Our Statement of Faith
ABOUT THE BIBLE We believe that the Bible is the Word of God, fully inspired and without error in the original manuscripts, written under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, and that it has supreme authority in all matters of faith and conduct. [2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:20, 21; Mark 13:31; John 8:31, 32; John 20:31; Acts 20:32]
ABOUT THE TRINITY We believe that there is one living and true God, eternally existing in three persons; that they are equal in every divine perfection while displaying submission in divine function and that they execute distinct but harmonious offices in the work of creation, providence and redemption. [Genesis 1:1, 26; Matthew 28:19; John 1:1, 3; John 4:24; Romans 1:19, 20; Ephesians 4:5-6]
ABOUT GOD THE FATHER We believe in God the Father, an infinite and personal spirit, perfect in holiness, wisdom, power and love. We believe that He infallibly foreknows all that shall come to pass, that He concerns Himself mercifully in the affairs of men, that He hears and answers prayer, and that He saves from sin and death all who come to Him through Jesus Christ. [Matthew 23:9; Luke: 10:21, 22; John 3:16, 6:27; Romans 1:7; 1 Timothy 1:1, 2, 2:5; 6; 1 Peter 1:3; Revelation 1:6]
ABOUT JESUS CHRIST We believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only begotten Son, conceived by the Holy Spirit. We believe in His virgin birth, sinless life, miracles, and teachings. We believe in His substitutionary atoning death, bodily resurrection, ascension into heaven, perpetual intercession for His people, and personal, visible return to earth. [Matthew 1:18-25; Luke 1:26-38; John 1:1, 20:28; Romans 9:5, 8:46; 2 Corinthians 5:21; 1 Peter 2:21-23; John 20:30, 31; Matthew 20:28; Ephesians 1:4; Acts 1:11; Romans 5:6-8; 6:9, 10; Hebrews 7:25; Hebrews 9:28; 1 Timothy 3:16]
ABOUT THE HOLY SPIRIT We believe in the Holy Spirit who, being one with the Father and Son, was sent forth to convict the world of sin, perpetuate righteousness, exact judgment, and to regenerate, sanctify, and empower all who trust in Jesus Christ. We believe that the Holy Spirit indwells every follower of Christ, and that He is an abiding helper, teacher, and guide. [John 14:16, 17, 26; 15:26, 27; John 16:9-14; Romans 8:9; 1 Corinthians 3:16; 6:19; Galatians 5:22-26]
ABOUT MANKIND We believe that Man was created in holiness, under the law of his Maker, but by willful transgression fell from that holy and happy state. In consequence all mankind are now sinners; being, by nature, utterly void of that holiness required by the law of God, positively inclined to evil, and therefore under just condemnation to eternal ruin without defense or excuse. [Genesis 1:27; Acts 16:26; Romans 5:12; Romans 5:19; John 3:6; Genesis 6:12; Romans 3:9-18; Ephesians 2:1-3; Galatians 3:22]
ABOUT SALVATION We believe that man was created by God in His own image; that he sinned and thereby incurred physical, spiritual, and eternal death, which is separation from God; that as a consequence, all human beings are born with a sinful nature and, as sinners, are therefore under condemnation. We believe that those who repent and forsake sin and trust Jesus Christ as Savior are regenerated by the Holy Spirit and become new creatures, delivered from condemnation and receiving eternal life. [Genesis 1:26; 5:2; Genesis 3; Genesis 2:17; 3:19; Ecclesiastes. 2:11; John 3:14; 5:24; John 5:30; 7:13; 8:12; 10:26; Romans 9:22; 2 Thessalonians 1:9; Revelation 19:3, 20; 20:10, 14, 15; 21:18; Psalm 51:7; Jeremiah 17:9; James 1:14; Romans 3:19; 5:19; Proverbs 28:13; 1 John 1:9; John 3:16; John 1:13; 2 Corinthians 5:17; Romans 8:1]
ABOUT ETERNAL SECURITY We believe that true believers endure to the end; that their persevering attachment to Christ is the grand mark which distinguishes them from superficial professors; that a special Providence watches over their welfare; and they are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation. [John 8:31; 1 John 2:19; Matthew 13:20-21; Romans 8:28; Jeremiah 32:40; Philippians 1:6; Jude 24-25; 1 John 4:4]
ABOUT ETERNITY We believe that people were created to exist forever – either separated from God in Hell or with Him in Heaven. Both Heaven and Hell are real places of eternal existence.[John 3:16, 14:17; Romans 6:23, 8:17-18; Revelation 20:15; 1 Corinthians 2:7-9]
ABOUT LAST THINGS We believe in the personal and visible return of the Lord Jesus Christ to earth and the establishment of His earthly kingdom. We believe in the resurrection of the body, the final judgment, the eternal joy of the righteous, and the endless suffering of the wicked. [Matthew 16:27; Mark 14:62; John 14:3; Acts 1:11; Philippians 3:20; 1 Thessalonians 4:15; 2 Timothy 4:1; Titus 2:13; 1 Corinthians 4:5; 1 Corinthians 15; 2 Thessalonians 1:7-10; Revelation 20:4-6, 11-15]
ABOUT THE ORDINANCES We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ has committed two ordinances to the local church: baptism and the Lord’s Supper. We believe that Christian baptism is the immersion of the believer in water into the name of the triune God. Furthermore, while baptism is an important step in identifying with Christ, we do not believe it to be essential to salvation. We believe that the Lord’s Supper was instituted by Christ for commemoration of His death and is to be partaken of only by believers. We believe that these two ordinances should be observed and administered until the return of the Lord Jesus Christ. [Matthew 28:18-20; Romans 6:3-5; 10:13; Acts 2:21; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26]
ABOUT THE CHURCH We believe that all regenerate believers comprise a living, spiritual body of which Christ is the head. We believe in the local church, consisting of a company of believers in Jesus Christ, baptized on a credible profession of faith, and associated for worship, work, and fellowship. We believe that God has lain upon the members of the local church the primary task of sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ with a lost world. [Ephesians 2:19-22; Acts 1:8; Ephesians 5:19-21; Acts 2:42; Hebrews 10:23-25]
ABOUT CHURCH COOPERATION We believe that local churches can best promote the cause of Jesus Christ by cooperating with one another. Such cooperation exists and functions by the will of the churches. Cooperation in any conference, denominational or otherwise, is voluntary and may be terminated at any time. [Acts 15:36,41; 16:5; 1 Corinthians 16:1; Galatians 1:1-3; Revelation 1:4, 10, 11] This church is associated nationally with the Southern Baptist Convention, at the state level with the Georgia Baptist Convention, and locally with the Appalachee Baptist Association.
ABOUT CHRISTIAN CONDUCT We believe that a Christian should live for the glory of God and the wellbeing of his fellow men; that his conduct should be blameless before the world; that he should be a faithful steward of his possessions; and that he should seek to realize for himself and others the full stature of maturity in Christ. [1 Corinthians 10:31; Romans 12:1-3; Hebrews 12:1-2; John 14:15, 23-24; 1 John 2:3-6; 2 Corinthians 9:6-9; 1 Corinthians 4:2; Colossians 1:9-10]
ABOUT PERSONAL RELIGIOUS LIBERTY We believe that every believer is indwelt by the Holy Spirit upon salvation. The indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit sets apart every believer as a priest of God. Every believer has personal access to the presence of God, the forgiveness of God, and the wisdom of God. Since believers have full access to God, no human intermediary is needed. Each believer has the freedom to seek God’s will for his/her own personal life. [Romans 8:9; 1 Peter 2:9; Romans 5:1-2; 1 John 1:9; Ephesians 1:8-9; 1 Timothy 2:5; John 10:27]
ABOUT CIVIL RELIGIOUS LIBERTY We believe that the state should not interfere with the affairs of the church. The state owes to every church protection and full freedom in the pursuit of its spiritual ends. In providing for such freedom no ecclesiastical group or denomination should be favored by the state more than others. Civil government being ordained of God, it is the duty of Christians to render loyal obedience thereto in all things not contrary to the revealed will of God. The church should not resort to the civil power to carry on its work. The gospel of Christ contemplates spiritual means alone for the pursuit of its ends. The state has no right to impose penalties for religious opinions of any kind. The state has no right to impose taxes for the support of any form of religion. A free church in a free state is the Christian ideal, and this implies the right of free and unhindered access to God on the part of all men, and the right to form and propagate opinions in the sphere of religion without interference by the civil power. [Romans 13]
ABOUT MARRIAGE Marriage is only the uniting of one man and one woman in covenant commitment for a lifetime. It is God’s unique gift to reveal the union between Christ and His church and to provide for the man and the woman in marriage; the framework for intimate companionship, the expression of sexuality according to biblical standards, and the means for procreation of the human race. Furthermore, based on this biblical definition of marriage, the Church shall only recognize and allow unions as described herein. [Matthew 19, Romans 1:24-27; Ephesians 5]
ABOUT FAMILY God has ordained the family as the foundational institution of human society. It is composed of persons related to one another by marriage, blood, or adoption. The husband and wife are of equal worth before God, since both are created in God’s image. The marriage relationship models the way God relates to His people. A husband is to love his wife as Christ loved the church. He has the God-given responsibility to provide for, to protect, and to lead his family. A wife is to submit herself graciously to the servant leadership of her husband even as the church willingly submits to the headship of Christ. She, being in the image of God as is her husband and thus equal to him, has the God-given responsibility to respect her husband and to serve as his helper in managing the household and nurturing the next generation. Children, from the moment of conception, are a blessing and heritage from the Lord. Parents are to demonstrate to their children God’s pattern for marriage. Parents are to teach their children spiritual and moral values and to lead them, through consistent lifestyle example and loving discipline, to make choices based on biblical truth. Children are to honor and obey their parents. [Genesis 1:26-28; 2:15-25; 3:1-20; Exodus 20:12; Deuteronomy 6:4-9; Joshua 24:15; 1 Samuel 1:26-28; Psalms 51:5; 78:1-8; 127; 128; 139:13-16; Proverbs 1:8; 5:15-20; 6:20-22; 12:4; 13:24; 14:1; 17:6; 18:22; 22:6,15; 23:13-14; 24:3; 29:15,17; 31:10-31; Ecclesiastes 4:9-12; 9:9; Malachi 2:14-16; Matthew 5:31-32; 18:2-5; 19:3-9; Mark 10:6-12; Romans 1:18-32; 1 Corinthians 7:1-16; Ephesians 5:21-33; 6:1-4; Colossians 3:18-21; 1 Timothy 5:8,14; 2 Timothy 1:3-5; Titus 2:3-5; Hebrews 13:4; 1 Peter 3:1-7]
ABOUT SEXUALITY We believe that God created only two genders – male and female – and that we are assigned that gender by Him. We believe that God’s Word requires chastity for unmarried people and faithful monogamy between a married man and woman. [Exodus 20:14; Matthew 19:4; Romans 1:26-27; 1 Corinthians 6:19-20; Ephesians 5:3; 1 Thessalonians 4:3-4]
ABOUT LIFE We believe that God’s law, recorded in His word, protects life from conception until natural death. [Psalm 139:13-16; Jeremiah 1:5; Luke 1:44]
ABOUT CREATION We believe that the triune God created the universe apart from any pre-existing materials. [Genesis 1:1; John 1:1-3; Romans 1:20; Colossians 1:16-17; Hebrews 11:3]
ABOUT THE TRINITY We believe that there is one living and true God, eternally existing in three persons; that they are equal in every divine perfection while displaying submission in divine function and that they execute distinct but harmonious offices in the work of creation, providence and redemption. [Genesis 1:1, 26; Matthew 28:19; John 1:1, 3; John 4:24; Romans 1:19, 20; Ephesians 4:5-6]
ABOUT GOD THE FATHER We believe in God the Father, an infinite and personal spirit, perfect in holiness, wisdom, power and love. We believe that He infallibly foreknows all that shall come to pass, that He concerns Himself mercifully in the affairs of men, that He hears and answers prayer, and that He saves from sin and death all who come to Him through Jesus Christ. [Matthew 23:9; Luke: 10:21, 22; John 3:16, 6:27; Romans 1:7; 1 Timothy 1:1, 2, 2:5; 6; 1 Peter 1:3; Revelation 1:6]
ABOUT JESUS CHRIST We believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only begotten Son, conceived by the Holy Spirit. We believe in His virgin birth, sinless life, miracles, and teachings. We believe in His substitutionary atoning death, bodily resurrection, ascension into heaven, perpetual intercession for His people, and personal, visible return to earth. [Matthew 1:18-25; Luke 1:26-38; John 1:1, 20:28; Romans 9:5, 8:46; 2 Corinthians 5:21; 1 Peter 2:21-23; John 20:30, 31; Matthew 20:28; Ephesians 1:4; Acts 1:11; Romans 5:6-8; 6:9, 10; Hebrews 7:25; Hebrews 9:28; 1 Timothy 3:16]
ABOUT THE HOLY SPIRIT We believe in the Holy Spirit who, being one with the Father and Son, was sent forth to convict the world of sin, perpetuate righteousness, exact judgment, and to regenerate, sanctify, and empower all who trust in Jesus Christ. We believe that the Holy Spirit indwells every follower of Christ, and that He is an abiding helper, teacher, and guide. [John 14:16, 17, 26; 15:26, 27; John 16:9-14; Romans 8:9; 1 Corinthians 3:16; 6:19; Galatians 5:22-26]
ABOUT MANKIND We believe that Man was created in holiness, under the law of his Maker, but by willful transgression fell from that holy and happy state. In consequence all mankind are now sinners; being, by nature, utterly void of that holiness required by the law of God, positively inclined to evil, and therefore under just condemnation to eternal ruin without defense or excuse. [Genesis 1:27; Acts 16:26; Romans 5:12; Romans 5:19; John 3:6; Genesis 6:12; Romans 3:9-18; Ephesians 2:1-3; Galatians 3:22]
ABOUT SALVATION We believe that man was created by God in His own image; that he sinned and thereby incurred physical, spiritual, and eternal death, which is separation from God; that as a consequence, all human beings are born with a sinful nature and, as sinners, are therefore under condemnation. We believe that those who repent and forsake sin and trust Jesus Christ as Savior are regenerated by the Holy Spirit and become new creatures, delivered from condemnation and receiving eternal life. [Genesis 1:26; 5:2; Genesis 3; Genesis 2:17; 3:19; Ecclesiastes. 2:11; John 3:14; 5:24; John 5:30; 7:13; 8:12; 10:26; Romans 9:22; 2 Thessalonians 1:9; Revelation 19:3, 20; 20:10, 14, 15; 21:18; Psalm 51:7; Jeremiah 17:9; James 1:14; Romans 3:19; 5:19; Proverbs 28:13; 1 John 1:9; John 3:16; John 1:13; 2 Corinthians 5:17; Romans 8:1]
ABOUT ETERNAL SECURITY We believe that true believers endure to the end; that their persevering attachment to Christ is the grand mark which distinguishes them from superficial professors; that a special Providence watches over their welfare; and they are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation. [John 8:31; 1 John 2:19; Matthew 13:20-21; Romans 8:28; Jeremiah 32:40; Philippians 1:6; Jude 24-25; 1 John 4:4]
ABOUT ETERNITY We believe that people were created to exist forever – either separated from God in Hell or with Him in Heaven. Both Heaven and Hell are real places of eternal existence.[John 3:16, 14:17; Romans 6:23, 8:17-18; Revelation 20:15; 1 Corinthians 2:7-9]
ABOUT LAST THINGS We believe in the personal and visible return of the Lord Jesus Christ to earth and the establishment of His earthly kingdom. We believe in the resurrection of the body, the final judgment, the eternal joy of the righteous, and the endless suffering of the wicked. [Matthew 16:27; Mark 14:62; John 14:3; Acts 1:11; Philippians 3:20; 1 Thessalonians 4:15; 2 Timothy 4:1; Titus 2:13; 1 Corinthians 4:5; 1 Corinthians 15; 2 Thessalonians 1:7-10; Revelation 20:4-6, 11-15]
ABOUT THE ORDINANCES We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ has committed two ordinances to the local church: baptism and the Lord’s Supper. We believe that Christian baptism is the immersion of the believer in water into the name of the triune God. Furthermore, while baptism is an important step in identifying with Christ, we do not believe it to be essential to salvation. We believe that the Lord’s Supper was instituted by Christ for commemoration of His death and is to be partaken of only by believers. We believe that these two ordinances should be observed and administered until the return of the Lord Jesus Christ. [Matthew 28:18-20; Romans 6:3-5; 10:13; Acts 2:21; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26]
ABOUT THE CHURCH We believe that all regenerate believers comprise a living, spiritual body of which Christ is the head. We believe in the local church, consisting of a company of believers in Jesus Christ, baptized on a credible profession of faith, and associated for worship, work, and fellowship. We believe that God has lain upon the members of the local church the primary task of sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ with a lost world. [Ephesians 2:19-22; Acts 1:8; Ephesians 5:19-21; Acts 2:42; Hebrews 10:23-25]
ABOUT CHURCH COOPERATION We believe that local churches can best promote the cause of Jesus Christ by cooperating with one another. Such cooperation exists and functions by the will of the churches. Cooperation in any conference, denominational or otherwise, is voluntary and may be terminated at any time. [Acts 15:36,41; 16:5; 1 Corinthians 16:1; Galatians 1:1-3; Revelation 1:4, 10, 11] This church is associated nationally with the Southern Baptist Convention, at the state level with the Georgia Baptist Convention, and locally with the Appalachee Baptist Association.
ABOUT CHRISTIAN CONDUCT We believe that a Christian should live for the glory of God and the wellbeing of his fellow men; that his conduct should be blameless before the world; that he should be a faithful steward of his possessions; and that he should seek to realize for himself and others the full stature of maturity in Christ. [1 Corinthians 10:31; Romans 12:1-3; Hebrews 12:1-2; John 14:15, 23-24; 1 John 2:3-6; 2 Corinthians 9:6-9; 1 Corinthians 4:2; Colossians 1:9-10]
ABOUT PERSONAL RELIGIOUS LIBERTY We believe that every believer is indwelt by the Holy Spirit upon salvation. The indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit sets apart every believer as a priest of God. Every believer has personal access to the presence of God, the forgiveness of God, and the wisdom of God. Since believers have full access to God, no human intermediary is needed. Each believer has the freedom to seek God’s will for his/her own personal life. [Romans 8:9; 1 Peter 2:9; Romans 5:1-2; 1 John 1:9; Ephesians 1:8-9; 1 Timothy 2:5; John 10:27]
ABOUT CIVIL RELIGIOUS LIBERTY We believe that the state should not interfere with the affairs of the church. The state owes to every church protection and full freedom in the pursuit of its spiritual ends. In providing for such freedom no ecclesiastical group or denomination should be favored by the state more than others. Civil government being ordained of God, it is the duty of Christians to render loyal obedience thereto in all things not contrary to the revealed will of God. The church should not resort to the civil power to carry on its work. The gospel of Christ contemplates spiritual means alone for the pursuit of its ends. The state has no right to impose penalties for religious opinions of any kind. The state has no right to impose taxes for the support of any form of religion. A free church in a free state is the Christian ideal, and this implies the right of free and unhindered access to God on the part of all men, and the right to form and propagate opinions in the sphere of religion without interference by the civil power. [Romans 13]
ABOUT MARRIAGE Marriage is only the uniting of one man and one woman in covenant commitment for a lifetime. It is God’s unique gift to reveal the union between Christ and His church and to provide for the man and the woman in marriage; the framework for intimate companionship, the expression of sexuality according to biblical standards, and the means for procreation of the human race. Furthermore, based on this biblical definition of marriage, the Church shall only recognize and allow unions as described herein. [Matthew 19, Romans 1:24-27; Ephesians 5]
ABOUT FAMILY God has ordained the family as the foundational institution of human society. It is composed of persons related to one another by marriage, blood, or adoption. The husband and wife are of equal worth before God, since both are created in God’s image. The marriage relationship models the way God relates to His people. A husband is to love his wife as Christ loved the church. He has the God-given responsibility to provide for, to protect, and to lead his family. A wife is to submit herself graciously to the servant leadership of her husband even as the church willingly submits to the headship of Christ. She, being in the image of God as is her husband and thus equal to him, has the God-given responsibility to respect her husband and to serve as his helper in managing the household and nurturing the next generation. Children, from the moment of conception, are a blessing and heritage from the Lord. Parents are to demonstrate to their children God’s pattern for marriage. Parents are to teach their children spiritual and moral values and to lead them, through consistent lifestyle example and loving discipline, to make choices based on biblical truth. Children are to honor and obey their parents. [Genesis 1:26-28; 2:15-25; 3:1-20; Exodus 20:12; Deuteronomy 6:4-9; Joshua 24:15; 1 Samuel 1:26-28; Psalms 51:5; 78:1-8; 127; 128; 139:13-16; Proverbs 1:8; 5:15-20; 6:20-22; 12:4; 13:24; 14:1; 17:6; 18:22; 22:6,15; 23:13-14; 24:3; 29:15,17; 31:10-31; Ecclesiastes 4:9-12; 9:9; Malachi 2:14-16; Matthew 5:31-32; 18:2-5; 19:3-9; Mark 10:6-12; Romans 1:18-32; 1 Corinthians 7:1-16; Ephesians 5:21-33; 6:1-4; Colossians 3:18-21; 1 Timothy 5:8,14; 2 Timothy 1:3-5; Titus 2:3-5; Hebrews 13:4; 1 Peter 3:1-7]
ABOUT SEXUALITY We believe that God created only two genders – male and female – and that we are assigned that gender by Him. We believe that God’s Word requires chastity for unmarried people and faithful monogamy between a married man and woman. [Exodus 20:14; Matthew 19:4; Romans 1:26-27; 1 Corinthians 6:19-20; Ephesians 5:3; 1 Thessalonians 4:3-4]
ABOUT LIFE We believe that God’s law, recorded in His word, protects life from conception until natural death. [Psalm 139:13-16; Jeremiah 1:5; Luke 1:44]
ABOUT CREATION We believe that the triune God created the universe apart from any pre-existing materials. [Genesis 1:1; John 1:1-3; Romans 1:20; Colossians 1:16-17; Hebrews 11:3]