Main Street Baptist Church

1. THE SCRIPTURES
We believe that "all Scripture is given by inspiration of God," by which we understand that the whole of the book called the Bible, nor do we take the statement in the sense in which it is sometimes said that the works of human genius are inspired, but in the sense that the Holy Spirit gave the very words of the sacred writings to holy men of old; and that His Divine inspiration is not in different degrees, but extends equally and fully to all parts of these writings, historical, poetical, doctrinal, and prophetical, and to the smallest word and inflection of a word, provided such word is found in the original manuscripts. (II Timothy 3:16-17; II Peter 1:21; I Cor. 2:13; Mark 12:26, 36; Mark 13:11; Acts 1:16; 2:4)

2. THE TRINITY
We believe that the Godhead eternally exists in three persons, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit; and that these three are one God having precisely the same nature, attributes and perfection and worthy of precisely the same homage, confidence and obedience. (Mark 12:29; John 1:1-4; Matt 28:19-20; Acts 5:3-4; II Cor 13:14; Hebrews 1:1-3; Rev 1:4-6)

3. GOD THE FATHER
A. We believe that God is the Creator of all things.
B. We believe that God, by the word of His power, instantaneously created the heavens and the earth without pre-existing materials. We believe in creation, as revealed in the Scripture. (Gen. 1:1; John 1:1-3). We also believe that creation took place in six literal, twenty-four hour days.

4. CHRIST
A. We believe that Lord Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God, the second person in the Godhead, existing with the Father and the Holy Spirit, became man, without ceasing to be God, having been conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary, as no other man was ever born or can ever be born of a woman, thus to continue forever as both very God and very man, one Person with two natures, human and divine. (John 1:1; Luke 1:35; Phil. 2:5-8; Matt. 1:23)
B. We believe Jesus Christ is the true God-man, (John 10:30) uniting a perfect and complete divine nature with a perfect and complete, yet sinless, human nature. (John 1:14,18; 1:4, 8:58; Phil. 2:6-7; II Cor. 5:21; I Peter 2:22)
C. We believe in His literal, physical, bodily, personal resurrection from the dead. (1 Cor. 15:3, 4, 20, 21; Rom. 3:21-26; Rom. 4:25)
D. We believe that Christ is the Redeemer by His substitutionary or vicarious death for redemption of sinners, on which He provided unlimited atonement for all sins of all times, and thus sufficient for all men, but that this atonement is applied only to those who accept Jesus Christ as personal Savior. (Rom. 3:25; Heb. 10:4, 5, 11-14; I Pet 2:22, 24; Isaiah 53:5- 6; John 3:16-18; I John 2:2, I Timothy 4:10)
E. We believe that Christ is ascended into Heaven to be at the right hand of God to intercede for the believers as high Priest and advocate. We also believe that as the Judge He will reward the works of believers at the Bema (judgment seat of Christ). He will judge unbelievers at the Great White Throne judgment. (Heb. 7:25; Heb 1:3; 4:14-18; I John 2:1f; John 5:22)
F. We believe that Christ will return to the earth and that there are two distinct phases revealed in the Scripture; the rapture of the saints and the Second Coming of Christ. These two phases are seven years apart. (I Thes. 4:13-18; I Cor. 15:51-52)
G. We believe the return of Christ for the saints (The Rapture) is imminent, literal, bodily, personal, pretribulational and premillennial. The imminent return of Christ does not mean that this glad event must be immediate, but we hold rather that it is over-hanging, that it may occur at any moment, and that no prophesied event stands between the believer and that hour. (John 14:2-3; I Cor. 5:5-9; Titus 2:13; James 5:8-9; Rev. 3:10; 22:17-22; I Thes. 5:9)

5. THE HOLY SPIRIT
A. We believe the Holy Spirit is a divine, eternal Person, and that He is not just an influence. He has intellect, emotions, and will of His own. (Acts 5:3-4; Matt. 28:19; I Cor. 13:14; Heb.
1:14; John 15:26; 16:13-14; I Cor. 12:11; Eph. 4:30; I Cor. 2:11)
B. We believe the present ministry of the Holy Spirit is restraining sin in the world, convicting the world of sin, righteousness, and baptizes them into the church, the body of Christ, indwells them permanently, seals them unto the day of redemption, bestows spiritual gifts upon each one, and fills those yielded to Him. (John 15:26, 27; 16:7-15; John 3:8; I Cor 12:13; John 14:16; Eph. 4:30; I Cor. 12:4-11; Eph. 5:18; Rom 8:9; I Cor 6:19)
C. We believe that speaking in tongues is not a sign of either regeneration or sanctification, nor a necessary sign of the filling or baptism of the Holy Spirit. We further believe that speaking in tongues and the other signs of working miracles, such as divine healing, gradually faded as the New Testament Scriptures were completed and their authority became established. (I Cor. 12:4-11, 30; II Cor. 12:12; Eph 4:7-12; I Cor 13:10; I Cor 14:21- 22; Mark 16:18-20)
D. We believe that God does hear and answer the prayer of faith, in accord with His own will, for the sick and afflicted. (John 15:7; I John 5:14f; James 5:14-16)

6. SIN
A. Angels - Satan
We believe Lucifer, who was the highest angel in rank, through the sin of pride, is the originator of sin, thus becoming the enemy of God and His people (Isaiah 14:12-17; Ezekiel 28:11-19; I Tim. 3:6; Eph. 2:2)
B. Fall of Man
We believe that in Adam all mankind is born in sin and has sinned and thus became sinful both in nature and in practice. Thus Adam's first sin may be called "original sin", hence, all mankind is guilty of that "original sin" and being totally depraved and justly condemned or under the judgment of God with no hope of salvation within himself. (Rom. 15:12-21; Rom 3:12; Ps. 51:5; Eph. 2:1-3; Isaiah 64:6; I Cor 2:14; Gen 3:6; II Tim. 3:13)
We believe that total depravity of the human race has been transmitted to the entire race of man, except Jesus Christ alone was sinless by virtue of the virgin birth. Therefore, man not only does not possess any spark of divinity but is essentially and totally (unchangeably) depraved, having enmity against God and being incapable by any educational process whatever of undoing his own guilt before God.

7. SALVATION
A. We believe salvation is the gift of God brought to men by His Grace and that His Grace is the only basis of eternal salvation of man, apart from any sacraments, good works, or human merit. (Eph. 2:8-9; Titus 3:5; I Peter 1:18-19; Rom 6:23; Acts 4:12; Gal 4:3-4)
B. We believe that salvation has been offered to all men, but is received only by those who repent and turn to a personal faith in Christ Jesus as their Saviour and Lord. We believe these things alone are saved. (Eph 1:17; Heb. 9:22; I John 1:2; John 3:5-7; Rom 3:10-19; Isaiah 53:5-6; Rom 3:26; I Peter 1:23)
C. We believe a sinner is immediately justified by God and receives eternal life at the moment of his conversion. (Rom 5:1-9; Rom 4:5; Rom 3:24-30; 8:30)
D. We believe sanctification is the permanent "setting apart" of the born again believer from the domain of this world. The basic meaning of the word "sanctification" is "to set apart unto God for service." (Heb 10:10, 14; II Cor 3:18; Phil 3:21)
E. We believe the Word of God teaches the eternal security of the believer which rests in the faithfulness of God, not the faithfulness of man. We believe that God's Word, however, clearly forbids the use of Christian liberty as an occasion to the flesh. (Rom 1:16; John 10:28; Rom 13:14; Gal. 5:13; Titus 2:11-14)

8. THE CHURCH
A. We believe the church is a New Testament institution composed of people of all races, colors, and nations who are born again and united to the risen and ascended Son of God, and that through the Holy Spirit we are all baptized into one body, the Body of Christ. (Col. 3:11; I Cor. 12:13; Acts 13:1)
B. We believe the local church is the visible expression of "The Body of Christ" and should therefore be open to people of all races, colors, and nations. We further believe that God's program for this age is to be carried out through the local church, which is the pillar and ground of the truth. (Eph. 1:22-23)
C. We believe that when Christ founded His church on earth, He did it for four distinct purposes:
FIRST: That the Church, the Body of Christ, might worship God the Father in Spirit and in truth by the offering of the sacrifice of praise to God continually. (John 4:23; Heb. 13:15)
SECOND: That through the Church, He might proclaim to the world salvation through faith in the finished work of Christ on Calvary. (John 3:16; Matt 28:19-20)
THIRD: That the saints might be edified and fully equipped unto the work of the ministry. (Eph. 4:11-13). And that, through gracious and holy living, the church might be lights unto a lost and dying world, the slat of the earth, and living testimonies of the indwelling Christ to each other as well as to those without. (Matt. 5:13-16: Titus 2:10-14; Eph. 5:1-17)
FOURTH: Fellowship..................That loving, caring, close, sacrificial fellowship and support among believers is essential to support and encourage each other, and that each believer needs to give as well as receive this closeness with Christ at the center. (Matt. 18:20; John 13:34; Acts 2:42; Heb 10:25; I John 1:3)
D. We believe there are tow Scriptural ordinances: baptism and the Lord's Supper. We believe Scriptural baptism is the immersion of a believer in water, which pictures his identification with the death, burial and resurrection of Christ. (Acts 2:41-42; 10:17-18; Rom. 6:3-4) We believe baptism is to be administered under the authority of the local church. We also believe in infant and child dedication.
E. We believe the Lord's Supper is the commemoration to the Lord's death until He comes and should be preceded always by solemn self-examination. (I Cor. 11:24-32) We believe the Lord's Supper should be administered regularly by the local church.
F. We believe the local New Testament church is autonomous, self-governing, self- supporting and self-propagating. (Acts 13:1-3; I Cor. 16:1-2; Matt. 18:15-17; Matt 28:18-20)
G. We believe that every Christina is bound by Scripture to hive his unhindered cooperation to the local church. (Matt. 16:16-18; I Cor. 12:12-17; 2:42-47; I Tim. 3:15-16)
H. We believe in: (1) the separation of the local church from all affiliation and fellowship with those who deny the varities of the Christian faith; (2) the separation of the individual believer from all worldly practices that would dishonor the Saviour; (3) the separation of the church and State. (II Tim 3:1-5; Rom. 12:1-2; 14:13; I John 2:15-17; II John 9-11; Matt. 22:21)
I. We believe that civil government is of divine appointment for the interests and good order of human society and that magistrates are to be prayed for, conscientiously honored, and obeyed; except in things opposed to the will of our Lord Jesus Christ who is the only Lord of the conscience, and the coming Prince of the Kings of the earth. (Rom. 13:17; II Sam 23:2; Ex. 18:21-22; Acts 23:5; Matt. 22:21; Acts 5:20; Acts 4:19-20; Dan. 3:17-18)
J. We believe church leadership to be composed of:

-Pastors-teachers (Eph. 4:11) - one man who has the responsibility of exercising the prime leadership in toe local body. He is also an elder, who presides over the Board of Elders.

-Elders (I Tim. 3:1-7; Titus 1:7-9; I Peter 5:1-4) - men who also work in the area of spiritual leadership, sharing authority and responsibility for the life of the church with the Pastor. Their position individually is under the Pastor, but as a group/board share equally all responsibility for the church. Those working specifically in areas of ministry such as youth, Christian Education, counseling, etc., are to be elders.

-Deacons. (I Tim. 3:8-13; Acts 6:1-8) - men who have the responsibility of ministering primarily to the temporal and physical needs of the church. They are under the authority and oversight of the elder board.

- All Believers have a vote on all matters except spiritual (elder board's responsibility) and other items the elder board would consider detrimental to brig to a vote. The elder board can bring anything it sees fit to a vote of the people.

9. THE FUTURE
A. We believe in the dispensational study of Scripture. (I Cor. 15:28)
B. We believe that with the Church gone (Rapture) during the tribulation period, the Satanic- empowered Antichrist, the last great Gentile world emperor, will set up his will for the world economy, government, and religion. (II Thes. 2:8-12; Rev. 13:1-18; Matt. 24:23-24; Dan. 2:41-42; 7:8, 24)
C. We believe at His return to the earth at the end of the Great Tribulation, the Battle of Armageddon will be held and Christ will quickly emerge the victor. (Matt. 24:30; Rev. 19:11- 12)
D. We believe the Millennial Kingdom which as been promised to Israel according to His covenants will be established, at which time the nation of Israel will be restored to the preeminent position in the Kingdom over the Gentile nations. (Luke 12:35-40; Isaiah 65:17- 25; Zech. 14; Luke 1:32-33; Rev. 20:4; Isaiah 35:1-9)
E. We believe there are two resurrections: (1) the souls of the saved at death go immediately to be with Christ in heaven, where they abide in joyful fellowship with Him until their bodies shall be raised from the grave and changed into the likeness of His glorious body; (Phil. 1:22-24; II Cor. 5:1-8; I Cor. 15:51-53; I Cor. 3:11-15) and (2) the souls of the unsaved at death descend immediately into Hades where they are kept under punishment until the Judgment of the Great White Throne at the close of the millennium, at which time their bodies shall be raised from the grave, and they shall be judged according to their works. (Luke 16:19-31; Rev. 20:11-15; Matt. 10-28)
F. We believe the New Heavens and the New Earth shall be established in which "God shall be in all." (I Cor. 15:28; Rev. 21-22)

10. EVANGELISM AND MISSIONS
It is the duty and privilege of every follower of Christ and of every church of the Lord Jesus Christ to endeavor to make disciples of all nations. The new birth of man's spirit by God's Holy Spirit means the birth of love for others. Missionary effort on the part of all rests thus upon a spiritual necessity of the regenerate life, and is expressly and repeatedly commanded in the teachings of Christ. It is the duty of every child of God to seek constantly to win the lost to Christ by personal effort and by all other methods in harmony with them gospel of Christ. (Gen. 12:1-3; Ex. 19:5-6; Isa. 6:1-8; Matt. 9:37-38; 10:5; 13:18-30,37-43; 16:19; 22:9- 10; 24:14; 28:18-20; Luke 10:1-18; 24:46-53; John 14:11-12; 15:7-8,16; 17:15; 20:21; Acts 1:8; 2; 8:26-40; 10:42-48; 13:2-3; Tim. 10:13-15; Eph. 3:1-11; I Thess. 1:8; II Tim. 4:5; Heb. 2:1-3; 11:39-12:2; I Peter 2:4-10; Rev. 22:17)

11. MATERIAL POSSESSIONS
God is the source of all blessings, temporal and spiritual; all that we have and are we owe to Him. Christians have a spiritual debtorship to the whole world, a holy trusteeship in the gospel, and binding stewardship in their possessions. They are therefore under obligation to serve Him with their time, talents, and material possessions; and should recognize all these as entrusted to them to use for the glory of God and for helping others. According to the Scriptures, Christians should contribute of their means cheerfully, regularly, systematically, proportionately, and liberally for the advancement of the Redeemer's cause on earth. (Gen. 14:20; Lev. 27:30-32; Deut. 8:18; Mal. 3:8-12; Matt. 6:1-4, 19-21; 25:14-29; Luke 12:16-21, 42; 16:1-13; Acts 2:44-47; 5:1-11; 17:24-25; 20:35; Rom. 6:6-22; 12:1-2; I Cor. 4:1-2; 6:19- 20; 12; 16:1-4; II Cor. 8-9; 12:15; Phil. 4:10-19; I Peter 1:18-19)

December 9, 1989