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 glory to establish a supernatural kingdom on the earth.
I. OF THE TRUE GOD 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 existing eternally in the unity of the Godhead there are three Persons. God the Father, Jesus Christ the Son, and the Holy Ghost, equal in every divine perfection, and executing distinct but harmonious offices in the great work of redemption. References: Genesis 17:1 | Exodus 15:11; 20:2-3| Psalms 83:18; 147:5 | Jeremiah 10:10 | Matthew 28:19 | Mark 12:30 | John 1:1-16; 4:24; 10:30; 15:26; 17:5 | Romans 11:33 | I Corinthians 2:10-11; 8:6; 12:4-6 | II Corinthians 13:14 | Ephesians 2:18; 4:6 | Philippians 2:5-6 | I Timothy 1:17 | I John 5:7 | Revelation 4:11
II. OF THE HOLY SPIRIT 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 relationship to the unbelieving world, He restrains the evil one until God's purpose if 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 indwelling agent in the new birth; that He seals, endues, guides, teaches, witnesses, sanctifies, and helps the believer. References: Genesis 1:1-3 | Matthew 3:11; 28:19 |Mark 1:8 | Luke 1:35; 3:16; and 24:29 | John 1:33; 3:5-6; 14:16-17, and 26; 15:26-27; 16:8-11, and 13 | Acts 5:30-32; 11:16 | Romans 8:14, 16, and 26-27 | Ephesians 1:13-14 | II Thessalonians 2:7, and 13 | Hebrews 9:14 | I Peter 1:2
III. OF THE SCRIPTURES We believe that the Holy Bible was written by men supernaturally inspired by the Holy Spirit of God; 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 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 Revelation, which was originally written does not only "contain and convey" 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. References: II Timothy 3:16-17 | II Peter 1:19-21 | Acts 1:16 | Acts 28:25 | Psalms 19:160 | Psalms 119:130 | Luke 24:25-27 | John 17:17 | Luke 24:44-45 | Psalms 119:89 | Proverbs 30:5-6 | Romans 3:4 | I Peter 1:23 | Revelation 22:19 | John 12:48 | Isaiah 8:20 | Ephesians 6:17 | Romans 15:4 | Luke 16:31 | Psalms 19:7-11 | John 5:45-47 | John 5:39
IV. OF THE DEVIL OR SATAN 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 chief power back of the present apostasy, the lord of the anti-Christ, and 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. References: Isaiah 14:12-14 | Ezekiel 28:14-17 | Matthew 4:1-3 | Revelation 12:9 | Jude 6 | II Peter 2:4 | Ephesians 2:2 | John 14:30 | I Thessalonians 3:5 | I Peter 5:8 | I John 3:8 | Matthew 13:39 | Luke 22:3-4 | Revelation 12:10 | II Corinthians 11:13-15 | Mark 13:21-22 | I John 4:3 | II John 7 | I John 2:22 | Revelation 13:13-14 | II Thessalonians 2:8-11 | Revelation 19:11,16, and 20 | Revelation 12:7-9 | Revelation 20:1-3 | Revelation 20:10 | Matthew 25:41
V. OF CREATION 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 that God's established law was that they should bring forth only "after their kind." References: Genesis 1:1, 11, 24, 26-27 | Genesis 2:21-23 | Exodus 20:11 | Jeremiah 10:12 | Nehemiah 9:6 | John 1:3 | Acts 4:24 | Acts 17:23-26 | Romans 1:20 | Colossians 1:16-17 | Hebrews 11:3 | Revelation 10:6
VI. OF THE FALL OF MAN 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. References: Genesis 3:1-6, 24 | Ezekiel 18:19-20 | Romans 1:18 | Romans 1:20 | Romans 1:28 | Romans 1:32 | Romans 3:10-19 | Romans 5:12 | Romans 5:19 | Galatians 3:22 | Ephesians 2:1-3
VII. OF THE VIRGIN BIRTH We believe that Jesus Christ was begotten of the Holy Ghost in a miraculous manner; born of Mary, a virgin, as no other person was ever born or can ever be born of woman, and that He is both the Son of God, and God the Son. References: Genesis 3:15 | Isaiah. 7:14 | Psalms 2:7 | Matthew 1:18-25 | Mark 1:1 | Luke 1:35 | John 1:14 | I Corinthians 15:47 | Galatians 4:4 | I John 5:20
VIII. OF THE ATONEMENT FOR SIN We believe that the salvation of sinners is wholly of grace; through the mediatorial office of God the Son, 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 tenderness sympathies with divine perfection, He is, in every way, qualified to be a suitable and compassionate and an all-sufficient Savior. References: Isaiah 53:4-7, 53: 11-12 | Matthew 18:11 | John 3:16 | John 10:18 | Acts 15:11 | Romans 3:24-25 | I Corinthians 15:3,20 | II Corinthians 5:21 | Galatians 14 | Ephesians 2:8 Philippians 2:7-8 | Hebrews 2:14 | Hebrews 7:25 | Hebrews 9:12-15 | Hebrews 12:2 | I Peter 2:24 | I Peter 3:18 | I John 2: 2 | I John 4:10
IX. THE RESURRECTION AND ASCENSION OF CHRIST We believe that Jesus Christ died on the cross, and that three days later, He arose literally and bodily from the dead; that He was first seen of Mary and the other women, then of Peter and the other disciples, then finally, of above 500 brethren; that His resurrected body was changed, but could be felt and handled, and that it still bore the nail-prints in his hands and the spear-print in His side; that after walking for a time on this earth, Christ, in the presence of witnesses, ascended to Heaven where He is now seated at the right hand of the throne of God making intercession for us. References: Mark 16:9 | Matthew 28:9 | I Corinthians 15:5-7 | Luke 24:15-31 | John 20:19,24,26-28 | John 21:1-24 | Matthew 28:16-17 | Hebrews 7:25
X. OF GRACE IN THE NEW BIRTH We believe that in order to be saved, sinners must be born again; that the new birth is a new creation in Christ Jesus; that it is instantaneous and not a process; that in the new birth, the one dead in trespasses and sins is made a partaker of the divine nature and receives eternal life, the Free gift of God; that the new creation 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. References: Luke 5:27 | John 1:12-13 | John 3:3-7 | Acts 2:41 | Romans 6:23 | II Corinthians 5:17-19 | Galatians 5:22 | Ephesians 2:1 | Ephesians 5:9 | Colossians 2:13 | II Peter 1:4 | I John 5:1
XI. OF THE FREENESS OF SALVATION We believe in God's infinite grace; that the blessings of salvation are made free to all by the Gospel; that those who believe are elect according to the foreknowledge of God. Nothing prevents the salvation of any sinner on earth but his own inherent depravity and the voluntary rejection of the gospel; which rejection condemns him to an eternity in Hell separate from God. References: Isaiah. 55:1-7 | Matthew11:28 | John 3:15-18, 36 | John 5:40 | John 6:37 | Acts 2:38 | Romans 8:29-30 | Romans 10:13 | I Corinthians 15:10 | Ephesians 2:4-5 | Colossians 3:12 | I Thessalonians 1:3 | I Timothy 1:15 | Titus 1:15 | I Peter 1:2 | I John 2:2 | Revelation 22:17
XII. OF JUSTIFICATION We believe that the great Gospel blessing which Christ bestows on them who put their faith and trust in Him is Justification; that it is bestowed not in consideration of any works of righteousness which we have done; but that solely through faith in the Redeemer's blood, His righteousness is imputed unto us. References: Isaiah 53:11 | Habakkuk 2:4 | Zechariah 13:1 | Acts 13:39 | Romans 1:17 | Romans 4:1-8 | Romans 5:1,9 | Romans 8:1 | Galatians 3:11 | Titus 3:5-7 | Hebrews 10:38
XIII. OF REPENTANCE AND FAITH We believe that repentance and faith are the essential elements to the new birth; that they are produced in our souls by the quickening Spirit of God; thereby, being deeply convicted of our guilt, danger, and helplessness, and the way of salvation by Christ, we turn to God in contrition and supplication for mercy, at the same time heartily receiving the Lord Jesus Christ and openly confessing Him as our only and all-sufficient Savior. References: Psalms 51:4-7 | Isaiah. 55:6-7 | Mark 1:15 | Luke 12:8 | Luke 18:13 | Acts 2:37-38 | Acts 20:21 | Romans 10:9-13
XIV. OF THE CHURCH We believe that a New Testament Baptist church is a visible, local, organized congregation of baptized believers, united together by a covenant of faith and fellowship of the Gospel; said church being the organization instituted by God for the propagation of the Gospel; observing the ordinances of Christ, governed by His Word; exercising the gifts, rights, and privileges specified therein; that its officers will be a pastor and deacons, whose qualifications 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 individual disciples, and baptize them; Second, to build up the believers; 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 individuals or organizations; and that the one and only superintendent is Christ through the Holy Spirit; That it is scriptural for churches of like faith and practice to cooperate with each other in contending for the faith and for the furtherance of the Gospel; that every church is the sole judge of the measure and method of its cooperation; and that on all matters of membership, policy, government, discipline, and of benevolence, the will of the local church is final. References: Matthew 28:19-20 | Acts 2:41-42 | Acts 6:5-6 | Acts 14:23 | Acts 15:22-23 | Acts 20:17-28 | I Corinthians 5:11-13 | I Corinthians 6:1-3 | I Corinthians 11:2 | I Corinthians 12:4,8-11 | I Corinthians 161-2 | II Corinthians 8:23-24 | Ephesians 1:22-23 | Ephesians 4:11 | Ephesians 5:23-24 | Colossians 1:18 | I Timothy 3:1-13 | I Peter 5:1-4 | Jude 3-4
XV. OF BAPTISM AND THE LORD'S SUPPER We believe that scriptural Christian baptism is the immersion in water of a believer in the Name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, performed only under the authority of the local church; to show forth in solemn and beautiful symbol our faith in the crucifixion, the burial, and the resurrection of our Savior; symbolic also of our death to sin and resurrection to a new life; that it is pre-requisite to the privileges of church membership and to participation in the Lord's Supper, in which the members of the local church, by the sacred use of unleavened bread and the unfermented fruit of the vine commemorate together the death of our Lord; this ordinance always to be preceded by solemn self-examination. References: Matthew 3:6 | Matthew 28:19-20 | John 3:23 | Acts 2:41-42 | Acts 8:36-39 | Romans 6:3-5 | I Corinthians 11:23-28 | Colossians 2:12
XVI. OF THE ETERNAL SECURITY OF BELIEVERS We believe that the saved are kept by the power of God; that through the all sufficiency of Christ's shed blood, and the "sealing" of the Holy Spirit, we are preserved and sealed unto the day of redemption; that we are seated and positioned in the "heavens" with Christ eternally; that we are not kept by our own power, but are placed and kept in the hand of God by His power. References: Ephesians 1:13-14 | Ephesians 4:30 | Ecclesiastes 3:14 | John 1:12-13 | John 5:24 | John 10:27-30 | John 6:37-39 | Romans 8:35-39 | Romans 6:14-16 | Hebrews 6:4-6 | Hebrews 9:25-28 | Hebrews 9:12-14 | Hebrews 13:15 | Hebrews 10:10-14 | Colossians 3:3 | II Timothy 1:7-12 | I Timothy 1:15 | I Peter 1:3-5 | Jude 24 I John 1:9
XVII. THE ETERNAL STATE OF BELIEVERS We believe that God has prepared a place called Heaven for all those who have been born again; that this is a place of such beauty that eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither has entered into the heart of man of its splendor; there we will be with our Lord and our loved ones for eternity. God will wipe all tears from our eyes; there will be neither death nor sorrow; crying nor pain; there will be no sin, nor anything that defiles in this place. References: II Samuel 12:21-23 | Isaiah. 64:4 | Luke 23:42-43 | John 14:1-3 | I Corinthians 2:9 | II Corinthians 5:8 | Revelation 21:1-4, 10-27
XVIII. THE ETERNAL STATE OF UNBELIEVERS We believe that God has prepared a place called Hell for the devil and his angels; that is a place of unquenchable fire and eternal punishment and separation from God; that its inhabitants will be tormented day and night forever and ever; that Hell enlarges itself to make room for the souls of the unrepentant; that the inhabitants thereof are present there by personal choice and against the will of God, Who is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. References: Isaiah. 5:14 | Isaiah. 14:9 | Matthew 25:41 | Mark 9:42-48 | Luke 16:19-31 | Revelation 14:9-11 | Revelation 19:19-20
XIX. THE RAPTURE OF THE CHURCH We believe since God has not appointed us to wrath, that before the seven years of tribulation which will come upon this earth, we the believers, will be taken up into Heaven; that of that day and hour no man knoweth, but God only; that the day will so come as a thief in the night; that at the last trump we shall all be changed; the dead in Christ shall rise first, then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air; that we are to watch and be ready, for we know not what hour our Lord doth come. References: Matthew 24:36-44 | Luke 17:34-36 | I Thessalonians 4:13-18 | I Thessalonians 5:1-6 | I Thessalonians 5:9 | I Corinthians 15:51-52 | Revelation 4:1-2
XX. THE SECOND COMING OF CHRIST We believe in the literal, bodily, and visible return of Christ, that he will come again in like manner as He ascended into Heaven; that He will come to execute judgment on this wicked earth; that He will make a new heaven and a new earth, and that we will rule and reign with Him for one thousand years; that after this time. Satan will be loosed for a season to deceive the nations, then he will be finally defeated and thrown into the lake of fire; that we will finally live with Christ forever in Heaven. References: Acts 1:9-12 | Jude 14-15 | Revelation 21:1 | Revelation 20:4 | Revelation 20:7-10 | Revelation 21:3-5 | Revelation 22:1,20
XXI. OF TITHING AND GIVING We believe that the tithe belongs to the Lord, and that we are commanded to bring all the tithes into the storehouse, which is the local church; that the tithe along with offerings, is God's only plan for financing the local church; that the tithe represents one-tenth of everything a person earns, and the offering is an amount above, and given in addition to the tithe; that Christ also taught that it is right to tithe; that the tithe was instituted before the law when Abraham gave tithes to Melchizedek; that God blesses the tither financially by opening the windows of Heaven and pouring out a blessing that there shall not be room enough to receive it. Christ said, "Give and it shall be given unto you, good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over will men give into your bosom." References: Genesis 14:18-20 | Leviticus 27:30 | Malachi 3:10 | Matthew 23:23 | I Corinthians 16:2 II Corinthians 9:7
XXII. OF MISSIONS We believe that the command to give the Gospel to the world is clear and unmistakable and that this Commission was given to the churches; that for a church to be considered a real New Testament church, it must be active in mission giving. References: Matthew 28:18-20 | Mark 16:15 | John 20:21 | Acts 1:8 | Romans 10:13-15 | II Corinthians 8:7
