What We Believe
WHAT WE BELIEVE
The Holy Scriptures
We believe the Holy Bible is a supernatural book, that it is the very Word of God, that the Bible constitutes the full, final and complete revelation of God's will to man. We believe the author of the Bible is God the Holy Spirit Who gave the Scripture by Verbal (by means of words) plenary (full and complete) inspiration; that Holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Spirit. 2 Pet 1:21. We believe that the Authorized Version otherwise known as the King James translation is the inspired, inerrant, preserved Word of God for the English speaking world. We believe and teach that the Bible is the final authority in all matters of faith and practice. See: 2 Timothy 3:16-17; Hebrews 4:12; 2 Peter 1:19-21; Isaiah 8:20; Psalm 119:89; Romans 15:4
The Lord Jesus Christ
Jesus Christ was God in human flesh, and is the Second Person of the Trinity, divine, even as God the Father and God the Holy Spirit. We believe that He was preexistent with the Father, begotten by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary and incarnate in flesh. He lived a sinless life and is the only true Saviour of mankind. He was infallible in His teachings, making atonement for the sins of the world by His voluntary and substitutional death on the cross. We believe in His bodily resurrection, His ascension into Heaven, His perpetual intercession for His people, His glorious second coming according to the promise, and His eternal position as King of Kings and Lord of Lords. See: Genesis 3:15; Genesis 18:1-22, and 33; Isaiah 7:14; Isaiah 9:6; Isaiah 53:5-6; Matthew 1:18-25; Matthew 28:19; Mark 1:1; Luke 1:35; Luke 23:46; John 1:1-5; John 1:14; John 3:16; John 10:17-18; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Galatians 3:13; Colossians 1:13-17; 1 Timothy 4:10; Hebrews 1:2; Hebrews 2:17-18; Hebrews 10:11-14; 1 Peter 3:18; 2 Peter 2:1; 1 John 2:2
The One True God
We believe the Scriptures teach that there is one, and only one, true and living God. He is absolute in nature, perfect in His attributes, holy in His character, and is revealed in the Trinity as Father, Son and Holy Spirit. The three persons of the Trinity subsist in the same divine nature, essence and being. They are co-existent and co-equal and each one has a distinct office in the work of Redemption. He is the Maker and supreme Ruler of Heaven and earth; inexpressibly glorious in holiness. See: Ephesians 4:6; 1 Timothy 1:17; Exodus 20:2-3; Romans 11:33; John 4:24; Psalms 90:2
The Holy Spirit
We believe in the deity and the personality of the Holy Spirit. He is a Divine Person, the third Person of the Trinity. We believe that He came from God to convince and convict the world of sin, righteousness and judgment: and to regenerate, sanctify, indwell, comfort, and empower those who believe and are born again in Jesus Christ. See: John 14:16-17; John 14:26; John 15:26-27; Romans 8:16; Romans. 8:26-27; Ephesians. 1:13-14
The Devil (Satan)
We believe in the reality and personality of Satan. We believe that the Devil is an actual being and not an imaginary influence, that he once enjoyed heavenly honors and glorious heavenly privileges. We believe that through pride, evil ambition, and self will, Satan betrayed God and that as a result, brought the judgment of God upon himself. Satan works today as the god of this world and the prince of the power of the air, that he is the great deceiver, and the father of lies. He is the greatest enemy, tempter, and combatant of the saints. His final abode will be in the lake of fire, which is the eternal place of punishment, prepared for the Devil and his angels. See: Isaiah 14.12-15; Ezekiel 28.14-17; John 8.43-44; 1 Peter 5.8; 1 John 3.8; Jude 6
Creation
We believe the Genesis record of the creation is literal, and not allegorical or figurative; that God personally created the Heaven and the earth in a direct act, that He brought forth all original matter out of nothing. We believe that man was created in God’s own image and not by any kind of evolution. God's established law says that all species shall bring forth "after their kind." See: Genesis 1:1; Genesis 1:26-27; Acts 17:23-26; John 1:1-3; Romans 1:20; Hebrews 11:3
Fall of Mankind& Sin
We believe that man was created in the image of God in innocence and holiness, but voluntarily transgressed the Lord's command and thus fell from the state in which he was created and as a consequence became a sinner, alienated from God and brought upon himself and all mankind deserved condemnation through sin. Man is, by virtue of his fallen nature, void of holiness, inclined to evil, and actually condemned to eternal ruin without excuse. See: Genesis 3:6-24; Romans 1:18; Romans 1:28; Romans 5:12; Romans 5:19; Ephesians 2:1-3
The Virgin Birth
We believe that our Lord Jesus Christ was conceived by the Holy Spirit in a miraculous manner; born of the virgin Mary. He is both the Son of God and God the Son. See: Genesis 3:15; Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:18-25; Mark 1:1; Luke 1:35; John 1:14
Atonement for Sin & Salvation
We believe that the lost sinner is guilty and under just condemnation and is by nature alien to God and because of sin condemned to die. We believe that the provision for sin’s atonement was provided completely through Jesus Christ, the Son of God. The Lord Jesus Christ, by divine appointment freely took upon himself our nature, yet without sin, and during His earthy walk, He personally honored the divine law by keeping it fully, and through His death on the cross actually satisfied the Law for the penalty of sin. His obedience and sacrificial death made full and vicarious atonement for all sin. All who by faith receive Him as their personal Saviour are justified because of His shed blood on Calvary and His resurrection from the dead, and are born again of the Holy Spirit, thereby becoming the children of God. We believe that repentance and faith are solemn and inseparable prerequisites for salvation; that they are inseparable graces wrought in the heart by the quickening power of the Holy Spirit. As the sinner is convicted of his guilt and helplessness he turns in repentance to the Lord Jesus Christ, surrendering himself wholeheartedly and receiving Him as personal Saviour and Lord, he is immediately born again. We also believe in the eternal security of the believer. That is to say, once saved, always saved. See: Isaiah 53:12; Matthew 3:1-2; Mark 1:15; John 10:17-18; Acts 2:37-38; Acts 3:19; Acts 20:21; Romans 3:25; 2 Corinthians 7:9-10; Hebrews 9:22; Hebrews 12:2; 1 John 1:7
The Church
We believe and teach that the local, visible assembly of called out believers into a public place of worship and service is the only one found in the New Testament. We do not believe in an invisible or universal church. The local New Testament Church was authorized by Christ to carry out the Great Commission. The first New Testament Church was founded by Jesus Christ during His own personal ministry and that entrance into the local church is by scriptural baptism. We believe and teach the Local New Testament Church is an independent congregation and is not governed or controlled by an ecclesiastical hierarchy. The will of the Local Church is final. See: Matthew 16:18; Acts 2:47; Acts 8:1; Acts 11:22; Acts 16:5; Ephesians 1:22; Ephesians 3:21; Colossians 1:24; 1 Timothy 3:15
Church Ordinances
We believe that only two ordinances were entrusted to the Local Church. Those are Baptism and the Lord's Supper and established in the local church by the Lord Jesus Christ. Scriptural Baptism began with the ministry of John the Baptist. Our Lord Jesus Christ approved this Baptism himself and accepted those whom John baptized into the church that He, Jesus, organized during His own personal ministry. Believers Baptism- to be scriptural it must include:
1. The Proper Candidate: the one who has been saved or Born Again.
2. The Proper Mode: immersion.
3. The Proper Design; setting forth the death, burial and resurrection of the believer in Christ.
4. The Proper Administrator: The local New Testament Church.
We believe the Lord's Supper is a memorial administered by the authority and instruction of the local Church; it symbolizes the broken body and the shed blood of our Lord Jesus Christ. The Scriptures teach that only members of the local church whose spiritual lives are in a right relationship are qualified participants in the Lord's Supper service. We neither believe nor teach that that there is saving power or grace in either Baptism or the Lord's Supper.
See: Matthew 3:13-17; Matthew 26:17-30; Matthew 28:19-20; Acts 8:36-39; Romans 6:3-5; 1 Corinthians 11:23-34
Separation of Church & State
We believe in the visible church which is a company of called out believers in Jesus Christ, baptized on a credible confession of faith, and associated for worship. We believe that the local church is independent and autonomous and separate from the state. We believe that churches and governments should be completely separate. By this we mean that the government should neither make laws respecting the establishment of religion nor prohibit the free exercise thereof. We believe that the first amendment to the U.S. Constitution prohibits the government from interfering with religion. The Constitution does not prohibit religious people from participating in the political process. The New Beginnings Baptist Church, as such, takes no position politically but encourages its members to participate in the political process. We believe that civil officers should be prayed for and conscientiously honored and obeyed. See: Proverbs 8:15; Romans 13:1; 1 Timothy 2:1; 1 Timothy 2:2; 1 Peter 2:9-20
Return of Christ& the Rapture
We believe in the personal, visible, pre-millennial return of Jesus Christ. We believe in the bodily resurrection of the dead. We believe and teach that the Lord Jesus Christ shall catch away all believers before the great Tribulation Period. At the close of the Great Tribulation period the saints will return with Christ to the earth and shall live and reign with Him 1000 years. See: John 14:3; Acts 1:11; 1 Corinthians 15:51-55; Philippians 3:20-21; 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17; James 5:8
The Resurrection
We believe and teach that Jesus Christ arose bodily from the grave. We also believe and teach that this resurrection assures all believers the same bodily resurrection when the Lord returns for true believers at the time of the Rapture. There will also be a resurrection of the unsaved to stand in judgment before the Lord, known in the Scriptures as the Great White Throne Judgment. See: Matthew 28:6-7; John 20:27; 1 Corinthians 15:1-11; 1 Corinthians 15:42-52; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; Hebrews 9:27-28
