THE BIBLE – (KJV – 2 Tim. 3:16–17; Ps. 12:6–7; Ps. 119:89)
We believe God not only gave His Word, but He has faithfully preserved it. The King James Bible is the inspired and kept Word of God, and it stands as the final authority for all matters of faith and practice. We do not believe God intended His people to rely on opinions, traditions, or ever-changing revisions to know the truth. His Word is pure, settled, and dependable. When questions arise about doctrine, daily living, or direction, the Bible alone has the final say.
SALVATION - (KJV – Rom. 3:23; Acts 20:21; 1 Cor. 15:1–4; Eph. 2:8–9; John 3:36; Eph. 4:30)
We believe salvation is a gift from God, not something a person earns. Every one of us is a sinner, and sin separates us from a holy God. No amount of good deeds, church attendance, or religious effort can remove that sin. Jesus Christ paid the full price when He died on the cross, was buried, and rose again. When a person repents of their sin and places their trust in Christ alone, God forgives them completely, gives them new life, and seals them forever. Salvation is by grace, through faith, and once a person is saved, they are saved for eternity.
THE LOCAL CHURCH - (KJV – 1 Cor. 12:12–27; Eph. 4:11–14; Matt. 28:19; 1 Tim. 3:1–13)
We believe the church is not a building, but a body of saved people. A local church is a group of born-again believers who come together to worship the Lord, learn His Word, serve one another, and reach others with the gospel. Jesus Christ is the Head of the church. The Bible teaches two ordinances—baptism by immersion and the Lord’s Supper—and two offices, pastors and deacons, with clear biblical qualifications.
THE ORDINANCES OF THE CHURCH – (KJV – Matt. 28:19; Acts 8:36–38; 1 Cor. 11:23–26; Eph. 2:8–9)
We believe the Lord has given the local church two ordinances: baptism and the Lord’s Supper. Both ordinances are acts of obedience for believers and are given to picture spiritual truths, not to provide or secure salvation.
Baptism is by water immersion and is a public testimony that a person has already trusted Jesus Christ as Savior. It follows salvation and identifies the believer with Christ, but it does not wash away sin or contribute to salvation in any way.
The Lord’s Supper is observed in remembrance of the body and blood of the Lord Jesus Christ and proclaims His death until He returns. It is an act of worship and reflection, not a means of grace or forgiveness.
We believe neither ordinance saves, removes sin, or adds to salvation. Salvation is purely by grace through faith alone, and these ordinances follow salvation as expressions of obedience and worship.
THE TRINITY - (KJV – Deut. 6:4; 1 John 5:7; Matt. 28:19)
We believe in one God who exists as the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. These are not three gods, but one God, equal in power and glory, eternal and unchanging.
JESUS CHRIST – (KJV – 1 Tim. 3:16; Isa. 7:14; 1 Cor. 15:3–4; Acts 1:9–11)
We believe the Lord Jesus Christ is the Son of God and God manifest in the flesh. He was born of a virgin, lived a sinless life, and willingly gave Himself as the substitute for sinners. He rose bodily from the grave, ascended visibly into Heaven, and lives today at the right hand of the Father. He will return again in the same manner He ascended, exactly as He promised.
THE ETERNAL STATE - (KJV – 2 Cor. 5:8; Luke 16:22–23; Matt. 25:41,46)
We believe eternity is real. When a believer dies, they immediately go to be with the Lord in Heaven. When an unbeliever dies, they immediately enter Hell, a place of conscious and eternal punishment. Every soul will spend eternity somewhere.
THE SECOND COMING - (KJV – 1 Thes. 4:16–17; 1 Thes. 5:9; Titus 2:13)
We believe Jesus Christ is coming again. He will return first to rapture His church before the Tribulation, and later He will return bodily to this earth to reign as King. His return is literal, personal, and imminent.
CHRISTIAN LIVING & SEPARATION - (KJV – Rom. 12:1–2; 1 Cor. 5:11; Gal. 5:17–21; Rom. 16:17)
We believe God calls His people to live differently. Salvation changes a person, and that change should show up in how we live. While we are in the world, we are not to live like it. We reject sinful practices, worldly influence, and doctrinal compromise, and we desire to live in a way that honors the Lord and His Word.
SIGNS – (KJV – Mark 16:14, 17–18; 2 Tim. 4:20; 1 Cor. 1:22; Acts 13:45–46; Heb. 2:3–4; 2 Cor. 5:7; Rom. 10:17; Mark 13:22; Rev. 2:2)
We believe the Holy Spirit gives spiritual gifts, but we do not believe the gifts identified in Scripture as signs—such as tongues, visions, prophecies, miraculous healings, and extraordinary manifestations—are for use in the present church age. In the Bible, these signs were closely tied to the apostles and were used to confirm the Word of God at a time when the Scriptures had not yet been completed. Signs were also directed primarily toward the nation of Israel, for whom signs were given as a means of confirmation.
As God’s focus moved from Israel to the Gentiles, the apostles themselves acknowledged the fading of sign activity, and with the completion and availability of the written Word of God, the purpose for signs was fulfilled. Today, believers are instructed to live by faith in God’s written Word, not by visible signs or experiences. Scripture provides no support for the continuation of sign gifts in this age and also warns that false signs can be used to deceive, which is why all claims must be tested by the Word of God.
CREATION - (KJV – Gen. 1–2; Mark 10:6; Isa. 45:18)
We believe God created everything by His Word in six literal days and rested on the seventh. The world is not the result of chance or evolution, but of a purposeful Creator. The seventh day was not a sign of weakness or exhaustion, but a declaration of completion and order. God set it apart as a day of rest to mark that His work was finished, perfect, and lacking nothing, and to establish a pattern of rest and reflection on His completed creation.
GIVING - (KJV – 1 Cor. 16:2; 2 Cor. 9:6–7)
We believe giving is part of Christian obedience and worship. God loves cheerful, willing giving, not pressure or obligation. The Bible teaches that giving comes in different forms, all flowing from a willing heart. Scripture speaks of tithes, which show honor and gratitude to God; offerings, which are given freely and joyfully beyond what is required; and sacrificial giving, which meets real needs and reflects trust in the Lord rather than in possessions. Giving is not about pressure or obligation, but about obedience, faith, and love for God and others.
DISPENSATIONAL BIBLE STUDY - (KJV – 2 Tim. 2:15; 2 Tim. 3:16–17)
We believe the Bible has proper divisions that must be accounted for to properly know which group of people the passge(s) are addressing. All the Bible may be written for you, but not all of it is written directly to you. The Word of God has Historical, Practical, and Doctrinally implications and each of those can address one or multiple groups of individuals.
WITNESSING & MISSIONS - (KJV – Acts 1:8; Acts 20:20)
We believe every Christian has a responsibility to tell others about Jesus Christ. Whether through personal witnessing, missions, preaching, or giving, the gospel is meant to be shared.
Welcome to Spirit & Truth Baptist Church 