What We Believe

Independent Baptists believe Jesus Christ was preexistent in the Godhead from eternity past. We believe that He was begotten of the Holy Ghost in a miraculous manner and born of a virgin woman (Mary) as no other man has ever been or can ever be physically born again. 

Independent Baptists believe that the salvation of sinners is wholly of grace through the mediatorial offices of the Son of God. Jesus Christ, by appointment of the Father, freely took upon Himself the nature of man yet without sin, and honored the divine law by His personal obedience. His death made a full and vicarious atonement for the sins of mankind, providing redemption through His blood. The blood of Jesus Christ was presented in heaven, sprinkled on the mercy seat, and was accepted by God the Father as the atonement for the sins of the whole world. His death was the voluntary substitution of Himself in the sinner’s place, the just dying for the unjust. After having given Himself for man He rose from the dead and is now seated on the right hand of God, becoming in every way a suitable, compassionate and all-sufficient Saviour. 

Independent Baptists believe sinners must be born again in order to be saved. This new birth results in the believer becoming a new creation in Christ Jesus. The new birth is instantaneous and not a process to be attained through man’s self-righteous works. Proper evidence of the new birth appears in the holy fruits of repentance, faith and newness of life. 

Independent Baptists believe in God’s electing grace. The blessings of salvation are made free to all by the gospel and it is the immediate duty of all men to accept salvation by a cordial, penitent and obedient faith. Nothing prevents the salvation of the greatest sinner on earth but his own voluntary rejection of the gospel. 

Independent Baptists believe the great gospel blessing which Christ secures to such as believe in Him is justification. Justification includes the pardon of sin and the gift of eternal life on principles of righteousness. We believe that justification and its benefits are bestowed not in consideration of any works that man has done, but rather because righteousness is imputed to man solely through faith in the Redeemer’s shed blood. 

Independent Baptist believe repentance and faith are solemn obligations, and also inseparable graces, wrought in the soul of man by the quickening power of the Holy Spirit. We believe that man being deeply convicted of his own guilt, danger and helplessness must turn to God with unfeigned contrition, confession, and supplication for mercy. At the same time he must heartily believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, openly confessing Him as the only true Saviour. 

Independent Baptists believe all the redeemed are kept by the power God through faith unto salvation, and are, therefore, secure in Christ. We believe that eternal security is synonymous to eternal life, and is a work of God which insures that the gift of salvation, once received, cannot be lost by any true believer. 

Independent Baptists believe that Jesus Christ will physically return to earth in like manner as He was seen to go into heaven; bodily, personally and visibly. We believe that His second coming will be preceded by a chronology of Last Days’ events. These events will be literal, beginning with a pre-tribulation, pre-millennial calling out of all of the redeemed (the Rapture). We believe that the Rapture will terminate the dispensation of the New Testament Church and will induce a seven year Tribulation period and the reign of antichrist. This Tribulation will culminate with the Battle of Armageddon, which is the final terrible event in world history. This is when Jesus Christ will return with heaven’s hosts making the kingdoms of the world to become the kingdoms of His own. Upon the second coming of Christ, the Lord shall reign in righteousness on the earth for one thousand years, climaxing with the final condemnation of Satan and the last judgment of Revelation chapter twenty. After this Jesus Christ shall reign for all of eternity. 

Independent Baptists believe Jesus Christ rose from the dead bodily on the third day, according to the scriptures. We believe that the Lord’s resurrection was attested to by many infallible proofs and that forty days thereafter, He physically ascended back to heaven assuming His place as man’s Advocate with the Father. 

Independent Baptists believe there is a radical and essential difference between the righteous and the wicked. We believe that only those who have had saving faith are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. These same are sanctified by the Holy Spirit and are truly righteous in His esteem. We also believe that all who continue in impenitence and unbelief are in God’s sight wicked and still under the curse. This distinction between the righteous and the wicked exists for all of eternity resulting in the everlasting bliss of the saved and the everlasting, conscious suffering of the lost. 

Independent Baptists believe one distinguishing mark of biblical Christianity is a separation from worldly conduct, interests, philosophies and unions. Separation from the worldly unto the Godly should be maintained in two primary realms; personal and church. 

Independent Baptists believe the Genesis account of Creation. We believe that the Genesis creation record is to be accepted literally, and not allegorically or figuratively. We believe that man was created directly in God’s own image and after His own likeness. We adhere to the Biblical teaching that all things were created in six, twenty-four hour days, and not as the result of any form of evolutionary processes. 

Independent Baptists believe the New Testament church is a local, visible, autonomous assembly which Jesus Christ established during His earthly ministry, prior to the events of Acts chapter two and the Day of Pentecost. A Baptist church is a congregation of baptized believers associated by a covenant of faith and fellowship of the gospel. The church alone is authorized to administer and observe the ordinances of Christ. All church members and ministries are to be subject to the Lordship of Christ. Church officers are pastors or elders and deacons. Their qualifications are clearly defined in the scriptures.

We believe that the true mission of the church is found in the Great Commission and is to be followed in the order given therein. First, to preach to the saving of souls; second, to baptize believers and add them to the church; and third, to teach and instruct as Christ commanded.

We believe the church has the absolute right of self-government, free from the interference of any hierarchy of individuals or organizations. The one and only superintendent of the church is Jesus Christ. We believe that it is scriptural for churches to cooperate with each other in contending for the faith and for the furtherance of the gospel. Each church is the sole and only judge of the measure and method of its cooperation with others. It is also held that in matters of membership, policy, government and discipline the will of the church is final. 

Independent Baptist believe that baptism is the immersion in water of a believer in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost. This is only to be performed under the authority of a New Testament Baptist Church. It has no saving merit but is only a picture of one’s faith in, and identification with the crucified, buried and risen Saviour. 

Independent Baptists believe that "Communion" is a time of solemn self-examination in which the use of unleavened bread and the fruit of the vine (unfermented grape juice) is administered only to the members of a given Baptist church in order to commemorate the sacrificial love of Christ. 

Independent Baptists believe that the Lord’s Supper is a time of solemn self-examination in which the use of unleavened bread and the fruit of the vine (unfermented grape juice) is administered only to the members of a given Baptist church in order to commemorate the sacrificial love of Christ. 

Independent Baptists believe God’s program for financing the execution of His Great Commission is the program by which every believer gives tithes and offerings to God primarily through the New Testament Church to which they are members. The institution of tithing predates and is separate from the Law. 

Independent Baptists believe that civil government is ordained of God for the interest and good order of society. We also believe that Christians are commanded to conscientiously honor, obey and pray for all that are in authority. We believe that civil government has no jurisdiction in respect to the free exercise of the church and that civil disobedience is justified only when the law of the land is in direct opposition to Divine Law, which is supreme to any other form of government.