Our Statement of Faith

Of the Scriptures:
We believe that the Holy Bible as originally written was verbally inspired and the product of Spirit controlled men, and therefore has truth without a mixture of error for its matter. We believe that it is the true center of Christian union and the only infallible rule for all human conduct, creeds and opinions. We are King James only.  II Timothy 3:16-17; II Peter 1:19-21

Of the True God:
We believe that there is only one living and true God, infinite in every excellence; that in the unity of the Godhead there are three personal distinctions, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, one in substance and equal in every divine perfection. Exodus 20:2, 3; I Corinthians 8:6; I John 5:7.

We believe in the absolute Deity of the Son, the Lord Jesus Christ: that He was divine as no other man can be, being very God of very God, existing from all eternity co-equal with the Father and the Spirit; that He never ceased to be God for one instant and that His humiliation did not consist in laying aside His deity; that as a man He was miraculously begotten of the Holy Ghost and born of the virgin Mary. John 1:1, 2; I John 5:20; Matthew 1:20; Luke 1:26-38.

We believe that the Holy Spirit is a divine person, equal with the Father and Son and of the same substance and nature; that He convicts of sin, righteousness, and judgment; bears witness to the truth; is the agent of the New Birth and that He seals, endues, guides, teaches, witnesses to, sanctifies and helps the believer, indwelling every true child of God. II Corinthians 13:14; John 14:16, 17; Romans 9:14-27.

Of the Devil, or Satan:
We believe that Satan is a distinct personality, that he is the god of this age, author of all the powers of darkness and sin, and is destined to the judgment of an eternal justice in the lake of fire. Matthew 4:1-3; II Corinthians 4:4; Revelation 20:10.

Of Creation:
We believe that God created the heaven and the earth, including all life, “each after its own kind,” by direct act and not by the process of evolution. Genesis 1, 2; Colossians 1:16; John 1:3.

Of the Fall of Man:
We believe that man, in the person of the first Adam, was created in innocence but by voluntary transgression fell into sin thus plunging the whole race into condemnation and death, so that now all mankind is born in sin and shapen in iniquity and become practical sinners with the first expression of personal choice, not by constraint, but by choice, and so are without excuse before God. Genesis 3; Romans 5:10-19.

Of the Atonement for Sin:
We believe that the only escape from the condemnation of sin is through the atonement wrought by Jesus Christ, when He voluntarily took upon Him a human body and nature, yet without sin, and by His suffering, death, and resurrection made full satisfaction to the justice of God for the sin of man; that the blessings of this salvation are given on the grounds of grace to all who believe and confess and that it is the immediate duty of all to accept these offers of mercy. John 1:1-3; 14; 3:1-7; Hebrews 10:4-14; Acts 16:30-33.

Of Salvation by Grace:
We believe that faith in the finished work of the Lord Jesus Christ is the only condition of salvation from sin and that this salvation from sin is wholly by grace; that no works, however good, make that salvation more secure. Act 16:31; Ephesians 2:8, 9; Titus 3:5-7; Romans 10:9-13

We believe that all who take Christ as their Savior are born from above and are eternally secure in Christ. John 1:28, 29; Romans 8:35-39; Philippians 1:6.

Of the Church:
We believe that the church, the Body of Christ, is a New Testament institution, established by Jesus Christ, who is its sole Head; revealed through the holy Apostles; empowered and perpetuated by the Holy Spirit; composed of believers in Jesus Christ as Savior, both Jew and Gentile, called out from the world and indwelt by the Holy Spirit; His “body” of service and His “bride” for glory. It began with the New Testament saints and will be consummated at the coming of Christ in the rapture. Matthew 18:18; Acts 1:8; 41-47; 15:14; Romans 16:26; I Corinthians 12:12-28; Ephesians 1:22-23; 3:21; 5:32-33; I Thessalonians 4:13-18. Matthew 18:18; Acts 1:8; 41-47; 15:14; Romans 16:26; I Corinthians 12:12-28; Ephesians 1:22-23; 3:21; 5:32-33; I Thessalonians 4:13-18.

We believe that the church is manifest through the local church which is a congregation of immersed believers, associated by covenant by His laws; exercising the gifts, rights and privileges invested in it by His work; that its officers are bishops (pastors), and deacons, that it has the absolute right of self-government directed by the Holy Spirit and is answerable only to Christ, and that in all matters of membership, policy, government, discipline and benevolence, the will of the local church is final. Matthew 18:15-17; I Corinthians 1:2; 6:4-5; 7:17; 11:16; I Timothy 3:1-15.

Of the Ordinances:
We believe that there are two church ordinances: baptism and the Lord’s Supper. Baptism is the immersion of a believer in water and is properly called “Believer’s Baptism.” It sets forth in a beautiful solemn way our faith in a crucified, buried and risen Savior, with its effects in our lives of death to sin and resurrection to a new life. Baptism is a pre-requisite to the privileges of church relation. The Lord’s Supper is the commemoration of our Lord’s death until He come, and our continual fellowship with Him; should be preceded by baptism and always by careful self-examination. Acts 8:36-39; Romans 6:17-23; I Corinthians 11:23-32.

Of the Righteous and Wicked:
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 Christ, and sanctified by the Spirit of God, are truly righteous in God’s esteem; while all such who continue in impenitence and unbelief are in His sight wicked, and under the curse; and that this distinction holds among men both in and after death, in the everlasting felicity of the saved and everlasting conscious suffering of the lost. Malachi 3:18; Romans 6:17-23; Matthew 25:34-41; Luke 6:25; John 8:22.

Of the Return of Christ:
We believe in the bodily, personal, imminent, pre-millennial return of Jesus Christ; that He will come before the seven-year tribulation period to catch away His church, only into the air, and that He will come with His church at the close of the tribulation to judge the living nations and to set up His kingdom. I Thessalonians 4:13-18; Matthew 25:31-46; Revelation 19:11-21.

Of the Resurrection:
We believe in the resurrection of the bodies of the dead; that believers who sleep in Jesus will be raised at the coming of Christ for His church and caught up with transformed living saints to meet the Lord in the air, and that the wicked dead will be raised at the close of the millennial kingdom and stand in their bodies at the Great White Throne judgment to receive their final doom. John 5:21-30; I Thessalonians 4:16; Revelation 7:9-17; 20:11-15.

Our Lifestyle Statement

What We Practice:
This is how we seek to put into practice our beliefs so as to give them value and allow them to effect our daily lives. These will fit the acrostic BAPTIST.

Bible As Our Sole Authority:
“And that from a child thou hast known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.” II Timothy 3:15

Autonomy of Local Church:
“And He is the head of the body, the church;” Colossians 1:18

Christ is the recognized head of our church, not any person, group, or religious organization. While recognizing the value of associating and cooperating with other groups of Christians, we believe every local church should be self-governing and independent from any denominational control.

Priesthood of Every Believer:
“And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father.” Revelation 1:6

“But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light.” I Peter 2:9

The Bible teaches that every Christian is called to “full time” Christian service, regardless of his or her vocation. We practice the truth that every believer is a minister by encouraging every member to find a place of service and ministry. Every believer has direct access to God through prayer and Bible reading.

Tithing:
“And all the tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land, or of the fruit of the tree, is the LORD’s:  it is holy unto the LORD.” Leviticus 27:30

At Bible Baptist, we practice tithing for the support of Christ’s body, the church, as God commands. We recognize that giving 10% of our income is the biblical standard of giving.

Immersion:
“Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.” Colossians 2:12

We practice baptism by immersion under water–the way Jesus was baptized, and the way the Bible commands.

Spirit-Led Living:
Jesus said, “I am the vine, ye are the branches:  He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit:  for without me ye can do nothing.”  John 15:5

We believe the only way possible to live the Christian life is by God’s power within us. So we seek to practice daily dependence on God’s Spirit to enable us to do what is right. Philippians 2:13; Ephesians 5:18.

Telling Others About Christ:
“…and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear.” I Peter 3:15

It is the responsibility of every Christian to share the Good news with those with whom God brings us into contact. We practice personal sharing about Christ and inviting friends to church.

Helpful Resources

Bible Baptist Church - 2522 Gentry Memorial Hwy. Pickens, SC 29671 - Pastor Mark Dibler 864-421-2714

Macedonia World Baptist Missions - P.O. Box 519 Braselton, GA 30517; 706-654-2818; www.mwbm.org

Ronald and Tennille Downey - Bethania Baptist Chapel, Elan Valley, Wales - Bethania Baptist Chapel, Elan Valley, Wales, UK (Facebook page)