WHAT WE BELIEVE

I. The Bible >> The Bible is the Word of God given by inspiration of God and preserved through the ages by His providence. The King James Version of the Bible is faithfully and accurately translated from the original languages, and thus is the Word of God for English-speaking people. The Bible is our sole authority for faith and practice.

II. God >> God is the sole, sovereign, holy Ruler of the universe. The Bible teaches that He is omnipotent, omnipresent, and omniscient. He is a triune Being composed of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, different in personalities but one in essence.

III. Jesus Christ >> Jesus Christ is the eternally existant Son of God. By Him, the world was created, and by Him the world is upheld. He was incarnated into the world by means of the virgin birth, being made in every aspect like men, yet without sin. He lived a perfect life on earth, proclaiming the truth from God, His Father. He was betrayed into the hands of men and was crucified. His death on the cross was a substitutional atonement made for all mankind. Three days after He died, He resurrected physically and bodily. Forty days after His resurrection, He ascended to heaven where He continually intercedes for those who have trusted Him as Saviour. He has promised to return to earth for His bride and establish His kingdom.

IV. The Holy Spirit >> The Holy Spirit is a Person, not merely an essence, force, or power. It is He who convicts the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment. It is He who empowers the Christian to live a holy life acceptable to God and serve Him profitably. He was sent from the Father by the Son as the Comforter. The sign gifts endowed by the Holy Spirit were for the days of the apostles only. They were sent to confirm the words of the apostles. Now that we have been given the completed canon of Scripture, we have a more sure word of prophecy and no further need of signs.

V. Mankind >> God created man from the dust of the earth and placed him in the garden of Eden. Adam and Eve disobeyed God and plunged themselves and their descendents into a state of sin and spiritual death. Now man is naturally destitute of any spiritual good. He cannot come to God on his own nor does he will to come to God. If a man does not come God through Jesus Christ, he will be eternally judged in a literal fiery hell.

VI. Salvation >> Salvation from our sinful nature and its accompanying punishment can come only through the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ that He shed on the cross for all of mankind. Salvation is by grace through faith alone. Only by trusting the finished work of Christ and His resurrection from the dead can one be saved from the penalty of sin. All those who by faith have accepted Christ are eternally saved. Everlasting life has become their present possession that they cannot lose.

VI. The Church >> Today, God's work is done through the local church. God has promised that the gates of hell would not prevail against only one organism, the local church. Therefore, it is of great necessity for a missionary to be sent by a local church to his field. It is our conviction that the teaching of the Baptists is the body of doctrine that the Bible teaches. Churches should be independent, autonomous bodies. The Lord has given the church two ordinances: baptism and the Lord's Supper.

VII. Biblical Separation >> God expects His people to live holy lives, separated unto God from the world. In addition, God also expects that His people separate from all religious apostasy and those who participate in it.

VIII. The Return of Christ >> Christ has promised that in the same manner in which He left earth, He would come again. Christ has promised both a premillennial, pretribulational rapture of the saints and a second coming after the seven years of tribulation, in which He will judge the world and establish His kingdom.

IX. Our Eternal State >> God has promised that there will be a bodily resurrection of all mankind. Those who have been saved will be given eternal life in heaven with Christ. Those who have rejected Christ will receive eternal, conscious punishment in the Lake of Fire.

[end]