Statement of Faith

Authority of Statement of Faith

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. We do believe, however, that the foregoing Statement of Faith accurately represents the teachings of the Bible and, therefore, is binding upon all members. All literature, whether print or electronic, used in the church shall be in complete agreement with the Statement of Faith.

The Divine Authority and Inspiration of the Scriptures

We believe that the Holy Bible, as originally written, consisting of the Old and New Testament Scriptures, was written by men divinely inspired and is a perfect treasure of heavenly instruction; that it has God for its author, salvation for its end, and truth without any mixture of error for its matter; that it reveals the principles by which God will judge us and therefore is, and shall remain to the end of the world, the true center of Christian union and the supreme standard by which all human conduct, creeds, and opinions should be tried. The Scriptures shall be interpreted according to their normal grammatical-historical meaning, and all issues of interpretation and meaning shall be determined by the pastor. The King James Version of the Bible shall be the official and only translation used by the church. II Timothy 3:16, 17; Isaiah 8:20; I Thessalonians 5:21, I Peter 1:20-21

Dispensationalism

We believe that the Scriptures interpreted in their natural, literal sense reveal divinely determined dispensations or rules of life which define man’s responsibilities in successive ages. These dispensations are not ways of salvation, but rather are divinely ordered stewardships by which God directs man according to His purpose. Three of these dispensations—the law, the church, and the kingdom—are the subjects of detailed revelation in Scripture. Gen. 1:28; 1 Cor. 9:17; 2 Cor. 3:9-18; Gal. 3:13-25; Eph. 1:10; 3:2-10; Col. 1:24-25, 27; Rev. 20:2-6.

The Godhead

We believe in one triune God, eternally existing in three persons—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—each co-eternal in being, co-identical in nature, coequal in power and glory, and having the same attributes and perfections. Deut. 6:4; Matt. 28:19; John 10:30, John 14:10, 26; 2 Cor. 13:14.

The Person and Work of Christ

We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God, became man,  without ceasing to be God, having been conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary, in order that He might reveal God and redeem sinful men. Isaiah 7:14; 9:6; Luke 1:35; John 1:1-2, 14; 2 Cor. 5:19-21; Gal. 4:4-5; Phil. 2:5-8.

We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ accomplished our redemption through His death on the cross as a representative, vicarious, substitutionary sacrifice, and that our justification is made sure by His literal, physical resurrection from the dead. Acts 2:18-36; Rom. 3:24-25; Eph. 1:7; 1 Pet. 2:24; 1 Peter 1:3-5.

We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ ascended to Heaven and is now exalted at the right hand of God where, as our High Priest, He fulfills the ministry of Representative, Intercessor, and Advocate. Acts 1:9-10; Rom. 8:34; Heb. 9:24; 7:25; 1 John 2:1-2. 

The Personality, Deity, and Present Work of the Holy Spirit

We believe that the Holy Spirit is a person who convicts the world of sin, of  righteousness, and of judgment; and, that He is the Supernatural Agent in regeneration, baptizing all believers into the body of Christ, indwelling and sealing them unto the day of redemption. John 16:8-11; Rom. 8:9; 1 Cor. 12:12-14; 2 Cor. 3:6; Eph. 1:13-14.

We believe that He is the divine Teacher who assists believers to understand and appropriate the Scriptures and that it is the privilege and duty of all the saved to be filled with the Spirit. Eph. 1:17-18; 5:18; 1 John 2:20, 27.

We believe that God is sovereign in the bestowal of spiritual gifts to every believer. God uniquely uses evangelists, pastors, and teachers to equip believers in the assembly in order that they can do the work of the ministry. Rom. 12:3-8; 1 Cor. 12:4-11, 28; Eph. 4:7-12. 

The Personality of Satan

We believe that Satan is a person, the father of lies, a murderer from the beginning and the great deceiver of all the nations; that he will be finally overcome by the Lord Jesus Christ as the Seed of the Woman, and that he will be cast into the bottomless pit for one thousand years, and finally shall be committed to the Lake of Fire with all his angels to be tormented for ever and ever. Job 1:6-12; John 8:44; II Corinthians 4:4; Ephesians 2:2, 6:12-16; Revelation 20:1-3, 7-10.

The Eternal State

 We believe in the bodily resurrection of all men, the saved to eternal life, and the unsaved to judgment and everlasting punishment. Matt. 25:46; John 5:28, 29; 11:25-26; Rev. 20:5-6, 12-13.

We believe that the souls of the redeemed are, at death, absent from the body and present with the Lord, where in conscious bliss they await the first resurrection, when spirit, soul, and body are reunited to be glorified forever with the Lord. Luke 23:43; 2 Cor. 5:8; Phil. 1:23; 3:21; 1 Thess. 4:16-17; Rev. 20:4-6. 

We believe that the souls of unbelievers remain, after death, in conscious punishment and torment until the second resurrection, when with soul and body reunited, they shall appear at the Great White Throne Judgment, and shall be cast into the Lake of Fire, not to be annihilated, but to suffer everlasting conscious punishment and torment. Matt. 25:41-46; Mark 9:43-48; Luke 16:19-26; 2 Thess. 1:7-9; Jude 6-7; Rev. 20:11-15. 

The Fall of Man

We believe that man, originally created by God in His image and after His likeness fell from his high and holy estate by eating the forbidden fruit, and as a consequence of his disobedience, the threatened penalty of death was then and there inflicted, so that his moral nature was not only grievously injured by the fall, but he totally lost all spiritual life, becoming dead in trespasses and sins and subject to the power of Satan. Genesis 1:26, 2:17; John 5:40, 6:53; Ephesians 2:1-3; I Timothy 5:6; I John 3:8.

The Total Depravity of Man

We believe that this spiritual death or total corruption of human nature has been transmitted to the entire race of men, the Man Christ Jesus alone excepted; and hence that every child of Adam is born into the world with a nature which not only possesses no spark of divine life, but is essentially bad, being at enmity against God, and incapable by any educational process whatsoever of subjection to His law. Genesis 6:5; Psalms 14:1-3, 51:5; Jeremiah 17:9; John 3:16; Romans 5:12-19, 8:6-7.

Regeneration by the Holy Spirit

We believe that owing to the universal death and depravity in sin, no one can enter the Kingdom of God unless born again; and that no degree of reformation however great, no attainment in morality however high, no culture however attractive, no humanitarian and philanthropic schemes and societies however useful, can help the sinner take even one step toward Heaven; but a new nature imparted from above, a new life implanted by the Holy Spirit through the Word is absolutely essential to salvation. John 3:5, 3:16-18; Galatians 6:15; Philippians 3:4-9; Titus 3:5; James 1:18; I Peter 1:23.

Virgin Birth

We believe that Jesus Christ was begotten of the Holy Ghost, in a miraculous manner; born of Mary, a virgin, as no other man was ever born or can ever be born of woman, and that He is both the Son of God, and God, the Son. Gen. 3:15; Isa. 7:14; Matt. 1:18-25; Luke 1:35; Mark 1:1; John 1:14; Ps. 2:7; Gal 4:4; I John 5:20; I Cor. 15:47.

Atonement by the Blood of Christ

We believe that our redemption has been accomplished solely by the Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, who was made to be Sin and a curse for us, dying in our place and stead; and that no repentance, no feelings, no faith, no good resolutions, no sincere efforts, no submission to the rules and regulations of any church or of all churches that have existed since the days of the Apostles can add in the very least to the value of that precious blood, or to the merits of that finished work, wrought for us by Him, who united in His person true and proper deity with perfect and sinless humanity. Leviticus 17:11; Matthew 26:28; Romans 5:6-9; II Corinthians 5:21; Galatians 3:13; Ephesians 1:7; I Peter 1:18-19.

Salvation by Grace through Faith

We believe that Christ is received by Faith alone, and that the moment we trust in Him as our Saviour, we pass out of death into everlasting life, being justified from all things, accepted before the Father according to the measure of His acceptance, loved as He is loved, and having His place and portion as linked to Him and one with Him forever. John 5:24, 17:23; Acts 13:39; Romans 5:1; Ephesians 2:4-6, 13; I John 4:17, 5:11-12.

The Believer’s Security

We believe that it is the privilege, not only of some, but of all who are born again by the Spirit through faith in Christ as revealed in the scriptures, to be assured of their eternal salvation from the very moment they have taken Him to be their Saviour; and that this assurance is not founded upon any fancied discovery of their own worthiness, but wholly upon the testimony of God in His written word, exciting within His children filial love, gratitude, and obedience. Luke 10:20, 12:32; John 3:36, 5:24, 6:45, 10:28; Romans 8:33-39, II Corinthians 5:1, 6:8; II Timothy 1:12; I John 5:13.

The Gospel Church

We believe the church is a group of baptized believers who have voluntarily joined together to carry out the great commission.  The church is to observe the ordinances of Christ, be governed by His laws, and exercise the gifts, rights and privileges invested in it by His Word. Its officers are pastor, deacons; and the church has the absolute right of self-government directed by the Holy Spirit and answerable only to Christ. In all matters of membership, policy, government, discipline and benevolence the will of the church is final.

We believe that it is both unscriptural and impractical to apply the word “church” as referring to the entire Christian family or as referring to the churches of a particular denomination or to anything other than an actual, local assembly. Also, it is scriptural for true churches to cooperate together in contending for the faith and for the furtherance of the gospel. Each church is the sole judge of the measure and method of its cooperation. I Corinthians 1:2; I Timothy 3:1-5; Acts 2:41-47, Matthew 18:15-17; I Corinthians 6:4-5; Acts 14:23: Acts 11:19-30.

Sanctification

We believe that we are called with a holy calling to walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit; and so to live in the Spirit that we shall not fulfill the lusts of the flesh.We believe that all the saved should live in such a manner as not to bring reproach upon their Savior and Lord. God commands His people to separate from all religious apostasy, all worldly and sinful pleasures, practices, and associations, and to refrain from all immodest and immoderate appearances, piercings, and bodily markings. Lev. 19:28; Rom. 12:1-2; 14:13; 1 Cor. 6:19-20; 2 Cor. 6:14-7:1; 2 Tim. 3:1-5; 1 John 2:15-17; 2 John 9-11.

The Pretribulational-Premillennial Coming of the Lord Jesus Christ

We believe that the world will not be converted during the present dispensation, but is fast ripening for judgment, while there will be a fearful apostasy in the professing Christian body and that the Lord Jesus Christ will come in Person before the Tribulation to judge and reward His own and again to introduce the millennial age, when Israel shall be restored to their own land and the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord, and that this personal and premillennial advent is the blessed hope set before us in the Gospel for which we should be constantly looking. While the Lord tarries He has left us a commission to be His witnesses, and to preach the Gospel of the Grace of God to every creature. Zechariah 14:4-11; Matthew 28:18-20; Luke 12:35-40, 18:8; II Timothy 3:1-5; Titus 2:11-15; Revelation 19:11-16, 20:1-6; I Thessalonians 1:10, 5:9, Revelation 3:10.

Baptism

We believe that Christian baptism is the immersion of a regenerate person in water to show forth in solemn and beautiful emblem our faith in the crucified, buried, and risen Saviour. In this ordinance we identify with Him and show our desire to walk in “newness of life”. The ordinance is to be performed under the authority of the church by the pastor or other designated member. John 3:23; Acts 2:41, 3:-8, 8:36-38 ; Romans 6:3-6; Colossians 2:2.

The Lord’s Supper

We believe that the Lord’s Supper or Communion is the church ordinance commemorating the Lord’s death until He comes again, and should be preceded always by solemn self-examination. We believe that participation in this ordinance is scripturally limited to those genuine, baptized believers who have been received into the fellowship of a local assembly or church; and that the Christian should therefore join a church and so partake of the Lord’s table when observed. Matthew 26:26-29; I Corinthians 11:23-34.

Giving

We believe that every Christian, as a steward of that portion of God’s wealth entrusted to him, is obligated to support financially his local church. We believe that God has established the tithe as a basis for giving, but that every Christian should also give other offerings sacrificially and cheerfully to the support of the church, the relief of those in need, and the spread of the Gospel. We believe that a Christian relinquishes all rights to direct the use of his tithe or offering once the gift has been made. Gen. 14:20; Prov. 3:9-10; Acts 4:34-37; 1 Cor. 16:2; 2 Cor. 9:6-7; Gal. 6:6; Eph. 4:28; 1 Tim. 5:17-18; 1 John 3:17.

Creation

We believe in the Genesis account of creation, and that it is to be accepted literally, and not allegorically or figuratively; that man was created directly in God’s own image and after His own likeness; that man’s creation was not a matter of evolution or evolutionary change of species, or development through interminable periods of time from lower to higher forms; that all animal and vegetable life was made directly and God’s established law was that they should bring forth only “after their kind.” Gen. 1:1, 11, 24; Gen. 2:21-23; Ex. 20:11; Acts 4:24; Col. 1:16-17; Heb. 11:3.

Civil Government 

We believe that God has ordained and created all authority consisting of three basic institutions: 1) the home, 2) the church, and 3) the state. Every person is subject to these authorities, but all (including the authorities themselves) are answerable to God and governed by His Word. God has given each institution specific Biblical responsibilities and balanced those responsibilities with the understanding that no institution has the right to infringe upon the other. The home, the church, and the state are equal and sovereign in their respective Biblically assigned spheres of responsibility under God. Rom. 13:1-7; Eph. 5:22-24; Heb. 13:17; 1 Pet. 2:13-14.

Human Sexuality and Marriage

(1) We believe that God has commanded that no intimate sexual activity be engaged in outside of a marriage between one man and one woman. We believe that any form of homosexuality, lesbianism, bisexuality, bestiality, incest, fornication, adultery, and pornography are sinful perversions of God’s gift of sex. We believe that God disapproves of and forbids any attempt to alter one’s gender by surgery or appearance. Gen. 2:24; Gen. 19:5, 13; Gen. 26:8-9; Lev. 18:1-30; Rom. 1: 26-29; 1 Cor. 5:1; 6:9; 1 Thess. 4:1-8; Heb. 13:4.

(2) We believe that God created male and female and a person’s gender is determined by their biological sex at birth. We believe that the only Scriptural marriage is the joining of one man and one woman (Gen. 2:24; Rom. 7:2; 1 Cor. 7:10; Eph. 5:22-23). This church will not permit any pastor, staff member of the church, nor others, to use any part of Hope Baptist Church facilities or property, to perform any type of marriage, cohabitation, or covenant ceremony for persons who are of the same sex, or for those who have changed their gender assigned at birth, or for those who desire poly amorous marriage. 

Family Relationships

We believe that men and women are spiritually equal in position before God but that God has ordained distinct and separate spiritual functions for men and women in the home and the church. The husband is to be the leader of the home, and men are to be the leaders (pastors and deacons) of the church. Accordingly, only men are eligible for licensure and ordination by the church. Gal. 3:28; Col. 3:18; 1 Tim. 2:8-15; 3:4-5, 12.

We believe that God has ordained the family as the foundational institution of human society. The husband is to love his wife as Christ loves the church. The wife is to submit herself to the Scriptural leadership of her husband as the church submits to the headship of Christ. Children are an heritage from the Lord. Parents are responsible for teaching their children spiritual and moral values through consistent lifestyle example and appropriate discipline, including Scriptural corporal correction. Gen. 1:26-28; Ex. 20:12; Deut. 6:4-9; Ps. 127:3-5; Prov. 19:18; 22:15; 23:13-14; Mk. 10:6-12; 1 Cor. 7:1-16; Eph. 5:21-33; 6:1-4, Col. 3:18-21; Heb. 13:4; 1 Pet. 3:1-7.



Divorce and Remarriage

We believe that God disapproves of and forbids divorce and intends marriage to last until one of the spouses dies. Divorce and remarriage is regarded as adultery except on the grounds of fornication and abandonment. Although divorced and remarried persons or divorced persons may hold positions of service in the church and be greatly used of God for Christian service, they may not be considered for the offices of pastor or deacon. Mal. 2:14-17; Matt. 19:3-12; Rom. 7:1-3; 1 Tim. 3:2, 12; Titus 1:6.

Abortion

We believe that human life begins at conception and that the unborn child is a living human being. Abortion constitutes the unjustified, unexcused taking of unborn human life. Abortion is murder. We reject any teaching that abortions due to rape, incest, birth defects, gender selection, birth or population control, or the physical or mental well-being of the mother are acceptable. Job 3:16; Ps. 51:5; 139:14-16; Isa. 44:24; 49:1, 5; Jer. 1:5; 20:15-18; Luke 1:44.

Euthanasia 

We believe that the direct taking of an innocent human life is a moral evil, regardless of the intention. Life is a gift of God and must be respected from conception until natural death. Thus we believe that an act or omission which, of itself or by intention, causes death in order to eliminate suffering constitutes a murder contrary to the will of God. Discontinuing medical procedures that are extraordinary or disproportionate to the expected outcome can be a legitimate refusal of over-zealous treatment. Ex. 20:13, 23:7; Matt. 5:21; Acts 17:28.

Love  

We believe that we should demonstrate love for others, not only toward fellow believers, but also toward those who are not believers, those who oppose us, and those who engage in sinful actions. We are to deal with those who oppose us graciously, gently, patiently, and humbly. God forbids the stirring up of strife, the taking of revenge, or the threat or use of violence as a means of resolving personal conflict or obtaining personal justice. Although God commands us to abhor sinful actions, we are to love and pray for any person who engages in such sinful actions. Lev. 19:18; Matt. 5:44-48; Luke 6:31; John 13:34-35; Rom. 12:9-10; 17-21; 13:8-10; Phil. 2:2-4; 2 Tim. 2:24-26; Titus 3:2; 1 John 3:17-18.

Lawsuits Between Believers 

We believe that Christians are prohibited from bringing civil lawsuits against other Christians or the church to resolve personal disputes. We believe the church possesses all the resources necessary to resolve personal disputes between members. We do believe, however, that a Christian may seek compensation for injuries from another Christian’s insurance company as long as the claim is pursued without malice or slander. 1 Cor. 6:1-8; Eph. 4:31-32. 

Missions 

We believe that God has given the church a great commission to proclaim the Gospel to all nations so that there might be a great multitude from every nation, tribe, ethnic group, and language group who believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. As ambassadors of Christ we must use all available means to go to the foreign nations and not wait for them to come to us. Matt. 28:19-20; Mark 16:15; Luke 24:46-48; John 20:21; Acts 1:8; 2 Cor. 5:20.