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Statement of Faith
of the
First Baptist Church
of
Wayland, Missouri
Prepared by the Pastor and Deacons
January, 2000
Ratified by the Congregation
February 9, 2000
Table of Contents
This statement of faith does not exhaust the extent of our faith.
The Bible itself is the sole and final source of all that we believe.
However, we believe this statement of faith accurately represents the teaching
of the Bible and is binding upon the members of the
First Baptist Church of Wayland, Missouri.
(See Section XXIV.)
Section I. Concerning the Scriptures.
Section II. Concerning the True God.
Section III. Concerning the Lord Jesus Christ.
Section IV. Concerning the Holy Spirit.
Section V. Concerning Man.
Section VI. Concerning the Eternal State.
Section VII. Concerning Salvation.
Section VIII. Concerning the Church.
Section IX. Concerning Separation.
Section X. Concerning God’s Plan for the Ages.
Section XI. Concerning Satan.
Section XII. Concerning Evangelism and Missions.
Section XIII. Concerning Tithing and Giving.
Section XIV. Concerning Women in the Ministry.
Section XV. Concerning Civil Government.
Section XVI. Concerning Creation.
Section XVII. Concerning Human Sexuality.
Section XVIII. Concerning Divorce and Remarriage.
Section XIX. Concerning Abortion.
Section XX. Concerning Alcohol and Drugs.
Section XXI. Concerning Lawsuits.
Section XXII. Concerning Music.
Section XXIII. Concerning the Charismatic Movement.
Section XXIV. Concerning the Authority of the Statement of Faith.
This Statement of Faith was prepared by the Pastor and Deacons
of the First Baptist Church of Wayland in January, 2000.
It was ratified by the membership on February 9, 2000.
Section I. Concerning the Scriptures.
A. We believe the Bible is the divinely inspired Word of God.
1. Inspiration is the work of the Holy Spirit.
a. He breathed upon holy men of God in days of old.
b. He authorized and directed the writing of the original autographs.
2. Inspiration is both verbal and plenary in its content.
3. Inspiration is both inerrant and infallible in its accuracy.
4. Inspiration extends to all sixty-six books of the Old and New Testaments.
5. Inspiration extends equally and fully to all divisions and subjects of Scripture.
a. In the Old Testament: Law, History, Poetry, and Prophecy.
b. In the New Testament: Gospels, History, Epistles, and Prophecy.
B. We believe the Bible is the divinely preserved Word of God.
1. God’s Word is preserved pure throughout all ages by His providential care.
2. God’s Word is preserved in the Hebrew in the Masoretic Text.
3. God’s Word is preserved in the Greek in the Textus Receptus.
4. God’s Word is preserved in the English in the Authorized Text, which is the KJV.
C. We believe the Bible is the divinely finished Word of God.
1. The Bible is the record of God’s revelation of Himself to mankind.
2. The Bible is finished, complete in its scope and perfect in its nature.
3. The Bible needs nothing added, subtracted, improved, or changed.
4. The Bible is to be interpreted in a plain, literal way. The normal grammatical-historical sense is to be understood, unless the context indicates otherwise.
D. We believe the Bible is the sole and final source of authority for faith and practice.
| Psalms 119:89 | Isaiah 40:8 | Matthew 5:17-18 |
| Luke 24:25-27 | 2 Timothy 3:15-17 | 2 Peter 1:15-21 |
Section II. Concerning the True God.
A. We believe in the one Triune God.
1. God exists eternally in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, yet one God.
2. Each person of the God-head has the same nature, attributes, and perfection.
3. Each person of the God-head is worthy of the same worship and obedience.
4. Each person of the God-head exercises distinct but harmonious offices in the work of redemption.
B. We believe that God is the Sovereign Ruler of the Universe.
1. He is the Creator of heaven and earth and all that is in them, animate and inanimate.
2. He is the Sustainer of all creation.
3. He is the Redeemer of mankind from the curse of sin.
4. He is the Father of all those who experience repentance and saving faith in Jesus Christ.
5. He is the Judge of all the earth.
C. We believe that God’s attributes are both non-moral and moral.
1. Non-morally, He is a Spirit, Self-existent, Immense, Eternal, Omnipotent, Omniscient, Omnipresent, and Immutable.
2. Morally, He is a God of Holiness, Righteousness, Justice, and Truth; at the same time, He is a God of Goodness, Love, Grace, and Mercy.
| Genesis 1:1, 26; 18:25 | Exodus 20:1-11 | Deuteronomy 6:4 |
| Psalms 139:1-12 | Isaiah 6:1-6; 43:1-5; 46:9; 63:16 | Jeremiah 23:23-25 |
| Malachi 3:6 | Matthew 3:16-17; 19:26 | Matthew 28:19-20 |
| John 1:1-18 | John 17 | 2 Corinthians 13:14 |
| Ephesians 1; 2:4-10 | Colossians 1:15-19; 2:9 | 2 Timothy 4:8 |
| Titus 2:11-14 | Hebrews 1; 4:13 | James 1:17; 5:11 |
| 1 Peter 1:15-16 | 1 John 4:8, 16; 5:7-8, 20 | Revelation 4:8; 19:6 |
Section III. Concerning the Lord Jesus Christ.
A. We believe that Jesus is the Son of God.
1. He has always been and will always be eternally co-existent with the Father.
2. He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary.
3. He has the very nature of His Father, though he took upon himself the form of man.
4. He is God who became man with all essential properties and common infirmities.
5. He lived totally apart from and without sin, though tempted in all ways like as we.
6. He is the God-man, that is, all God and all man.
B. We believe that Jesus is the Savior of Men.
1. He satisfied the righteous demands of the Law with His perfect life.
2. He satisfied the just penalty for our sins with His atoning death.
3. He presented Himself as a voluntary, sinless, substitute for men.
4. He offered his broken body and shed blood as a propitiatory sacrifice to God.
5. He finished the work of atonement for our sins on the cross once for all.
6. He raised bodily from the dead after three days and three nights in the grave.
7. He walked on earth in the presence of witnesses for forty days and nights.
8. He ascended to heaven on a cloud in the presence of witnesses.
C. We believe that Jesus is the Sustainer of Believers.
1. He is the Mediator between God and men, the great High Priest.
2. He is the Advocate of believers, interceding for their sins and pleading for their needs.
3. He is the Head of the Church.
4. He is the Bridegroom who will return in the Father’s good time for His Bride.
D. We believe that Jesus is the Sovereign of the Millennial Kingdom.
1. He will return bodily in power and glory to judge the world.
2. He will consummate His redemptive mission and subject His kingdom to the Father.
| Isaiah 7:14; 9:6-7; 53; 61 | Matthew 1:20-23 | Luke 1:30-35 |
| John 1:1-18; 5:18; 8:46 | John 10:17-18 | John 14:1-11; John 17 |
| Acts 1:9-11 | 1 Corinthians 15 | Galatians 4:4-7 |
| Philippians 2:5-11 | Colossians 1:15-19; 2:9 | 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 |
| 1 Timothy 2:5 | Hebrews 4:14-16; 7:23-28 | Hebrews 9:24-28; 10:10-14 |
| 1 Peter 1:18-21; 2:21-25; 3:18 | 1 John 3:1-5 | Revelation 1, 5, 19 |
Section IV. Concerning the Holy Spirit.
A. We believe that the Holy Spirit is a member of the God-head.
1. He possesses the same nature, attributes, and perfection as the Father and the Son.
2. He eternally co-exists with the Father and the Son.
B. We believe that the Holy Spirit operated in the Old Testament.
1. He spoke to God’s people through the prophets.
2. He inspired holy men of God to record the workings of God for posterity.
3. He preserved the seed of Abraham to bring forth the Messiah in the fullness of time.
C. We believe that the Holy Spirit ministered in the New Testament.
1. He filled John the Baptist, empowering him to make straight the way of the Lord.
2. He caused the virgin Mary to conceive with the Seed of the Most High.
3. He came upon Jesus at His baptism, empowering Him for His ministry.
4. He participated in the death, burial, and resurrection of our Lord.
5. He indwelled and empowered the Apostles to carry on the work Christ had begun.
6. He authenticated the work and teaching of the Apostles with signs and wonders.
7. He inspired and preserved the record the Apostles left of Christ and the early Church.
D. We believe that the Holy Spirit ministers in this present Church Age.
1. He convicts the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment.
2. He regenerates those who repent of sin and believe upon the Savior.
3. He baptizes believers into the body of Christ, making them part of the Church.
4. He seals believers until the day of redemption, making them eternally secure.
5. He indwells the bodies of believers, forming in them the image of Christ.
6. He illuminates the minds of believers, teaching them the meaning of the Scriptures.
7. He fills obedient believers, energizing them to do the supernatural works of God.
8. He endows all believers with spiritual gifts, equipping them for ministry.
9. He calls and equips some to vocational ministry as evangelists, pastors, and teachers.
10. He restrains evil in this present age until our Lord returns for His Church.
11. He summarily works to bring glory to God and to exalt the Lord Jesus Christ.
| Matthew 3:16-17 | Luke 1:15-45 | John 7:37-39; 14:16-17, 26; 16:8-14 |
| Acts 1:4-8; 5:1-12; 19:11 | Romans 1:4; 8:1-27: 12:3-8 | 1 Corinthians 12 |
| 2 Corinthians 3:17-18; 12:12 | Ephesians 1:13-14; 4:7-12; 5:18 | 2 Thessalonians 2:1-12 |
| Titus 3:4-6 | 2 Peter 1:21 | Revelation 2; 3 |
Section V. Concerning Man.
A. We believe that man was created in God’s image and likeness by the direct act of God.
B. We believe that man is a responsible creature.
1. Man was created with a free will and given power to choose.
2. Though his free will was tainted by the fall, he still possesses the power of choice.
3. He is responsible to choose right and resist wrong.
4. He will be held accountable on Judgment Day for each thought, word, and deed.
C. We believe that man is a depraved sinner.
1. Adam lived in a perfect, sinless environment in an innocent state before God.
2. Adam willfully sinned against God and fell from that privileged state.
3. Consequently, all men are constituted sinners and are totally depraved.
4. Fallen human nature is devoid of the ability to do right or to please God and is positively inclined to do evil.
5. Man, apart from the grace of God, is already under the condemnation of God and will be consigned forever to eternal punishment because of his lost condition.
| Genesis 1:26-27; 3 | Deuteronomy 30:19-20 | Joshua 24:14-24 |
| Jeremiah 17:9 | Matthew 12:36 | Luke 13:3-5 |
| John 3:14-36 | Acts 2:38; 3:19; 8:22; 17:30; 26:20 | Romans 1-3 |
| Romans 5:12-19; 6:23; 14:2 | 1 Corinthians 2:14; 4:5 | 2 Corinthians 5:10 |
| Ephesians 2:1-3; 17-19 | 1 Peter 4:5 | Revelation 2:22; 3:3; 3:19 |
Section VI. Concerning the Eternal State.
A. We believe in the bodily resurrection of all men.
1. The saved will be resurrected to eternal life.
2. The unsaved will be resurrected to judgment and everlasting punishment.
B. We believe that the souls of the redeemed, at the moment of death, are:
1. Absent from the body and present with the Lord.
2. In a state of conscious bliss.
3. Awaiting the First Resurrection when spirit, soul, and body are reunited to be glorified forever with the Lord.
C. We believe that the souls of the unbelievers, at the moment of death, are:
1. Doomed to hell, a place of conscious punishment and torment, which burns with literal fire.
2. Awaiting the Second Resurrection when spirit, soul, and body, shall be reunited to appear at the Great White Throne Judgment.
3. Found not to be written in the Book of Life and, consequently, shall be cast into the Lake of Fire to suffer everlasting, conscious punishment and torment.
| Luke 16:19-31 | John 5:25-29 | John 14:1-3 |
| Romans 8:14-39 | 1 Corinthians 15 | 2 Corinthians 5:1-9 |
| 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 | Revelation 4; 5; 19; 21; 22 | Revelation 20:4-6, 11-15 |
Section VII. Concerning Salvation.
A. We believe that man is separated from God because of his sin.
1. Man is a sinner by nature and a sinner by choice.
2. Man is spiritually dead in trespasses and sins.
3. Man abides in a state of perpetual enmity with God until his condition is remedied.
4. Man is unable in his own power to do anything to change or improve his condition.
B. We believe that God designed a plan for man’s salvation before the worlds were framed.
1. Jesus, the Son of God, would become incarnate, God in the flesh.
2. He would satisfy the righteous demands of the Law with His sinless life.
3. He would satisfy the just penalty of sin with his death, burial, and resurrection.
C. We believe that salvation is primarily the work of God.
1. God convicts man of his sin and convinces him of his need of the Savior.
2. God enables man to repent of his sin and believe upon Jesus as the Savior.
3. God regenerates the repentant, believing sinner, making him a new creature.
4. God reconciles the believer unto Himself, making him at peace with God.
5. God redeems the believer from sin unto Himself, making him God’s possession.
6. God justifies the believer, declaring him judicially righteous in the sight of God.
7. God imputes the righteousness of Christ to the believer and imputes his sin to Christ.
8. God adopts the believer into His family, giving him all the rights and privileges of sonship.
9. God sanctifies the believer, progressively perfecting in him the image of Christ.
10. God secures the believer unto Himself for eternity.
D. We believe that salvation is secondarily the responsibility of man.
1. In response to divine conviction, man must repent (change his mind) of his sin.
a. He must change his mind about the person and works of Jesus Christ.
b. He must change his mind about his own works of righteousness.
c. He must change his mind about his own works of religion.
d. He must change his mind about his own works of the flesh.
e. Genuine repentance will be demonstrated by spiritual growth into the likeness of Christ and evidenced by at least some gracious, good works.
2. In response to divine influence, man must believe that Jesus Christ is the Savior.
a. He must believe that He is the virgin born Son of God.
b. He must believe that He lived a sinless life under the stress of temptation.
c. He must believe that He shed His blood as atonement for sin.
d. He must believe that He finished the work of redemption upon the cross.
e. He must believe that He rose bodily from the dead on the third day.
3. Though man is responsible to receive salvation, he can in no way save himself.
a. He cannot impress God with works of righteousness.
b. He cannot impress God with works of religion.
c. He cannot appease God with works of penance.
E. We believe that salvation must be seen in its entirety.
1. In the past, we were saved from the penalty of sin. This is justification.
Justification is an immediate act whereby the believer is judicially declared by God the Father to be righteous through the merits of Christ Jesus.
2. In the present, we are being saved from the power of sin. This is sanctification.
Sanctification is a progressive process whereby the believer is practically changed into the image and likeness of Christ by the power of the Spirit.
3. In the future, we shall be saved from the presence of sin. This is glorification.
Glorification is an immediate act some day in the future whereby the believer is instantaneously conformed into the image and likeness of Christ forever.
| Luke 13:3-5 | John 3; 10:27-30; 17 | Acts 20:21 |
| Romans 3:19-26 | Romans 4, 5 | Romans 8 |
| Ephesians 1, 2 | Philippians 1:6; 2:13; 3:7-16 | Colossians 2:9-10 |
| Titus 2:11-14; 3:4-6 | Hebrews 7:25 | 1 Peter 2:2 |
| 2 Peter 1:3-9 | Jude 24 | Revelation 1:5, 6 |
Section VIII. Concerning the Church.
A. We believe the New Testament Church is a distinct entity from the Nation of Israel.
B. We believe the Church was instituted during a transitional period that began with Christ’s baptism and that ended with the Day of Pentecost.
C. We believe the Church is presented in Scripture in two forms.
1. The Church is the body of Christ. It is an organism (universal and invisible).
2. The Church is the local assembly. It is an organization (local and visible).
D. We believe the Church is the Body, Building, and Bride of Christ.
1. All believers from the days of Christ until the rapture, regardless of race, religion, social status, or gender, are part of this body.
2. The Holy Spirit baptizes believers into this Body at the moment of salvation.
E. We believe the local church is ordained by God.
1. The church consists of baptized believers who have associated themselves together by covenant of faith and in the fellowship of the Scriptures. (See G.1. Baptism.)
2. The church observes two ordinances, Baptism and Lord’s Supper.
3. The church governs itself by Scripture, particularly the New Testament teachings of Christ and His Apostles.
4. The church provides opportunities wherein individual members may exercise their spiritual gifts to minister to each other and to evangelize the lost.
5. The church administers the tithes and offerings of God’s people.
6. The church disciplines its members according to the Scripture and its covenant.
7. The church selects divinely called men to serve in two different offices.
a. The Pastor functions to equip the saints for the work of the ministry.
1) He feeds the flock (teaching and preaching).
2) He oversees the work (administration and leadership).
3) He sets the example (godly life of pastor and family).
b. The Deacon functions to assist the Pastor and to serve the church.
1) He assists in business that may edify the saints.
2) He assists in business that may evangelize the lost.
c. The qualifications for both are given in Scripture.
8. The church functions to teach doctrine, to provide fellowship, to worship the Lord,
to minister to each other’s needs, and to evangelize the lost.
F. We believe the local church is governed by God.
1. The church is an autonomous body under the Headship of Christ.
2. The church determines the will of God by the prayerful agreement of
a. Pastoral leadership.
b. Deacon recommendation.
c. Congregational approval.
3. The church is free to associate with other churches of like faith if it is useful to the advancement of the cause of Christ.
4. The church is responsible to cooperate with other divinely ordained institutions.
a. The church is to promote and protect the nuclear (traditional) family.
b. The church is to support and respect civil government.
1) By praying for its leaders.
2) By communicating with its leaders.
3) By obeying laws under God, so far as they agree with Scripture.
4) By seeking the appointment of godly leaders.
G. We believe the local church is identified by its ordinances.
1. Baptism.
a. Candidates for baptism must be confessing, obedient believers capable of full understanding, having gladly received His Word by their own choice.
b. Immersion in water is the only Biblical mode.
c. Candidates must be baptized in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
d. Baptism symbolizes the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ.
e. Baptism symbolizes the crucifixion of the “old man” and the regeneration of the “new man” in Christ.
f. Baptism imparts no saving grace of any kind.
g. Baptism is prerequisite for membership in the local church and for partaking of the Lord’s Supper.
2. Lord’s Supper.
a. The Lord’s Supper is a memorial feast that commemorates His physical death (broken body) and atonement (shed blood) until He comes.
b. Elements of the Lord’s Supper are unfermented juice and unleavened bread.
c. Participation must be preceded by:
1) Salvation.
2) Baptism by immersion.
3) Membership in the local church or one of like faith.
4) Solemn self-examination concerning obedience to Christ.
d. Participation in the Lord’s Supper imparts no saving grace of any kind.
e. Participation in the Lord’s Supper symbolizes the communion that exists between Christ and an obedient believer because he has “partaken” of Christ.
| Matthew 16:17-19; 18:15-20 | Matthew 26:26-29; 28:19-20 | Acts 2:41-47; 5:1-11; 6:1-7 |
| Acts 8:26-40; 11:29-26; 13:1-5 | Acts 14:21-28; 15; 20:17-38 | Romans 6:1-6; 13:1-7 |
| 1 Corinthians 1-16 | Galatians 1:8,9; 3:26-28; 6:1-2 | Ephesians 1-6 |
| Colossians 1:18; 3;11 | 1 Timothy 1-6 | Titus 1:5-9; 2:1-10; 3:5 |
| Hebrews 12:22-24; 13:7,17 | James 2:1-9; 3; 5:13-15 | 1 Peter 5:1-4 |
Section IX. Concerning Separation.
A. We believe that as the Bride of Christ, the Church is His purchased possession.
1. It should be separated unto Him for His own eternal purpose and pleasure.
2. It should be separated from the ecumenical movement and its apostate components.
a. Ecclesiastical separation extends to doctrine, practice, and fellowship.
b. Ecclesiastical separation includes persons, organizations, and institutions.
c. Ecclesiastical separation includes apostates and disobedient brethren.
3. It should be separated from the world and its ungodly system.
B. We believe that as members of the Body of Christ, each believer is His purchased possession.
1. Believers should be separated unto Him in their worship, walk, and work.
2. Believers should be separated from the world and its ungodly system.
a. Believers should not be conformed to the world in appearance or activity.
b. Believers should be Christlike in conversation, dress, amusements, personal habits, business habits, and professional habits.
c. Believers should abstain from appearances of evil and questionable associations that:
1) Damage their testimony to others. 3) Confuse their doctrinal position.
2) Reduce their effectiveness for Christ
| Romans 12:1-2; 14:13; 16:17 | 2 Corinthians 6:14-18; 7:1 | Ephesians 5:11 |
| 2 Thessalonians 3:6-16 | 2 Timothy 3:1-5 | 1 Peter 1:13-16 |
| 1 John 2:15-17 | 2 John 9-11 | Revelation 2; 3 |
Section X. Concerning God’s Plan for the Ages.
A. We believe that God’s eternal plan for mankind involves at least seven distinct dispensations.
1. In each dispensation, God reveals more of Himself and His truth to mankind.
2. In each dispensation, new truth places man under additional responsibility.
3. In each dispensation, man is tested as to his obedience to this responsibility.
4. In each dispensation, man is found, under every condition to fail in his duty.
B. We believe that five dispensations are past.
1. The Dispensation of Innocence began with Adam and ended with the Fall.
2. The Dispensation of Conscience began with the Fall and ended with the Flood.
3. The Dispensation of Human Government began with the Flood and ended with Abraham.
4. The Dispensation of Promise began with Abraham and ended with Moses.
5. The Dispensation of Law began with Moses and ended with Christ.
C. We believe that we are presently in the Dispensation of Grace, called the Church Age.
1. This dispensation was a mystery in the Old Testament.
2. It began with a transitional period lasting from Christ’s baptism to the day of Pentecost.
3. It involves the temporary setting aside of the nation of Israel.
4. It features the Holy Spirit calling out from among the nations the Church, the Bride of Christ, which includes all who believe, Jew and Gentile.
5. It is an age of undetermined length and will end with Christ’s pre-millennial, pre-tribulational Rapture of the Church.
a. The dead in Christ shall be raised first and given glorified bodies.
b. The living in Christ shall be changed in a moment and given glorified bodies.
c. Both shall be caught up to dwell with the Lord forever.
D. We believe that after the Rapture of the Church, a seven year Tribulation Period will take place.
1. This period is the Seventieth Week in Daniel’s Seventy Week prophecy.
2. This period returns God’s focus to Israel as a nation; it is Jewish in scope.
3. On earth, God will pour out His wrath on Christ rejecting men.
a. The Anti-christ and the False Prophet will rule the nations of men.
b. The Holy Spirit will no longer restrain evil upon the earth.
c. Plagues of natural phenomenon and supernatural proportion will fall on men.
d. Midway through this period, the Anti-christ will break his covenant with the Jews and exalt himself as god to be worshipped.
e. As a result, many Jews will reject him and believe that Jesus is the Messiah.
f. 144,000 Jewish evangelists will cover the earth with the Gospel of Christ.
g. A multitude of Gentiles will be saved as a result of their ministry.
h. These will refuse the mark of the Beast and many will die as martyrs.
i. God will gather the nations together to do battle with Christ.
j. Christ will then return and defeat the Anti-christ at the Battle of Armageddon.
k. The Anti-christ and the False Prophet will be cast into the Lake of Fire.
l. Satan will be bound and cast into the Bottomless Pit.
m. The nations will be judged and separated to begin the Millennial Kingdom.
4. In heaven, the Church will be in the presence of Christ.
a. Believers will appear before the Judgment Seat of Christ.
b. Believers will participate in the Marriage Supper of the Lamb.
c. Believers will return with Christ to rule and reign for a thousand years.
E. We believe in the Seventh Dispensation Jesus will establish His Kingdom for a thousand years.
1. This kingdom will be the fulfillment of God’s covenants to Israel.
a. To Abraham.
b. To Isaac.
c. To Jacob.
d. To David.
2. This kingdom will be governed in perfect righteousness and order.
a. Men will live without the curse of sin upon the earth in an Edenic state.
b. Men will live without Satanic temptation or interference.
c. Men will live under the reign of Christ and the supervision of His Saints.
3. This kingdom will be concluded by these events.
a. Satan will be loosed from the Bottomless Pit for a short season.
b. Satan will recruit an army of rebels to march against Christ and the Saints.
c. These rebels will be destroyed by fire at the Battle of Gog and Magog.
d. Satan will be cast into the Lake of Fire.
F. We believe that all the unsaved dead of all the ages will be judged at the Great White Throne.
1. Death and Hell will deliver up the dead, small and great, to stand before God.
2. The Book of Life will be opened to prove that their names are not found there.
3. The Books of Works will be opened to determine their degree of punishment.
4. The unsaved dead will be cast body, soul, and spirit into the Lake of Fire, forever.
G. We believe that the Saints of all the ages will dwell with God forever.
1. There will be a new heaven, a new earth, and the New Jerusalem.
2. There will be perfect and eternal righteousness and peace in the presence of God forever.
| Genesis 1:28-3:6 | Genesis 4:1-8:14 | Genesis 8:15-11:32 |
| Genesis 12:1-Exodus 18:27 | Exodus 19:1-Acts 1:26 | Acts 2-Revelation 22 |
| Genesis 12:1-3; 13:14-18 | Genesis 15:1-21; 17:4-8 | Genesis 22:15-24 |
| Genesis 26:1-5; 28:10-15 | 2 Samuel 7:16 | Psalms 2; 72 |
| Isaiah 2; 11; 65; 66 | Jeremiah 23 | Ezekiel 37; 40-48 |
| Daniel 2:44-45; 9:24-27 | Micah 4:1-5 | Zechariah 8; 12; 13; 14 |
| Matthew 24; 25 | Romans 9; 10; 11 | 1 Corinthians 15:49-57 |
| Ephesians 2:11-22 | 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; 5:1-10 | 2 Thessalonians 1; 2 |
| Revelation 6-22 |
Section XI. Concerning Satan.
A. We believe that Satan is a literal person.
1. He is a created being who fell from his privileged position through pride and ambition.
2. He is the author of sin.
3. He is the cause of the fall of man.
4. He is the declared enemy of God who through the ages has sought to usurp His throne.
5. He is the prince of the power of the air and the possessor of the power of darkness.
6. He is the accuser of the brethren; the adversary of the saints.
B. We believe that Satan will be judged and consigned to the Lake of Fire for all eternity by Jesus Christ the Lord.
| Job 1:6, 7 | Isaiah 14:12-17 | Ezekiel 28:14-17 |
| Matthew 4:2-11; 25:41 | Revelation 20:10 |
Section XII. Concerning Evangelism and Missions.
A. We believe God has given the Church the Great Commission to proclaim the Gospel to all nations.
1. The scope of the Commission is from our Jerusalem to the uttermost parts of the world.
2. The design of the Commission is to make disciples in every nation, tribe, ethnic group, and language group who will then fulfill the Great Commission among their own people.
3. The duty of the Commission requires every believer to either give and send or go himself.
B. We believe that every believer is responsible to be a witness for Jesus Christ.
1. It is our duty to witness with a Christlike life.
2. It is our duty to witness verbally when given opportunity and enablement by the Holy Spirit.
| Matthew 28:19-20 | Mark 16:15 | Luke 24:46-48 |
| John 20:21 | Acts 1:8 | 2 Corinthians 5:10-21 |
Section XIII. Concerning Tithing and Giving.
A. We believe that every Christian is a steward of that portion of God’s wealth entrusted to him.
B. We believe that every Christian is obligated to support his local church financially.
C. We believe that God has established the tithe as a basis for giving to support the local church.
D. We believe that the local church is a steward of the tithes given by its members.
1. The local church uses the tithes to support its pastor(s).
2. The local church uses the tithes to operate its own ministry and pay its own expenses.
3. The local church uses the tithes to relieve those in need.
4. The local church uses the tithes to support evangelism and missions at home and abroad.
E. We believe that love offerings should be sacrificially and cheerfully given above and beyond the tithe according to the Lord’s provision and the prompting of the Holy Spirit.
F. We believe that a Christian relinquishes all rights to direct the use of tithes and offerings once the gift has been given.
| Genesis 14:20 | Proverbs 3:9-10 | Malachi 3:7-10 |
| Matthew 23:23 | Acts 4:34-37 | 1 Corinthians 16:2 |
| 2 Corinthians 9:6-7 | Galatians 6:6 | Ephesians 4:28 |
| 1 Timothy 5:17-18 | James 2:14-18 | 1 John 3:17 |
Section XIV. Concerning Women in Ministry.
A. We believe that men and women are of equal worth in the eyes of the Lord Jesus.
B. We believe that both men and women have unique and designated roles in the home and in the church.
1. In the home, men are to be the head even as Christ is the Head of the Church.
2. In the church, men are to be the leaders as the body of Scripture indicates.
C. We believe that women may serve in a variety of ministry capacities.
D. We believe that women may not serve in the offices of Pastor or Deacon.
E. We believe that women are not to teach men or to usurp authority over them.
| Proverbs 31 | Galatians 3:28 | Romans 16:1-24 |
| Philippians 4:1-3 | 1 Timothy 2:9-15; 3 | 1 Corinthians 14:31-40 |
| 1 Peter 3:1-6 | Ephesians 5:21-33 |
Section XV. Concerning Civil Government.
A. We believe that God has ordained and created all authority consisting of three basic institutions.
1. The Home.
2. The Church.
3. The State.
B. We believe that these institutions are equal and sovereign in their respective, Biblically assigned spheres of responsibility under God.
1. Each institution has its unique and specific area of responsibility and jurisdiction.
2. No institution has the right to infringe upon the jurisdiction of the others.
C. We believe that every person is subject to these authorities; however,
1. Every person is ultimately answerable to God, including the authorities themselves.
2. Every person is to be governed by the universal, non-optional, unchangeable principles of God’s Word.
| Matthew 22:21 | Romans 13:1-7 | Ephesians 5:21-33 |
| Hebrews 13:7, 17 | 1 Peter 2:13-17 | 1 Timothy 2:1-4 |
Section XVI. Concerning Creation.
A. We believe that God *created the universe and all that is in it in six literal, twenty-four hour days.
B. We reject the Evolution Theory, the Gap Theory, the Day-Age Theory, the Theistic Evolution Theory, and any other theory that is in conflict with the Genesis account of creation.
| Genesis 1;2 | Exodus 20:11 | Psalm 8; 19; 139 |
| Isaiah 40; 43; 54 | John 1:1-3 | Colossians 1:15-17 |
| Hebrews 1:1-3 | *(See Section II.B.) |
Section XVII. Concerning Human Sexuality.
A. We believe that God has commanded that no intimate sexual activity should be engaged
in outside of a marriage between a man and a woman.
B. We believe that any form of these perversions of God’s gift of sex or gender are sinful.
1. Homosexuality.
2. Lesbianism.
3. Bisexuality.
4. Bestiality.
5. Incest.
6. Fornication.
7. Adultery.
8. Pornography.
9. Cohabitation.
10. Pre-marital sex.
11. Transvestism
12. Gender Alteration
13. Pedophilia
C. We believe that the only legitimate marriage is the joining of one man and one woman.
| Genesis 2:24-25; 19:5-13 | Genesis 26:6-11 | Leviticus 18:1-30 |
| Proverbs 5:1-23; 6:24-35 | Proverbs 7:5-27; 9:13-18 | Matthew 5:27-28 |
| Romans 1:26-29; 7:2 | 1 Corinthians 5:1-5; 6:9-20; 7:10 | Galatians 5:16-25 |
| Ephesians 5:22-23 | 1 Thessalonians 4:1-8 | Hebrews 13:4 |
*Amendments ratified February 9, 2005, are underlined.
Section XVIII. Concerning Divorce and Remarriage.
A. We believe that God instituted marriage and ordained it to last until one of the spouses dies.
B. We believe that divorce and remarriage is regarded as adultery, except on the grounds of fornication.
C. We believe that divorced or divorced and remarried persons:
1. May hold positions of service in the church and be used for God.
2. May not be considered for the offices of Pastor and Deacon.
| Genesis 2:24-25 | Deuteronomy 22:28-29 | Malachi 2:14-17 |
| Matthew 5:31-32; 19:1-12 | Mark 10:1-12 | Luke 16:18 |
| Romans 7:1-3 | 1 Corinthians 7:1-40 | 1 Timothy 3:2, 12 |
| Titus 1:6 |
Section XIX. Concerning Abortion.
A. We believe that human life begins at conception and that the unborn child is a living, human being.
B. We believe that abortion is the unjustified, unexcused taking of unborn, human life; it is murder.
C. We reject any teaching that abortions of pregnancies due to rape, incest, birth defects, gender selection, birth or population control, or the physical or mental well-being of the mother are acceptable.
| Exodus 20:13; 21:22-25 | Job 3:16 | Psalms 51:5; 139:14-16 |
| Isaiah 44:24; 49:1-5 | Jeremiah 1:5; 20:15-18 | Luke 1:15, 44 |
Section XX. Concerning Alcohol and Drugs.
A. We believe the use of intoxicating and/or mind-altering substances is forbidden in Scripture.
B. We believe these legitimate exceptions exist.
1. Medications containing alcohol that are prescribed and dosed by a physician.
2. Medications or drugs that are prescribed and dosed by a physician.
C. We believe the use of alcohol and/or illegal, non-prescription substances for social or recreation purposes are sinful and violate commands of Scripture.
| Genesis 9:21 | Proverbs 20:1; 23:29-35; 31:1-9 | Isaiah 5:11, 22-23; 28:7-8 |
| Habakkuk 2:15 | 1 Corinthians 6:9-12 | Ephesians 5:18 |
| 1 Timothy 3:3, 8; 5:23 | Revelation 21:8 |
Section XXI. Concerning Lawsuits.
A. We believe that Christians are prohibited from bringing civil lawsuits against other Christians or the church to resolve personal disputes.
B. We believe the church possesses all the resources necessary to resolve personal disputes between its members.
C. We do believe, however, that a Christian may seek compensation for injuries from another Christian’s insurance company, providing the claim is made without malice or slander.
| 1 Corinthians 6:1-8 | Ephesians 4:31-32 |
Section XXII. Concerning Music.
A. We believe that church music, by design, should bring glory to God.
1. It glorifies the Lord by worshipping Him for His attributes, character, and nature.
2. It glorifies the Lord by thanking Him for His common goodness and grace.
3. It glorifies the Lord by praising Him for His revelation of Himself to mankind through His written Word and His Son, Jesus Christ, who provided salvation for all who believe.
B. We believe that church music by design should edify men.
1. It edifies men by lifting the heart toward the Lord.
2. It edifies men by enlightening the mind about the Lord.
3. It edifies men by convicting the soul of sin against the Lord.
4. It edifies men by motivating the will to obey and serve the Lord.
C. We believe that there is a kind of music, with or without words, that is honoring to God and that there is a kind of music that is dishonoring to God.
1. We accept sacred, traditional, hymn book, Gospel music as music that honors God.
2. We reject “Christian Rap”, “Christian rock”, “contemporary Christian music”, “praise music”, etc. as forms of music that bring the World into the Church and that dishonor God.
| 1 Samuel 16:14-23 | Psalms 33:3; 40:1-3; 69:12 | Psalms 100; 126; 137:4 |
| Isaiah 35:10; 42:10 | Ephesians 5:18-20 | Colossians 3:15-17 |
| James 5:13 | Revelation 5:9-10; 14:1-3; 15:2-4 |
Section XXIII. Concerning the Charismatic Movement.
A. We believe in the ministry of the Holy Spirit as described in Section IV.
B. We reject the tenants of the Charismatic Movement as aberrations of Biblical truth.
1. We believe that the sign gifts of the Holy Spirit, such as speaking in tongues and healing, were temporary.
a. They accompanied and authenticated the ministry and message of the Apostles.
b. They ceased once God’s revelation was complete, and the Scriptures became the sole and final authority for faith and practice.
2. We believe that speaking in tongues was never the common or necessary sign of the baptism or filling of the Holy Spirit.
3. We believe that the ultimate deliverance of the body from sickness or death awaits the consummation of our salvation in the resurrection, though God frequently chooses to answer the prayers of believers for physical healing.
4. We believe that wealth and prosperity are not necessary signs of the Lord’s blessings; instead, suffering is a more frequent design upon the believer’s life and testimony.
5. We believe that “prophecies” or “teachings” that are extra-Biblical are dangerous and fallible and should be rejected in favor of the finished revelation of God’s Word.
| Mark 16:17 | Acts 2:1-4; 10:46; 19:6 | 1 Corinthians 12; 13; 14 |
| Romans 12:6-8 |
Section XXIV. Concerning the Authority of the Statement.
A. The Statement of Faith does not exhaust the extent of our faith.
B. The Bible itself is the sole and final source of all that we believe.
C. We do believe, however, that the foregoing Statement of Faith accurately represents the teaching of the Bible, and therefore, is binding upon all members.