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WHAT WE BELIEVE
- A Bible 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 power, Who ascended 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.
Articles Of Faith
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Of The Scriptures
- 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
conduct, creeds, and opinions should be tried.
- 1. By "The Holy Bible" we mean that collection of sixty-six
books, from Genesis to Revelation, which, as originally written does
not only contain and convey the Word of God, but IS the very Word of
God.
- 2. 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.
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Psalm 19:7-11; 119:89,105,130,160; Proverbs 30:5-6; Isaiah 8:20;
Luke 16:31; 24:25-27,44-45; John 5:39,45-47; 12:48; 17:17; Acts 1:16;
28:25; Romans 3:4; 15:4; Ephesians 6:17; 2Timothy 3:16-17; 1Peter
1:23; 2Peter 1:19-21; Revelation 22:19
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- 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 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.
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Genesis 17:1; Exodus 20:2-3; 15:11; Psalm 83:18; 90:2; 147:5;
Jeremiah 10:10; Matthew 28:19; Mark 12:30; John 4:24; 10:30; 15:26;
17:5; Acts 5:3-4; Romans 11:23; 1Corinthians 12:10-11; 8:6; 12:4-6;
2Corinthians 13:14; Ephesians 2:18; 4:6; Philippians 2:5-6; 1Timothy
1:17; 1John 5:7; Revelation 4:11
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- 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 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.
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Genesis 1:13; Matthew 3:11; 28:19; Mark 1:8; Luke 1:35; 3:16;
24:49; John 1:33; 3:5-6; 14:16-17,26; 15:26-27; 16:8-11,13; Acts
5:30-32; 11:16; Romans 8:14,16,26-27; Ephesians 1:13-14;
2Thessalonians 2:7,13; Hebrews 9:14; 1Peter 1:2
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- 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 antichrist, 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.
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Isaiah 14:12-15; Ezekiel 28:14-17; Matthew 4:1-3; 13:25; 25:41;
27:39; Mark 13:21-22; Luke 22:3-4; John 14:30; Ephesians 2:2;
2Corinthians 11:13-15; 1Thessalonians 3:5; 2Thessalonians 2:8-11;
1Peter 5:8; 2Peter 2:4; 1John 2:22; 3:8; 4:3; 2John 7; Jude 6;
Revelation 12:7-10; 13:13-14; 19:11,16,20; 20:1-3,10
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- Of The 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 God's established law was that they should
bring forth only "after their kind."
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Genesis 1:1,11,24,26-27; 2:21-23; Exodus 20:11; Nehemiah 9:6;
Jeremiah 10:12; John 1:3; Acts 4:24; 17:23-26; Romans 1:20;
Colossians 1:16-17; Hebrews 11:3; Revelation 10:6
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- 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.
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Genesis 3:1-6,24; Ezekiel 18:19-20; Romans 1:18,20,28,32;
3:10-19; 5:12,19; Galatians 3:22; Ephesians 2:1,3
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- 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 man was ever
born or can ever be born of a woman, and that He is both the Son of
God, and God, the Son.
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Genesis 3:15; Psalm 2:7; Isaiah 7:14; Matthews 1:18-25; Mark
1:1; Luke 1:35; John 1:14; Galatians 4:4; 1Corinthians 15:47; 1John
5:20
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- Of The Atonement For Sin
- 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, a compassionate and an all sufficient Savior.
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Isaiah 53:4-7,11-12; Matthew 18:11; John 3:16; 10:18; Acts
15:11; Romans 3:24-25; Galatians 1:4; Ephesians 2:8; Philippians
2:7-8; Hebrews 2:14; 7:25; 9:12-15; 12:2
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- Of Grace In The New Creation
- 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 in 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.
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Luke 5:27; John 1:12-13; 3:3,6-7; Acts 2:41; Romans 6:23;
2Corinthians 5:17,19; Galatians 5:22; Ephesians 2:1; 5:9;
Colossians 2:13; 1John 5:1
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- Of The Freeness Of Salvation
- 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
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.
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Isaiah 55:1; Matthew 11:28; John 3:15-18,36; 5:40; 6:37; Acts
2:38; Romans 8:29-30; 10:13; 1Corinthians 15:10; Ephesians 2:4-5;
Colossians 3:12; 1Thessalonians 1:4; 1Timothy 1:15; Titus 1:1;
1Peter 1:2; Revelation 22:17
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- Of Justification
- We believe that the great gospel blessing which Christ secures to
such as believe in Him is Justification; that Justification includes
the pardon of sin, and the gift of eternal life on principles of
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, His righteousness is imputed unto us.
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Isaiah 53:11; Habakkuk 2:4; Zechariah 13:1; Acts 13:39; Romans
1:17; 4:1; 5:1-9; 8:1; Galatians 3:11; Titus 3:5-7; Hebrews 10:38
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- Of Repentance And Faith
- 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.
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Psalm 51:1-4,7; Isaiah 55:6-7; Mark 1:15; Luke 12:8; 18:13; Acts
2:37-38; 20:21; Romans 10:9-11,13
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- Of The Church
- 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 citadel and propagator
of the Divine and Eternal Grace; observing the ordinances of Christ;
governed by His laws; exercising the gifts, rights, and privileges
invested in them by His Word; that its officers of ordination are
pastors or elders 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 up 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 organizations; 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; that
every church is the sole and only judge of the measure and method of
its cooperation; on all matters of membership, of policy, of
government, of discipline, of benevolence, the will of the local
church is final.
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Leviticus 27:31; Malachi 3:10; Matthew 28:19-20; Acts 2:41-42;
6:5-6; 14:23; 15:22-23; 20:17-28; 1Corinthians 5:11-13; 6:1-3;
11:2; 12:4,8-11; 16:1-2; Ephesians 1:22-23; 4:11; 5:23-24;
Colossians 1:18; 1Timothy 3:1-13
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- Of Baptism And The Lord's
Supper
- 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 in a
solemn and beautiful emblem our faith in the crucified, buried and
risen Savior, with its effect in our death to sin and resurrection to
a new life; that it is prerequisite to the privileges of a church
relation and to the Lord's supper, in which the members of the
church, by the sacred use of bread and the fruit of the vine are to
commemorate together the dying love of Christ; preceded always by
solemn self-examination.
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Matthew 3:6; 3:16; 28:19-20; John 3:23; Acts 2:41-42; 8:36-39;
Romans 6:3-5; 1Corinthians 11:23-28; Colossians 2:12
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- Of The Perseverance Of The
Saints
- We believe that such only are real believers as endure unto the
end; that their persevering attachment to Christ is the grand 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.
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Psalm 121:3; Matthew 6:20; 13:19-21; John 8:31-32; 10:28-29;
16:8; Romans 8:28,35-39; Philippians 1:6; Colossians 1:21-23;
Hebrews 1:14; 1Peter 1:5; 1John 2:19
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- Of The Righteous And The
Wicked
- 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 felicity of the saved and the
everlasting conscious suffering of the lost.
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Genesis 18:23; Proverbs 11:31; 14:32; Malachi 3:18; Matthew
7:13-14; 25:34; Luke 9:26; 16:25; John 8:21; 12:25; Acts 10:34-35;
Romans 1:17; 6:16-18,23; 7:6; 1Corinthians 15:22; Galatians 3:10;
1Peter 4:18; 1John 2:7,29; 5:19
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- Of 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 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.
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Exodus 18:21-22; 2Samuel 23:3; Psalm 72:11; Daniel 3:17-18;
Matthew 10:28; 22:21; 23:10; Acts 4:19-20; 23:5; Romans 13:7;
Philippians 2:10-11; Titus 3:1; 1Peter 2:13-14,17
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- Of The Resurrection And
Return Of Christ And Related Events
- 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 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"; "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."
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Psalm 72:8; Isaiah 11:4-5; Matthew 24:27,42; Matthew 28:6-7;
Mark 16:6,19; Luke 1:32; Luke 24:2,4-6,39,51; John 14:3; John
20:27; Acts 1:9,11; 1Corinthians 15:4; Philippians 4:20;
1Thessalonians 4:16; 1Timothy 2:5; Hebrews 2:17; 5:9; 8:1; 9:28;
12:2
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- Of Missions
- The command to give the gospel to the world is clear and
unmistakable and this Commission was given to the churches.
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Matthew 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."
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Mark 16:15, "And he said unto them, Go ye into all the
world and preach the gospel to every creature."
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John 20:21, "As my Father hath sent me, even so send I
you."
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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."
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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!"
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- Of The Grace Of Giving
- Scriptural giving is one of the fundamentals of the Faith.
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2Corinthians 8:7, "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."
- We are commanded to bring our gifts into the storehouse (common
treasury of the church) upon the first day of the week.
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1Corinthians 16:2, "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."
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Under Grace we give, and do not pay, the tithe - "Abraham
GAVE the tenth of the spoils," - Hebrews 7:2,4 - and this was
four hundred years before the law, and is confirmed in the new
Testament; Jesus said concerning the tithe, "these ought ye to
have done", Matthew 23:23.
- We are commanded to bring the tithe into the common treasury of the
church.
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Leviticus 27:30, "The tithe ... is the Lord's."
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Malachi 3:10, "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."
- In the New Testament it was the common treasury of the church.
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Acts 4:34,35,37, "And brought the prices of the things that
were sold and laid them down at the apostles' feet ... Having land,
sold it, and brought the money, and laid it AT THE APOSTLES'
FEET."
Source: BBFI Handbook
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