Statement of Faith

We believe the Holy Scriptures, being the sixty-six books of the Old and New Testament from Genesis to Revelation, to be the verbally and plenarily inspired Word of God written by holy men of old, as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. The Scriptures are without error, infallible and God breathed, and therefore are the complete and divine revelation of God to man, the centre of Christian union, and the supreme standard by which all human conduct, creeds, and opinions should be tried. We furthermore believe the translation of the Authorized King James Version of the Bible is the most faithful and accurate translation (from the O.T Masoretic Text & N.T Textus Receptus Text) for the English-speaking world. We do not believe the King James Version is superior or inferior to the original texts, but that study into the original languages is sometimes necessary in order to clarify the translation of words that have changed in meaning over time.  Even so, we believe that we can trust the KJV as the fully authoritative and preserved Word of God in the English language. We reject all other modern versions including the New King James Version. The Authorized King James Version is the only Bible, which we will provide, use, promote and carry out all ministries within Northern Baptist Church. Joshua 1:8; 2 Samuel 23:2; Psalms 12:6-7; 19:7-8; Psalms 119:105; Proverbs 30:5,6; 2 Timothy 3:15-17; 2 Peter 1:19-21; Jude v3.

We believe that God is one in essence and nature and yet composed of three persons; thus there is one and only one true God and that in the unity of the Godhead there are three persons, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit; that they are equal and execute distinct but harmonious offices in the great work of redemption. Regarding His characteristics, God is omniscient (all-knowing), omnipotent (all-powerful) and omnipresent (everywhere present at all times). Regarding His character, God is perfect in every aspect of holiness, faithfulness, love, mercy, truth, justice and righteousness. His most prized characteristic is holiness.  Genesis 17:1; Exodus 20:2-3; Matthew 28:18-20; I Corinthians 8:6; II Corinthians 3:17; II Corinthians 13:14; 1 John 5:7.

We believe that Jesus Christ is the second Person of the Triune God, who has always been and was never created. The Lord Jesus is eternal God, equally one with God the Father and God the Holy Ghost. He is Creator God (Genesis 1:1; Colossians 1:16-17; Hebrews 1:1-3). In His position within the Godhead, He is the Son of God, though wholly God and not a lesser created being by God. Without giving up His Deity, Jesus Christ became Man by the miracle of the virgin birth in that He was begotten of the Holy Spirit and born of Mary, a virgin. Since Mary was herself created by God and a sinner saved by grace (Luke 1:47), we do not believe it is accurate to say she is the “Mother of God,” but rather the mother of our Lord’s humanity, the instrument God used to enter the world as a Man.

During Christ’s earthly ministry, He demonstrated His nature as both 100% Man and 100% God. Christ experienced hunger, thirst, weariness, pain and sorrow as every man, yet without sin. (Isaiah 53:3; Luke 22:44; Matthew 21:18; 26:37-39; John 19:28; Hebrews 4:15) Simultaneously, He demonstrated His power to know the inward thoughts of man, and rule entirely over nature, demons, disease, death, Satan and Hell. (John 1:48; Matthew 8:3; Mark 1:42; Luke 7:14-15; John 11:43-44; Hebrews 2;14)

The Lord Jesus gave up His own life; it was not taken from Him (Luke 23:46). As the perfect Lamb of God, He gave Himself as the complete substitute for the sin of all mankind by paying the death penalty when He shed His blood and died upon the cross. His death was ascertained by the Roman Centurion who pierced His side from whence flowed blood and water. For His burial, He was wrapped and laid in the tomb of Joseph of Arimathaea, and guarded in a sealed tomb by Roman soldiers.  On the third day, Christ arose literally and bodily from the dead, and was present on earth for 40 days. During those 40 days, the Lord Jesus was seen multiple times by many people including disciples, and above 500 brethren at once, in which He walked, talked and ate normal food with people, appeared and disappeared. His ascension to Heaven was witnessed by the Apostles, and He was also seen by the Apostle Paul at his conversion. Now in Heaven at the right hand of God, Jesus is our High Priest and advocate with the Father. Matthew 1:18-25; Luke 24:2-8, 51; John 1:1-3, 14; Acts 1:3,9; 20:28; I Corinthians 15:1-7; Philippians 2:6-8;; Hebrews 1:8; 4:14-16.

We believe the Holy Spirit is the third Person of the Triune God, likewise eternal God, equally one with God the Father and God the Son (Matthew 28:19; 1 John 5:7). The Holy Spirit is not an impersonal force such as electricity, but a Person Who teaches the believer (John 14:26), can be grieved (Ephesians 4:30), and His power quenched in the believer’s life (I Thessalonians 5:19).

We see the Holy Spirit’s work in Creation (Genesis 1:2), in salvation (Titus 3:5), and in sanctification of the Christian (II Corinthians 3:18). The Holy Spirit is immediately given to the believer at the point of salvation (Ephesians 1:13-14), which is also called the baptism of the Holy Spirit (I Corinthians 12:13). The Holy Spirit empowers the believer to live the Christian life (Acts 1:8; Romans 5:5; 15:13-14). He fills believers daily as they surrender to Him (Ephesians 5:18). Unlike in the Old Testament (eg. Psalm 51:11), the Holy Spirit continues to indwell every true child of God (Romans 8:9), and never leaves him until the day of Christ in Heaven (John 14:16-17). The Holy Spirit also convicts the world concerning sin, righteousness, and judgment (John 16:8-11).

The Charismatic Movement — We believe the current Charismatic/Pentecostal movement is not a scriptural movement. The gifts of tongues, healing, drinking poison, and handling snakes were “sign-gifts” confirming the truth of God’s Word which the apostles were preaching. Once the Scriptures were complete from Matthew to Revelation (New Testament) the confirming signs were no longer necessary and thus ended. Biblical Tongues within the N.T era were known spoken languages; each one heard the Word of God in their native tongue.  Mark 16:15-20; Acts 2:4-13; I Corinthians 13:8-10, 14:21,22.

We also believe that the “unknown tongue” in 1 Corinthians 14:2-4; 13-14 refers simply to speaking a known foreign language amidst a multicultural audience which is of no benefit to the rest of the church unless the person interprets; and that the “tongues of angels” (I Corinthians 13:1) refers to eloquent speech, such as that of which the Corinthian church held in high esteem. (Compare 1 Corinthians 1:17-20; 2:4) Every angel that ever spoke to humans always did so in their own language. (e.g. Genesis 18:2-10; Judges 13:13-14; Matthew 1:20; Luke 1:30, etc) We reject the idea of praying in a “private or angelic prayer language.”

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; and that he is now the malignant prince of the power of the air and the unholy god of this world.  We hold him to be man’s greatest 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, the lord of the Antichrist, and the author of all the powers of darkness.  He is destined, however, to final defeat at the hand of God’s Son and to a judgment of everlasting fire, prepared for him and his angels.

Creation — We believe the Genesis account of creation as being neither allegory nor myth, but a literal account of the direct creative acts of God. No evolution was employed. God personally created the heaven and the earth in six 24-hour days; He finally formed man out of the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life and man became immediately a living soul; that He created man in the image and likeness of God. “Male and female created he them.” (Genesis 1:27; 5:2) All of mankind is descendants of the historical Adam and Eve. Genesis 1&2; Psalm 19:1-6; John 1:3; Romans 1:20.

Fall — When Adam and Eve disobeyed God in Eden, they brought about the ruin of the entire human race causing it to fall into sin, which brought spiritual, physical, and eternal death upon all. Genesis 3:1-6; Romans 5:12-19; 1 Corinthians 15:22.

Civil Government — We believe that civil government is of divine appointment for the interest and good order of human society; that kings, civil rulers and magistrates are to be prayed for, honoured and obeyed in all things that are not a clear and express violation of God’s Word, in which God is the Higher Authority.  The church and state are to be separate (no state-established or controlled church), each having definite and distinct spheres of responsibility. Neither the church nor the state has the right to infringe upon the God-ordained responsibilities of the other. 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. Matthew 18:15-17; 22:21; Acts 5:29, 4:19, 20; Romans 13:1-7; 1 Corinthians 6:18.

Marriage & Family — God established the Biblical model of the family from His first creation of man and woman, in which He brought them together and married them, and they two became husband and wife, and a one-flesh independent family unit. This marriage unit is the only place permitted by God for the one-flesh relationship; any intimate sexual activity outside of this is fornication.  If a married person engages in sexual relations with anyone other than the original spouse he or she is pledged to while that spouse is alive, that is adultery. Genesis 2:22-25; 1:28; Matthew 19:5-6

Nature of Sin — We believe that sin is the transgression of the law, will and desire of God. It is also described as wickedness, rebellion, evil, lawlessness, etc, but any kind of disobedience or offence — “a missing the mark” of perfect obedience to all of God’s revealed will. Romans 3:23

God’s law is summarised in the 10 Commandments. Exodus 20:1-17. There are sins of commission and omission (the wrong a person did, and good he did not do), and sins of ignorance and doubt, as well as deliberate, presumptuous (wilful) sin. Numbers 15:22-31; Leviticus 4:13-14. In the New Testament, Christ gave an even higher standard, judging according to the spirit of the law as well as the letter, and includes every thought, motive and idle word. E.g. Matthew 5:27-28; 12:36. See James 2:10; 4:17

Mankind’s sinful condition is not the product of his environment, but inherent. Although our first parents, Adam and Eve, were created in a perfect, sinless state, their wilful disobedience unleashed the curse of sin upon all of Creation, and passed upon all their descendants. Man is not only sinful, but he is also a born sinner. Genesis 3:1-6; Romans 3:10-19, 5:12-19, I John 3:4

Therefore, every individual is wholly condemned by God’s Law as a guilty sinner before a Holy God, with no possibility of justifying himself. Romans 3:19-20

Penalty of Sin — The Bible declares that the penalty of sin is death. It is firstly a spiritual death – separation from God. It also incurs physical death of the body. The final death is the Second Death, which is for those who reject Christ as Saviour on this side of eternity. The Second Death is the final judgment for sin: separation from God and conscious torment in the Lake of Fire for eternity. Genesis 2:17; Ephesians 2:1, 5; Romans 6:23; Hebrews 9:27; Revelation 20:11-15

Hell — There are different words and meanings of the word Hell. It can refer to Sheol (Hades), also translated as “grave” and “pit.” This refers to the holding place of the dead, both saved and unsaved. Before Christ’s resurrection, it appears that there was both a Paradise section, and a place of torment within Hades between which was an impenetrable, “great gulf fixed”. Luke 16:22-26.

Hell also refers to the holding place of the unsaved dead until the Great White Throne Judgment, when death and hell are cast into the Lake of Fire. Revelation 20:11-15

The Bible describes Hell and the Lake of Fire, to be a lonely place of eternal conscious torment and pain, no rest, and eternal fire for eternity. This is called the Second Death, after which it is impossible to get out. Daniel 12:2; Luke 16:23-26; Revelation 14:11; 20:10, 14-15.

God has no pleasure in the death of the wicked. Ezekiel 33:11 This place of everlasting fire was “prepared for the devil and his angels.” Matthew 25:41. However, all who reject God’s free gift of salvation and die without placing their faith in Jesus Christ alone for salvation remain guilty sinners before God, and will pay their own sin penalty, which is eternal damnation in the Lake of Fire. John 3:15-18, 36; Romans 6:23a; II Thessalonians 1:7b-9; Revelation 20, 21:8

We do not believe that God holds accountable babies (including aborted children), young children, and those who are not of sufficient ability to seek the Lord, or to properly understand, accept or reject the Gospel. The Bible does not specify an “age of accountability”; since children grow and mature at different rates, it must necessarily differ according to the individual’s level of understanding. If these ones die before ever reaching this point of understanding, we believe the Scriptures teach that they go straight to Heaven (II Samuel 12:23).

Heaven and the Bodily Resurrection of the Believer — Heaven is the dwelling place of God and His angels. We believe that all who have placed their faith in Christ as Saviour will go to Heaven, either at the point of death, or at the Rapture of the believers. The Lord Jesus is preparing “many mansions” for His people in Heaven. John 14:2-3 In Heaven there is no more death, tears, or pain. Revelation 21:4; Romans 8:21-23. We also believe in the literal, physical, bodily resurrection of the believer in a new, glorified body that cannot die, experience pain, or sin any longer 1 Corinthians 15. We see Christ’s example of a new glorified body. Luke 24:15-53; John 21:13-14.

Meaning of Salvation — The doctrine of salvation deals with God rescuing (saving) people from the results of sin. God rescues man from the power of sin, enabling a saved person to live a holy life; from the penalty of sin, giving a saved person release from hell; and from the presence of sin one day when taken to heaven. 1 Corinthians 15:1-8; Romans 6-8; Hebrews 7:25; Revelation 20:11-15; 21:24-27.

Death, Burial and Resurrection of Jesus Christ — We believe Jesus’ death made a full and vicarious (in our place) payment for our sin; that His death consisted not in merely setting an example for us as a martyr, but was a voluntary substitution of Himself in the sinner’s place, the Just dying for the unjust, bearing our sin in His own body on the tree (cross). There could be NO salvation without His death through the shedding of His blood. Isaiah 53; Romans 3:24, 25; Hebrews 2:14, 9:22; I Peter 1:18-21, 2:24; 1 John 1:7-9

Salvation By Grace — We believe that our salvation is a free gift from God, not merited in any way or works, therefore is wholly by grace. Salvation is received by the placing of one’s faith (trust) in the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace is the unmerited favour of God that is received by faith in Jesus Christ alone for salvation. Romans 4:5; 10:11-13; Ephesians 2:8, 9; Titus 3:5; John 3:16.

Repentance — Repentance is commanded by God (Luke 13:3, 5), and was preached by John the Baptist (Matthew 3:1-2), by Christ (Luke 13:3), by Peter (2 Peter 3:9), and by Paul (Acts 17:30). Since the apostle Paul preached both repentance and faith, it is obvious that both are required for salvation (Acts 20:21). Repentance is not adding works to grace (Ephesians 2:8-9) or any kind of Christian perfectionism (Philippians 1:6; I John 1:8-10).

Repentance means to turn around, to change directions (Acts 26:20). It is something that happens in the heart and mind. Repentance is not a change of life; it is a change of mind about God and sin that results in a change of life. (1 Thessalonians 1:9) Repentance is to admit that I am a sinner before God (Romans 3:23). Evidence of godly sorrow and contrition towards one’s sin will result in true repentance. (II Corinthians 7:10). This is more than mere admission that “I am not perfect.” It means that I acknowledge that I am the type of sinner that God says I am, that I am not good (Romans 3:10) and that even my supposed righteousness is as filthy rags before a holy God (Isaiah 64:6).

Biblical examples of repentance include the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:17-20); Zacchaeus (Luke 19:8); and the Thessalonians (1 Thess. 1:9).

Free will of man – We believe that mankind is created with a free will to accept or reject God’s offer of salvation, and to submit to or resist God’s working in his life. Deuteronomy 1:26; Matthew 23:37; 1 Timothy 2:3-8; II Peter 3:9; Revelation 22:17.

Security of the Saints — We believe that those who are truly saved are kept by the power of God, and sealed by the Holy Spirit of God, therefore making it impossible for an individual to lose his salvation. It is a work of God which guarantees that the gift of salvation, once received, cannot be lost, and believers are eternally secure. John 10:28-30; Romans 8:35-39; Ephesians 1:13-14; I Peter 1:5; 1 John 5:11-13

We believe that a church is an organized assembly of saved, baptized believers meeting for worship, prayer, fellowship, teaching, discipline, to practice the ordinances, and to carry out the Great Commission; this assembly is independent, financially supported by the tithes and free will offerings of God’s people, and free to govern itself without ecclesiastical interference and that this assembly is accountable directly to its Head (Jesus Christ) through His under-shepherd, the Pastor. We reject the notion that the church is ‘invisible’. The church is a local assembly likened to a body. Each member of the body is given at least one service gift of the Spirit for the edification of the body of Christ. Matthew 18:15-17; Matthew 28:19, 20; Acts 2:41, 42; Romans 12:1-8; I Corinthians 16:1-2; 1 Corinthians 12:27; 2 Corinthians 8 & 9; Colossians 1:18.

We believe that Christian baptism is the immersion in water of a believer in the name of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, by the authority of the local church, to show forth a solemn and beautiful emblem of our faith in the crucified, buried, and risen Saviour with its effect in our death to sin and resurrection to a new life; and that it is prerequisite to the privileges of a church membership and to the Lord’s Supper, which the members of the church by the use of bread and the fruit of the vine are to commemorate together the death and coming of the Lord, preceded always by solemn self-examination.

We believe that the New Testament Church is to separate from false doctrine and sin (on a church-disciplinary level). Romans 16:17; II Corinthians 6:14-17; Titus 2:11‐13;James 4:4; I Jn. 2:15-17; II John 1:9- 11. Modernism, New Evangelicalism, Neo-orthodoxy, and all other ecumenical alliances with the world and false doctrines are the result of Bible-believing Christians and churches failing to practice clear Biblical separation from those who influence this way. The principles of “evil communications corrupt good manners,” and, “a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump” is in the context of false doctrine and sins on a church-disciplinary level. 1 Corinthians 15:33; Galatians 5:9

We also withdraw fellowship from erring brethren who are committing sins on a church disciplinary level until the issue is sorted. We also will not fellowship with NT churches of like faith who use modern English Bible translations, Christian Contemporary Music, ecumenical alliances and dialogues with modernists, liberals and heretics, etc. 1 Corinthians 5:9-11; II Thessalonians 3:6-15.

Rapture — We believe Jesus Christ is coming again, bodily, personally and visibly as He promised. We believe in the imminent, pre-tribulation catching away (Rapture) of the saints. The dead in Christ shall be raised first in physical, glorified bodies, and then the living in Christ shall be caught up to meet the Lord in the air and so shall we ever be with Him. John 14:1-6; I Corinthians 15:42-44, 51-54; Philippians 3:20, 21; I Thessalonians 4:13-18; Titus 2:13.

Tribulation and Millennium — We believe that the seven year Tribulation Period, which follows the Rapture of the saints, will be culminated by the revelation of Christ (Second Coming of Christ with His Saints) in power and great glory to sit upon the Throne of David and to establish a literal millennial (1000 years) reign on the earth. Isaiah 9:6, 7, 11:1-9; Daniel 9:25-27; Matthew 24:29-31; Luke 1:30-33; Acts 2:29, 30; Revelation 19:11-21; 20:1-4, 6

Final Events — We believe that following a 1000 year reign of Christ on earth, Satan will be loosed for a season, a final battle fought, the old heaven and earth destroyed by fire and a new heaven and earth created, the Great White Throne Judgment held and the New Jerusalem City entered by the saints of all ages. 2 Peter 3:9-14; Revelation 20:7-22:5