I am a Fundamentalist Christian, who attends an Independent Baptist Church. I choose to hang my entire belief system solely on the Word of God, as He
has in errantly revealed to man. I will allow no man to add doctrine or tradition above this scripture. I believe that the 1611 translation of the King James
Bible is by far the most accurate English translation ever, regardless of its supposed "antiquity". I choose to believe that God, in His perfect and powerful
way, blessed this translation and has continued to keep it available for us today. I trust fully in the power of the Holy Spirit to open its pages to my
understanding, and that He will continue to do so as I mature in my Christianity over time... as He will for anyone who elects to approach Bible study with childlike faith.
I believe that Jesus Christ is the only bridge to God available to sinful mankind. This bridge was built by Christ's sacrificial death and resurrection. Only repentance
(the forgiveness of sins) and the acceptance of the Lord Jesus Christ are necessary for salvation. The only "work" involved is admitting that you are sinful, and therefore
"outside looking in" concerning God's Holy Kingdom, and are in need of Jesus Christ. "Good works" are not necessary for salvation, but should be the desire of the Christian to
please the Lord. If salvation and spiritual growth are not present, one's faith should be re-examined.
The Scriptures:
Inspiration
All scripture is inspired by God and is therefore, inerrant and infallible (2 Tim 3:16).
The Bible is our final authority in all manners of life, faith, and practice. (2 Pet 1:19; 2 Tim 3:16).
The Bible is God's complete revelation to man. It does not merely contain God's words but is wholly God's Word.
No books, no verses, no punctuation, nothing, will be added or removed by God, nor is anything to be added or
removed by man (Deut. 4:2, Pro. 30:6, Rev. 22:19) His revelation to man has been completed forever.. (Psalm 119:89)
Preservation
God has not only inspired His word but has also promised to preserve it (Psalm 12:6,7; Isaiah 50:8).
God's inspired word is preserved, wholly, inerrantly and infallibly in the King James Authorized Bible of 1611, the only version with no proven error. All other versions are corrupt
and should not be used. (even for personal study).
It is not only the meaning of God's words which have been preserved but the very words of God. (Luke 4:4)
The Masoretic Text of the Old Testament and the Received Text of the New Testament (Textus Receptus) are those texts of the original languages we accept and use; the
Authorized 1611 King James Version of the Bible is the only English version we accept and use. The Bible is our sole authority for faith and practice.
Heaven:
We believe in a literal place called Heaven, where God's presence is manifested, where Jesus sits at his right hand and angels reside. We believe that it is a place where the
Christian goes immediately upon death and where all the saved shall ultimately be. (Gen. 1:1, Mark 16:19, John 3:13)
Hell:
We believe in a literal burning hell that God prepared for the Devil and his angels; That it is a place of present, everlasting, conscious suffering and punishment of the unbelieving
dead. Moreover, we hold that it is the final abode of all living and dead who have not received the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior. (Mark 9:43, Rev. 20:14)
The Godhead:
We believe in one Triune God, eternally existing in three persons--Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, co-eternal in being, co-identical in nature, co-equal in power and glory, and having
the same attributes and perfections.
(Deuteronomy 6:4; II Corinthians 13:14).
The Person and Work of Christ:
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 a virgin named Mary,
in order that He might reveal God and redeem sinful men. (John 1:1-2, 14; Luke 1:35; Isaiah 9:6; 7:14; Philippians 2:5-8; Galatians 4:4-5).
We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ accomplished our redemption through His finished work on the cross as a substitutionary sacrifice; and that our justification is made sure
by His literal, physical resurrection from the dead. (Romans 3:24-25; I Peter 2:24; Ephesians 1:7; I Peter 1:3-5).
We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ ascended to Heaven, and is now exalted at the right hand of God, where He fulfills the ministry of Intercessor for the children of God.
(Acts 1:9-10; Hebrews 9:24, 7:25; Romans 8:34; I John 2:1-2).
The Person and Work of the Holy Spirit:
We believe that the Holy Spirit is indwelling in all believers and sealing them unto the day of redemption
(John 16:8-11; II Corinthians 3:6; Romans 8:9; Ephesians 1:13-14).
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 that 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.
(II Corinthians 12:12; I Corinthians 13:8; Hebrews 2:3-4; Mark 16:17-20; I Corinthians 1:22, 14:21-22).
In addition, I believe that speaking in tongues had passed away when the last apostle died, and that being filled with the Spirit has nothing to do with you getting more of the Spirit,
but the Spirit getting more of you.
The Devil or Satan:
We believe that he is a real person, a spirit-being who was once Holy, and lived in the presence of God but through pride and ambition to be as the Almighty, he fell and drew after
him a host of angels; He is the enemy of God and Christ, and therefore the avowed enemy of all truly born-again Christians. He is the accuser of the saints, the author of all false
religions, and who's mission is to have all worship him. We hold however, that he is destined to final defeat and the judgment of God in the eternal lake of fire, a place prepared for
him and his angels.
(Is. 14:12-17, Matt 4:1-11, John 8:44, Rev. 12:9-10; 20:1-2, 7-10)
Man:
We believe that man was created in the image and likeness of God, but that in Adam's sin the race fell, and mankind inherited a sinful nature, and became alienated from God;
and that man is totally unable to remedy his lost condition (Genesis 1:26-27; Romans 3:22-23; Ephesians 2:1-3, 12).
The Way of Salvation:
We believe that the clear message of salvation is, “repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ”. (Acts 20:21). We believe that salvation is "by grace" plus
nothing minus nothing. We believe that men are justified by faith alone and are accounted righteous before God only through the merit of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
(Ephesians 2:8-10; John 1:12; I Peter 1:18-19)
We believe that all the redeemed, once saved, are kept by God's power and are thus secure in Christ forever. We believe that eternal life is the present possession of every
believer. We believe that salvation is not only a gift from the Lord, but also is sustained by the Lord.
(John 6:37-40, 10:27-30; Romans 8:1, 38-39; I Corinthians 1:4-8; I Peter 1:4-5; Jude 1, 2).
The Church:
We believe that the New Testament church is a local assembly of baptized believers who have voluntarily joined themselves together to carry out the Great Commission. The Lord
is doing His work in this world through local churches. The establishment and continuance of local churches are clearly taught and defined in the New Testament Scriptures (Acts
14:27; 20:17, 28-32; I Timothy 3:1-13; Titus 1:5-11).
We believe in the autonomy of the local church is free of any external authority or control. Christ is the only head of the church. (Acts 13:1-4, 15:19-31, 20:28; Romans 16:1, 4; I
Corinthians 3:9,16; 5:4-7,13; I Peter 5:1-4).
THE LORD’S DAY: We believe that Sunday is the Lord’s Day and should be an observance of worship and spiritual devotion (1 Corinthians 16:2; Revelation 1:10).
Note: The Church did not start at Pentecost! Acts 2:41 Says that the 3,000 were added not started.
The Ordinances of the Church:
We believe that the local church observes two ordinances — baptism and the Lord’s Supper. We believe that all who have received Christ as Lord and Savior should be baptized
by water immersion in the likeness of the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ; and that the Lord’s Supper should be observed in remembrance of Him by local Church
members only and that the elements are unleavened bread and fruit of the vine. (Grape Juice)
(Matthew 26:17–30; 28:19–20; Romans 6:3–6; 1 Corinthians 11:23–26).
Biblical Separation:
We believe that all the 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 (II Timothy 3:1-5; Romans 12:1, 2, 14:13; I John 2:15-17; II John 9-11; II Corinthians 6:14-7:1).
The Return of Christ:
We believe the "Blessed Hope" of our Lord's return is very soon, literal, personal, visible, imminent, pre-millennial, and will be pre-tribulation. Believers will be caught up to be with
the Lord prior to the seven years of tribulation, and at the end of the tribulation Christ will return with His saints to establish His thousand-year reign on the earth.
(I Thessalonians 4:13-18; Titus 2:13; I Thessalonians 1:10; Revelation 3:10; Zechariah 14:4-11; Revelation 19:11-16; Rev. 20:1-6; Psalm 89:3-4)
The After Life:
We believe in the bodily resurrection of all men, the saved to eternal life, and the unsaved to judgment and everlasting punishment. (Matthew 25:46; John 5:28, 29, 11:25-26;
Revelation 20:5-6, 12-13).
We believe that the souls of the redeemed are, at death, absent from the body and present with the Lord.
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. We are committed to world missions through prayer, sending, and giving for missionaries of like faith and are sent out
of the Local Church. (Matthew. 28: 19-20; Mark 16:15; Luke 24:46-48; John 20:21; Acts 1:8; 2 Corinthians. 5:20).
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 established
the tithe (10%) as a basis for giving but that every Christian should also give other offerings sacrificially and cheerfully to the support of the Church, and Missions (Genesis 14:20;
Proverbs 3:9–10; Acts 4:34–37; 1 Corinthians 16:2; 2 Corinthians 9:6–7; Galatians 6:6; Ephesians 4:28; 1 Timothy 5:17–18; 1 John 3:17). Note: The Baker Bunch still faithfully
gives our Tithes, Offerings, and Missions to our Home (Sending Church) Grace Baptist Church, Because we want God’s Blessings in our lives and on this Ministry. If you really
want to see God’s blessings, Try Giving!
Music:
We believe that God’s Word establishes clear standards with regard to music totally apart from personal tastes. We believe that Godly, triumphant, melodious, traditional music
alone meets those Biblical standards and that only such music is acceptable for the worship and service of God. These standards exclude what is commonly known as
Contemporary Christian Music (CCM), and any form of the rock beat
(Ephesians 5:9–10, 18–19; Colossians 3:16–17; 1 Thessalonians 5:21–22).
This 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.
B.A.P.T.I.S.T
Bible authority - God's Word is inerrant and authoritative
Autonomy of the local new testament church
Priesthood of the believer (access to God)
Two Biblical offices: Pastor & Deacon
Individual soul liberty (responsibility)
Separation of Church and State (no state mandated church)
Two ordinances: Baptism by immersion & Lord's Supper
has in errantly revealed to man. I will allow no man to add doctrine or tradition above this scripture. I believe that the 1611 translation of the King James
Bible is by far the most accurate English translation ever, regardless of its supposed "antiquity". I choose to believe that God, in His perfect and powerful
way, blessed this translation and has continued to keep it available for us today. I trust fully in the power of the Holy Spirit to open its pages to my
understanding, and that He will continue to do so as I mature in my Christianity over time... as He will for anyone who elects to approach Bible study with childlike faith.
I believe that Jesus Christ is the only bridge to God available to sinful mankind. This bridge was built by Christ's sacrificial death and resurrection. Only repentance
(the forgiveness of sins) and the acceptance of the Lord Jesus Christ are necessary for salvation. The only "work" involved is admitting that you are sinful, and therefore
"outside looking in" concerning God's Holy Kingdom, and are in need of Jesus Christ. "Good works" are not necessary for salvation, but should be the desire of the Christian to
please the Lord. If salvation and spiritual growth are not present, one's faith should be re-examined.
The Scriptures:
Inspiration
All scripture is inspired by God and is therefore, inerrant and infallible (2 Tim 3:16).
The Bible is our final authority in all manners of life, faith, and practice. (2 Pet 1:19; 2 Tim 3:16).
The Bible is God's complete revelation to man. It does not merely contain God's words but is wholly God's Word.
No books, no verses, no punctuation, nothing, will be added or removed by God, nor is anything to be added or
removed by man (Deut. 4:2, Pro. 30:6, Rev. 22:19) His revelation to man has been completed forever.. (Psalm 119:89)
Preservation
God has not only inspired His word but has also promised to preserve it (Psalm 12:6,7; Isaiah 50:8).
God's inspired word is preserved, wholly, inerrantly and infallibly in the King James Authorized Bible of 1611, the only version with no proven error. All other versions are corrupt
and should not be used. (even for personal study).
It is not only the meaning of God's words which have been preserved but the very words of God. (Luke 4:4)
The Masoretic Text of the Old Testament and the Received Text of the New Testament (Textus Receptus) are those texts of the original languages we accept and use; the
Authorized 1611 King James Version of the Bible is the only English version we accept and use. The Bible is our sole authority for faith and practice.
Heaven:
We believe in a literal place called Heaven, where God's presence is manifested, where Jesus sits at his right hand and angels reside. We believe that it is a place where the
Christian goes immediately upon death and where all the saved shall ultimately be. (Gen. 1:1, Mark 16:19, John 3:13)
Hell:
We believe in a literal burning hell that God prepared for the Devil and his angels; That it is a place of present, everlasting, conscious suffering and punishment of the unbelieving
dead. Moreover, we hold that it is the final abode of all living and dead who have not received the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior. (Mark 9:43, Rev. 20:14)
The Godhead:
We believe in one Triune God, eternally existing in three persons--Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, co-eternal in being, co-identical in nature, co-equal in power and glory, and having
the same attributes and perfections.
(Deuteronomy 6:4; II Corinthians 13:14).
The Person and Work of Christ:
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 a virgin named Mary,
in order that He might reveal God and redeem sinful men. (John 1:1-2, 14; Luke 1:35; Isaiah 9:6; 7:14; Philippians 2:5-8; Galatians 4:4-5).
We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ accomplished our redemption through His finished work on the cross as a substitutionary sacrifice; and that our justification is made sure
by His literal, physical resurrection from the dead. (Romans 3:24-25; I Peter 2:24; Ephesians 1:7; I Peter 1:3-5).
We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ ascended to Heaven, and is now exalted at the right hand of God, where He fulfills the ministry of Intercessor for the children of God.
(Acts 1:9-10; Hebrews 9:24, 7:25; Romans 8:34; I John 2:1-2).
The Person and Work of the Holy Spirit:
We believe that the Holy Spirit is indwelling in all believers and sealing them unto the day of redemption
(John 16:8-11; II Corinthians 3:6; Romans 8:9; Ephesians 1:13-14).
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 that 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.
(II Corinthians 12:12; I Corinthians 13:8; Hebrews 2:3-4; Mark 16:17-20; I Corinthians 1:22, 14:21-22).
In addition, I believe that speaking in tongues had passed away when the last apostle died, and that being filled with the Spirit has nothing to do with you getting more of the Spirit,
but the Spirit getting more of you.
The Devil or Satan:
We believe that he is a real person, a spirit-being who was once Holy, and lived in the presence of God but through pride and ambition to be as the Almighty, he fell and drew after
him a host of angels; He is the enemy of God and Christ, and therefore the avowed enemy of all truly born-again Christians. He is the accuser of the saints, the author of all false
religions, and who's mission is to have all worship him. We hold however, that he is destined to final defeat and the judgment of God in the eternal lake of fire, a place prepared for
him and his angels.
(Is. 14:12-17, Matt 4:1-11, John 8:44, Rev. 12:9-10; 20:1-2, 7-10)
Man:
We believe that man was created in the image and likeness of God, but that in Adam's sin the race fell, and mankind inherited a sinful nature, and became alienated from God;
and that man is totally unable to remedy his lost condition (Genesis 1:26-27; Romans 3:22-23; Ephesians 2:1-3, 12).
The Way of Salvation:
We believe that the clear message of salvation is, “repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ”. (Acts 20:21). We believe that salvation is "by grace" plus
nothing minus nothing. We believe that men are justified by faith alone and are accounted righteous before God only through the merit of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
(Ephesians 2:8-10; John 1:12; I Peter 1:18-19)
We believe that all the redeemed, once saved, are kept by God's power and are thus secure in Christ forever. We believe that eternal life is the present possession of every
believer. We believe that salvation is not only a gift from the Lord, but also is sustained by the Lord.
(John 6:37-40, 10:27-30; Romans 8:1, 38-39; I Corinthians 1:4-8; I Peter 1:4-5; Jude 1, 2).
The Church:
We believe that the New Testament church is a local assembly of baptized believers who have voluntarily joined themselves together to carry out the Great Commission. The Lord
is doing His work in this world through local churches. The establishment and continuance of local churches are clearly taught and defined in the New Testament Scriptures (Acts
14:27; 20:17, 28-32; I Timothy 3:1-13; Titus 1:5-11).
We believe in the autonomy of the local church is free of any external authority or control. Christ is the only head of the church. (Acts 13:1-4, 15:19-31, 20:28; Romans 16:1, 4; I
Corinthians 3:9,16; 5:4-7,13; I Peter 5:1-4).
THE LORD’S DAY: We believe that Sunday is the Lord’s Day and should be an observance of worship and spiritual devotion (1 Corinthians 16:2; Revelation 1:10).
Note: The Church did not start at Pentecost! Acts 2:41 Says that the 3,000 were added not started.
The Ordinances of the Church:
We believe that the local church observes two ordinances — baptism and the Lord’s Supper. We believe that all who have received Christ as Lord and Savior should be baptized
by water immersion in the likeness of the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ; and that the Lord’s Supper should be observed in remembrance of Him by local Church
members only and that the elements are unleavened bread and fruit of the vine. (Grape Juice)
(Matthew 26:17–30; 28:19–20; Romans 6:3–6; 1 Corinthians 11:23–26).
Biblical Separation:
We believe that all the 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 (II Timothy 3:1-5; Romans 12:1, 2, 14:13; I John 2:15-17; II John 9-11; II Corinthians 6:14-7:1).
The Return of Christ:
We believe the "Blessed Hope" of our Lord's return is very soon, literal, personal, visible, imminent, pre-millennial, and will be pre-tribulation. Believers will be caught up to be with
the Lord prior to the seven years of tribulation, and at the end of the tribulation Christ will return with His saints to establish His thousand-year reign on the earth.
(I Thessalonians 4:13-18; Titus 2:13; I Thessalonians 1:10; Revelation 3:10; Zechariah 14:4-11; Revelation 19:11-16; Rev. 20:1-6; Psalm 89:3-4)
The After Life:
We believe in the bodily resurrection of all men, the saved to eternal life, and the unsaved to judgment and everlasting punishment. (Matthew 25:46; John 5:28, 29, 11:25-26;
Revelation 20:5-6, 12-13).
We believe that the souls of the redeemed are, at death, absent from the body and present with the Lord.
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. We are committed to world missions through prayer, sending, and giving for missionaries of like faith and are sent out
of the Local Church. (Matthew. 28: 19-20; Mark 16:15; Luke 24:46-48; John 20:21; Acts 1:8; 2 Corinthians. 5:20).
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 established
the tithe (10%) as a basis for giving but that every Christian should also give other offerings sacrificially and cheerfully to the support of the Church, and Missions (Genesis 14:20;
Proverbs 3:9–10; Acts 4:34–37; 1 Corinthians 16:2; 2 Corinthians 9:6–7; Galatians 6:6; Ephesians 4:28; 1 Timothy 5:17–18; 1 John 3:17). Note: The Baker Bunch still faithfully
gives our Tithes, Offerings, and Missions to our Home (Sending Church) Grace Baptist Church, Because we want God’s Blessings in our lives and on this Ministry. If you really
want to see God’s blessings, Try Giving!
Music:
We believe that God’s Word establishes clear standards with regard to music totally apart from personal tastes. We believe that Godly, triumphant, melodious, traditional music
alone meets those Biblical standards and that only such music is acceptable for the worship and service of God. These standards exclude what is commonly known as
Contemporary Christian Music (CCM), and any form of the rock beat
(Ephesians 5:9–10, 18–19; Colossians 3:16–17; 1 Thessalonians 5:21–22).
This 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.
B.A.P.T.I.S.T
Bible authority - God's Word is inerrant and authoritative
Autonomy of the local new testament church
Priesthood of the believer (access to God)
Two Biblical offices: Pastor & Deacon
Individual soul liberty (responsibility)
Separation of Church and State (no state mandated church)
Two ordinances: Baptism by immersion & Lord's Supper
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