10818 Highway 36 Covington, GA 30014 770-500-4088 This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success. Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest. Joshua 1:8-9 |
The following comprise the Scriptural beliefs of this church and its members.
(A) The Holy Scriptures.
We believe the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testament to be the only verbally and plenarily inspired Word
of God. The Scriptures are inerrant, infallible and God-breathed and, therefore, are the final authority for faith and
life. The sixty-six books of the Old and New Testament are the complete and divine revelation of God to Man.
We believe that God preserved His Word: the Masoretic text which is where we get the King James Version Old
Testament and the Textus Receptus which is where we get the King James New Testament. The Scriptures shall
be interpreted according to their normal grammatical-historical meaning, and all issues of interpretation and meaning
shall be determined by the pastor. The King James Version of the Bible shall be the official and only English
translation used by this church and its ministries. It shall be a requirement of this church that any ministry
receiving support from this church shall exclusively use the King James Version of the Bible when ministering to
English speaking people. When ministering to people of other languages, these ministries supported by this church
shall use the Scriptures which are translated from the Textus Receptus when available. (2 Tim. 3:16-17; 2 Pet. 1:20-
21)
(B) Dispensationalism.
We believe that the Scriptures interpreted in their natural, literal sense reveal divinely determined dispensations or
rules of life which define man’s responsibilities in successive ages. These dispensations are not ways of salvation,
but rather are divinely ordered stewardships by which God directs man according to His purpose. Three of these
dispensations—the law, the church, and the kingdom—are the subjects of detailed revelation in Scripture. (Gen. 1:
28; 1 Cor. 9:17; 2 Cor. 3:9-18; Gal. 3:13-25; Eph. 1:10; 3:2-10; Col. 1:24-25, 27; Rev. 20:2-6)
(C) The Godhead.
We believe in one triune God (The Trinity), eternally existing in three persons—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
Although they are separate entities (while still being one), each are co-eternal in being, co-identical in nature,
coequal in power and glory, and having the same attributes and perfections. Adam’s sin was a direct offense to
God the Father, Who has sought to reconcile us unto Himself through the shed blood of our Lord and Saviour Jesus
Christ. He is the Creator and sustainer of all that is. He is omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent (Deut. 6:4;
Matt. 28:19; John 14:10, 26; 2 Cor. 13:14)
(D) The Person and Work of Christ.
1. We believe that Jesus Christ was with God the Father in the beginning and at the Creation. All things
were made by Him; and without Him was not anything made that was made. (John 1:1-3)
2. We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God, became man, without ceasing to be God,
having been conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary, in order that He might reveal God and
redeem sinful men. (Isa. 7:14; 9:6; Luke 1:35; John 1:1-2, 14; 2 Cor. 5:19-21; Gal. 4:4-5; Phil. 2:5-8)
3. We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ accomplished our redemption through His death on the cross as a
representative, vicarious, sinless, substitutionary sacrifice; and, that our justification is made sure by His literal,
physical resurrection from the dead. (Acts 2:18-36; Rom. 3:24-25; Eph. 1:7; 1 Pet. 2:24; 1 Peter 1:3-5)
4. We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ ascended to Heaven and is now exalted at the right hand of God
where, as our High Priest, He fulfills the ministry of Representative, Intercessor, and Advocate. One day, He will
sit as Judge at the Judgment Seat of Christ to judge the saved according to our works. He will also pass final
judgment on the lost at the Great White Throne Judgment. (Acts 1:9-10; Rom. 8:34; II Cor. 5:10; Heb. 9:24; 7:25; 1
John 2:1-2; Rev. 20:11-15)
(E) The Person and Work of the Holy Spirit.
1. We believe that the Holy Spirit is a person who convicts the world of sin, of righteousness, and of
judgment; and, that He is the Supernatural Agent in regeneration, baptizing all believers into the body of Christ,
indwelling and sealing them unto the day of redemption. (John 16:8-11; Rom. 8:9; 1 Cor. 12:12-14; 2 Cor. 3:6;
Eph. 1:13-14)
2. We believe that He is the divine Teacher who assists believers to understand and appropriate the
Scriptures and that it is the privilege and duty of all the saved to be filled with the Spirit. (Eph. 1:17-18; 5:18; 1
John 2:20, 27)
3. We believe that God is sovereign in the bestowal of spiritual gifts to every believer. God uniquely uses
evangelists, pastors, and teachers to equip believers in the assembly in order that they can do the work of the
ministry. (Rom. 12:3-8; 1 Cor. 12:4-11, 28; Eph. 4:7-12)
4. We believe that the sign gifts of the Holy Spirit, such as speaking in tongues and the gift of healing,
were temporary. Speaking in tongues was never the common or necessary sign of the baptism or filling of the Holy
Spirit. Ultimate deliverance of the body from sickness or death awaits the consummation of our salvation in the
resurrection, though God frequently chooses to answer the prayers of believers for physical healing. (1 Cor. 1:22;
13:8; 14:21-22)
(F) The Total Depravity of Man.
We believe that man was created in the image and likeness of God; but that in Adam’s sin the human race fell,
inherited a sinful nature, and became alienated from God. Man is totally depraved and therefore under
condemnation and the wrath of God, doomed for Hell and eternity in the lake of fire. He is of himself, utterly
unable to remedy his lost condition. (Gen. 1:26-27; Rom. 3:22-23; 5:12; 6:23; Eph. 2:1-3; 4:17-19)
(G) Salvation.
We believe that Scripture teaches that we can know that we are saved. Salvation is the gift of God brought to man
by grace and received by repentance toward God and personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, Whose precious blood
was shed on Calvary for the forgiveness of our sins. Salvation is freely offered to all who will receive it and results
in a changed life. We believe that all sins, except blasphemy of the Holy Spirit, are forgivable. (Matt. 12:31-32;
John 1:12; 2 Cor. 5:17; Eph. 1:7; 2:8-10; 1 Pet. 1:18-19; 1 John 1:9; 5:13)
(H) The Eternal Security and Assurance of Believers.
1. We believe that all the redeemed, once saved, are kept by God’s power and are thus secure in Christ
forever. (John 6:37-40; 10:27-30; Rom. 8:1; 38-39; 1 Cor. 1:4-8; 1 Pet. 1:4-5)
2. We believe that it is the privilege of believers to rejoice in the assurance of their salvation through the
testimony of God’s Word, which, however, clearly forbids the use of Christian liberty as an occasion to the flesh.
(Rom. 13:13-14; Gal. 5:13; Titus 2:11-15)
(I) The Church
1. We believe that the Church, which is the body and the espoused bride of Christ, is solely made up of
born-again persons. We believe that the local church is solely made up of born again persons who have been
scripturally baptized. We reject the belief commonly known as Baptist Bride and all of the variations of this false
doctrine. (1 Cor. 12:12-14; 2 Cor. 11:2; Eph. 1:22-23; 5:25-27)
2. We believe that the establishment and continuance of local churches is clearly taught and defined in the
New Testament Scriptures. (Acts 14:27; 20:17, 28-32; 1 Tim. 3:1-13; Titus 1:5-11)
3. We believe in the autonomy of the local church free of any external authority or control. (Acts 13:1-4;
15:19-31; 20:28; Rom. 16:1, 4; 1 Cor. 3:9, 16; 5:4-7, 13; 1 Pet. 5:1-4)
4. We recognize water baptism and the Lord’s Supper as the only Scriptural ordinances of obedience for
the church in this age. (Matt. 28:19-20; Acts 2:41-42; 18:18; 1 Cor. 11:23-26)
a) Scriptural baptism is complete immersion in water, in the name of God the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. It
is an act of obedience, demonstrating the believer’s death, burial, and resurrection in identification with Christ.
Baptism is not salvation, but rather the testimony of the saving power of Jesus Christ.
b) The Lord’s Supper (or Communion) is an act of obedience to memorialize the offering of the body and
blood of Jesus Christ our Saviour for our sins. It is a serious time of self examination, confession, and dedication to
Christ, not to be entered into lightly. No alcoholic beverages will be used in the observance of the Lord’s Supper.
(J) Separation.
We believe that godly living and good works are the natural result of the new birth. We believe that all the saved
should live in such a manner as not to bring reproach upon their Savior and Lord. This is not in order to be saved or
to keep our salvation, but because we are saved and desire to live pleasing unto our Lord. Living a life of Scriptural
separation helps us to maintain a godly testimony toward them that are without and increases our opportunity for
being an effective witness to the lost. God commands His people to separate from all religious apostasy (including
but not limited to Ecumenism, Charismatic movement, cults, and other religions), all worldly and sinful pleasures,
practices, and associations, and to refrain from all immodest and immoderate apparel, appearances, piercings, and
bodily markings.
We also believe that there should be a distinction between the genders in apparel and hair styles. Men should
refrain from long hair or feminine styling , and women should refrain from excessively short, masculine hairstyles.
Men and women should demonstrate in their lives a pattern of good works that point others to Christ. This
lifestyle should be consistent even in the choice of apparel at all times and settings. The Spirit conceals while the
flesh
reveals.
Tobacco use and alcoholic beverage consumption will not be allowed on church property or on church functions
due to the detrimental effects that it may have on the testimony of the church before a lost world. (Lev. 19:28;
Deut. 22:5; Rom. 12:1-2; 14:13; 1 Cor. 6:19-20; I Cor. 11:14-15; 2 Cor. 6:14-7:1; I Timothy 2:9; 2 Tim. 3:1-5; 1
John 2:15-17; 2 John 9-11)
(K) The Second Advent of Christ.
We believe in that blessed hope, the personal, imminent return of Christ, Who will rapture His church prior to the
seven-year tribulation period which marks the end of the Church Age (dispensation of Grace). When we are
raptured, He will change our corruptible bodies into the likeness of His glorious body. At the end of the
Tribulation, Christ will personally and visibly return to earth with His saints, to establish His earthly Messianic
Kingdom which was promised to the nation of Israel. (Ps. 89:3-4; Dan. 2:31-45; Zech. 14:4-11; 1 Thess. 1:10, 4:
13-18; Titus 2:13; Rev. 3:10; 19:11-16; 20:1-6)
(L) The Eternal State.
1. We believe in the bodily resurrection of all men, the saved to eternal life, and the unsaved to judgment
and everlasting punishment. (Matt. 25:46; John 5:28, 29; 11:25-26; Rev. 20:5-6, 12-13)
2. We believe that the souls of the redeemed are, at death, absent from the body and present with the
Lord, where in conscious bliss they await the first resurrection, when spirit, soul, and body are reunited to be
glorified and to stand before the Judgment seat of Christ to be judged according to our works and rewarded for our
service for Christ. We will then dwell forever with the Lord. (Luke 23:43; 2 Cor. 5:8; Phil. 1:23; 3:21; 1 Thess. 4:
16-17; Rev. 20:4-6)
3. We believe that the souls of unbelievers remain, after death, in conscious punishment and torment in
Hell until the second resurrection, when with soul and body reunited, they shall appear at the Great White Throne
Judgment, and shall be cast into the Lake of Fire, not to be annihilated, but to suffer everlasting conscious
punishment and torment. (Matt. 25:41-46; Mark 9:43-48; Luke 16:19-26; 2 Thess. 1:7-9; Jude 6-7; Rev. 20:11-15)
(M) The Existence of Satan.
We believe that Satan is a being who was created innocent and holy, but through pride and rebellion, was cast out
of Heaven leading many angels to their future doom. He is the leader of those evil, fallen angels, commonly called
demons. He is the author of sin, accuser of the brethren, and arch enemy of Christ. He has great power, but that
power is limited by God. He is the open and declared enemy of God and man, and he shall be eternally punished in
the Lake of Fire. (Job 1:6-7; Isa. 14:12-17; Matt. 4:2-11; 25:41; Rev. 20:10)
(N) Creation.
We believe that God created the universe in six literal, 24-hour periods. We reject evolution, the Gap Theory, the
Day-Age Theory, and Theistic Evolution as unscriptural theories of origin. (Gen. 1-2; Ex. 20:11)
(O) Civil Government.
We believe that God has ordained and created all authority consisting of three basic institutions: 1) the home, 2)
the church, and 3) the state. Every person is subject to these authorities, but all (including the authorities
themselves) are answerable to God and governed by His Word. God has given each institution specific Biblical
responsibilities and balanced those responsibilities with the understanding that no institution has the right to
infringe upon the other. The home, the church, and the state are equal and sovereign in their respective Biblically
assigned spheres of responsibility under God. We believe that, in keeping with the teachings of Scripture, we are
not only to submit to these authorities, but also to pray for them. (Rom. 13:1-7; Eph. 5:22-24; Heb. 13:17; 1 Pet.
2:13-14)
(P) Human Sexuality.
1. We believe that God has commanded that no intimate sexual activity be engaged in outside of a
marriage between one man and one woman. We believe that any form of homosexuality, lesbianism, bisexuality,
bestiality, incest, fornication, adultery, and pornography are sinful perversions of God’s gift of sex. We believe that
God disapproves of and forbids any attempt to alter one’s gender by surgery or appearance. (Gen. 2:24; Gen. 19:
5, 13; Gen. 26:8-9; Lev. 18:1-30; Rom. 1: 26-29; 1 Cor. 5:1; 6:9; 1 Thess. 4:1-8; Heb. 13:4)
2. We believe that the only Scriptural marriage is the joining of one man and one woman. (Gen. 2:24;
Rom. 7:2; 1 Cor. 7:10; Eph. 5:22-23)
(Q) Family Relationships
1. We believe that men and women are spiritually equal in position before God but that God has
ordained distinct and separate spiritual functions for men and women in the home and the church. The husband is
to be the leader of the home, and men are to be the leaders (pastors and deacons) of the church. Accordingly, only
men are eligible for licensure and ordination by the church. (Gal. 3:28; Col. 3:18; 1 Tim. 2:8-15; 3:4-5, 12)
2. We believe that God has ordained the family as the foundational institution of human society. The
husband is to love his wife as Christ loves the church. The wife is to submit herself to the Scriptural leadership of
her husband as the church submits to the headship of Christ. Children are an heritage from the Lord. Parents are
responsible for teaching their children spiritual and moral values and leading them, through consistent lifestyle
example and appropriate discipline, including Scriptural corporal correction. (Gen. 1:26-28; Ex. 20:12; Deut. 6:4-9;
Ps. 127:3-5; Prov. 19:18; 22:15; 23:13-14; Mk. 10:6-12; 1 Cor. 7:1-16; Eph. 5:21-33; 6:1-4, Col. 3:18-21; Heb. 13:
4; 1 Pet. 3:1-7)
(R) Divorce and Remarriage.
We believe that God disapproves of and forbids divorce and intends marriage to last until one of the spouses dies.
Divorce and remarriage is regarded as adultery except on the grounds of fornication. Fornication, as it is
scripturally used, is unfaithfulness and/or immorality prior to marriage. This divorce was to take place during the
espousal (or engagement) period. Notice Joseph was minded to put Mary away (divorce) privily when she was
found with child (Matthew 1:18-19), not knowing that this Child was the Son of God, until the angel appeared and
revealed it to him. Although divorced and remarried persons or divorced persons may hold positions of service in
the church and be greatly used of God for Christian service, they may not be considered for the offices of pastor or
deacon. (Mal. 2:14-17; Matt. 19:3-12; Rom. 7:1-3; 1 Tim. 3:2, 12; Titus 1:6)
(S) Abortion.
We believe that human life begins at conception and that the unborn child is a living human being. Abortion
constitutes the unjustified, unexcused taking of unborn human life. Abortion is murder. We reject any teaching
that abortions of pregnancies due to rape, incest, birth defects, gender selection, birth or population control, or the
physical or mental well being of the mother are acceptable. (Job 3:16; Ps. 51:5; 139:14-16; Isa. 44:24; 49:1, 5; Jer. 1:
5; 20:15-18; Luke 1:44)
(T) Euthanasia.
We believe that the direct taking of an innocent human life is a moral evil, regardless of the intention. Life is a gift
of God and must be respected from conception until natural death. Thus we believe that an act or omission which,
of itself or by intention, causes death in order to eliminate suffering constitutes a murder contrary to the will of
God. Discontinuing medical procedures that are extraordinary or disproportionate to the expected outcome can be
a legitimate refusal of over-zealous treatment. (Ex. 20:13, 23:7; Matt. 5:21; Acts 17:28)
(U) Love.
We believe that we should demonstrate love for others, not only toward fellow believers, but also toward both
those who are not believers, those who oppose us, and those who engage in sinful actions. We are to deal with
those who oppose us graciously, gently, patiently, and humbly. God forbids the stirring up of strife, the taking of
revenge, or the threat or the use of violence as a means of resolving personal conflict or obtaining personal justice.
Although God commands us to abhor sinful actions, we are to love and pray for any person who engages in such
sinful actions. (Lev. 19:18; Matt. 5:44-48; Luke 6:31; John 13:34-35; Rom. 12:9-10; 17-21; 13:8-10; Phil. 2:2-4; 2
Tim. 2:24-26; Titus 3:2; 1 John 3:17-18)
(V) Lawsuits Between Believers.
We believe that Christians are prohibited from bringing civil lawsuits against other Christians or the church to
resolve personal disputes. We believe the church possesses all the resources necessary to resolve personal
disputes between members. We do believe, however, that a Christian may seek compensation for injuries from
another Christian’s insurance company as long as the claim is pursued without malice or slander. (1 Cor. 6:1-8;
Eph. 4:31-32)
(W) Missions.
We believe that God has given the church a great commission to proclaim the Gospel to all nations so that there
might be a great multitude from every nation, tribe, ethnic group, and language group who believe on the Lord Jesus
Christ. Realizing that they cannot believe in Him of whom they have not heard, and that they cannot hear without
a preacher, as ambassadors of Christ we must use all available means to go throughout our home country as well as
to the foreign nations and not wait for them to come to us so that they might hear the Gospel and accept Jesus
Christ as their Lord and Saviour. We believe that it is our responsibility to assist others who have the call of God
to go to the foreign and domestic mission fields through faithful prayer and monthly financial support as well as
special offerings to assist with the needs of the ministry.(Matt. 28:19-20; Mark 16:15; Luke 24:46-48; John 20:21;
Acts 1:8; Romans 10:13-17; 2 Cor. 5:20; 8:1-9:15)
(X) Giving.
We believe that every Christian, as a steward of that portion of God’s wealth entrusted to him, is obligated to
financially support his local church. We believe that God has established the tithe (10% of your increase) as a
basis for giving, but that every Christian should also give other offerings sacrificially and cheerfully to the support
of the church, the relief of those in need, and the spread of the Gospel. We believe that a Christian relinquishes all
rights to direct the use of his tithe or offering once the gift has been made. (Gen. 14:20; Prov. 3:9-10; Acts 4:34-37;
1 Cor. 8:1-9:15; 16:2; 2 Cor. 9:6-7; Gal. 6:6; Eph. 4:28; 1 Tim. 5:17-18; 1 John 3:17)
AUTHORITY OF STATEMENT OF FAITH
The Statement of Faith does not exhaust the extent of our faith. The Bible itself is the sole and final source of all
that we believe. We do believe, however, that the foregoing Statement of Faith accurately represents the teaching
of the Bible and, therefore, is binding upon all members. All literature used in the church shall be in complete
agreement with the Statement of Faith.
Harmony Baptist Church
Building lives that Harmonize with God's Word
Building lives that Harmonize with God's Word
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Beliefs
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