We are Baptist.
We are not Protestant. We are Baptist. Our forefathers in the faith never came out of the Catholic Church, because they were around before the Catholic Church. The forefathers of our faith were not always called Baptist. Some were called Donatists, some Novatians, some Petrobrussians and more. For a time there were known as AnaBaptists. Though they did not always have the label ‘Baptist’ that we use today, the founding of our faith strings back through groups like these that held to Baptist Distinctives from the time of Christ until this day. That is why we are who we are. We trace our religion back to Christ! That being said, the following are some of our beliefs Based on Bible truth. This is not in any way an exhaustive explanation of all our beliefs, the King James Bible holds the entire canon of our beliefs, but here are a few to tell a little bit of who we are
We believe in the Verbal inspiration of Scripture
We believe that the Bible is the verbally inspired, infallible, inerrant Word of God, and is the final authority in all matters of faith, doctrine, and practice. Not only was It inspired when God caused It to be written, but the inspiration of God’s Word is still preserved within the 66 books from Genesis to Revelation. We believe that the King James Version is the preserved Word of God for the English-speaking people. (II Tim. 3:15-17; Psalm 119:89; II Pet. 1:19-21; Jn. 6:63; Psalm 12:6-7)
We believe in Salvation by Grace Through Faith
We believe that salvation is the gift of God brought to man by grace and received by personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, Whose precious blood was shed on the cross for the forgiveness of our sins and 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. (Jn. 1:12; 3:3-7; Eph. 1:7; 2:8-10; I Pet. 1:18-19)
We believe in the Eternal security of the believer
We believe each believer, at the time he puts his trust in Jesus Christ, is born into the family of God and does instantaneously become a son or daughter of the living God. We believe that all the redeemed, once saved, are kept by God’s power and are thus secure in Christ forever. (Jn. 5:24; 6:37-40; 10:28-29; Rom. 8:1, 38-39; I Cor. 1:4-8; Eph. 1:13; I Pet. 1:4-5)
We believe in the Second Coming of Christ
The Lord Jesus Christ Himself is coming again in the air at any moment to “rapture” up those that have received Him as their Personal Saviour and to reward their service. The unbelievers left behind will go through a period called the Tribulation, after which Christ shall return visibly to the earth to set up His Kingdom of one thousand years of righteous rule. After this, the unbelievers of all ages will stand at the Great White Throne to be judged and cast into the Lake of Fire, separated from God forever, while the believers spend eternity in the fullness of joy in Heaven with the Lord. We believe in Christ’s imminent and bodily return; a literal seven year Tribulation upon the earth; a literal one thousand year rule of Christ upon the earth; a literal Great White Throne Judgment for the unsaved; a literal and eternal Lake of Fire where the unsaved will suffer everlasting conscious punishment and torment; a literal Heaven where the saved will spend eternity with Christ Jesus their Saviour. (Matt. 24:29-42; Acts 1:6-11; l Cor. 15:51-58; I Thess. 4:13-18; I Cor. 3:8-15; 5:9-11; Is. 2:1-4; 11:1-16; 65:17-25; Matt. 5:29-30; 10:28; 23:14-15; Rev. 19:11-22:21)
We believe strongly in the Doctrine of Separation
We believe that all the saved are called unto a life of separation from all worldly and sinful practices. A person, once he has accepted Christ as Saviour, is a new creation in Christ and should live a holy, consecrated life. He should separate himself from the world and all its lust in obedience to the command of God. We believe that though a saved individual is a new creature, that often everything in their life is still old and worldly. Thus if an individual is to retain the joy of their salvation, they must strive to live a life pleasing to God – separated from their old lifestyle. We believe that all the saved should live in a manner that does not bring reproach upon their Saviour and Lord. (Rom. 12:1-2; I Jn. 2:15-17; II Cor. 5:17; 6:14-18; I Pet. 2:9; II Tim. 2:19)
We believe in the Personality of Satan
We believe that Satan is a person, the author of sin, and the cause of the fall of man; that he is the open and declared enemy of God and man; and that he shall be eternally punished in the Lake of Fire. (Job 1:6-7; Is. 14:12-17; Matt. 4:2-11; 25:41; Rev. 20:10)
We believe in the trinity
We believe God is a Person, eternally existing; one true God, but in the unity of the Godhead. There are three eternal and co-equal Persons: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. One Godhead made up of three Persons who are the same in attributes, power, characteristics, and desires. (Heb. 1:8; Acts 5:1-3; Matt. 28:19; I Cor. 8:6; Col. 2:9; Matt. 3:16-17; I Jn. 5:7)
We believe Jesus Christ to be the one and only Saviour of mankind. We believe Jesus Christ to be eternally God and to possess all the attributes of Deity. We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ was virgin born, that He was God incarnate, and that the purposes of the incarnation were to reveal the Father, to redeem men, and to rule over God’s kingdom. We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ accomplished our redemption through His death on the cross as a representative, substitutionary sacrifice; and that our justification is made sure by His literal, physical resurrection from the dead. We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ ascended to Heaven and is now exalted at the right hand of God the Father. (Matt. 1:20-21; Lk. 1:35-36; 2:10-11; Jn. 1:1-2, 14; 20:26-29; Acts 2:18-36; Rom. 3:24-25; Phil. 2:5-11; Col. 1:13-19; Titus 1:3-4; 2:10, 13-14; 3:4-6; Heb. 1:1-9; I Pet. 1:3-5; Acts 1:9-10; I Jn. 2:1-2)
We believe the Holy Spirit of God is a person who has personality and all the attributes of Deity. We believe the Holy Spirit has always been involved in the affairs of mankind. However, we believe He has a special ministry upon and through believers, which began at Pentecost, and will continue until the Rapture. This ministry includes empowering believers for service; convicting the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment. The Holy Spirit was also sent to regenerate, indwell, sanctify, seal, and fill all who have placed their faith in Jesus Christ. We believe that the Holy Spirit is sovereign in the bestowal of spiritual gifts to every believer. God uniquely uses evangelists, pastors, and teachers to equip believers in the local assembly in order that they can do the work of the ministry and exercise their spiritual gifts. WE DO NOT believe that the filling of the Spirit necessitates chaotic manifestations that draw more attention to man than to God. We believe that many of the early sign gifts (i.e. speaking in an unknown tongue – unlearned dialect or foreign language, etc.) were necessary for the propagation of the Gospel by the early church and as proofs of authenticity to the unbelieving Jews, and no longer are necessary for the fruitful work of the local church today. (Matt. 3:16; I Jn. 5:7; Acts 5:3-4; II Cor. 13:14; Jn. 1:32-34; 14:16-17; 20:19-22; Acts 1:8; 15:8; Rom. 12:3-8; I Cor. 3:16-17; 6:19; 12:4-11, 28; II Cor. 6:16; Eph. 2:20-22; 4:7-12; Heb. 2:3-4; Acts 2:4-11; I Cor. 1:22)
What we believe about the New Testament church
We believe that a Scriptural church is a visible assembly of baptized (immersed) believers, covenanted together under New Testament law for the purpose of carrying out the Great Commission, with an unbroken history from the personal ministry of Jesus Christ on earth to this present day; that this church is a self-governed independent body having Christ as the Head, the Holy Spirit for its Guide, and the Bible as the only rule of faith and practice. The only Scriptural offices of the church are the bishop (Pastor) and deacons. The two ordinances of the local church are Believer’s Baptism and Lord’s Supper. On all matters of membership, of policy, of government, of discipline, of benevolence, etc. the will of the local church is final. (Mk. 16:15; Eph. 1:22-23; 3:21; I Tim. 3)
What we believe about Giving
We believe that every Christian, as a steward of that portion of God’s wealth entrusted to him, is obligated to support his local church financially. We believe that God has established the tithe (10%) as a basis for giving, but that every Christian should also give other offerings sacrificially and cheerfully to the support of the church, the relief of those in need, and the spread of the Gospel. (Gen. 14:20; Prov. 3:9-10; Acts 4:34-37; I Cor. 16:2; II Cor. 9:6-7; Gal. 6:6; Eph. 4:28; I Tim. 5:17-18; I Jn. 3:17)