Statement Of Faith
BY-LAWS OF NEW LIFE TRADITIONAL BAPTIST CHURCH
ARTICLE 1: NAME AND PURPOSE
This congregation of believers shall be known as New Life Traditional Baptist Church (NLTBC). It is incorporated as a non-profit corporation under the laws of the state of Alabama. The
physical address is 5010 McCrary Road, Semmes, AL 36575.
Section 1.02- Purpose
The church exists by the grace of God, for the glory of God which shall be the ultimate purpose in its activities. This congregation is organized as a church exclusively for charitable, religious, and educational purposes within the meaning of Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (or the corresponding provision of any future United States Revenue Law), for such purposes including, but not limited to the proclaiming of the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ; the establishing and maintaining of religious worship; the educating of believers in a manner consistent with the requirements of Holy Scripture; and the maintaining of missionary activities in the United States and any foreign country.
ARTICLE 2: STATEMENT OF FAITH AND COVENANT
Section 2.01 - Statement of Faith
(A) The Holy Scriptures. We believe theOld and New Testament Scriptures are the verbally and plenarily inspired Word of God. The Scriptures are inerrant, infallible and God- breathed and are, therefore, 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 grammatical-historical meaning, and all issues of interpretation and meaning shall be determined by church leadership. The King James Version of the Bible shall be the official translation used by the church. (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 that 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; 1Cor. 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, eternally existing in three persons - Father,
Son, and Holy Spirit - each co-eternal in being, co-identical in nature, co-equal in power and glory, and having the same attributes and perfections. (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 theLord Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God, became man, without ceasing to be God, having been conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of theVirgin Mary, in order that He might reveal God and redeem sinful man. (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)
(2) We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ accomplished our redemption through His death on the cross as a representative, 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; Eph. 1:7; 1 Pet. 2:24; 1 Pet. 1:3-5)
(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; Rom. 8:34; Heb. 9:24;7:25; 1John 2:1-2)
(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; 1Cor. 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 thatGod is sovereign in the bestowal of spiritual gifts to every believer.
God uniquely uses evangelists, pastors, and teachers to equip believers in the church
to do the work of the ministry. (Rom. 12:3-8; 1Cor. 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 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, although 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 si totally depraved and, 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 salvation is The Gift of God brought to man by
grace and received by personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, Whose precious blood was shed on Calvary for the forgiveness of our sins. We believe that all sins, except blasphemy of the Holy Spirit, are forgivable. (Matt. 12:31-32; John 1:12; Eph.1:7; 2:8-10; 1 Pet. 1:18- 19; 1 John 1:9)
(H) The Eternal Security and Assurance of Believers.
(1) We believe that once a person is saved, he is kept by God's power and remains secure
in Christ forever. John 6:37-40; 10:27-30; Rom. 8:1, 38-39; 1Cor. 1:4-8; 1Pet. 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 local church, which is the body and the espoused bride of Christ, is solely made up of born-again believers. 1Cor. 12:12-14; 2Cor. 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. (Acts 14:27; 20:17, 28-32; 1 Tim. 3:1-13; Titus 1:5- 11)
(3) We believe in the autonomy (self-governing) of the local church free of any external authority or controls, and any affiliations, societies, organizations, associations, or agencies this church affiliates with to further the objectives stated in the Purpose Statement are not authoritative in matters of church practice or belief. (Acts 13:1-4; 15:19-31; Rom. 16:1, 4; 1 Cor. 3:9, 16; 5:4-7, 13; 1 Pet. 5:1-4)
(4) We recognize water baptism by immersion and the Lord's Supper as the Scriptural ordinances of obedience for the church in this age. (Matt. 28:19-20; Acts 2:41-42; 8:36- 38; 1Cor. 11:23-26)
a. Baptism: Baptism shall be by immersion in water. The pastor, or whomever the
church shall authorize, shall administer baptism. Baptism shall be administered as an act of worship during any worship service of the church. (A person who professes Christ and is not baptized after a reasonable length of time shall be counseled by the pastor and/or a deacon. If negative interest is ascertained on the part of the candidate, he shall be deleted from those awaiting baptism.)
b. The Lord's Supper: The church shall observe the Lord's Supper quarterly, unless otherwise scheduled by the church. The observance shall alternate between the morning and evening services of worship. The pastor and deacons shall administer
the Lord's Supper.
(J) Separation. We believe that believers should maintain a godly testimony and live in such a way that their lives do not bring reproach upon their Savior. God commands His people to separate from all religious apostasy, all worldly and sinful pleasures, practices, and associations, and to refrain from all immodest and immoderate appearances. We stand against any and all worldly philosophies that seek to destroy or undermine the truth of Biblical Christianity. (Lev. 19:28; Rom. 12:1-2; 14:13; 1 Cor. 6:19-20; 2 Cor. 6:14-7:1; 2Tim. 3:1-5; 1 John 2:15-17; 2 John 9-11)
(K) The Second Coming 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. At the end of the Tribulation, Christ will personally and visibly return with His saints, to establish His earthy 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 soul of the redeemed are, at death, absent from the body and present with the Lord, where in conscious bliss they await thefirst resurrection, when spirit, soul, and body are reunited to be glorified foreverwith 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 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 Personality of Satan. We believe that Satan is a person, the author of sin and the cause of the Fall of Man; that he is the open and declared enemy of God and man: and that
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 the Genesis account of creation is neither allegory nor myth, but a literal, historical account of God's creation of the universe in six literal, 24-hour days. We reject evolution, the Gap Theory, the Day-Age Theory, andTheistic Evolution as unscriptural theories of origin. (Gen. 1-2; Ex.20:11)
(0) 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. Webelievethat we must obey the state unless it requires us to act contrary to ourfaith at which time we must obey God rather than the state. (Matt. 22:15-22; Acts 5:29; Rom 13:1-7; Eph. 5:22-24; Titus 3:1-2; Heb. 13:17; 1Pet. 2:13-14)
(P) Sexual Immorality. The ministry is committed to preserve Scriptural morals in the face of outside societal influences seeking to degrade the Biblical family, pervert the moral values of our nation, and intimidate God's people from speaking God's truth in love.
(1) We believe that God has commanded that no intimate sexual activity be engaged in outside of a marriage between one naturally-created/born man and one naturally- created/born woman (i.e. gender not chemically or surgically altered). 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 naturally-created/born man and one naturally-created/born woman for life. (Gen. 2:24; Rom.7:2; 1Cor. 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 a heritage from the Lord. Parents are responsible for teaching their children spiritual and moral values 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; 1Cor. 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 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. As stated in the New Testament, divorced persons may hold positions of service in the church and be greatly used of God for Christian service. (Rom. 7:1-3; 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 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 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 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; 1John 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; Matt. 18:15-17)
(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. As ambassadors of Christ, we must use all available means to go to the foreign nations and not wait for them
to come to us. (Matt. 28:19-20; Mark 16:15; Luke 24:46-48; John 20:21; Acts 1:8; 2 Cor. 5:20)
(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 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 once the gift has been made. (Gen 14:20; Prov. 3:9-10; Acts 4:34-37; 1 Cor. 16:2; 2 Cor. 9:6-7; Gal. 6:6; Eph. 4:28; 1 Tim. 5:17-18; 1John 3: 17)
SECTION 2.02 - AUTHORITY OF STATEMENT OF FAITH