WHAT WE BELIEVE
AT HERITAGE BAPTIST CHURCH

Statement of Faith:

 

The Blood Atonement

 

We believe Jesus Christ suffered and died as a substitutionary sacrifice for the sins of the world. 

And that He rose from the dead in the body in which He was crucified.  He ascended into Heaven in the glorified body, where He ever liveth to make intercession for His own, as our High Priest.

 

(Luke 24; Acts 1:9-11; Romans 5:8-10; Ephesians 1:20-23; I Peter 3:18)

 

Creation – In the Beginning God!

 

We believe the Genesis account of creation, and that what a person believes about their existence will determine their philosophy of life.  We also believe creation was a direct act of God, who in six literal 24 hour days, instantaneously and miraculous created the world and all that is therein.  God created everything after their kind.

 

(Genesis 1:1; Colossians 1:16, 17; Job 26:7; Psalm 33:6, 9, John 1:3)

 

The Doctrine of Sin

 

No matter how you look at it, every person is a sinner.  This is made clear in society.  When Adam sinned in the garden, the world became a graveyard. All mankind is totally depraved having inherited a sinful nature that is bent toward sinning in thought, word and deed.

 

(Genesis 1:26, 27; 2:16, 17)

 

The Son of God

 

Jesus Christ, eternally existing, is the only begotten Son of God.  While He was conceived of a virgin, Mary, He totally man and totally God. Only God could do this.

 

(Luke 1:30 – 35; John 1:1 – 15; Philippians 2:5-8; Colossians 1:15)

 

Biblical Separation

 

We believe that all the saved are called unto a life of biblical separation from all worldly and sinful practices.  Once a person has been born again, they become a new creation in Christ and should live a holy, consecrated life.

 

(Romans 12:1, 2; John 2:15-17; II Corinthians 5:17; 6:14-18; I Peter 2:9; II Timothy 2:19)

WHAT IS

THE GOSPEL?

The gospel is the good news of God's grace invading the darkness of this world. It is the grand narrative of creation, fall, redemption and consummation ordained by God and orchestrated through the life, death, resurrection and ascension of Jesus Christ. Christ's crucifixion is the heart of the gospel. His resurrection is the power of the gospel. His ascension is the glory of the gospel.

 

Christ's death is a substitutionary and propitiatory sacrifice to God for our sins. It satisfies the demands of God’s holy justice and appeases His holy wrath. It also demonstrates His mysterious love and reveals His amazing grace. Jesus Christ is the only mediator between God and man. There is no other name by which men can be saved. At the heart of all sound doctrine is the cross of Jesus Christ and the infinite privilege that redeemed sinners have in glorifying God because of what He has accomplished. Therefore, we want all that takes place in our hearts, churches and ministries to proceed from and be related to the gospel.

Verbal Inspiration of the Scriptures

We believe in the infallible, inspired Word of God.  We accept the Textus Receptus manuscripts as the foundational material from which we derive the King James 1611.  It is through human instruments, such as men who were divinely inspired by the Holy Ghost who penned both the Old and New Testament Scriptures. We view the Scripture as the Final Authority in all matter pertaining to faith and practice. 

 

(II Timothy 3:16; Psalm 119:89; II Peter 1:20, 21)

The Trinity

 

We believe God is a Person, eternally existing; one true God, but is manifested in three forms.

 

God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. One Godhead made up of three Persons who are the same in attributes, power, characteristics, and desires.

 

(Hebrews 1:8; Acts 5:1-3; Matthew 28:19; Colossians 2:9; I John 5:7)

The Second Coming of Jesus Christ

 

Jesus Christ is coming again.  We believe His first coming will be in the air to take with Him those who have put their faith in Him and whose physical body are in the grave, and those who are alive and remain will He also take with Him.  But we also believe that in His second coming, He will return to earth physically to rule and reign in Jerusalem for 1,000 years.

 

(Matthew I Thessalonians 4:16 – 18; Revelation 19:11-20:15)

Salvation

 

All mankind is lost and must be born again to enter the Kingdom of God. Salvation in Jesus Christ along guarantees access to heaven.  This was made possible through Christ finished work on Mount Calvary.  (John 1:12; 3:3-7; Ephesians 2:8,9)

The Local Church

 

We believe that a Scriptural church is a visible assembly of baptized (immersed) believers, meeting together under New Testament law for the purpose of carrying out the Great Commission. It is a self-government independent body having Christ as the Head, the Holy Spirit for its Guide, and the Bible as the only rule of faith and practice.  The two ordinances of the local church are Baptist and the Lord’s Supper.  The only Scriptural offices of the church are the bishop (Pastor) and deacons.

 

(Mk 16:15; Eph 1:22, 23; 3:21; I Timothy 3)

Baptism

Baptism is intended only for those who have professed faith in Jesus Christ and can give sufficient testimony to the basics of Christian beliefs. Also, we baptize by immersion because it is not only the original significance of the word, but also best symbolizes the reality to which baptism points—our death and resurrection in Christ.