Heritage Baptist Church :: Doctrinal Statement

Doctrinal Statement

This is an excerpt from the Constitution and By-Laws of Heritage Baptist Church, ratified on April 29, 2007 by unanimous vote.

Inspiration of Scripture

We believe the Holy Scriptures, both the Old and New Testaments, to be the inerrant, infallible Word of God. The Bible, composed of 39 books in the Old Testament and 27 books in the New Testament to be the plenary, verbally inspired Word of God and that the Scriptures are God's final authority for faith and life. (2 Samuel 23:2, Psalm 119:89, Matt. 5:18, John 10:35, John 16:12-13, 1 Cor. 2:13, 2 Tim. 3:16-17, 2 Peter 1:20-21) We find all above to be perfectly preserved in the King James Version 1611. The King James will be the only version used at Heritage Baptist Church and all included ministries.

The Godhead

We believe in the one Triune God, eternally existing in three Persons - the Father Son, and Holy Spirit; co-eternal in being, co-identical in nature, co-equal in power and glory and having the same attributes and perfections. (Gen. 1:26, Matt. 3:16-17, Matt. 28:19-20, 1 Cor. 8:6, 2 Cor. 13:14, Rev. 4:11)

God the Father
We believe that God the Father is Father only to those who receive Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour; that He is perfect in holiness, infinite in wisdom, measureless in power; that he concerns Himself in the affairs of men, that He hears and answers prayer; that He is omnipotent, omniscient and omnipresent; and that He is the object of our worship and praise. (Gen. 17:1, Ps. 65:2, Ps. 90:2, Ps. 139:1-24, Ps. 147:5, Isa. 6:3, Mal. 3:6, Matt. 5:45, Matt. 6:24-34, 1 John 4:8, 16)
God the Son
We believe in the absolute deity of the Lord Jesus Christ; His eternal existence as God; His incarnation by means of the virgin birth; His sinlessness; His vicarious atonement for the sins of mankind by the shedding of His blood on the cross; His ascension; His present High Priestly ministry in Heaven for the believers; and His personal visible return to earth (Matt. 1:18-25, Romans 8:34, John 1:1-2, Heb. 1:8, 7:25; 9:24, 1 Peter 1:3-5; 2:24; 1 Thess. 4:16; 1 John 2:1)
God the Holy Spirit
We believe that the Holy Spirit is a Divine Person, equal to and of the same nature as the Father and Son; that He convinces the world of sin, righteousness and judgment; that He bears witness to the truth; that He is the agent of the new birth; that He restrains the evil one; that He baptizes all true believers into the body of Christ, indwelling, sanctifying sealing and securing them unto the day of redemption; that He endues, guides, teaches and helps believers and that it is the privilege and duty of all the saved to be filled with the Spirit, the evidences being love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance - not speaking in tongues. (Matt. 28:19, John 3:5-7; 14:16-17; 16:7-15, Gal. 5:22-23, Eph. 2:18; 5:18, 2 Cor. 13:14, 1 Peter 1:23)

Creation

We believe the Genesis account of creation as a literal, historical account of the direct, immediate creative act of God, without the involvement of any evolutionary process. The Trinity was active in creation. (Gen. 1:1, John 1:3, Col. 1:16, Heb. 11:3)

Sin

We believe that man was created in the image and likeness of God but in Adam's sin the human race fell, inherited a sinful nature and became alienated from God; that man is totally depraved and totally unable to save himself from his lost condition. (Gen. 1:26-27; John 3:18-20; Rom. 3:10-23, 5:12; Eph. 2:1-3)

Salvation

We believe that the salvation of sinners is by the grace of God through faith in the shed blood of the Lord Jesus Christ on Calvary for the forgiveness of our sins. Salvation is the free gift of God for all who will by personal faith receive Jesus Christ as their Saviour. (John 1:12, 3:16; Rom. 10:9-10; Eph. 1:7, 2:8-10; 1 Peter 1:18-19)

Atonement
We believe the atonement is the covering over of the believer's sin, the reconciliation between God and man that was accomplished by the shed blood of the Lord Jesus Christ as He died a sacrificial, substitutionary death on the cross. (Rom. 5:11; Eph. 1:7; Heb. 9:22; 1 John 1:7, 2:2)
Repentance
We believe that true repentance is a requirement for salvation of the sinner: that repentance involves a very deep Godly sorrow for sin followed by a humble and contrite heart; and that it involves confession of sin to God, forsaking sin and turning from sin to God. (Luke 13:3, 18:9-14; Acts 11:18; 2 Tim. 2:25; Isa. 55:7)
Faith
We believe that faith is essential for salvation of the sinner: that it is through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and His finished work on the cross that salvation is made possible; that faith comes from God through the hearing of His word, and that man can do nothing in the way of works to save himself. (John 1:12; Acts 16:31; Rom. 10:17, 12:3; Gal. 2:16; Eph. 2:8-9; Heb. 11:6)
Justification
We believe that justification is a Divine act whereby an infinitely Holy God declares a believing sinner to be righteous upon his acceptance of Jesus Christ as his personal Saviour; that justification is a gift to the believing sinner by the grace of God; and that upon being justified the righteousness of Christ is imputed to the believer. (Rom. 3:24, 5:1, 8:33; 1 Cor. 1:30; 2 Cor. 5:21; Gal. 2:16)
Adoption
We believe adoption is an act of God whereby He graciously bestows all the privileges of the children of God to the believing sinner: that adoption takes place at the moment of salvation; and that the new believer is made an heir of Heaven. (John 1:12; Rom. 8:15-17; Gal. 4:5-7; Eph. 1:5; 1 John 3:2)
Regeneration
We believe that regeneration is the impartation of a new and divine life: that regeneration is wrought in man by the Holy Spirit upon repentance of his sin and acceptance of Jesus Christ into his heart as Lord and Saviour. (John 1:12, 2:3-7; 2 Cor. 5:17; Eph. 2:1; Titus 3:5)
Sanctification
We believe that sanctification takes place at the time of one's acceptance of Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour; that sanctification is the separation from the power and reign of sin in the life and dedication unto God and His service; that the believer is already positionally sanctified in Jesus Christ, progressively being sanctified in this present life and will be completely sanctified at the second coming of Jesus Christ. (2 Chron. 29:5; Rom. 6:11-12, 12:1-2; 1 Cor. 6:11; 2 Cor. 6:14-17; Eph. 4:11-15; Col. 3:5-17; 1 Thess. 4:3, 5:23; 2 Tim. 3:1-5; Heb. 10:10; 2 Peter 3:18; 1 John 3:2)
Security of the Believer
We believe that all true believers are forever kept by the power of God; that they are sealed unto the day of redemption; and that they are unconditionally promised everlasting life; that they can never come under the penalty of sin. (John 5:24, 17:11-20; Rom. 8:38-39; 1 Cor. 6:19; Eph. 4:30; 1 Peter 1:5)

The Church

We believe that the church consists of all born again believers of this present age; that is it the body and espoused bride of Christ; that the vocation of the church is to worship God and glorify Him on the earth, evangelize the world with the gospel of Christ, develop each Christian to spiritual maturity, to be a constant witness for Christ and His Word and to bring glory to god; that there are only two church ordinances which are baptism by immersion for believers and the Lord's supper. The church recognizes only two church offices those being pastor and deacon. While the deacons bear a respected office of responsibility the pastor is the only church officer to individually carry biblical authority and administrates God's Holy Church on earth. (Matt. 16:16-18, 28:19-20; Acts 2:42; 8:35-37; 1 Cor. 11:20-34, 12:12-14; 2 Cor. 11:2; Eph. 1:4-6, 22-23, 5:25-27, 4:11-15; Rev. 21:9-27)

Angels

We believe that angels are created beings; that they are spiritual beings; that they have great might and power; that they have various ranks and order; and that they are an innumerable host accomplishing the purposes of God both here on earth and in Heaven. (Ps. 104:4; Isa. 6; Col. 1:16; 1 Thess. 4:16; Heb. 1:14, 12:22; 2 Peter 2:11; Jude 9; Rev. 5:11-12, 20:2)

Satan

We believe that Satan is a person; that he is the author of sin and cause of the fall; that he is the prince of the power of the air; that he is the open and declared enemy of God and man; and that he is finally to be cast alive into the Lake of Fire and there will be tormented forever and ever. (Job 1:6-7; Isa. 14:12-17; Ez. 28:12-19; Matt. 4:2-11; Eph. 2:2, 6:11-12; Rev. 20:10)

Heaven

We believe that Heaven is a real place and that the souls of the redeemed go there to be with the Lord forever. Heaven is a place of conscious bliss, a place where sin or the results of sin shall never be known. (Matt. 5:12; Luke 23:32-43; John 14:2-3; 2 Cor. 5:8; Phil. 1:23; Rev. 21)

Hell

We believe that Hell is a literal place where the souls of men who reject Jesus Christ as their personal Saviour go to consciously suffer in the literal fire; and that is a place where the lost shall be forever and ever separated from God. (Matt. 25:41; Luke 16:23-24; Rev. 20:13-15, 21:8)

Eschatology

We believe in the personal, visible, imminent, pretribulational and premillennial coming of the Lord Jesus Christ for His redeemed ones; that at the end of the great tribulation period He will return to the earth with His saints to set up His millennial kingdom. (Matt. 24:29-30; 1 Thess. 4:13-18, 5:9; Rev. 19:11-14, 20:1-6)

We believe that Christians will be judged according to their works (whether good or bad) at the judgment seat of Christ; and that this judgment takes place at time of the rapture. (Rom. 14:10-12; 1 Cor. 3:11-15; 2 Cor. 5:10)

We believe that at the end of the millennium all of the unsaved dead shall stand before God at the Great White Throne judgment and will be judged according to their works; that they will be cast into the Lake of Fire and there forever remain to be tormented. (Rev. 20:11-15)

Charismatic Movement

We believe that the Charismatic Movement is a man made organization and is therefore not a scriptural presentation of the Holy Spirit. Its goals involve the final unification of the one world church.

We believe that the gifts of the evangelists, pastors and teachers are sufficient for the perfecting of the saints today. Speaking in tongues and the signs of miracles ceased when the New Testament scriptures were completed and their authority became established. (1 Cor. 12:4-11, 13:8-10; 2 Cor. 12:12; Eph. 4:11-12)