Statement of Faith

 1.  The Bible.

We believe that the whole of the Old and New Testaments, in their original texts, are the inspired (God-breathed) Word of God. This inspiration is both verbal (God guided in the use of words) and plenary (all of Scripture is inspired). We believe the sixty-six books of the Old and New Testaments are the complete and divine revelation of God to Man. The Scriptures are inerrant and infallible, and therefore are the final authority for faith and life. We believe the Textus Receptus is the only trusted Greek Manuscript; therefore the King James Version, being the only English version translated from that manuscript, is the only trusted English version of the Bible. The scriptures contained therein should be interpreted - to the greatest extent possible - literally, based upon the context of the passages and the grammar used. See 2 Timothy 3:16-17 and 2 Peter 1:20-21.


2.  The Godhead.

We believe in one Triune God, eternally existing in three distinct persons – the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, each co-eternal in being, nature, power and glory, and possessing the same attributes and perfections. See Deuteronomy 6:4; Matthew 28:19; 2 Corinthians 13:14; John 14:10, 26; and Colossians 2:9.

     a.  The Person and Work of God the Father.

We believe that God the Father is the Architect and Creator of the Universe, and that all things are held together by His power. See Genesis 1:1-27, Ecclesiastes 12:1, and Isaiah 40:28.

We believe that He is wholly righteous and just, and that mankind is separated from Him because of man’s sin and unrighteousness.  Yet, because of His love, the Father sent His Son to reconcile man with Himself, and through the Son provides forgiveness of sin and eternal life. See Genesis 3:15, John 3:16, and Acts 4:12. 

      b.  The Person and Work of Christ.

We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God, became man without ceasing to be God. He was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary in order that He might reveal God and redeem mankind from sin. See Isaiah 7:14, 9:6; and John 14:9.

We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ accomplished our redemption through His death on the cross as the blood sacrifice required for the forgiveness of sin; and that His physical resurrection from the dead assures our eternal life. See Leviticus 17:11; Acts 2:21-36; Romans 3:24-25; Ephesians 1:7; Hebrews 9:22; and 1 Peter 1:3-5, 2:24.

We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ ascended to Heaven, and is now exalted at the right hand of the Father, where, as our High Priest, He is our Intercessor and Advocate. See Acts 1:9-10; Romans 8:34; Hebrews 7:25, 9:24; and 1 John 2:1-2.

     c.  The Person and Work of the Holy Spirit.

We believe that the Holy Spirit is the person of the Godhead who convicts the world of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment. See John 16:7-11.

We believe that He is the supernatural agent that carries out the process of regeneration.  He shows individuals their need of salvation, and, at the moment they place their faith in Christ, He indwells them, baptizes them into the body of Christ, and seals them unto the day of redemption. See John 6:23, John 16:8-11; Romans 8:9; 1 Corinthians 12:12-14; and Ephesians 1:13-14.

We believe that the sign gifts of the Holy Spirit, such as speaking in tongues and the gift of healing, were temporary gifts, and were used only to authenticate to the unbelieving Jews the gospel of Jesus Christ. We believe that speaking in tongues was never the common nor necessary proof of the “baptism” or “filling” of the Holy Spirit. We believe, however, that God frequently honors the fervent prayers of believers and provides physical healing in accordance with His divine will. See 1 Corinthians 1:22, 12:8, 13:8-10, and 14:21-22.


3.  The Total Depravity of Man.
We believe that God created man in His image and likeness, but that through Adam’s sin the human race fell, inherited a sinful nature, and became alienated from God. Therefore, man is totally depraved, and thus is utterly unable to remedy his lost condition. See Genesis 1:26-27, Romans 3:22-23, 5;12; and Ephesians 2:1-3 and 4:17-19.


4.  Salvation.                                                                                                                             

 We believe that salvation is the gift of God given to man by grace alone and received by man through personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, whose precious blood was shed on Calvary for the propitiation (full payment) for the sins of all mankind. See John 1:12; Ephesians 1:7, 2:8-10; and 1 Peter 1:18-19.


5.  Eternal Security and Assurance of Believers.

     a.  We believe that once a sinner is redeemed he is kept by God’s power, and thus secure in Christ forever. See John3:15-16, 6:37-40, 10:27-30; Romans 6:23, 8:1, 38-39; 1 Corinthians 1:4-8; Titus 1:2; and 1 Peter 1:4-5.

     b.  We believe that, while believers should rejoice in their salvation, eternal security is not a license to sin. See Romans 13:13-14, Galatians 5:13, and Titus 2:11-15.

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6.  Separation.

We believe that all the saved should live in such a manner as to not bring reproach upon their Savior and Lord. We believe that God commands separation from all religious apostasy and from all worldly and sinful pleasures, practices and associations. See Romans 12:1-2, 14:13; 2 Corinthians 6:14-7:1; 2 Timothy 3:1-5; 1 John 2:15-17; and 2 John 1:9, 11.


 7.  Concerning the Family.

      a.  We believe that God created mankind as only male and female, with the command and purpose to be fruitful, to multiply, and to replenish the earth. Accordingly, God defined marriage exclusively as the union of one man and one woman becoming one flesh. See Genesis 2:18-25; Matthew 19:3-9; Romans 7:2; and Ephesians 5:22-32.

     b.  We believe that children are the natural fruit of God’s design of marriage, and are a heritage of the Lord. They are to be taught spiritual and moral principles and values by their parents, who are to rear them in the nurture, admonition, instruction, and loving discipline of the Lord. See Genesis 33:5; Deuteronomy 6:6-7; Psalms 78:4-7, 127:3-5, 128:1-6; Proverbs 22:6; Ephesians 6:1-4; and Hebrews 12:7-10.

      c.  We believe that God designed the marriage union to be a lifelong commitment, and in this context has provided for intimate sexual relations exclusively between a husband and his wife. Sexual relations outside the bonds of marriage, including fornication, adultery, incest, sodomy, and bestiality, among others to which the Bible alludes, are sin. We believe acts that defile God’s human creation, such as gender modification through medical procedures or by appearance, or participation in the sexual degradation of others through pornography, are sins that attack the integrity of the family unit and are in direct opposition to God’s plan and purpose for the family. Mountain View Baptist Church retains the right to deny membership to and terminate the membership of anyone who openly promotes or practices any of these. See Genesis 2:24, 19:5, 13; Leviticus 18:1-30; Romans 1:18-32; 1 Corinthians 6:9-10, 7:3-5; Hebrews 13:4; Ephesians 5:3-5; and 1 Thessalonians 4:7-8.

 
8.  Concerning Human Life.

We believe in the sanctity of human life. We believe human life begins at conception. Beginning at that point and continuing through each stage of life every individual should be respected as a creation of God.  We believe that abortion, infanticide, euthanasia, suicide, assisted suicide, and other similar acts are murder and, therefore, are against the Will of God. See Genesis 1:27; Exodus 20:13; Leviticus 19:32; Job 12:12; Psalms 139:13-14; Isaiah 44:2, 24; Jeremiah 1:5; and 1 Timothy 5:1-2.