BELIEFS
What we believe as a church is commonly known as church doctrine. Our doctrine is the foundation by which we serve God. Our doctrinal statement has been organized into categories to assist you in understanding what we believe and teach.
The Word of God
We believe that the Bible is the Word of God, fully inspired and without error in the original manuscripts, written under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, and that it has supreme authority in all matters of faith and conduct. The Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments are the foundation of the faith and practice of our church.
(II Timothy 3:16; II Peter 1:20,21;
Mark 13:31; John 8:31,32; John 20:31; Acts 20:32)
The Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit is the third person of the Trinity. He regenerates, indwells, baptizes, and seals all believers in Christ and empowers those yielded to God.
(John 14:16,17,26; 15:26,27; John 16:9-14; Romans 8:9; I Corinthians 3:16; 6:19; Galatians 5:22-26)
The Last Things
We believe in the personal and visible return of the Lord Jesus Christ to earth and the establishment of His kingdom. We believe in the resurrection of the body, the final judgment, the eternal blessing of believers and the eternal punishment of the unredeemed.
(Matt 16:27; Mark 14:62; John 14:3; Acts 1:11; Phil. 3:20; I Thess 4:15; II Tim 4:1; Titus 2:13; I Cor 4:5;15; II Thess1:7-10; Rev 20:4-6,11-15)
The Church
We believe in the universal church, a living spiritual body of which Christ is the head and all regenerated persons are members. We believe in the local church, consisting of a company of believers in Jesus Christ, baptized on a credible profession of faith, and associated for worship, work, and fellowship. We believe that God has laid upon the members of the local church the primary task of sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ to a lost world and to glorify the Lord through an aggressive effort to disciple believers and to faithfully exercise their spiritual gifts.
(Ephesians 2:19-22; Acts 1:8; Ephesians 5:19-21; Acts 2:42; Hebrews 10:23-25)
God the Father
We believe in God the Father. He is infinite, personal, perfect in holiness, wisdom, power and love. We believe that He infallibly foreknows all that shall come to pass, that He concerns Himself mercifully in the affairs of men, that He hears and answers prayer, and that He saves from sin and death all who come to Him through Jesus Christ.
(Luke 10:21,22; Matthew 23:9; John 3:16; 6:27; Romans 1:7; I Timothy 1:1,2; 2:5,6; I Peter 1:3; Revelation 1:6)
The Ordinances
We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ has committed two ordinances to the local church, baptism and the Lord’s Supper. We believe that Christian baptism is the immersion of the believer in water. We believe that the Lord’s Supper was instituted by Christ for commemoration of His death. We believe that these two ordinances should be observed and administered until the return of the Lord Jesus Christ.
(Matthew 28:18-20; Romans 6:3-5; I Corinthians 11:23-26)
SALVATION
Christian Conduct
We believe that a Christian should live for the glory of God and the well-being of his fellow men; that his conduct should be blameless before the world; that he should be a faithful steward of his possessions; and that he should seek to realize for himself and others the full stature of maturity in Christ.
(I Corinthians 10:31; Romans 12:1-3; Hebrews 12:1-2; John 14:15,23-24; I John 2:3-6; II Corinthians 9:6-9; I Corinthians 4:2; Col. 1:9-10)
Salvation
We believe that man was created by God in His own image; that he sinned and thereby incurred physical, spiritual and eternal death, which is separation from God; that as a consequence, all human beings are born with a sinful nature and are sinners by choice and therefore under condemnation. We believe that those who repent and forsake sin and trust Jesus Christ as Savior are regenerated by the Holy Spirit and become new creatures, delivered from condemnation and receive eternal life.
(Gen 1:26; 5:2; 3; 2:17; 3:19; Eccl. 2:11; John 3:14-16; 5:24;1:13; 5:30; 7:13; 8:12; 10:26; II Thess 1:9; Rev. 19:3,20; 20:10;14,15; 21:18; Psalm 51:7; Jer 17:9; James 1:14; Romans 3:19; 5:19; 8:1;9:22; Proverbs 28:13; I John 1:9; II Cor 5:17)
The Trinity
We believe that there is one living and true God, eternally existing in three persons; that these are equal in every divine perfection, and that they execute distinct but harmonious offices in the work of creation, providence and redemption.
(Genesis 1:1,26; John 1:1,3; Matthew 28:19; John 4:24; Romans 1:19,20; Ephesians 4:5,6)
Jesus Christ
We believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only begotten Son, conceived by the Holy Spirit. We believe in His virgin birth, sinless life, miracles, and teachings. We believe in His substitutionary atoning death, bodily resurrection, ascension into heaven, perpetual intercession for His people, and personal visible return to earth.
(Matthew 1:18-25; Luke 1:26-38; John 1:1; 20:28; Romans 9:5; 8:46; II Corinthians 5:21; I Peter 2:21-23; John 20:30, 31; Matthew 20:28; Ephesians 1:4; Acts 1:11; Romans 5:6-8; 6:9,10; Hebrews 7:25; Hebrews 9:28; I Timothy 3:16)
Church Cooperation
We believe that local churches can best promote the cause of Jesus Christ by cooperating with one another in a denominational organization. Such an organization exists and functions by the will of the churches. Cooperation in a convention or association is voluntary and may be terminated at any time.
(Acts 15:36,41; 16:5; I Corinthians 16:1; Galatians 1:1-3; Revelations 1:4,10,11)
This church is affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention, Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma, and Capital Baptist Association.
Man
Man is created in the image and likeness of God. In Adam, all mankind fell into sin with the result that all men are sinners. Men are justly condemned to eternal judgment and can do nothing to merit salvation.
(Rom. 2:2,3,5; Eph. 2:8,9; Gen. 1:27, 9:6; Rom. 5:12; 3:23; Eph. 2:1)