Doctrinal Statement
South Pine Baptist Church

Concerning the Scriptures

We believe that the Bible, consisting of a total of sixty-six books in the Old and New Testaments, is without error in the original manuscripts (1). The author of the Bible was God the Holy Spirit (2) who guided the human authors (3) so that the writings they produced were verbally and plenarily inspired (4). We believe that the Bible is the sole authority for faith and practice (5).

Some places where taught: (1) Prov. 30:5-6; John 17:17; Rev. 22:18-19. (2) II Pet. 1:19-21; Heb. 1:1-2; II Pet. 3:15-16. (3) II Sam. 23:2; Acts 1:16.; I Cor. 2:13-14. (4) Matt. 5:18; Gal. 3:16; II Tim. 3:16. (5) Acts 17:11; I Cor. 10:6-12; Eph.6:17; II Tim. 3:15-17; I John 4:1.

Concerning the True God

We believe that there is only one living and true God (1), who is eternal, self-existing, perfect Spirit (2). He is a personal Being and the Creator and Upholder of the universe (3). Though one God, He exists in three Persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit (4). These Persons are equal in essence and in every divine perfection (5), but each has His own distinct work to perform (6).

Some places where taught: (1) Deut. 6:4-5; Jer. 10:10. (2) Hab. 1:12; John 4:24; James 1:17. (3) Gen. 1:1-25; Heb. 1:10; Col. 1:15-17. (4) Matt. 3:16-17; 28:19; II Cor. 13:14. (5) Matt. 28:19; John 10:30; 14:10, 16-17; 17:5; I Cor. 8:6; Phil. 2:5-6. (6) John 14:26; 15:26; Eph. 1:3-4, 6-7, 13-14.

Concerning Creation

We believe that the Genesis account of creation is to be accepted literally and not figuratively (1). We believe that God created the universe ex nihilo (out of nothing) in six literal days by speaking all things into existence. (2). We believe that all animals and vegetation were made directly and that they follow God’s law in multiplying “after their kind” (3). We believe that the entire human race sprang from one man, Adam, and one woman, Eve, literal people who were created directly in God’s image and after His likeness and did not evolve from any lower form of life (4).

Some places where taught: (1) Gen. 1:1-2:25; Neh. 9:6; Ps. 33:6-9; John 1:3; Col. 1:16-17. (2) Ex. 20:11; 31:17; Heb. 11:3. (3) Gen. 1:11, 12, 21, 24, 25. (4) Gen. 1:26-27.

Concerning the Fall of Man

We believe that man was originally created a sinless being (1). By voluntary transgression he fell from that sinless state (2), and, as a result, all mankind are now sinners by nature and by conduct (3) and are justly under divine condemnation (4). Of himself, man is incapable of remedying his lost and depraved condition (5).

Some places where taught: (1) Gen. 1:27, 31; 2:16-17; Eccles. 7:29. (2) Gen. 3:6-7; Rom. 5:12, 19. (3) Ps. 51:5; Is. 53:6; Rom. 3:9-18, 23; 5:15-19; Eph. 2:1-3; James 2:10. (4) John 3:36; Rom. 2:1-6; 3:19-20. (5) Rom. 8:7-8; Eph. 2:1-3.

Concerning the Lord Jesus Christ

We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ is both truly God and truly man (1). His literal human body was miraculously conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit, and He was born of a human mother who was a virgin (2). He is the God-Man, one Person with two natures, divine and human (3). He lived a sinless life on earth, died on the cross as a substitute for sinners and bearing the judgment of their sins, and was raised bodily from the tomb as a testimony to the sufficiency of His sacrifice and as a guarantee of His people’s future resurrection (4). He now is in heaven as the great High Priest of His people (5). He will return for His people at the rapture of the Church, and later to the earth to reign following the Tribulation period (6).

Some places where taught: (1) Phil. 2:5-8. (2) Is. 7:14; Lk. 1:26-38. (3) John 1:1-2, 14; John 8:58; Phil. 2:7-8. (4) I Pet. 2:21-24; Lk. 24:1-7; I Cor. 15:1-8, 20-26. (5) Heb. 4:14. (6) I Cor. 15:51-52, 1 Thes. 4:15-17; Psalm 2; Rev. 19:11-20:4.

Concerning the Holy Spirit

We believe that the Holy Spirit is a divine Person, co-equal with God the Father and God the Son (1). He was active in creation (2). He convicts men of sin (3). He indwells each believer (4). He performs various ministries such as regenerating, helping, sealing, guiding, teaching, sanctifying, and strengthening (5). Each believer has been sanctified positionally in Christ, is being sanctified by the continuing work of the Spirit, and ultimately at Christ’s coming will be completely sanctified (6). While the believer can have victory over sin through the power of the indwelling Spirit, eradication of sin is not possible in this life (7). The Holy Spirit bestows spiritual gifts upon believers, these gifts being special abilities for service (8). It is the believer’s privilege to be filled with the Spirit and thus to produce fruit unto God and to live a joyous and productive Christian life (9).

Some places where taught: (1) II Cor. 13:14. (2) Gen. 1:1-2. (3) John 16:8-11. (4) I Cor. 6:19-20. (5) John 3:3; 14:16-18; Rom. 8:14; Eph. 1:13, 17; 3:16. (6) I Cor. 1:2; 12:4-7, 11; II Cor. 3:18. (7) Rom. 7:14-25; 8:12-13; I John 1:8. (8) Rom. 12:3-8. (9) Gal. 5:22-23; Eph. 5:18.

Concerning Personal Godliness

We believe that God’s goal for the believer is a life of personal godliness (1). The believer is to repudiate the world and its patterns of life and thought (2) and to present himself as a living sacrifice to God (3). Christians must guard against the notion that holiness is produced by obedience to rules and regulations, as well as the concept that life under grace permits us to indulge in the sins of the flesh. Life under grace does not allow the believer to live as he wishes (4). He is under a divine mandate to be holy (5). The teaching of Scripture regarding the Christian life is produced through daily fellowship with the Lord and the control of the Holy Spirit (6). We stand against immorality as it is so often condemned in God’s Word. We believe that the marriage bond is holy and that there should be no intercourse or sexual relationships between persons who are not married to one another (7). We believe that intercourse or sexual relationships between persons of the same sex is contrary to nature and to the explicit teachings of Scripture and is to be condemned (8).

Some places where taught: (1) Titus 1:1. (2) 1 John 2:15-17. (3) Rom. 12:1-2. (4) Col. 2:16-23; Titus 2:11-14. (5) I Peter 1:16. (6) Gal. 5:22-24. (7) Gal. 5:19-20; I Cor. 6:18; Prov. 5:1-21. (8) Lev. 20:13; Rom. 1:26-27.

Concerning Angels

We believe in the existence of angels who are mighty spiritual beings that were created by God. They serve Him in various ways and are specially appointed to watch over and minister to God’s people (1). We believe that at some time in the past a large number of angels, under the leadership of him who is called Satan, rebelled against God and were removed from His presence (2). Some are bound while others now roam the universe and are especially active on earth, opposing God and His purposes and ruling over the spiritual darkness of this world (3). Satan, also called the Devil, is a personal being, having traits of personality: intellect, emotions and will. His intellect is seen in his scheming and deceiving, his emotions in his hatred of God’s people, and his will in his rebellion against God. Therefore he is not just a symbol of evil or a figure of speech. He has tremendous power and is the enemy of God’s people. He is destined to be judged by Christ at His return and finally he and his host will be eternally incarcerated in the lake of fire (4).

Some places where taught: (1) Ps. 103:19-21; Heb. 1:6-7, 14. (2) Matt. 25:41. (3) Eph. 6:12; 2 Pet. 2:4. (4) Matt. 8:29; 2 Cor. 11:3; Job 1; Rev. 20:1-3, 7-10.

Concerning Salvation

We believe that salvation is wholly of God by grace on the basis of the substitutionary sacrifice of Jesus Christ for all people, who voluntarily took upon Himself the punishment for sin mankind deserves and turned aside the wrath of God from all who receive Him as Savior. Sinners are thus saved on the merit of His shed blood rather than on human merit or works (1). God works His sovereign will through His Holy Spirit and the instrumentality of His Word to draw to salvation all those chosen in Christ before the foundation of the world (2). God’s sovereignty does not contradict or negate sinners’ responsibility to repent and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior (3). All who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ are forgiven, regenerated, and justified (4). The perfect righteousness of Christ is imputed to them (5). They are given spiritual life which is manifested in their growth in grace (6). True believers are kept by the power of God and are thus secure in Christ forever (7).

Some places where taught: (1) Rom. 3:21-28; 5:8-10; Eph. 1:7; 2:8-9; 1 Pet. 1:18-19. (2) John 6:37-40; 2 Thess. 2:13-14. (3) Eze. 18:32; John 3:16, 18-19, 36; 5:40; Acts 16:31; Rom. 3:22; Rev. 22:17. (4) Rom. 5:1; Eph. 1:7; I Pet. 1:23. (5) II Cor. 5:21. (6) Tit. 2:11-14; II Pet. 3:18. (7) John 5:24; 6:37-40; 10:27-30; Rom. 5:9-10; 8:1, 28-39; 1 Cor 1:4-8; Eph. 4:30; Phil. 1:6; Heb. 7:25; 1 Pet. 1:5; Jude 24.

Concerning the Church

We believe that the Church, the Body of Christ, is composed of all true believers who are placed into that Body by the baptizing work of the Holy Spirit (1). The Church is distinct from Israel (2). We believe that a local, visible church is an organized congregation of immersed believers (3), associated together by a common faith and fellowship in the Gospel. Such a church is to be governed by the Word of God (4), and to observe the ordinances of baptism (the immersion of true believers only) and the Lord’s Table (5). Its Scriptural officers are male believers referred to in Scripture as bishops (pastors) and deacons. Women are not to fill the role of pastor in the local church, but are encouraged to use their gifts in appropriate roles that edify the body of Christ and spread the gospel. A church normally has one pastor under whose direction other pastors function (if there is more than one pastor). The qualifications and duties of a pastor are defined in the Epistles to Timothy and Titus. The qualifications and duties of deacons are defined in 1 Timothy 3 (6). A local church is autonomous, is not to be subject to the control of any outside persons or organizations, and has the power and right to confess its own faith and conduct its own affairs in accordance with the teachings of the New Testament. On all matters of membership, polity, government, discipline, and benevolence, the will of the local church is final (7). We believe the Lord gave the Church two ordinances to observe: baptism (immersion) and the Lord’s Supper (8). We believe that Christian baptism is the single immersion in water of a believer (9), performed in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit (10). It shows forth, in solemn and beautiful figure, our faith in the crucified, buried, and risen Savior, and our death to sin and resurrection to a new life (11). It is also a sign of fellowship and identification with the visible Body of Christ (12). At the Lord’s Supper believers, by the use of bread and the fruit of the vine, commemorate together the death of Christ until His return for them (13). This commemoration should always be preceded by careful self-examination (14). The church and its members should have as their primary goal the glory of God by teaching His Word, by the edification of believers, by observing the ordinances, by the evangelization of their own area, and by the extension of the gospel to the ends of the earth through Biblical missionary methods (15).

Some places where taught: (1) Matt. 16:18; I Cor. 12:13; Eph. 1:22-23. (2) Rom. 11:25-32; Eph. 3:3-6. (3) Acts 2:41-42. (4) II Tim. 3:16-17. (5) Matt. 28:19-20; I Cor. 11:23-25. (6) I Tim. 2:12-13; 3:1-16; Titus 1:5-9. (7) Matt. 18:15-18; Acts 6:3-5; I Cor. 5:4-5, 13; I Tim. 3:15. (8) Acts 2:38; I Cor. 11:26. (9) Acts 8:36-39. (10) Matt. 28:19. (11) Rom. 6:3-4. (12) Acts 2:41-42. (13) I Cor. 11:26; Matt. 26:29. (14) I Cor. 11:28-32. (15) Acts 2:41-42; 8:4; 11:20-21; Eph. 3:21; 4:11-16; 2 Tim. 2:2; 3:16-17.

Concerning the Lord’s Day

We believe that the first day of the week is the Lord’s Day, and is a Christian institution that is to be kept sacred for spiritual purposes insofar as is possible on the part of the individual believer. It commemorates the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ from the dead (1). It is a time for public worship and for spiritual growth (2).

Some places where taught: (1) John 20:1, 19. (2) Acts 20:7; I Cor. 16:1-2.

Concerning Heresy, Apostasy, and Compromise

We believe that the Word of God predicts widespread apostasy from the revealed Christian faith as the time of Christ’s coming draws nearer (1), and that local churches are to practice complete separation from churches who deny the faith in order to preserve a pure church in honor of our holy God. The Scripture teaches that we are not to seek to win them to the faith by corporate fellowship with them, but rather we are to identify them, rebuke them, and withdraw ourselves from any spiritual communion with them (2).

Some places where taught: (1) II Tim. 3:1-5, 13; II Pet. 2:1-3; I John 4:1. (2) Rom. 16:17; II Cor. 6:14-18; Gal. 1:6-9; Tit. 1:13.

Concerning Civil Government and Religious Liberty

We believe that civil government is of divine appointment and is for the maintenance of good order in human society (1). Believers are to pray for, honor, and obey civil authorities (2) except where to do so would be to violate plain commands and principles of the Word of God (3). The Church and the State have separate spheres of authority and the State has no valid jurisdiction over the ministry of the Church (4). The State should not favor one ecclesiastical group over another, nor should the State impose taxes for the support of any form of religion. A free church in a free State is the Christian ideal.

Some places where taught: (1) Rom. 13:1-7. (2) Tit. 3:1; I Pet. 2:13-14; I Tim. 2:1-3. (3) Acts 4:18-20; 5:29. (4) Matt. 22:21.

Concerning Future Events

We believe that there is a radical and essential difference between the righteous and the wicked. Those who are declared righteous will enter into eternal bliss with Christ and those who are wicked will be lost forever (1). We believe that the Scriptures teach that at death the spirit and soul of the believer pass into the presence of Christ and remain in conscious joy until the resurrection of the body when Christ comes for His own (2). The blessed hope of the believer is the imminent, personal return of Christ to rapture the Church, His bride (3). God’s righteous judgments will be poured out upon an unbelieving world during the seven years of Tribulation (4). The climax of this fearful era will be the physical return of Jesus Christ to the earth in great glory to reestablish the Davidic kingdom (5). Israel will be saved and restored as a nation (6). Satan will be bound, and the curse essentially will be lifted from the physical creation (7). Following this thousand-year reign of Christ (the Millennium), the Great White Throne Judgment will occur, at which time the bodies and souls of the wicked shall be reunited and cast into the lake of fire, a divinely appointed place of eternal torment (8). The saved will enter the city which God has prepared for His own and will live with the Lord in resurrected and glorified bodies (9).

Some places where taught: (1) Mal. 3:18; John 3:16-18. (2) I Cor. 15:51-57; II Cor. 5:8. (3) I Thess. 4:13-18; Titus 2:13. (4) Rev. 6:17. (5) Rev. 19:11-20:6. (6) Rom. 11:26-27. (7) Isa. 11:6-9; 35:1-7. (8) Rev. 20:7-15. (9) Phil. 3:20-21; Rev. 21:1-3.