The Holy Scripture
We believe that all Scripture (The Holy Bible) is given by divine inspiration of God, and as originally written was verbally inspired, the product of Spirit-controlled men and therefore is truth without any admixture of error. We believe that divine inspiration extends equally and fully to the sixty-six books of both the Old and New Testaments. We believe the Bible to be the true basis of Christian union and the supreme standard by which all human conduct, creeds, and opinions, shall be tried, and is therefore sufficient for faith and practice.
(Mark 12:26, 36; Luke 24:27, 44; John 5:39; Acts 1:16; 17:2; 18:28; 26:22-23; 28:23; Rom. 15:4; 1 Cor. 2:13; 10:11; 2 Pet. 1:21; 2 Tim. 3:16; Heb. 4:12)
The Godhead
We believe that God, the Supreme, Eternal, and Unchangeable One, has revealed Himself in three persons: the Father, the Son, the Holy Spirit, and that these three are one God (John 10:30); having precisely the same nature, attributes and perfections, and worthy of the same worship, confidence, and obedience.
(Matt. 28:18-19; Mark 12:29; John 1:1-4,10, 14; Acts 5:3-4; 2 Cor. 13:14; Heb. 1:1-3)
God the Father
We believe there is but only one living and true God Who is infinite in being, knowledge and power, and perfection; a most pure spirit, invisible, without body, its parts or passions; immutable, immense, eternal, incomprehensible, almighty, most wise, most holy, most free, most absolute, working all things according to the counsel of His own righteous will, for His own glory; most loving, gracious, merciful, longsuffering, abundant in goodness and truth, forgiving iniquity, transgression and sin; the rewarder of them that diligently seek Him; and all just and righteous in His judgments; hating all sin, and Who will by no means clear the guilty.
(Deut. 6:4; 1 Cor. 8:4; 1 Thess. 1:9; Jer. 10:10; Job 11:7-9, 26:14; John 4:24; 1 Tim. 1:17; Acts 14:15; James 1:17; Mal. 3:6; 1 Kings 8:27; Jer. 23:23-24; Ps. 90:2, 145:3; Gen. 17:1; Rev. 4:8; Rom. 16:27; Isa. 6:3; Ps. 115:3; Ex. 3:14; Eph. 1:11; Prov. 16:4; 1 John 4:8,16; Ex. 34:6-7; Heb. 11:6; Neh. 9:32-33; Ps. 5:5-6; Nah. 1:2-3; Ex. 34:7)
God the Son
We believe in the deity of Jesus Christ, that He was the Creator in creation, that He was begotten of the Holy Spirit in a miraculous manner, born of the Virgin Mary, as no other man was ever born or can ever be born of woman, and is completely God and completely man. We believe that His death on the cross was substitutionary and representative, and full and sufficient payment for the sin of all men. We believe that He was raised from the dead in bodily form and ascended back to heaven where he lives to make intercession for us.
(John 1:1, 2, 14; 10:30; Matt. 1:20-21,, Col. 1:15; Rom. 5:6-8; 6:10, 14, 17-18; Matt. 28:5-7; Acts 1:9-11; Heb. 7:22-28)
God the Holy Spirit
We believe in the deity of the Holy Spirit, with God the Father, and God the Son, and of the same nature; that He was active in the creation, that in His relation to the unbelieving world He restrains the evil one until His purpose is fulfilled; that He convicts of sin; that He bears witness of the truth of the gospel in preaching and testimony; that He is the agent in the New Birth; that He indwells, seals, endues, guides, teaches, witnesses, sanctifies, and helps the believer. We believe that He takes up His residence within the believer at the moment of salvation and thereby spiritually baptizes the believer into the universal body of Christ.
(1 Cor. 6:19; John 14:16-26; Matt. 28:19; Heb. 9:14; Luke 1:35; Gen. 1:1-3; John 3:5-6; Acts 5:30-32; Eph. 1:13-14; 4:30; Mark 1:8; John 1:33; Acts 11:16; Luke 14:49; Rom. 8:14, 16, 26-27)
Creation
We believe the Genesis account of creation and believe that all things came by direct creation of God in six literal, normal twenty-four hour days. We reject evolution, the Gap Theory, the Day-Age Theory, and Theistic Evolution and other non-Biblical viewpoints or theories of origin.
(Gen. 1-2; Exod. 20:11; 31:17; Col. 1:16-17; John 1:3)
Man
We believe that Adam was created in the image and after the likeness of God, in innocence and endowed with all the necessary power to remain in that perfect state. We believe that through the subtlety of Satan, and by an act of Adam’s own will, he voluntarily transgressed the law of God and fell from his original state. We believe that this resulted in spiritual death for Adam and all of his physical descendants, hence the entire human race. Thus we believe all men to be sinners by nature, and also by choice.
(Gen. 3; Rom. 3:23; 5:12, 19)
Angels
We believe that God created a company of spiritual beings known as angels. We believe that a great company of the angels followed Satan in his moral fall, they thus became demons some of whom are active as his agents and associates in the prosecution of his unholy purposes, while others are “reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment day” (Jude 6). We believe that a great company of angels kept their holy estate and are before the throne of God, from whence they are sent forth as ministering spirits for those who are heirs of salvation.
(1Tim. 3:6; 2 Pet. 2:4; Luke 15:10; Heb. 1:14; Ps. 78:49; Eph. 6:12; Rev. 12:7-9; Mark 5:1-13; Luke 8:27; Rev. 9:1-2, 11, 14; Rev. 11:7)
Satan or the Devil
One of the angels, “Lucifer, son of the morning,” sinned through pride, thereby becoming Satan. We believe in the personality of Satan, that he is the unholy god of this age, the author of all sin and that he is destined to the judgment of an eternal God in the Lake of Fire.
(Isa. 14:12-17; Ezek. 28:11-19; 2 Pet. 2:4; Jude 6; Matt. 4:1-3; 2Cor. 4:4; Rev. 20:10)
The Total Depravity of Man
We believe that man in his fallen state as a descendent of Adam is totally depraved. We believe that this state of total depravity means that man possesses a sinful nature and is therefore utterly helpless, hopeless, and inclined to evil. We believe that man in his depraved state is therefore incapable of pleasing God. We further believe that this depravity extends to every aspect of man’s being: body, spirit, soul, will, mind, and heart are spiritually dead; and the only method of man’s recovery is through regeneration by the Spirit of God.
(Rom. 3:23; 5:12; Eph. 2:1-3, 12; Rom. 5:6; 8:7-8; 7:18; Gen. 6:5; 8:21; Rom. 3:10-12)
The Atonement for Sin
Atonement is the restoration of the broken relationship between God and humans accomplished in the life and death of Jesus Christ. We believe that the salvation of sinners is wholly by grace through the Son of God, Who by the appointment of the Father, freely took our nature upon Himself yet remained without sin; that He honored the divine law by His personal obedience; and by His death He made a full and vicarious atonement for our sins; and that His atonement 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, i.e., the just dying for the unjust. Christ Jesus the Lord, Who bore our sins in His own body when He died, rose from the dead and is now enthroned in heaven. He is in every way qualified to be the suitable, compassionate, and all-sufficient Savior.
(Eph. 2:8; Acts 15:11; Rom. 3:24; John 3:16; Matt. 18:11; Phil. 2:7-8; Heb. 2:14; Isa. 53:4-7; Rom. 3:25; 1 John 4:10; 1 Cor. 15:3; 2 Cor. 5:21)
Grace in the New Creation (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 sins is made a partaker of the divine nature and receives eternal life as a free gift of God; that the new creation is brought about in a manner beyond our comprehension solely by the power of the Holy Spirit in connection with divine truth, so as to secure our voluntary obedience to the gospel; that its proper evidence appears in the holy fruits of repentance and faith and is changed in newness of life.
(John 3:3; 2 Cor. 5:17; Acts 16:30-33; 2 Pet. 1:4; Rom. 6:23; Eph. 2:1; John 3:8; 1John 5:1)
Justification
We believe that justification is that judicial act of God whereby He declares and accepts the believer as righteous on the basis of the imputed righteousness of Christ; that it is bestowed, not in consideration of any works of righteousness which we have done, but solely through faith in the Redeemer’s (Jesus Christ) shed blood and mercy. (Rom. 3:24; 4:5-8; 5:1, 9, 17-19; 8:1; Gal. 2:16; Phil. 3:9; Titus 3:5; Acts 13:39; 2 Cor. 5:19-21)
Faith and Salvation
We believe that as a Christian, faith and salvation are accomplished by trusting in the Lord Jesus Christ. We believe the principal acts of saving faith and God’s grace are: seeing a need for forgiveness, repentance of sin, accepting God’s gift and provision of forgiveness and receiving a new life relying upon Christ alone for justification, sanctification, and eternal life.
(John 1:12; 3:16; 5:24; Eph. 2:8-9)
The Security of the Saints
We believe that, because of the eternal purpose of God toward the objects of His love, because of His freedom to exercise grace toward the meritless on the ground of the divine blood of Christ, because of the very nature of the divine gift of eternal life, because of the present and unending intercession and advocacy of Christ in heaven, because of the unchangeable covenants of God, because of the regenerating, abiding presence of the Holy Spirit in the hearts of all who are saved, we and all true believers everywhere, once saved shall be kept saved forever. We believe, however, that God is a holy and righteous Father and that since He cannot overlook the sin of His children, He will, when they persistently sin, chasten them and correct them in infinite love. However, having undertaken to save them and keep them forever apart from all human merit, He who cannot fail will in the end present every one of them faultless before the presence of His glory and conformed to the image of his Son. (John 5:24; 10:27-30; 13:1; 14:16-17; 17:11; Rom. 8:29; Heb. 7:25; 1 John 5:12-13; Jude 24; 1 Pet. 1:5)
The Local Church
We believe that a local church is an organized congregation of immersed believers associated by a covenant of faith and the fellowship of the gospel; observing the ordinances of Christ; governed by His laws; exercising the gifts, rights, and privileges invested in them by Christ; and that its officers are pastors and deacons whose qualifications, claims, and duties are clearly defined in the Scriptures. We believe the true mission of the church is the faithful teaching and witnessing of Christ to all men according to the leading of the Holy Spirit. We hold that the local church has the absolute right of self-government, free from the interference of any hierarchy of individuals or organization; that its one and only authority is Jesus 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 co-operation; and that on all matters of membership, polity, government, discipline and benevolence, the will of the local church is final. We believe that the head of the church and final authority is Jesus Christ.
(Acts 2:41-42; 1 Cor. 11:2; Eph. 1:22-23; 4:11-13; Acts 20:17-28; Col. 1:18; Eph. 5:23-27)
Ordinances
We believe that water baptism and the Lord’s Supper (or communion) are the only ordinances of Christ that are to be instituted by the local church, and that they are a scriptural means of testimony for the church in this age. We believe that Biblical Baptism is the single immersion of a believer in water demonstrating our faith in the crucified, buried, and risen Savior; that it is a testimony of our death to sin and resurrection to a new life, and that it is pre-requisite to the privileges of church membership. We believe that the Lord’s Supper is the commemoration of Christ’s death until He comes and should always be preceded by solemn self-examination.
(Acts 8:36-39; Matt. 28:18-20; 3:16; 1 Cor. 11:23-34; Acts 2:41-42)
Sanctification
We believe that holiness is indispensable to salvation and all who are born again will pursue holiness. We believe that sanctification is the divine setting apart of the believer unto God accomplished through His workmanship in a threefold manner: (1) an eternal act of God, based upon redemption in Christ, establishing the believer in a position of holiness at the moment he trusts in the Savior; (2) a continuing process in the believer as the Holy Spirit reveals and applies the Word of God to his life; and (3) the completion of this process at the Lord’s return.
(Heb. 12:14; 3:1; 10:10-14; John 17:17; 1 Cor. 1:30; Eph. 5:25-27; 1 Thess. 4:3-4; 5:23-24; 1 John 3:1-9; John 10:29-30)
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 Christian Faith as described in this document and the Bible and (2) the separation of the individual believer from all worldly practices as described in the Bible that would dishonor the Savior. We believe that the church should not be drawn into compromising alliances, even with well-meaning faith-based persons or groups whereby our testimony would be impaired and our position confused or compromised. Specifically, we reject the concept that our church should cooperate with unbelievers and apostate churches even if by so doing beneficial results may seem to be produced. (1 Cor. 10:31; 2 Cor. 6:14; 2 Tim. 3:5; Eph. 5:11; 2 John 9, 11)
The Final Lot of the Righteous and Wicked
We believe that there is a radical and essential difference between the righteous and the wicked. We believe that at death the spirit and soul of those who have trusted in the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation pass immediately into His presence and remain there in conscious bliss until the resurrection of their glorified bodies when Christ comes for His own and their reunited soul and body shall be associated with Him forever in glory. But after death the spirits and souls of the unbelieving remain conscious of condemnation and in misery until the final judgment of the Great White Throne at the close of the Millennium when their souls and reunited bodies will be cast into the Lake of Fire, not to be annihilated, but to be punished with everlasting destruction and separation from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power.
(Luke 16:19-26. 23:42-43; 2 Cor. 5:8; Phil 1:23; 2 Thess. 1:7-9; Jude 6-7; Rev. 20:11-15; Mal. 3:18; Rom. 6:23; Prov. 14:32; Mat. 25:34-41; Rev. 20:14- 15)
Civil Government
We believe that civil governments are by divine appointment according to God’s word. Those in authority are to be prayed for, respected and honored when due, and obeyed except in matters opposed to the will of our Lord Jesus Christ and the Holy Scriptures.
(Rom. 13:1-7; Acts 23:5; Matt. 22:21; Acts 4:19-20; Dan. 3:17-18; 1 Pet. 2:13-15)
Visible, Pre-millennial, Pre-tribulational Return of Christ
We believe that just as Jesus Christ’s ascension to Heaven in His resurrected body was visible His return will be at the rapture of the church. He will claim believers who have died during the church age and those who are alive at His coming. They will receive glorified, resurrected bodies with which they will enter Heaven. The time of His coming is not revealed in Scripture but is said to be imminent. We believe it will occur before the Great Tribulation. After the seven year tribulation, Christ will bodily return to earth with the saints to set up His millennial kingdom. He will sit on the Throne of David, and there will be a time of peace on the earth for 1000 years.
· Rapture
o (1 Thess. 4:13-18, Rev. 1:7, Titus 2:13)
· Resurrected bodies of Believers, both Dead and Alive
o (1 Thess. 4:13-18; 1 Cor. 15:42-53; Phil. 3:20-21)
· Second Coming
o (John 14:3; Acts 1:11; James 5:8; Heb. 9:28; Luke 21:36)
· The Throne of David
o (Luke 1:32; Isa. 9:6-7; Acts 2:29-30)
· Millennial Reign
o (1 Cor. 15:25; Isa. 32:1; 11:4-5; Rev. 20:6, 14)
Israel
We believe in the sovereign selection of Israel as God’s eternal covenant people; that she has been dispersed because of her disobedience and rejection of Christ; and that she is beginning to be gathered in the Holy Land and, after the completion of the Church, will be individually saved within the nation during the tribulation leading up to the second advent of Christ.
(Gen. 12:1-3; 13:14-17; Rom. 11:1-32; Ezek. 37; I Cor. 10:32)
Judgment
We believe that every redeemed person will appear before the “Judgment Seat of Christ” to be evaluated by the Lord in regard to faithful service. (1 Cor. 3:11-15; Rom. 14:10; Rom. 8:1; Matt. 6:2)
Speaking in Tongues
We believe that the gift of speaking in tongues has ceased. We believe that it no longer exists and that there is no need for it, since we have the ultimate and complete revelation of Jesus Christ.
(1 Cor. 12 – 14; 1 Cor. 13:8)
Marriage
We believe that God has instituted marriage for one man and one woman. Based upon the Word of God (Holy Bible), we do not accept non-Biblical marriages, such as polygamy or same sex marriages.
(Gen. 2:18-24; Matt. 4:10-26; 1 Peter 3:1-6; 1 Cor. 6:9-10; Lev. 18:22, 20:13)
Strait View Baptist Church
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