Pines City Baptist Church
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Statement of Faith

The doctrine we hold, teach, and guard, set out in eighteen articles drawn from the Scriptures.

We guard the gospel by our beliefs

(Adapted and revised from the 1853 New Hampshire Confession of Faith)

Section 1Of the Scriptures

We believe that the Holy Bible in its original manuscripts was written by men divinely inspired: and is a perfect treasure of heavenly instruction;1 that it has God as its author, salvation for its end,2 and truth without any mixture of error for its matter;3 that it reveals the principles by which God will judge us,4 and therefore is, and shall remain to the end of the age, the only complete and final revelation of the will of God to man; the true center of Christian union5 and the supreme standard by which all human conduct, creeds, and opinions should be tried.6

  1. 12 Tim 3:16–17; 2 Pet 1:21; 1 Sam 23:2; Acts 1:16; 3:21; John 10:35; Lk 16:29–31; Ps 119:11; Rom 3:1–2
  2. 22 Tim 3:15; 1 Pet 1:10–12; Acts 11:14; Rom 1:16; John 5:38–39
  3. 3Prov 30:5–6; John 17:17; Rev 22:18–19; Rom 3:4
  4. 4Rom 2:12; Jn 12:47–48; 1 Cor 4:3–4; Lk 10:10–16; 12:47–48
  5. 5Phil 3:16; Eph 4:3–6; Phil 2:1–2; 1 Cor 1:10; 1 Pet 4:11
  6. 61 John 4:1; Isa 8:20; 1 Thess 5:21; 2 Cor 8:5; Acts 17:11; 1 John 4:6; Jude 3:5; Eph 6:17; Ps 119:59–60; Phil 1:9–11

Section 2Of the True God

We believe that there is one and only one, living and true God, an infinite, intelligent Spirit, whose name is Yahweh, the Maker and Supreme Ruler of heaven and earth;1 inexpressively glorious in holiness2 and worthy of all possible honor, confidence, and love;3 that in the unity of the Godhead there are three persons, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,4 equal in every divine perfection,5 and executing distinct but harmonious offices in the great work of redemption.6

  1. 1Jn 4:24; Ps 147:5; 83:18; Heb 3:4; Rom 1:20; Jer 10:10
  2. 2Ex 15:11; Isa 6:3; 1 Pet 1:15–16; Rev 4:6–8
  3. 3Mark 12:30; Rev 4:11; Matt 10:37; Jer 2:12–13
  4. 4Matt 28:19; Jn 15:26; 1 Cor 12:4–6; 1 John 5:7
  5. 5Jn 10:30; 5:17; 14:23; 17:5, 10; Acts 5:3–4; 1 Cor 2:10–11; Phil 2:5–6
  6. 6Eph 2:18; 2 Cor 13:14; Rev 1:4–5, cf. 2, 7

Section 3Of Jesus Christ

We believe that Jesus Christ was begotten of the Holy Spirit, in a miraculous manner; born of Mary,1 a virgin, as no other man was ever or can ever be born of woman, and that He is both the Son of God, and God, the Son.2

  1. 1Matt 1:18–23; Isa 7:14
  2. 2John 1:1; 5:14–18; 8:56–59; 10:25–33; 14:6–11; 20:28; Phil 2:5–7; Col 1:15–20; 2:9–10; Luke 22:66–71; Heb 1:8; Tit 2:13; Rom 9:5; 1 John 5:20; Mark 2:5–10; 10:18

Section 4Of the Holy Spirit

That the Holy Spirit is a divine person;1 equal with God the Father and God the Son and of the same nature;2 that He was active in the creation;3 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 judgment and of righteousness;4 that He bears witness to the truth of the gospel in preaching and testimony; that He is the agent in the new birth;5 that He seals, endures, guides, teaches, witnesses, sanctifies, and helps the believer.6

  1. 1Acts 5:3; 1 Cor 3:16; 6:19
  2. 2Matt 28:19–20; 2 Cor 13:14; 1 Pet 1:2; 1 Cor 12:4–6
  3. 3Gen 1:2; Ps 104:30; Job 33:4
  4. 4John 16:8–11
  5. 5John 3:6–8; 1 Pet 1:2–3; Tit 3:5
  6. 61 Pet 1:2; Eph 1:13–14; 4:30; Acts 2:33; 2 Cor 1:22

Section 5Of the Devil or Satan

We believe that Satan was once holy and enjoyed heavenly honors; but through pride and ambition to be as the Almighty, fell and drew after him a host of angels;1 that he is now the malignant prince of the power of the air, and the unholy god of this world.2 We hold him to be man’s great tempter, the enemy of God and His Christ, the accuser of the saints, the author of all false religions, the chief power back of the present apostasy;3 the lord of the antichrist, and the author of all the powers of darkness—destined, however, to final defeat at the hands of God’s own Son, and to the judgment of eternal justice in the lake of fire, a place prepared for him and his demons.4

  1. 1Ezek 28:13–19; Isa 14:12–15; Rev 12:9; John 8:44; 2 Pet 2:4
  2. 2Eph 2:2; John 12:31; 2 Cor 4:4; Acts 26:18
  3. 3Mark 1:13; 1 Cor 7:5; Matt 4:1–10; Zech 3:1; Rev 12:10; Job 1:9; Gen 3:1–7
  4. 4Rev 12:9; 20:2, 10; Gen 3:15; 2 Thess 2:3

Section 6Of Creation

We believe in the Genesis account of creation, that out of nothing God created the heavens and earth and all things therein by the power of His word in six (6) literal days;1 that man was created in God’s own image and after His own likeness;2 that man’s creation was not a matter of evolution or evolutionary change of species, or development through interminable periods of time from lower to higher forms; that all animal and vegetable life was made and God’s established law was that they should bring forth only “after their kind.”

  1. 1Gen 1–2
  2. 2Gen 1:26–27; 5:1; 9:2, 6; Ps 100:3; Acts 17:28; Jas 3:7–9

Section 7Of the Fall of Man

We believe that man was created in holiness under the law of His Maker,1 but by voluntary transgression fell from his sinless and blessed state,2 in consequence of which all mankind are now sinners,3 not by constraint, but of choice,4 being by nature utterly void of that holiness required by the law of God positively inclined to evil; and therefore under just condemnation to eternal ruin,5 without defense or excuse.6

  1. 1Gen 1:27, 31; Eccl 7:29; Acts 17:26–29; Gen 2:16
  2. 2Gen 3:6–24; Rom 5:12
  3. 3Rom 5:19; John 3:6; Ps 51:5; Rom 5:15–19; 8:7
  4. 4Isa 53:6; Gen 6:12; Rom 3:9–18
  5. 5Eph 2:1–3; Rom 1:18, 32; 2:1–16; Gal 3:10; Matt 20:15
  6. 6Ezek 18:19–20; Rom 1:20; 3:19; Gal 3:22

Section 8Of the Way of Salvation

We believe that the salvation of sinners is wholly of grace;1 through the mediatorial offices of the Son of God,2 who by appointment of the Father, freely took upon Him our nature, yet without sin,3 honored the divine law by his personal obedience,4 and by his death made a full atonement for our sins,5 voluntarily substituted Himself in the sinner’s place; that, having risen from the dead, He is now enthroned in heaven;6 and uniting in His wonderful person the tenderest sympathies with divine perfections, He is every way qualified to be a suitable, a compassionate, and an all-sufficient Savior.7

  1. 1Eph 2:5; Matt 18:11; 1 John 4:10; 1 Cor 3:5–7; Acts 15:11
  2. 2John 3:16; 1:1–14; Heb 4:14; 12:24
  3. 3Phil 2:6–7; Heb 2:9, 14; 2 Cor 5:21
  4. 4Isa 42:21; Phil 2:8; Gal 4:4–5; Rom 3:21
  5. 5Isa 53:4–5; Mt 20:28; Rom 4:25; 3:21–26; 1 John 4:10; 2:2; 1 Cor 15:1–3; Heb 9:13–15
  6. 6Heb 1:8, 3; 8:1; Col 3:1–4
  7. 7Heb 7:25; Col 2:9; Heb 2:18; 7:26; Ps 89:19; Ps 14

Section 9Of the Grace of the New Birth

We believe that in order to be saved, sinners must be born again;1 that the new birth consists in giving a holy disposition to the mind;2 that it 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 birth is brought about in a manner above our comprehension, not by culture, not by character, nor by the will of man, but wholly and solely by the power of the Holy Spirit in connection with divine truth,3 so as to secure our voluntary obedience to the gospel;4 that its proper evidence appears in the holy fruits of repentance, and faith, and newness of life.5

  1. 1Jn 3:3, 6–7; 1 Cor 1:14; Rev 8:7–9; 21:27
  2. 22 Cor 5:17; Ezek 36:26; Deut 30:6; Rom 2:28–29; 5:5; 1 John 4:7
  3. 3John 3:8; 1:13; Jas 1:16–18; 1 Cor 1:30; Phil 2:13
  4. 41 Pet 1:22–25; 1 John 5:1; Eph 4:20–24; Col 3:9–11
  5. 5Eph 5:9; Rom 8:9; Gal 5:16–23; Eph 3:14–21; Matt 3:8–10; 7:20; 1 Jn 5:4, 18

Section 10Of the Freeness of Salvation

We believe that the blessings of salvation are made free to all by the gospel;1 that it is the immediate duty of all to accept by cordial, penitent and obedient faith;2 and that nothing prevents the salvation of the greatest sinner on earth but his own inherent depravity and voluntary rejection of the gospel;3 which rejection involves him in an aggravated condemnation.4

  1. 1Isa 55:1; Rev 22:17; Lk 14:17
  2. 2Rom 16:26; Mark 1:15; Rom 1:15–17
  3. 3John 5:40; Matt 23:37; Rom 9:32; Prov 1:24; Acts 13:46
  4. 4John 3:19; Matt 11:20; Lk 19:27; 2 Thess 1:8

Section 11Of Justification

We believe that the great gospel blessing which Christ1 secures to such as believes in Him is Justification;2 that justification includes the pardon of sin,3 and the promise of eternal life on principles of righteousness;4 that it is bestowed, not in consideration of any works of righteousness which we have done; but solely through faith in the Redeemer’s blood,5 by virtue of which faith His perfect righteousness is imputed to us of God;6 that it brings us into a state of most blessed peace in favor of God and secures all other blessings needful for time and eternity.7

  1. 1John 1:16; Eph 3:8
  2. 2Acts 13:39; Isa 3:11–12; Rom 8:1
  3. 3Rom 5:9; Zech 13:1; Matt 9:6; Acts 10:43
  4. 4Rom 5:17; Tit 3:5–6; 1 Pet 3:7; 1 John 2:25; Rom 5:21
  5. 5Rom 4:4–5; 5:21; 6:28; Phil 3:7–9
  6. 6Rom 5:19; 3:24–26; 4:23–25; 1 John 2:12
  7. 7Rom 5:1–3, 11; 1 Cor 1:30–31; Matt 6:33; 1 Tim 4:8

Section 12Of Repentance and Faith

We believe that Repentance and Faith are solemn obligations, and also inseparable graces, wrought in our souls by the regenerating Spirit of God;1 whereby being deeply convinced of our guilt, danger, and helplessness, and of the way of salvation by Christ,2 we turn to God with unfeigned contrition, confession and supplication for mercy;3 at the same time heartily receiving the Lord Jesus Christ as our prophet, priest and king and relying on Him alone as our only and all-sufficient Savior.4

  1. 1Mark 1:15; Acts 11:18; Eph 2:8; 1 John 5:1
  2. 2John 16:8; Acts 2:37–38; 16:30–31
  3. 3Lk 18:13; 15:18–21; Jas 4:7–10; 2 Cor 7:11; Rom 10:12–13; Ps 51
  4. 4Rom 10:9–11; Acts 3:22–23; Heb 1:8; 4:14; 8:25; Ps 2:6; 2 Tim 1:12

Section 13Of a Gospel Church

We believe that a Gospel church is a congregation of baptized believers,1 associated by a covenant of faith and fellowship of the gospel;2 the church being understood to be the pillar and ground of the truth;3 observing the ordinances of Christ;4 governed by His laws;5 exercising the gifts, rights, and privileges invested in them by His Word;6 that its only scriptural officers are pastors/overseers/elders and deacons7 whose qualifications, claims, and duties are clearly defined in the epistles to Timothy and Titus.

  1. 11 Cor 1:1–13; Mt 18:17; Ac 5:11; 8:1; 11:31; 1 Co 4:17; 14:23; 3 Jn 9; 1 Tim 3:5
  2. 2Acts 2:41–42; 2 Cor 8:5; Acts 2:47; 1 Cor 5:12–13
  3. 31 Tim 3:15–16
  4. 41 Cor 11:2; 2 Thess 3:6; Rom 16:17–20; 1 Cor 11:23; Matt 18:15–20; 1 Cor 5:6; 2 Cor 2:7; 1 Cor 4:17
  5. 5Matt 28:20; John 14:15, 21; 15:12; 1 John 4:21; 1 Thess 4:2; 2 John 6; Gal 6:2; all the Epistles
  6. 6Eph 4:7; 1 Cor 14:12; Phil 1:27; 1 Cor 12:14
  7. 7Phil 1:1; Acts 14:23; 15:22; 1 Tim 3; Tit 1

Section 14Of Baptism and the Lord’s Supper

We believe that Christian baptism is the immersion in water of a believer;1 into the name of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit,2 with the authority of the local church, to show forth, in a solemn and beautiful emblem, our faith in the crucified, buried and risen Savior, with its effect in our death to sin and resurrection to a new life;3 that it is prerequisite to the privileges of a church relation and to the Lord’s Supper;4 in which the members of the church, by the sacred use of bread and the fruit of the vine, are to commemorate the love of Christ through His death;5 preceded always by a solemn self-examination.6

  1. 1Acts 8:36–39; Matt 3:5–6; John 3:22–23; 4:1–2; Matt 28:19; Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; 8:12; 16:32–34; 18:8
  2. 2Matt 28:19; Acts 10:47–48; Gal 3:27–28
  3. 3Rom 6:4; Col 2:12; 1 Pet 3:20–21; Acts 22:16
  4. 4Acts 2:41–42; Matt 28:19–20; Acts and Epistles
  5. 51 Cor 11:26; Matt 26:26–29; Mark 14:22–25; Luke 22:14–20
  6. 61 Cor 11:28; 5:1, 8; 10:3–32; 11:17–32; John 6:26–71

Section 15Of the Perseverance of the Saints

We believe that such only are real believers as endure unto the end;1 that their preserving attachment to Christ is the grand mark which distinguishes them from superficial professors;2 that a special Providence watches over their welfare;3 and that they are kept by the power of God through faith unto eternal salvation.4

  1. 1John 8:31; 1 John 2:27–28; 3:9; 5:18
  2. 21 John 2:19; John 13:18; Matt 13:20–21; John 6:66–69; Job 17:9
  3. 3Rom 8:28; Matt 6:30–33; Jer 32:40; Pss 121:3; 91:11–12
  4. 4Phil 1:6; 2:12–13; Jude 24–25; Heb 1:14; 2 Kings 6:16; Heb 13:5; 1 John 4:4

Section 16Of Civil Government

We believe that civil government is of divine appointment, for the interest and good order of human society;1 and that magistrates are to be prayed for,2 conscientiously honored and obeyed;3 except only in the things opposed to the will of our Lord Jesus Christ;4 who is the only Lord of the conscience, and the Ruler of the kings of the earth.

  1. 1Rom 13:1–7; 1 Pet 2:13–15
  2. 21 Tim 2:1–4
  3. 3Rom 13:1–7; 1 Pet 2:13–15
  4. 4Acts 5:29

Section 17Of the Righteous and the Wicked

We believe that there is a radical and essential difference between the righteous and the wicked;1 that such only as through faith are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and sanctified by the Spirit of our God, are truly righteous before Him;2 while all those who continue in impenitence and unbelief are in His sight wicked, and under the curse,3 and this distinction holds among men both in and after death, in the everlasting felicity of the saved and the everlasting conscious suffering of the lost.4

  1. 1Mal 3:18; Prov 12:26; Isa 5:20; Gen 18:23; Jer 15:19; Acts 10:34–35; Rom 6:16
  2. 2Rom 1:17; 7:6; 1 John 2:29; 3:7; Rom 6:18, 22; 1 Cor 11:32; Prov 11:31; 1 Pet 4:17–18
  3. 31 John 5:19; Gal 3:10; John 3:36; Isa 57:21; 55:6–7; Ps 10:4
  4. 4Prov 14:32; Luke 16:25; John 8:21–24; Prov 10:24; Luke 12:4–5; 9:23–26; John 12:25–26; Eccl 3:17; Matt 7:13–14

Section 18Of the Resurrection and Return of Christ

We believe that the end of the world is approaching;1 that at the last day Christ will descend from heaven,2 raise the living, and raise the dead from the grave to final retribution;3 that a solemn separation will then take place;4 that the wicked will be adjudged to endless punishment, and the righteous to endless joy;5 and that this judgment will fix forever the final state of men in heaven or hell, on principles of righteousness.6

  1. 11 Pet 4:7; 1 Cor 7:29–31; Heb 1:10–12; Matt 24:35; 1 John 2:17; Matt 28:20; 13:39–40; 2 Pet 3:3–13
  2. 2Acts 1:11; Rev 1:7; Heb 9:28; Acts 3:21; 1 Thess 4:13–18; 5:1–11
  3. 3Acts 24:15; 1 Cor 15:12–59; Lk 14:14; Dan 12:2; John 5:28–29; 6:40; 11:25–26; 2 Tim 1:10; Acts 10:42
  4. 4Matt 13:49, 37–43; 24:30–31; 25:31–33
  5. 5Matt 25:35–41; Rev 22:11; 1 Cor 6:9–10; Mark 9:43–48; 2 Pet 2:9; Jude 7; Phil 3:19; Rom 6:32; 2 Cor 5:10–11; John 4:36; 2 Cor 4:18
  6. 6Rom 3:5–6; 2 Thess 1:6–12; Heb 6:1–2; 1 Cor 4:5; Acts 17:31; Rom 2:2–16; Rev 20:11–12; 1 John 2:28; 4:17

Church Covenant

Alongside what we believe, our members enter into covenant with one another as one body in Christ.

Read the Church Covenant →

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