An Independent Baptist is one who believes in a supernaturalBible, which tells of a supernatural Christ, Who had a supernaturalbirth, Who spoke supernatural words, Who performed supernaturalmiracles, Who lived a supernatural life, Who died a supernaturaldeath, Who rose in supernatural power, Who ascended in supernaturalsplendor, Who intercedes as a supernatural priest and Who willone day return in supernatural glory to establish a supernaturalkingdom on the earth.

Articles Of Faith

• Click on your choice:

  Of the Scriptures Of the True God Of the Holy Spirit Of the Devil, or Satan Of the Creation Of the Fall of Man Of the Virgin Birth Of the Atonement for Sin Of Grace in the New Creation Of the Freeness of Salvation

  Of Justification Of Repentance and Faith Of the Church Of Baptism and the Lord's Supper Of the Perseverance of the Saints Of the Righteous and the Wicked Of Civil Government Of the Resurrection, Return of Christ & Related Events Of Missions Of the Grace of Giving

Of The Scriptures

We believe that the Holy Bible was written by men supernaturallyinspired; that it has truth without any admixture of error forits matter; and therefore is, and shall remain to the end of theage, the only complete and final revelation of the will of Godto man; the true center of Christian union and the supreme standardby which all human conduct, creeds, and opinions should be tried.

1. By "The Holy Bible" we mean that collection ofsixty-six books, from Genesis to Revelation, which, as originallywritten does not only contain and convey the Word of God, butIS the very Word of God.

2. By "inspiration" we mean that the books of theBible were written by holy men of old, as they were moved by theHoly Spirit, in such a definite way that their writings were supernaturallyand verbally inspired and free from error, as no other writingshave ever been or ever will be inspired.

Psalm 19:7-11; 119:89,105,130,160; Proverbs 30:5-6; Isaiah8:20; 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

Return to Menu

Of The True God

We believe that there is one, and only one, living and trueGod, an infinite, intelligent Spirit, the maker and supreme rulerof heaven and earth; inexpressibly glorious in holiness and worthyof all possible honor, confidence and love; that in the unityof the Godhead there are three persons, the Father, the Son andthe Holy Ghost, equal in every divine perfection, and executingdistinct but harmonious offices in the great work of redemption.

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; 1Timothy1:17; 1John 5:7; Revelation 4:11

Return to Menu

Of The Holy Spirit

We believe that the Holy Spirit is a divine person; equalwith God the Father and God the Son and of the same nature; thatHe was active in the creation; that in His relation to the unbelievingworld He restrains the evil one until God's purpose is fulfilled;that He convicts of sin, of judgment and of righteousness; thatHe 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.

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; Acts5:30-32; 11:16; Romans 8:14,16,26-27; Ephesians 1:13-14; 2Thessalonians2:7,13; Hebrews 9:14; 1Peter 1:2

Return to Menu

Of The Devil, Or Satan

We believe that Satan was once holy, and enjoyed heavenlyhonors; but through pride and ambition to be as the Almighty,fell and drew after him a host of angels; that he is now the malignantprince 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 HisChrist, the accuser of the saints, the author of all false religions,the chief power back of the present apostasy; the lord of theantichrist, and the author of all the powers of darkness - destinedhowever to final defeat at the hands of God's own Son, and tothe judgment of an eternal justice in hell, a place prepared forhim and his angels.

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

Return to Menu

Of The Creation

We believe in the Genesis account of creation, and that itis to be accepted literally, and not allegorically or figuratively;that man was created directly in God's own image and after Hisown likeness; that man's creation was not a matter of evolutionor evolutionary change of species, or development through interminableperiods of time from lower to higher forms; that all animal andvegetable life was made directly and God's established law wasthat they should bring forth only "after their kind."

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; Colossians1:16-17; Hebrews 11:3; Revelation 10:6

Return to Menu

Of The Fall Of Man

We believe that man was created in innocence under the lawof his Maker, but by voluntary transgression fell from his sinlessand happy state, in consequence of which all mankind are now sinners,not by constraint, but of choice; and therefore under just condemnationwithout defense or excuse.

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

Return to Menu

Of The Virgin Birth

We believe that Jesus Christ was begotten of the Holy Ghostin a miraculous manner; born of Mary, a virgin, as no other manwas ever born or can ever be born of a woman, and that He is boththe Son of God, and God, the Son.

Genesis 3:15; Psalm 2:7; Isaiah 7:14; Matthews 1:18-25; Mark1:1; Luke 1:35; John 1:14; Galatians 4:4; 1Corinthians 15:47;1John 5:20

Return to Menu

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 appointmentof the Father, freely took upon Him our nature, yet without sin,honored the divine law by His personal obedience, and by His deathmade a full and vicarious atonement for our sins; that His atonementconsisted not in setting us an example by His death as a martyr,but was the voluntary substitution of Himself in the sinner'splace, the Just dying for the unjust, Christ, the Lord, bearingour sins in His own body on the tree; that, having risen fromthe dead, He is now enthroned in heaven and uniting in His wonderfulperson the tenderest sympathies with divine perfection, He isin every way qualified to be a suitable, a compassionate and anall sufficient Savior.

Isaiah 53:4-7,11-12; Matthew 18:11; John 3:16; 10:18; Acts15:11; Romans 3:24-25; Galatians 1:4; Ephesians 2:8; Philippians2:7-8; Hebrews 2:14; 7:25; 9:12-15; 12:2

Return to Menu

Of Grace In The New Creation

We believe that in order to be saved, sinners must be bornagain; that the new birth is a new creation in Christ Jesus; thatit is instantaneous and not a process; that in the new birth theone dead in trespasses and in sins is made a partaker of the divinenature and receives eternal life, the free gift of God; that thenew creation is brought about in a manner above our comprehension,not by culture, not by character, nor by the will of man, butwholly and solely by the power of the Holy Spirit in connectionwith divine truth, so as to secure our voluntary obedience tothe gospel; that its proper evidence appears in the holy fruitsof repentance and faith and newness of life.

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; Colossians2:13; 1John 5:1

Return to Menu

Of The Freeness Of Salvation

We believe in God's electing grace; that the blessings ofsalvation are made free to all by the gospel; that it is the immediateduty of all to accept them by a cordial, penitent and obedientfaith; and nothing prevents the salvation of the greatest sinneron earth but his own inherent depravity and voluntary rejectionof the gospel; which rejection involves him in an aggravated condemnation.

Isaiah 55:1; Matthew 11:28; John 3:15-18,36; 5:40; 6:37; Acts2:38; 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

Return to Menu

Of Justification

We believe that the great gospel blessing which Christ securesto such as believe in Him is Justification; that Justificationincludes the pardon of sin, and the gift of eternal life on principlesof righteousness; that it is bestowed not in consideration ofany works of righteousness which we have done; but solely throughfaith in the Redeemer's blood, His righteousness is imputed untous.

Isaiah 53:11; Habakkuk 2:4; Zechariah 13:1; Acts 13:39; Romans1:17; 4:1; 5:1-9; 8:1; Galatians 3:11; Titus 3:5-7; Hebrews 10:38

Return to Menu

Of Repentance And Faith

We believe that Repentance and Faith are solemn obligations,and also inseparable graces, wrought in our souls by the quickeningSpirit of God; thereby, being deeply convicted of our guilt, dangerand helplessness, and of the way of salvation by Christ, we turnto God with unfeigned contrition, confession and supplicationfor mercy; at the same time heartily receiving the Lord JesusChrist and openly confessing Him as our only and all-sufficientSavior.

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

Return to Menu

Of The Church

We believe that a Baptist Church is a congregation of baptizedbelievers associated by a covenant of faith and fellowship ofthe gospel, said church being understood to be the citadel andpropagator of the Divine and Eternal Grace; observing the ordinancesof Christ; governed by His laws; exercising the gifts, rights,and privileges invested in them by His Word; that its officersof ordination are pastors or elders whose qualifications, claims,and duties are clearly defined in the scriptures; we believe thetrue 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 believein the reversal of this order; we hold that the local church hasthe absolute right of self government, free from the interferenceof any hierarchy of individuals or organizations; and that theone and only superintendent is Christ through the Holy Spirit;that it is scriptural for true churches to cooperate with eachother in contending for the faith and for the furtherance of theGospel; that every church is the sole and only judge of the measureand method of its cooperation; on all matters of membership, ofpolicy, of government, of discipline, of benevolence, the willof the local church is final.

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; Colossians1:18; 1Timothy 3:1-13

Return to Menu

Of Baptism And The Lord's Supper

We believe that Christian baptism is the immersion in waterof a believer, in the name of the Father, of the Son, and of theHoly Ghost, with the authority of the local church, to show forthin a solemn and beautiful emblem our faith in the crucified, buriedand risen Savior, with its effect in our death to sin and resurrectionto a new life; that it is prerequisite to the privileges of achurch relation and to the Lord's supper, in which the membersof the church, by the sacred use of bread and the fruit of thevine are to commemorate together the dying love of Christ; precededalways by solemn self-examination.

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

Return to Menu

Of The Perseverance Of The Saints

We believe that such only are real believers as endure untothe end; that their persevering attachment to Christ is the grandmark which distinguishes them from superficial professors; thata special Providence watches over their welfare; and that theyare kept by the power of God through faith unto eternal salvation.

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

Return to Menu

Of The Righteous And The Wicked

We believe that there is a radical and essential differencebetween the righteous and the wicked; that such only as throughfaith are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and sanctifiedby the Spirit of our God, are truly righteous in His esteem; whileall such as continue in impenitence and unbelief are in His sightwicked, and under the curse, and this distinction holds amongmen both in and after death, in the everlasting felicity of thesaved and the everlasting conscious suffering of the lost.

Genesis 18:23; Proverbs 11:31; 14:32; Malachi 3:18; Matthew7:13-14; 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

Return to Menu

Of Civil Government

We believe that civil government is of divine appointment,for the interests and good order of human society; that magistratesare to be prayed for, conscientiously honored and obeyed; exceptonly in things opposed to the will of our Lord Jesus Christ; whois the only Lord of the conscience, and the coming Prince of thekings of the earth.

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

Return to Menu

Of The Resurrection And Return Of Christ And RelatedEvents

We believe in and accept the sacred Scriptures upon thesesubjects at their face and full value. Of the Resurrection, webelieve that Christ rose bodily "The third day accordingto the Scriptures"; that He ascended "to the right handof the throne of God"; that He alone is our "mercifuland faithful high priest in things pertaining to God"; "thatthis same Jesus which is taken up from you into heaven shall socome in like manner as ye have seen Him go into heaven,"bodily, personally, and visibly; that the "dead in Christshall rise first"; that the living saints "shall allbe changed in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the lasttrump"; "that the Lord God shall give unto Him the throneof His father David"; and that "Christ shall reign athousand years in righteousness until He hath put all enemiesunder His feet."

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; John20:27; Acts 1:9,11; 1Corinthians 15:4; Philippians 4:20; 1Thessalonians4:16; 1Timothy 2:5; Hebrews 2:17; 5:9; 8:1; 9:28; 12:2

Return to Menu

Of Missions

The command to give the gospel to the world is clear and unmistakableand this Commission was given to the churches.

Matthew 28:18-20, "And Jesus came and spake unto them,saying All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go yetherefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name ofthe Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching themto observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you and, loI am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen."

Mark 16:15, "And he said unto them, Go ye into all theworld and preach the gospel to every creature."

John 20:21, "As my Father hath sent me, even so sendI you."

Acts 1:8, "But ye shall receive power, after that theHoly Ghost is come upon you; and ye shall be witnesses unto meboth in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and untothe uttermost part of the earth."

Romans 10:13-15, "For whosoever shall call upon the nameof the Lord shall be saved. How then shall they call on him inwhom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in himof whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without apreacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent? As itis written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach thegospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!"

Return to Menu

Of The Grace Of Giving

Scriptural giving is one of the fundamentals of the Faith.

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 (commontreasury of the church) upon the first day of the week.

1Corinthians 16:2, "Upon the first day of the week letevery one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him,that there be no gatherings when I come."

Under Grace we give, and do not pay, the tithe - "AbrahamGAVE the tenth of the spoils," - Hebrews 7:2,4 - and thiswas four hundred years before the law, and is confirmed in thenew Testament; Jesus said concerning the tithe, "these oughtye to have done", Matthew 23:23.

We are commanded to bring the tithe into the common treasuryof the church.

Leviticus 27:30, "The tithe ... is the Lord's."

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 ofheaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be roomenough to receive it."

In the New Testament it was the common treasury of the church.

Acts 4:34,35,37, "And brought the prices of the thingsthat were sold and laid them down at the apostles' feet ... Havingland, sold it, and brought the money, and laid it AT THE APOSTLES'FEET."

Return to Menu

Page created: 4/2/96

Return to Top of Page