To set in order a declaration of those things which are most surely believed among us…that thou mightest know the certainty of those things wherein thou has been instructed, we send forth the commonly believed confession of faith held among us, as follows:
1. The Holy Bible
We believe that the canon of sixty-six books known as the Holy Bible is the verbal and plenary authorship of God, written by men supernaturally inspired by the Holy Spirit; that it is true without any admixture of error for its matter, and is to be understood in its literal sense. It shall remain to the end of the age, the only complete and final revelation of the will of God to man; the true center of Christian union, and the supreme standard and final authority by which all human creeds, conducts and opinions should be tried. We accept the King James Version of the Bible as our textbook. (Ps 119:89; 2 Ti 3:16-17; Re 22:18-19; Jn 17:17; Jn 3:32-34; 2 Pe 1:3, 20-21; 1 Pe 1:10-12; Zec 1:1; Ps 19:7-11; Ex 20:3-17; Ps 1:2; Jn 12:48).
2. The One and Only True God
We believe that there is one, and only one, eternal, living and true God; an infinite Spirit of infinite intellectual and emotional capacity, absolutely righteous, perfectly just, and infinitely loving, omniscient, omnipresent, omnipotent, immutable, immortal, the creator and supreme ruler of heaven and earth; inexpressibly glorious in holiness, and worthy of all possible honor and confidence and love. He alone is the origin of life, truth, and holiness. There is no other God beside Him. (Ex 20:2-3; Gen 17:1; 1 Co 8:6; Jn 4:24; Ps 147:5; Ps 83:18; Ps 90:2; Je 10:10; Ex 15:11; Re 4:11; 1 Co 12:4-6; 1 Jn 5:7; Jn 10:30; 1 Ti 1:17; Ro 11:33; Mk 12:30; Mt 28:19; Ep 2:18; 2 Co 13:14; Ep 4:6; Ge 1:26; De 6:4; Ps 139:8; Is 45:5-7; Mt 28:19; Mk 10:18; Jn 4:24; Ac 17:24-29)
3. The Trinity of God
We believe that the one, true God exists as three persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, precisely equal and identical in nature and in all of their attributes since eternity past, and are three in one – God; that each person of the Godhead fulfills differing roles for the purpose of making salvation possible. (Jn 6:27; He 1:8; Jn 20:28; Ac 5:3-4; Mk 1:9-11; Is 45:5; Jn 14:8-9; Jn 10:30-31). (Ex 20:2-3; Ge 17:1; 1 Co 8:6; Jn 4:24; Ps 147:5; Ps 83:18; Ps 90:2; Jer 10:10; Ex 15:11; Re 4:11; 1 Co 12:4-6; 1 Jn 5:7; Jn 10:30; 1 Ti 1:17; Ro 11:33; Mk 12:30; Mt 28:19; Ep 2:18; 2 Co 13:14; Ep 4:6; Ge 1:26; De 6:4; Ps 139:8; Is 45:5-7; Mt 28:19; Mk 10:18; Jo 4:24; Ac 17:24-29; 2 Co 13:14; Ep 4:6; Is 45:5)
4. Jesus Christ
We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ is God, (equal with God the Father and God the Holy Spirit) manifested in human flesh yet without sin, the Son of man and uniquely the Son of God, the King of Kings, the Lord or Lords, God Almighty, the Creator of all things, the Messiah, the Savior of the world; that He was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of a Jewish virgin; and that He lived His life in sinless perfection before God and men; that He became man as a substitutionary sacrifice to save man from condemnation by dying on a cross and shedding His own blood; that His death, burial, and resurrection make possible the Gospel message of salvation, and that through Him and no other but Him alone salvation is possible; that Jesus Christ ascended to heaven and is now exalted at the right hand of the Father where, as our High Priest, He fulfills the ministry of Intercessor before the Father on our behalf. (Mt 1:20-25; Is 9:6; Ac 1:9,10; Ro 8:34; Heb 7:25, 9:24; 1 Jo 2:1,2; Ga. 4:4; Lu 1:35; Jo 1:1,2,14; Heb 1:3; Jn 1:11; Ac 4:12; Ro 3:24,25; Ro 5:10-11; Ep 1:7; Heb 2:9, 4:12; 1 Pet 1:3-5, 2:24; 1 Jn 2:2; Ge 3:16; Is 7:14; Mt 1:18-25; Lk 1:35; Mk 1:1; Jo 1:14; Ps 2:7; Ga 4:4; 1 Jn 5:20; 1 Co 15:47).
5. The Holy Spirit
We believe that the Holy Spirit is God (equal with God the Father and God the Son); that presently, among other things, He restrains the Devil, reproves the world of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment; is the agent of the new birth experience in salvation, indwells believers, is the earnest of our inheritance in Christ, helps and intercedes with prayers for the saints, and empowers, comforts, and administrates the church of Jesus Christ; and that He is not associated with the phenomenon known as the charismatic movement and the practice of speaking in tongues. (Jn 14:16-17; Mt 28:19; Heb 9:14; Jn 14:26; Lk 1:35; Ge 1:1-3; 2 Th 2:7; Jn 16:8-11; Jn 15:26-27; Ac 5:3-4, 30-32; Jn 3:5-6; Ep 1:13-14; Mt 3:11; Mk 1:8; Lk 3:16; Jn 1:33; Ac 11:16; Lk 24:49; Jn 16:13; Jn 14:26; Ro 8:14, 16; 2 Th 2:13; 1 Pet 1:2; Ro 8:26-27).
6. Creation
We believe in the Genesis account of a literal, deliberate, intelligently designed, six, twenty-four hour day creation, of all terrestrial and extraterrestrial matter, living and non-living, including the sun, stars, and planets; that man was supernaturally created in God’s own image and after His own likeness on the sixth day of creation; that every living thing is born after its own kind; that man’s origin and that of all other living things are not a product of natural properties and forces of physical matter through evolutionary change in matter and species over millions of years progressing from lower to higher forms. ( Ge 1:1; Ex 20:11; Ac 4:24; Col 1:16-17; Heb 11:3; Jn 1:3; Re 10:6; Ro 1:20; Ac 17:23-26; Je 10:12; Ne 9:6; Ge 1:26-27; Ge 2:21; Ge 1:11, 24).
7. The Devil
We believe that Satan, also known as the Devil, is the fallen angel, Lucifer, who at one time was a beautiful, anointed cherub, enjoying heavenly honors in the Holy mountain of God; but yielded to the sin of pride and ambition to be as God Almighty, is now condemned for eternity; that he is presently the unholy god of this world, the malignant prince of the power of the air; that he led a third of the angels in rebellion against God and is attempting to lead as many men who will follow him against God. He tempted man in the Garden of Eden and Christ in the wilderness; accuses the saints, is the Father of lies and false religions; that he will be destroyed once and for all at the end of the millennial reign and cast into the fires of hell, which have been reserved for him and his angels. (Is 14:12-15; Eze 28:14-17; Re 12:9; Jude 6; 2 Pet 2:4; Ep 2:2; Jn 14:30; 1 Th 3:5; Mt 4:13; 1 Pet 5:8; 1 Jn 3:8; Mt 13:25, 37-39; Lk 22:3-4; Re 12:10; 2 Co 11:13-15; Mk 13:21-22; 1 Jn 4:3; 2 Jn 7; 1 Jn 2:22; Re 12:7-9; Re 20:1-3, 10; Mt 25:41; 2 Pe 2:4; Jude 1:6).
8. The Fall Of Man
We believe that man was created in the image and likeness of God, perfect, and innocent under the law of His Maker, but by voluntary transgression, chose to disobey God’s command, subsequently ending his fellowship with God, and died spiritually; that all mankind are Adam multiplied through procreation, inheriting his sin nature, being born and shapen in iniquity; each being innocent under the law until a knowledge of the law is gained thorough maturity; that every human being will choose sin, is accountable to God for his individual, voluntary choice to sin, and is deserving of condemnation. (Ge. 1:26; Ge 3:1-6, 24; Ro 5:19; Ro 3:10-19; Ep 2:1, 3; Ro 1:18; Eze 18:19-20; Ro 1:32; Ro 1:20,28; Ga 3:22; Ro 5:12).
9. Sin and Judgment
We believe that sin is unrighteousness and manifested as anything contrary to the law, will, and nature of God; that God must purge creation of sin and condemn all who are guilty and unforgiven of sin, that such condemnation results in both physical and spiritual death; that judgment of sin is first experienced as a separation from God’s fellowship and is culminated in eternal condemnation in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone (hell); that just and full payment for sin is eternal death, an impossible debt for finite men to pay. (Ge 6:5; Ro 3:10-18; Ro 5:12; Ro 8:8; Ep 2:1-3).
10. The Atonement For Sin
We believe that God, since eternity past, motivated by infinite love, mercifully provides one and only one substitutionary payment for sin on behalf of and for all mankind through the death of Jesus Christ, who being God without sin, infinite in being, and willing to do so, is the only hope by which mankind can restore fellowship with God and experience eternal life; that Jesus Christ freely took upon Him the nature of human flesh, yet without sin, perfectly fulfilled the divine law by His personal obedience of bringing his human body under subjection, and offered his body as a perfect sacrifice through death for a full and vicarious atonement for all sins; that for this reason He is the author and finisher of our faith; 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 sinner’s place, the just dying for the unjust, Christ, the Lord bearing our sins in His own body on the tree; that His resurrection from death testifies that His payment for sins was complete and acceptable; that His payment for sins was made for and is available for every person without exception, not willing that any should perish. (1 Ti 2:4; 2 Pe 3:9; He 2:9; He 4:15; Jo 3:16)
11. The Freeness Of Salvation
We believe that since eternity past, God planned the provision of salvation as a free gift to all mankind by grace through faith; that the blessing of salvation is offered as a free gift to all through the gospel message; that God’s payment for sin is sufficient; that any attempt to pay or earn the gift of salvation is not only insufficient but is a rejection of God’s payment for sin and His offer of salvation as a free gift; that associating salvation with works of any kind is a rejection of salvation as a free gift; that this gift is received by any or all who accept God’s gift with a cordial, penitent and obedient faith; and that nothing prevents the salvation of even the greatest sinner on earth but his own inherent depravity and voluntary rejection of the gospel; which rejection involves him in an aggravated condemnation. (1 Th 1:4; Col 3:12; 1 Pe 1:2; Tit 1:1; Ro 8:20-30; Mt 11:28; Is 55:1; Re 22:17; Jn 3:15-16; 1 Ti 1:15; 1 Co 15:10; Ep 2:4-5; Jn 5:40; 3:18, 36); Ep 2:8; Ac 15:11; Ro 3:24; Jn 3:16; Mt 18:11; Ph 2:7; He 2:14; Is 53:4-7; Ro 3:25; 1 Jn 4:10; 1 Co 15:3; 2 Co 5:21; Jn 10:18; Ph 2:8; Ga 1:4; 1 Pe 2:24; 3:18; Is 53:11; He 12:2; 1 Co 15:20; Is 53:12; He 9:12-15; 7:25; 1 Jn 2:2).
12. Faith and Repentance
We believe that since eternity past, God predestined that faith should come by the grace of God, by hearing the Word of God, and by the working of the Holy Spirit in our souls; whereby, being deeply convicted of our guilt of sin and of the danger and our helplessness in sin, and of the way of salvation by Christ, believing, we turn to God repentant of our sins with unfeigned contrition, confession and supplication for mercy; at the same time heartily receiving the Lord Jesus Christ and openly confessing Him as our only and all-sufficient Savior; that God predestined to bestow salvation as a free gift conditioned upon anyone who accepted His gift voluntarily and of freewill without force or coercion; that those who refuse to repent of their sin and reject God’s gift of salvation shall be forever condemned in their sins; that upon repentance the unregenerate, sinner is immediately granted salvation, forgiven of sin, passed from death to life, born again, and given eternal life. (Ac 20:21; Mk 1:15; Ac 2:37-38; Lk 18:13; Ro 10:13; Ps 51:1-4, 7; Is 55:6-7; Lk 12:8; Ro 10:9-11; Ac 2:23; Ep 1:4; Jn 3:16; Ep 2:8-9; Jo 5:24; Col 1:13; 1 Th 2:12).
13. Justification
We believe that the great gospel blessing which Christ secures to all who believe in Him is immediate and eternal Justification; that Justification involves the pardon of sin made possible because of the full and sufficient payment for sin by Jesus Christ; that because of the work of Jesus Christ alone, sinners can be made right with God (justified); and that in addition to paying for and pardoning sins, Christ also changes the heart of the sinner to make him right. (Ro 5:1; Ac 13:39; Is 53:11; Zec 13:1; Ro 8:1; Ro 5:9; Ro 5:1; Tit 3:5-7; Ro 1:17; He 2:4; Ga 3:11; Ro 4:1-8; He 10:38).
14. The Born Again Experience and Eternal Security
We believe that in order to be saved, sinners must be born again; that the new birth is a new creation of the inward man in Christ Jesus; that it is instantaneous and not a process; that in the new birth, one who is dead in trespasses and sins is made alive in righteousness and holiness; that new birth makes the believer a partaker of the divine nature and secures the hope of eternal life; that the new, born again nature of righteousness makes it necessary for the inward man to serve the law of God regardless of the actions of the outward man thereby securing eternal life; that the new creation is brought about in a manner above our comprehension, not by the will of man, but wholly and solely by the power of the Holy Spirit in connection with divine truth, so as to secure our voluntary obedience to the gospel and eternal life; that its proper evidence appears in the holy fruits of repentance and faith and newness of life. (Ro 13:7; 2 Sam 23:3; Ex 18:21-22; Ac 23:5; Mt 22:21; Tit 3:1; 1 Pet 2:13-14, 17; Ac 5:29; Ac 4:19-20; Jn 3:3; 2 Co 5:17; 1 Jn 5:1; 1 Jn 3:6-7; Ac 2:41; Ac 16:30-33; 2 Pet 1:4; Ro 6:23; Ep 2:1; 2 Co 5:19; Col 2:13; Jn 3:8; Jn 1:12-13; Ga 5:22; Ep 5:9; Ro 7:22).
15. The Duty and Judgment of the Saints
We believe in the security of the believer, and the perfect, unwavering obedience of the born again inward man of the saint; that the evidence of new birth is manifested in love and obedience to Christ; that prolonged carnality and rejection of Christ’s commands is reason to suspect the lack of regeneration in new birth; that carnal saints will be chastised by God while on earth; that all saints will be accountable for their actions and judged by God resulting in reward or loss; (Jn 8:31-32; Col 1:21-23; 1 Jn 2:19; Mt 13:19-21; Ro 8:23; Mt 6:30; Ps 121:3; Heb 1:14; 1 Pet 1:5; 2 Pet 1:9-10; 1 Cor 3:11-15; Ph 1:6; Jn 10:28, 29; Jn 16:18; Ro 8:35-39; 1 Co 3:3; 2 Co 13:5).
16. The Righteous And The Wicked
We believe that there is a radical and essential difference between the righteous and the wicked; that such only as through faith are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and sanctified by the Spirit of our God are truly righteous in His esteem; while all such as continue in impenitence and unbelief are in His sight wicked and under the curse, and this distinction holds among men both in and after death, in the everlasting felicity of the saved and the everlasting conscious suffering of the lost. (Mal 3:18; Ge 18:23; Ro 6:17-18; Pr 11:31; 1 Pet 4:18; Ro 1:17; 1 Co 15:22; Ac 10:34-35; 1 Jn 2:29; 1 Jn 3:7; Ro 6:16; 1 Jn 5:19; Ga 3:10; Ro 7:6; Ro 6:23; Pr 14:32; Lk 16:25; Mt 25:34-41; Jn 8:21; Lk 9:26; Jn 12:25; Mt 7:13-14).
17. The Church
We believe that a church of Christ is a local, congregation of scripturally baptized believers associated by a covenant of faith and fellowship of the gospel, organized and granted authority by a true, new testament church; observing the ordinances of Christ; governed by His laws; and exercising the gifts, rights and privileges invested in them by His Word; that its officers of ordination are pastors or elders and deacons, whose qualifications, claims and duties are clearly defined in the Scriptures. We believe the true mission of the church is found in the great commission: First, to make individual disciples; Second, to build the church; Third, to teach and instruct as He has commanded. We hold that the local church has the absolute right of self-government, free from the interference of any Hierarchy of individuals or organizations; and that the one and only head of the church is Christ through the Holy Spirit; that it is scriptural for true churches to co-operate with each other in contending for the faith and for the furtherance of the gospel; sending and support of missionaries, schools and colleges, the care of the widows and orphans; that every church is the sole and only judge of the measure and method of its co-operation; on all matters of membership, of polity, of government, of discipline, of benevolence, the will of the local church is final. We further believe that the True Missionary Baptist Church is the Bride of Christ, and to the church was given the responsibility of these various activities. (Ac 2:41; 1 Co 11:2; Ep 1:22-23; Ep 4:11; Ac 14:23; Ac 6:5-6; Ac 15:23; Ac 20:17-28; 1 Ti 3:8-13; Mt 28:19-20; Col 1:18; Ep 5:23-24; 1 Pet 5:1-4; Ac 15:22; Jude 3-4; 2 Co 8:23-24; 1 Co 16:1; Mal 3:10; Lev 27:32; 1 Co 16:2; 1 Co 6:1-3; 1 Co 5:11-13; 2 Co 8:19; Mt 16:16-18; Ep 5:22-23; 1 Co 12:28; Lk 6:13; Mk 3:19; 1 Ti 3:15; Ac 1:22; Ac 1:8; Jas 1:27; Ac 2:42; 1 Ti 3:1-7).
18. Baptism And The Lord’s Supper
We believe that Christian baptism is the immersion in water of a believer; in the name of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, with the authority of the local church, to show forth in a solemn and beautiful emblem our faith in the crucified, buried and risen Savior, with its effect in our death to sin and resurrection to a new life; that it is pre-requisite to the new testament (covenant) privileges of a church relationship and to the Lord’s Supper; in which the members of the church, by the sacred use of unleavened bread and unleavened wine are to commemorate together the dying love of Christ; preceded always by solemn self-examination. (Ac 8:36-39; Mt 3:6; Jn 3:23; Ro 6:3-5; Mt 3:16; Col 2:12; Ac 2:41-42; Mt 28:19-20; 1 Co 11:23-28).
19. Missions
We are missionary Baptists, and believe the command to give the gospel to the world is clear and unmistakable, and this commission was given to the churches. (Mt 28:18-20; Mark 16:15; Jo 20:21; Ac 1:8; Ro 10:13-15; Ac 13:1-4).
20. The Grace Of Giving
We believe that all of our time, talent, and treasure belong to God; that God intends for us as His stewards to use all of our time, talent, and treasure for Him; and that God’s plan of financing His church and mission efforts is through our tithes and offerings. (2 Co 8:7; 1 Co 16:2; Heb 7:2,4; Mt 23:23; Lev 27:30; Mal 3:10; Ac 4:34,37).
21. Civil Government
We believe that civil government is of divine appointment, for the interests and good order of human society; that magistrates are to be prayed for, conscientiously honored and obeyed; except only in things opposed to the will of our Lord Jesus Christ; who is the only Lord of the conscience, and the coming Prince of the Kings of the earth. (Da 3:17-18; Mt 10:28; Mt 23:10; Re 10:6; Ph 2:10-11; Ps 72:11).
22. The Resurrection And Return Of Christ And Related Events
We believe in the resurrection and return of Christ and related events, and accept the sacred Scriptures upon these subjects at their face and full value. Of the resurrection, we believe that Christ rose bodily, “the third day according to the scriptures”; that He ascended, “to the right hand of the throne of God”; that He alone is our “merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God”; Of Christ’s return, we believe, “That this same Jesus which is taken up from you into heaven shall so come in like manner as ye have seen Him go into heaven” – bodily, personally and visible; that His return is imminent, pretribulational, and premillennial; that the “dead in Christ shall rise first”; that the living saints “shall all be changed in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump”; that “Christ shall reign a thousand years in righteousness until He hath put all enemies under His feet,” and that the present creation will be dissolved and replaced with a new heaven and new earth wherein dwelleth only righteousness. (Mt 28:6-7; Lk 24:39; Jn 20:27; 1 Co 15:4; Mk 16:6; Lk 24:2, 4-6; Ac 1:9; Lk 24:51; Mk 16:19; Re 3:21; Heb 8:1,6; 1 Ti 2:5; 1 Jn 2:1; Heb 2:17; Heb 5:9-10; Jn 14:3; Ac 1:11; 1 Th 4:16; Mt 24:27; Mt 25:13; Jas 5:8; Mt 24:42; Heb 9:28; 1 Th 4:16; 1 Co 15:42-44, 51-53; 1 Th 4:17; Ph 3:20-21; Lk 1:32; Is 9:6-7; 1 Co 15:25; Is 32:1; Is 11:4-5; Ps 72:8; Re 20:1-4, 6; Zec 14; Lk 1:32-33; Re 3:21; Rev 19:11-16, 20:1-6; Re 21:1-6; 2 Pet 3:8-10).
