BIBLE BELIEVERS              BAPTIST CHURCH

 

Due to the various religious organizations, which profess to take the Bible as their guide, as we do; yet differ with us in doctrine, faith, and practice. We feel constrained to set forth a distinct declaration of what we believe; not as a substitute for the Holy Scriptures, but as exponents of what we perceive to be the fundamental doctrines of the Word of God (I Peter 3:14-17)  

 

I. THE SCRIPTURES

We believe that the Holy Bible was written by men Divinely inspired (II Sam. 23:2; Acts 1:16; Rom. 3:1-2; II Peter 1:21) and that is the perfect treasure of heavenly instruction (Ps. 19:7); that it has God for its Author (II Tim. 3:16-17; I Thess. 2:13), salvation for its end (II Tim. 3:15; Acts 1: 14; Rom. 1: 16; 10:8-10; John 5:38-39; 1 Peter 1:10-12), and truth without any mixture of error for its matter (Prov. 30:5-6; John 17:17; Rom. 3:4; Rev. 22:18-19); that it reveals the principles by which God will judge us (John 12:47-48; Rom. 2:12; James 2:12; Deut. 18:19); and therefore is, and shall remain to the end of the world, the true center of Christian union (I Cor. 1:10; Eph. 4:3-6; Phil. 2:1-2; 3:16; I Peter 4:11) and the supreme standard by which all human conduct, creeds, and opinions should be tried (Acts 17:11; II Cor. 13:5; I Thess. 5:21; I John 4:1; Isa. 8:20); that though there are no longer any original autographs of the Bible, that the Lord has providentially preserved His Holy Word in what is commonly called the Masoretic Hebrew Text of the Old Testament, and the Textus Receptus Greek Text of the New Testament, and that the King James Version of the English Bible is a true and faithful translation of these two providentially preserved Texts. We reject modern translations of the scriptures. We only use the King James Version.

 

II. THE TRUE GOD 

We believe that there is one, and only one living and true God (Deut. 6:4; Isa. 43:10-11), an infinite (Ps. 139:7-12; 147:5), intelligent (Acts 15:18), sovereign (Ps. 115:3) Spirit (John 4:24), whose name is JEHOVAH (Ps. 83:18); that He is the Creator (Gen. 1:1) and Supreme Ruler of Heaven and earth (Dan. 4:35; I Chron. 29:11-12); that He is inexpressibly glorious in holiness (Ex. 15:11; Isa. 6:3; 1 Peter 1:15-16; Rev. 4:6-8), and worthy of all possible honor, confidence and love (Jer. 2:12-13; Matt. 10:37; Mark 12:30; Rev. 4:11); that in the unity of the Godhead there are three, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and these three are one (Matt. 28:19; John 15:26; I Cor. 12:4-6; II Cor. 13:14; I John 5:7); that these three are equal in every Divine perfection (John 5:17; 10:30; 14:23; 17:5; Acts 5:3-4; I Cor. 2: 1-13; Phil. 2:5 -6), and execute distinct but harmonious offices in the great work of redemption (Eph. 2:18; II Cor. 13:14; Rev. 1:4-5).

 

III. THE HOLY SPIRIT

We believe that the Holy Spirit is part of the Triune Godhead (Matt. 28:19-20; Col. 2:9); that He is eternal (Heb. 9:14); that He is here to make available and apply the benefits of Christ's death to the elect (John 16:13-15); that all believers have the Holy Spirit, and manifest the fruit of the Holy Spirit (Rom. 8:9-11; Eph. 5:9; Gal. 5:22-23); that He is God's guarantee to believers of a full and complete salvation work (Eph. 1:13-14); and, that He also dwells in and empowers each Baptist church (Acts. 1:8; 2:1-4). We reject the extra-Biblical and unbiblical teaching that He is responsible for the fanaticism (so called tongues, visions, and healing) of our day found among the cults, the "Charismatics", and the "Pentecostals".

 

IV. THE DEVIL OR SATAN

We believe that the Devil or Satan is a personal evil spirit (I Cor. 2:12; Eph. 2:2); that he was formerly a holy angel (Ezek. 28:11-19), from which estate he by transgression fell (Isa. 14:12-17; 1 Tim. 3:6), drawing a host of angels with him (Job 4:18; Matt. 25:41; Rev. 12:3-9); that he is the unholy god of this present age and world-system (John 12:31; 14:30; 16:11; Eph. 2:2-3; II Cor. 4:4); that he is the enemy of God (Zech. 3:1-2; Matt. 13:39), the tempter (Gen. 3:1-6; Matt. 4:3), the accuser of the saints(Job 2:1-7; Rev. 12:10), the father of lies (John 8:44), the author of all false religions (II Cor. 11:13-15; 4:3-4), and the chief power behind apostasy (II Thess. 2:7; I Tim. 4:1); and, that he is destined to final defeat and eternal destruction in the lake of fire (Rev. 20:10).V. THE CREATION We believe that the Genesis account of creation is to be accepted literally and not figuratively or allegorically; that man is the result of the direct creative act of God and is not the product of evolution (Genesis, Chapters 1 and 2; John 1:3; Col. 1:16-17); that God created man in His own image (Gen. 1:26-27; 2:7), and not by or through the process of evolution from lower species; that all animals and vegetable life was likewise directly created (Gen. 1:20-25; John 1:1-3; Col. 1:16; Rom. 1: 18-20) and placed under God’s sacred law that they should bring forth only after their kind (Gen. 1:21-24).

 

VI. THE FALL OF MAN

We believe that man was originally created upright (Eccl. 7:29) and finitely perfect (Gen. 1:27, 31), but by voluntary transgression he fell from his happy and holy state (Gen. 3:6-24); that he totally lost all spiritual life, becoming dead in trespasses and sins and subject to the power of the Devil (II Cor. 4:3-5; Eph.2:2-3); that the sin of Adam was imputed to his entire race (Rom. 5:18-19; I Cor. 15:22), and that the corrupt nature has been transmitted to all his posterity by ordinary generation (Gen. 8:21; Job 14:4; Ps. 51:5; 58:3; Isa. 48:8); and, that every descendant of Adam is by nature a child of wrath (Eph. 2:1-3), totally destitute of spiritual life (John 5:24; Col. 2:13), at enmity with God (Rom. 8:7), wholly inclined to evil (Job 15:16; Jer. 13:23; 17:9) and without strength (Rom. 5:6) or hope (Eph. 2:12) unless made alive by the Holy Spirit (John 3:3, 5; 6:63; II Cor. 3:6), through the merits of the work of Jesus Christ (Titus 3:5-6; Matt. 1:21).

 

VII. THE SOVEREIGNTY OF GOD

We believe that God is absolutely and eternally sovereign; that He does absolutely as He wills, decrees and purposes in heaven, on earth and among the powers of Satan (Dan. 4.34-35; Eph. 1: 11, 3:1 1); that He elected unto salvation some from among Adam's race and ordained these unto eternal life (Acts 13.48, 15:14-15; II Thess. 2:13); that all who were chosen in Christ will be called with the effectual call, justified and ultimately glorified (Rom. 8:29-30); that not one more nor one less than those given unto Christ in the covenant of redemption shall be saved (John 17:2, 6, 8, 11, 12, 24).

 

VIII. THE ETERNAL PURPOSE OF GOD

We believe that election is the eternal (Eph. 1:4), personal (Deut. 7:6; John 15:16; Acts 9:15), unconditional (II Tim. 1:9) purpose of God, according to which He graciously regenerates, sanctifies, and saves lost sinners (Rom. 11:5-6; Eph. 1:3-14; I John 4:19; I Peter 1: 1 -2); that election is not salvation, but unto it (II Thess. 2:13-14; II Tim. 2:10); that election comprehends all the means in connection with the end (Acts 13:48; Rom. 8: 28-3 1; II Thess. 2:13-14; James 1: 17-18); that it is a most glorious display of God’s sovereign goodness being infinitely free, wise, holy, and unchangeable (Ex. 33:18-19; Jer. 31:3; Matt. 20:15; Rom. 9:22-24; 11:32-36; Eph. 1:11); that it utterly excludes boasting (Eph. 2:8-9) and promotes humility, love, prayer, praise, trust in God, and active imitation of His free mercy (I Cor. 1:26-31; 4:7; I Peter 2:9); that it encourages the use of means in the highest degree (I Cor. 9:22; II Tim. 2: 10); that it may be ascertained by its effects in all who truly believe the gospel (I Thess. 1:4-10; Rom. 1:16); that it is the foundation of Christian assurance (Isa. 42:16; Rom. 8:28-31; 11:29); and, that to ascertain it with regard to ourselves demands and deserves the utmost diligence (Phil. 3:12; Heb. 6:11, II Peter 1:10-11).

 

IX. THE VIRGIN BIRTH OF CHRIST

We believe that the eternal Son of God, the Lord Jesus Christ was conceived without a human father (Gal. 4:4), in a miraculous manner in the womb of a virgin named Mary (Isa. 7:14; Matt. 1:18-25) through the overshadowing power of the Holy Spirit (Luke 1:35); that Christ's birth was like no other ever was, nor shall any ever be, like unto it; and, that He is very God of very God, and very man of man, yet without a sinful nature or the slightest capacity to sin (John 1:1-3, 14; 14:30).

 

X. THE WORK OF CHRIST

We believe that the eternal Son of God, by the appointment of the Father freely took upon Himself our nature, yet without sin (Phil. 2:7; Heb. 2:14; 4:15; 7:26; I Peter 2:22-24); that He honored the divine law by His perfect personal obedience (Isa. 42:21; Matt. 5:17; John 17:1-5; Rom. 3:21; Gal. 4:4-5; Heb. 1:8-9), and through His death and the shedding of His blood He made a full and vicarious atonement for the all the sins of all the elect (Isa. 53:1-12; Matt. 20:28; 26:28; John 10:11, 15; 17:2, 9; 19:30; Rom. 4:25; I Cor. 15:1-3; Heb. 9:12-14, 26; I Peter 3:18); 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 elect sinner's place - the Just dying for the unjust (Isa. 53:5, 6, 11, 12); that having risen from the dead He is now enthroned at the right hand of God in Heaven (Heb. 1:8; Col. 3:1-4; Rom. 8:34; I Peter 3:22), uniting in His wonderful Person the tenderest sympathies with Divine perfection; that He is therefore in every way qualified to be a suitable, compassionate and an all-sufficient Savior (Ps. 89:19; Col. 2:9; Heb. 2:18; 7:23-28; 9:11-15; 12:2); that the full benefits of His work is received by faith alone (Rom. 3:20-28) in His shed blood (Rom. 3:24- 25); and, that no repentance, faith, feeling, resolutions, sincere efforts, submission to rules and regulations of any church, baptism, nor any other such thing can in the least way add to the value of the precious blood of the Lord Jesus Christ or His saving work (Titus 3:5).

 

XI. REGENERATION

We believe that in order to be saved, sinners must be regenerated, or born again (John 3:3, 6-7; I Cor. 2:14; II Cor. 5:17, Tit. 3:5); that regeneration consists of giving a holy disposition to the mind (Deut. 30:6; Jer. 24:7; Ezek. 36:26; Gal. 5:6; I John 4:7); that it is effected in a manner above our comprehension by the power of the Holy Spirit, in connection with Divine truth (Ps. 119:50; Prov. 1:23; John 17:20; I Cor. 4:15; James 1:16; I Peter 1:23- 25), so as to secure our voluntary obedience to the gospel (Ps. 110:3; John 6:44-45, 65; II Cor. 10:5; Eph. 1:17-20; I Peter 1:22-25); and, that its proper evidence appears in the holy fruits of repentance (Acts 5:3 1; II Tim. 2:24-25), faith (John 6:29; Acts 18:27; Phil. 1:29; Col. 2:12; I Peter 1:21) and newness of life (Rom. 6:4; I Cor. 6:9-11; I Peter 4:14).

 

XII. THE BLESSINGS OF THE GOSPEL

We believe that the great gospel blessing which Christ secures to those who believe in Him is salvation; that it includes all the Divine redemptive acts of God on behalf of the elect sinner, such as effectual calling, which is the Divine act of God effectually and irresistibly calling the elect sinner to obtain the salvation which Christ purchased for him by His atonement (John 10:26- 28); justification, which is the Divine act of God whereby He declares the elect sinner just before Him solely based on the merits of the work of Christ (Rom. 3:24; 4:25; 5:1; 5:9; 8:30; Acts 13:39; Titus 3:7); grace, the Divine disposition of God wherein He saves the elect sinner, not upon any merit of his own (Eph. 2:5, 9-1 0), but wholly by the work and merit of Christ (John 3:16; I Peter 2:24; 3:18; Rev. 7:13-15); propitiation, the Divine act of God in offering Christ as the sinner’s substitute (Isa. 53:4-6, 11 - 12); imputation, the Divine act of God whereby He imputes or counts the righteousness and excellencies of Christ to the believer (Rom. 4:1-13; II Cor. 5:2; Gal. 3:13; I John 3:5); forgiveness, the Divine act of God by which He remits the sins of a believer (Jer. 31:34; Luke 24:47; Acts 13:38; Eph. 1:7; Col. 2:13; Titus 2-.14); sanctification, the Divine act of God whereby He imparts His holiness to the inner man (Ep. 4:24; II Peter 1:4; I John 3:7), or newly born one, and sets apart the entire man to the service of God (Rom. 6:1-23; II Cor. 7:1; I Thess. 4:3-4; 5:22; II Tim. 2:19-22); glorification, the Divine act of God whereby that part of man which is mortal will be changed into a state and condition of immortality in the resurrection (Rom. 8:11; I Cor. 15:35-57; Phil. 3:20-21; Col. 3:4; I John 3:1-2).

 

XIII. REPENTANCE AND FAITH

We believe that repentance and faith are sacred duties, and also inseparable graces, wrought in our souls by the regenerating Spirit of God, in connection with Divine truth (Acts 11:16-18; I Cor. 12:3, 9; Gal. 5:22; I John 5:1; James 1:18; I Pet. 1:23), whereby being deeply convinced of our guilt, danger, and helplessness (Ps. 116:3-5; Isa. 6:5), and of the way of salvation by Christ (John 16:8; Acts 2:37-38; 16:30-31), we turn to God with unfeigned contrition, confession, and supplication for mercy (Luke 18:13; II Cor. 7:1 1); at the same time heartily receiving the Lord Jesus Christ as our Prophet, Priest, and King, and relying on Him alone as the only and all-sufficient Saviour (Acts 3:22-23; Rom. 10:9-11; II Tim. 1:12; Heb. 7:25).

 

XIV. THE ETERNAL SECURITY OF THE SAINTS

We believe that all who are truly born again are kept by the power God through faith unto salvation (II Kings 6:16; John 4:4; Phil. 1:6; 2:12-13; John 10:28-29; Rom. 8.35-39; Heb. 1:14; 13:5; I Peter 1:3-5; Jude 1:24-25); that their persevering attachment to Christ is the grand mark which distinguishes them from superficial professors (Matt. 13:20-21; John 6:66-69; 13:18; I John 2:19); and, that a special providence watches over their welfare (Ps. 90:1-10; 91:11-12; 121:3, Jer. 32:40; Matt. 6:30-33; Rom. 8:28).

 

XV. THE CHURCH

We believe that a church is always and only a local congregation of scripturally immersed believers who have been scripturally organized (Matt. 28:18-20; Acts 14:22; 15:41; I Cor. 12:13, 27; Eph. 4:5; Titus 1:5), who associate by a covenant of faith and fellowship in the Gospel (Acts 2:41, 47; I Cor. 5:12-13; II Cor. 8: 5); observing the ordinances instituted by Christ; governed by His laws alone; and exercising the gifts, rights and privileges vested in them by His Word (Isa. 33:22; Matt. 28:18-20; I Cor. 11:1-2; Eph. 1:20-23; 5:23; Gal 6:2; James 4:12); that such an assembly is the body of Christ in it locality (I Cor. 12:27); that it is the duty of every saved person to seek to unite with this kind of church (Acts 2:41-47; 9:26-28); that its officers of ordination are pastors, and deacons whose qualifications, claims and duties are clearly defined in the Scriptures (I Tim. 3:1-15; Titus 1:5-9); that the true mission of the church is to faithfully tell sinners of the finished work of Christ, baptize those that savingly received the message about Christ, teach them that believe and are baptized the whole counsel of God, and strive to see more of the Lord's churches planted (Matt 28:18-20; Acts 1:8; 8:4-17; 13:1-3; 14:23-28; 20:27); that each church has the absolute right of self-government, free from the interference of any hierarchy of individuals, organizations, conventions, or governments and that the one and only Head of the church is Christ, through the Holy Spirit (Acts 15:1-31; II Cor. 8:23-24; 11:8-9; Eph. 1:20-23; 5:23-24; Phil. 4:15-16; Col. 1 :18); that the Lord Himself organized the first one of these kind of churches during His personal ministry on earth (Matt. 16:18; John 1; Mark 3:14; Luke 6:12-16; I Cor. 12:28; ); that he solely vested in it and those that should descend from it the great commission (Matt. 28:18-28); the that it is scriptural for these kind of churches to cooperate with each other for the furtherance of the Gospel, in contending for the faith, and in establishing more churches, but that every church is the sole and only judge of the measure and method of its cooperation (Acts 15:1-31; II Cor. 8:19, 23-24); that on all matters of membership, policy, government, discipline, and benevolence the will of the church is final (Matthew 16:18-19). We reject the idea of the "Universal Church". (Acts 2.41-42; 20:17-28; I Tim. 3: 15; I Cor. 12:27; Eph. 2:19-22; 4:4, 11-12).

 

XVI. BAPTISM

We believe that biblical baptism is the immersion of a penitent believer into water in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, not in order to obtain the remission if sins, but to declare that the believer has already been saved by the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, and to show forth in a solemn and beautiful emblem, the believers death to sin and resurrection to walk in the newness of life (Matt. 3:1-17; 28:18-20; John 4:1-2; Acts 8:36-39; Rom. 6:1-11; Col. 2:12; I Peter 3:21); that it is a prerequisite to church membership and participation in the Lord supper (Acts 2:41-47; I Cor. 11:17-34); that in order for baptism to be scriptural and valid it must be administered by the authority of Jesus Christ vested in a true New Testament Church (Baptist) (Matt. 28:18-20; Acts 19:1-7). We heartily reject alien immersion and we will not knowingly fellowship with any so-called Baptist church that knowingly receives alien immersion.

 

XVII. THE LORD'S SUPPER

We believe that the Lord's Supper is not a sacrament, but a solemn symbolic ordinance placed in the church by our Lord Jesus Christ (Matt. 26:26-30), in which members of one church observing the ordinance (I Cor. 11:18, 20, 22-23), by the use of unleavened bread and wine (not mere grape juice) (Ex. 12:15; 13:7; Num. 28:7 Isa. 65:8; Matt 26:29; I Cor. 5:7-8), commune not with one another but with their Lord (II Cor. 10:16); that it shows forth and commemorates the Lord's death until He comes (I Cor. 11:26); that the unity and purity of the church should prevail when it is administered (I Cor. 11:18-34); and, that it should be preceded always by solemn self-examination (I Cor 11:23-31). We heartily reject open communion because it is not scriptural and is destructive to the purity and preservation of the local body. We strictly practice closed communion.

 

XVIII. THE WORK OF MISSIONS

We believe that Jesus Christ gave the New Testament church, as an institution, a world-wide and an age-lasting commission in Matthew 28:19-20 to make disciples of all nations; that the gospel is to be preached to every creature (Mark 16:15; Acts 1:8); that all men everywhere are responsible to repent and believe the gospel (Mark 1:15), and that no accountable person will be saved without hearing and receiving the gospel (Mark 16:16; John 3:18, 36; Rom. 1:16); that the heathen without the gospel are lost and will be judged by the light of nature and conscience (Ps. 19:14; Rom. 2:11-15); that it is the duty of every New Testament Baptist Church to support missionaries who are sent out by the authority of Christ vested in one of His churches (Acts.13:1-5; 14:23-28; I Cor. 9:7-18; Phil. 4:10-20).

 

XIX. THE LORD'S DAY

We believe that the first day of the week is the Lord's Day (Acts 20:7; 1 Cor. 16:1-2; Rev. 1:10); that it is to be kept sacred to commemorate the resurrection and finished work of Christ (Matt. 28:1; John 20:19, 26; Heb. 4:3-11).); that believers should use this day for religious purposes and refrain from secular labor and worldly recreations (Ex. 20:8; Ps. 118:24; Isa. 58:13-14; Heb. 10:25; Rev. 1:10).XX. GODLY LIVING We believe that born again believers should abstain from all appearance of evil (I Thess. 5:22; II Tim. 2:19); that they are to live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present evil world (Titus 2:11-13); that they are to be careful to maintain good works (Titus 3:8; Eph. 2:10); that they are to seek in every possible way to serve Jesus Christ (II Cor. 5:15; Gal. 2:20; I Peter 4:2) and to walk worthy of their high and heavenly calling (Eph. 4:1; Phil. 3:12-14; Heb. 3:1); that failure to do this will result in chastisement, by their heavenly Father (Heb. 12:5-14); and, that continued disobedience proves one is a stranger to the saving grace of God (Rom. 6:11-12, 16-22; I John 3:1-10).

 

XXI. THE DIVINE ORDER OF THE SEXES

We believe that because God first created the man and then the woman and because the woman, not the man was deceived in the transgression, that God has established a role of leadership for the man and a role of subjection and subordination for the woman (Gen. 2 & 3; I Tim. 2:11-15); that men and women by natural generation and divine appointment are different and that they each should strive to act, walk and dress according to their divinely ordained differences (Deut. 22:5; I Tim. 2:9-10; Titus 2:3-5; Pro. 7:10; I Cor.11:14-15; II Pet. 3:11); that this Divinely established order of the sexes is manifested in the home by the husbands assuming the role of the leader, provider, and protector and by the wife submitting to him as his helpmeet (Prov. 31:10-31; I Cor. 11:8-12; Eph. 5:21-33; I Tim. 5:8; Titus 2:4-5; I Peter 3:1-7); that this Divine order is manifested in the church by the man taking the leadership through publicly praying, speaking, and preaching and by the woman keeping silent and wearing a covering in addition to her hair (I Cor. 11:1-16; 14:33-35; I Tim. 2:8-15); that though women may not speak in the church they are free to sing (Eph. 5:19-20; Col. 3:16) and teach women and young children (Titus 2:3-5).

 

XXII. MARRIAGE AND THE FAMILY

We believe that God has established, ordained, and sanctioned marriage (Gen. 2:21-24; Heb. 13:4; Eph. 5:31); that marriage is the covenanting together of one man and one woman to faithfully and continually cohabit together as husband and wife until separated by death or scriptural divorce (Gen. 2:21-24; Matt. 5:31-32; 19:3-12; I Cor. 7:1-17); that the husband and wife relationship is a testimony of the relationship that Christ has with His church (Eph. 5:25-32); that the man is the Divinely appointed loving leader, provider and protector of his wife and family (Eph. 5:25-32; Col. 3:19; I Cor. 11:8-9; 1 Peter 3:7); that the woman is by Divine appointment to be a submissive helpmeet to her husband in the things of the Lord (Col. 3:18; Titus 2:4-5; I Peter 3:1-6); that biblical marriage is the God honoring way to populate the earth (Gen. 1:26-28; I Tim. 5:14; Titus 2:4); that children are a reward and blessing from the Lord (Genesis 1:28; 9:1; 35:10-12; Ps. 127:3-5; 128:1-4; Pro. 17:6); that it is the duty of fathers and mothers to consistently and lovingly train and discipline their children in accordance to the mandates laid down in God's Holy Word (Gen. 18:19 Ex. 12:26-27; 13:14-15; Ps. 78:5; Pro. 22:6; Eph. 6:4; II Tim. 3:15; Pro. 13:24; 19:18; 22:15; 23:13-14; 29:15-17); that it is the duty of children to honor and obey their parents (Ex. 20:12; Matt. 15:4; Eph. 6:1-3). We reject all forms of sexual sins such as fornication, adultery, pornography, polygamy, molestation, and homosexuality because they are forbidden by God and are destructive to marriage, the family, church, and society (Heb. 13:4; I Cor. 5:1; 6:9-11, 18; 7:2. Gal. 5:19; Gen.19:5; Lev. 18:22; 20:13; Rom. 1:26-27).

 

XXIII.CIVIL GOVERNMENT

We believe that civil government is of divine appointment and arrangement, for the best interests and good order of human society (Gen. 9:1-7; Ex. 18:23; Deut. 16:18; 11 Sam. 23:3; Jer. 30:21; Rom. 13:1-7); and, that magistrates are to be prayed for (I Tim. 2:1-3), carefully honored and obeyed (Matt. 22:21; Titus 3:1; I Peter 2:13), except in matters that we believe are opposed to the will of our Lord Jesus Christ (Dan. 3:15-18; Matt. 10:28; Acts 4:18-20; 5:29), Who is the only Lord of men’s conscience, and the Prince of the kings of earth (Ps. 72:1 1; Matt. 23:10; Rom. 14:4, 9-13; Rev. 19:16).

 

XXIV. THE RIGHTEOUS AND THE WICKED

We believe that there is a radical and essential difference between the righteous and the wicked (Gen. 18:23; Prov. 12:26; Isa. 5:20; Jer. 15:19; Mal. 3:18; Acts 10:34-35; Rom. 6:16); that such as are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and sanctified by the Spirit of our God, are truly righteous in God's esteem (Prov. 11:31; Rom. 1:17; 6:18, 22; I Cor. 11:32; I Peter 4: 17-18; I John 3:7); while all such as continue in impenitence and unbelief are in His sight wicked, and under the curse (Ps. 10:4; Isa. 55:6-7; John 3:36; Gal. 3:10; I John 5:19); and this distinction holds among men both in and after death, in the everlasting joy of the saved and the everlasting conscious suffering of the lost (Prov. 10:24; 14:32; Eccl. 3:17; Luke 12:4-5; 16:25; John 8:21-24; Rev. 22:1 1).

 

XXV. THE SECOND COMING OF CHRIST

We believe that the second coming of Christ will be premillennial, bodily, and visible; that at His coming in the air Christ will raise the dead saints in glorified bodies and change living saints and translate them that they should not see death (I Thess. 4:13-18); that at His coming to earth (Matt. 24:29-31) He will sit on the throne of His glory - the throne of David (Isa. 9: 6-7; Luke 1:32-33; Matt. 25:3; Rev. 3:21) ruling and reigning one thousand years (Rev. 20), judging all men then living on the earth (Isa. 11:3-4); that during this time Satan will be bound a thousand years (Rev. 20:1-3), and the saints will reign a thousand years with Christ on earth (Ps. 149: 5-9; Dan. 7:18, 27; 11 Tim. 2:12; Rev. 1:5-6; 2:26-27; 5:9-10; 20: 4-6); that the coming of Christ to the earth will be preceded by the revelation and reign of the Antichrist and a time of great tribulation (Dan. 9:24-27; Rev. 11:1-1 9); that God will pour out his wrath on the Antichrist and his kingdom; and, that the Lord Jesus Christ will return with all the saints for the battle of Armageddon (Rev. 16:14-16; 19:11-21), where He will defeat the Antichrist and all his army and then usher in His glorious literal thousand year kingdom reign (Isa. 11:1-9; with Chapter 64).

 

XXVI. THE RESURRECTIONS

We believe that there will be a resurrection of the dead, both of the righteous and the wicked (Dan. 12:2; John 5:28-29; Acts 24:15; 26:8), but at separate times (Rev. 20:4-6); that the dead in Christ shall rise first (I Cor. 15:23; I Thess. 4:13-18), and that at the end of the one thousand year reign of Christ the wicked will be raised and judged (Rev. 20:4-1 1).

 

XXVII.THE FINAL STATES

We believe that there will be a new heaven and a new earth (Rev. 21:1-5; II Pet. 3:13); that the earth will be redeemed from the curse of sin and fitted as the eternal dwelling place of the people of God (Isa. 66:17; Matt. 5:5; Rom. 8:20-22); that the fitting of the earth for the eternal home of the redeemed will be by a process of purification by fire (II Pet. 3:7-13); that the wicked will be cast, both souls and resurrected bodies (Matt. 10:28; Mark 9:42-49), into the lake of fire and brimstone (Rev. 20:14-15), where they shall be punished forever and ever (Rev. 14: 10 -11; 20:10, 15; 21:8; 22:11).