 |
 |
|
|
DECLARATION OF FAITH:
This congregation accepts the Bible as its sole authority in matters of faith and practice. We believe the total inspiration of both the Old and New Testaments. We do not, and shall never accept the New International Version, the Revised Standard Version, the New English Version of the Bible, nor any other version such as the Good News for Modern Man, other than for reference or commentary purposes. The authorized version (AV.), King James Version, shall be the official and only translation used by the Church (II Peter 1:20-21). This is for the purpose of cohesiveness and uniformity that it is and shall remain God's effective Word for the English-speaking world. We will teach and preach the truths as true Independent, Fundamental Baptists. For years the Independent Fundament Baptists have taught with special emphasis upon the need to return to New Testament doctrine, fellowship, discipline, organization and holy living for all believers. The exposure of the apostasy, which is ever engulfing and polluting Christianity; and the ministry of the Holy Spirit. We do not now, and will not ever be a part of the ecumenical or modern day charismatic movement (Rev. 17, I Cor. 13:8).
The Holy Scriptures
We believe that the Scriptures of the Old and New Testament were inspired of God, that the original writings were inerrant and that they are of supreme and final authority. We further believe that God is capable and has kept His word perfect and intact down through the ages. God's Word, as we have it in the King James Version (the AV.), is complete, total, inerrant, infallible and preserved. It is His written revelation to man. In the Bible we have everything that He cares to reveal to man. Within the Bible itself, God has made it evident that He has given to us everything that we need to lead a Spirit-filled life. The King James Version of the Bible shall be the official and only translation used by the church. (II Peter 1:21, II Tim. 3:16-17
DISPENSATIONAL
We believe that the Scriptures interpreted in their natural, literal sense reveal divinely determined dispensations or rules of life, which define man's responsibilities in successive ages. These dispensations are not ways of salvation, but rather are divinely ordered stewardships by which God directs man according to His purpose. Three of these dispensations ( the Age of the Law, the Age of the Church and the Age of the Kingdom) are the subjects of detailed revelation in Scripture. (Gen. 1:28; I Cor. 9:17; II Cor. 3:9-18; Gal. 3:13-25; Eph. 1:10; Col. 1:24-25,27; Rev. 20:2-6)
THE GODHEAD
We believe in one God, eternally existing in three persons - Father, Son and Holy Spirit - each co-eternal in being, co-identical in nature, co-equal in power and glory, having the same attributes and perfection. God is Creator of the universe; He is perfect in Holiness, omniscient, rich in grace, supreme in love and omnipotent. God is merciful in the affairs of mankind, He hears and answers prayers and He saves from sin and death all that come to Him through Jesus Christ. God is one, no more and no less; God the Father, God the Son(Jesus Christ) and God the Holy Spirit. ( Gen. 1:1; Gen. 1:28; Matt. 3:16-17; Matt. 28:19; Acts 5:3-4; I Cor. 9:17; II Cor. 3:9-18; Gal. 3:13-25; Eph. 1:10; 3:2-10; Col. 1:24-25,27; Rev. 20:2-6)
WORK OF CHRIST
We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God, has no beginning or end. We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ became man without ceasing to be God, having been conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary, in order that He might reveal God and redeem sinful men. Jesus Christ is the founder and Chief Cornerstone of this church. (Isa. 7:14; 9:6; Luke 1:35; 14:2; II Cor. 5:5-21; Gal. 4:4-5; Phil. 2:5-8)
We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ accomplished our redemption through His death on the cross as a representative, vicarious, substitutionary sacrifice. Our justification is made sure by His literal physical resurrection from the dead. (Acts 2:18-36; Rom. 3:24-25; 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, as our High Priest, He fulfills the ministry of Representative Intercessor and Advocate. No man or priest has the ability to usurp Christ's position. (Isa. 7:14; Acts 1:9-10; Heb. 9:24; 7:25; Rom. 8:34; I John 2:1-2)
The Person and Work of the Holy Spirit
We believe that the Holy Spirit is a person who convicts the world of sin, of righteousness and of judgment. He is the Supernatural Agent in regeneration, indwelling and sealing the believers unto the day of redemption. (John 16:8-11; Rom. 8:9; II COR. 3:6; Eph. 1:13-14)
We believe that He is the Divine Teacher who assists believers to understand and appropriate the Scriptures. It is the privilege and duty of all the believers to be filled with the Spirit. (Eph. 1:17,18; 5:18; I John 2:20,27)
We believe that God is sovereign in the bestowal of spiritual gifts to every believer. God uniquely uses evangelists, pastors, missionaries and teachers to equip believers in the assembly in order that they can do the work of the ministry. (Rom. 12:3-8; I COR. 12:4-11,28; Eph. 4:7-12)
The Total Depravity of Man
We believe that man was created in the image of God that he sinned, which incurred not only an eventual physical death but also an immediate spiritual death (which causes separation from God). All human beings are born with a sinful nature and are now sinners by birth and by choice, positively inclined to evil and are therefore under just condemnation to eternal ruin and hell without defense or excuse. Man is totally depraved and is utterly unable to remedy his lost condition. (Gen. 1:26-27; 2:17 Psalms 51:5; Rom. 1:20; 3:22-23; 5:12-21; 6:23; I COR. 2:14; Eph. 2:1-3; 4:17-19)
Salvation
We believe that salvation is the gift of God brought to man by grace and received by personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ whose precious blood was shed on Calvary for the forgiveness of sins. (John 1:12; Eph. 1:7; 2:8-10; I Pet. 1:18-19)
Baptism by Immersion
We believe that immersion is the only form of baptism revealed and commanded in the Scriptures. The new birth, which comes through repentance and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, is the Scriptural prerequisite to baptism. We believe baptism has no saving power, since it is only for those who are capable of believing for themselves, and who are already saved. It is being obedient to Jesus Christ in identifying with His death, burial and resurrection. (MATT. 3:13-16; Acts 2:38; Rom. 6:3-5; Eph. 4:15; I Peter 3:21)
The Eternal Security and Assurance of Believers
We believe that all the redeemed, once saved, are kept saved by the saving power of our Lord Jesus Christ and thus secure in Christ forever. (John 6:37-40; 10:27-30; Rom. 8:1,38-39; I COR. 1:4-8; I Peter 1:4-5)
We believe that it is the privilege of believers to rejoice in the assurance of their salvation through the testimony of God's Word, which, however, clearly forbids the use of Christian liberty as an occasion to the flesh. (Rom. 13:13-14; Gal. 5:13; Titus 2:11-15)
The Church
We believe that a church is a congregation of baptized 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. The Church offices are pastor and deacon whose qualifications, claims and duties are clearly defined in the Scriptures. We believe the true mission of the Church is to worship and adore God and to be faithful witnesses of Christ to all men as we have opportunity. We hold that the local church has the absolute right of self-government, free from the interference of any hierarchy, individuals or organizations; and that the one and only superintendent is Christ, through the Holy Spirit. It is scriptural for the true churches to cooperate with each other in teaching the faith and for furtherance of the Gospel. Each local church is the sole judge of the measure and method of its cooperation. The will of the local church is final on all matters of membership, policy, government, discipline and benevolence. (Acts 2; Matt. 16:15-18; 28:19-20)
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 are commanded of God. (Rom. 12:1-2; 14:13; II COR. 6:14-7:1; II Tim. 3:1-5; I John 2:15-17; II John 9-11)
The Second Advent of Christ
We believe in that “Blessed Hope”, the personal, imminent return of Christ who will rapture His Church prior to the sever-year tribulation period. At the end of the tribulation Christ will personally and visibly return with His saints to establish His earthly Messianic Kingdom that was promised to the nation of Israel. (Psalm 89:3-4; Dan. 2:31-45; Zech. 14:4-11; I Thess. 4:13-18; Titus 2:13; Rev. 3:10; 19:11-16; 26:1-6)
The Eternal State
We believe in the bodily resurrection of all men, the saved to eternal life, and the unsaved to judgment and everlasting punishment. (Matt. 25:46; John 5:28-29; 11:25-26; Rev. 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 where in conscious bliss they await the first resurrection when spirit, soul and body are reunited to be glorified forever with the Lord. (Luke 23:43; II COR. 5:8; Phil. 1:23; 3:21; I Thess. 4:16-17; Rev. 20:4-6)
We believe that the souls of the unbelievers remain, after death, in conscious punishment and torment until the second resurrection when the soul and body reunited they shall appear at the Great White Throne Judgment, and shall be cast into the Lake of Fire not to be annihilated; but to suffer everlasting conscious punishment and torment. (Matt. 25:41-46; Mark 9:43-48; Luke 16:19-26; II Thess. 1:7-9; Jude 6-7; Rev. 20:11-15)
The Lord's Supper
We believe that the Lord's Supper is a memorial of the death of Christ and that only those who have been saved through faith in His atoning blood and are walking in obedient fellowship with Him ought to partake of it. We further believe that only Christians in good standing with the Lord should partake of the Lord's Supper. “Patuxent Baptist Church practices closed communion”. (I Cor. 11:23-32; Matt. 26:26-28) NOTE: See Article VI - 1.
Church Offices
We believe that the Bible teaches that only men should hold the following two offices of the church: Pastor and Deacon. (Phil. 1:1, I Tim. 3)
The Personality of Satan
We believe that Satan is a person, the author of sin and the primary influence in the fall of man; that he is the open and declared enemy of God; and that he shall be eternally punished in the Lake of Fire. (Job 1:6-7; ISA. 14:12-17; Matt. 4:2-11; 25:41; Rev. 20:10)
Creation
We believe that God created the universe in six literal, 24-hour periods. We reject evolution, the Gap Theory, the Day-Age Theory and Theistic Evolution as unscriptural theories of origin. (Genesis 1-2; Ex. 20:11)
Civil Government
We believe that God has ordained and created all authority consisting of three basic institutions: the home, the church and the state. Every person is subject to these authorities, but all (including the authorities themselves) are answerable to God and governed by His Word. God has given each institution specific Biblical responsibilities and balanced those responsibilities with the understanding that no institution has the right to infringe upon the other. The home, the church and the state are equal and sovereign in their respective Biblically assigned spheres of responsibility under God. (Rom. 13:1-7; Eph. 5:22-25; Heb. 13:17; I Peter 2:13-14)
Human Sexuality
We believe that God has commanded that no intimate sexual activity be engaged in outside of marriage between a man and a woman. We believe that any form of homosexuality, lesbianism, bisexuality, bestiality, incest, fornication, adultery and pornography are sinful perversions of God's gift of sex. Any employee of the church becoming pregnant or causing pregnancy as a result of consensual intercourse, outside of the marriage relationship, shall be terminated from employment. (Gen. 2:24; Gen. 19:5, 13; Gen. 26:8-9; Lev. 18:1-30; Rom. 1:26-29; I COR. 5:1; 6:9; I Thess. 4:1-8; Heb. 13:4)
We believe that the only legitimate marriage is the joining of one man and one woman. (Gen. 2:24; Rom. 7:2; I Cor. 7:10; Eph. 5:22-23)
We believe that men and women are spiritually equal in position before God but that God has ordained distinct and separate spiritual functions for men and women in the home and the church. The husband is to be the leader of the home and men are to be the leaders (pastors and deacons) of the church. Accordingly, only men are eligible for licensure and ordination by the church. (Gal. 3:28; Col. 3:18; I Tim. 2:8-15; 3:4-5, 12)
Divorce and Remarriage
We believe that God intends a marriage to last until one of the spouses die. Although divorced and remarried persons or divorced persons may hold positions of service in the Church and be greatly used of God for Christian service, they may not be considered for the offices of pastor or deacon. (Mal. 2:14-17; Matt. 19:3-12; Rom. 7:1-3; I Tim 3:2,12; Titus 1:6)
Abortion
We believe that human life begins at conception and that the unborn child is a living human being. Abortion constitutes the unjustified, unexcused taking of unborn human life. Abortion is murder. We reject any teaching that abortions of pregnancies due to rape, incest, birth defects, gender selection, birth or population control, or the mental well being of the mother are acceptable. (Job 3:16; Psalms 51:5; 139:14-16; Isa. 44:24; 49:1,5; Jer. 1:5; 20:15-18; Luke 1:44)
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. As ambassadors of Christ we must use all available means to go to foreign nations and not wait for them to come to us. (Matt. 28:19-20; Mark 16:15; Luke 24:46-48; John 20:21; Acts 1:8; II Cor. 5:20)
Lawsuits between Believers
We believe that Christians are prohibited from bringing civil lawsuits against other Christians or the church to resolve personal disputes. We believe the church possesses all the resources necessary to resolve personal disputes between members.
We do believe, however, that a Christian may seek compensation for injuries from another Christian's insurance company as long as the claim is pursued without malice or slander. (I Cor. 6:1-8; Eph. 4:31-32)
Giving
We believe that every Christian, as steward of that portion of God's wealth entrusted to him, is obligated to support his local church financially. We believe that God has established the tithe as basis for giving but that every Christian should also give other offerings sacrificially and cheerfully to the support of the Church, the relief of those in need and the spread of the Gospel. We believe that a Christian relinquishes all rights to direct the use of the tithe or offering once the gift has been made. (Gen. 14:20; Prov. 3: 9-10; Acts 4:34-37; I Cor. 9:6-7; Gal. 6:6; Eph. 4:28; I Tim. 5:17-18; I John 3:17)
AUTHORITY OF STATEMENT OF FAITH:
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; however, the foregoing Statement of Faith accurately represents the teaching of the Bible; and therefore, is binding upon all members. All literature used in the church shall be in complete agreement with the Statement of Faith.