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(Articles of faith excerpted from the constitution and bylaws of Bible Baptist Church)
Purpose of Organization
The purpose of this church is to preach and teach the Bible, God's Holy Word.
This church, believing in the Bible as the inspired Word of God and as the SOLE authority for faith and practice declares its purpose:
a) To maintain regular services for public worship through preaching, prayer and song
b) To proclaim earnestly the Gospel message and to urge its personal acceptance
c) To promote systematic Bible study and teaching for Christian service and soul winning
d) To cooperate heartily, by prayer, giving and service, in the effort of seeing the Gospel of Jesus Christ preached throughout the world
e) To pray for one another that we may ever live according to the will of God, as revealed in His Word
f) To promote Christian friendship and fellowship
Articles of Faith
The Scriptures
We believe God, the Holy Spirit, inspired every word in the original manuscripts of the sixty-six books of the Bible. We believe that the original manuscripts were without error. We further believe that God has providentially preserved the Scriptures (Matthew 24:35) through Bible-believing Christians. We believe that the King James (A.V. 1611) Version to be the vehicle God has chosen to providentially preserve His Word without error for the English speaking people. We believe the King James Version to be the Word of God: and, as such, holds no lower place of authority than the original manuscripts. We believe the King James Version to presently be the only totally accurate translation in the English language today. We believe the Bible to be the sole authority for faith and practice, and can produce the Bible whereof we speak.
II Timothy 3:16-17; II Peter 1:20-21; Psalm 12:6-7
God
We believe that there is only one true God.
Deut.
6:4; I Corinthians 8:4; Isaiah 44:6; I Timothy 2:5
We believe that God is the
creator, sustainer and end of all things. Genesis 1:1; Colossians 1:16-17;
Revelation 4:11
We believe that God is eternal. Exodus 3:14; Isaiah 57:15
We believe that holiness is the primary attribute of God. Isaiah 6:3
We
believe that the Godhead is composed of the three persons: the Father, the Son
and the Holy Spirit. We believe these three persons are equal, eternal and of
the same essence. Genesis 1:26; II Peter 1:17; Hebrews 1:8; Acts 5:3-4
Jesus Christ
We believe that Jesus Christ was conceived of the Holy Ghost and
was the virgin-born son of Mary. Isaiah 7:14; Luke 1:35; Matthew 1:23; Isaiah
9:6
We believe that He is the God-man with the divine and human
natures inseparably united to one personality. He is, therefore, the perfect
mediator between God and man. John 1:14; Galatians 4:4; I
Timothy 2:5; I John 2:1; Romans 8:34
We believe that Jesus Christ was
sinless. I John 3:5; Hebrews 4:15; I Peter 2:22; II Corinthians 5:21
We believe that Jesus Christ gave his life for sinners willingly and
voluntarily; and that He died that we might be reconciled to God and be made
righteous in Him. John 10:17; I Peter 2:24; Roman 5:10; II
Corinthians 5:21
We believe that He ascended in Heaven and now sits on
the right hand of God the Father and intercedes for saints.
Acts 1:9; Hebrews
4:14-16; Ephesians 1:20-21; Romans 8:34
We believe Jesus Christ is
coming again physically, visibly and bodily. He will first come in the clouds to
take away the saints, and then after the tribulation He will set foot physically
on earth. I Corinthians 15:51-52; I Thessalonians 4:13-18;
Matthew 24:44; Acts 1:11; John 14:2
Holy Spirit
We believe the Holy Spirit is to reprove the
world of sin, righteousness, and of judgment. John 16:7-11
We believe the Holy Spirit is the agent of regeneration. Titus 3:5; John 3:6,8
We believe the Holy Spirit permanently indwells the believer when he accepts
Jesus Christ as his personal Saviour. Romans 8:9; I Corinthians 6:19-20
We believe the indwelling and filling of the Holy Spirit to be separate. While
indwelling is a one time event, filling can take place many times. The filling
is for power, instruction, guidance, and comfort.
Ephesians 5:18; Galatians 5:16; I Timothy 1:7; John 14:16,26 15:26; 16:12-15
Man
We believe Adam was the first man. We believe he was created by
God from the dust of the earth in the image and likeness of God. Eve was the
first woman; she was created by God from the rib taken from the side of Adam.
These were the first two human beings and they are the beginning of the human
race. Genesis 1:26-28 2:7 21-22; Luke 3:38
We
believe man was created without sin, and that he had free to obey or disobey
God's commandment not to eat of the forbidden fruit. Genesis 1:31 2:16-17
We believe that Adam freely chose to disobey God, and as a result he fell from
his sinless and happy state. Genesis 3:6-7; I Timothy 2:14
We believe that this was original sin and as a result man became a sinner by
nature. In Adam we all voluntarily chose to commit this sin; hence, we are all
guilty of that "original sin" and God has justly condemned the whole world for
it. Romans 5:12,19; I Corinthians 15:21-22
The result
of this fall is that man is absolutely unable to do anything to save himself. He
is born with a totally depraved nature that is continually inclined to sin
unless God intervenes. Ecclesiastes 7:20; Romans 3:10; Titus 3:5; Ephesians 2:8-9; Psalm 51:5
Salvation
We believe the only means of salvation in this age is by the grace of God through faith in the shed blood of Jesus Christ, that is, His substitutionary death on the cross and His resurrection. Ephesians 2:8-9; Titus 3:5; I John 5:11-12; John 3:36 5:24; I Corinthians 15:3-4
We believe the salvation of a soul consists of the following elements:
1) Realization of being lost. Luke 9:10
2) Conviction of sin by the Holy Spirit through the Word of God. John 16:8; Hebrews 4:12; Psalm 39:5; Isaiah 6:5
3) Repentance from sin and turning by faith to Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour. Acts 20:21; Luke 13:3; Ephesians 2:8-9 Romans 10:9-10
4) Regeneration or rebirth (or the second birth, the first being physical) which is the giving of new and eternal life to the repentant sinner. Titus 3:5
5) Immediate and complete justification which is the judicial declaration of eternal righteousness by God, thus removing the sinner from the condemnation of God and placing him under His approval. Romans 3:24 4:5 5:1 5:9 8:30; Galatians 2:16
6) Sanctification which is the permanent setting apart of the Christian from the world and sin, and the continual work of the Holy Spirit to conform Him to the image of God. John 17:17; I Thessalonians 5:23; Philippians 1:6; I Corinthians 1:2,30 6:11
We believe those who have been regenerated by the Holy Spirit in the age of grace are eternally secure. In other words, when one gets saved, it is forever. John 6:37 10:28-29; Romans 11:29; II Timothy 1:12
Church
We believe that Christ is the Head of the
church, His body which is made up of all regenerated persons. Colossians 1:18; I
Corinthians 12:12-14, 27; Romans 12:4-5; Ephesians 1:22-23.
We believe that the New Testament church is an organized body of
believers who are militantly endeavoring to win people to the Lord Jesus Christ.
We believe in the practice of Believer's Baptism and the Lord's Supper. Baptism
is by immersion and is a picture of the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus
Christ as well as the picture of that which has transpired in the believer's
life. The Lord's Supper is to show His death till He comes. Acts 2:41-42, 8:37b-39a; Romans 6:3-5; I Corinthians 11:26; I Peter 3:21
We believe there are two divinely appointed offices in the local
church. The pastor (bishop or elder) is the shepherd of the flock, the spiritual
and physical leader, teacher and presiding officer at the meetings of the
church. Matthew 28:19-20; Acts 20:28; I Timothy 5:7; Hebrews 13:17; I Peter 5:2-3.
The deacons are to assist the pastor in the spiritual and temporal matters (Example - Acts 6:1-7) The qualifications for pastors and deacons are found in I Timothy 3
Angels
We believe angels are created spirits. We believe
they were created before God created man. We believe there is a great multitude
of angels. Psalm 148:2a-5b; Revelation 5:11
We believe there are two classes of angels: those who have
fallen through allegiance to Satan and those who remained faithful and true to
God. Matthew 25:41; Mark 8:36b; Jude 6; Revelation 11:12
We believe that good angels stand in the presence of God and worship Him, assist and protect the individual believer according to His will, and punish God's enemies as He directs. II Kings 19:35; Psalm 91:11; Isaiah 6:3; Matthew 18:10; Acts 12:23; Hebrews 1:14.
Last Things
We believe Jesus Christ is coming again before the millennium and His coming
will take place in two parts. His first coming could be at any moment and He
will descend from Heaven in the clouds and the saved dead will rise to meet Him
in the air followed by the saved that are still living (rapture). I Corinthians 15:51-52; I Thessalonians 4:13-18.
The last part of the Second Advent will come at the end of the seven-year Great Tribulation when He will come visibly and bodily, and His feet will touch down on the Mount of Olives. Zechariah 14:4; Acts 1:11.
We believe the judgment of believer and the marriage of the Lamb will take place in Heaven during the Great Tribulation.
I Corinthians 3:13-15; II Corinthians 5:10.
We believe that when Jesus Christ comes at the end of the Great Tribulation, He will defeat the Beast and the kings of the earth. Revelation 19:11-21.
Satan will then be cast into the bottomless pit after the Beast and False Prophet are cast into the lake of fire; and Satan will be bound during the 1000 year reign of Christ on earth. Revelation 20:1-6.
At the end of the millennium Satan will be loosed for a season to deceive nations to gather many to do battle against the Lord; the Lord will defeat them and Satan will then be cast into the lake of fire where he will remain. Revelation 20:10.
After this, the White Throne Judgment will take place where the unsaved dead will appear before God at the Great White Throne, and they shall be cast into the lake of fire for eternity. Revelation 20:11-15.