessity and privilege to use only the King James Version AV-1611 in our pulpit and in our classrooms. Deut 4:2 Prov 30:5-6 Rev 22:18-19
2- THE TRUE GOD
We believe that there is one, and only one, living and true God, an infinite, intelligent Spirit, the Creator 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 Ghost or Spirit---equal in every divine perfection, and executing distinct but harmonious offices in the great work of redemption. Isa 44:6 Isa 57:15 I Cor 8:6 Rev 4:11 I John 5:7
3- THE HOLY SPIRIT
We believe that the Holy Spirit is equal with God the Father and God the Son and of the same nature; that He was active in the creation; that He convicts of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment; that He bears witness to the truth of the Gospel (death, burial, and resurrection-I Cor 15:1-4) in our preaching and testimony; that He is the agent of the New Birth; that He seals, fills, leads, intercedes, teaches, witnesses, sanctifies and comforts the believer. I Cor 3:17 John 14:16-17 Heb 9:14 John 14:16, 26 John 16:13-14 Luke 1:35 John 1:12-13 Gen 1:1-3 John 16:8-11 Acts 5:30-32 John 3:5-8 Eph 1:13-14 John 1:33 I Cor 12:13 I Cor 5:1-4
4- JESUS CHRIST
We believe that Jesus Christ was begotten by the Holy Ghost in a miraculous manner; born of Mary, a virgin; and that He is both completely man and completely God. He was subject to temptation, yet was without ANY sin. He is the Messiah for Israel, the Saviour of the world, the ONLY way any man can come to God the Father for forgiveness of sins and everlasting life. He is to be worshipped and glorified as the LORD. Isa 7:14 Isa 9:6-7 Luke 1:31-35 Matt 4:1-11 Heb 4:15 I Pet 2:22 John 4:42 John 14:6 John 20:28 Luke 24:52 John 16:14 Phil 2:9-11
5- SATAN OR THE DEVIL
We believe he was created perfect, as a Cherub called Lucifer, in the original creation, and because of pride, rebelled against GOD and became the author of sin. After the creation of heaven and earth, he appeared to Eve in the garden of Eden and tempted her to wilfully disobey God’s command, resulting in the sin of Adam, thus the fall of man. We believe he was then cursed, to be henceforth referred to as a serpent, or the dragon. Now as a great red dragon he abides in the great deep and as the devil he appears on earth and in heaven as the god of this world to fulfil the ultimate will of God in judging, killing, deceiving, hindering, tempting, and accusing. During the fulfilment of Daniel’s 70th Week, or the Great Tribulation, he will come down to earth to indwell the antichrist. After the antichrist is destroyed, he will be chained in the bottomless pit for 1,000 years, at the end of which he will be loosed to assemble an army of sinners for his last attempt to overthrow God. He and his army will be destroyed, and he will be cast into the lake of fire forever. Ezk 28:12-19 Isa 14:12-15 II Pet 3:3-7 Gen 1:1-3, 28 II Cor 11:14 Gen 3:1-6, 14-19 Rom 5:12 Rev 12:3, 9 Job 41:31-34 Job 1:6-12 Job 2:1-7 II Cor 4:3-4 Jer 51:20-25 John 8:44 I Thess 2:18 II Thess 2:3-9 Rev 19:11-20 Rev 20:1-10
6- THE CREATION
We believe the Genesis account of creation as being neither allegory nor myth, but a literal, historical account of the direct, immediate creative acts of God in the person of Jesus Christ without any evolutionary process; that man made up of spirit, soul, and body, was created by a direct work of God and not from previously existing forms of life; and that all men are descended from the historical Adam and Eve, first parents of the entire human race. Gen 1 & 2 Col1:16-17 Matt 19:4 John 1:3
7- THE FALL OF MAN
We believe that man was created in a state of innocence as a free moral agent under the law of his Maker; but by voluntary transgression, Adam fell from his sinless and happy state, as a result of which all men are totally depraved (excluding the will), are partakers of Adam’s fallen nature, and are sinners by nature and by conduct; and therefore, are under just condemnation without defence or excuse. Gen 2:17 Gen 3:1-6 Psalm 51:5 Rom 3:10-19 Rom 5:12, 19 Ezra 7:13
8- CHRIST’S ATONEMENT
We believe that the salvation of sinners is wholly of grace; through the mediatorial offices of the Son of God, who by the appointment of the Father, freely took upon Him a body of flesh, yet without sin, honoured the divine law by His personal obedience, and made a full and vicarious atonement for our sins by His death, which reconciles the sinner to God; that His atonement consisted not in setting us an example by His death as a martyr, but was voluntary substitution of Himself in the sinner’s place, the shedding of blood, the just dying for the unjust; Christ, the Lord, bearing our sins in His own body on the tree; that having risen bodily from the dead, He is now seated at the right hand of God in heaven, and uniting in His wonderful person the tenderest sympathies with divine perfection. He is in every way qualified to be s suitable, compassionate and all-sufficient Saviour and only High Priest for the believer. We believe this atonement is not limited but effectual to any sinner accepting it by faith. We believe this atonement is eternal and therefore, covers all sins, past, present, and future of the redeemed. Therefore, any individual under this atonement is eternally saved from eternal condemnation because of the atonement of Jesus Christ. Eph 2:8 Acts 15:11 Rom 3:24-26 Col 1:14 John 3:16 II Cor 5:18-21 Phil 2:7 Heb 2:14 Isa 53:4-7 I John 4:10 I Cor 15:3-4 II Cor 5:21 I Tim 2:5 I John 2:2 Heb 9:14 John 5:24 Rom 5:8-11
9- THE NEW BIRTH
We believe that the new birth (being born again) is the regenerative act of the Holy Spirit upon a sinner (for all have sinned) when he repents (turns from) whatsoever he is trusting to save his soul from Hell and an eternal Lake of fire and believes the Gospel according to the Scriptures (1 Cor 15: 1-4) receiving The Lord Jesus Christ as his personal Saviour. As a result of the new birth the sinner is made a new creature in Christ Jesus, partaking of the divine nature and receiving eternal life as a free gift of God. Regeneration of the spirit, resulting in the'' new man'' and consequently partaking of the divine nature in the spirit is brought about in a manner which is above comprehension, solely by the power of the Holy Spirit in connection with Divine truth.. John 3:3, 6-8 II Cor 5:17 I John 12-13 I Cor 4:15 I John 5:1 I Pet 1:23 II Pet 1:4 Rom 6:23 Eph 2:1 Col 2:13 Eph 2:15 Eph 4:24 Titus 3:5
10- JUSTIFICATION
We believe that justification is the judicial act of God whereby He declares us to be just and righteous through faith in Christ Jesus; that justification includes the pardon of sin and the imputation of God’s righteousness; that it is bestowed, not in consideration of any works of righteousness which we have done, but solely through faith in the Redeemer’s blood. Acts 13:39 Isa 53:11 II Cor 5:18-21 Rom 3:24-28 Rom 5:1, 9
11- SALVATION
We believe that the salvation of a soul requires a belief in God; repentance toward God (convinced that he is lost without hope and justly facing an eternity in Hell and a Lake of fire) and faith toward the Lord Jesus Christ, believing that he alone plus nothing else can save them. We believe that this salvation is thereafter permanent and eternal to the believer. Heb 11:6 Acts 20:21 II Cor 7:9-10 I Thess 1:9 Acts 16:31 John 3:16 Eph 1:13 Eph 4:30
12- SANCTIFICATION
We believe that sanctification is the divine setting apart of the believer unto God accomplished in a threefold manner; first, an eternal act of God, based upon redemption in Christ, establishing the believer’s spirit, or “new man” in a position of holiness at the moment he trusts the Saviour; second, a continuing process in the soul of the saint as the Holy Spirit applies the Word of God to the inner man, third; the final accomplishment of this process at the Lord’s return when the body, or old man, will then be changed and transformed in to a perfect, sinless body in the image of Christ. I Cor 6:11 Heb 10:10-14 I John 3:9 Eph 4:24 John 17:17 II Cor 3:18 II Cor 4:16 I Cor 1:30 Eph 5:25-26 I Thess 4:3-4 I Thess 5:23-24 Phil 3:21 I Cor 15:51-54 I Thess 4:13-17 Rom 8:29 I John 3:2
13- ADOPTION
We believe that adoption is the gracious act whereby the Father, for the sake of Christ, places new believers into the honoured position of sons, in contrast with regeneration whereby the believer receives the nature of God and becomes a child of God. The full benefit of the position accorded by adoption as the sons of God awaits the glorification of the believer at the coming of the Lord and the redemption of the body. Eph 1:5 Gal 4:1-7 Eph 1:13-14 I John 3:1-2 Rom 8:15, 23
14- THE CHURCH
We believe in the unity of all true believers in the Church which is the Body of Christ, that He began to build after the death of the Lord Jesus Christ on the cross of Calvary (Acts 2:47 Acts 8:1,3 Gal 1:13 Heb 9:15-17), and will complete at the pre-tribulation rapture (I Thess 4:16-17), and into which all true believers of the present age are baptized immediately by the Holy Spirit (I Cor 12:12-13 Eph 4:5)
We believe that this Church is manifested through the local church which is a congregation of immersed believers associated by covenant of faith and fellowship of the Gospel; observing the ordinances of Christ; governed by His laws in accordance with the Pauline revelation, exercising the gifts, rights, and privileges invested in them by His Word; and that its officers are pastors (also called elders) and deacons, whose qualifications, claims and duties are clearly defined in the Scripture. We believe the true mission of the church is for the edification, perfection, exhortation and comfort of its members in spiritual matters; the faithful witnessing of Christ to all men as we have opportunity. We hold that the local church has the absolute right of self-government free from the interference of any hierarchy of individuals; that the one and only head and overseer of the local church is the God-called and Spirit-filled pastor, just as Jesus Christ is the Head and Chief Shepherd over the entire church; that it is scriptural for true churches to fellowship with each other in contending for the faith and for the furtherance of the Gospel; that each local church is the sole judge of the measure and method of its fellowship; and that all matters of membership, of policy, of government, of discipline, of benevolence, the will of the local church is final. Eph 1:10, 22-23 Eph 3:1-6 Gal 3:26-28 I Cor 12:12-13 Acts 1:5 Acts 2:4, 41, 47 I Cor 11:2 Titus 1:5-7 Eph 4:11-16 Acts 20:17-28 I Tim 3:1-7 I Pet 5:1-4 Heb 13:7, 17 Col 1:18 Eph 5:23-24 Acts 15:13-18
15- CHURCH ORDINANCES, BAPTISM, AND THE LORD’S SUPPER
We believe that Christian baptism is the immersion of the believer in water, under the authority of the local church, to show forth in a like figure our submission to the faith in the crucified, buried and risen Saviour, through Whom we died to sin and rose to a new life; that this baptism is to be administered by the under shepherd or pastor, or whomsoever is appointed, baptism is necessary in the life of any believer; that baptism is a prerequisite to the privileges of church membership. The church shall receive for baptism any person who has received Jesus Christ as Saviour by personal faith, who professes Him publicly at any worship service, and who indicates a commitment to follow Christ as Lord. We believe that the Lord’s Supper should be open to all believers and is the commemoration of His death until He comes, and should be preceded always by serious self-examination and confession. Acts 8:36-39 Rom 6:3-5 I Pet 3:21 I Tim 1:1, 6 Acts 9:18 I Cor 9:25 I Cor 10:1-2 I Cor 11:23-32 Matt 28:19-20
16- CIVIL GOVERNMENT
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 honoured and obeyed, except in things opposed to the will of our Lord Jesus Christ, who is the only Lord of the conscience and the coming King of kings. Rom 13:1-7 I Pet 2:13-16 I Tim 2:1-2 Matt 22:21 Acts 5:29 Acts 4:19-20
17- SPIRITUAL GIFTS, MIRACLES, SIGNS AND WONDERS
We believe the gifts of the Spirit in I Cor 12 are given today for the ministry to all parts of the body of Christ with the exception of those gifts which are specifically called “signs”. Those gifts which are signs, wonders, or miracles were given by the Spirit during the beginning of the church in the book of Acts for these purposes: (1) to identify an “apostle” (2) to get the Jews to listen to the Gospel or to believe a new revelation (3) to confirm the Word or Scripture that was being spoken by the apostles, but not yet written form as we have the Scriptures today. Since there are NO apostles present today, the Gospel ministry is almost totally to the Gentile and as we have a complete Bible, we reject “speaking in tongues”, “supernatural healing” as found in the apostolic ministry (we believe God heals today in accordance with His Word and divine will through faith and confession) and any other “sign or wonder” as heresy and “lying signs and wonders” produced by Satanic power in these last days to deceive the whole world. I Cor 12:1-11 Mark 16:16-18 Acts 2:4, 5, 43 Acts 3:7, 12 Acts 5:12 II Cor 12:12 I Cor 1:21-22 I Cor 14:21-22 Mark 16:20 Heb 2:3-4 James 5:14-16 I Cor 11:30-32 II Thess 2:8-9 I Tim 4:1-2 Matt 24:5, 11, 24
18- ISRAEL
We believe in the selection of Israel as God’s eternal covenant people, that she is now dispersed because of her disobedience and rejection of Christ, and that she is being regathered to Palestine and after the rapture of the Church, will be saved as a nation at the second advent of Christ. Gen 13:14-17 Rom 11:1-32 Ezk 37
19- THE RESURRECTIONS, JUDGMENTS, PRE-MILLENNIAL RETURN OF JESUS CHRIST AND RELATED EVENTS
A- We believe in the bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ. Matt 28:6-7 Luke 24:39 John 20:27 I Cor 15:4 Mark 16:6 Luke 24:2-6
B- The ascension of Jesus Christ. Acts 1:9-11 Luke 24:51 Mark 16:19
C- The imminent pre-tribulation resurrection of all born again believers at the end of this dispensation. Phil 3:20 I Thess 1:10 I Thess 5:6, 11 Titus 2:13 Rev 4:1 I Thess 4:13-17 I Cor 15:51-53
D- The judgment seat of Christ after the rapture of the Church, before the throne of God where the believer’s works and motives for service will be tested by fire, with the promise of literal rewards and inheritance during the millennial reign. Rom 14:10 II Cor 5:10 II Tim 4:1 I Cor 4:5 I Cor 3:9-15 Col3:23-24 II Tim 2:10-12 Luke 19:11-26
E- The future conclusion of Daniel’s 70th week, called the Great Tribulation, determined on the nation of Israel, involving the coming world church, a one-world
government both of which will be dominated by the Anti-Christ. Dan 9:24-27 Matt 24:4-26 Rev 6-19
F- The personal visible return of Jesus Christ to this earth to destroy the Anti-Christ and all his enemies at Armageddon and the judgment of the nations and then to
establish the 1000 year reign with the Jew in Palestine as the head of the nations, the earth regenerated, and Himself the king of the earth ruling with a rod of iron on the throne of David in Jerusalem. Rev 19:11-21 Acts 1:10-11 Rev 16:12-16 Matt 25:31-46 Rev 20:1-6 Rom 11:25-27 Deut 28:13 Matt 19:28 Isa 11:1-10 Isa 9:6-7 Luke 1:32-33 Isa 24:23
G- The Last Judgment, or Great White Throne Judgment, involving all the extent or degree of their damnation and eternal destruction in the Lake of Fire. Rev 20:11-15 Rev 20:5-6 Matt 23:14 Rev 14:10-11 Rev 21:8
H- The New Heavens and Earth, eternal bliss and life of believers of all dispensations. Rev 21:1-22 Psalm 16:11 John 3:16