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BELEIVERS BAPTIST CHURCH
PASTOR: REV. DEAN CHANDLER
ARTICLE 11
STATEMENT OF FAITH AND COVENANT
SECTION 1-STATEMENT OF FAITH
(A) THE HOLY SCRIPTURE:
We believe that the Holy Bible was written by men and supernaturally inspired, that it is 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 the man: and that it is the true center of Christian union and the supreme standard by which all human conduct, creeds, and opinions should be tried. 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. By “inspiration’ we mean that the Holy Spirit in such a definite way that their writings supernaturally and verbally inspired (II Tim 3:16; II Peter 1:19-21; Psalms 12:6 -7) and are preserved in the KJV of the Bible.
(B) THE CREATION:
We believe that the Genesis account of creation is to be accepted literally and not allegorica1ly or figuratively (Gen. I) that the creation was accomplished in six (6) twenty-four (24) hours days (Gen. 1-5, 8, 13, 19, 23, 31; 2:2, Exodus 20:11) that man as created directly in God’s own image and after His own likeness (Gen. 1:23,27) 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 by God, and God’s established law was that they should bring forth only “after their kind” We deny any form of atheistic or theistic evolution (Romans 1:19,20).
(C) DISPENSATIONALISM:
We believe that the Scriptures interpreted in their natural, literal sense reveal divinely determined dispensations or rules of life, which define man’s responsibilities in successive ages. These dispensations are not all-inclusive ways of salvation, but rather are divinely ordered stewardships by which God directs man according to His purpose in that dispensation! Three of these dispensations-the law, the church, and the kingdom-are the subjects of detailed revelation in Scripture (Gen. 1:28; I Cor. 9:17; II Cor. 3:9-18; Gal.3:13-25; Eph. 1:10; 3:2-10; Col. 1:24-25, 27; Rev. 20:2-6).
(D) THE GODHEAD:
We believe in one Triune God, eternally existing in three persons - Father. Son, and Holy Spirit - each co-eternal in being, co-identical in nature, coequal in power and glory, and having the same attributes and perfection’s (Deut, 6:4; Matt. 28:19; II Cor. 13:14; John 14:10,26). He is Creator, Possessor, and Supreme Ruler of Heaven and Earth (Gen 1:1; Gen. 14:22; Pas.103: 19).
(E) THE PERSON AND WORK OF CHRIST:
(1) We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God, became man, without ceasing to be God, having been conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary, in order that He might reveal God and redeem sinful men (Isa. 7:14; 9:6; Luke 1:35; John 1:1-2, 14; II Cor, 5:19-21; Gal. 4:4-5; Phil. 2:5-8).
(2) We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ accomplished our redemption through his death on the cross as a representative, vicarious, substitutionary sacrifice; and that our justification is made sure by His literal, physical resurrection from the dead (Acts 2:18-36; Romans 3:24-25; I Peter 2:24; Eph. 1:7; 1 Peter 1:3-5).
(3) We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ ascended to Heaven, and is now exalted at the right hand of God, where, as our High Priest, He fulfills the ministry of Representative, Intercessor, and Advocate (Acts 1:9-10; Heb. 9:24; 7:25; Romans 8:34; 1 John 2:1-2).
(F) THE PERSON AND WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT:
(1) We believe that the Holy Spirit is a person who convicts the world of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment; and, that He is the Supernatural Agent in regeneration, baptizing all believers into the body of Christ, indwelling and sealing them unto the day of redemption (John 16:8-1l; Romans 8:9; 1 Cor. 12:12-14; 2 Cor. 3:6: Eph. 1:13-14).
(2) We believe that He is the Divine Teacher who assists believers to understand and appropriate the Scriptures, and that his the privilege and duty of all the saved to be filled with the Spirit (Eph. 1:17-18; 5:18; 1 John 2:20, 27). The fullness of the Spirit is evidenced by the believer’s boldness to witness for the Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 4:31),
(3) We believe that God is sovereign in the bestowal of spiritual gifts to every believer. God uniquely uses evangelists, pastors, and teachers to equip believers in the
assembly in order that they can do the work of the ministry (Romans 12:1-8; 1 Cor. 12:4-11, 28; Eph 41-12).
(4) We believe that the sign gifts of the Holy Spirit, such as speaking in tongues and the gift of healing, were temporary. We believe that speaking in tongues was never the common or necessary sign of the baptism or filling of the Holy Spirit, and 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 (1 Cor. 1:22; 13:8; 14:21-22).
(G) THE TOTAL DEPRAVITY OF MAN:
We believe that man was created in the image and likeness of God, but that in Adam’s sin the human race fell, inherited a sinful nature, and became alienated from God, and, that man is totally depraved, and of himself, utterly unable to remedy his lost condition (Gen 1:26-27; Romans 3:22-23, 5:12; 6.23; Eph 2:1-3,4 17-19)
(H) SALVATION:
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 Calvary for the forgiveness of our sins (John 1:12, Eph. 1:7; 28-10; 1 Peter 1:18-19) We believe that in order to be saved, sinners must be born again; that the new birth is the new creation in
Jesus Christ (John 3:3,5); 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 (Eph. 2:8,9)
(I) 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 being convinced of the way of salvation through Jesus Christ, we turn to God with unfeigned contrition, confession, and supplication for mercy, at the same time, we heartily receive the Lord Jesus Christ and openly confess Him as our only and all-sufficient Savior (Jer. 8:6, Acts 17:30; 26:20).
(3) THE ETERNAL SECURITY AND ASSURANCE OF BELIEVERS:
(1) We believe that all the redeemed, once saved, are kept by God’s power and are thus secure in Christ forever (John 6:37-40; 10.27-30; Romans 8:1, 38-39; 1 Cor. 1.4-8; 1 Peter 14-5)
(2) We believe that it is the privilege of believers to rejoice in the assurance of their salvation through the testimony of God’s Word, which however, clearly forbids the use of Christian liberty as an occasion to the flesh (Romans 13:13-14; Gal. 5:13; Titus 2:11-15).
(K) THE CHURCH:
We believe that a Local New Testament church is a congregation of baptized believers associated by a covenant of faith and fellowship of the Gospel observing the ordinances of Christ, governed by His laws, and exercising the gifts, rights, and privileges invested in them by His Word; that its officers are pastors or elders and deacons, whose qualifications, claims, and duties are clearly defined in the Scriptures (1 Timothy 3:1-13; Titus 1:6-9); we believe the true mission of the church is found in the “Great Commission”, which is to reach the lost, then to baptize the converts, and to teach and instruct as He commanded. We do not believe in the reversal of this order. We also believe that fellowship and worship are included in the purposes of the church. We hold that the local church has the absolute right of self-government, free from the interference of any hierarchy of’ individuals or organizations; that Christ is the Head of the church and superintends over the work of the local church through the Holy Spirit (Eph. 1:1-23); that it is scriptural for the true churches to cooperate with each other in contending,for the faith and for the furtherance of the Gospel (Jude 3); 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, and of benevolence, and that the will of the local church is final (Matt. 18:15-20; Acts 5:29; 1 Cor. 6:1-8).
(L) SEPARATION:
We believe that all saved should live in such a manner as not to bring reproach upon their Savior and Lord; and, that separation from all religious apostasy, all worldly and sinful pleasures; practices, and associations is commanded of God (Romans 12:1-2; 14:13; II Cor. 6: 14-7:1; II Tim. 3:1-5; I John 2:15-17; II John 9-11).
(N) THE SECOND ADVENT OF CHRIST;
We believe in that “blessed hope,” the personal, imminent return of Christ Who will rapture His Church prior to the seven-year tribulation period. At the end of the Tribulation, Christ will personally and visibly return with His saints, to establish His earthly Messianic Kingdom, which was promised to the nation of Israel (Ps. 89:3-4; Daniel 2:31-45; Zech. 14:4-11; I Thess. 1:10; I Thess.4:13-18; Titus 2:13; Rev.3:10; 19:1 l-16;20:1-6).
(N) THE ETERNAL STATE:
(1) We believe in the bodily resurrection of all men, the saved to eternal life, and the unsaved to judgment and everlasting punishment (Man. 25:46; John 5:28, 29 11:25- 26; Rev, 20:5-6, 12-13).
(2) We believe that the souls of the redeemed are at death, absent from the body and present with the Lord, where in conscious bliss they await the first resurrection, when spirit, soul, and body are reunited.
(3) We believe that the souls of unbelievers remain, after death, in conscious punishment and torment until the second resurrection, when with soul and body reunited they shall appear at the Great White Throne Judgment, and shall be cast into the Lake of Fire, not to be Annihilated (destroy), but to suffer everlasting conscious punishment and torment (Matt. 25:41-46; Mark 9:43-48; Luke 16:19-26; II Thess. 1:7-9; Jude 6-7; Rev. 20:11-15).
(O) THE PERSONALITY SATAN:
We believe that Satan is a person, the author of sin and the instigator of the Fall of Man; that he is the open and declared enemy of God and man; and that all he shall be eternally punished in the Lake of Fire (Job 1:6-7; Isa. 14:12-17; Matt. 4:2-11; 25:41; Rev. 20:10).
(P) CIVIL GOVERNMENT:
We believe that God has ordained and created all authority consisting of three basic institutions: 1) the home; 2) the church; 3) the state, Every person is subject to these authorities, but all (including the authorities themselves) are answerable to God and governed by His Word, God has given each institution specific Biblical responsibilities and balanced those responsibilities with the understanding that no institution has the right to infringe upon the other. The home, the church, and the state are equal and sovereign in their respective Biblically assigned spheres of responsibility under God (Romans 13: 1-7; Eph. 5:22-24; Hebrews 13:17; 1 Peter 2:13-14; Acts 5:29).
(Q) HUMAN SEXUALITY:
(1) We believe that God has commended that no intimate sexual activity be engaged in outside of a marriage between a man and a woman. We believe that any form of homosexuality, lesbianism, bisexuality, bestiality, incest, fornication, adultery. transvestitism, and pornography are sinful perversions of God’s gift of sex (Gen. 2:24; Gen. 19:5,13; Gen. 26:8-9; Lev. 18:1-30; Romans 1:26-29; 1 Cor. 5:1; 6:9; I Thess. 4:1-8; Heb. 13:4).
(2) We believe that the only legitimate marriage is the joining of one man and one woman. (Gen. 2:24; Romans 7:2; I Cor. 7:10; Eph. 5:22-23).
(3) We believe that men and women are spiritually equal in position before God, but that God has ordained distinct and separate spiritual functions for men and women in the home and the church. The husband is to be the leader of the home and men to be the leaders (pastors and deacons) of the church. Accordingly, only men are eligible for licensure and ordination by the church (Gal. 3:28; Col. 3:18; 1 Tim. 2:8-15; 3:4-5, 12).
(R) DIVORCE AND REMARRIGE:
We believe that God hates divorce and intends marriage to last until one of the spouses dies. Divorce and remarriage is regarded as adultery, except on the grounds of fornication, and desertion on the part of an unbeliever. A divorced and remarried person or divorced persons may hold positions of service in the church and be used of God for Christian service; depending on their innocence or their repentance and restoration. (I Cor. 7:12; II Cor. 7:27-28).
(S) ABORTION:
We believe that human life begins at conception and that the unborn child is a living human being. Abortion constitutes the unjustified, unexcused taking of unborn human life. Abortion is Murder. We reject any teaching that abortions of pregnancies due to rape, incest, birth defects, gender selection, birth or population control, or the mental well-being of the mother are acceptable (Job 3:16; Psalms 51:5; 139:14-16; Isa. 44:24; 49:1,5, Jer. 1:5, 20:15-18; Luke 1:44).
(T) MISSIONS:
We believe that God has given the church a great commission to proclaim the Gospel to all nations so that there might be a great multitude from every nation, tribe, ethnic group, and language group who believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, As ambassadors of Christ we must use all available means to go to the foreign nations and not wait for them to come to us (Matt 28:19-20; Mark 15; Luke 24:46,48; John 20:21; Acts 1:8; II Cor. 5:20)
(U) LAWSUITS BETWEEN BELIEVERS:
We believe that Christians are prohibited from bringing civil lawsuits against other Christians or the church to resolve personal disputes. We believe the church possesses all the resources necessary to resolve personal disputes between members. We do believe, however, that a Christian may seek compensation for injuries from another Christian’s insurance company as long as the claim is pursued without malice or slander (I Cor. 6:1 -8; Eph. 4:31-32).
(V) 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 as a basis for giving, but that every Christian should also give other offerings sacrificially and cheerfully to support the church, the relief of those in need, and the spread of the Gospel. We believe that a Christian relinquishes all rights to direct the use of the tithe or offering once the gift has been made (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 John 3:17).
(W) BAPTISM AND THE LORD’S SUPPER:
We believe that the New Testament baptism is the immersion in water of a born-again believer in the name of the Father, pf the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, with the authority and approval of the local church to show forth in a solemn and beautiful emblem our faith in the crucified, buried, and risen Savior, as is pictured our death to sin and resurrection to a new life (Malt, 28:19, 20); and that it is pre-requisite to the privileges of church membership and to the observing of the Lord’s Supper. We believe the Lord’s Supper should always be preceded by solemn self-examination and that the sacred use of unleavened bread and the fruit of the vine are to commemorate together the dying love of Christ until He returns (Matt. 26:26-29; 1 Cor. 11:30).
SECTION 2— AUTHORITY OF STATEMENT OF FAITH
The 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. We do believe, however, that the foregoing statement of faith accurately represents the teaching of the Bible, and therefore is binding upon all members.
SECTION 3- COVENANT -
Having been led, as we believe, by the Spirit of God, to receive the Lord Jesus Christ as our Savior, and on profession of our faith, having been baptized in the name of our Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, we do now, in the presence of God, angels, and this assembly, most solemnly and joyfully enter into covenant with one another, as one body in Christ.
We engage, therefore by the aid of the Holy Sprit of God, to walk together in Christian love; to strive for the advancement of this church in knowledge, holiness and comfort; to promote its prosperity and spirituality; to sustain its worship, ordinances, discipline, and doctrines; to give it a sacred preeminence in all institutions of human origin; to contribute cheerfully and regularly to the support of the ministry, the expenses of the church, the relief of the poor, and the spread of the Gospel through all nations.
We also engage to maintain family and private devotions, to religiously educate our children; to seek the salvation of our kindred, acquaintances, and all others; to walk circumspectly in the world; to be just in our dealings, faithful to our engagements, and exemplary in our deportment; to avoid all tattling, backbiting,, and excessive anger; to abstain from worldly amusements such as, X-rated movies attendance, gambling, rock concerts, and dances; to be free from all oath-bound secret societies and partnerships, or unequally yoke with unbelievers; to abstain from the sale or use of alcohol beverage, or illegal drugs in any form; to abstain from illicit sex (Article U, Section 1 (Q)), and to be zealous in our efforts to advance the kingdom of our Savior.
We further engage to watch over one another in brotherly love; to remember each other in prayer; to aid each other in sickness and distress, to cultivate Christian sympathy in feeling and courtesy of speech; to be slow to take offense, but always ready for reconciliation, and mindful of the rules of our Savior, to secure reconciliation without delay.
We moreover engage, that when we remove from this place, we will as soon as possible, unite with some other church where we can carry out the spirit of this covenant and the principles of God’s Word.
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