We believe the Holy Bible was written by men who were supernaturally inspired by God and that it is a perfect treasure of heavenly instruction. God is its Author, salvation is its purpose, and its content is truth without any mixture of error. It reveals the standard by which God will judge mankind and therefore remains, until the end of the world, the complete and final revelation of God’s will to man, the true center of Christian unity, and the supreme standard by which all human conduct, creeds, and opinions are to be judged.

By the Holy Bible, we mean the complete collection of sixty-six books, from Genesis through Revelation, divinely preserved in the English language and commonly known as the Authorized King James Version of 1611 A.D.

By inspiration, we mean that all the books of the Bible were written by holy men of God as they were supernaturally moved by the Holy Ghost. In a definite, though inexplicable, way, they recorded the very words and meaning God intended while writing within their own individual literary styles. These writings are completely free from error and omission in a way no other writings have ever been or ever will be. The Bible does not merely contain the Word of God, it is the very Word of God.

(II Timothy 3:16; II Peter 1:19-21; Acts 1:16; 3:21; II Samuel 23:2; Acts 28:25; Psalm 119:89,130,160; I Corinthians 2:12,13; Luke 24:25-27,44,45; Psalm 12:6,7; Isaiah 40:8; I Peter 1:23-25; John 10:35; Matthew 5:18; 24:35; Luke 16:17,29-31; 21:33; John 17:17; Proverbs 30:5,6; Romans 3:4; 15:4; Revelation 22:18,19; John 12:48; Isaiah 8:20; Ephesians 6:17; Hebrews 4:12; Psalm 19:7-11; John 5:39,45-47; Romans 10:17)

We believe the Scriptures teach that there is one, and only one, living and true God, an infinite and intelligent Spirit, the Maker and supreme Ruler of heaven and earth. He is infinitely glorious in holiness and worthy of all honor, confidence, and love. Within the unity of the Godhead there are three Persons, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, equal in every divine perfection and carrying out distinct yet harmonious roles in the great work of redemption.

God, the Father

We believe the Scriptures teach that God the Father rules with providential care over His universe, His creatures, and the events of human history according to the purposes of His grace. He is unchangeable in holiness, love, and truth. He is truly Father to those who become children of God through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, and He shows a fatherly attitude toward all people, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance and receive the gift of eternal life through Jesus Christ.

(Genesis 1:1; 17:1; Exodus 3:14; 15:11; 20:2,3; I Corinthians 8:6; Ephesians 4:6; John 4:24; Psalm 83:18; 90:2; 147:5; Jeremiah 10:10; Revelation 4:11; I Timothy 1:17; Romans 11:33; Mark 12:30; Matthew 28:19; I John 5:7; II Corinthians 13:14; Ephesians 2:18; I John 1:5; 4:8; Hebrews 12:29; Deuteronomy 6:4,5; Isaiah 6:3; I Peter 1:15)

God, the Son

We believe the Scriptures teach that Jesus Christ is the only begotten Son of God, co-equal, co-essential, and co-eternal with God the Father and God the Holy Ghost, and is the second Person of the Trinity. He was born into this world of Mary, a virgin, in a manner unlike the birth of any other man, and He is both perfect God and perfect man.

We believe He lived a sinless life, perfectly obeying the divine Law while fully identifying Himself with mankind. He died a substitutionary death on the cross, securing redemption for sinners through His shed blood. He supernaturally rose again on the third day with a glorified body, was seen by many, and ascended into heaven where He is exalted and seated at the right hand of the Father. There He is the Head over His churches and the Mediator and Advocate with God the Father for all believers. We further believe that He will supernaturally come again to this world to reign personally and visibly over the earth.

(Genesis 3:15; Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:18-25; Luke 1:35; Mark 1:1; John 1:1-3,14; Psalm 2:7; Hebrews 1:8; Galatians 4:4; I John 5:20; I Corinthians 15:47; Isaiah 9:6,7; John 8:58; 10:30; 17:5; Philippians 2:5-11; I Timothy 3:16; Hebrews 4:15; 7:26; Romans 9:5; Colossians 1:15-17; Hebrews 13:8; II Corinthians 5:21; Hebrews 9:24-28; Revelation 1:8; Hebrews 10:12; I John 2:1; Isaiah 53:6; I Peter 2:24; 3:18; I Corinthians 15:3,4; John 14:3; Acts 1:11; Colossians 1:18)

God, the Holy Spirit

We believe the Scriptures teach that the Holy Ghost is a divine Person, co-equal, co-essential, co-eternal, and co-active with God the Father and God the Son, and is the third Person of the Trinity. He was active in the creation of the universe and moved holy men of God to write the Bible. He is the present representative of the Godhead on this earth and, in His relationship to the unbelieving world, restrains evil and convicts men of sin, righteousness, and judgment.

We believe the Holy Ghost bears witness to the truth of the Gospel through preaching and testimony and is the Agent of the new birth, regenerating those who by faith believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. He seals, fills, guides, teaches, sanctifies, and comforts all believers, developing Christian character within them and giving spiritual gifts by which they serve God in the church. We believe these biblical gifts are entirely different from the false practices associated with the so-called “Charismatic Movement” of today.

(John 14:16,17,26; 15:26,27; 16:8-11,13; Acts 5:3,4,30-32; 11:16; I Corinthians 2:10,11; 12:4-6; Hebrews 9:14; Luke 1:35; 3:16; 24:49; Matthew 3:11; Mark 1:8; John 1:33; 3:5,6; Ephesians 1:13,14; II Thessalonians 2:7,13; Romans 8:14,16,26,27; I Peter 1:2)

We believe the Scriptures teach that God created man in His own image and after His own likeness. Man is distinctly different from all other forms of life, being tripartite in nature and possessing an everlasting soul. We believe mankind was not created through evolution, evolutionary change between species, or development over vast periods of time from lower to higher forms of life. The Genesis account of creation is to be understood literally, not allegorically or figuratively. We further believe that all animal and plant life was created directly and specifically by God, according to His established law that each should reproduce only “after their kind.”

The Fall of Man

We believe the Scriptures teach that man was created in innocence under the law of his Maker, but through voluntary transgression and deliberate disobedience fell from that sinless and happy condition. As a result, all mankind are now sinners, not by force but by choice, and are by nature without the holiness required by the Law of God and inclined toward evil.

We believe that when a person reaches the capacity for moral action, he becomes a transgressor and therefore stands under the just condemnation of God, facing eternal ruin apart from salvation, without defense or excuse.

(Genesis 1:1,11,25-27,31; 2:21-23; Exodus 20:11; Acts 4:24; Colossians 1:16,17; Hebrews 11:3; John 1:3; Revelation 10:6; Romans 1:20; Acts 17:23-26; Jeremiah 10:12; Nehemiah 9:6; Ecclesiastes 7:29; Genesis 3:1-6,24; Romans 1:18,20,28,32; 3:10-19; 5:12,19; Ezekiel 18:19,20; Galatians 3:10,22; Psalm 51:6; Isaiah 53:6; Ephesians 2:3; Matthew 20:15)

Civil Government

We believe the Scriptures teach that civil government is established by God for the order, welfare, and good of human society. Those in authority should be prayed for, conscientiously honored, and obeyed, except when obedience would require acting contrary to the revealed will of our Lord Jesus Christ, who alone is Lord of the conscience and the coming Prince of the rulers of the earth.

We believe civil rulers have no authority to control or interfere with matters of faith and religion. Churches and religious organizations should receive no support from the State beyond protection and the full freedom to pursue their spiritual purposes. We further believe that requiring unquestioning faith or absolute blind obedience destroys both liberty of conscience and reason.

(Romans 13:1-7; I Peter 2:13,14,17; Matthew 22:21; Titus 3:1; I Timothy 2:1-8; Acts 5:29; Matthew 10:28; Daniel 3:15-18; 6:7,10; Acts 4:18-20; Matthew 23:10; Romans 14:4; Revelation 19:14; Psalm 72:11; II Samuel 23:3; Exodus 18:21,22; Acts 23:5; Philippians 2:10,11)

We believe the Scriptures teach that the salvation of sinners is entirely by the grace of God through the merits of the shed blood of the Lord Jesus Christ.

The Law and the Gospel

We believe the Scriptures teach that the Law of God is the eternal and unchangeable standard of His moral government, and that it is holy, just, and good. The inability of fallen man to fulfill its requirements comes entirely from his sinful nature. The great purpose of the Gospel is to deliver man from this condition and restore him through a Mediator to sincere obedience to the holy Law. We believe that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures.

(Romans 3:20,31; Matthew 5:17; Luke 16:17; Romans 4:15; 7:7,12,14,22; Galatians 3:21; Romans 8:2,4,7,8; 10:4; I Timothy 1:5; Hebrews 8:10)

God’s Purpose of Grace

We believe the Scriptures teach that election is the eternal purpose of God, according to which He graciously regenerates, sanctifies, and saves those sinners who by faith believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. This purpose is fully consistent with the free agency of man and includes all the means connected with its end. It is a glorious display of God’s sovereign goodness, being infinitely free, wise, holy, and unchangeable.

We believe this truth completely excludes boasting and promotes humility, love, prayer, praise, trust in God, and the active imitation of His free mercy. It may be recognized by its effects in all who truly believe the Gospel and serves as the foundation of Christian assurance.

(II Timothy 1:8,9; II Thessalonians 2:13,14; II Timothy 2:10; I Corinthians 9:22; Romans 8:28-30; John 6:37-40; II Peter 1:10; I Thessalonians 4:10; Isaiah 42:16; Romans 11:29)

The Freeness of Salvation

We believe the Scriptures teach that the blessings of salvation are freely offered to all through the Gospel. It is the immediate duty of every person to receive them through sincere, penitent, and obedient faith. Nothing prevents the salvation of even the greatest sinner except his own inherent depravity and voluntary refusal to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and such refusal brings greater condemnation.

(I Thessalonians 1:4; Colossians 3:12; I Peter 1:2; Titus 1:1; Matthew 11:28; Isaiah 55:1,6,7; Revelation 22:17; Romans 10:13; John 6:37; Acts 2:38; John 3:15,16; I Timothy 1:15; I Corinthians 15:10; Ephesians 2:4,5; John 15:40; John 3:18,36)

The Atonement for Sin

We believe the Scriptures teach that the Son of God, by appointment with the Father, freely took upon Himself our nature while remaining without sin. By His death on the cross, He made a full and vicarious atonement for our sins. His death was not merely an example of martyrdom, but the voluntary substitution of Himself in the sinner’s place, the Just dying for the unjust.

We believe that, having risen from the dead, He is now enthroned in Heaven. In His wonderful Person, He unites the tenderest sympathies with divine perfection and is fully qualified to be a suitable, compassionate, and all-sufficient Saviour.

(Ephesians 2:8; Acts 15:11; Romans 3:24,25; John 3:16; Matthew 18:11; Philippians 2:7,8; Hebrews 2:14; Isaiah 53:4-7; I John 4:10; I Corinthians 15:3,20; II Corinthians 5:21; John 10:18; Galatians 1:4; I Peter 2:24; 3:18; Isaiah 53:11,12; Hebrews 7:25; 9:12-15; 12:2; I John 2:2)

Regeneration

We believe the Scriptures teach that regeneration, or the “new birth,” is the change brought about in the heart by the Holy Spirit, through which a new nature and spiritual life, not previously possessed, are given, and the person becomes a new creature in Christ Jesus.

We believe that through this change, a holy disposition is given to the mind, the will is subdued, the dominion of sin is broken, and the affections are changed from the love of sin and self to the love of holiness and God. This change is instantaneous rather than a process and is accomplished not through culture, character, or the will of man, but solely by the power of God through the Word of God, in a manner beyond human reason.

(John 3:3,6; I Peter 1:23; James 1:18; II Corinthians 5:17; I John 2:29; Ephesians 4:24; Colossians 1:13; 2:13; Romans 6:13; John 1:12,13; I Corinthians 6:11; Titus 3:5-7)

Repentance

We believe the Scriptures teach that repentance is a personal act prompted by the Spirit of God. It consists of godly sorrow over sin because it is offensive to God and destructive to the soul. It is accompanied by deep humility over one’s sin and guilt, prayer for pardon, sincere hatred of sin, and a persistent turning away from and abandonment of all that is evil and unholy.

(Matthew 3:1,2; 4:17; Mark 1:15; Acts 3:19; 5:31; 17:30; 20:21; Luke 18:13; 24:47; II Corinthians 7:2; Romans 2:5; Isaiah 55:7; Psalm 51:1-4,7)

Faith

We believe the Scriptures teach that faith, inseparably joined with repentance, is both a solemn obligation and a grace worked in the soul by the quickening Spirit of God. It includes both the assent of the mind and the consent of the heart, consisting chiefly of belief and trust.

Through faith, the testimony of God is accepted and believed as true, and Christ is fully received for salvation. By it, the believer is brought into a living relationship with God, as seeing Him who is invisible, and is freely justified. Faith reveals Christ to the soul as a willing and sufficient Saviour and commits the heart and life to Him.

(Acts 16:31; Romans 1:17; 3:22; 5:1; 10:3,9-13; Hebrews 11:1,6; James 2:23; Jeremiah 17:7; Psalm 34:22; 125:1; II Corinthians 5:7)

Justification

We believe the Scriptures teach that the great Gospel blessing Christ secures for those who believe on Him is justification. Justification includes the pardon of sin and the gift of eternal life according to the principles of righteousness.

We believe justification is given not because of any righteous works we have done, but solely through faith in the Redeemer’s blood. Through that faith, His perfect righteousness is imputed to us by God. Justification brings the believer into a blessed state of peace and favor with God and secures every other blessing needed for both time and eternity.

(John 1:16; Ephesians 3:8; Acts 13:39; Isaiah 3:11,12; Romans 5:1-3,9,11; 8:1; Zechariah 13:1; Matthew 9:6; Acts 10:43; Matthew 6:33; I Corinthians 1:30,31; I Timothy 4:8; Isaiah 53:11)

Adoption

We believe the Scriptures teach that adoption is a gracious act by which the Father, for the sake of Christ, receives believers into the position and condition of children through a new and spiritual birth. He sends the Spirit of Adoption into their hearts, making them members of the family of God and giving them all the rights, privileges, and promises of children.

We believe that if they are children, they are also heirs of God and joint-heirs with Jesus Christ, sharing in the heritage of all the saints on earth and an inheritance reserved for them in Heaven.

(Romans 8:14-16; Galatians 3:26; 4:5-7; Ephesians 1:5; I John 3:1; Hebrews 12:7; I Peter 2:9)

Sanctification

We believe the Scriptures teach that sanctification is the work by which, according to the will of God, believers are set apart unto God and made partakers of His holiness. It is both a declared fact and a progressive work that begins in regeneration.

We believe sanctification is carried out in the hearts of believers through the presence and power of the Holy Spirit, the Sealer and Comforter, through the continual use of the Word of God, self-examination, self-denial, watchfulness, prayer, and the practice of all godly exercises and duties.

(II Thessalonians 4:3; 5:23; II Corinthians 7:1; 13:9; Ephesians 1:4; 4:11,12; Proverbs 4:18; II Corinthians 3:18; Hebrews 6:1; II Peter 1:5-8; Philemon 12-16; Philippians 2:12,13; I Peter 2:2; II Peter 3:18; II Corinthians 13:5; I Timothy 4:7)

The Preservation of the Saints

We believe the Scriptures teach that those who are truly regenerated and born of the Spirit of God cannot utterly fall away and finally perish, but will endure to the end. Their continuing attachment to Christ is the great mark that distinguishes them from superficial professors.

We believe a special Providence watches over their welfare and that they are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation.

(John 6:39,66-69; 8:31,32; 13:8; I John 2:19,27,28; 3:9; 5:18; Matthew 13:19-21; Romans 8:28,35-39; Matthew 6:20,30-33; John 4:4; Philippians 1:6; 2:12,13; Jude 24,25; Hebrews 1:14; 13:5; John 10:28,29; 16:8; Colossians 1:21-23; I Peter 1:5)

The Righteous and the Wicked

We believe the Scriptures teach that there is a real and essential difference between the righteous and the wicked. Only those who through faith are justified in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ and sanctified by the Spirit of God are truly righteous in God’s sight.

Those who continue in impenitence and unbelief remain, in His sight, wicked and under the curse. We believe this distinction continues both in this life and after death, resulting in the everlasting blessedness of the saved and the everlasting conscious suffering of the lost in the lake of fire.

(Malachi 3:18; Proverbs 12:26; Isaiah 5:20; Genesis 18:23; Jeremiah 15:19; Acts 10:34,35; Romans 1:17; 6:16,18,22,23; 7:6; I John 2:7,29; 3:7; 5:19; I Corinthians 11:32; 15:22; Galatians 3:10; John 3:36; Isaiah 55:6,7; 57:21; Psalm 10:4; Proverbs 14:32; Luke 16:25; John 8:21-24; 12:25,26; Luke 9:26; 12:4,5; 11:23-26; Matthew 7:13,14; 25:34; Proverbs 11:31; I Peter 1:18)

We believe the Scriptures teach that sin is any transgression of, or failure to conform to, the revealed will of God. Sin has affected the entire universe, reaching every realm and impacting every race and species within creation.

We believe every person is born with a sinful nature, possessing an inherent inclination toward evil that results in sinful actions. The wages of sin is death, which means separation from God in this life and throughout eternity.

(I John 3:4; Numbers 32:23; Isaiah 53:13; Matthew 7:23; 23:28; Romans 6:19; Judges 20:16; Romans 3:23; I Samuel 15:23; Jeremiah 2:25; Luke 19:14; Isaiah 53:6; Jeremiah 17:9; Genesis 3:14,18; Romans 8:22; 1:18-32; Psalm 51:5; 58:3; John 3:19; James 4:17; Romans 6:23; Hebrews 9:27; Romans 5:12,14; Ephesians 2:1; 4:8; Matthew 10:23; Revelation 20:15)

We believe the Scriptures teach that a Baptist church is a congregation of baptized believers joined together by covenant in the faith and fellowship of the Gospel. The church observes the ordinances of Christ, is governed by His laws, and exercises the gifts, rights, and privileges given through His Word.

We believe the only Scriptural offices of the church are pastors, also referred to as elders or bishops, and deacons, whose qualifications, responsibilities, and duties are clearly defined in the New Testament. We believe the mission of every church is found in the Great Commission: first, to make disciples; second, to build the church by baptizing believers; and third, to teach and instruct them according to Christ’s commands. This order is not to be reversed.

We believe each church has the absolute right of self-government and is free from the control or interference of any outside hierarchy, individual, or organization. Jesus Christ, through the Holy Spirit, is the one and only Head of the church.

We believe it is Scriptural for churches of like faith and order to cooperate with one another in contending for the faith and advancing the Gospel. However, each church alone determines the extent and method of its cooperation. In all matters concerning membership, policy, government, discipline, and benevolence, the decision of each local church is final.

(Acts 2:41,42,47; 5:11; 8:1; 11:31; I Corinthians 4:17; 5:5,11,18; 11:2,23; II Corinthians 8:5,23,24; I Timothy 3:5,15; II Thessalonians 3:7; Romans 16:17-20; Matthew 18:15-20; 28:19,20; John 14:15; 15:10; I John 4:21; I Thessalonians 4:2; II John 6; Philippians 1:1; Acts 14:23; 15:22,23; 20:17-28; I Timothy 3:1-13; Titus 1:5-9; Ephesians 1:22,23; 4:11; I Corinthians 12:4,8-11; Acts 6:5,6; Colossians 1:18; Ephesians 5:23,24; I Peter 5:1-4; Jude 3,4; I Corinthians 5:11-13; 6:1-3)

Scriptural Baptism

We believe the Scriptures teach that baptism is the immersion in water of a believer in Christ, in the Name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, and is performed under the authority of the church. Baptism is a solemn and beautiful picture of our faith in the crucified, buried, and risen Savior, representing our death to sin and resurrection to a new life.

We believe baptism is a prerequisite to the privileges of church membership. We also believe that infants are God’s little ones, whether born to Christian or non-Christian parents, and are safe in Christ until they reach an age of moral accountability. Therefore, we believe infant baptism is unnecessary.

(Matthew 28:19,20; Acts 2:41; 8:12,13,26-39; 9:17,18; 10:25,26,44-48; 16:14,15,25-37; 18:7-11; Matthew 3:1-16; 21:24,25; John 3:22,23; 4:1,2; Galatians 3:27,28; Romans 6:4; Colossians 2:12; I Peter 3:15,20,21; II Samuel 12:22,23; Proverbs 20:11)

The Lord’s Supper

We believe the Scriptures teach that the Lord’s Supper consists of unleavened bread and the fruit of the vine as symbols of Christ’s body and shed blood. It is observed by the members of a church in remembrance of the suffering and death of the Lord Jesus Christ and in hopeful anticipation of His return.

(Matthew 26:27-30; 28:20; Mark 14:20-26; Luke 22:19,20; I Corinthians 10:16; 11:2,17-34)