What We Believe

What We Believe At

Bible Baptist Church!

Table of Contents

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 And Return Of Christ And Related  Events
Of Missions
Of The Grace Of Giving
       

Of The Scriptures

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

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

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

Psalm 19:7-11; 119:89,105,130,160; Proverbs 30:5-6;  Isaiah 8:20; 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

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Of The True God

We believe that there is one, and only one, living and true God, an infinite, intelligent Spirit, the maker and supreme ruler of heaven and earth; inexpressibly glorious in holiness and worthy of all possible honor, confidence and love; that in the unity of the Godhead there are three persons, the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost, equal in every divine perfection, and executing distinct 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; 1Timothy 1:17;  1John 5:7; Revelation 4:11

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Of The Holy Spirit

We believe that the Holy Spirit is a divine  person; equal with God the Father and God the  Son  and of the same nature; that He was active in the  creation; that in His relation to the unbelieving  world He restrains the evil one until God's  purpose is fulfilled; that He convicts of sin,  of  judgment and of righteousness; that He 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; Acts 5:30-32;  11:16; Romans  8:14,16,26-27; Ephesians 1:13-14;  2Thessalonians 2:7,13; Hebrews 9:14; 1Peter 1:2

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Of The Devil, Or Satan

We believe that Satan was once holy, and enjoyed heavenly honors; but through pride and ambition to be as the Almighty, fell and drew after him a host of angels; that he is now the malignant  prince 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 His Christ, the accuser of the saints, the author of all false religions, the chief power back of the present apostasy; the lord of the antichrist, and the   author of all the powers of darkness - destined however to final defeat at the hands of God's own Son, and to the judgment of an eternal justice in hell, a place prepared for him 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

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Of The Creation

We believe in the Genesis account of creation,  and that it is to be accepted literally, and not   allegorically or figuratively; that man was  created directly in God's own image and after His  own likeness; that man's creation was not a  matter of evolution or evolutionary change of  species, or  development through interminable  periods of time from lower to higher forms; that  all animal and vegetable life was made directly  and God's established law was that 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; Colossians 1:16-17; Hebrews 11:3; Revelation 10:6

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Of The Fall Of Man

We believe that man was created in innocence  under the law of his Maker, but by voluntary   transgression fell from his sinless and happy  state, in consequence of which all mankind are  now sinners, not by constraint, but of choice;  and therefore under just condemnation without  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

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Of The Virgin Birth

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

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

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Of The Atonement For Sin

We believe that the salvation of sinners is  wholly of grace; through the mediatory offices  of  the Son of God, Who by appointment of the  Father, freely took upon Him our nature, yet  without sin, honored the divine law by His  personal obedience, and by His death made a full  and vicarious  atonement for our sins; that His  atonement consisted not in setting us an example  by His death as a martyr, but was the voluntary  substitution of Himself in the sinner's place,  the Just dying for the  unjust, Christ, the Lord,  bearing our sins in His own body on the tree;  that, having risen from the dead, He is now  enthroned in heaven and uniting in His wonderful  person the tenderest sympathies  with divine  perfection, He is in every way qualified to be a  suitable, a compassionate and an all sufficient  Savior.

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

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Of Grace In The New Creation

 

We believe 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; that in the new  birth the one dead in trespasses and in sins is  made a partaker of the divine nature and receives  eternal life, the  free gift of God; that the new  creation is brought about in a manner above our  comprehension, not by culture, not by character,  nor by the will of man, but wholly and solely by  the power of the Holy  Spirit in connection with  divine truth, so as to secure our voluntary  obedience to the gospel; that its proper evidence  appears in the holy fruits of 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;  Colossians 2:13; 1John 5:1

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Of The Freeness Of Salvation
        

We believe in God's electing grace; that the  blessings of salvation are made free to all by  the  gospel; that it is the immediate duty of all  to accept them by a cordial, penitent and  obedient faith; and nothing prevents the  salvation of the greatest sinner on earth but his  own inherent depravity  and voluntary rejection of  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; Acts 2:38; 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

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Of Justification
        

We believe that the great gospel blessing which Christ secures to such as believe in Him is   Justification; that Justification includes the pardon of sin, and the gift of eternal life on principles of righteousness; that it is bestowed not in consideration of any works of righteousness which we have done; but solely through faith in the Redeemer's blood, His righteousness is imputed unto us.

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

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Of Repentance And Faith
        

We believe that Repentance and Faith are solemn  obligations, and also inseparable graces,  wrought  in our souls by the quickening Spirit of God;  thereby, being deeply convicted of our guilt,  danger and helplessness, and of the way of  salvation by Christ, we turn to God with  unfeigned  contrition, confession and supplication  for mercy; at the same time heartily receiving  the Lord Jesus Christ and openly confessing Him  as our only and all-sufficient Savior.

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

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Of The Church
        

We believe that a Baptist Church is a  congregation of baptized believers associated by  a  covenant of faith and fellowship of the gospel,  said church being understood to be the citadel  and propagator of the Divine and Eternal Grace;  observing the ordinances of Christ; governed by  His  laws; exercising the gifts, rights, and  privileges invested in them by His Word; that its  officers of ordination are pastors or elders  whose qualifications, claims, and duties are  clearly defined in the  scriptures; we believe the  true 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  believe in the reversal of this order; we hold  that the local church has the absolute right of  self government, free from the interference of  any hierarchy of individuals or  organizations;  and that the one and only superintendent is  Christ through the Holy Spirit; that it is  scriptural for true churches to cooperate with  each other in contending for the faith and for  the  furtherance of the Gospel; that every church  is the sole and only judge of the measure and  method of its cooperation; on all matters of  membership, of policy, of government, of  discipline, of  benevolence, the will of 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;  Colossians 1:18; 1Timothy 3:1-13

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Of Baptism And The Lord's Supper
        

We believe that Christian baptism is the  immersion in water of a believer, in the name of  the  Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost,  with the authority of the local church, to show  forth in a solemn and beautiful emblem our faith  in the crucified, buried and risen Savior, with  its effect in our  death to sin and resurrection  to a new life; that it is prerequisite to the  privileges of a church relation and to the Lord's  supper, in which the members of the church, by  the sacred use of bread and the  fruit of the vine  are to commemorate together the dying love of  Christ; preceded always 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

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Of The Perseverance Of The Saints
        

We believe that such only are real believers as endure unto the end; that their persevering   attachment to Christ is the grand mark which distinguishes them from superficial professors; that a special Providence watches over their welfare; and that they are 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

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Of The Righteous And The Wicked
        

We believe that there is a radical and essential  difference between the righteous and the  wicked;  that such only as through faith are justified in  the name of the Lord Jesus, and sanctified by  the  Spirit of our God, are truly righteous in His  esteem; while all such as continue in impenitence  and unbelief are in His sight wicked, and under  the curse, and this distinction holds among men   both in and after death, in the everlasting  felicity of the saved and the everlasting  conscious suffering of the lost.

Genesis 18:23; Proverbs 11:31; 14:32;  Malachi 3:18; Matthew 7:13-14; 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

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Of Civil Government
        

We believe that civil government is of divine  appointment, for the interests and good order of   human society; that magistrates are to be prayed  for, conscientiously honored and obeyed; except  only in things opposed to the will of our Lord  Jesus Christ; who is the only Lord of the  conscience,  and the coming Prince of the kings 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

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Of The Resurrection And Return Of Christ And Related Events
        

We believe in and accept the sacred Scriptures upon these subjects at their face and full value.  Of the Resurrection, we believe that Christ rose  bodily "The third day according to the  Scriptures"; that He ascended "to the  right hand of the throne of God"; that He alone is our  "merciful and faithful high  priest in things pertaining to God"; "that  this same Jesus which is taken up  from you into  heaven shall so come in like manner as ye have  seen Him go into heaven," bodily,  personally,  and visibly; that the "dead in Christ shall  rise first"; that the living saints "shall  all be  changed in a moment, in the twinkling of  an eye, at the last trump"; "that the  Lord God shall give  unto Him the throne of His  father David"; and that "Christ shall  reign a thousand years in righteousness until He  hath put all enemies under 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; John 20:27; Acts 1:9,11;   1Corinthians 15:4; Philippians 4:20; 1Thessalonians  4:16; 1Timothy 2:5; Hebrews 2:17; 5:9; 8:1; 9:28;  12:2

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Of Missions
        

The command to give the gospel to the world is clear and unmistakable and 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 ye  therefore, and teach all nations,  baptizing  them in the name of the Father, and of the  Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to  observe all things whatsoever I have  commanded you  and, lo I am with you alway,  even unto the end of the world. Amen."

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

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

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

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

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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 (common treasury of the church) upon the first day of the week.

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

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 of heaven, and pour you out a  blessing, that there shall not be room enough  to receive it."

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

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Articles of Faith complied from Twenty Five Articles of Faith, Baptist Bible Fellowship International.