What We Believe

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 Christian union and the supreme standard by which all human creeds, conducts and opinions should be tried.

We believe that there is one, and only one, living and true God, and 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 the great work of redemption.

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, witnesses, sanctifies, and helps the believer.

We believe in the Genesis account of creation, and that it is to be accepted literally, and not 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."

We believe in one God made of three distinct persons. (The Father, The Son, & The Holy Spirit) We believe that all three persons of God have existed throughout time and history. (Gen 1:26) God the Father did not later create The Son or The Spirit, they simply coexist in a perfect Trinity.

We believe in God's electing 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 that nothing prevents the salvation of the greatest sinner on earth but his own inherent depravity and voluntary rejection of the gospel, which rejection involves him in an aggravated condemnation.

We believe that Repentance and Faith are solemn obligations, and also inseparable graces, wrought in our souls by the quickening Spirit of God; thereby, being deeply convicted of our guilt, danger, and helplessness, and of the way of salvation by Christ, we turn to God with unfeigned contrition, confession, 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.

We believe that a church of Christ is a congregation of baptized believers associated by a covenant of faith and fellowship of the gospel; observing the ordinances of Christ; governed by His laws; and exercising the gifts, rights, and privileges invested in them by His Word; that its officers of ordination 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 individual disciples; second, to build the church; third, to teach and instruct as He has commanded. We do not believe in the reversal of this order. We hold that the local church has the Absolute right of self-government, free from the interference of any Hierarchy of individuals or organization; and that the one and only superintendent 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; sending and support of missionaries, schools, and colleges, the care of the widows and orphans; that every church is the sole and only judge of the measure and method of its cooperation; on all matters of membership, of polity, of government, of discipline, of benevolence, the will of the local church is final. We further believe that the True Baptist Church is the Bride of Christ, and to the church was given the responsibility of these various activities.

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, with the authority of the local church, to show forth a solemn and beautiful emblem of our faith in the crucified, buried, and risen Saviour, with its effect in our death to sin and resurrection to a new life; that it is pre-requisite 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 unleavened fruit of the vine, are to commemorate together the dying love of Christ, preceded always by solemn self-examination.

We believe in the resurrection and return of Christ and related events, 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 ascended, "to the right hand of the throne of God"; that He alone is our "merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God"; 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"; and that "Christ shall reign a thousand years in righteousness until He hath put all enemies under His feet."

We are Independent Baptist, and believe the command to give the gospel to the world is clear and unmistakable and this commission was given to the churches.
 
Matt. 28:18-20, "And Jesus came and spake unto them saying, all power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost; Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen."
 
Mark 16:15, "And he said unto them, go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature."
 
John 20:21, "As my Father hath sent me, even so send I you."
Acts 1:8, "But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you; and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth."
 
Romans 10:13-15, "For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. 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? 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!"
 
Acts 13:1-4, "Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers; as Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me
Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them. And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away. So they, being sent forth by the Holy Ghost, departed unto Seleucia; and from thence they sailed to Cyprus."