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Statement of Faith |
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What We Believe
Statement of Faith
Shiloh Baptist Church
664 Dahlstrom Rd Gwinn, Michigan. 49841
"...to set forth in order a declaration of those things which are most surely believed among us..." — Luke 1:1.
I. CONCERNING THE SCRIPTURES:
II. CONCERNING THE TRUE GOD.
We believe the Scriptures teach that there is one, and only one,
living and true God, an infinite, intelligent Spirit, the Maker and supreme
Ruler of heaven and earth; inexpressibly glorious in holiness, and worthy of all
possible honor, confidence, and love; that in the unity of the Godhead there are
three Persons, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost; equal in every divine
perfection, and executing distinct but harmonious offices in the great work of
redemption.
1. Of God The Father.
III. CONCERNING MANKIND.
We believe the Scriptures teach that God created man in His own
image and after His own likeness; that man is notably distinct from all other
forms of life, being tripartite in nature and having an everlasting soul; 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
of life; that the entire Genesis account of creation is to be accepted literally
and not allegorically or figuratively; that all animal and vegetable life was
made directly and specially, and God’s established law is that they should bring
forth only "after their kind."
1. Of The Fall Of Man.
We believe the Scriptures teach that man was created in innocence under
the law of his Maker, but by voluntary transgression through an act of
deliberate disobedience fell from that sinless and happy state; in consequence
of which all mankind are now sinners, not by constraint but of choice, being by
nature utterly void of that holiness required by the Law of God, positively
inclined to evil; that upon reaching a capability of moral action becomes a
transgressor and therefore under just condemnation to eternal ruin without
defense or excuse.
Genesis 1:1,11,25-27,31; 2:21-23; Exodus 20:11; Acts 4:24; Colossians
1:16,17; Hebrews 11:3; John 1:3; Revelation 10:6; Romans 1:20; Acts 17:23-26;
Jeremiah 10:12; Nehemiah 9:6; Ecclesiastes 7:29; Genesis 3:1-6,24; Romans
1:18,20,28,32; 3:10-19; 5:12,19; Ezekiel 18:19,20; Galatians 3:10,22; Psalm
51:6; Isaiah 53:6; Ephesians 2:3; Matthew 20:15.
2. Of Civil Government.
We believe the Scriptures teach that civil government is of divine
appointment, for the interest and good of human society; that all those in
authority are to be prayed for, conscientiously honored and obeyed, except only
in things opposed to the revealed will of our Lord Jesus Christ, who is the only
Lord of the conscience, and the coming Prince of the rulers of the earth; that
civil rulers have no rights or control over, or interference with, religious
matters; that churches and religious organizations should receive no help from
the State, except protection and full freedom in the pursuit of spiritual ends;
and that the requiring of an implicit faith and absolute blind obedience
destroys liberty of conscience and reason.
Romans 13:1-7; I Peter 2:13,14,17; Matthew
22:21; Titus 3:1; I Timothy 2:1-8; Acts 5:29; Matthew 10:28; Daniel 3:15-18;
6:7,10; Acts 4:18-20; Matthew 23:10; Romans 14:4; Revelation 19:14; Psalm 72:11;
II Samuel 23:3; Exodus 18:21,22; Acts 23:5; Philippians 2:10,11.
IV. CONCERNING THE WAY OF SALVATION.
We believe the Scriptures teach that the salvation of sinners is
wholly of the grace of God, through the merits of the shed blood of the Lord
Jesus Christ.
1. Of The Law And The Gospel.
We believe the Scriptures teach that the Law of God is the eternal and
unchangeable rule of His moral government; that it is holy, just, and good; and
that the inability which the Scriptures ascribe to fallen men to fulfill its
precepts arises entirely from their sinful nature; to deliver them from which,
and to restore them through a Mediator of unfeigned obedience to the holy Law is
the one great end of the Gospel, that Christ died for our sins according to the
Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day
according to the Scriptures.
Romans 3:20,31; Matthew 5:17; Luke 16:17; Romans 4:15; 7:7,12,14,22;
Galatians 3:21; Romans 8:2,4,7,8; 10:4; I Timothy 1:5; Hebrews 8:10.
2. Of God’s Purpose Of Grace.
We believe the Scriptures teach that election is the eternal purpose of
God, according to which He graciously regenerates, sanctifies, and saves those
sinners who by faith believe on the Lord Jesus Christ; that being perfectly
consistent with the free agency of man, it comprehends all the means in
connection with the end; that it is a most glorious display of God’s sovereign
goodness, being infinitely free, wise, holy, and unchangeable; that it utterly
excludes boasting and promotes humility, love prayer, praise, trust in God, and
active imitation of free mercy; that it may be ascertained by its effects in all
who truly believe the Gospel; and that it is the foundation of Christian
assurance.
II Timothy 1:8,9; II Thessalonians 2:13,14; II Timothy 2:10; I Corinthians
9:22; Romans 8:28-30; John 6:37-40; II Peter 1:10; I Thessalonians 4:10; Isaiah
42:16; Romans 11:29.
3. Of The Freeness Of Salvation.
We believe the Scriptures teach that the blessings of salvation are
made free to all by the Gospel; that it is the immediate duty of all to accept
them by a cordial, penitent, and obedient faith; and that nothing prevents the
salvation of the greatest sinner on earth except his own inherent depravity and
voluntary refusal to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, which refusal will
subject him to an aggravated condemnation.
I Thessalonians 1:4; Colossians 3:12; I Peter 1:2; Titus 1:1; Matthew 11:28;
Isaiah 55:1,6,7; Revelation 22:17; Romans 10:13; John 6:37; Acts 2:38; John
3:15,16; I Timothy 1:15; I Corinthians 15:10; Ephesians 2:4,5; John 15:40; John
3:18,36.
4. Of The Atonement For Sin.
We believe the Scriptures teach that the Son of God, by appointment
with the Father, freely took upon Him our nature, yet without sin; that by His
death on the cross made a full and vicarious atonement for our sins; that His
atonement consisted not in setting us an example by his death as a martyr, but
was the voluntary substitution of Himself in the sinners’ place, the Just dying
for the unjust; that having risen from the dead He is now enthroned in Heaven
and, uniting in His wonderful Person the tenderest sympathies with divine
perfections, He is in every way qualified to be a suitable, compassionate, and
all-sufficient Saviour.
Ephesians 2:8; Acts 15:11; Romans 3:24,25; John 3:16; Matthew 18:11;
Philippians 2:7,8; Hebrews 2:14; Isaiah 53:4-7; I John 4;10; I Corinthians
15:3,20; II Corinthians 5:21; John 10:18; Galatians 1:4; I Peter 2:24; 3:18;
Isaiah 53:11,12; Hebrews 7:25; 9:12-15; 12:2; I John 2:2.
5. Of Regeneration.
We believe the Scriptures teach that regeneration, or the "new birth,"
is that change wrought in the heart by the Holy Spirit, by which a new nature
and a spiritual life, not before possessed, are imparted, and the person becomes
a new creature in Christ Jesus; that a holy disposition is given to the mind,
the will subdued, the dominion of sin broken, and the affections changed from a
love of sin and self, to a love of holiness and God; that the change is
instantaneous and not a process, effected not by culture or character, nor by
the will of man, but solely through the power of God through the Word of God, in
a manner incomprehensible to reason.
John 3:3,6; I Peter 1:23; James 1:18; II Corinthians 5:17; I John 2:29;
Ephesians 4:24; Colossians 1:13; 2:13; Romans 6:13; John 1:12,13; I Corinthians
6:11; Titus 3:5-7.
6. Of Repentance.
We believe the Scriptures teach that repentance is a personal act,
prompted by the Spirit of God; and consists in a godly sorrow over sin, as
offensive to God and ruinous to the soul; that it is accompanied with great
humiliation in view of one’s sin and guilt, together with prayer for pardon;
also by sincere hatred of sin, and a persistent turning away from, and
abandonment of, all that is evil and unholy.
Matthew 3:1,2; 4:17; Mark 1:15; Acts 3:19; 5:31; 17:30; 20:21; Luke 18:13;
24:47; II Corinthians 7:2; Romans 2:5; Isaiah 55:7; Psalm 51:1-4,7.
7. Of Faith.
We believe the Scriptures teach that faith, inseparably united with
repentance, is a solemn obligation and a grace wrought in our soul by the
quickening Spirit of God; that it is an assent of the mind and a consent of the
heart, consisting mainly of belief and trust, wherein the testimony of God is
accepted and believed as true, while Christ is unreservedly received for
salvation; that through it the believer is brought into vital relations with
God, as seeing Him Who is invisible, freely justified; that it reveals Christ to
the soul as a willing and sufficient Savior, and commits the heart and life to
Him.
Acts 16:31; Romans 1:17; 3:22; 5:1; 10:3,9-13; Hebrews 11:1,6; James 2:23;
Jeremiah 17:7; Psalm 34:22; 125:1; II Corinthians 5:7.
8. Of Justification.
We believe the Scriptures teach that the great Gospel blessing which
Christ secures to such as believe on Him is justification; that justification
includes the pardon of sin, and the gift of eternal life on principles of
righteousness; that it is bestowed, not in consideration of any works of
righteousness which we have done, but solely through faith in the Redeemer’s
blood; by virtue of which faith His perfect righteousness is imputed to us of
God; that it brings us into a state of most blessed peace and favor with God,
and secures every other blessing needed for time and eternity.
John 1:16; Ephesians 3:8; Acts 13:39; Isaiah 3:11,12; Romans 5:1-3,9,11;
8:1; Zechariah 13:1; Matthew 9:6; Acts 10:43; Matthew 6:33; I Corinthians
1:30,31; I Timothy 4:8; Isaiah 53:11.
9. Of Adoption.
We believe the Scriptures teach that adoption is a gracious act by
which the Father, for the sake of Christ, accepts believers to the estate and
condition of children, by a new and spiritual birth; sending the Spirit of
Adoption into their hearts, whereby they become members of the family of God,
and entitled to all rights, privileges, and promises of children; and if
children, then heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Jesus Christ to the heritage
of all saints on earth, and an inheritance reserved in Heaven for them.
Romans 8:14-16; Galatians 3:26; 4:5-7; Ephesians 1:5; I John 3:1;
Hebrews12:7; I Peter 2:9.
10. Of Sanctification.
We believe the Scriptures teach that sanctification is that work by
which, according to the will of God, we are set apart unto God and made
partakers of His holiness; that it is both a declared fact and a progressive
work; that it is begun in regeneration; and that it is carried out in the hearts
of believers by the presence and power of the Holy Spirit, the Sealer and
Comforter, through the continual use of the Word of God, self-examination,
self-denial, watchfulness, prayer, and in the practice of all godly exercises
and duties.
II Thessalonians 4:3; 5:23; II Corinthians 7:1; 13:9; Ephesians 1:4;
4:11,12; Proverbs 4:18; II Corinthians 3:18; Hebrews 6:1; II Peter 1:5-8;
Philemon 12-16; Philippians 2:12,13; I Peter 2:2; II Peter 3:18; II Corinthians
13:5; I Timothy 4:7.
11. Of The Preservation Of The Saints.
We believe the Scriptures teach that such as are truly regenerate,
being born of the Spirit of God, cannot utterly fall away and finally perish,
but will 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 that they are kept by the power of
God through faith unto salvation.
John 6:39,66-69; 8:31,32; 13:8; I John 2:19,27,28; 3:9; 5:18; Matthew
13:19-21; Romans 8:28,35-39; Matthew 6:20,30-33; John 4:4; Philippians 1:6;
2:12,13; Jude 24,25; Hebrews 1:14; 13:5; John 10:28,29; 16:8; Colossians
1:21-23; I Peter 1:5.
12. Of The Righteous And The Wicked.
We believe the Scriptures teach that there is a radical and essential
difference between the righteous and the wicked; that only such as through faith
are justified in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and sanctified by the Spirit
of God, are truly righteous in God’s esteem; while all such as continue in
impenitence and unbelief are, in His sight, wicked and under the curse; and that
this distinction holds among men in this life and after death, in the
everlasting felicity of the saved, and the everlasting conscious suffering in
the lake of fire of the lost.
Malachi 3:18; Proverbs 12:26; Isaiah 5:20;
Genesis 18:23; Jeremiah 15:19; Acts 10:34,35; Romans 1:17; 6:16,18,22,23; 7:6; I
John 2:7,29; 3:7; 5:19; I Corinthians 11:32; 15:22; Galatians 3:10; John 3:36;
Isaiah 55:6,7; 57:21; Psalm 10:4; Proverbs 14:32; Luke 16:25; John 8:21-24;
12:25,26; Luke 9:26; 12:4,5; 11:23-26; Matthew 7:13,14; 25:34; Proverbs 11:31; I
Peter 1:18.
V. CONCERNING THE UNSEEN WORLD.
1. Of Angels.
We believe the Scriptures teach that there is a vast celestial kingdom
of spirit beings called Angels, in ages past created holy, glorious, and higher
than man; a vast company of various ranks worshiping God, ministering to His
glorious Person and to His children.
Psalm 148:2,5; Colossians 1:16; Nehemiah 9:6; Hebrews 1:14; Psalm 103;20;
104:4; Daniel 9:21,22; Luke 9:26; Mark 8:38; Daniel 10:13; 12:1; Jude 9;
Revelation 12:7; Psalm 80:1; 99;1,11; Revelation 4:6-8; Ezekiel 1:4-28; Isaiah
6:1-3; II Thessalonians 1:7,8; Psalm 34:7; Acts 12:7-11; II Kings 6:17.
2. Of The Devil, Or Satan.
We believe the Scriptures teach that Satan, as the mighty angel
Lucifer, was once holy, enjoying heavenly honors; but that through pride and
ambition to be as the Almighty, fell and drew after him a host of angels; that
he is now the malignant "prince of the power of the air", the unholy god of this
world; that he is man’s great tempter, the enemy of the Lord Jesus Christ, the
accuser of the saints, the author of all false religions, the chief power back
of the present apostasy; the lord of the Antichrist, and the author of all the
powers of darkness; destined however to final defeat at the hands of God’s own
son, and the judgment of an eternal justice in hell, a place prepared for him
and his angels.
Isaiah 14:12-15; Ezekiel 28:14-17; Revelation
12:9; Jude 6; Ephesians 2:2; II Peter 2:4; John 14:30; I Thessalonians 3:5;
Matthew 4:1-3; I Peter 5:8; I John 3:8; Matthew 13:25,37,39; Luke 22:3,4;
Revelation 12;10; II Corinthians 11:13-15; Mark 13:21,22; I John 4:3; II John 7;
I John 2:22; Revelation 13:13,14; 12:7-9; 19:11,16,20; 20:1-3,10; II
Thessalonians 2:8-11; Matthew 25:41.
VI. CONCERNING SIN.
We believe the Scriptures teach that sin is any transgression of or
want of conformity to, the revealed will of God; that it has permeated the
entire universe, including every realm and affecting every race and species
amongst creation; that every man is born with a sin nature, an inherent
inclination toward evil which results in acts of wrong-doing; that the wages of
sin is death, being separation from God in this life and throughout eternity.
I John 3:4; Numbers 32:23; Isaiah 53:13;
Matthew 7:23; 23:28; Romans 6:19; Judges 20:16; Romans 3:23; I Samuel 15:23;
Jeremiah 2:25; Luke 19:14; Isaiah 53:6; Jeremiah 17:9; Genesis 3:14,18; Romans
8:22; 1:18-32; Psalm 51:5; 58:3; John 3:19; James 4:17; Romans 6:23; Hebrews
9:27; Romans 5:12,14; Ephesians 2:1; 4:8; Matthew 10:23; Revelation 20:15.
VII. CONCERNING THE NEW TESTAMENT CHURCH.
We believe the Scriptures teach that a Baptist Church is a
congregation of baptized believers, associated by covenant in the faith and
fellowship of the Gospel; observing the ordinances of Christ; governed by His
laws, and exercising the gifts, rights, and privileges invested in them by His
Word; that its only Scriptural offices are Evangelist, Pastors (elders, bishops), and
Deacons, whose qualifications, claims, and duties are clearly defined in the New
Testament; that the true mission of each church is found in the Great
Commission, first, to make individual disciples, second, to build up the church
by baptizing those believers, third, to teach and instruct as He has commanded;
that his order cannot be reversed; that each church has the absolute right of
self government, free from any interference of any hierarchy of individuals or
organizations; that the one and only Head of each church is Jesus Christ through
the Holy Spirit; that it is Scriptural for churches of like faith and order to
co-operate with each other in contending for the faith and for the furtherance
of the Gospel, but that every church is the sole and only judge of the measure
and method of its co-operation; that in all matters of membership, policy,
government, discipline, and benevolence, the will of each church is final.
Acts 2:41,42,47; 5:11; 8:1; 11:31; I
Corinthians 4:17; 5:5,11,18; 11:2,23; II Corinthians 8:5,23,24; I Timothy
3:5,15; II Thessalonians 3:7; Romans16:17-20; Matthew 18:15-20; 28:19,20; John
14:15; 15:10; I John 4:21; I Thessalonians 4:2; II John 6; Philippians 1:1; Acts
14:23; 15:22,23; 20:17-28; I Timothy 3:1-13; Titus 1:5-9; Ephesians 1:22,23;
4:11; I Corinthians 12:4,8-11; Acts 6:5,6; Colossians 1:18; Ephesians 5:23,24; I
Peter 5:1-4; Jude 3,4; I Corinthians 5:11-13; 6:1-3.
VIII. CONCERNING THE ORDINANCES.
1. Of Scriptural Baptism.
We believe the Scriptures teach that baptism is the immersion in water
of the believer in Christ, in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the
Holy Ghost, performed with the church’s authority; to show forth in solemn and
beautiful emblem our faith in the crucified, buried, and risen Savior, with its
effect in our death to sin and resurrection to a new life; that it is a pre-
requisite to the privileges of church membership; that infants are God’s little
ones, whether children of Christian or non-Christian parents, and are safe in
Christ until an age of moral accountability is reached, thus making any thoughts
of "infant baptism" unnecessary.
Matthew 28:19,20; Acts 2:41; 8:12,13,26-39; 9:17,18; 10:25,26,44-48;
16:14,15,25-37; 18:7-11; Matthew 3:1-16; 21:24,25; John 3:22,23; 4:1,2;
Galatians 3:27,28; Romans 6:4; Colossians 2:12; I Peter 3:15,20,21; II Samuel
23:22,23; Proverbs 20:11.
2. Of The Lord’s Supper.
We believe the Scriptures teach that the Lord’s Supper, is a provision
of unleavened bread and the fruit of the vine, as symbols of Christ’s body and
shed blood; partaken of by the members of a church, in commemoration of the
suffering and death of their Lord, and in helpful anticipation of His return.
Matthew 26:27-30; 28:20; Mark 14:20-26; Luke
22:19,20; I Corinthians 10:16; 11:2,17-34.
IX. CONCERNING HERESY AND APOSTASY.
We believe the Scriptures teach that it is necessary to maintain a
total and complete separation from all forms of heresy and ecclesiastical
apostasy. We believe the Scripture admonishes us to try them, mark them, rebuke
them, have no fellowship with them, withdraw ourselves, receive them not, have
no company with them, reject them, and separate ourselves from them.
Romans 16:17; II Corinthians 6:17; Ephesians
5:11; II Thessalonians 3:6,14; Titus 1:13; 3:10; I John 4:1; II John 10,11.
X. CONCERNING THE GRACE OF GIVING.
We believe the Scriptures teach that giving is one of the
fundamentals of the faith; that God is the Source of all blessings, temporal and
spiritual; that tithing is a Bible principle, and that the storehouse for the
tithe in this present age is the common treasury of the church; that we are
under obligation to serve God with our time, talents, and material possessions;
and are commanded to cheerfully, regularly, and liberally bring our tithes and
offerings into the storehouse upon the first day of the week.
Psalm 24:1; Haggai 2:8; Exodus 19:5;
Deuteronomy 8:18; Genesis 14:18-20; 28:20-22; Leviticus 27:30; Malachi 3:8-10;
Matthew 23:23; I Corinthians 9:13,14; 16:1,2; Hebrews 7:2,4; Acts 4:35,37;
Proverbs 3:9; II Corinthians 8:3,12; 9:7,8; Luke 6:38.
XI. CONCERNING THE RESURRECTION AND LAST THINGS.
We believe the Scriptures teach that Jesus Christ rose literally
and bodily from the dead on the third day; that having ascended into glory, He
alone is our merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God; that
this same Jesus shall return to earth bodily, personally, and visibly; first to
raise the righteous dead and catch up all living believers in the twinkling of
an eye, then to return with the saints to set up His glorious kingdom of a
millennium of peace and righteousness, having executed judgment upon an
unbelieving world; that at the final day of judgment all Christ-rejecting
sinners will be raised, judged, and cast into the lake of fire for everlasting
damnation, that the saved will live with Him for eternity according to the sure
promises of God.
Matthew 28:6,7; Luke 24:2,4-6,19,51; John
20:27; I Corinthians 15:4; Mark 16:6,19; Acts 1:9-11; Revelation 3:21; Hebrews
8:1,6; 12:2; I Timothy 2:5; I John 2:1; Hebrews 2:17; 5:9,10; John 14:3; I
Thessalonians 4:16,17; Matthew 24:27,35,42; Hebrews 9:28; I Corinthians
15:25,42-44,51-53; Philippians 4:20,21; Luke 1:32; Isaiah 11:4,5; Psalm 72:8;
Revelation 20:1-4,6,15; 21:7,8,24-27; 22:11; I Peter 4:7; I Corinthians 7:29-31;
Hebrews 1:10-12; Revelation 1:7; I John 2:17; Acts 24:15; Luke 14:14; Daniel
12:2; John 5:28,29; 6:40; 11:25,26; II Timothy 1:10; Acts 10:42; Matthew
13:37-43,49; 25:35-41; II Peter 2:9,11,12; Revelation 20:20.
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