I. Concerning God we believe; He is personal, He exists as three persons; the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19-20). He is one God; that is, a unity of essence. (Deuteronomy 4:35; 6:4). He is Spirit (John 4:24), light (I John 1:5; 4:8), holy (Isaiah 6:3), eternal (Genesis 21:33, Psalm 90:2), immutable (Malachi 3:6; James 1:17), infinite (I Kings 8:27; Acts 17:28), omnipresent (Psalm 139:7-12), omniscient (Psalm 147:5), omnipotent (Revelation 19:6), sovereign (Daniel 4:25), faithful (I Juan 1:9), truthful (Romans 3:4), merciful (Psalm 13:5), just (Romans 2:6), righteous (Psalm 7:9), gracious (Ephesians 1:6-7)
II. Concerning the Lord Jesus Christ we believe in His, Deity (John 1:1-3; 5:17-18; 8:58; 20:28; Isaiah 9:6, Hebrews 1:8-9; Philippians 2:6), Humanity (I Timothy 2:5), Virgin birth (Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:16-25; Luke 1:26-38), sinless life (Hebrews 4:15), righteous life (Romans 5:18), death for our sins (Romans 5:8-9; I Corinthians 15:3-4), bodily resurrection (John 2:18-22; Luke 24:36-43), ascension into heaven (Luke 24:50-51), visible, physical return to earth (John 14:1-3; Acts 1:11; Revelation 19:11-15), and that He is the only Saviour for mankind (Acts 4:12; Hosea 13:4; Titus 2:13; Jude 25).
III. Concerning the Bible we believe; it consists of 66 books; 39 Old Testament and 27 New Testament (Revelation 22:18-19), in its verbal and plenary inspiration (II Timothy 3:16; II Peter 1:19-21), it is infallible and inerrant (Titus 1:2; John 17:17), it has been providentially preserved for us today (Psalm 12:6-7; Matthew 24:35), it is actively involved in the impartation of eternal life (John 6:63; Hebrews 4:12; I Peter 1:23). As missionaries in Mexico we use the Reina Valera 1960 Spanish version in our services, and believe that the King James Version is the best translation of the Word of God in the English Language.
IV. Concerning Salvation of man from sin we believe; It is not by any good work or works which man can do (Ephesians 2:8-9; Titus 3:5). It is a gift (Romans 6:23), and that while provision has been made for all to be saved (John 3:16), it is applied only to those who receive Christ personally by faith (John 1:12). It is received by faith in the Gospel (John 3:16; I Corinthians 15:1-4). The gospel in this dispensation is properly defined as the death, burial, and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ (I Corinthians 15:1-4). It has three aspects: past- from penalty of sin (II Timothy 1:9); present from the power of sin (Philippians 2:12); and future from the presence of sin (I Corinthians 3:15; I Peter 1:5). That one that truly receives the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior can never be lost (John 5:24; Romans 8:28-39; Ephesians 1:13, 4:30). It is effected through the agency of the Holy Spirit and the Word of God (Titus 3:5; James 1:18; John 16:8). It is freely offered to all and all are held accountable to receive it. (Acts 17:39; I Timothy 2:1-4; II Peter 3:9). It rests upon the shed blood of the Lord Jesus Christ, which satisfied the righteous requirements of the Father (Romans 3:25) in redeeming mankind from sin (I Peter 1:18-19; Colossians 1:14) and provides the basis for our justification (Romans 5:9) and sanctification (Hebrews 13:12).
V. Concerning the Spirit Holy we believe: He is the third Person of the Godhead, and therefore fully possesses every attribute of God (Matthew 28:19; Acts 5:3, 13:2-4), he convicts the lost of sin, righteousness and judgment (John 16:8). He indwells every believer the moment one is saved (I John 14:17; Romans 8:9,11). He empowers and equips the believer to have victory over sin and live a righteous life (Romans 8:11,13, 12:3-4; Ephesians 5:18-21). Certain of His gifts were temporary in nature and rightly concerned only the establishment of the church age. Speaking in tongues would be one of those gifts which has ceased (I Corinthians 13:8).
VI. Concerning the Church we believe: That the local church is a clearly defined institution ordained by God in this dispensation for the fulfillment of the Great Commission (Matthew 16:18; 18:15-17; 28:18-20; Acts 2:47; I Timothy 3:15; Revelation 2 and 3). The word “church” is usually used of a local assembly of believers (Matthew 18:17; Acts 2:47, 20:17; I Corinthians 1:2, James 5:14). The word “church” is occasionally used of all believers from Pentecost to the Rapture, but this in no way supports the teaching of a worldwide church organization (Ephesians 1:22; 5:23, 27, 32; Colossians 1:18, 24; Hebrews 12:23). The local church is to be self-governing and autonomous (Matthew 18:15-17; Acts 15:22; I Corinthians 16:30). The local church is authorized to administer the ordinance of Baptism, which is properly done by simple immersion after a profession of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ as personal Savior (Matthew 28:19-20). The local church is authorized to observe the ordinance of Communion, which is properly observed with unleavened bread and unfermented grape juice as a memorial of Christ’s death for our sin. It is to be taken by believers in fellowship with the Lord (I Corinthians 11:17-34). We believe the Bible establishes only two offices in the local church, the office of Pastor (or bishop or elder) and deacons (I Timothy 3:1-13; Titus 1:5-9).
VII. Concerning Man we believe: He was created by God (Genesis 1 and 2), he was created in the image of God in a sinless state (Genesis 1:26-27; 2:7), he fell into a lost state by a willful act of sin (Genesis 3:1-6; Romans 5:12-21), and that all men are born with a sin nature, are totally depraved and are under the penalty of death for their personal acts of sin (Romans 3:23; 6:23). One can only be saved by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ (John 3:36), man is composed of a body, souls and spirit (I Thessalonians 5:23), and all men continue to exist beyond the time of their physical death. Those who have been born again in a state of eternal, conscious joy (Philippians 1:23; II Corinthians 5:2, 8; John 5:28-29), and those who are lost in a state of eternal conscious torment (Revelation 20:11-15; Daniel 12:2; Luke 16:19-31).
VIII. Concerning Future Events, we believe: In the pre-tribulational rapture of the church (I Corinthians 15:50-52; Revelation 4:1,2,4), in a seven year period of time of judgment upon the earth, known as Daniel’s seventieth week (Daniel 9:24-27; Revelation 4-19). In the visible, physical, pre-millennial return of Christ to the earth to set up His kingdom at the end of Daniel’s seventieth week (Revelation 19:11-16; John 14:3; Acts 1:1). In the resurrection of all mankind; of the saints to everlasting life, and of the lost to everlasting torment in the lake of fire (John 5:28-29; Revelation 20:11-15).
IX. Concerning Human Government we believe: That it is divinely instituted by God (Romans 13:1), and that it is to be obeyed by the citizenry in all matters except where it would clearly cause one to sin in so doing (Romans 13:2-4; Acts 5:29).
X. Concerning Israel we believe: That they are in a special covenant relationship with God (Genesis 17:7), that God will literally fulfill all promises to Israel (Romans 11:25-27), and that the nation of Israel is to be distinguished from the church in the interpretation of Scriptures (Romans 10:1)
XI. Concerning the Creation we believe: That all things were created by God (Genesis 1:1; John 1:1-3), that all things created by God were good (Genesis 1:31), that all creation occurred in six literal, 24 hour days, apart from any evolutionary processes (Exodus 20:11).
XII. Concerning Separation we believe: that all believers should live in a manner that does not bring reproach upon their Savior and Lord, that we are to live a holy and separate lifestyle, and that we should abstain from all religious apostasy, all worldly and sinful pleasures, practices, and associations as commanded by God. (Romans 12:1-2; 14:13; II Corinthians 6:14-7:1; II Timothy 3:1-5; I John 2:15-17; II John 9-11)
XIII. Concerning Morality we believe: That there should be no sexual activity outside of marriage between one man and one woman. Any form of homosexuality, lesbianism, bestiality, incest, adultery, pornography, or other types of fornication, is a sinful perversion of God’s gift of sex (Genesis 2:24; 19:5,13; 26:8-9; Leviticus 18:1-20; Romans 1:26-29; I Corinthians 5:1; 6:9; I Thessalonians 4:1-8; Hebrews 13:4). That human life begins at conception, and therefore, any type of abortion, regardless of reason, is murder (Job 3:16; Psalm 51:5; 139:14-16; Isaiah 44:24; 49:1, 5; Luke 1:44). That God intends a marriage to last a lifetime (Matthew 19:3-12; Romans 7:1-3; I Timothy 3:2), and that all sin, when confessed, is forgiven (I John 1:8-9).
The 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. (Much of the content comes from our sending church’s statement of faith, Millville Community Baptist Church)
