We are Independent:
*Not affiliated with any denomination or organization that has any control or influence upon this local church. Many denominations support colleges that have liberal professors and agendas, even though their churches are solid in belief. If denominations go liberal, as so many have, it is in their institutions of higher learning.
*Most Bible Colleges approach the Bible critically. (Since God used men to write it, and men are human and make mistakes and purposely change things, we should examine the Bible to see what has been altered by man and thus is faulty. This may appeal to human intellect, but is not pleasing to God.)
*Some Bible Colleges approach the Bible as divinely written and preserved. (Here the duty of man is to study, apply, and obey its truths. These would be the colleges we would choose to support.)
Fundamental:
*A belief in the fundamental truths of Scriptures:
1. The Deity of our Lord Jesus Christ (John 1:1; John 20:28; Hebrews 1:8-9).
2. The Virgin Birth (Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:23; Luke 1:27).
3. The Blood Atonement (Acts 20:28; Romans 3:25, 5:9; Ephesians 1:7; Hebrews 9:12-14).
4. The Bodily Resurrection (Luke 24:36-46; 1 Corinthians 15:1-4, 15:14-15).
5. The inerrancy of the scriptures themselves (Psalms 12:6-7; Romans 15:4; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:20). 1
*Now, since one of these fundamentals of the faith is the inerrancy of Scriptures, then it follows that we seek to obey the teachings of the Bible in our everyday lives, since they are without error! We do not change the Bible to "fit" our living, we change our living to "fit" the Bible teaching! (We are a work in progress!)
Baptist:
*To be a Baptist is to embrace a body of truth about our practice as a church. These can best be explained with an acronym:
Biblical authority I Tim. 3:16; 2 Pet 1:20-21
Autonomy of the local church Col 1:18 ; II Cor. 8:1-5, 19, 23
Priesthood of the believer 1 Pet 2:5; 1 Pet 2:9 ; Rev 5:9-10
Two ordinances (Believer's Baptism and Communion) Matt. 28:19,20; I Cor. 11:23-32
Individual soul liberty Rom 14:5 ;Rom 14:12; 2 Cor 4:2 ; Titus 1:9
Separation of Church and State Mat 22:21; Acts 15:17-29; Romans 13:1-7 ; Matt. 28:19-20
Two offices of the church (Pastor and Deacon) Acts 20:17-38; Phil. 1:1; I Timothy 3:1-13
Saved, Baptized Church Membership Acts 2:41-47; 1 Cor 12:12; 2 Cor 6:14; Eph 4:3
Soul-Winning, Evangelistic-
The great commission has been given to the church as its marching orders. Reach a world for Christ. We engage in missions by conviction, not preference. We go out to reach and win people not by a belief it will build our church, but because it is directly obedient to the great commission! Christ will build the church, but our commission is to win others to Christ. We exist to win others to Christ so they miss Hell, go to Heaven, and thereby God is "glorified". John 15:8
