Doctrinal Statement





“...to set forth in order a declaration of those things which
are most surely believed among us . . .” - Luke 1:1.


I. “THE LIVING GOD”: CONCERNING THE TRUE GOD.
We believe the Scriptures teach 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, praise, glory, 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.

II. “THE WORD OF GOD”: CONCERNING THE SCRIPTURES.
We believe that the Holy Bible was written by men supernaturally inspired, and is a perfect treasure of heavenly instruction; that it has God as its Author, salvation for its end, and truth without any mixture of error for its matter; that it reveals the principle by which God will judge us; and therefore is, and will remain to the end of the world, the only complete and final revelation of the will of God to man, the true center of all Christian union, and the supreme standard by which all human conduct, creeds, and opinions should be tried.

III. “THE IMAGE OF GOD”: CONCERNING MANKIND.
We believe the Scriptures teach that God created man in His own image and after His own likeness; that man is notably distinct from all other forms of life, being tripartite in nature and having an everlasting soul; 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 of life.  We believe the Scriptures teach that man was created in innocence under the law of his Maker, but by voluntary transgression through an act of deliberate disobedience fell from that sinless and happy state; in consequence of which all mankind are now sinners, not by constraint but of choice, being by nature utterly void of that holiness required by the Law of God.

IV. “SO GREAT SALVATION”: CONCERNING THE WAY OF SALVATION.

1.        OF SALVATION.
We believe the Scriptures teach that the salvation of sinners is wholly of the grace of God, through the merits of the shed blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. We believe that the inability which the Scriptures ascribe to fallen men to fulfill its precepts arises entirely from their sinful nature; to deliver them from which, and to restore them through a Mediator of unfeigned obedience to the holy Law is the one great end of the Gospel, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures.

2.       OF THE PRIESTHOOD OF BELIEVERS.
We believe the Scriptures teach the priesthood of all believers: that Christ is our Great High Priest and through Him every born-again person has direct access into God’s presence without the need of a human priest; that the believer has the right and responsibility to personally study and interpret the Scriptures guided by the Holy Spirit. John 14:6; Hebrews 4:16; II Timothy 2:15; I Peter 2:1, 5, 9.

V. “POWERS AND PRINCIPALITIES”: CONCERNING THE UNSEEN WORLD.

1. OF ANGELS.
We believe the Scriptures teach that there is a vast celestial kingdom of spirit beings called Angels, in ages past created holy, glorious, and higher than man; a vast company of various ranks worshiping God, ministering to His glorious Person and to His children.

2. OF THE DEVIL.
We believe the Scriptures teach that Satan, as the mighty angel Lucifer, was once holy, enjoying heavenly honors; but that 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”, the unholy god of this world; that he is man's great tempter, the enemy of the Lord Jesus Christ, the accuser of the saints, and the author of all false religions.

VI. “ALL HAVE SINNED”: CONCERNING SIN.      
We believe the Scriptures teach that sin is any transgression of or want of conformity to, the revealed will of God; that it has permeated the entire universe, including every realm and affecting every race and species amongst creation; that every man is born with a sin nature, an inherent inclination toward evil which results in acts of wrong-doing; that the wages of sin is death, being separation from God in this life and throughout eternity.

VII. “I WILL BUILD MY CHURCH”: CONCERNING THE NEW TESTAMENT CHURCH.
We believe the Scriptures teach that a Baptist Church is a congregation of baptized believers, associated by covenant in the 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 only Scriptural offices are pastors (elders, bishops), evangelists, and deacons, whose qualifications, claims, and duties are clearly defined in the New Testament; that the true mission of each church is found in the Great Commission.

VIII. “IN REMEMBRANCE OF ME”: CONCERNING THE ORDINANCES.

1. OF SCRIPTURAL BAPTISM.
We believe the Scriptures teach that baptism is the immersion in water of the believer in Christ, in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, performed with the church’s authority; to show forth in 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.

2. OF THE LORD'S SUPPER.
We believe the Scriptures teach the Lord’s Supper, is a provision of unleavened bread and the fruit of the vine, as symbols of Christ’s body and shed blood commemorating His passion and dying love; preceded always by solemn self-examination.

IX. “AS FOR ME AND MY HOUSE”: CONCERNING THE CHRISTIAN HOME.

1.     OF THE HOME
We believe the Scriptures teach and define the institution of the home: that it was divinely established in the beginning as the union by marriage of a male and female and is the basic unit of society; that each family member, husband, wife, and children, have distinct duties and responsibilities; that it is the responsibility of parents to train up children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord and to provide them Godly instruction through Christian example and formal education. Genesis 2:18-25; 3:16; 18:19; Deuteronomy 6:4-9; 32:46; Psalm 78:5, 6; 127:1-5; Proverbs 3:12; 13:24; 22:6; Isaiah 28:9, 10; Matthew 19:3-9; Ephesians 5:21-33; 6:1-4; Colossians 3:18-21.

2.     OF HUMAN SEXUALITY
We believe the Scriptures teach God’s command 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, and pornography are sinful perversions of God’s gift of sex. We believe that God disapproves of and forbids any attempt to alter one’s gender by surgery or appearance. Genesis 2:24; 19:5; 26:8-9; Leviticus 18:1-30; Romans 1:26-29; 1 Corinthians 5:1; 6:9; 1 Thessalonians 4:1-8; Hebrews 12:4.

3.     OF MARRIAGE
We believe the Scriptures teach the only legitimate marriage is the joining of one man and one woman. A Christian marriage involves two Christians, a covenant of commitment to each other, physical consummation of the union, and commitment to God’s plan for marriage. Genesis 2:24; Romans 7:2; 1 Corinthians 7:10; Ephesians 5:22-23.

X.  “THINGS TO COME”: CONCERNING THE RESURRECTION AND LAST THINGS.
We believe the Scriptures teach that Jesus Christ rose literally and bodily from the dead on the third day; that having ascended into glory, He alone is our merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God; that this same Jesus shall return to earth bodily, personally, and visibly; first to raise the righteous dead and catch up all living believers in the twinkling of an eye, then to return with the saints to set up His glorious kingdom of a millennium of peace and righteousness, having executed judgment upon an unbelieving world; that at the final day of judgment all Christ- rejecting sinners will be raised, judged, and cast into the lake of fire for everlasting damnation, that the saved will live with Him for eternity according to the sure promises of God.

XI. “PERILOUS TIMES SHALL COME”:  CONCERNING MODERN TRENDS IN THEOLOGY

1.  NEO-ORTHODOXY
This theological persuasion is a futile attempt to reconcile, “The higher scientific Biblical criticism with the true Biblical interpretation.”  Such an appeal to Biblical revelation is based on half-truths and as such is false and deceptive. We utterly reject this method and position.

2.  NEO-EVANGELICALISM
This movement, while claiming to be fundamental in theology, has actually compromised the underlying principles of the Christian Faith. It questions inspiration and literal interpretation; it accepts liberals as Christians, takes a new attitude toward the ecumenical movement, promotes ecumenical evangelism, denies both ethical and ecclesiastical separation, restructures eschatology, and over-stresses the social aspects of the Gospel. We hold this stand to be un-Scriptural.

3.  ECUMENICAL MOVEMENT
The attempt to unite the different faiths today on the basis of the least common denominator of doctrine is a betrayal of the unity of believers based upon sound doctrine of the historic Christian Faith. Its dialogue with other religions is dialectical. Its method of operation is subversive and shows a tendency to totalitarianism. Its concept of an ecclesiastical kingdom is not supported by Scripture. We reject all cooperation with this movement.

4.  CHARISMATIC MOVEMENT
We believe that the gift of tongues was given as a sign to Israel and like the gifts of Apostleship and prophecy, which, were for the founding of the church, is therefore not being given today. While we recognize that God may give any gift to His churches at any time, we believe that the current resurgence of the practice of tongues, which is not biblically regulated and which is usually divisive, is not the Scriptural gift. We, therefore, believe that all experiences should be based on the written Word of God.  Further we should seek to use the more important gifts, and cultivate Christ-likeness, none of which requires the use of genuine or spurious tongues. We do not accept the practices of speaking in tongues and the gift of healing.


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Evangelist Wayne McCray and MaxEvangel

Evangelist Wayne McCray and MaxEvangel
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