Searching for the Truth in the King James Bible;
Finding it, and passing it on to you.
EDITOR:
Steve
Van Nattan
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This may shock you, for you Independent Fundamental Baptists may have the very same doctrinal statement you see below.What
do we learn from this? |
The
Headship of Christ
The Bible
JEHOVAH
God
Creation
Man and Sin
Salvation
The Church
Civil
Government
Satan
Spirit Beings
Future Things
We believe that God has given Christ the Name above every name, and that The Lord Jesus Christ is the Supreme and Sole Head of the New Testament Church; and that Jesus Christ exercises His headship through the eternal Word of God; these two are one; the New Testament Church follows the Lord's leadership, through the Word, in all matters which apply to the Church; the Church renders only to "Caesar" that which is "Caesar's,"; the Church is neither over the government, nor is civil government over the Church in any matter, but the two are mutually separate. (Jn 1; Col 1:18; 2:19; Eph 1:22; 4:15; 5:23; Matt 22:21; Lk 20:25)
The Bible is the verbally and plenarily inspired (God-breathed) Word of God as contained in the original manuscripts, and divinely, providentially, and miraculously preserved in the Masoretic Hebrew Text, and the Traditional Received Greek Text; that all parts of Scripture are equally inspired and contain no contradiction nor error; that the Canon, the sixty-six books of the Bible, are complete, nothing shall be added to it nor taken from it; that the King James Bible has been preserved, and is completely accurate in its translation and whole content, and it is time tested by the Church during nearly four centuries, and therefore is the only translation used in preaching, teaching, study, and memorization; and that the Word of God (Jesus Christ) is the supreme and final authority in all matters of faith and practice for the Church and believers in Jesus Christ. (2Tim 3:16-17; Heb 1:1; 2Pet 1:20-21; Rev 22:18-19; Jn 1; Ps 12:6-7; Pr 30:5; Matt 5:18; 24:35; 13:31; Lk 21:32-33)
We believe in one Triune God, existing eternally in three Persons; Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; eternal in being, identical in nature, equal in power and glory, and having the same attributes and powers. (Ex 20:2-3; 1Jn 5:7; Matt 28:19-20; 2Cor 13:14; 1Cor 8:6; Rev 4:11)
We believe the Book of Genesis account of creation is neither allegory, nor myth, but is a literal (six 24 hour day), account of the direct, immediate creative act of God, without any evolutionary implied; that man, (body, soul, and spirit) was created by a direct loving work of God, and not from preexisting forms of life; and that all men are descended from Adam and Eve, the first parents of the entire human race. (Gen 1 & 2; Col 1:16-17; Jn 1:3)
God created man in His own image. Man sinned and thereby experienced, not only physical death, but also spiritual death, which is conscious and eternal separation from Jehovah God in Hell. All men and women are born at enmity with God, and possess a fallen and sinful nature, evidenced by sinful acts; that man is totally depraved; that there is no remission of sin without the shed blood of Jesus Christ; and that if a man is not born again he will suffer eternal damnation and punishment in the lake of fire. (Gen 1:26-27; Ps 51:5; Jer 17:9; 7:9; Lk 16:23; Rom 3:10-23; 6:23; 1Cor 15:21-22; Rev 20:11-15; 21:8)
We believe that the salvation of sinners is by grace alone, through faith in the blood sacrifice of Jesus Christ, his death, burial, and resurrection; that saving faith is precluded by repentance, the turning from self and sin, to depend on Christ, and that this turning is evidenced by a "new creature," a changed person, at the time of salvation; that all who receive Christ are at once regenerated by the Holy Ghost and become the children of God; that no rite, ceremony, or work of man can provide for the sinner's salvation, or make the believer's salvation eternally secure; that Christ is the only all-sufficient Savior. We believe that all those who are truly born again will never lose their salvation-- They are kept by the power of God in Jesus Christ (The eternal security of the believer). (Eph 2:8-9; Tit 3:5-7; Jn 1:12; 5:24; 10:28-29; Rom 10:9-12; 8:35-39; Acts 16:31; 4:12; 2Tim 1:12; Phil 1:6; Phile 18-19; Heb 6:20; 8:3-5; 9:14-15; 10:10; 2Pet 1:5; 1Jn 5:13; Jude 1)
We believe that the church exists in two forms at once:
First, it is a local assembly composed of born again, baptized believers, united for the purpose to worship, be edified, observe the ordinance of the Lord's Supper, and fellowship; that the mission of the Church is the zealous witnessing of Christ to all men as the Holy Ghost gives opportunity, in the community, and to the uttermost parts of the earth. It is scriptural for believers to contend for the faith and for the preaching of the gospel through the local Church, under the Headship of Jesus Christ. All New Testament instruction is directed to the local Church; which ministers all matters of membership, discipline, government, and benevolence of the Church, as it obeys the Word of God and Headship of Christ, which is final. (Acts 2:41-47; 4:4; 20:7; 11:26; 1:8; 15:1-27; 11:29-30; 13:1-4; 20:28, 31; Rom 1:7; Col 1:2; 1Cor 1:2; 5:1-6,11; Heb 10:25; 13:7,17; Phil 1:1; 1Tim 3:1-16; Tit 1:5-8; 2Pet 5:1-5; Matt 28:18-20; Eph 5:24-26; Phil 4:14-16)
Secondly, the Church is defined as all born again believers in Jesus Christ, and this universal Church is called the Body of Christ. This Church is only seen from God's heavenly perspective, and has no immediate earthly representation for the individual believer other than the occasional meeting of saint with saint. Being part of only the universal Church will not be sufficient to meet the needs of the believer, other than in occasional saint to saint fellowship in daily discourse. This universal Body of Christ, though very real in the mind of God, will only exist in one Body and unity in the eternal future, when all saints are gathered, and worship under the Lord Jesus Christ. (Eph 1:20-23; 3:3, 11; 5:25-33; Col 1:14-18)
- Biblical Authority - The Bible is the Final Authority, not men, nor groups, Bible colleges, nor even churches. (2Tim 3:16-17).
- Autonomy of the Local Church - Each Local Church is an independent body accountable only to the Lord Jesus Christ, though we do not use this as an excuse to be an offense in fellowship with other local churches of like Baptist belief. (Col 1:18)
- Priesthood of Believers - Every Believer is a priest of God, and will enter into His presence through the believer's Great High Priest, Jesus Christ. No human mediator is needed, nor is does any human authority stand between the believer and his Lord. (1Pet 2:5-9; 1Tim.2:5)
- Two Ordinances - Each Local Church is commanded to practice the ordinances of Baptism and the Lord's Supper. (Matt 28:19-20; 1Cor 11:23-32)
- Individual Soul Liberty - Every Believer has the liberty to follow his own conscience, within the bounds of the Word of God. Nor will any leader of the local church ever stand above the Word of God in demanding the believer's allegiance. (Rom 14:5-12; Gal 5:13)
- Saved and Baptized, Church Membership - Local Church Membership, though not practiced in the New Testament as is done today in Baptist tradition, must only be for those who give acceptable testimony of personal faith in Christ, and follow in Scriptural Baptism. (Acts 2:41-47)
- Two Offices - The only offices defined in scripture are Pastor, Teacher, Evangelist, and Deacon. All other titles must be held lightly, such as Trustee and Sunday School Superintendent. (1Tim 3:1, 13)
- Separation of Church and State - God established the Church and civil government to be mutually distinct and separated from one another. (Matt 22:15-22)
Civil government is appointed of God to bring order to the human community. Those in authority should be prayed for, honored and obeyed. The only exception is in things opposed to the will of God, or in things which would diminish the authority of Jesus Christ over His Church. Some laws which take innocent life and promote wickedness must also be considered to be violence against the Word of God, and thus, may be impossible for the Bible believer to obey. (Rom 13:1-7; Gen 9:5-6; 1Tim 2:2-3; Acts 4:19-20; 5:27-29)
We believe in the real person of Satan, who is the author of sin, the prince of this world, and the declared enemy of God and man. Satan's final destiny is eternal punishment in a lake of fire. We believe in a literal physical Hell, prepared for the Devil and his angels; which is the place of eternal suffering for those who reject Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. (Isa 14:12; Gen 3; Job 1:6-12; Matt 25:41; Rev 14:11; 19:20)
We believe that angels and devils are literal spirit beings. Angels were created as heavenly hosts. Some, through choice, are now the servants of Satan, and share in his ultimate doom. The angels of heaven, who are ministering spirits, are sinless, holy, and are forever seeking to praise and serve God as they minister for Him and His people. They are not bound by natural laws, and are immortal. Angels are spoken of in the masculine gender, but do not marry. (Dan 10:12-21; Matt 18:10; 22:30; Mk 5:2; 8:38; Col 1:16; 1Thes 4:16; Heb 1:14; 2Pet 2:4; Jude 6, 9)
We believe in the literal, bodily, pre-millennial, and immediate coming of our Lord, in the air, to call away all believers of his true Bride Church unto Himself before the Great Tribulation. We believe also, in the personal, visible, and return of Christ, in Glory, to the earth at the close of the Great Tribulation era to judge the nations, and to set up His Literal Millennial Kingdom on Earth. (Acts 1:11; Jn 14:3; 1Thes 4:13-18; 2Pet 3:1-13; Rev 4:1; 19:11-21; 20:1-6; Matt 24:42-44; 29-31; 2Thes 2:7-8; Matt 25:31-46; Heb 12:22-24)
MARKING UNSAVED FUNDAMENTAL BAPTIST PREACHERS
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