Vision Statement

 

Church Vision Statement

"Our vision is to become a strong Bible-based church. In order for this to become possible, we believe that everything concerning the Church and being a Christian is based upon the infallible Word of God; therefore, as the body of Christ, we feel that we must be about the Word of God in order to grow in the Kingdom of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ."

 

Church Motto

"It's all about His Word and the Kingdom."

 

 

Baptist Doctrine

We believe that the church is to follow the teachings of the Holy Scriptures; therefore we, by choice agree with the teachings of the Baptist Denomination. We believe that Baptism is symbolic of Christ's death, burial and resurrection.

Our position on such matters as the inspiration of the Scriptures, the Trinity, the ruin wrought by sin, the coming of Jesus Christ the Son of GOD as Savior, and the future places of heaven and hell are generally known. Some principles strongly emphasized by Baptists are as follows...

• Christ is Lord

• The New Testament is our rule of faith and practice.

• Salvation is a personal, individual experience.

• The church is based on personal experience of grace and a regenerated membership.

• A church is a spiritual democracy.

• The ordinances are symbols of great religious facts both historical and experiential. Here are some of the doctrines held by Baptists that are not taught by all other denominations. We will carefully study these with Bible in hand, since the Scripture references alone are used to set forth each doctrine.

  I. The Church

• Christ established the church during His ministry. He was its head and promised to bless and keep it eternally. (Matthew 16:18, Matthew 28:20, Colossians 1:18)

• The church was a local body of baptized believers (Matthew 28:19)

• Each church governed its own affairs under the leadership of the Spirit; it received members, withdrew fellowship from the disorderly, and restored to fellowship those who repented. (Matthew 18:17, I Corinthians 5:11-13, Acts 15:22-23, II Thessalonians 3:6, Galatians 6:1)

• To the church, Christ gave the ordinances and the "Great Commission", and through it He is to be glorified (Matthew 28:19-20, I Corinthians 11:23-26, Ephesians 3:20-21).

   II. Salvation

• Salvation is given by GOD in grace, apart from human works or merit (Ephesians 2:8-9, Titus 3:5-7)

• It is received by man through repentance and faith. Repentance is absolutely necessary (Matthew 4:17, Luke 15:9, Acts 3:19). Faith is absolutely necessary (John 3:16-18, 36, acts 10:43, Romans 5:1). This is not just assent of the mind, but must be from the heart (Acts 8:35-37, Romans 10:9-10).

• What is God’s plan of salvation? Revelation 22:17 tells us that "whosoever will" may come to Christ for salvation. Romans 10:13 tells us, "Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved". John 3:16 says, "Whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life". These passages plainly teach that God’s plan of salvation will reach whosoever. Any plan that will not reach "any man in any condition who calls on the Lord" is not God’s plan.

III. Baptism

• There is only one baptism (Ephesians 4:5)

• Scriptural baptism is by immersion. The Greek word for "baptize" means immerse and never means sprinkle or pour. Scriptures about baptism also make immersion absolutely necessary in the ordinance. Baptism must be in water (Mark 1:5). It requires much water (John 3:23), going down into the water (Acts 8:38), burial in water and resurrection from the water (Colossians 2:12), and coming up out of the water (Acts 8:39)

• Most Baptists agree that four things are necessary for the administration of the ordinance of baptism. Any so called baptism that does not meet these four conditions is not accepted as scriptural:

  • Proper subject: A Saved Person

  • Proper Authority: Church of the Lord Jesus Christ

  • Proper Purpose: To Show salvation, not procure it

  • Proper Mode: Immersion

• Baptism sets forth the burial and resurrection of Christ and shows the individual's salvation by death to sin and resurrection to new life in Christ (Romans 6:4-8). It is an illustration by figure or symbol of salvation (I Peter 3:21), or putting on a uniform showing that we are saved (Galatians 3:27), done in obedience to Christ's command (Matthew 28:19-20).

• Baptism is not essential for salvation. There is not one passage in the Bible that teaches that baptism is necessary for salvation. Some passages have been wrongly interpreted to teach it, but there is not one that really teaches it. There is no passage which says "except ye be baptized ye shall be lost". This is said of both repentance and faith (Luke 13:3, John 3:18). There are many passages which plainly teach that salvation is without baptism (Acts 16:31, Romans 10:13)

• In the New Testament, only believers were baptized and believers were saved. Paul clearly teaches that baptism is not a part of the gospel message of salvation. In I Corinthians 1:14-17). Paul also said here that he was sent to preach the gospel, not to baptize. This plainly teaches that baptism is not part of the gospel, but Paul taught in Romans 1:16 that the gospel is "the power of GOD unto salvation".

• Every Christian should be baptized, not in order to be saved, but because he is saved.

• There is not one passage in the New Testament that in any way teaches infant baptism either by word or example.

IV. The Lord's Supper

• General references (Matthew 26:26-29, Mark 14:22-25, Luke 22:19-20, I Corinthians 11:17-29)

• What is its purpose?: A memorial of Christ's death (I Corinthians 11:24-26)

• To whom was it given?: To the church (Acts 20"7 of "general references" above)

• Who is to partake?: Church members are to partake (Acts 2:41-42, Acts 20:7)

• Christian denominations generally agree that only the baptized should take the supper. Baptists do not accept anything as baptism except immersion on profession of faith. Many Baptists also believe that this should be administered by a Baptist church. Churches that do not invite others to partake of the Supper are thus being consistent with their convictions about baptism.

• Is open communion possible? Yes. When we look at Scripture, it must be understood that Communion is the ordinance in which all believers show that they are a part of Christ. In 1Co 11:26 For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come. This is referring to all believers of Jesus Christ. Keep in mind that when we read I Corinthians chapter 11, we have to keep it in its original  context. The church of God are the people who is called out.

• How often should the Lord's Supper be observed? There is no command as to this. The scriptures simply say "as often as ye eat". Some churches observe it yearly, some quarterly, others more often. Here at New Hope we observe it the first Sunday of each month.

V. The Security of the Believer

• GOD promises and gives eternal life (John 3:16-18)

• The believer has everlasting life (I John 6:47, I John 5:13)

• Christians do not keep themselves (John 10:28-29, June 24:25)

• The Christian is hidden with Christ in GOD (Colossians 3:3). If the devil could get us, he would be stronger than GOD. If he could get one of us, he could get us all.

• We are born the children of GOD, and we cannot be unborn (John 3:5)

• Nothing can separate us from the love of GOD (Romans 8:35-39)

• When Christians sin, GOD chastises them and keeps them (Galatians 6:7, Hebrews 12:6-7, Psalms 89:30-33)

• Sins of Christians are not charged to them, so they do not have to die for them (Romans 4:7-8)

• Jesus Christ, the Living Word, is God’s full revelation of Himself. The Bible is our only record of His incarnation and atonement. Our doctrines are based on the Scriptures, not on man-made traditions.