This is the statement of faith of Airdrie Baptist Church. This statement in accordance with the Holy Scriptures identifies the faith which is adhered to and believed by the membership of Airdrie Baptist Church.
I. The Holy Scriptures
We believe the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments to be the verbally (every word) and plenary (every part) 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 Testaments are the complete and divine revelation of God to man. The Scriptures shall be interpreted according to their normal grammatical-historical meaning. It is only through submission to God’s Words that one can be prepared and fruitful for God’s service. It is only by God’s Words that truth can be proclaimed as absolute and thereby all doctrine that does not meet the standard of the Bible’s clear teaching can be rejected as lies. We believe that God has supernaturally preserved His Words for all generations. We believe God superintended the translation of the English translation of the Authorized version by King James from the received Greek Text. The King James Bible is and will be the only Bible in the English language by which we will proclaim the revelation of God towards man.
(II Tim. 3:16-17; II Pet. 1:20-21; II Sam. 23:2; Acts 1:16, 3:21; John 10:35, 12:47-48, 17:17; Luke 16:29-31; Prov. 30:5-6; Rev. 22:18-19; Rom. 2:12, 3:3,4, Psalm 12:6-8)
II. The True God
We believe 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 confidence, honor and love; that in the unity of the God-head there are three persons—the Father, the Son, the Holy Spirit, equal in every divine perfection, and executing distinct, but harmonious offices in the great work of redemption.
(I Tim. 1:17; I Cor. 8:6; Isa.44:6-8, 45:18; I Thess. l:9; Dan. 2:21-22; Rev. 4:11, 5:12- 13; lsa. 6:1-4; Matt. 28:19; Luke 1:35; John 4:24, 6:44, 14:6, 16:8; 1 John 5:7)
III. The Person and Work of Christ
1. We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God, became a 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; II Cor. 5:19-21; Gal. 4:4-5; Phil. 2:5-8)
2.We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ accomplished our redemption through His death on the cross as a vicarious 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; I Pet.1:3-5, 2:24; Eph.1:7)
3. 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.
(Acts 1:9-10; Heb. 9:24, 7:25; Rom. 8:34; I Jn. 2:1-2)
IV. The Person and Work of the Holy Spirit
1. We believe that the Holy Spirit is a divine person, equal with God the Father and God the Son and of the same nature, that He was active in the creation, that in His relation to the unbelieving world He restrains the evil one until God's purpose is fulfilled, that He convicts of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment, that He bears witness to the truth of the gospel in preaching and testimony, that He is the agent in the new birth, that He seals, endues, guides, teaches, witnesses, sanctifies and helps the believer.
(Matt. 28:19; Heb. 9:14; Gen. 1:2; Ps. 104:30; II Thess. 2: 6-7; Jn. 1:12-13, 3:5-6, 14:16-17, 14:26, 16:8-11, 16:13, 20:22; Acts 5:32; Eph. I: 13, 14; Luke 24:49; I Jn. 2:20-27; Rom. 8:14-16, 8:26-27; II Thess. 2:13; I Pet. 1:2)
2. We believe that the signs of the Holy Ghost, such as speaking in tongues and the gift of healing, were temporary. I believe that speaking in tongues was never the common or necessary sign of the baptism or filling of the Holy Spirit and that 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. (I Cor. 1:22, 13:8; 14:21-22, James 5:13-15)
3. We believe that the baptism of the Spirit was a one-time event that took place on the day of Pentecost after Christ’s resurrection. The baptism of the Spirit was given through the promise of the Father and was not the result of man’s effort. The baptism of the Spirit makes it possible for believers to be baptized into Christ at salvation and to be filled with God’s power to be witnesses. Spirit filling is the result of surrender to the Lord’s leading and prayer (Luke 24:49; Acts 1:8; 2:1–4; Eph. 4:5; 5:18–24; I Cor. 12:13; .
V. Of the Satan or the Devil
We believe in the personality of Satan, that he is the unholy god of this age, and the author of all the powers of darkness, and is destined to the judgment of an eternal justice in the lake of fire.
(Matt. 4:1-3; Jude 9; II Cor. 4:4; Eph. 6:12; Col. 1:13; Rev. 20:10)
VI. Of the Creation of Man
We believe the Genesis account of Creation and believe that man came by direct creation of God, and not by evolution.
(Gen. 1, 2; Jn. 1:3; Col. 1:16, 17)
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VII. Of the Creation of the world
We believe in the Genesis account of creation. That God, in six literal twenty-four hour days spoke into existence, in a way that can only be described as miraculous, a perfect world; and that upon its completion; He saw that "it was very good". I reject all theories as to the origin of the world; the Gap theory, the Long Day Theory, or any other theory that attempts to lend support to evolution and unbelieving science.
(Gen. 1, 2 Hebrews. 11:3, Genesis 1:31; Jeremiah. 10:12)
VIII. The Fall of Man
We believe that man was created in the image and likeness of God, but that in Adam's sin mankind fell, inherited a sinful nature, and became alienated from God; and, that man is totally depraved and, of himself, utterly unable to remedy his lost condition. All of mankind descended from Adam and became guilty in Adam’s transgression.
(Gen. 1:26-27; Isa 59:2, Rom. 3:22-23, 5:12, 6:23; Eph. 2:1-3, 4:17-19; I Cor. 15:22)
IX. The Virgin Birth
We believe the Scriptures teach that Jesus was begotten of the Holy Spirit in a miraculous manner, born of Mary, a virgin, as no other man was ever born, or can ever be born of woman, and that He is both the Son of God, and God the Son. The virgin birth was necessary for Jesus Christ to be free from the curse in Adam, and to become the legitimate King of Israel (Gen. 3:15; Isa. 7:14; Matt. 1:18, 25; Jn. 1:14; II Cor. 5:21; Jer. 22:28–30; Matt. 1:11–12)
X. The Way of Salvation
We believe that salvation is the gift of God brought to man by grace and received by personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus, being God, came in the flesh and lived a sinless and perfect life. He died as our substitute and became our atonement for sin. He shed His precious blood on Calvary, and rose from the dead in victory over death.
(Rom. 1:16; 3:23; 4:25; 6:23; 10:9–10; Jn. 1:2; Eph. 1:7,13 2:8-10; I Pet. 1:18-19; I Cor. 15:1–4; II Cor. 5:2; I Jo. 4:2)
XI. Of Grace in the New Creation
We believe that to be saved, sinners must be born again and that the new birth is a new creation in Christ Jesus, that it is instantaneous and not a process. that in the new birth the one dead in trespasses and in sins is made a partaker of the divine nature and receives eternal life, the free gift of God, that the new creation is brought about in a manner above our comprehension, solely by the power of the Holy Spirit in connection with divine truth so as to secure our voluntary obedience to the Gospel, that its proper evidence appears in the holy fruits of repentance and faith and newness of life.
(Jn. 2:12-13, 3:3, 3:8, 5:24; II Cor. 5:17-19; II Pet. 1:4; Eph. 2:1; Rom. 6:23; Col. 2:13; I Cor. 4:15; Gal. 4:19, 5:6, 22; James 2:18)
XII. Of Justification
We believe that the great gospel blessing which Christ secures to such as believe in Him is justification. (Rom. 4:25; I Cor. 6:11)
1. That justification includes the pardon of sin, and the gift of eternal life, on principles of righteousness.
(Acts 13:38-39; Rom. 5:1, 9; 8:1)
2. That it is bestowed not in consideration of any works of righteousness which we have done; but solemnly through faith in the Redeemer's blood, His righteousness is imputed to us.
(Rom. 3:23-26; 4:8; 10:4; Titus 3:5; John 1:16; Acts 13:39; Romans 8:1; 5:9; Matthew 9:6; Acts 10:43; Romans 4:25; 5:1, 2, 11; I Corinthians 1:30, 31; II Timothy 4:8
XIII. Adoption
We believe the Scriptures teach that adoption is a gracious act, by which the Father, for the sake of Christ, accepts believers, whereby they become members of the family of God and are entitled to all the rights and privileges and promises of children, and if children, then heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ, to the heritage of the saints on earth, and an inheritance reserved in Heaven for them.
(Romans 8:14–16; Galatians 3:26; 4:6, 7; Ephesians 1:5; I John 3:1; Hebrews 12:7)
XIV. Sanctification
We believe the Scriptures teach that sanctification is the process by which, according to the will of God, we are made partakers of His Holiness; and that it is a progressive work; that it is begun in regeneration; that it is carried on in the hearts of believers by the presence and power of the Holy Spirit, the Sealer and Comforter, in the continual use of the appointed means, especially the Word of God, self-examination, self-denial, watchfulness and prayer; and in the practice of godly exercises and duties.
(I Thessalonians 4:3; 5:23; II Corinthians 7:1; 13:9; Ephesians 1:4; Proverbs 4:18; II Peter 3:18; II Corinthians 3:18; Hebrews 6:1; Romans 8:5; Philippians 2:12, 13; I Peter 2:2; II Corinthians 13:5)
XV. 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 securely preserved in Christ forever.
(Jn. 6:37-40; 10:27-30; Rom. 8:1, 38-39; I Cor. 1:4-8; I Pet. 1:4-5, 1 John 5:11-13; Jude 1)
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. Assurance of salvation for the believer brings a deeper faith and relationship with Christ based on unconditional love and acceptance.
(Rom. 8:31–39; 13: 13-14; Gal. 5:13; Eph. 1:4–7; Titus 2: 11-15; I John 5:13)
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XVI. The Local Church
We believe the Scriptures teach that a local Church is a congregation of scripturally baptized believers, associated by covenant of faith and fellowship of the Gospel; observing the ordnances of Christ; governed by His laws; and exercising the gifts, rights, and privileges invested in them by His Word; that its only Scriptural officers are pastors and deacons, whose qualifications, cairns, and duties are clearly defined in the Epistles of Timothy and Titus. We believe the true mission of the Church is the faithful witness of Christ to all men as we have the opportunity, and the building up and edifying of the saints, I hold that the local Church has the absolute right of Self-Government free from the interference of any hierarchy of individuals or organizations; and that the one and only head is Christ through the Holy Spirit. (Acts 2:41-42, 8:1; I Cor. 4:17; Acts 2:47; I Cor. 11:2; Matt. 28:20; Jn. 14:15, 15:10; Acts 14:23, 15:22; II Thess. 3:7; Rom. 16:17-20; I Cor. 11:23; Matt. 18:15-20; I Tim. 3; Titus 1)
XVII. Local Church Ordinances
1. We believe that Christian baptism is the immersion of a believer in water to show forth in a solemn and beautiful emblem our faith in the crucified, buried and risen Saviour, with its effect in our death to sin and resurrection to a new life, that it is prerequisite to the privileges of a Church relation. (Acts 8:36-38; Rom. 6:4-5; Col. 2:12; Acts 10:47)
2. We believe that the Lord's Supper is the Commemoration of His death until He comes, and should be preceded always by solemn self- examination. I believe the elements on the Lord’s supper must be unleavened bread and the fruit of the vine. Leaven and fermentation are both unworthy of picturing the perfect sinless life and precious untainted blood of Jesus Christ that was necessary to purchase redemption for mankind. (I Cor. 11:23-28; Heb. 4:15; I Pe. 1:18,19)
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XVIII. Of Civil Government
We believe that civil government is of divine appointment, for the interest and good order of human society; that magistrates are to be prayed for, 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. 13:1- 7; I Tim. 2:1-3; Dan. 3:17-18; Acts 4:18-20; Rev. 19:13-16)
XIX. Of the Resurrection - Personal, Visible, Pre-Millennial Return of Christ
1. We believe in the bodily resurrection. (Matt. 28:6–7; Luke 24:39; Jn. 20:27; I Cor. 15:4; Mark 16:6; Luke 24:2-6)
2. The Ascension (Acts 1:9-11; Luke 24:51; Mark 16:19; Rev. 3:21; Heb. 12:2)
3. The High Priesthood (Heb. 8:6; I Tim. 2:5; I Jn. 2:1)
4. The Resurrection of the Righteous Dead (I Thess. 4:13-18; I Cor. 15:42-44, 52)
5. The Change of the Living through Christ (I Cor. 15:51-53, I Thess. 4:13-18; Phil. 3:20- 21)
6. The Pre-tribulation Rapture of the church—those in Christ will be caught up to Christ in the air before the final week (seven-year period) of Daniel’s prophetic vision of seventy weeks (490 years) (Daniel 9:24-28; Rev. 4:1; I Thess. 4:13–18; Eph. 5:25–27)
7. The Throne of David (Luke 1:32; Isa. 9:6-7; Acts 2:29-30)
8. We believe in the premillennial, imminent, visible, bodily return of Jesus Christ with His saints to rule His earthly kingdom for 1000 years (Isaiah 9:6; Matthew 24:27; Luke 21:28; Revelation 2:27; 12:5; 19:15).
9. We believe the unconditional covenants made by the LORD to Israel through Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob will be fulfilled in their entirety when Israel believes in Jesus Christ as the Messiah at His return (I Kings 8:56). Israel will then be restored to their land and fulfill their initial design of becoming the ruling nation and a light to the world during the millennial reign of Christ. (Deut. 30:1–6; Ezek. 11:17; 20:33–38; 34:13–16; Isa. 42:6–7; Jer. 33:6–9; Mic. 4:6–13; Zech. 8:3–8; 10:6; Rom. 9:27; 11:26).
10. The Millennial Reign. (I Cor. 15:25; Isa. 32:1, 11:4-5; Ps. 72:8; Rev. 20:14, 20:6)
XX. Separation and Godly Living
We believe that believers should live in such a manner as not to bring reproach upon their perfect Saviour and Lord; and, that separation from all religious apostasy, all worldly and sinful pleasures, practices and associations is commanded of God. (Rom. 12:1-2, 14:13, II Cor. 6:14, 7:1; II Tim. 3:1-5; I Jn. 2:15-17; II Jn. 9-11)
XXI. Separation from All Forms of Apostasy and False Gospels
We believe that modernism, liberalism, "social gospel," and any other gospel other than the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, are not of God, but are of antichrist; and that we as believers should have no fellowship with such unfruitful works of darkness, and that we are called upon to separate from all alliances, churches, groups, organizations and individuals that sanction such doctrines.
(I Cor. 15:1–4; II Corinthians 6:14–18; Galatians 1:6–9; Romans 1:16; II Peter 2:1, 2; I John 2:22; Jude 4; II Thessalonians 3:6; II John 7–11; Ephesians 5:11; I Timothy 6:3–6; Revelation 18:4, 5; Acts 19:8–10; Romans 16:17, 18; Galatians 1:8–10; Philippians 3:17–19; Matthew 7:15–20.)
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XXII. The Grace of Giving
We believe in the proportionate, and positive command in the Scriptures to pledge ourselves to a systematic contribution for the support of the Church of such a portion of our income as we believe God requires of us according to the principle laid down hereby as in I Cor. 16:1-2.
(I Cor. 16:1-2; II Cor. 8:1-16; Mal. 3:8-11)
XXIII. The Marriage Relationship
We believe that God as the creator of marriage has the only right to define what marriage is. We believe that God has defined marriage as a lifetime covenant between one man and one woman to fulfill the purpose of procreation according to God’s command to be fruitful and to multiply. This covenant can only be dissolved by the death of one in the marriage. We believe that divorce is not God’s perfect will for a marriage and will result in many adverse consequences to a peaceful life and a loss of reward at Christ’s judgment seat. We believe that God has commanded that no intimate sexual activity should be engaged outside of marriage between a man and a woman. We believe that any form of homosexuality, Lesbianism, bisexuality, incest, fornication, adultery, and pornography are sinful perversions of God's gift of sex. (Gen. 2:24,19:5, 19:13, 26:8-9; Lev. 18:1-30; Rom. 1:26-29, 7:1-3; I Cor. 5:1, 6:9; I Thess. 4:1-8; Heb.13:4)
XXIV. Sanctity of Life
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 for any reason is acceptable. We believe that God disapproves euthanasia, as it is taking the life of a human being. God is the giver and the taker of life. Our bodies are given to us by God and are to be used to bring honor and glory to Him.
(Exodus 20:13; Genesis 9:6; Ecclesiastes 7:17; Psalms 51:5; 139:14-16; Isaiah 44:24, Luke 1:44; Job 33:4; Revelation 4:11)