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 centre of Christian union and the supreme standard by which all human conduct, creeds, and opinions should be tried.
a) 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.
b) 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.
2 Tim 3:16-17; 2 Pet 1:1-21; Acts 1:16
We believe that there is one, and only one, living and true God, and infinite, intelligent Spirit, the maker and supreme ruler of heaven and earth; inexpressibly glorious in holiness and worthy of all possible honour, 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.
Ex 20:2-3; 1 Cor 8:6; John 4:24; Mark 12:30; Matt 28:19; John 17:5; Phil 2:5-6; Eph 2:18
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.
Matt 28:19; 2 Thes 2:7; John 3:3-6; John 16:7-15: John 14:26
We believe that Satan was once holy, and enjoyed heavenly honours; 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.
Ezek 28:14-19; Isa 14:12-15; Eph 2:2; 2 Cor 4:3-4;2 Cor 11:13-15; Rev 12; Matt 25:41; Rev 20:10
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”.
Gen 1:1; Col 1:16-17: Heb 11:3; John 1:3; Gen 1:26-27; Gen 2:21-23; Gen 1:11; Gen 1:24
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 defence or excuse.
Rom 5:12; Ron 5:19; Rom 3:10-19; Eph 2:1-3
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 of can ever be born of woman, and that He is both the Son of God, and God, the Son.
Gen 3:15; Isa 7:14; Matt 1:18; Gal 4:4; John 1:1 & 14
We believe that the salvation of sinners is wholly of grace; through the mediatorial offices of the Son of God, who by appointment of the Father, freely took upon Him our nature, yet without sin, honoured the divine law by His personal obedience, and by His death made a full and substitutional 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 cross. He is every way qualified to be a suitable, a compassionate and all-sufficient Saviour.
Eph 2:8-9; Heb 2:9; 1 Pet 3:18; Rev 22:8-9
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 received 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, by 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.
John 3:3;2 Pet 1:4; John 1:12-13; Eph 2:1
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 penitent and an obedient faith; and nothing prevents the salvation of the greatest sinner on earth but his own voluntary rejection of the gospel.
John 3:16-18; Rom 8:29-30; Matt 7:22-23; Titus 2:11
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.
Rom 5:1; Rom 4:1-8; Acts 13:38; Isa 53:11
We believe that Repentance and Faith are the only obligations in salvation. That they are inseparable graces, by which we turn from our own efforts in self-salvation to receive the Lord Jesus Christ as our only, all sufficient saviour.
Acts 20:21; John 1:12-13
We believe that a Baptist Church is a congregation of baptised believers associated by a covenant of faith and fellowship of the gospel; observing the ordinances of Christ; governed by His laws; exercising the gifts, rights, and privileges invested in them by His Word; that is offices of ordination are pastors (Elders, Bishops) and deacons, 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 co-operate 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 co-operation; on all matters of membership, of administration, or government, or discipline, or benevolence.
Eph 4:11; Matt 28:19-20
We believe that Christian baptism is the total 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 Saviour, with its effect in our death to sin and resurrection to a new life; that it is a pre-requisite to the privileges of a church, by the sacred use of bread and the fruit of the vine are to commemorate together the death and resurrection of Christ; preceded always by solemn self-examination.
Matt 28:19-20; Acts 2:41-42: Matt 3:6; Matt 3:16; 1 Cor 11:23-28
We believe that the final destiny of the true believer rests completely on the keeping power of God. That the salvation we have in Christ is a completed work which God has performed for those who are saved.
Rom 4:4-5; Rom 6:23; Phil 1:6; 1 Cor 5:5; John 5:24; Eph 2:10
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 the 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 peace of the saved and the everlasting conscious suffering of the lost.
Mal 3:18; Gen 18:23; Rom 6:17-18; Prov 11:31
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 honoured 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.
Rom 13:7; 2 Sam 23:3; Ex 18:21-22; Acts 23:5
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 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 visible; 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.”
Matt 28:6-7;Acts 1:11;Luke 24:39; John 20:27; 1 Cor 15:4
The command to give the gospel to the world is clear and unmistakable and this Commission was given to the churches.
Matt 28:18-20; Mark 16:15; John 20:21; Rom 10:13-15
Scriptural giving is one of the fundamentals of the faith. 2 Cor 8:7. We are taught to bring our gifts into the storehouse (common treasury of the church) upon the first day of the week. 1 Cor 16:2; Heb 7:2; Matt 23:23