Our Beliefs
The Articles of Faith for this church shall be those as expressed by the “Charter and Fundamental Articles” of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky, compiled by Doctors Boyce, Broadus, Mannly, and Williams. Additionally the Baptist Faith and Message of 2000 will also guide this church in fulfilling the great Commission.
1. The Scriptures -The Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments were given by inspiration of God and are the only sufficient, certain, and authoritative rule of all saving knowledge, faith, and obedience.
2. God -There is but one God, the Maker, Preserver, and Ruler of all things, having in and of Himself all perfection and being infinite in them all; and to Him all creatures owe the highest love, reverence, and obedience.
3. Trinity -God is revealed to us as Father, Son and Holy Spirit, each with distinct personal attributes, but without division of nature, essence, or being.
4. Providence -God, from eternity, decrees or permits all things that come to pass, and perpetually upholds, directs, and governs all creatures and all events; yet so as not in any wise to be the author or approver of sin nor to destroy the free will and responsibility of intelligent creatures.
5. Election -Election is God’s eternal choice of some persons unto everlasting life--- not because of foreseen merit in them, but of His mercy in Christ--- in consequence of which choice they are called, justified, and glorified.
6. The Fall of Man -God originally created man in His own image, free from sin; but through the temptation of satan, he transgressed the command of God and fell from his original holiness and righteousness; whereby his posterity inherit nature corrupt and wholly opposed to God and His law, are under condemnation, and as soon as they are capable of moral action, become actual transgressors.
7. The Mediator -Jesus Christ, the only begotten son of God, is the divinely appointed Mediator between God and man. Having taken upon Himself human nature, yet without sin. He perfectly fulfilled the law, suffered and died upon the cross for the salvation of sinners. He was buried and arose again the third day, and ascended to His Father, at whose right hand He ever lives to make intercession for His people. He is the only Mediator, the Prophet, the Priest, and the King of the church, and the Sovereign of the Universe.
8. Regeneration -Regeneration is a change of heart wrought by The Holy Spirit, who quickens the dead in trespasses and sins, enlightening their minds spiritually and savingly to understand the word of God and renewing their whole nature, so that they love and practice holiness. It is the work of God’s free and special grace alone.
9. Repentance -Repentance is an evangelical grace wherein a person being, by the Holy Spirit, made sensible of the manifold evil of his sin, humbles himself for it with a Godly sorrow, detestation of it, and self-abhorrence, with a purpose and endeavor to walk with God so as to please Him in all things.
10. Faith -Saving faith is the belief, on God’s authority, of whatsoever is revealed in His word concerning Christ; accepting and resting upon Him alone for justification, sanctification, and eternal life. It is wrought in the heart by the Holy Spirit and is accompanied by all other saving graces and leads to a life of holiness.
11 Justification -Justification is God’s gracious and full acquittal of sinners who believe in Christ, from all sin, through the sanctification that Christ has made; not for anything wrought in them or done by them; but on account of the obedience and satisfaction of Christ, they receiving and resting on Him and His righteousness by faith.
12. Sanctification -Those who have been regenerated are also sanctified by God’s word and Spirit dwelling in them. This sanctification is progressive through the supply of divine strength, which all saints seek to obtain; pressing after a heavenly life in cordial obedience to all of Christ’s commands.
13. Preservation of Saints -Those whom God has accepted in the beloved and sanctified by His Spirit will never totally nor finally fall away from the state of grace, but shall certainly persevere to the end; and though they may fall, through neglect and temptation, into sin, whereby they grieve the Spirit, impair their graces and comforts, bring reproach on the church and temporal judgments on themselves, yet they shall be renewed again unto repentance, and be kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation.
14. The Church -The Lord Jesus Christ Himself is the head of the church, which is composed of all His true disciples, and in Him is invested supremely all power for its government. According to His commandment, Christians are to associate themselves into particular societies or churches; and to each of these churches He has given needful authority for administering that order, discipline, and worship which He has appointed. The regular officers of a church are Bishops/Elders (Pastors) and Deacons.
15. Baptism -Baptism is an ordinance of the Lord Jesus, obligatory upon every believer wherein he is immersed in water in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, as a sign of his fellowship with the death and resurrection of Christ, of remission of sins and of his giving himself up to God, to live and walk in the newness of life. It is a prerequisite to church fellowship and to participation in the Lord’s Supper.
16. The Lord’s Supper -The Lord’s Supper is an ordinance of Jesus Christ, to be administered with the elements of bread and wine, and to be observed by His churches until the end of the world. It is in no sense a sacrifice, but is designated to commemorate His death, to confirm the faith and other graces of Christians, and to be a bond, pledge, and renewal of their communion with Him, and of their church fellowship.
17. The Lord’s Day -The Lord’s Day is a Christian institution for regular observances and should be employed in exercises of worship and spiritual devotion, both public and private, resting from worldly employments and amusements, works of necessity and mercy the only exceptions.
18. Liberty of Conscience -God alone is the Lord of the conscience; and He has left it free from the doctrines and commandments of men; which are in anything contrary to His word or not contained in it. Civil magistrates being ordained of God, subjection in all lawful things commanded by them ought to be yielded by us in the Lord, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake.
19. The Resurrection -The bodies of men, after death, return to dust; but their spirits return immediately to God, the righteous to rest with Him and the wicked to be reserved under darkness to the judgment. At the last day, the bodies of all the dead, both just and unjust, will be raised.
20. The Judgment -God has appointed a day wherein He will judge the world by Jesus Christ, when everyone shall receive according to his deeds; the wicked shall go away into everlasting punishment and the righteous into everlasting life.
(These articles of faith are taken from the “Abstract of Principles”, a part of the “Charter and Fundamental Articles” of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary)
Baptism
A person who receives Jesus Christ as Savior by personal faith; who professes Him publicly at any worship service; and who indicates a commitment to follow Christ as Lord, shall be received for Baptism.
A. Baptism shall be by immersion in water.
B. Baptism shall be administered by the pastor or whomever the church shall authorize.
C. Baptism shall be observed as an act of worship during any worship service.
The Lord’s Supper
The Lord’s Supper shall be observed by this church one Sunday of each quarter as a minimum. Apart from the regular observance, it may be observed whenever the Pastor deems the occasion of sufficient importance to ask for its observance.
A. The pastor and deacons shall be responsible for administration of the Lord’s Supper.
B. The Lord’s Supper committee will be responsible for the preparation of materials.