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Bible Baptist Church Doctrinal Statement

Article III of the Bylaws
Declaration of Faith

Click on one of the main section headings to go to and read about that section of Bible Baptist Church's Doctrinal Statement.

  1. The Scriptures
  2. The True God
  3. Salvation
  4. The Devil
  5. Creation
  6. The Fall of Man
  7. The Church
  8. Separation
  9. Civil Government
  10. Israel
  11. The Rapture and Subsequent Events
  12. The Righteous and the Wicked

Section 1 – The Scriptures:

Sub-Section A: Inspiration and Inerrancy
We believe that the sixty-six books that comprise the Old and New Testaments as found in the Masoretic and Majority (Textus Receptus) texts, and only these books, were inspired of God as originally written; that inspiration is verbal and plenary, by which we mean that the very words and even letters were God-breathed, and were so in their totality. We believe that God, Who is Truth, communicated the truth through men of God who were directed by the Holy Spirit in such a way that the Scriptures are without any error.

Sub-Section B: Preservation
We believe that the Bible has been and shall be supernaturally preserved throughout all ages by God's protection. We believe God has promised in both the Old and New Testament to preserve His Words as given to us in the original Hebrew/Aramaic and Greek texts. By His providential care, we believe God has kept His word pure down through the ages as He promised, and we reaffirm our belief in what our Baptist forefathers wrote in the London Baptist confession of 1677 and 1689. It states in part:
The Old Testament in Hebrew,(which was the native language of the people of God of old), and the New Testament Greek (which at the time of the writing of it was generally known to the nations) being immediately inspired by God, and by his singular care and providence kept pure in all ages, are therefore authentical;

Sub-Section C: Authority
We believe that the Bible is the supreme revelation of the will of God for man, and that it constitutes the only infallible rule and authority for all matters of which it speaks and in all matters to which it addresses itself.
We believe that the Bible is authoritative, sufficient, and trustworthy, and by God's providence always will be the true center of Christian unity and the supreme standard by which all human conduct, creed and opinion shall be tried. (Psalm 119:89; Isaiah 40:8; Matthew 5:18; 15:4-6; Mark 12:36; John 10:34-35; Acts 1:16; Romans 3:1-4; Galatians 3:16; II Timothy 3:15-17; Hebrews 4:12; I Peter 1:24-25; II Peter 1:19-21; Revelation 22:18-19).

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Section 2 – The True God:

We believe there is one and only one living and true God, and infinite Spirit, the Maker and Supreme Ruler of heaven and earth; inexpressibly glorious in holiness, and worthy of all possible honor, confidence, and love; and that in the unity of the Godhead there are three persons, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, equal in every divine perfection and executing distinct but harmonious offices in the great work of redemption (Exodus 20:2-3; I Corinthians 8:6; Revelation 4:11).

Sub-Section A: God the Son: The Lord Jesus Christ
Paragraph 1. The Virgin Birth of Christ:
We believe that, as provided and proposed by God and as pre-announced in the prophecies of the Scriptures, the eternal Son of God came into this world that He might manifest God to men, fulfill prophecy and become the Redeemer-substitute: that He was begotten of the Holy Spirit in a miraculous manner; born of Mary, a virgin, as no other man was ever born, or can be born of woman; and that he is the Son of God and God the Son. Jesus Christ is both perfect God and perfect man (Genesis 3:15; Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:18-25; Luke 1:35; John 1:1-5, 14).

Paragraph 2. His Person:
We believe in the essential, absolute, eternal Deity and the real and proper, but perfect and sinless, humanity of our Lord Jesus Christ; that Christ is the eternal Son of God, and God the Son, the Second Person of the Trinity, being co-equal, co-eternal, and of the same essence as God the Father; that He united in one person undiminished Deity and perfect, sinless humanity.

Paragraph 3. The Resurrection, Ascension, and Priesthood of Christ:
We believe in the bodily resurrection of Christ and in the ascension into heaven where He now sits at the right hand of the Father as our High Priest interceding for us (Matthew 28:6-7; Luke 24:39; John 20:27; I Corinthians 15:4; Mark 16:6-19; Luke 24:2-6, 51; Acts 1:9-11; I Timothy 2:5; Hebrews 2:17; 5:9-10; 8:6; I John 2:1; Revelation 3:21).

Sub-Section B: The Holy Spirit:
Paragraph 1. His Person and Presence:
We believe that the Holy Spirit is a divine person, equal with God the Father and God the Son and of the same essence; that He was active in the creation.

Paragraph 2. His Ministries:
We believe that the Holy Spirit's relation to the unbelieving world is that He restrains the evil one until God's purpose is fulfilled; 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 indwells, seals, empowers, guides, teaches, witnesses, sanctifies, and helps the believer. Every true believer receives the indwelling of the Holy Spirit at the time of salvation (Genesis 1:1-3; Matthew 28:19; Mark 1:8; Luke 1:35; 24:49; John 1:33; 14:16-17, 26; 16:8-11; Acts 11:16; Romans 8:14, 16, 26-27; I Corinthians 12:13; Ephesians 1:13-14; Hebrews 9:14).

Paragraph 3. His Temporary Gifts:
We believe that the Holy Spirit equips believers for service by bestowing upon them spiritual gifts. The charismatic gifts (such as tongues, healing, casting out of demons, etc.) as found in I Corinthians 12:8-10 and Mark 16:17-18 were temporary signs given to the apostles and prophets for the writing of the New Testament, until the close of the canon, and are not operative today. The Holy Spirit's charismatic gifts have ceased, but we do believe that God in His goodness does still heal and deliver from demons (At the same time, we do not doubt the sincerity of some who wrongly claim to practice these things). (Romans 12:1-8; I Corinthians 12-14; Ephesians 2:20; 3:3-5; 4:4-16; II Corinthians 12:11-12; Hebrews 2:4).

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Section 3 – Salvation:

We believe that the salvation of sinners is divinely initiated and wholly of grace through the mediatorial offices of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, Who, by the appointment of the Father, voluntarily took upon Himself our nature, yet without sin, and honored the divine law by His personal obedience, thus qualifying Himself to be our Savior; that by the shedding of His blood in His death He fully satisfied the just demands of a holy and righteous God regarding sin; that His sacrifice consisted not in setting us an example by His death as a martyr, but was a 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 tree; and, that having risen from the dead, He is now enthroned in heaven and uniting in His wonderful person the tenderest sympathies with divine perfection. He is in every way qualified to be and is a suitable, a compassionate, and an all-sufficient Savior (Acts 15:11; 16:30-31; Romans 3:24-25; John 3:16; Philippians 2:7-8; Hebrews 2:14-18; Isaiah 53:4-7; I John 4:10; I Corinthians 15:3-4; II Corinthians 5:21; I Peter 2:24).

Sub-Section A: Appropriation
We believe that salvation is wholly a work of God, performed from beginning to end by Him, and that unsaved man can not do anything to save himself, or make himself more acceptable to God in order to merit God's saving him. God therefore commands man to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ as the only means of appropriating salvation.
Repentance is a change of mind and purpose toward God prompted by the Holy Spirit and is an integral part of saving faith (Ecclesiastes 3:14; Ephesians 2:8-9; John 3:15-16, 18; Acts 15:11; 16:30-31; Romans 3:24-25; I Corinthians 15:3-4; II Corinthians 5:21; I Peter 2:24).

Sub-Section B: Grace and the New Birth:
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 receives eternal life, the free gift of God; that the new creation is brought about solely by God by the power of the Holy Spirit through faith in the truth of the Gospel (John 3:3, 8; 5:1; Acts 16:30-31; Romans 6:23; I Corinthians 15:1-4; II Corinthians 5:17; Ephesians 2:1-9; Colossians 2:13; II Peter 1:4; I John 5:1-13).

Sub-Section C: Justification:
We believe that justification is that judicial act of God whereby He declares the believer righteous upon the basis of the imputed righteousness of Christ; and that it is bestowed, not in consideration of any works of righteousness which we have done, but solely through faith in the Redeemer's shed blood (Romans 3:24; 4:4-5; 5:1, 9; Galatians 2:16; Philippians 3:9).

Sub-Section D: The Security of the Saints:
We believe that all who are truly born again are eternally kept by God the Father for Jesus Christ. This security of the believer is dependent on the work of Christ alone and not the work of the believer. (John 10:28-29; Romans 8:35-39; Philippians 1:6; Jude 1).

Sub-Section E: Sanctification:
We believe that the sanctifying work of God in relation to the believer is a setting apart of the believer unto God and from sin. Sanctification encompasses the following: first, judicial sanctification; second, experiential sanctification; and third, complete sanctification (Romans 6:5-6; Ephesians 1:4, 18; I Thessalonians 1:9).

Paragraph 1. Judicial Sanctification
Judicial Sanctification is the work of God the Father wherein the believer as been positionally declared holy and without blame. This declaration was based on the merits of the redemptive work of Christ through the shedding of His blood. As an eternal act of God, judicial sanctification was fully accomplished by Christ through His death, burial, and resurrection, and nothing in the experiential life of the believer can change this standing.
Every believer is thus a saint and there will never be any past, present, or future condemnation brought against him (John 17:1-3, 16-20; I Corinthians 1:30; Ephesians 1:18; 2:11-14; Jude 1).

Paragraph 2. Experiential Sanctification
Experiential Sanctification is the work of God the Holy Spirit wherein the believer is being practically made to conform to the image of Christ. This is an ongoing process in which the believer is personally responsible to apply the Word of God in his daily walk. While experiential sanctification is progressive in nature, its progress may be hindered by disobedience, since the believer retains his sin nature, which cannot be eradicated in this life.
His sin nature is still operative in the believer's present state, even though he has been judicially declared to be dead indeed unto sin. Though he is admonished to strive to be holy as God is holy, it is impossible for him to reach a state of sinless perfection until he is present with the Lord.
Holiness in the life of the believer is effected through the Word of God by faith, obedience, prayer, godly fellowship, the blessed hope, and chastisement (Romans 6:2, 6-11; 8:4; I Corinthians 6:9-11; I Peter 1:2; I John 1:9).

Paragraph 3. Complete Sanctification
Complete Sanctification is the work of the Son of God wherein the believer is perfectly transformed to the image of Jesus Christ. Though complete sanctification does not occur until the believer is home with the Lord, either in death, or in the rapture for those who remain until His coming, it will be an instantaneous transformation to be like Christ when he sees Him as He is. The eradication of the believer's sin nature does not await the resurrection of his body, though the believer's body will be like Christ's glorious body as well. A proper understanding of complete sanctification precludes any notion of purgatory, since Christ already accomplished the purging of the believer's sin by His work of Sanctification (Romans 6:5-6; 14:7-9; Ephesians 1:14; 5:26-27; Hebrews 2:9-13; 10:9-14).


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Section 4 – The Devil (Satan):

We believe in the reality and personality of Satan, the Devil; that he was created by God as an angel, but through pride and rebellion became the enemy of his Creator; and that he became the unholy god of this age, the ruler of all the powers of darkness, and is destined to the judgment of an eternal justice in the lake of fire (Isaiah 14:12-17; Ezekiel 28:11-19; Matthew 4:1-11; II Corinthians 4:4; II Thessalonians 2:8-10; Revelation 20:10).


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Section 5 – Creation:

We believe the Biblical account of the creation of the physical universe, angels, and man; that this occurred in six literal solar days; that this account is neither allegory nor myth, but a literal, historical account of the direct, immediate, creative acts of God without any evolutionary process; that man was created by a direct work of God and not from previously existing forms of life; and that all men are descended from the historical Adam and Eve, the first parents of the entire human race (Genesis 1, 2; Colossians 1:16-17; John 1:3).

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Section 6 – The Fall of Man:

We believe that man was created in innocence (in the image and likeness of God) under the law of his Maker, but by voluntary transgression Adam fell from his innocent and happy state, and all men sinned in him, in consequence of which all men are totally depraved, are partakers of Adam's fallen nature, and are sinners by nature and by conduct, and therefore are under just condemnation without defense or excuse (Genesis 3:1-6; Romans 1:18, 32; 3:10-19, 23; 5:12, 19).

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Section 7 – The Church:

Sub-Section A: Definition and Autonomy of the Local Church:
We believe that a local church is an organized congregation of immersed believers, associated by 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. We believe that the true mission of the church is the faithful evangelizing of all men. 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 cooperate with each other in contending for the faith and for the furtherance of the gospel; that each local church is the sole judge of the measure and method of its cooperation; and that on all matters of membership, policy, government, discipline, and benevolence, the will of the local church is final (Acts 2:41-42; 15:13-18; 20:17-28; I Corinthians 11:2; 12:12-13; Ephesians 1:22-23; 3:1-6; 4:11; 5:23; Colossians 1:18; I Timothy 3:1-13).

Sub-Section B: The Ordinances of the Local Church:
We believe that Christian baptism is the single immersion of a believer in water to show forth in a solemn and beautiful emblem our identification with the crucified, buried and risen Savior, through Whom we died to sin and rose to a new life; that baptism is to be performed under the authority of the local church; and that it is prerequisite to church membership.
We believe that the Lord's Supper is the commemoration of His death until He comes, and should be preceded always by solemn self-examination. We believe that the Biblical order of the ordinances is baptism first and then the Lord's Supper, and that participants in the Lord's Supper should be immersed believers (Matthew 3:16; 28:18-20; Acts 2:41-42; 8:36-39; Romans 6:3-5; I Corinthians 11:23-33; Colossians 2:12).

Sub-Section C: Church Officers:
We believe that the Head of the Church has ordained two offices in the local church, pastor and deacon. First Timothy three defines their character and qualifications and establishes their rank. Neither a pastor nor a deacon may have been divorced nor married to a divorced woman. The Holy Spirit's direction in the choice of men is through the election by the congregation.
There is no valid ordination of women. The first office is described by three Biblical terms: bishop, elder, and pastor. They are different perspectives on the same office. We believe there is no division between the ruling and teaching elders. All elders are bishops and must be "apt to teach."

Sub-Section D: The Authority of the Local Church:
The local church has authority from the Head to choose its own officers, to discipline and dismiss members, to appoint messengers, to commission missionaries, to choose the time and place of meetings which includes the observance of the two ordinances, to initiate financial policy and accountability, and to judge grievances between members. The areas of authority granted to the pastor and the local church should be exercised in a harmonious balance. The deacons assist the pastor in implementing and supervising the policies and programs of the local church (Mark 10:11-12; Acts 6:3-5; 11:29-30; 14:23; 19:39; 20:28-31; Romans 7:1-3; I Corinthians 5:1-13; 6:1-5; 9:11-14; Galatians 6:6; Ephesians 1:22; Philippians 1:1; I Thessalonians 5:12-13; I Timothy 3:1-6, 10-13; 5:17-18; II Timothy 4:2; Titus 1:5-9; I Peter 5:1-4).

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Section 8 – Separation:

We believe in the Biblical doctrine of separation which encompasses the following: (1) the separation of the local church from all affiliation, fellowship and cooperation with those who deny the true Christian faith, and (2) the separation of the individual believer from all worldly practices that would dishonor the Savior. We believe that the church should refuse to be drawn into compromising alliances, even with well-meaning evangelical people, for by such compromise our testimony would be impaired and our position confused. Specifically, we reject the concept that our church should cooperate with unbelievers and apostate churches even if by so cooperating beneficial results may seem to be produced (II Corinthians 6:14; Ephesians 5:11; II Timothy 3:5; II John 9-11).

Sub-Section A: The Doctrine of Separation Includes:
Paragraph 1. Personal Separation
We believe that the believer is to be in the world, but not of it, having no friendship, affiliation, nor identification with it.

Paragraph 2. Ecclesiastical Separation
We believe in Ecclesiastical separation, and preach against apostasy, and withdraw from brethren who enter into memberships, affiliations and fellowships (including evangelistic crusades, youth movements, mission agencies, and schools) which seek to unite separatist fundamentalists with those who deny Biblical doctrines, including those who do not obey the Biblical teaching on separation.

Paragraph 3. Political Separation
We believe that political separation prohibits the establishment of a state church or government interference with the doctrines and practices of churches (Luke 20:25; John 15:18-21; 17:12-16; 18:36; Romans 16:16-17; II Corinthians 6:14-17; Galatians 1:6-9; Ephesians 5:11; Philippians 3:20; II Thessalonians 3:6, 14; II Timothy 4:2; Titus 1:9-16; James 4:4; I Peter 1:16, 18; I John 3:1, 13).

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Section 9 – Civil Government:

We believe that civil government is of divine appointment for the interests and good order of human society; and that magistrates are to be prayed for, conscientiously honored, and obeyed, except in those things opposed to the will of our Lord Jesus Christ Who is the only Lord of the conscience, and the coming King of Kings (Daniel 3:17-18; Matthew 22:21; Acts 4:19-20; 5:29; 23:5; Romans 13:1-7).

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Section 10 – Israel:

We believe in the sovereign selection of Israel as God's eternal covenant people, that she is now dispersed because of her disobedience and rejection of Christ, and that she will be regathered in the Holy Land and, after the completion of the church, will be saved as a nation at the second advent of Christ (Genesis 13:14-17; Ezekiel 37; Romans 11:1-32).

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Section 11 – The Rapture and Subsequent Events:

We believe in the pretribulational, premillenial rapture of the church by Jesus Christ, an event which can occur at any moment, and that at that moment the dead in Christ shall be raised in glorified bodies, the living in Christ shall be given glorified bodies without tasting death, and all of them shall be caught up to meet the Lord in the air before the seven years of tribulation (I Corinthians 15:42-44, 51-54; Philippians 3:20-21; I Thessalonians 4:13-18).

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Section 12 – The Righteous and the Wicked:

We believe that there is a radical and essential difference between the righteous and the wicked; that only those who are justified by faith in our Lord Jesus Christ and sanctified by the Spirit of our God are truly righteous in His esteem, while all such as continue in unbelief are in His sight wicked and under the curse; and that this distinction holds among men both in this life and after death, in the everlasting contentment of the saved and the everlasting conscious suffering of the lost in the lake of fire (Genesis 18:23; Proverbs 14:32; Malachi 3:18; Matthew 25:34-41; Luke 16:25; John 8:21; Romans 6:17-18, 23; I John 5:19; Revelation 20:14-15).


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March 14, 2009 3:11 PM